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Enough of that booklearning, we need some real beasties.

First Year - Lesson 3

Acromantula

The Acromantula is a giant spider.  It has eight eyes, thick black hair, a legspan of up to fifteen feet, pincers, and a poisonous secretion.  The pincers produce a clicking sound when the beast is excited or angry.  The Acromantula is also capable of human speech.

The Acromantula is carnivorous.  Being a giant spider, it also prefers, even needs, large prey to survive.  Flies and mice will not provide the beast with enough food.  As with most spiders, the female is larger than the male, and may lay up to 100 eggs at a time.  These eggs are soft, white, and as large as beach balls.  The eggs hatch after approximately two months.  

First sighted in 1794 in the jungles of Borneo, the Acromantula is usually found in dense, wooded areas.  Their webs are large and dome shaped, kept on the ground.  This is because the number of flying deer in the forests tends to be low, as flying deer prefer the plains.

The Acromantula is believed to be wizard bred, due to its ability to speak human tongue.  It was probably intended to guard the wizard's home or possessions.

The Acromantula is a Class XXXXX (5X) beast.  You should attempt to avoid this creature at all costs.  While there are reports of an individual raising one in a box, this is a very rare instance, and should not be repeated.  Should you meet an Acromantula, you should expect to die.  While capable of human speech, and quite willing to converse for a time, you will qualify as 'large prey' and be considered food.  Before dinner conversation does not spare you from being dinner.

The Acromantula avoids Muggle notice by living in hard to reach areas, and eating any Muggle who should, in fact, wander into its area.

Because of the Acromantula's dangerous nature, pictures of them are hard to obtain.  Here are two images, one of an actual Acromantula, the other a plastic model, which should provide an idea of the size of the creature.

Ashwinder

The Ashwinder is a thin, pale grey serpent, with glowing red eyes.  It is created when a magical fire is allowed to burn unchecked for too long.  A magical fire is one created by magic, or one where magical ingredients, such as Floo powder, have been added.  The Ashwinder will rise from the embers of the fire and slither away into the shadows, leaving an ashy trail.

The Ashwinder has a very short life span, approximately one hour.  During its short life, it seeks a dark and secluded spot to lay eggs.  Once the eggs are lain, the Ashwinder will collapse into dust.  Ashwinder eggs are a brilliant red and give off intense heat.  They will ignite the house within minutes if not found.  If found, they must be frozen with a freezing charm.  Failure to find and freeze them will result in the house being destroyed by fire.  

Frozen Ashwinder eggs have a high value on the market.  One popular use is as an ingredient in Love Potions.  

The Ashwinder is a Class XXX (3X) beast.  A skilled wizard can find and freeze Ashwinder eggs without harm.  Some wizards actually try to breed them, specifically to freeze and sell the eggs.  This must be done with great caution, and preferably in a stone laboratory.  Should you find an Ashwinder, either summon a teacher immediately, or attempt a freezing charm if you have learned one.  If neither is possible, leave immediately, and watch the fire from a safe distance.

The Ashwinder avoids Muggle notice by resembling any number of common snakes.  Should a Muggle see one, they merely think a snake has entered the house.  Should the house subsequently burn to the ground, the Muggle will likely believe the fire was caused by a problem with the electric wiring.

Flobberworms

Flobberworms.  Creatures of excitement, delight, and endless entertainment.  Or not.

Flobberworms live in damp areas, such as ditches.  They are long worms, up to ten inches in length.  They are brown and slimey.  The Flobberworm moves little, and it is impossible to tell one end from the other, unless you are, yourself, a Flobberworm.  It is likely the Flobberworms reproduce as do normal worms, but nobody has cared to find out.

The Flobberworm's mucus is used as a potion thickener.  Remember this the next time you must drink a potion.  Flobberworms can eat most vegetation, though they seem to have a preference for lettuce.

Flobberworms are a Class X (1X) beast.  They pose no threat to wizards, unless stepped upon, in which case the wizard is usually forced to remove Flobberworm slime from between the toes.

Flobberworms avoid Muggle notice the same way they avoid Wizard notice.  They look like worms and don't move much.

First Year - Assignment 3

Direct your answers to your professor at comc@starpaw.com.  Clicking on this link will fill in year and assignment number.

All answers must be in your own words.  

Remember, making your answers interesting and/or amusing may result in bonus points at the end of the term.

1.  Describe an Acromantula.

2.  What is the Acromantula's Ministry of Magic rating?  Why does it have that rating?

3.  Describe an Ashwinder.

4.  What is the Ashwinder's Ministry of Magic rating?  Why does it have that rating?

5.  Describe a Flobberworm.

6.  What is the Flobberworm's Ministry of Magic rating?  Why does it have that rating?

7.  You are on a journey, and you spot an Acromantula.  What do you do and why?

8.  You look up from your chair at home, and you spot an Ashwinder.  What do you do and why?

9.  You are walking along the road and you spot a Flobberworm.  What do you do and why?

10.  How do Acromantulas, Ashwinders, and Flobberworms avoid Muggle Notice?

What is your name and House?