The Keeper
Chapter 25
-"Write to me and tell me how your lessons go."
-"Alright."
-"And if you need anything at all..."
"I promise I'll write!" Yulisa exclaimed through the bear hug Victoria was giving her on the platform. "OK, OK." Victoria finally let go, not needing to look down anymore to the young woman Yulisa was growing into. "It's just that I'll miss you." Yulisa just smiled in return to her guardian, a warm wave of happiness washing over her chest. "But I know you'll do great on your O.W.L.S.!" Victoria concluded kissing her on the forehead. "Thanks for the confidence." Yulisa replied, quickly kissing her on the cheek then turning to join her friends on the train. When she got to her compartment she waved out the window along with her friends as Victoria, The Grangers, Mrs. Weasley and the dog Sirius Black began to fade into the distance. When their forms were mere specks along the horizon the group turned to each other, grateful to be reunited. "Why didn't you and Victoria move to the Order?" Ron asked immediately. Victoria had already told Yulisa that all three of them were living there during the summer. "She doesn't feel it's safe." Yulisa started. "That doesn't make sense, shouldn't the safestplace be the Order?" Harry added. "She doesn't want anyone to know we're associated with them, that way we won't draw extra attention to ourselves... and the opes's." Yulisa whispered the last part. "I'm afraid it's a little late for that." Hermione added in. "You're associated with us, which is probably even worse." Yulisa giggled slightly. Hermione had a point but Victoria had also wanted a private place she could train Yulisa. "True, but Victoria believes You-Know-Who is using the Ministry's denial to his advantage. She says it means he'll be a little more cautious yet I think when he finally is revealed to be back, we'll move in with the Order. At that point he won't need to hide anymore, and it'll be too dangerous." Victoria had never told Yulisa that was her plan but she knew Victoria wouldn't risk the death eaters getting the necklaces just to protect their secrets from the Order. The three seemed satisfied with her answer. "So... tell me about the Order!" Yulisa said huddling in closer.
Later on the train they met a fourth year Ravenclaw named Luna Lovegood. She was extremely weird, though Yulisa kinda liked her. When they arrived at school Ron and Hermione had to go fulfill their prefect duties and Luna, Harry and Yulisa were left to take the carriages alone. In the Great Hall, the Sorting Hat sang a very peculiar song. Not the usual describing the four houses but a warning that school would crumble from within if the four didn't stand together. Then after the first years were sorted, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher interrupted Professor Dumbledore during his speech. The entire school stared up at her, shocked, as she began a speech of her own. Yulisa didn't liker her after Harry had told about seeing her at his hearing, and when her speech was finished Yulisa disliked her even more.
"Look at today!" Ron moaned at breakfast the next morning. "History of Magic, Double Potion, Divination, and, Double Defense! Binns, Snape, Trelawney, and that Umbridge woman all in one day!" Even Yulisa was disappointed about their schedules this year. History wasn't so horrible, but it was terribly boring. Divination was another subject she didn't particularly favor. Then to end the day with that awful toad-faced woman... she wasn't excited at all. Still, she had her private lessons with Snape to look forward too, though she had yet to learn when they would be. Later that morning as they left History of Magic for the dungeons her heart started to quicken a little in anticipation.
"Settle down." said Snape coolly, shutting the door behind him. There was no real need to call for order, his mere presence was usually enough to ensure a class's silence. "Before we begin today's lesson," he started, sweeping over to his desk and staring around at them all, "I think it is appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some in this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an acceptable in your O.W.L. or suffer my... displeasure." His gaze lingered this time upon Neville, who gulped. "After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me," Snape went on. "I take only the very best into my N.E.W.T. Potions class," his eyes resting on Yulisa, "which means that some of us will certainly be saying good-bye." His eyes moved to Harry a few seats down from her. His lip curled. "But we have another year to go before that happy moment of farewell," said Snape softly, "so whether you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T. or not, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high-pass level I have come to expect from my O.W.L. students. Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing. The ingredients and method," Snape flicked his wand, "Are on the blackboard." They appeared there. "You will find everything you need," he flicked his wand again, "in the store cupboard." The door of the said cupboard swung open. "You have an hour and a half... Start."
The class quickly started bustling about. This was indeed a very sensitive potion, one that wouldn't turn out right if not given the utmost attention to detail. Yet, Yulisa carried on confidently. After Professor Snape had glanced at her while mentioning his "best" students, she was determined to prove him right. "A light silver vapor should now be rising from your potion," called Snape with ten minutes left to go. Yulisa glanced around the room. Harry was sweating profusely, his cauldron issuing copious amounts of dark gray steam. Ron's was spitting green sparks, Seamus was feverishly prodding the flames at the base of his cauldron with the tip of his wand, as they had gone out. Hermione and Yulisa's potions were the only ones from Gryffindor with the shimmering mist. When Snape stopped in front of Harry's cauldron, he looked down at it with a horrible smirk on his face. "Potter, what is this supposed to be?" The Slytherins at the front of the class all looked up eagerly. "The Draught of Peace," he answered tensely. "Tell me, Potter." Snape said softly, "can you read?" 'Not this again,' Yulisa thought as her eyes narrowed slightly in disapproval. "Yes, I can." "Read the third line of the instructions for me, Potter." "Add powdered moonstone, stir three times counterclockwise, allow to simmer for seven minutes, then add two drops of syrup of hellebore." Yulisa saw Harry's face sink. "Did you do everything on the third line?" "No," said Harry very quietly. "I beg your pardon?" "No," said Harry more loudly. "I forgot the hellebore..." "Of course you did, Potter, because just like the person making it, this mess is utterly useless." "Professor." Yulisa interrupted trying not to sound angry. "Stay out of this, Carmona." He growled still glaring at Harry. "Sir, if I may..." "Detention!" He shouted glancing over to her, a tiny gleam of happiness seemed to shimmer in the emptiness of his eyes. She glared at him, the thought striking her that he might have just provoked her on purpose. Seeming apparently satisfied he turned, returning to his desk. "Fill one flagon with a sample of your potion, label it clearly with your name, and bring it up to me for testing." The class obeyed, Yulisa, too, carrying her sample up to the front. "Usual day and time, Carmona." he stated looking down at his book as she set the vial on his desk. "Yes, sir." she replied quietly before returning to her seat to gather her things.
The day only got worse as it carried on. Divination appeared, as usual, pointless to Yulisa, and their new Defense of the Dark Arts curriculum, as it was soon to be revealed to her, was even more worthless. When they entered the Defense classroom, Professor Umbridge was already seated at the teacher's desk wearing that same pink cardigan and the black velvet bow on top of her head. "Well, good afternoon!" she said when finally the whole class had sat down. Only a few people mumbled 'good afternoon' in reply. "Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "That won't do, now will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!" "Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted back at her. "There now," she started sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please." She opened her handbag, pulled out her own unusually short wand and tapped the board sharply.
Defense Against the Dark Arts
A Return to Basic Principles
"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" started Professor Umbridge. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved course of defensive curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year. You will be please to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please." She tapped the board again for the 'Course Aims' to appear. She waited for everyone to write it down and when the sound of quills stopped she instructed them to turn to page five in their textbooks and start reading chapter one. Everyone obeyed, except one, who Yulisa, Harry and Ron noticed quite quickly with great shock. Hermione sat with her book unopened, hand raised. They never knew of single time she had ever refused to read. Professor Umbridge ignored her raised hand. After a few minutes however, other people began to notice her, until eventually half the class was staring at Hermione sitting exactly as she was when the instruction was issued. "Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked. "Not about the chapter, no." Hermione replied quickly. "Well, we're reading just now." Professor Umbridge interrupted her. "If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class." "I've got a query about your course aims," said Hermione. Professor Umbridge raised an eyebrow, "and your name is..." "Hermione Granger." "Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," answered the Professor with a voice of determined sweetness. "Well, I don't." she said bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells." There was short silence as the entire class frowned up the board. "Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little giggle. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?" "We're not going to use magic?" Ron blurted out loudly. "Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr...?" "Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air. Several other students did the same, Yulisa included. "Your name?" Umbridge asked smiling down at her. "Yulisa Carmona." "Yes, Miss Carmona? You wanted to ask something?" "Yes," started Yulisa. "Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?" "Are you a ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Carmona?" Umbridge asked in her falsely sweet voice. "No, but..." "Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way..." "And what use is that?" said Harry loudly, "If we're going to be attacked..." "Hand, Mr. Potter!" sang Professor Umbridge. "And your name is?" she asked pointing to another student with his hand raised. "Dean Thomas, and it's like Harry said. If we're going to be attacked it won't be risk-free..." "I repeat," Professor Umbridge stated, smiling in a very irritating way. "Do you expect to be attacked during my classes?" "No, but..." "I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school, but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed... not to mention, " she gave a nasty little laugh, "extremely dangerous half-breeds." "If you mean Professor Lupin, take it back!" Yulisa shouted rising angrily from her seat. The whole class turned toward her in slight shock. Professor Umbridge too seemed a little taken aback. "Excuse me?" she asked giggling tensely. "You heard me! How dare you criticize someone based on breed! He was the best defense professor we ever had!" Most of the class looked around nodding in agreement. "Apparently you also have not been taught the right degree of discipline. Detention. Now, please seat down." Professor Umbridge said smiling very rigidly. Yulisa obeyed, unsure of what had caused her to react so... explosively. She assumed Mrs. Blake's criticism of her being a half-breed herself and what ensued afterward left her sensitive to the topic. Still, she felt her cheeks glow pink as Professor Umbridge tried to regain control of the classroom. Her friends, too, continued to stare at her. Two detentions in one day! It was unbelievable.
Due to number of detentions Professor Umbridge had issued during the first day of classes, Yulisa didn't serve hers until Wednesday. Harry, too, had received detention after Yulisa during their first lesson. In fact, he went on to anger her so much she gave him a weeks worth. Therefor Yulisa went in knowing about the quill. Her hand wrapped in a bandage like many other students, Yulisa reported down to the dungeons with the rest of the fifth year Gryffindors for double blocked Potions Thursday morning. Professor Snape wasn't as cruel today, probably because he had already tricked Yulisa into earning herself detention, meaning it was no longer necessary to provoke her. As he passed her cauldron while making his rounds he stopped, eying her bandaged hand. "Miss Carmona, please stay after class." he said very quietly before continuing along his way. She glanced around. No one seemed to have heard him. When they were finished with their potions they brought them up to the front as instructed. Yulisa returned to her seat, taking extra long to pack her bag, pretending to drop things as students filed out of the classroom. "It's OK. You go on ahead," she told Neville, who had leaned down to help her. Shrugging he left with the others, they too giving her perplexed expressions. When everyone was gone, she stood placing her bag on the desk, then walking down to join her Professor. He put his book down, standing as she approached him. She assumed he wished to speak to her regarding her private lessons and was surprised when he took hold of her right forearm. Her heart beat suddenly quickened as he lifted her hand and started gently unwrapping it. When he removed the bloody bandage he seemed to stiffen a little as he saw her beautiful cursive etched in her hand. The words 'I will not speak out in class.' red against her tanned skin. A slight smile seemed to escape across his face as he turned and went to to a cupboard. She looked down, rubbing the edge of her hand. The way she reacted when he touched her. It was just like with Eli the year before. When he returned he took her hand in his again, jump starting her heart a second time. He poured some of the dark purple liquid onto her cuts. It was warm, and though it looked like liquid it didn't move on her skin. After setting the vial down, he began rubbing the back of her hand, gently covering the cuts with the purple stuff in small circles. She kept her eyes on her hand trying to remember how to breathe, she could feel the crystal under her robes start to glow. She never thought her skin against someone else's could feel this good. When her wound was fully covered he re-wrapped her hand in clean bandage and then let go. "You're dismissed." he stated turning his back to her as he returned the vial to it's proper place. She discreetly glanced down her shirt to barely see the deep scarlet color that was now fading. "Thank you, Professor." she said, not hiding the gratitude in her voice. Quickly she turned to grab her things and leave. "Remember, tomorrow." he mentioned on her way out the door. "Yes, sir." she replied, leaving, forgetting to ask him about her lessons.
The rest of the day she had a hard time forgetting how it felt, his skin against hers. It seemed to be driving her insane. Luckily she remembered the exercises she had done during the summer, it was all that allowed to maintain control until she could finally surrender to it hidden under the darkness in her bed. When everyone was asleep she laid awake, letting her hands move across her skin. She suddenly remembered that night the year before, suddenly feeling she wanted to experience it again. Closing her eyes she thought about after class today, about what she was secretly starting to wish would have happened. She dared to let this idea unfold in her mind, not caring that she would have to face him tomorrow.
{The account of the first day of school was almost identical to the account in the book , (I wrote it with the book open) with the exception of me adding Yulisa in and leaving things out to shorten it. Of course this is J. K. Rowling's work.}