Who: Hagrid and Care of Magical Creatures students What: Care of Magical Creatures for 4th-7th year students Where: Outside Hagrid's hut on the school grounds When: First day/week of classes Status: IC/OCC thread; Low. Open to all Care of Magical Creatures Students Rating: Low-ish probably, unless a kid mouths off
"Is ev'ybody here?" Hagrid gave an informal headcount and then clasped his hands together, very pleased. "It's goin' t'be a great year. I think yer going to have a lotta fun. So, let's start!"
As he led the students behind his hut, he explained, "The creature I wanted t'teach you about first.. er... hasn't arrived." For a minute, he looked guilty, but then continued, just as cheerful as before. "But no worries! I gotta back-up plan. And here they are!"
Set up in the back was a large, glass aquarium-like case... but instead of being contained with water and fish, it was filled with tiny flying insects, whirring around on propeller type wings. Their amazing iridescent blue bodies flashed in the sunlight.
"Billywigs! Native of Australia. Stingers are used for a variety o' potions, and who can tell me what else?"
After a short discussion, Hagrid then announced to all students, "Part o' the learnin' assignment is that each of you are gonna take one of these critters with you inna jar t'take care of them. Yer job is t'make sure they stay alive by the end of October and study their behavior and eating patterns. You'll be expected to bring your Billywig with you t'class every time. So, let's line up here, and you'll each get one!"
Using a small fish net, Hagrid carefully opened the screened top of the tank and scooped out a single Billywig for each student, putting it into a huge jar that had holes punched in the side. At the bottom on the jar there was a bit of grass and a couple leaves of red cabbage.
"Billywigs like t'eat a flowering plant called 'waratah', but since we can't grow them here easily, red cabbage is a good substitute! Watch out! Don't get stung, and don't let them fly away!"