Lesson 2 (1st-3rd Years)

There was a fire burning next to the Groundskeeper's Cabin and you could see small white things moving in it. Kira was busy getting more firewood and putting it on a pile next to the fire. It was a crisp morning, complete with a coat of snow and moving around the fire was keeping the witch warm. She hoped it wouldn't rain or snow during the lesson, they needed the fire to keep the creatures inside of it alive. There was a small table near the fire and on it were small cups, some filled with pepper and others with chili powder.

When there was quite enough firewood to keep them through the lesson, Kira stood by the fire and waited for the students.

Violet only took Care of Magical Creatures because it meant another class where she could achieve excellent results with near minimal effort. She made her way down to the area, grateful to see that the Professor had made a fire to combat against the chill. She didn't care for being outside, especially in such cold weather. She walked over to where the Professor was waiting for her class.

Natasha had enjoyed Care of Magical Creatures greatly the last lesson, and was looking forward to another fun class, despite the cold, which she truly hated. She made her way down to the area, curious as to what they'd be learning about this day, and thankful that there was a fire, even if it wasn't specifically for the student's benefit "Hi Professor," she said.

The Ravenclaw was very excited to begin the next set of classes, Care of Magical Creatures was a good subject for her because she loved working with animals, like plants they spoke to her and she always loved to explore that side to her. Kedzie arrived to the class and saw two other girls there, the same Hufflepuff girl she had encountered with before and a fellow Ravenclaw and of course the Professor. "Hi everyone" she greeted with a smile. There was never a time you'd see her mistreat someone who didn't deserve it but in her eyes no one did.

Skye made his way slowly down to the Care of Magical Creatures class. He had just recently been released from the Hospital wing, and was told to be careful and take classes easy. So walking slow, and moving carefully were a must. Skye absolutely hated having to be so careful.
Finally making it to the rest of the students, Skye tiredly leaned against a tree,
"Hello everyone," ugh, he was tired already.

Haylen walked slow as a tortoise towards the fire and the class. She could see her own breath fly into the air as she breathed. She loved how it looked almost as if she was trying to breath amber flames of fire, but all that came out was the smoke. She'd try to grasp the small breaths in the air, but she never succeeded. As she neared the class, she could hear the fire crackling and popping.

She stood alone, waiting for the class to begin. Haylen saw kids who looked miserable in the cold weather, but she was unable to relate. She thought that the cold was the most magical weather. Not magical in the sense of spells and, well wizards, but magical in the sense of beauty and quiet. Everything was so still and elegant. That's why she loved it.

"Good morning, Miss Lynch, Miss Stonem." Kira greeted her first two students happily. "Hello, Miss Loraine." she greeted another Ravenclaw, still smiling happily. She was always glad to be around little Ravenclaws, as she used to be one of them.

"Hello, Mr. Summers, are you alright?" Kira inquired, concerned about the boy. "Come, stand next to the fire, you'll warm up in no time. Actually, if anyone is cold, go stand near the fire. Would you like a chair, Mr. Summers?" She was worried about the Hufflepuff, he seemed to be very tired and in pain. The witch heard someone else walk up and she smiled to Haylen. "Morning, Miss Firestar."

"Alright, everyone, look at the bonfire, please. Can you see little creatures crawling about in it?" Kira asked her students, after it was apparent nobody else would show up. "Can anyone tell me what they are? And somebody else what they eat, where they normally live, and such and such. One answer per student, please."

Skye smiled a little at the professor.
"Thank you," he sat next to the fire, starting to regain feeling in his fingers and toes. The injured boy studied the fire trying to remember what the creatures in the flame were called. He figured he would wait till someone said the name, then give other facts about the animals instead.

"Alright, everyone, look at the bonfire, please. Can you see little creatures crawling about in it?...Can anyone tell me what they are?"

"Salamanders aren't they?" Violet said as she looked at the creatures. She'd wanted to answer more, but the Professor had said to give one answer only, and she understood that other's needed a chance, but she just liked showing off her knowledge. At least she'd get points for the one answer, problem to her was that everyone else who answered after her would too.

She looked at the creatures crawling amongst the flames "They sure look like Salamanders," she said, after the Hufflepuff girl first answered "They live in fire, and can only survive like six hours outside of fire before they die, right?" she added to the answer and looked at the teacher to see if she was right.

Kira smiled as Skye sat closer to the fire and didn't look so pale anymore. She couldn't do a lot for the boy, seeing as she had no idea why he was so tired, but she could at least keep him warm.

"5 points for Hufflepuff." She nodded and sent a smile to Violet. "Correct, Miss Stonem, they can survive that long, but only if you feed them pepper, regularly. Can anyone tell me what happens if the fire from which they sprang dies before the six hours are up? And, does anyone know anything about their blood?"

Violet waited for others to answer. But she soon grew impatient as the questions posed by the teacher went unanswered by others. "I know that their blood has very strong healing properties," she said "So I'm assuming that you can use their blood as a key ingredient in healing potions," she answered the teacher.

"Correct, Miss Lynch, 5 points to Hufflepuff. Salamander blood has incredibly powerful healing and restoring properties. Now, these poor little sweethearts have been infected with scale rot. The best solution for that is to rub chili powder on them." Kira explained and motioned to the little bowls full of the powder.

"If you would please each take one salamander, like this, Accio Salamander," Kira waved her wand, pointed it at a specific creature and caught it carefully. "Like we said, they can survive outside of their fire if you feed them pepper. So, while you're rubbing chili powder on them, make sure they eat pepper."

She went on to demonstrate how to rub the powder in their scales gently and then beckoned for the class to join her.

Skye tried to focus, he really did, but the cold just kept seeping into his mind. It felt like his brain was being numbed.
When the class was motioned to start working, Skye carefully accio'd a Salamander to him. Trying not to squish the little guy, while also rubbing the powder on him, proved challenging. Not to mention forcing it to eat pepper, when apparently Skye's salamander just wasn't hungry!
"Ugh! Eat the pepper! You suicidal Salamander, your going to die," Skye grumbled mostly under his breath.

After circulating among the students for the rest of the lesson, Kira smiled at everyone. She saw how hard Skye was trying to feed his Salamander and she helped him a bit, just so the creature wouldn't die.

"Alright, people, time's up. Don't want you to be late for your next lesson. You all did great today, I hope you have a nice week."