Class is About to Begin

[Remus]

 ( September 4th. Open to all magical students to begin your classes with Remus which I have still not properly named cause I'm too lazy to come up with a clever name for yet.)

Remus was looking at the papers he had on his desk. This was... different than his teaching at Hogwarts. Many different students were here, with many different ways to use their magic. But that wouldn't stop him from teaching, no. Ever since he learned of the job offer, he had tried to gather different lessons for a variety of magic students not using wands. Remus had observed it was just like potions or divination; different ways to do magic.

As he read up on different kinds of magic, Remus decided that he'd have to figure out how each student controlled their magic. Wizards and witches controlled their magic by powering it through a wand. Others might do it differently, of course. But it'd all be the same. Everyone would learn to use their magic to their advantage, whether it be for battle or otherwise. They'd need these skills not only in the school, of course. He knew well that Voldemort was gathering power out there, and many different creatures would be willing to harm anything, muggle, wizard and witch, or otherwise.

Of course, learning about how to defend against the dark arts would be later. It would be like when he was teaching first years: introduce them to different spells or ways to use their magic, and help them hone their skills.

[Elphaba]

Should she even have been there?

Truth be told, Elphaba was still uncertain about whether or not she should be trying to make use of the supposed curse she'd dealt with all her life. But... Nessa had said it would be okay as long as it was just in the battles she may or may not have become involved in. Besides, if she was going to learn how to control it it would be even better... Right? The only downside was that there was the distinct possibility of her being unteachable. She hadn't the slightest clue about how to even describe how she used her magic, either... Assuming that that was what it was in the first place. Elphaba had never viewed it as anything more than a curse.

Well, curse or not, Elphaba wanted to find out what the professor in this particular class was like. Would he be like the munchkins she'd had to deal with all her life? Would he be small-minded? Quick to judge her based on her outward appearance rather than who she was as a person? Lord, she hoped not. What if the professor wasn't even a man at all? What if it was a woman? Well, either way she'd hope for the same things. Elphaba didn't know if she could deal with the idea of professors judging her based on outward appearances just like everyone else.

Alas and alack, Elphaba was quick to discover that she was the first student to arrive to Professor Lupin's class. Inwardly, she cursed herself for arriving as early as she had. It would have been better if she'd arrived after someone else and have less attention be shifted to her. Oh well... They might as well get the whole introduction thing over with, right? At the very least, she wanted to get the typical comments about her skin out of the way. That was the first thing everyone pointed out when they met her, after all. The sooner they got it over with the better it would be for everyone involved with the class. Yet, in spite of wanting to do this, Elphaba couldn't seem to get out her usual bluntness. Maybe it was because it hadn't been stated outright that she was a freak yet. After all, teachers were different from the students she'd been living with. Maybe Remus would be nice... Maybe.

"So," Elphaba finally began as she walked a bit further inside the room, "I take it this is where I'm supposed to be? I heard there was a class for... People who have unusual talents. Quirks... Abilities that might be considered magical?"

[Remus]

Remus still was looking at the papers on the desk, still wondering about his first class, not noticing the girl enter the room. Not until she spoke up, that is. Lifting his head from his desk, he gave a small smile as he looked straight at the girl. For a moment, he blinked as he took in her color. Remus had seen many a students at Hogwarts, but he hadn't seen anyone like this. The girl was green. Not an ugly green at that, but still she was different. Not that different was bad, of course. Remus himself was labeled 'different' because he was a werewolf. Who knows what the girl was like on the inside anyway? She sounded nice enough. Anyway, it wasn't the strangest thing he had seen while passing through the halls. He had seen several small horses around. No need to judge her before they actually introduced themselves to each other. He knew how it was like to be judged anyway.

Giving a small smile, he got up from his desk. "Indeed this is it. I'm supposing you've got a bit of magic in yourself, I suppose?" Remus asked, getting up from his seat, and walking over to the girl. "I'm Profesor Lupin. I'll be teaching this class. Your name is?" He said, still smiling before glancing at the clock. "Other students should be arriving shortly. We'll start the lesson then. Though, I suppose I could ask you the question that I'm going to ask each of the other students. How do you personally use your magic? As in, I mean, how do you output it?"

Remus knew it was a rather large question to ask outright. But without knowing it from each of his students, he might have the inability to teach them. A wand can take care of magic that is blunt, such as in wizard or muggle children. Many had the abilities without knowing where exactly they were coming from. That's why a wand was often taken in order. But, Remus hoped that many of his students had some idea of how they produce their magic.

[Deleted]

He knew that scent anywhere. Snuffle's grey colored orbs widened at the scent of his best friend. The clicking of clawed paws against the tile hallway could be heard as he walked towards the classroom, taking note of each hallway and classroom along the way. After all he was supposed to be a guard dog, and being one he would have to map the whole school out in his head. After Hogwarts, it should be a piece of cake. The thought of food made Sirius lick his chops before giving a shake of his head. Then he stuck his scruffy head around the door frame, taking in the sight of Elphaba and Remus. He did a double take at the young witch.

Green? How odd. Must be a spell gone wrong. She doesn't look sick, he mused to himself.

[Elphaba]

Already, there was something good that Elphaba could say about Remus. He hadn't gone straight to the question of her skin color. That in and of itself made the teen relax inwardly. She wouldn't have to be on guard constantly when interacting with him. A trace of a smile could be detected on Elphaba's face, and the bespectacled girl found herself feeling just a bit more at ease about the whole thing. Introductions, obviously, were to follow. Remus had introduced himself as Professor Lupin, something she was going to remember, and now it was her turn.

"I'm Elphaba. It's a pleasure, Professor Lupin," Elphaba said. Her smile faltered for a moment when Remus asked about whether or not she had magic of her own. The answer should have been a yes, and it was for the most part, but to her it felt more like a curse than any particular magical abilities. Whether or not she answered, it seemed that Remus wanted to know how she even used her magic. The green-skinned girl glanced downward for a moment and thought about how to answer the question posed. It should have been simple enough. The problem was that, for Elphaba, it was much more complicated than waving a wand or saying some magic words. How did she even put it into words without making it sound stupid in some manner? Well... There was only one way to find out.

"My magic is kind of difficult to explain. Honestly, it feels more like a curse than any special ability... But I suppose magic is the best way to describe it," she said. That didn't even begin to describe the trouble she'd caused with it before. Usually it came up when her emotions flared and, sometimes, when Nessa was involved. After all, her sister was the one she was supposed to be looking after more often than not. Of course it would come up if she felt like she needed to protect her. But... Things were different here. They had to be different. She might as well try to explain that much.

"It just sort of... Happens. Something comes over me sometimes, and then I guess... It's hard to describe. I can't quite say what it is I feel, but it feels like it might have to do with powerful emotions... That's not very helpful, is it?"

It was the best explanation she could offer, though. She didn't exactly want to go into too much detail about things she had done in the past if she could help it. Though, if needed, she could try to do just that.

[Remus]

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Elphaba," Remus said, 

As he listened to Elphaba's explanation on her powers, Remus frowned slightly. Her powers seemed to be like most wizards and witches when they were young: uncontrollable without some practice, and happens at a flux of emotion. But surely there would have been a wizarding school somewhere the girl lived? There were many schools around the globe, even a few in America. Why wouldn't Elphaba have gotten a letter? Maybe she was somewhere that there wasn't a school nearby? Who knows? But first he should explain it a bit, Remus supposed. It wouldn't hurt to show her a few things before the rest of the students came.

"Well, that isn't unusual at all. I myself, and many other witches and wizards that I know also had magic like that when they were young. Though, many of us were invited to a specific school of magic, and were taught there. You seem to haven't had the chance to go to a magic school, so your magic is probably unpredictable right now, and unfocused."

Suddeny, Remus swished out his wand, and held it out, showing it. "This is what I power my magic through. It's my wand that had chosen me." Ready to explain, Remus then caught sight of the large black dog by the door. His eyes widening, he would recognize that dog anywhere. But what was he doing here of all places...? 

[Deleted]

Act like a dog, act like a dog, Sirius chanted mentally. He trotted into the classroom, tail wagging madly, and sat himself down beside Remus, looking up at him as if asking for a treat like any normal dog would do. Complete with big puppy dog eyes. It did help that he was still skinny as hell. Panting, Snuffles turned to look at Elphaba, tail thumping against the ground.

[Elphaba]

"There are schools for magic?" Elphaba asked. Her tone had taken on a sort of awe that anyone who knew her might have found strange. Usually she was prone to being blunt, flat, and defensive. Awe just... Wasn't something she expressed very often. The fact that there were schools for people like her just mystified her, though. Her father had never exactly liked this supposed talent of hers, and it had caused more trouble than it had brought about good. Elphaba wanted to make good, though. Her dream had been to go to the Emerald City and meet with the Wizard, maybe even become some kind of part of his rankings... But all that time she'd been held back by her inexperienced magic. Now that she had Remus on her side, or at least had him to help her try and get her powers under control, there was a chance that maybe her dream could come true.

"Where I'm from, magic is sort of rare. I haven't met very many people who can use it, and mine... Well, it's like you've said. The problem is my family. My father doesn't like what I've displayed, and my sister isn't that fond of it either," she explained. Her gaze followed Remus and she listened as he explained his wand. Having never met anyone who could use magic as she could, the sight of a wand was out of the ordinary for her. If it helped him, though, then she had to wonder if it could help her as well. Hope briefly flickered in Elphaba's eyes. Maybe she really could get her opportunity to meet with the Wizard. It was just a matter of honing her skills.

"Do you think you could help someone like me? I'd love to get to a point where it's less unpredictable," she said. What she didn't expect was for Remus's attention to shift. What in the world was he looking at? Elphaba glanced around and soon spotted a black dog of some kind. It was strange to say the very least. She'd seen other animals around the school, but this dog was unfamiliar to her. Even stranger was that he didn't seem that deterred from approaching her. Most would balk at the idea of approaching a freakish green young woman. In spite of herself, Elphaba allowed curiosity to betray her features.

"And who is this?"

[Princess Luna]

"A magic class taught by one of these two legged beasts? Tis a shock to us!"

Luna opened the door using the magic on her horn, ears folded back as she trotted in. She blinked towards Elphaba and then the dog. The dog was normal. The two humans were not. They were different looking than Hiccup. The male was taller, stockier than the trainer of dragons Luna had come to know. He was covered in scars and had tattered clothing. She raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Thou art the teacher?" She said with a sniff, "Hmmmm."

Moving on, the princess trotted towards Elphaba. "Ah, tis a sight to behold! A hoo-man in a shade other than pasty pale or shades of tan and brown." She smiled. Green. That was a shade she was familiar with! Ponies came in all sorts of green. Mint, forest, all sorts. "It is nice to meet you fellow classmate! We are Princess Luna of Equestria! Come to experience this class!" She blinked.

"Dost thou have magic as well? You must be part unicorn after all! Tell us about thyself, fair creature?"

[Remus]

"Yes, there are many great magic schools out in the world, spotted around the globe. I actually was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at one just a little while ago." Remus said, forcing his gaze to shift back to Elphaba. He'd have to have a word with Sirius later. To be here of all places... well, Remus hoped the news of the Muggles didn't spread as fast as the news of the wizards, otherwise most of them in the school would know who Sirius was. Remus wasn't going to take the chance of anyone overhearing him while talking to Sirius. Even the students might know, so it'd be best to not say a word just yet.

"Well, your probably from a neighborhood of what wizards call muggles; non-magic folk. Not many wizards of witches are born from muggles, most of them being from wizard families. Though, I've seen many brilliant witches and wizards come out of muggle families as well." For a moment, Remus' smile turned into a frown. Most muggle parents, like Lily's he knew, were amazed by the abilities their children had and supportive of them. But some, like the muggles Harry was forced to reside with despised magic in all it's kind. Harry... Remus had to wonder how he was doing briefly at his fourth year at Hogwarts. Hopefully well.

"Well, I had a student with the same problems of your family last year. He had to stay with his aunt and uncle, you see, after his parents got killed." A flash of pain flitted across his eyes, but he quickly shook it away. No need to tell the details and scare the girl with the story of Voldermort. "They weren't, per say, fond of magic. They actually tried to stomp the magic right out of him, I heard. But like you, he had those weird incidents where when his emotions were on high levels, sometimes just a poof of magic can be found. I also heard they almost refused to give him the letter to the magic school that was inviting him, Hogwarts, but thankfully another teacher got it to him. Imagine, all those great lengths to extinguish a power!"

Remus shook his head, realizing he had probably been talking quite a bit by now, before looking at Sirius, realizing Elphaba had posed a question. After a moment or two, Remus replied. "And old friend of mine." He hoped that answer would suffice the girl for now, before he turned to see another student entering, and for a moment he was more shocked than he was at Elphaba's initial entrance.

It was unicorn. Or at least it seemed like it. Instead of a regular unicorn, it had a dark blue coat, with a... an actual flowing mane which looked like it contained stars. For a moment, he blinked as he heard her comment towards him. So, this unicorn could do magic? Sure, the wizarding community knew a unicorn's horn, mane, and tail had magical properties, but actually doing magic? Any one who studied magical creature would be amazed. Sure, he thought he had seen horses wandering the school, but an unicorn?

Then he realized that she had posed a question to him. "Yes, I am the teacher." He said, raising his eyebrow back at the unknown princess as of yet. Well, if she could do magic, this had ought to be an interesting class. And when she turned to talk to Elphaba, he noticed the wings on her back. Wings?! This unicorn was a mixture of a unicorn and a winged horse no less! And she was princess? Maybe the wizarding community isn't the only thing being kept secret. Remus thought, still a bit stunned, before he shook his head a bit. How were the other students going to be?

[Elphaba]

Muggles? Was that what her father and sister were? Neither of them had magical abilities, at least as far as she had been able to tell, but she'd never known whether to call them anything or not. The idea that there was a term for it was a little strange. Elphaba wasn't about to comment on it, though. She just nodded a little after Remus explained that much. Her intent after that had been to actually explain that her father was ashamed of her, but Remus had begun to talk about how he had a student who, evidently, was in the same situation as her. His aunt and uncle tried to stamp the magic out of him. A wince followed; Elphaba couldn't imagine her family trying to stamp her magic out. All her father had done was try to make her hide it.

"The most my father's done is tell me to hide what I can do. My sister, too... But she at least is more understanding than my father. My father's not the most understanding person, let's leave it at that," Elphaba said. She would have gone into the full details of why her father hated her, but it was hardly the time. Remus had answered her question of who the dogs, at least to a certain degree, and Elphaba accepted it. The dog apparently wasn't capable of speaking, though. She found that much strange; back home animals had been able to talk with ease. What was wrong with this one?

She wanted to ask, but Luna's words caught her attention rather successfully. Elphaba looked Luna's way and found herself surprised by the appearance of a winged unicorn. There certainly were no creatures like her back in Oz. Evidently, though, Luna could use magic. She also, quite obviously, was pleased to see Elphaba. Elphaba's eyes darted to her skin for a moment before she looked back to Luna. She didn't think it was the least bit strange or frightening? Elphaba had adjusted to the fact that maybe animals weren't terribly bothered by her skin color, but it was still strange to hear that people weren't bothered by it at all. The green-skinned girl had grown so accustomed to people avoiding her and making fun of her that this was strange to adjust to.

The fact that Luna had asked her a question had only just registered.

"Y-Yes, I do. It doesn't... Bother you? My greenification, I mean."

[Deleted]

A magic class taught by one of these two legged beasts? Tis a shock to us!"

Padfoot let out a grunt of surprise. No need to blow his cover. 'It's a bloody unicorn! A unicorn and a winged horse had a child together!' was what he would have loved to yell. 'Look at it Remus!' he snapped his head towards the man, letting out a soft woof before listening to what Luna had to say. He cocked his head as he listened 'Princess?, Equestria?' He gave a confused look, having never heard of such a thing in his life.

"Well, I had a student with the same problems of your family last year. He had to stay with his aunt and uncle, you see, after his parents got killed."

Remus's words shook the thoughts of Princess Luna out of his mind right quick, and his ears drooped at the mention of his best friend's death. Harry wasn't going to stay there for long if Sirius had anything to say about it. He gave another snort and shifted to laying down on his stomach at Remus' feet

[Princess Luna]

Luna snorted softly, raising her wings and lowering them. "Hm, we were not aware that you creatures new about magic. We shall see what your abilities are, teacher. In good time we shall see." The disbelief hung on her tongue as she gave Remus the same stern look she often gave to Twilight. She pushed back on her hooves as she caught word of what Elphaba was speaking about. Her flank color again. She beamed, nodding her head.

"Bother us? Why should it bother us?" She said with a bright smile, "Everypony where we rule come in varieties of shades! It is refreshing for us to see a change among your kind!" Her maw parted as she listened to Remus' story. She watched the dog get visibly upset before she returned her head to Remus.

"Oh, we are sorry for that child's tragedy," she said raising a hoof towards him, "Alas he knows magic, does he not? That is quite good. I pray his Aunt and Uncle are kind." She moved herself next to Elphaba and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Might we inquire what type of magic your special talent allows you, kind professor?"

[Elphaba]

That... Was an excellent question, actually. Why should it have bothered the animals whether or not she was green or blue or even purple with orange spots? It was just something Elphaba had come to expect through her many years of being mocked and hated. Luna's acceptance, on top of the acceptance of Rahne that she'd discovered the other night, was slowly beginning to make Elphaba believe that maybe things would truly be different here. Slowly, a hesitant smile formed on Elphaba's face and a slight laugh followed. Maybe she should explain.

"Well... Green isn't a normal color amongst us humans. I've gotten my fair share of strange looks and all ever since I was small," Elphaba admitted. In fact, now that she thought about it, it wasn't just Luna who hadn't had a problem with it in this class. Remus hadn't commented on it, either, and the dog seemed okay with it too. Maybe she really had found her place at last. Maybe she didn't need to work so hard to find acceptance anymore. It was worth hoping for, anyway. The worst that could happen was that she was proved wrong. Until that time, though, Elphaba would hold out a bit of fool's hope that for once things were going her way. For once it wouldn't just be her sister that was loved and admired amongst their peers. It would be so lovely if that could be true.

"I think I'm going to like this class," she said at length. "It's nice not to have everyone in the room stare at me like I'm going to melt or something."

[Remus]

"Well, I suppose that can go either way in good and bad spectrum." Remus said, frowning a bit as he spoke to Elphaba. "The ministry of magic would be not too pleased if word leaked out to everyone that wizards and witches still exist. They have many rules why, and most of them are understandable. Though, you shouldn't have to quell your magic everywhere. For example, this school. So far, I've learned there a great deal of magic users are out here. Plus, it depends on what kind of magic you have when we find a real source for you to power them through, like a wand." Remus said with a nod.

Remus looked down when he heard Padfoot softly 'woof', and saw the confused look upon his face. Well, he wasn't the only one per say. But he couldn't just shout it out and drop a letter to the minstry of magic about her, could he? When Luna spoke to him, he just raised an eyebrow towards her again. "I didn't expect unicorns or flying horses to now magic either." Remus said truthfully, raising his eyebrows again, before turning around so he could fully face Luna and Elphaba. "Do you wish to start the lesson now, so we can fully use the period? We won't move so fast along that anyone else attending won't fall behind." Remus said, nodding before turning around towards his desk, and walking swiftly toward it

Gathering the few papers scattered among his desk, Remus spoke as he grabbed the papers. "Well, Luna, I have a question for you. You see, there hasn't been a report on any unicorn... or winged horse for that matter having magical properties before, and wizards and witches have I know delved deeply into the subject, trying to figure out how a unicorn's horn, blood, and hair have magical properties. How do you, per say, expel your magic?"

As he listened to Luna's comment on his quick story of Harry. "Indeed, he does know magic. He's in his fourth year of learning magic at Hogwarts currently. Sadly, that is not so about his family. His Aunt, Uncle, and even his cousin hates him, though he's a fine boy." When Luna asked what his special talent allowed him to do in magic, he looked bemused for a moment. "Special talent? Well, I suppose I can say I'm well rounded in all my areas in magic. I suppose I'm a bit better in Defense Against the Dark Arts, as a friend of mine duly noted last year."

After gathering his papers together in a small neat pile, he looked up toward Elphaba, giving her a small smile. "Well, I do don't see any reason personally to stare, just because you look a little different."