Chapter 5- Professor Figg.
Harry went to Gryffindor Tower to find Ron, Hermione and Ginny in a crowd of Gryffindors waiting to hear what the new password was.
"Hi Harry, where were you? I
saved a seat for you but you didn't come" Said Ron
"Oh, McGonagall took me to
her office to warn me about the dangers this year. As if I wasn't at school
last year and don't have a clue what's going on in the world." He said
sarcastically
"Well I'm glad they're taking
this seriously. We're all in danger this year." Hermione said
"Quiet!" Yelled the new
prefect Lee Jordan, who looked very proud that he was chosen, although not even
nearly as proud as Percy did when he was a Prefect "The new password is
'Hogsmeade' Okay?" He said trying to sound important, but coming off more
sarcastic then ever.
Everyone ran in saying
'Hogsmeade' to the Fat Lady.
"So, how did the Sorting go? Any new people to keep my eye
on?" Asked Harry when they sat down in the corner of the Common room
"No not really" Yawned Ron
"Ron! I don't believe you're
still tired! You've probably had three hours more sleep then Harry has but he's
not tired is he?" Hermione nagged.
Harry yawned just to annoy
Hermione. But she didn't understand that it was a joke and went to her dorm.
"Well I'm going to leave you here and go and sort out my books for tomorrow"
She said pompously
"She's in a mood now, Ginny
go sort her out, will you" Ron asked.
"Fine" Ginny stormed off up
the Girls' Staircase after her
"Hermione reckons Ginny likes
you" Ron blurted out.
"I know she likes me,
remember when she sent me that card?" Harry pretended to throw up.
Ron laughed "Oh yeah, well
she gave me a lecture saying how you don't notice her."
"Lucky you."
"Yeah, well I'm tired, and I
don't want Hermione nagging at me tomorrow, so I better go to bed." He yawned
again and walked up the stairs.
"Hi Harry!" Shouted Neville Longbottom all the way from the
other side of the room. He ran over. "How are you? I haven't seen you today.
You weren't at the Sorting" He panted from running and dodging all the tired
Gryffindors.
"I'm fine. Professor
McGonagall talked to me about how I have to be extra careful this year and all
that." Harry rubbed his eyes.
"Oh, do you know who the new
Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher is?"
"No, I don't have a clue, do
you?"
"No, I think we find out
tomorrow morning at breakfast" He said "Anyway I'm tired, are you going up to
bed?"
"Yeah, might as well, there's
nothing else to do is there."
They both went to bed, Harry rubbed his forehead,
remembering what had happened earlier.
*****
"Hello everyone!" Boomed Dumbledore's voice through the hall. "I hope you are all hungry for work as well as for breakfast! The new timetables will be given out in a moment, but first I would like to introduce a new member to our school, Professor Figg." Everyone cheered, and Harry noticed a face across the hall that he had not missed over the holidays, Draco Malfoy, they both gave each other piercing stares across the hall and then returned to listening to Dumbledore. "She will be our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher." At this point Professor Snape usually stared over the table at the new teacher, because everyone knew that he wanted that job. But this year he didn't even glance in her direction.
When the Timetables were given out Harry was not amused to find out that he still had double potions with the Slytherins on Friday. Fridays were meant to be a day where you were looking forward to the weekend.
They had double Defence Against the Dark Arts first thing, so they were all eager to get there to find out what the new Teacher was like.
"Good morning class, I'm Professor Figg. Your new teacher for the year, I don't want to waste any time this year because of your O.W.L.s so will you please open your books 'When Evil Wizards Attack' at page 1. Dark curses."
Professor Figg spoke quite quickly, with a squeaky voice for a very small person. She had short black hair that was quite curly and wild. She wore small round glasses and looked like a sporty person with her trainers poking out from under her robes.
"Now today we're going to learn about dark curses. Can I have a reader from the group to start us off?" Hermione's hand shot up straight away "Yes miss Granger, you may start"
"Thank you Professor. There are many Dark curses. Some are very dangerous, and some are quite harmless. But they are all very serious curses. The first is the 'Intalaenius' curse, this will make anyone fall unconscious. The length of time the spell will work for depends on how strongly it is made."
"Thank you Hermione that was read very well. Now who else would like to read?" Hermione's hand shot up once again "I'm pleased to see that you are enthusiastic about your work, miss Granger, but I think we should give someone else a chance." No one put their hand up, but Hermione's hand stayed waving in the air "Well alright Miss Granger, You may continue, but next lesson I would like someone else to participate in the class."
"There is only one way to defend yourself against the 'Intalaenius' curse. To do this you must say 'Anti-Intelae' just after the curse has been said. You may also do this when someone else has been cursed, although this won't be as strong a treatment. To wake someone up afterwards, you say the same words 'Anti-Intelae' but you say it three times above the persons body."
"Thank you. I hope you took notes, because your homework will be to write me a fifty word essay for next lesson were you will be trying out this curse for yourself." The bell rang just as she finished her sentence. Everyone picked up their books quickly and practically ran to the next lesson.