Chapter 11
"Thinking Before Doing"
As the new term commenced the next morning, the students of Hogwarts all seemed to be thinking the same thing. What would Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Chang be like?
Harry was not too preoccupied with his own personal conflicts to take notice of some of the remarks being made of Hogwarts' newest teacher.
The boys all seemed quite skeptical of the idea of Professor Chang being an efficient teacher.
"He looks like he's twenty at the most. Blimey, he could pass for being a student."
"Shouldn't they have a rule about teachers at Hogwarts being a certain age to teach?"
"Or at least make sure they look like they're adults?"
"He can't possibly lead a class. No one's going to take him seriously."
The girls on the other hand were more than willing to accept their new teacher.
"The way he talks...he sounds like the perfect teacher."
"It's about time the staff had a fresh face among them."
"Isn't he absolutely gorgeous? Why can't any of the boys look like him?"
"Why couldn't he have been a new student!"
Ron could not help but to react to the gossip. "Bloody hell, you think that Chang was a member of the Weird Sisters or something. Even Lockhart didn't get this much attention."
Harry shrugged. "He's definitely made himself a new celebrity."
Hermione looked at Harry worriedly. "Harry, maybe you should just wait until we actually have a class with him. Then you can have a better time assessing the situation."
"Or forget Cho all together," Ron insisted.
"He doesn't have to do that," Hermione hissed at Ron, "At least not yet."
"Aha!" Ron exclaimed, almost in triumph, "So you do think that I have a point!"
"I'll admit that I think you might have one," Hermione snapped, "But you shouldn't judge someone that quickly..."
"Oh please," Ron sighed, cutting her off, "You're defending Chang as much as you did Lockhart. Poor Viktor's going to be crushed."
"What does Viktor have to do with this?" Hermione demanded.
"Thank you for the comforting words," Harry said unenthusiastically as the two of them continued bickering until their arrival to Transfiguration class.
Professor Minerva McGonagall was quick to address the class as they sat down. Obviously, she had a rather important point to make.
"Before we begin," she announced sharply, "I'd like to say that I will not be tolerating any of the gossip that you made be engaging yourselves in with regards to Professor Chang."
Everyone was taken aback by this random comment that was unrelated to her subject.
"I have had enough students for one day giggling and jeering at idea of our new teacher being as..." McGonagall paused as she tried to think of an appropriate word, "As youthful as Professor Chang, as I can assure you he is well above the age of seventeen and he is fully capable and qualified for his post."
The boys still looked skeptical while the girls could not help but stifle their giggles.
"So, as fifth-year students who be preparing this year for your Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations," McGonagall insisted, "I expect you to welcome him with proper respect and etiquette as you would any other new teacher."
Harry had just realized that he did not even think about the OWL exams before now.
"And this will be the end of this discussion in my class and any attempt to continue it needlessly will result in losing house points," she continued, catching a glimpse of Ron's incredulous expression, "Yes, Mr. Weasley. Even from my own house."
Without further ado, they all settled into the lesson. Nobody dared to even think of Professor Chang, as McGonagall was always a woman of her word.
After an hour of copying McGonagall's ever-complicated notes and a discussion of the curriculum for the year, including a brief introductory lesson in transfiguring sundials into ticking clocks, class was dismissed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were on their way to their next lesson when they ran into the twins.
"Just had class with Chang," Fred announced casually.
"Oh, how is he?" Hermione asked almost breathlessly.
The boys looked at her with odd expressions.
"As a teacher, I meant," she said in her defense.
"Bloody weird, he is," George responded in what sounded like awe.
Ron was not sure what to make of his brothers' assessment. "So, he was bad?"
Fred shook his head. "Anything but bad. He's pretty brilliant and really out there."
George nodded. "Really eccentric, he is. Make the complicated sound so simple."
"How is he...personally," Harry asked in curiosity.
"Like the teacher you'd want to be friends with, I'd say," Fred smiled earnestly.
"I wonder if he might have anything to add to the joke shop," George wondered aloud.
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, surprised and somewhat perplexed.
At long last, the time for the fifth-year Gryffindors' first class with Professor Chang had arrived. After badgering him into eating a few bites of lunch, Ron and Hermione half-ushered and half-dragged Harry to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Harry," Hermione insisted.
"Might as well get it over with, mate," Ron added.
"Can't I just skip, just this once?" Harry groaned in agony.
Naturally, Hermione was not going to have any of this. "You're not skipping the first class of the year."
Ron nodded. "Just go already or she may get you expelled."
As they arrived and met with their fellow Gryffindors, a faint but highly rhythmical sound could be heard from inside the room.
"Is that...dance music?" Dean asked in surprised.
Harry and Hermione nodded, recognizing an upbeat genre of seemingly Muggle music while the other Gryffindors appeared quite bewildered.
Finally, they all entered the classroom to find Kwan Chang sitting behind his desk and relaxing with his feet up as he read a magazine entitled Magical Meeting Muggle. His head was gently bobbing back and forth in time with the music playing on a device that to Harry resembled a Muggle compact disc player and a magical record player.
Professor Chang let out a light laugh as he read his magazine, finally causing him to look up and see the class arriving for his lesson.
"Good day, lads and lasses," he smiled welcomingly, putting down the magazine. With that, he launched himself over the desk and sat right on the edge of it.
None of the students were quite able to move from the door towards their seats.
"What? Don't the like the music?" he asked causally as he clapped his hands and the music immediately stopped.
Still the student did not moved.
"You know, I don't bite," he added with a good-naturedly smile, "And unfortunately, Hogwarts' not going to give us all day for our lesson."
Finally, they all took their seats as their teacher remained sitting on his desk.
"Well, I'm sure I don't need to introduce myself," he began, "We all know what the latest gossip in the corridors these days."
The Gryffindors looked at each other nervously.
"But I'm not vain and I'd still like to work with you as your teacher," he insisted pleasantly, "That's what I'm here for, after all."
At this point, Chang finally got off his desk and began pacing. "I know what you're all thinking. How can someone like me end up being your teacher?"
He continued pacing, but proved confidant yet humble with each stride.
"But I'm not going to answer that question for you," he spoke again, "Instead, I'm going to do the job I've been hired to do and let you figure out your own answers. Fair?"
Here he gave a modest smile that seemed to calm the air in the room. Harry could not help but feel a strangely different atmosphere that seemed to subtly relax him.
"Now first," Professor Chang continued, "Let's take a look at the curriculum."
He snapped his fingers and caused the blackboard to reveal a layout of neatly written words.
"Now you don't need to copy this down," he insisted, "As I'm sure you'll remember it. Even you, Hermione."
Hermione immediately stopped in the middle of writing on her parchment and began to blush bright red, much to Ron's chagrin.
Indeed, the curriculum was quickly blatantly summed up.
Defense Against the Dark Arts Curriculum
Lesson Objectives:
1. To analyze the possible motives and uses of magical offense
2. To devise possible stratagems and tactics in magical defense
3. To study the theories of both offensive curses and defensive charms
Students will be evaluated upon the practicality of both their submitted work and their input in classroom discussions.
Examination Objectives:
1. To apply the knowledge obtained from lessons in staging of magical offensive situations
2. To assess the outcomes of said staging and thus the level of magical defensive demonstrations
3. To practice and prepare for the Ordinary Wizarding Levels Examinations starting on June 1st
Students will be marked upon the ability to practically exercise their class work to their examinations.
My tips to all of you: Use you common sense, have some wits about and most importantly...think before you do.
The Gryffindors were quite amazed by this simple layout of their curriculum.
"That seems easy enough, right?" Professor Chang nodded, casually leaning upon his desk, "And yes, I think my tips should be of a bit of help. Get those covered and you'll be fine. If not...you'll figure it out, I'm sure. Any questions?"
To no one's surprise, Hermione's hand shot up.
"Hermione," Professor Chang kindly acknowledged.
"Professor Chang," Hermione exclaimed, "I couldn't help but noticed that your curriculum doesn't include practicing spell under your lessons objectives."
As Hermione mentioned it, Harry and everyone quickly realized the same thing.
Professor Chang smiled and nodded. "You caught me but this is exactly how I plan to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts. The spell casting will be reserved for your exams with me."
Ron looked at the young teacher suspiciously and spoke outright. "So you expect us to just...read and write and talk about spells...and be able to actually do them for exam?"
Once again, he smiled and nodded causally. "Yes. In my classroom, anyways."
The Gryffindors looked at each other incredulously.
"And for the record," their teacher added, "I always like a student who speaks his mind, Ron."
At long last, Harry regained his ability to speak and raised his hand.
"Harry, a question?" Professor Chang encouraged.
"Professor," Harry spoke, "There's no way to be able to learn spells without practice, is there? I mean, Professor Lupin always gave us time to practice in class and that really helped."
By now, the other students were nodding in agreement.
Professor Chang remained undeterred and did not appeared insulted by any means. "That is true, Harry. Practice makes perfect. And I did go over Professor Lupin's records of your progress, as well as those of who you all assumed to be Professor Moody at the time. I'm please to note that you all had more sufficient experience with their hands-on methods."
Here, he stand up once more and raised a finger as he gave a coy and rather mischievous grin. "But, remember my most important tip for you. Think before you do."
Everyone looked at him, completely baffled.
"Let me give an example," he suggested, "Neville, will you join me up here, please?"
Neville was surprised to hear his name called. As such, he slowly got up and walked towards the smiling Professor Chang at the front of the class.
"Not, don't worry, Neville," Professor Chang insisted, "I'm not going to put you on the spot, because everyone else will be doing the same as you, although I'll need you to help me a bit."
"Umm...ahh...yes, Professor Chang," Neville mumbled nervously.
"Now," he announces, "Everyone, close your eyes and open your ears."
Everyone was confused by these strange in instructions, but decided to follow them. Harry had to admit that he felt rather silly and as though he was a little child.
"Now, imagine a deserted alley. Dead of night, almost pitch black and you can hardly see a thing," came Professor Chang's voice. It sounded strangely different as though a gentle wind was altering it. As he spoke, Harry began to vividly envision the described scene.
"No one else is there," Professor Chang continued, "You're completely and utterly alone. On your own with no one to help you if might need it."
The scene in Harry's mind grew darker as Chang spoke and he began to feel a strong sense of dread and hopelessness.
"Suddenly," he intoned cautiously. "Movement."
Harry felt alerted as his mind felt sharp movement within the dark scene.
"More movement. You can't seem to trace them."
Harry felt the movements repeating and quickening. He felt panic.
"Stay calm. Keep your hand on your wand, Neville. Don't draw it yet."
Although he was addressing Neville, Harry envisioned himself handing his wand in his pocket.
"The movements stop."
Harry's dark scene remains deathly still.
"Start alert. Think about what you might or should do it anything does wrong, Neville."
Harry does so himself.
"Nothing seems to be there anymore."
The dark scene is still.
"Is it gone?"
Harry looks to make sure. Everything is still and nothing is moving.
"Death Eater!" Professor Chang warns.
Harry sees a forbidding Death Eater with his wand at the ready with red light blazing at it tip.
"The Cruciatus Curse! Neville, wake up and stop him!"
Everyone in class opens their eyes and sees a Death Eater standing before Neville.
Neville looked as though he might scream but his body seemed to be thinking starting else. He whipped out his wand.
The Death Eater prepared to strike. "Cruci..."
"Expelliarmus!"
Neville struck first and the Death Eater vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Everyone was I shocked but also in awe of Neville's unusually quick reflexes. Even Neville was staring at his own hand and wand as though they were not his own.
Professor Chang stood behind his desk with an impressed smile. He waved his hand at the remaining smoke and caused it to vanished.
"Think like that for your lessons and do that for your exams," he causally remarked, "And I'll give you an 'Exceeds Expectations' or even an 'Outstanding'."
