Hermione took a deep breath and entered the classroom. This was it. She went over the plan with her friends countless times. Everything that could potentially go wrong was covered and now, all they had to do was wait for the moment to strike. Uncharacteristically, she drifted off near the back, Theo sitting next to her. Draco sat at the front, his seat near the door with Blaise on his right. Pansy and the Greengrass twins, Daphne and Astoria, sat in the middle with Crabbe and Goyle behind them. The atmosphere was tense but none of the Gryffindors took note of this odd seating arrangement as they anxiously filed in, curious as to who the new professor may be.

"I am Professor Moody." A loud booming voice echoed throughout the classroom, making everyone jump as a beat-up, rigid, man hobbled in. "This will be a practical class. I tolerate no nonsense. We will start with familiarizing you with the darkest curses. You there, Longbottom! Can you name one of the unforgivables?" Neville was quavering. Hermione swore she could hear his teeth chatter halfway across the room.

"T-the cru-cru-cia-atus curse, pro-professor."

"10 points to Gryffindor! Indeed. Now, observe. Crucio!" He aimed at the enlarged spider and it immediately writhed in pain. The entire Gryffindor half of the class gasped as the spider seemed to be going mad. Neville looked as if he was about to faint. "So painful, it will make the victim wish for death!" He stalked about the classroom. "Ah, Weasley. Care to share another curse?"

"The imperius curse… professor." His voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Of course, another 10 points. Imperio!" He yet again demonstrated on a new spider, making it crawl over the students and dance, before contemplating if he should make it drown itself or jump out the window. The laughing immediately seized as he again stalked the classroom. Hermione watched him intently, although always keeping it subtle with one hand on her wand. "Ah, you there. You should be much familiar with the unforgivable, no?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione raised her eyebrow, her voice calm.

"Why, you must be the new transfer student from Durmstrang. Sorry, I only assumed you would be knowledgeable of these curses due to the standings of your headmaster." He gave a nasty smile but Hermione intended to push him even more.

"One mustn't be so quick as to openly judge." She stated innocently.

"Ah yes, well, my mistake." He retreated back to the front of the classroom. "I do hope you and your parents find the change rather… pleasant." Even the Gryffindors could feel the tension now and all eyes were on the professor and Hermione, who shot Moody quite the death glare. "… Miss Dolohov." At this, gasps and a couple of whimpers were heard on the Gryffindor side and whispering ensued. "Quiet!" His voice boomed. He stood stoically at the front of the classroom, before abruptly sending a red spark towards Hermione, who already expecting an attack, quickly deflected the curse.

"Harassing a student? That will surely get you thrown out, but attacking one? I see Azkaban in your future." She drawled and stood up.

"I think we all know who ought to be in Azkaban." He growled. "Everyone, leave. NOW!"

Many of the Gryffindors scrambled out of their seats and were about to head for the door, but Draco was quicker. He sealed the door shut and blocked the way with his body. Crabbe and Goyle were up there with him in a flash as we cast a silencing spell on the entire room.

"No one is leaving until the job is done." Draco hissed and pointed his wand towards the Gryffindors. "Anyone that moves without permission will be hexed and I will not discriminate."

Following Draco's orders, he Slytherins hustled to the left side of the room, Pansy and Daphne quickly casting strong shields for the group. Meanwhile, Moody told the Gryffindors to retreat to the right. Astoria quickly cast a charm that placed them in a magic-free bubble, rendering the lions useless.

"Now, where were we?" Hermione sneered as she stepped into the aisle. Another red spark came her way but she smoothly side-stepped it. "Now, you're going to have to do better than that. I'm afraid you're losing your touch." She said mockingly, making a pouty face.

"Do you know how many innocent people your father has tortured and killed?" He sent more orange and blue sparks in her direction but she easily deflected them all. The Gryffindors cheered on the professor as it appeared that Hermione was stuck in the defensive position.

"Come on Professor, teach her a lesson!" Harry shouted and Hermione made a mental note to make his life even more miserable. Draco, however, casually leaned against the door and smirked. He knew exactly what she was doing – playing with her food.

"Is that all you know how to do? Defending won't win girl. Perhaps your father should teach you some actual lessons." He sent a green spark her way but she ducked. "And that class, is the third curse – the killing curse."

Hermione glared at him. That's it, the time for games was up. She hurled a burgundy stream toward him, and although he deflected it, it caught him off guard and he stumbled backwards. His look of surprise was quickly wiped off his face, however, as he regained his composure.

"You wanted to play dirty, not me." She sneered and the two engaged in a full out duel. Sparks were flying everywhere and cheers were coming from both sides of the classroom. Hermione, however, was growing mentally tired of this game and decided to bring out an old Dolohov trick. She hurled a powerful jet of purple and black towards the retired auror, who clearly underestimated her magical abilities. Hitting him square in the chest, he flew backwards and crashed into his desk, leaving him temporarily dazed. "Felio funem!" (A/N: if you've read my previous stories, I do tend to make up new spells. Keeping with the tradition, they are of course, Latin based.) She hissed and the tip of her wand exploded. A black cobra emerged and tightly wrapped itself around the still dazed professor before transforming into a black rope.

"Now, I didn't hit you with all the potency, you should only just be a bit scratched." Hermione chuckled as she knelt down in front of Moody, who tried to move but stopped abruptly as the rope came back to life in the form of a cobra and bared its fangs. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your highly acclaimed defense teacher and retired auror who claimed to have jailed my innocent father." She boasted as she walked along side the shuddering Gryffindors.

"Please, you don't even have the guts to kill him!" Ron shouted.

"Me? Kill people? Oh, you have it very wrong. I just want justice served but I would never stoop that low." She sneered. "No… that will be a job for… well, it doesn't matter…. Oh right. Before I forget. Accio Moody's Wand." The wooden stick immediately flew towards her and landed in her hand. She sauntered over to her bag and pulled out a small jewel decorated box. "Here, I think you will find this handy." She tossed it towards Moody, knowing full well that we couldn't catch it. It didn't matter anyways as the portkey opened the second it made contact with him and engulfed him to his fate. Hermione simply stared at the now empty space at which the professor sat and appeared to have lost herself in time.