The Hogwarts Extras

•The Invite•

"Good afternoon, Professor." The students smiled as Lupin held their door open for class.

The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts room and sat in their chairs. Most of the students didn't take anything out- hoping for the same hands-on experience they got on Monday.

"Alright," Said Professor Lupin, he walked to the front of the class and leaned back onto his desk. "thank you for all your assistance for the boggart Monday, It was a team effort, and I am glad you all stepped up; even though you were facing your worst fear." He gave a small grin, then quickly turned around and walked around his desk.

"Now," Lupin flicked his wand and all the curtains dropped over the windows of the classroom. The projector turned on, and a light screen dropped down behind him. "Hah, yes I know, we had a very exciting lesson yesterday, and now- what? A slideshow?" He chuckled to himself.

"Yes, I can agree this can be quite bore some. We will be learning about-" The sound of the slide changing could be heard.

"Suddenly, I'm bored." Yawned Sam

A clang was heard at the at the front of the classroom, the eyes all suddenly looked to where the sound came from. "This, my friends, is a Red Cap," An ugly looking garden gnome that had a red-ish white long cap laying on its head. The face looked as if someone had smashed it to be flat, it was probably a good three or four foot feet tall, and very dirty. The Professor had it in a large enough cage for it to move around.

"yes, yes, quite a sight." He chuckled while putting his hands inside his pocket and admiring the creature. "You see this hat on its head? Well, many Red Caps actually have their caps a deeper color of red. This Red Cap, is actually a young one." His eyes left the creature and looked at the class. "Can anyone tell me you can identify a youngling?"

The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs went silent, Sam slowly raised her hand unsure of her answer. "Uhh, because of the color of their hat? It's lighter than an adult's?" She said uncertainly.

"Precisely, Sam. Very good." He said to her. Sam went pink at the praise. "Yes, you see Red Caps dye their hats with human blood. The young ones have not used enough blood to do so. That's how you identify them."

He smiled at the horrified class, the girls stopped taking notes (that weren't required), and Hannah squeaked.

"Alright, I was just kidding with the slide show, but I must have it quite dark. You see, these extraordinary creatures live in the darkness. I wanted to make it comfortable."

"Course, only he would want to make that comfortable." Shivered Hannah.

"One more fact I will throw at you:" Lupin started, "they are immortal. Meaning, for those who do not know- they shall not die.

"Now, there is a way to kill them. You have to let their caps dry out. No blood, no life. If you know where one is, do not go to them, tell everyone to not go anywhere near the area surrounding their property. After a while when they have no blood, their hats will dry, and they will die. That's the only way to kill them."

"Well that sure was an interesting lesson. How ever did he get the Red Cap in his possession?" Noemi asked, rhetorically. "Can't do much harm since it's still a young." Sam shrugged. "Also, how did you know how to distinguish the difference between young and adults?"

"I read ahead, once we found out he's a good teacher, I wanted to know what else he's teaching."

"Well, he was our last class of the day. You going to head to the kitchens like we promised the rest of them?" Asked Noemi while fixing her bag full of books. Hermione Granger walked right past them; accidentally pushing Noemi's shoulder: a quick, "Sorry." Was mumbled from her, then turned the corner in a rush.