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[Professor Penvellyn]

The walls were rather bare, which truly bothered Eleanor. However this wasn’t her room, it was less hers than the previous one had been. But she had long ago resided to always being where she could be useful if it were truly a good cause, and clearly this was such a cause. Looking down at the worn text book that she had pulled from the store cupboard, Eleanor mentally prepared herself for the lesson ahead. She had never intended to teach Potions, however the usual professor was busy at the Ministry working out the recent spider business. Eleanor, not having much to do with the return of Professor Hale, had volunteered to temporarily teach the position.

Spaced out along the front most table, were four containers. Double checking the labels as well as the actual contents, she had known older students who found themselves amusing to switch ingredients before, the elderly woman worked through the potion in her mind. After making sure that the large, open jar did indeed contain stewed horned slugs, and that the three boxes each only held dried nettles, snake fangs, and porcupine quills, she was able to relax. Of course, relaxed for Eleanor was standing in a statuesque way while waiting for students to enter the classroom, but she was comfortable and patiently held her position.

[Eileen Wood]

It was time to head to Potions. Eileen wondered idly what could be the lesson today. Professor Durante was a good teacher, but the class was starting to be rather repetitive: do this, cut this, squeeze that, put ingredients into concoction. As important as these things were, Eileen was beginning to weary of this redundant act.

One can imagine the surprise Eileen had when she saw a different professor in Professor Durante's face. The shock was obvious in her expression-she had never been good at hiding her emotions.

"Good morning, Professor Penvellyn," she said, hoping she did not upset the professor by her obvious, unsure voice and face.

Eileen looked around the room. It looked the same. Was Professor Penvellyn the substitute teacher for Potions? Was Professor Durante sick like Professor Hale had been? That made her cringe, reminding her of the creature the other night. Hopefully Professor Durante would not come back with an egg or something worse.

Edited by Eileen Wood, 02 September 2010 - 11:04 AM.

[Daniella Cruz]

Potions, goody. Even Genevieve who hated work found it boring. It was like cooking, but without the end results you could eat. Well in theory you could drink the potions, but they weren't always something you would want to eat. So all that work for nothing, Genevieve did not approve.

Yet, there wasn't much way to get out of a whole class so there she was in the dungeons. At least the year would be over soon, then she'd have a whole summer of doing nothing, unless her mother tried to force her back into lady lessons. Vieve wouldn't be surprised, she was sure she had lost quite a few manners at Hogwarts, her mother had commented on it at Christmas after all.

When the first year entered the classroom she was rather surprised to see Professor Penvellyn sitting at the desk. Well with Hale back, Viv supposed she was out of a job, how would she turn out as a potions professor? Not that it mattered much, brewing a potion was the same no matter who was teaching. "Hello Professor," she said going to sit down in her usual back end of the middle seat. "Hello Eileen, how're you?"

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

He really hadn’t been looking forward to going down into the dungeons for Potions today, but Alistair knew that any detention he faced for deliberately not attending class would be far worse than running head first into the spider at large. The thought didn’t ease his discomfort, but he forced himself to place one foot before the other and walked rather briskly to the room. When he didn’t see anyone in the dark corridors, his mind began playing tricks on him. The quick change in shadows due to the torch light all caused what he thought to be long hairy legs to jump out at him. The normal cobwebs that hung in the corners were a great motivation in making him move even faster. By the time he reached the door to the classroom, his heart was about to jump out of his chest.

Quickly making his way into the safety of the room, Alistair hardly noticed the change in professors. He had to get a handle on his breathing before he could determine that it was actually a woman standing at the head of the class. His great rush had made him one of the first to arrive, but that was less concerning. Where was their usual professor? Had the spider gotten a hold on him too? If the spider was getting big enough to attack grown wizards, it was surely too dangerous to allow students to walk alone. Alistair reminded himself to find a walking buddy before leaving the room.

[Toren Dunwiddik]

Toren was in the common room. He knew he soon had to go to his potions class. The school had been in disarray lately, and it seemed like not matter what anyone did, changes were taking effect, and some were not handling it well. Even now he was on a way to a class with a new Professor. He was okay with the changes, but some of the older students were saying these incidents of late were a bad omen. Most of them were more worry warts than they were thinkers happily, so their words gave him nor worries. Things happened, and change was one of them.

He supposed though, that he wished the common room could change its location. He did not like being underground. He wanted to be able to wake up and look out his window and look over the grounds. The only great part, was not having to go far for breakfast, food in general, and a few classes that were on the lower levels. Since he was in the dungeons, that made going to Potions class not so hard. If it had been his first class of the day, he could sleep in without a worry or care.

Realizing that it was time to head to class, he grabbed his potion book, bag, and some parchment, and walked out and headed to class. He ran into Morgan, another first year from Slytherin that he had gotten close too, and walked with her. "You ready for another day in potions Morgan?"

"Yeah Toren. How about you?"

"I am ready as well. I have been hoping we can learn something wonderful, like a potion that can make you look older, or maybe a potion that can help you remember anything you want."

"Isnt that why you study Toren? So you can remember what they teach us? Although... with a potion, you would never have to waste your time studying leaving you more time to have fun."

"Exactly Morgan... Never having to study ever again? Just take a potion, read something, and never forget it? That would be so much fun." They had made it right to the classroom during their dicussion and walked in the class. Almost as if they planned it, they said, "Good Morning Professor," in unison and they looked at each other for a moment thinking that it was awkward that just happened. The Professor looked like a statue, and the two of them found seats near the wall but in the middle section.

"I wonder what she chose to teach us today.. What do you think it might be?"

"Your guess is just as good as mine Toren.. Like you said, hopefully it is a potion we want to learn, although you never know the uses of any potion the Professor chooses, and when we may actually need it. Which is something my mother told me. She apparently thought one potion was very strange, but she ended up needing to know it one day for her job. Quite a good way to know what you learn may be used some day, dont you think?"

"I guess," replied Toren as he set up a piece of parchment, and began to try drawing something that popped into his mind. Morgan began talking about, reminiscing about the many things her mom had told her, but Toren's mind had drifted off.

[Sylverster Kelestral]

"I can't stay to chat, I've got a class to get to, sorry!" Sylvester threw those words at Lucy, a Slytherin forth year student as she accidentally bumped into the girl while running down the hallways. "Next time, then!" Lucy called out, and Sylverster laughed to herself as she continued down the hall. She saw some friends, but was in a hurry and failed to greet them. She promised to make up for it next time. Finally, the potions classroom came into view and Sylverster slowed down, trying to catch her breath so as to not look so breathless when she went to class.

Stepping into the classroom, Sylverster saw a couple of familiar faces, she smiled at them and greeted the professor before finding a table situated in the middle of the room and sat down. Drumming her fingers against the table and looking at nothing in particular, perhaps the light from the candles above, she wondered what they were going to learn about that lesson.

Were they going to brew another potion? But what kind of potion, she wondered, but she knew that whatever it was, it'd pique her interest, for she found that this subject is fascinating, to be creating something by yourself, watching as the different combinations of ingredients forming something either so pleasant, or so extremely unpleasant.

The screeching of chairs startled her out of her thoughts and she looked around, not many people had arrived, perhaps she was earlier than she thought...

[Cerridwyn Glynn]

Every corner had a shadow, every overhang was darkened, as Cerri walked the steps down from the ground floor to the cellar landing...the walls got even more dark.  Shadows played everywhere.  It might have been brunch time, but in the dungeon levels windows were hard to come by.  The light in the walk ways were not from the sun, but firelit scones and smokeless flames.  One could see where they were going plain enough, but the rock walls became more pronounced and the shadows danced.  Every place and every corner and every overhang seemed like the perfect hiding place for Harry.  Cerri's wild imagination had given the spider a name.  She called him Harry, mostly because that's all she could remember of the creature, well, that and the large spread of legs.  Legs seemed more of a name for a dark merchant selling blackmarket medical wares.  Harry was more appropriate for her spider *ahem* friend.

There were a few other students in the hall making their way to class, so atleast Cerri wasn't alone and by herself.  It comforted her a little bit to know if she was attacked someone would notice.  Finally, she made it to the Potions classroom.  Once inside the door, it was like a monkey was lifted off her back.  A spider wouldn't dare wonder into class and gain a potions education with so many people.

She finally took a seat, nodding to the new professor, placing her book down to the table and pulling free a piece of parchment.  Now she was ready for class.  It didn't bother her too much that there was a new teacher in the classroom.  This was becoming the norm.  A Professor would take off for something for a day or a week.  It didn't matter.  Professors had a life too, especially when the Ministry summoned them for one thing or another.

Cerri let free a light breathy sigh as she finally realized she was sitting and could relax a little.  That spider had frightened the bejeebus out of her and made her stress too often.

[Professor Penvellyn]

“Alright everyone, please settle down.” Judging by the mixture of expressions that she could see around the room, some students had the wrong idea. “I’m an only teaching this class temporarily. Your regular professor is just fine and will return to teach Potions by the end of the week.” No doubt the hatching of the supposedly “never going to hatch” spider had caused quite a stir among the students. While Eleanor would like to tell them all that there was nothing to fear, she could not. But she tried to stay positive and reminded herself that the creature hadn’t been spotted again and had probably found a hole to crawl out of the castle through.

Straitening her back a bit more, Eleanor let out a noise from her throat that clearly meant she demanded attention. “We’re going to begin working on a new, more practical potion this afternoon. I’d like each of you to open your books to chapter fourteen and familiarize yourself with the ingredients and instructions in created a Boil-Cure Potion. If any of you have had cauldron accidents at home, you’ve probably come in contact with it before.” So unused to instructing a class that didn’t require an example, Eleanor was at a slight loss. She was quiet for a moment, making a decision.

“You are welcome to work in partners if you wish,” She told the class. “But be forewarned that you will share the grade you earn.” Eleanor was never one to require assistance of others or enjoy being distracted while she worked, however she knew that some students performed better, or at least felt more comfortable, when they didn’t feel isolated. “After you have read the chapter, please come to the front desk and obtain your ingredients.” She used her hand to motion to the containers that she had previously been examining. “You have the remainder of the hour. Begin.” With a tone of finality, Eleanor fell silent.

Ingredients:
1 Litre of Stewed Horned Slugs
½ Cup of Dried Nettles
5 Crushed Snake Fangs
6 Porcupine Quills

Preparation:
Before you begin brewing your potion, you must crush the Snake Fangs

Instructions:
I. Set up cauldron over a decent sized fire so that the flames continually hit the bottom
II. Add the Stewed Horned Slugs
III. While stirring in a counterclockwise direction, add the Dried Nettles
IV. Immediately switch the stirring direction after the last Nettle has been added
V. Stir in the clockwise direction for seven to ten minutes
VI. Stop stirring
VII. Sprinkle the Crushed Snake Fangs into the now boiling potion
VIII. Extinguish the fire
IX. Move the cauldron two feet from the fire (Use protective equipment)
X. Add Porcupine Quills
XI. Leave potion until it becomes light red
XII. Pour into flask or appropriate container until use

[Lisette Amber Heartstone]

Lisette tried to be early for every class. She really did. She rushed and ran and stumbled and fell, but in the end she was almost always late. Even if she tried her hardest.

She slipped into the Potions classroom just when Professor Penvellyn had begun explaining the details. As she listened, Lisette tried to recognise the face - she was sure she had seen it before! Then again, her memory wasn't very good. She sighed and flipped to the appropriate page. As her eyes travelled over the words, she immediately decided that she'd try and find a partner. Even the simplest of potions seemed to get her arms (and legs, in some strange situations) all in a flurry. She just wasn't good at it.

Lisette couldn't really recall any of the previous professor's lessons, but word had been going around that because of some egg that had hatched and produced some kind of hatchling, Professor Durante had been attacked and wouldn't be back in the near future. Professor Penvellyn's tone of voice didn't imply any reason to worry, though, so Lisette relaxed.

She looked around the class, searching for a possible partner. Lisette closed her eyes and reached for someone. Desperately hoping that it wasn't the Professor, she opened them and with relief saw that it was a girl named Sylverster Kelestral, in Ravenclaw.
"Do you want to be my Potions partner?" She asked, a small hint of worry in her voice.

[Sylverster Kelestral]

(Finally I get to thread with Lisette )
The professor told everyone to settle down and Sylverster stopped fidgeting, sitting slightly straighter. Just then, someone said, "Do you want to be my Potions partner?" Looking up, she realized that it was Lisette, a Slytherin girl that she got to know from some of her friends. Nodding her head, she managed a smile and said, "Sure, I'd love to, take a seat."

“We’re going to begin working on a new, more practical potion this afternoon. I’d like each of you to open your books to chapter fourteen and familiarize yourself with the ingredients and instructions in created a Boil-Cure Potion. If any of you have had cauldron accidents at home, you’ve probably come in contact with it before.” Sylverster listened attentively and opened her book, glancing at the introduction and willing herself to do her best for this lesson. When the professor gave them the choice as to whether they'd like to work with a partner, Sylverster smiled.

Actually, she was fine with working with a partner or alone, but it'd be good to have an option once in a while. Reading the instructions written on the board, she scribbled it down on her notebook, making a mental note not to forget a single detail. Who knows what might happen if she was to make one slight mistake? Not wanting to think about the possible consequences, she turned to Lisette and gave her a smile, "Partners?"

[Tepes Terrific Zoo]

It was quiet in the castle, as most students had sped off to their classes. The monster had carefully let its eight eyes dwell over the Great Hall and had found it empty. This had happened before, the creature had raced down towards the tables and gobbled up as much food as it could before the tables emptied. Soon it would need to leave its hiding place permanently for it was becoming too tight a squeeze to fit into.

Secure that it would not again be blasted with spells, it scurried out of it's hiding place. But instead of the tables, it was now seeking refuge, not sustenance. Racing along the walls, the creature reached the double doors that gave entrance to the Hall.

Success! with a click of its pinchers, the creature rejoiced and reveled in the new world it had entered. The space was too big, it needed more cover, where could it go? It looked to the left and screeched loudly when a sunbeam peeked in through the open doors to the grounds, blinding the creature. Darkness it thought, must have darkness.

It scurried on ahead, away from the open doors to the grounds, and noticed a new door, leading down into a dark tunnel. Clicking wildly with anticipation, it sniffed the air, following the scent of what promised to be a delicious meal. It soon found its plan foiled by a closed door.

For a moment, the creature just sat there, contemplating its next steps. Then it became aware of footsteps. It better leave, but where?

With a strength it had not had when it hatched, the spider reached out its front legs and pried open the door.

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

Alistair was glad that they were starting a new potion for today, the serum that they had spent the last three weeks learning to brew was utterly boring. Luckily, she also allowed for the students to work in pairs if they wished. He had worked with Cerri on many occasions, mostly because they had time before class to talk with one another and happened to be sitting together when the lesson started. She was a few seats back, but the walk wasn’t a long one at all. Making sure to grab the ingredients on his way, he approached the Ravenclaw. “I come bearing gifts,” He announced, showing her the snake fangs and quills that were being held in his left hand; his face sporting a crooked grin.

The door creaked near the back of the classroom, but Alistair paid little mind to it. Often students would come in late, and generally a punishment or a deduction of house points would soon follow. He knew that Professor Penvellyn wasn’t one to condone tardiness. He didn’t want to look to see if the late comer was from his own house as it caused him to feel a little embarrassed. However, the professor would no doubt announce the wrong doing to the entire class.

“Would you like me to light the fire?” Alistair asked, attempting to take his mind off of the other students and onto his work.

[Daniella Cruz]

Bored out of her mind, Viv didn't make any moves to get a partner. She could mess up quite well without and she didn't fancy lugging her stuff over to another seat. Vieve read through the chapter, running a finger along the lines. She sighed, what a drag. She hated this class. Once done reading she retrieved her items and got down to work.

Not bothering to follow directions exactly, she pointed her wand at the area under her cauldron, "Incendio." Might as well get a fire stared now. Viv began to crush the snake fangs with a rather disgusted look on her face. Not only was this class boring, it was gross. She added the stewed horned slugs and began stirring still giving her potions nasty looks like it was its fault she was suffering through this

[Cerridwyn Glynn]

Well, curing a boil was not so bad a thing to learn.  Healing magics were always a bonus.  Nurses and Witch-doctors, if the pun will be pardoned, was a noble enough career.  Witches and Wizards were always cursing one another, so learning a reverse to a hex was not a terrible thing at all, really.  Cerri sat reading over the description of the spell and the recipe.  It was her luck that it seemed so long in the book.  Healing Potions always did seem to be extensive, while the curse it was healing was easier to make or hex.  It was funny how that worked out.

Just as Cerri was about to head up to the desk to get her own ingredients, Alistair arrived putting his stuff down near her.  He seemed to be displaying the right details as if he was going to make the potion here instead of where he was sitting.  He did have gifts, everything she would need for the brewing without her even getting up to ask him to get it for her.  First the chair in Herbology and now this.  If she didn't know any better she would soon start to suspect he was up to something.  A devious smiek started to extend to her corners of her mouth as her head turned just slightly to try and see the whole picture from a slightly different angle.
"By all means, please start the fire."  She answered his question.  Not only was he coming to her, but he was also making her classwork a lot easier.  Now was probably the time to test the matter and see how far she could get away with letting him do all or most of the work and her getting credit for it.  Those Ravenclaws sure were smart.

As the door at the back of the class opened slightly, Cerri was way too distracted to pay it any mind other than a quick glance to see who was late to class.  Seeing no one, as the door was half blocked by the view of the rest of the desks behind her, she turned back to Alistair.
"Are you following me?"  She grinned back to the boy before comparing the ingredients present to what was needed.

[Professor Penvellyn]

“Come now, don’t drag your feet.” Some of the students seemed unwilling to do much as if they had all taken a sluggish potion this morning. “If I don’t see a fire under every cauldron within the next minute I will begin deducting house points.” Generally Eleanor wasn’t one to be so severe so quickly, but there was hardly enough time in a class anyway and she wanted the students to focus on their work.

As if Fate was testing her temper, the soft creaking of the door near the back of the room announced a late comer. Eleanor quickly turned her eyes to the newest member of the class. She had opened her mouth, intent upon scolding the person severely, however not a sound came out. There was no student there, not even an adult come to deliver a message. No, no person was there and that made Eleanor uneasy. Quickly picking up the fabric of her robes so that she wouldn’t step on them, she marched up to the back rows, which students had thankfully moved away from while partnering up.

Eleanor looked around quickly, unaware that she had drawn her wand. The isle between the desks was clear, and she momentarily convinced herself that she had imagined the long hairy leg disappearing behind a desk. However she would not return to the front of the class until she was sure. “Lumos” She muttered, the tip of her wand igniting in an instant. Shining the light on the underside of each of the desks, Eleanor made a thorough check before deciding that the spider was not down there.

Her heart soon picked up speed. The students seemed not to have given notice to the door opening, though she had seen several eyes glance her way while she checked the desks. Just to be sure, she searched the walls and corners of the room, and that’s when she saw it. Up, in the dark corner nearest the sinks in the back of the room. Eleanor could see the fire from under the cauldrons reflecting off of its eight large eyes. The creature had grown to be at least two feet wide crouching the way it was. Crouching she thought, her heart sinking.

She would have one good shot at the spider, but it would certainly attack if she were to miss; it had no where to run. But, if she could keep the spider where it was and force the students to exit through the door behind her, perhaps then she could capture it in the room. “Students” She addressed everyone, not taking her eyes from the spider. “I am ordering each and every one of you to stand up right this moment, and walk slowly out of the room. Leave all of your belongings and don’t so much as breathe a word.” She continued to stare at the spider, fearing she would lose it if she so much as glanced away to check the room. Hopefully the students could understand the severity that was so pronounced in her voice.

[Lisette Amber Heartstone]

"Yes." Lisette grinned at Sylverster and then quickly ran off, returning(after quite a long time) with her arms full of Potions ingredients. Wanting to work quickly - the Professor's harsh words about quickly lighting up the fire ringing in her ears -, she tried to cast Incendio on the cauldron, but before she could start, Professor Penvellyn's crisp, cold words reached her ears.

“Students, I am ordering each and every one of you to stand up right this moment, and walk slowly out of the room. Leave all of your belongings and don’t so much as breathe a word.”

Lisette gasped. Was this something about the spider everyone was talking about?

She panicked. Every single rumour spread about the spider had reached her ears, and they had somehow grown from an itty bitty little spider with adorable eyes to an enormous green monster with fangs dripping with blood. Though she normally kept her head calm, for some inexplicable reason she was inclined to believe the latest rumour.

Lisette sent Sylverster(her almost-partner) an apologetic glance - though it was hardly her fault that Professor Penvellyn had suddenly called off the Potions lesson.

Soon Lisette was doing as exactly as the professor had asked.

<<Sorry for such a short post.>>

[Daniella Cruz]

Genevieve was only half paying attention as she brewed her potion. She was practically bored to tears, this was pointless she was never going to need this later. Charms yes, she'd need them so she wouldn't have to get up and get things. Apparently there was even a summoning charm, she couldn't wait to learn that, she'd never have to fetch anything again! Just a wave of the wand and it would be on her lap. Even better if she could learn how to make things appear out of thin air. She had seen some of the much older students doing that and it was amazing, a flick of the wand and what you needed appeared out of thing air.

Immersed in her day dreams of never having to look for things, she wasn't paying much attention to her potion which had turned a weird shade of green. When she did look back she moaned to herself. Oh she was in trouble now. She had had a few poor attempts over the year, but this might be the most, it was even glowing... that didn't seem good. She poked the potion with her mixing spoon and it bubbled. Hmm, that was definitively not good.

Viv didn't notice anything odd, until the Professor said something. She sighed, at least it would get her out of her potion. Maybe. Hopefully. As her classmates began filing out, Viv turned around and got her foot stuck on her cauldron. She tripped and went flying, hands hitting the stone floor. She let out a half yelp as she fell and then her cauldron tipped over, spilling the potion everywhere. The green liquid spread across the stones as Viv scrambled back to her feet, wiping her scraped and bloody hands off on her robe.

[Toren Dunwiddik]

Toren's mind was completely gone. His attentions were not in this room, and he was lucky his look was not of the dazed appearance. He looked like he was concentrating on something, even listening. His luck continued as Morgan continued talking up until the Professor started class. He heard Morgan grown at what the potion was, but was still not aware of what was going on, and he snapped out for a moment when Morgan nudged him and said, "Would you like to partner for the boil cur potion?"

Toren simply nodded in approval and opened his book to the same page as Morgans book and lit a fire under the cauldron. Morgan went and gathered all the necessary bits and pieces and began to read the instructions to Toren when his mind drifted again. Something about today was different. His mind was buzzing, keeping him from concentrating on anything. Even walking to class Morgan had to grab his attention more than once.

He heard mumbling from the Professor, something to do with the students getting to work. His attention was on what happened a few days ago with a friend. He could not get it out of his head, no matter how hard he tried. Even breakfast had seemed to be a fog, and Toren was not used to this feeling at all.

It seemed Morgan did not care that Toren was not altogether there, as she continued to try and brew the potion, Toren handing her things when she pointed, as that was as far as his attention span would let him. He did not notice the Professors look, although he had heard the door, but he didnt care who entered, nor that the Professor wondered why the door had opened. He just sat there, thinking about the sunny day that had changed most likely his life forever.

He closed his eyes, hopeful to get a better picture of what was floating in his mind. Completely unaware of the looming danger that approached in the room. Morgan tugged him kinda hard, as he apprently had not listened to her, and she had a scared look on her face. "Toren.. we need to leave. The Professor just told us to quietly leave the room. Leave your stuff, and follow me."

Toren nodded with a look of bewilderment. he kept his mouth shut, and followed Morgan who had grabbed his hand and led him out of the class, his eyes now darting around the room wondering if maybe they had to leave because the spider had show its ugly face. He made it outside the class and stood outside the door. Morgan stood next to him wondering what was going to happen next.

[Professor Penvellyn]

Eleanor was very glad that the students were not causing a fuss over this incident. The last thing anyone needed was another show like what happened in the Great Hall a few weeks ago. The woman thought through what she ought to do next. With most of the children gone, she would have only a moment or two to spare before the creature realized that it had the advantage of only fighting one person. Panic began settling in. If everyone was gone, the spider and she would surely engage in a battle, with no one to know the outcome unless a student looked inside to check. Thinking quickly, Eleanor whispered to whomever was still in the room, “You there, go find the nearest professor and bring them here strait away.”

Penvellyn didn’t feel any regret sending the student alone as the obvious danger in the castle was still staring the old woman down from it’s high perch.

[Eileen Wood]

Brewing her potion was easy. Eileen was perfectly capable of doing so without help, and she usually had fun in this class. She busied herself and hummed as she waited for the fire to start boiling the liquid in her cauldron, and she paid little attention to anything else.

She was just about finished when Professor Penvellyn told them so abruptly to get out. She had never seen this side of the woman, the pure fear. Eileen knew all at once that the creature was there, in the room. She gasped and packed her things as quickly as possible without causing a fuss. Best to not allow the spider to get to them, she supposed. Quiet was good for most animals.

Suddenly, Eileen worried for Professor Penvellyn. What would happen? Everyone was so worked up about this thing that rumors had spread far and wide about the possibilty that the creature was particularly violent. What if Professor Penvellyn was in danger?

As if she had read Eileen's mind, Professor Penvellyn told her to go find help. Once out of the room, Eileen ran. What was the nearest class? Charms? Transfiguration? Professor Denman would be the best to go to for help. She ran and ran, hoping she would get there with enough breath to tell him Professor Penvellyn found the spider.

Eileen burst into the classroom. She paid no mind to who was inside, though she suspected she looked like a crazy person running in as she did. "Professor!" she exclaimed, gasping for breath. "Potions class! Spider creature! Professor Penvellyn told me to go get help!" She was breathing hard, but it was coming and her breathing slowed somewhat as she caught her breath.