Chapter Six: Defense Against the Dark Arts
The next morning, Harry awoke early, and headed downstairs to the Common Room.
He saw Hermione there, reading something, as usual, in one of their favorite chairs by the
fire. He took a seat next to her.
"So I take it things with Ron are okay now," he said.
She looked up from her book. "Yeah, he seems to have gotten the message that you
and I are just friends, and that you both are like family to me."
"Yeah." Harry pondered his thoughts. Should he tell Hermione the truth, about how
Ron had told Harry how he felt towards Pavarti, and that his feelings for 'Mione had
subsided after Fourth year? Should he tell her about how it was jealousy that was driving a
gap between them, a gap that might well become unbridgeable if Ron was not able to come
to his senses? Should he tell her about the feelings he himself had regarding her? Her
voice interrupted his thoughts...
"Harry, have you noticed anything different about Malfoy this year?"
He was taken aback. Why would he notice anything about Malfoy? "No, I mean,
other than the fact that he obviously reacted to cheering charms. I would never have
thought him capable --"
She interrupted him. "I'm serious."
Harry looked at her. She certainly looked serious, but in truth, he hadn't noticed
anything. "I would have told you if I had, Hermione."
She sighed. "It's just that... Something's changed..."
The common room started to fill just then, with most students waking up to get
ready for the second day of classes. Ron came down, and the three went to the Great Hall
together.
At breakfast that morning, the sixth year Gryffindors were all speculating as to who –
or what – the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher could be.
"Could be a vampire," said Dean Thomas.
"Or a veela," added Seamus Finnigan.
"You would like that, wouldn't you, Seamus?" asked Lavender.
Most in the group chuckled, and then Pavarti said "Okay guys, seriously, it doesn't
sound too farfetched. I mean, look at who we've had before."
Ron nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and of all of them, I think Lupin was the best,
werewolf and all."
The rest agreed. "Remember, it can't be worse than last year," said Harry.
"I only hope we get to actually do some spells, rather than read out of the book,"
said Hermione.
"'Mione!" Ron looked at her in mock surprise. "You don't want to read some more?"
She grinned. "What my point is, is that anything would be better than that
Umbridge woman..."
"You're right. Oh, look, we better go now if we want to get there on time," said
Lavender.
The group left the Great Hall, and Hermione pulled Harry and Ron aside.
"I'll catch up with you guys in class. I need to get something I left in the library –
Oh and please save me a seat."
"Alright, Hermione," said Harry
"Don't worry," added Ron.
Hermione headed for class after a quick stop in the library. She could hear chatter
coming from inside, but when she went to open the door, the class went quiet. All eyes
turned to her, and then looked away, disinterested. She saw that everyone was there,
everyone save their new professor, that is.
Again she found that the only empty seat was next to Draco Malfoy. She looked
around. Ron and Harry looked at her helplessly, from different tables, pointing to the
seating chart drawn on the board. The new professor, it seemed, had taken the liberty to
group the students as she saw fit: each Gryffindor paired up with a Slytherin. 'This is never
going to work,' she thought, but took her seat without voicing a protest. It could well be
worse, as Harry and Ron had the misfortune of sitting next to Pansy Parkinson and Millicent
Bullstrode, respectively.
"Interesting teacher it looks like we're having," said Malfoy as Hermione took her
seat. "I wonder if she's looking to start World War III."
She chuckled. "Looks like it..."
"Listen, Granger... This teacher, whoever it is, has seated us this way, and it doesn't
look like she's going to change our seats, no matter how much we complain. So, I was
thinking, since we're going to be sitting next to each other this year, it'd make it easier...
What I'm trying to say is... Could we start over, I mean..."
She looked at him, incredulity evident in her eyes. "Draco, I don't know. You just,
tried everything to make my life a living Hell for the past six years. I don't know if I could
ever forget that."
He took her hand in his. "I'm not asking you to forget. I'm asking you to forgive.
Forgive me. Please, Hermione..."
At that moment, the door opened, and in walked their new Defense Against the Dark
Arts teacher. Draco's jaw dropped. "Oh my..." She walked gracefully, and had long,
shining, platinum blonde hair, which partially covered her face with robes of emerald green.
The entire class was silent, and the only sound audible was the click, clack of her high heels
as she walked across the room. Some boys leaned in closer to get a better look at her, but
Draco just stared on, apprehensively.
When the teacher reached the blackboard at the front, she turned to face them, and
pushed her hair out of the way, so they could observe her facial features clearly. There
were gasps heard from the students, before whispering broke out. She cleared her throat.
"Good morning, class. My name is Professor Narcissa Malfoy, and I will be teaching you
Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
"But you're Draco Malfoy's mother!" came a female voice from the back of the room.
"Yes, Miss..." she paused as she looked at her seating chart... "Brown. You are very
observant." The Gryffindors all wore looks of alarm. "Don't worry, my son can tell you that
I don't play favorites, and for those in the Slytherin House that think you will be getting a
free ride this year, don't bet on it." She paused again as murmuring broke out. "You will
notice," she continued, "that I have chosen to seat you each with a student from another
House --"
"Will we be able to change our seats?" interrupted Pansy Parkinson.
"No. This seating arrangement is so that you can learn to put your differences aside,
as that is an important ability for wizards to have in this field. You need to learn to work
together, if you are to achieve a common goal. In this class, you will not only learn for your
NEWTS, but also things which will be of use in life." She paused and then jotted something
down. "Oh, and by the way, five points from Slytherin for your interruption, Miss
Parkinson..."
Author's Note:
Mwahahahaha! Okay, power trip is over... Sorry, it's just that I never liked Pansy... I
think she needs an attitude adjustment. Anyways, what did you think?
Hope you liked this chapter. I really put a lot of thought into it. Thanks also to Anaita
for the review... Everyone else, please R&R... Thanks for your time... : )
E. Caddy Compson (persephoneia)