Chapter 25: First Lesson of The Term

On the face of the lectern, Professor Sherlock Forester arranged the magical model of a small, humanoid creature that was not unlike a goblin in appearance, yet it adorned a prominent, bright red cap.

Intrigued eyes from a sea of budding witches and wizards, including those from pure-blood lineages, locked onto the red-hatted model with a sense of mystification. Rarely had their eyes set upon such a creature before. Contrary to popular thought, the existence of dark magical beasts was anything but common in the wizarding sphere.

With the worldwide proliferation of Muggles, the expansive, captivating journey of magical creature discovery by wizards had, over time, slumped into a chasm of rigidity. Entities that could be tamed to work alongside their magical masters, soon became household companions, akin to the likes of kneazles, owls, and rats - note however that these species are not identical to those same species that reside in the Muggle world.

The perilous beasts, that held a sliver of hope for domestication by seasoned spell-casters, were collectively rounded up and confined for protection, with dragons considered the epitome of such creatures.

On the other hand, the dark magical beings that offered no potential for taming, or were deemed unworthy of the attempt, found themselves ousted into untamed forests, desolate deserts or untouched rivers — all to ensure safety for unskilled wizards and Muggles alike.

Consequently, this generation of witches and wizards seldom caught sight of these elusive entities, barring professional adventurers.

Seizing upon this opportunity, Sherlock presented a Red Cap model, bought from an alchemy store nestled within the bustling lanes of Diagon Alley. Among dragon models that seemed imbued with life, he had chosen to order a collection of dark magical creature models.

Being simpler to create than their draconian counterparts, the alchemy store owner gladly complied, offering a discounted rate due to the model's relatively basic design.

For Sherlock, these models held a certain didactic charm, particularly for freshly enrolled students unfamiliar with the art of spell-casting — it enabled them to glimpse tangible replicas of dark magical creatures without endangering themselves.

The model on the lectern, a Red Cap clutching a disproportionately oversized wooden club, shuffled around the surface, baring its claws and teeth threateningly as if ready to retaliate against any wizarding novice it distrusted.

"What an abhorrent sight!" exclaimed one student.

"Kinda looks like one of those goblins guarding Gringotts, just way more terrifying."

"The red hat adds a certain peculiar charm, you know.", added another.

"You may think so, but the hat actually symbolizes its evil nature", hearing this comment, a young blond-haired Ravenclaw girl, Luna Lovegood, caught the professor's attention. Luna — a name already etched in the accompanying screenplay of the original tale. Sherlock recognized her from the roll call.

With a swift tap on the lectern with his wand, Sherlock reclaimed his students' attention to unravel the grisly origin of the dark magical being before them.

"Red Caps," he began, "found predominantly in battlefield ruins and forests across Scandinavia, bear resemblance to goblins, yet are implicitly violent in nature. Armed with sharp claws and their wooden clubs, they have been responsible for a staggering 86 reported attacks across Europe in the last century, claiming 43 lives — of which 42 Muggles and one an inept wizard, who had his skull bashed in because he was ignorant of how to deal with this creature."

Upon hearing this grisly recount, a sense of dread seemed to settle over the young students, instantly draining away the novelty and excitement from their earlier curiosity.

"They earned their names from their vanity for red hats. Can anyone guess why this dark magical creature only ever wears a red hat?" Sherlock queried, casting a line to his students' intrigue.

Amidst silence, Luna nervously raised a hand. Noticing her, he acknowledged, "Yes, Miss Lovegood."

Standing before her peers, Luna's silvery eyes seemed perpetually lost, drifting through galaxies in a state of ceaseless exploration. An air of peculiarity elegantly cloaked her like an ethereal mist, effectively separating her from her surroundings.

"Blood. The color comes from blood. Red Caps bathe their hats in the blood of their victims, refreshing the hue as it fades," she declared. Sherlock, impressed but not surprised by her answer, simply nodded and rewarded.

"Five points to Ravenclaw. Thank you, Miss Lovegood, for a perfect account. Their penchant for hats dyed in fresh blood christens them 'Red Caps'," Sherlock explained, before adding, "However, this brutal creature poses only a moderate threat to us wizards. While categorized as a 'XXX' by the Ministry of Magic, any simple spell would suffice to repel a Red Cap as they are mortified by our magic. However as illustrated by the unfortunate case of the wizard they managed to kill, they can prove lethal to those ignorant of their characteristics."

"I sincerely hope none of my students ever fall prey to such a situation and become a laughing stock. Each one of you is to prepare a ten-inch parchment detailing Red Caps' habits, weaknesses, and appropriate response strategies when encountered, by our next class. Whoever produces the best assignment earns this Red Cap model."

The girls seemed to share their indifference toward the model, given its macabre appearance. Yet, the boys' excitement was palpable. The prospect of earning a magical creature model that breathed life was simply too enticing to resist for these eleven-year-olds.

Flourishing his animated models, housed within a discreet bag, Sherlock announced, "Contained within in this bag are the models of each of the dark magical creatures we will study this term. Every time you are asked to write an assignment you have the chance to be rewarded one of them. By term's end, the student with the most models wins exemption from the final exam, directly receiving an 'Outstanding' grade."

This incentive sparked enthusiasm across the room, making even the girls anticipate the upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. Judging from their response, Sherlock's first class with the first years had been a resounding success. The day was far from over though, for the much-anticipated second-year class awaited him next. This one a far greater challenge seeing as the second year students were more knowledgeable and had higher expectations towards their professor.