As they all waited patiently outside of the Defence classroom, Harry noticed Draco Malfoy looking particularly smug, whispering to Crabbe and Goyle. "This should be interesting. She's barely old enough to apparate!" he sniggered, "I bet she hasn't even seen a grindylow!". Their laughter was broken short by a sharp cough, as Professor Gordie strode past them, past the opening door, and into the empty classroom. Sneering at Harry and Ron as they broke out in large unmistakable grins, Malfoy contemptuously followed her into the classroom.
The rest of the class followed them in silently, and sat in their chairs, looking
expectantly at Professor Gordie. Her short unruly black hair was a complete
contrast to McGongall's tight stark bun. Professor Gordie stood in front of
the class room, pointed her wand to her throat, whispered something quietly,
and began to talk quietly in a husky voice.
"I apologise for my late arrival. I was unexpectedly needed to resolve
a Ministry conflict in Bulgaria." The class looked around at each other,
with impressed glances.
"My name is Elaria Gordie, however, you may all call me Elaria. I graduated
from Hogwarts 5 years ago. In those 5 years, I have been working with the Ministry
at the front line of improving magical Defences."
She again, pointed her wand at her throat, and whispered something inaudible.
"I am using a vocal amplifying spell, so you'll all have to been relatively
quiet in my classroom. I am very good friends with Professor Moody, whom you
all know, and am up to date with your study progress."
She paused, feeling her throat, as if it hurt her to speak.
"We will begin this year's study, by looking at various ways to combat
the silencing spell which prevents a victim from using their voice to cast spells."
Malfoy muffled a snigger behind his textbook. "Miss?" he said, raising
his arm, "I'm sorry, Elaria"
Hermione shot a dangerous look at Malfoy, as Crabbe and Goyle erupted in laughter.
Professor Gordie narrowed her eyes and stared at Malfoy. "Yes?"
"Elaria, if you know how to combat the silence spell, why don't you use
it to talk?" Malfoy said, innocently.
"Because, my voice was not silenced by a spell. Now, quiet." Elaria
went on, explaining the details of a silencing spell.
Harry laughed heartily when she demonstrated the spell successfully on Malfoy,
when he interrupted her for the 12th time, asking yet another irrelevant question.
"Your voice will be restored at the completion of my class, Draco."
Hermione giggled, watching Malfoy silently demand to be given his voice back.
"Perhaps we should convince her to leave him like this for good!"
she grinned to Ron.
The class drew to an end, as she finally demonstrated the counter-curse, restoring Malfoy, who scowled ungratefully. As the class all got up to leave, Elaria reached out and tapped Ron on the shoulder. "Ron! Hi Harry! Hermione! Um, I'd like to have a word or two with you if that's possible."
Elaria reached for a roll of old parchment and rolled it out on the desk between them. She pointed to it with her wand, and words began to scribble themselves across the page.
I thank you all for being so quiet in my class. My voice isn't used to this amount of talking!
Hermione spoke first, "Professor, um, sorry, Elaria, so does it hurt you to speak then?" Elaria nodded, and smiled. The words spread across the old parchment,
I'm afraid it does. I may need some help getting through the rest of the year! Perhaps a talking monkey?
She laughed silently. Ron spoke up next, "Um, Elaria, um, if you graduated
5 years ago, you must have known my brother, Charlie then?"
She straightened her back, and her smile faltered.
Yeah, well, that's why I wanted to talk to you. I knew your brother. I was pretty shy in school. If you talk to him, tell him that Ellie says Hi.
"Oh, so he'd know you then?" Ron continued, looking back down at the parchment, not noticing the slight pinkish colour her cheeks had developed.
Well, we were in the same year level, and even in Gryffindor together. He didn't talk to me much. And I couldn't exactly hold a conversation with anybody!
She smiled shyly, and as if Harry could see into the past, he saw as the shy 13 year old in her tired grey eyes.
Walking back up to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione asked them what they
thought of Elaria. "I don't know Fred was right I guess. She
IS weird!"