()

"There is something interesting about you too. Welcome! Please come to the front. I have a few questions for you."

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/y633bIh.png?1[/img] "Maybe I can bring him to one of our meetings. He's usually sleeping on my bed, but he also loves spending time outside."

"I think making a guide about magical creatures is a great idea. It will be very helpful to have."

Magnus nervously come to the front wondering what she wanted.

Aderyn mulled over Gaia's () words.

"It would be fun if we could put together some kind of unofficial Hogwarts Care of Magical Creatures Club guidebook to the different creatures we look at here!"

She turned to look at Beth (), nodding.

"As long as he doesn't get too cold! It's going to start snowing any day now, I just know it."

As if to reinforce her point, she shivered as the breeze picked up a little, blowing the autumn air in a swirl around them.

Gaia smiled at Magnus () "One second, I'll be right back."

() "I am already working on our guidebook. Your input is greatly appreciated! So many creatures so little time!"

Walking of to the side she motioned Magnus to follow. "There is something different about you. Your aura and are different. The aura ripples faster and the colors are harder to distinguish. Anything I need to know? and are there any creatures you know might be affected?" Gaia ready her parchment and quill.

With only and in ear shot Magnus realised he'd have to tell his secret. In truth, he hadn't given Paddy's fur much thought. So much about the magical world was new to him. In a low voice so only the two could hear he said, "I'm a werewolf. It happened when I was nine and I lived in Saint Mungo's for almost a year because they couldn't send me back to the muggle orphanage for obvious reasons. Please don't tell anyone, the staff knows but--I mean, I want to fit in." He realised telling his secret would risk his friendship with Paddy, her knowing but there didn't seem to be much choice short of missing out on anything remotely interesting.

Gaia nodded thoughtfully. () "Your secret is safe with me" smiling in acknowledgment "you were really young. I am guessing you have been through hardship, but here is all about new magical beginnings. I was trained from a young age to understand aura's it helps in reading people. It also helps with creatures and animals. They give distinct energetic signs. One of the reasons I am mostly not afraid of them. We will take necessary precautions without the other students knowing until you are ready. Safety for you, the other members, and the creatures is my top priority. If you can think of any creature or animal that might act odd or become aggressive around you let me know. Either way it helps knowing about you Magnus." Then she made some short handed notes. "I use codes on my notes just in case."

Fade quietly slipped into the growing group of students interested in magical creatures. Taking the quill and parchment he scrawled Fade Eventide in the next empty spot, but gave pause when considering what to write down for his major interests. How much fun would they make of him for suggesting unicorns… Glancing around the group he decided it was better to play it safe and wrote Dragon, Chimaera, and Thestral instead. That done he turned to the task at hand and slipped on the pair of gloves he had the sense to bring along. There was a Charms practical coming up and chewed fingers were the last thing he needed.

()

Gaia notice Fade coming up to the group and waved.

Then returned her attention to the growing group... "It would be so much fun if we got lucky and a unicorn were to come out! I would like to see one up close again!"

At the sudden mention of the very thing Fade had been fearing to mention most, his hair kaleidoscoped from pale blue to ghost white. Heart racing it felt like he just had been caught doing something he shouldn’t have been. Shooting a perplexed glance at he slowly began to regain some color in his face and hair alike. “Again, so you’ve seen one?” He tried his best not to sound as interested as he really was.

() Gaia knew her friend well and stifled a giggle when she noticed the subtle hair change. "Oh, yes I have! In the forest back home there are 3 that we know of. They live among the elder trees and from time to time wander to my family's farm for some food. We give them shelter if the weather gets really bad, but it is up to them to come, we don't force them. They are really beautiful and pure. Have you ever seen one?"

Paddy joined and Magnus (). She had a horrible feeling that Gaia had picked up one something about her, but to be honest, she was surprised nobody had mentioned her permanent fur covering.

She sighed as she opened her mouth to respond.... hang on a minute, Magnus is a werewolf? Paddy realised she was staring at Magnus, but she'd never met a werewolf her own age before.

"I'm kind of also a werewolf" she muttered, barely loud enough for Gaia and Magnus to hear. My dad and Uncle are werewolves as well, but I had this fur right from the beginning, which Uncle said was a lucky omen. I didn't turn into a werewolf until I was 5 though - Mum has a theory that Uncle bit me, but he hasn't ever said anything about it. Nobody else here knows, apart from the staff."

"When I turn into a werewolf, I chase rats," she added, "I don't kill them, just chase them. Owls seem to be ok, or at least my pet Barn Owl doesn't have any problems with me."

Magnus nodded at "Everything lately is a new start for me. Mum and dad did warn that some animals might not get on with me. I doubt very much a unicorn will like me. They don't like boys anyway but with the curse upon me...well.. yeah." Then explained and his heart was thumping in his ears. "Really?! I didn't think to ask about the fur, I mean, it could've been a spell or something." He was so happy that the first student to know about his secret shared it too. "I go full angry unthinking werewolf. Mum and dad say on the day of the full moon cycles I'm snappy too, but our house elf gives me the wolfsbane potion and guards over me. I'm still not as tame as I should be with the potion. Still," he said happily, "me cat Kippers doesn't have any problem with me." Feeling that he was rambling he closed his mouth. He was almost giddy to know someone his age with the same issue. Lord knows the adult werewolves he'd spoken with where no help.

Although she was wary of letting anyone know about her secret, she felt strangely relieved at two students knowing, especially as they didn't make a big deal about it. "Yeah," she replied to Magnus (), "you know I said Uncle was an alchemist out in the forest? That's why he is so far away from the nearest town. He brews the Wolfsbane, then during the summer full moons we both run the forest, chasing mice. "

( ) "I understand. If you both need anything with me let me know. I am not as strong in magic as the professors but I can make the change more comfortable." Gaia grinned "we will work as we go with the creatures. I can read the energy around the living, one thing is for sure, always have your wands at the ready when we bring new creatures around. Besides that I think you will be fine. You are also welcome to use my owls if you need to send something. Besides my own owls I brought some owls from home to the owlery and they are used to other and bigger creatures. I am a forest adventurer after all! Any questions? If not you can go and rejoin the group." Gaia felt great getting to know her classmates. She did a cheesy grin and a little jig that might look odd to the others but she is excited.

Paddy was relieved that seemed so chilled at the prospect of introducing all these critters to two werewolves. She felt a lot more relaxed as she rejoined the rest of the group, although she still wasn't too sure how her other classmates would react.

"Thank you," Magnus replied happy that this meeting went better than he expected. Looking he smiled and said, "Shall we go back to the group then? Perhaps we can swap stories when no one else is around?" He offered the crook of his arm to escort Paddy the short distance. His first ever friend, for surely they were friends now. "I'd love to hear more about your exploits with your Uncle."

Rowan slides in to join and .

"Gosh, I don't know anything about owls. I just use on of the shared messenger one for notes home. We lived in the city and I just have my dogs, and we owned a cat, too."

She casts a look at , and sees she's still unnoticed. "Well, if she asks, I DO know you two. I think a werewolf, and a...a...Paddy are about as magical as you can get. Besides, I really love animals!"

Paddy grinned at Magnus' ()'s old fashioned style, but took his arm as they walked back to the group. "And I'd love to hear more about your adoptive family too," she replied.

Rowan ()'s family sounded pretty interesting too - not only for living in the hustle and bustle of the city, but also for their pets. "We'd never had any pets other than owls at home. What type of dogs do you have?"

Rowan tells .

"We've always had Cairn Terriers. They're great! Smart, loving, loyal, and really playful. I brought Drifter with me. You can play with him anytime and we'll take him for a walk together."