His cane rattled quietly over the stone floors, drowned out by passing students. How was he supposed to know where to go? Steeling his nerves, he hoped someone would help him.

"Excuse me. Can anyone tell me where the Defense room is?" He asked loudly.

"You mean Defense Against the Dark Arts?" A boy asked. "I've got that now, follow me."

"I can't, I'm blind. You'll have to lead me."

"Okay." The boy said amiably, draping an arm over Jackson's shoulders. "I'm Nick Shane. You're a Hufflepuff first year, right? We're in the same dormitory. Professor Snape was really mean to you in Potions, huh? At least it's only for a little while a day. But 5 years, man, that's gonna be rough. Let's see, an hour and a half a day for 5 days a week is seven and a half hours a week, let's say homework takes an additional 45 minutes a night, that's ten and three-quarter hours a week, times forty weeks in a school year is four hundred thirty hours a year, times five years is two thousand one hundred fifty hours minimum in our school careers. But, hey, lucky for us we don't see Snape while doing homework, huh?" The boy talked so fast!

"You just did all that in your head?"

"Yeah, my mom says I'm a human calculator, the Sorting Hat considered putting me in Ravenclaw because of it. I plan to take Arithmancy next year if I can. Here's the classroom. Hello, Professor!"

"Hello, boys." A witch said. Please take your seats."

"You can sit with me." Nick told Jackson. Jackson hoped he wouldn't talk during lessons. Nick helped Jackson into a chair and he heard the chair next to him creak slightly as it took weight.

"Now, as I was saying, I am Professor Whitter. This is Defense Against the Dark Arts, where you will learn spells to protect yourselves from dark creatures that wish to harm you. I will teach you defend yourselves against such creatures as Grindylows, Redcaps, and eventually even Dementors. With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gaining power, you need to be prepared for what's out there. Now then, parchment and quills out for your first lecture. If you don't complain too much, we'll have a practical lesson tomorrow." Jackson reached in his bag and pulled out a voice recorder his mum had bought him special. He turned it on, heard the hum of the electricity, pushed the 'Record' button with the circle on the top, told it the class and date, and set it on the desk.

"Psst." Nick whispered. Jackson ignored him. "Pssst!" … "Hey, pssssssst!"

"Do you need something?" Professor Whitter asked. Nick was caught.

"Er, no, Professor, I was just going to tell him to get parchment and paper out."

"How kind of you to look out for your fellow student, but I have been informed he will be taking notes a certain way. This device will tell him what I've said in the lectures. Is that right?" She asked.

"Yes, Professor." He replied. He sighed internally. He would have to listen to this all over again tonight when he typed up the lecture on his typewriter.

"Right. Today's lesson will be on the types of spells I am going to teach you this year." Jackson heard chalk on a chalkboard, wincing as it squeaked horribly. "There are both offensive and defensive spells. Defensive spells are mainly shields, or in some cases, ways to prevent attack. Offensive spells are themselves attacks. We will be focusing more on offense, how to respond when attacked by a certain creature. For example, while an immobilizing spell would work on a Doxy, a Boggart would not be affected." The lecture continued, and Jackson repeatedly touched the recorder to check for movement. Luckily, it did not stop. Proffesor McGonagall had warned him that Muggle technology may be affected by the charms and spells surrounding Hogwarts. The class ended and Jackson pushed the 'Stop' button with the square on top of his recorder. Nick again draped his arm over Jackson's shoulders and talked his ear off on the way to Magic History.