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Chapter 9:

Professor Laurie Mincey

The Gryffindors first day back at school turned out to be particularly boring. They had three hours of Herbology with Professor Sprout. She showed the class the most disgusting plants James could imagine. Lily even looked like she was about to throw up. They looked remarkably like thick, black, giant slugs. "Bubotubers," Professor Sprout had told them. She charged them with the task of collecting their pus. Lily had turned a bright green colour at the idea of squeezing the slug-like plants. Their pus thick and a yellowish-green colour. Professor Sprout had informed them that the bubotuber pus provides an excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne. James noticed a particularly spotty Hufflepuff girl stowing a bottle of pus under her robe. James struggled not to laugh.

When the bell rang the Gryffindors set off towards the care of magical creatures' paddock where Professor Kettleburn was waiting for them. Inside the centre of the paddock were several large wooden crates. Further back was an even larger crate. "Fire crabs," Professor Kettleburn informed the class. He magically removed the lid of the smaller crates. Inside the crates were several large, tortoise-like creatures with six legs and heavily jewelled shells. "They are native to what island? Yes Miss Evans?"

"Fiji," Lily answered.

"Very good Miss Evans. It's good to know that at least one of my students has done some reading over the summer. Now… fire crabs can defend themselves by shooting flames from their rear end. The Fire Crab is a protected species. There is a reservation for the creatures to protect them from the muggles; that would valeue the jewelled shell and wizards; who use the shells as cauldrons. A special licence is needed if one wants to have a fire crab as a pet… Of course there is also the giant fire crab…" He went to open the larger crate, "The Giant Fire Crab has been near extinction for some time due to hunting by unscrupulous wizard poachers. We do have several in our very own forest… we will be spending the next week looking after these fire crabs. You have your textbooks… find out the creatures dietary and habitat requirements and then organise it."

Things weren't much better after lunch. The marauders minus Remus made their way to Divination. The classroom smelled strongly of sickly sweet perfume. The curtains were closed and the room was cast in a strange reddish sort of light. James made his way over to his usual seat. He smiled briefly at Lily who had her head in a textbook. "Good day," Professor Lifflilee said to the class at large. She made her way passed several students, making predictions as she went, before returning to her seat by the fire. "My dears, it is time for us to consider the stars," she whispered. "Much is to be revealed about our lives in the movements of the planets. Human destiny may be deciphered by the planetary rays…" James grew sleepy as Professor Lifflilee continued. He only woke up when Lily elbowed him in the rib. Lifflilee was handing out circular charts, "I want you to plot the exact position of the planets at the moment of your birth."

James and Lily worked individually on the task at hand and so barely spoke. It was incredibly dull work. Lily seemed to be almost enjoying herself as she plotted the planets. James however just looked bored. Just before the bell rang she gave them their homework, "A detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart for next Monday."

Lily had Ancient Runes before dinner but James and Sirius had a free period. "We probably should make a start on this homework – it's going to take forever," James suggested.

"Who are you and what have you done with my best mate James Potter?" Sirius asked.

James laughed as he practically pushed Sirius towards the library. Peter, Mary, Alice, Marlene and Kate following closely behind them.

At dinner, the Gryffindor table was alive with conversation about the new defence teacher. One seventh year had told James that Professor Mincey clearly knew what she was talking about but by gum wasn't she terrifying. The first years were traumatised and were as of yet unable to talk about the hour they had spent with her that morning. The fourth years were irritated that they weren't due to have defence until Thursday. Ben Treacy, a Gryffindor sixth year was sat talking to a seventh year, Clyde Lane, "Seriously brilliant – I mean she knows… you know…"

Clyde nodded, "She's scary as hell though."

"Too right she is…" Ben agreed.

James joined their conversation, "We've not had her yet… what was it like?"

"Bloody brilliant!" Ben smiled as Clyde merely nodded. "Never had a lesson like it."

"It's just so real…" Clyde blurted out, "She makes it feel like you're fighting dark wizards in the classroom… it's so real…"

The next two days passed slowly. The fourth years were anxious for their defence lesson so Tuesday and Wednesday couldn't go fast enough. They were so excited that they arrived early on Thursday. They had rushed down a quick lunch and rushed to their defence classroom. The students fought over seats and for the first time in the history of Hogwarts the marauders were sat on the front row by their own choice. They took out their copies of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, and waited quietly for their teacher to arrive. Professor Mincey entered the classroom and pulled a face. James couldn't decide whether it was her attempt at a smile or she was in a particularly foul mood. Professor Mincey didn't say a word. Instead she pulled out a roll of parchment and began to take the register. "This year we will be studying a wide range of defence topics… we will cover some more dangerous dark creatures… for example dementors… I know many of you attempted the patronus charm last year but I do not expect that the majority of the class will achieve it this year… but we can hope. We will study some basic curses as well as practicing basic duelling skills and techniques."

"Curses… They come in many strengths and forms… now if you are to be successful in your duelling then you need to be prepared for anything; whether it is just a small minor curse or an unforgivable curse… you have to know what you are up against. I'm not supposed to teach you about the unforgivable, hell I'm not supposed to teach you about illegal curses at all until you are in your sixth year. This year we are supposed to focus on counter curses and leave it at that."

"There are thousands of curses… curses that affect speech, curses that change the target's appearance, that immobilise, that cause explosions, curses that cut the skin, curses that cause illness, curses that torment and torture, that control their subject, curses that kill… Some of these curses can't be countered…"

"We're going to start with some basic counter spells... You should already be able to perform the first two… so this should just be review."

The Professor flicked her wand at the black board and beautifully joined up handwriting appeared.

Finite Incantatem – general counter-spell used to terminate all spell effects in a surrounding area.

Uses – duelling, house protection, precaution before answering the door to a visitor.

Incantation – fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tem

Finite – general counter-spell used to stop all currently remaining spell effects on a specific object.

Incantation – fi-NEE-tay

"Work in pairs… you have fifteen minutes…" Professor Mincey told them.

Sirius and James began practicing together. They would take it turns to hex each other and then try and remove the curse using one of the counter-spells. Fifteen minutes later they had both had several different hexes removed and there was no lasting damage.

"Each lesson I will teach you a new counter-curse," the teacher told them. She flicked her wand once more and the words on the board disappeared and a new counter-curse replaced the spells. "Who is willing to be my assistant?"

No one put up their hand, "someone must be willing… I'll just have to pick someone… Miss… Evans…" The Professor sneered at Lily. Lily Evans made her way to the front, wand in hand. "You won't need your wand Miss Evans… not this time anyway. I am merely going to demonstrate on you. The Leg-Locker Curse is a fairly simple curse. I'm sure you all know it well… it was a duelling favourite whilst I was at Hogwarts. LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!" The teacher flicked her wand and Lily's legs locked together. Lily almost fell over in fright. The professor looked like she was enjoying herself. James was gripping the table in front of him as he forced himself to stay in his seat, "Locomotor Vitae," the teacher said almost lazily.

"Now… it is one thing for me to cast the counter-curse but it is another thing for a person to cast a counter-curse under the pressure of being cursed. Miss Evans… now you will need your wand. I will curse you again – I want you to try and perform the counter-curse. The incantation is locomotor vitae."

"LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!" It took a lot of effort for James to just sit there and watch Lily being cursed. He didn't understand why it bothered him so much but he sighed in relief when he heard Lily cast the counter-curse, "Locomotor Vitae."

"I want you to pair up again… practice on each other…"

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