Order Only - forest challenge

[alt_draco]

We haven't much time this go around, so I'll get straight to it.

To all you adults who do or have spent time at Hogwarts, what do you know about the layout of the Forbidden Forest? Or of the migration patterns of the creatures living there? The insight of those of you who have taught Care of Magical Creatures is particularly welcome. Mr Macnair, I seem to recall that you were always coming in and out of the Forest, and that you were always growling cautioning us to stay out of there. Have you any advice?

Here's our task:

Happy Vernal Equinox!

We know you have all been waiting impatiently for the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Why not celebrate with a walk in the woods?

Sometime before supper is served on Sunday, go to the Forbidden Forest and bring back an artefact belonging to a dangerous magical creature you find there. For example, a fire crab shell, a thestral's tail, an ashwinder egg, an acromantula fang, perhaps a werewolf's head. We'd even accept a Centaur's bow - if you can manage to capture one.

Beware of trolls. Good luck.

Comments

[alt_macnair]

My advice now is the same as it was then. Stay out.

Seems that's not an option. Let me have a look at my old field notes and I'll tell you more.

You suppose they're going to check to see you've actually visited the Forest? Could have an easier time getting a fire crab shell from a novelty shop, or don't these young council members know that fire crabs are native to Fiji and not hanging about Scotland? Also, the thestrals in the Forest are semi-tame. I used them myself for lessons, several times. Reckon they'd not willingly give up their tail, though.

[alt_draco]

The more dangerous the creature, the more impressive the artefact, the higher the score, I'm sure. It probably wouldn't be too hard to find some strands of thestral hair tangled up in the shrubbery, but that would be particularly low-hanging fruit.

[alt_charlie]

Be very careful. And even though this is a competition, let the rest of them know to be careful, if you can. If you wander into centaur territory without permission, they'll defend it, and their penalties for interlopers are severe -- they'll kill you as easily as look at you if they decide to treat you as adults rather than children.

Mac, what do you think, the southwest edge is probably the best option? There's the acromantula colony, but you don't want to go near that with less than a dozen wands on hand.

And if you do find thestral hair in the shrubbery, grab whatever you can. Melli can always use some for wands.

[alt_macnair]

Best option? Safest. Probably not best, for these purposes.

Keep an eye out for unicorn hair, too.

[alt_draco]

I'm not planning to tell anyone to be careful who can't already read what I've written here. If they don't already know how to be careful by now that's on them, not me.

It sounds to me as if a centaur artefact would be the most impressive. And dangerous.

[alt_charlie]

It would, and if that's what you want, I bet you Mac or I could negotiate you an arrowhead. Or Professor Dumbledore, he's on good enough terms with them. But don't try on your own, not without an introduction first. I'm not kidding when I say they'll kill you without you ever seeing them coming, no matter how good you are.

[alt_macnair]

Well, you won't find any lethifolds or basalisks in the Forest, so count those out. Werewolves, too, as the full moon was Sunday (unless Remus will let you borrow his head. Reckon not). The most dangerous creatures to heavily populate the Forest are centaurs (actually classified as XXXX, not XXXXX, but their cleverness and pride gives them an upgrade, if you ask me) and acromantulae. Less dangerous but still nothing to sneeze at are the thestrals and trolls.

[alt_sirius]

No more willingly than Remus would give up his head - whether it's currently in the form of a wolf's or not.

We spent loads of time in the forest but it was years ago. Mac, you know better than I, I'm sure, but at least when we were going there regularly the spiders generally kept to their own area deep in the western sectors - and higher up than the forest floor, so they were relatively easy to avoid.

The centaurs, though ... they move about. I think in spring they move southeast, toward the castle. They'll also certainly be out tonight and the next couple of nights, watching the skies. Mac's right about avoiding them at all costs, though.

There ... is a native guide, of sorts. If you can find him. Right, Mac?

[alt_macnair]

What's he made this time, you reckon?

It's bound to be dangerous.

[alt_sirius]

Dunno, but it's bound to be at least as troublesome as those skrewts.

I told Harry I'd come up to watch the Quidditch; if you lot liked, I could go along as Padfoot and help make sure we skirt the worst danger on the way to him. I figure he can probably help negotiate with Aragog and maybe get you all some acromantula venom. Or a skrewt stinger or something.

[alt_draco]

I've no idea who you're talking about.

Unless - not that giant, Haggard. He's still around?

And what exactly is a skrewt?

[alt_sirius]

Rubeus Hagrid, half-giant, and he was a member of the Order back in the day - a loyal one, too.

There's not a better man to keep one company in that forest - not even Mac knows those grounds the way Hagrid does.

And a skrewt is a nightmare. One of Hagrid's, er, hobbies, is experimental breeding.

Mind you, a skrewt is plenty dangerous when it's alive. I'm not sure it'd qualify once it's dead, though.

[alt_sirius]

Though while we're on the subject, we should probably ask him about harvesting their blast sacs so Fu can turn them into incendiaries ....

[alt_gredforge]

Now you're talking our kind of language.

[alt_draco]

I'd say it sounds promising, except if I don't know what a skrewt is, the sponsors won't, either. That might make it more impressive to them, or decidedly less.

[alt_luna]

I wonder if the judges would be impressed by some unicorn droppings?

They're supposed to glow faintly in the dark.

I don't think there is anything distinctive about any other kinds of droppings you could find in the Forbidden Forest, however.

[alt_fred]

What'll be done with the artifacts afterwards? Presented to the Lord Protector?

How I'd love to be a fly on the wall to observe Percy presenting His Ponciness with an elaborately wrapped box of unicorn doo doo.