Chapter 4
Chaos in the DA classroom
The first thing Harry had done when he had arrived at Hogwarts was looking up at the teachers' table to find Fransisca and the rest. They were thankfully all gathered there. And with a new addition. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, a woman that looked no older than Fransisca.
At breakfast of the first school day he got a chance at a better look. He had first thought that there was a mistake, but no, she looked just the same. How could someone like that be a proper teacher when they looked like they were fresh out of school themselves?
A person sitting in a glass house should not throw stone said a voice inside his head. He had, after all agreed to lead the Defence Group, Dumbledore's Army, the previous year.
"Look at this" said Hermione as she sat down next to Harry, between him and Ron. She handed out their timetables. "First thing is Defence Against the Dark Arts, then we can see what she is really all about." She looked up at the teachers' table. "What is your cousin doing up there, Ron?"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances.
"Didn't you see her there last night?" asked Ron.
"I barely cast a glance in that direction last night" she replied.
"Well, say hello to your new Muggle Studies teacher, Hermione" said Harry.
"What, what's the matter with-"
"Nervous breakdown" replied Ron. "Sisca will replace her till she dares go out in public again. Hard telling when that will be" he added.
Hermione said nothing, apparently she had decided to give her a chance before she uplifted her mouth and complained.
Harry couldn't help but to look up at the teachers' table again. so, DA was the first subject of the day, the first subject of the year. He could hear muttering about the subject all over where there were sixth graders. It was a mix of curiosity and nervous excitement, none of them had any idea what they were heading to, having to face yet another unfamiliar teacher, whom none of them had any knowledge about. In such difficult times.
Lupin had told the three of them that they were in for a treat, but that told them practically nothing. But whether or not she was a good teacher he still had DA.
He looked straight at the new teacher at the teachers' table. She didn't stand out in any way, she didn't have a turban where there could be hidden any head of any Dark Lord, no jumpy movements and strange magical eyes like Moody's impostor, no sassiness like Lockhart, not the toadlike appearance like Umbridge and not social and smiling like Lupin. She was wearing long, silver robes and a few small bridles in her hair at the front, which were hold together by beads and what looked like falcon feathers. She had a spotted dusty headband around her head that seemed to squash the top of her ears.
Harry nudged Ron in the ribs. "See that?" he asked him.
"See what?" He looked in the direction Harry was pointing.
"Professor Venara's headband" replied Harry.
"It's stained with blood" said Hermione without taking her eyes off her Daily Prophet. "Seems like she's been in a battle or two and the fact that she is sitting here means that she survived them, that should count for something. I think it is safe to say that she will be letting us practice the spells.
The teacher in question got up and left the Great Hall.
"Time to go" said Hermione and got to her feet.
"Ten minutes left" replied Ron. "I'll spend at least five of them finishing my breakfast. If the woman is a hag I would not be known as the first sucker to turn up for class."
Harry didn't reply. He couldn't truthfully say that he looked forward to the first lesson of Defence himself due to previous encounters with. inadequate teachers.
But when the bell rung they entered the Defence classroom nonetheless.
"Good morning, class" said Venara as she closed the door behind Neville, who was the last student to enter the room.
"Good morning, professor Venara" chanted the class in the same manner they had done with Umbridge.
Venara looked at them for a bit, she had clearly not expected a greeting such as that. "Well, then" she said and stepped up to her desk. "First of all you can put your wands away because I decided that we start this lesson with a little chat. I see there is no need for me to introduce myself as it seems that you already knows it quite good by heart." The corners of her mouth curled slightly upwards, but it was gone nearly as quickly as it had come. "I don't think there is any need for me to ask who has turned you into a flock of obedient sheep." She took a deep breath. "None of you know me, hardly any of your parents know me so it is only fair of me to tell you what I am all about."
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, not knowing what to say or what came next.
"First of all I want you to know that I am a strict teacher who is not afraid to pass out punishments if I see it fit. I consider myself strict, but fair. If anyone is late for class there will be withdrawn five points from their house, fifteen for the next time the same student is late, twenty-five if it should happen again. if it happens more than three times he or she can expect detention, also if the person is more than ten minutes late. This is done because it is an awful lot you need to go through this year and I have promised the headmaster that I will manage to get you all through it all. I will treat each and everyone of you equal, no matter what your beliefs are or in which house you belong."
Hermione looked a bit nervous.
"I am a great believer in tests doing you more good than writing essays after the books up in your dormitories. So, instead of you writing me essays I will each weak hand out one or more pop-quizzes to find out if you really have your homework down. I promised your previous teacher Remus Lupin that I would run you hard in order to get the knowledge through to you."
A hand shot in the air.
"Yes, Mr. Finnigan?"
"Why can't Lupin teach us?"
Harry had the strangest feeling of Deja Vu when the last word had exited Seamus' lips. He knew that another class-mayhem would break out right here, probably right now.
Venara tapped her wand against her chin. "Because he is a werewolf who the Ministry considers a liability and a danger to the students of Hogwarts." She sighed, as if she didn't quite mean that herself. "I know that you would all be much more comfortable with a teacher in whom you all trust and know, but the Ministry as well as Dumbledore wanted me to take this job."
Hermione's hand shot in the air.
"Miss Granger.?"
"Will we practice spells this year?"
She looked like she was prepared for this question because it seemed as she was bracing herself. "Not this year, Miss Granger."
"But what about what's going on around here?"
"There is nothing going on around here, Miss Granger."
The entire class exploded into fury and nasty comments.
Harry, who didn't want to place himself in the same position as last year and since he had no idea how much power this Ministry official had, remained quiet. He wanted so badly to give her a chance before he opened his trapper. He also noted that Venara did nothing to stop the class' uproar, she just crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against her desk, watching them all with mild interest.
He picked up some of the words the others were saying. Words like "idiotic Ministry", "thumbs up their rear" and "can't believe Dumbledore is allowing this".
After about ten minutes the loud voices died down and they all looked up at their new teacher again. She was in the exact same position as she had been when it had all started, but she was staring at them with a slight frown.
She straightened up. "Also." she said calmly as if nothing had happened. "It has come to my ear that Mr. Potter has, along with Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, started a Defence Against the Dark Arts club called Dumbledore's Army, DA for short."
At this Harry stared up at her in disbelief. How could she know?
Ron sank in his seat so that the only visible thing above the desk was his now red ears.
Hermione just stared up at Venara, seemingly expecting the worse.
Those who were a part of this club stared up at Venara while those who weren't stared at the three in the corner.
"It is my sad duty" continued Venara. "To inform all of you who are a part of this club that from here on end, due to lack of adult supervision, I will be forced to ban this club."
Those who were a part of the club all rose to their feet and started shouting protests.
Venara sighed and sunk down till she sat like a sack of potatoes on top of her desk. She had heard rumours of this woman, this Dolores Umbridge. She had heard Lupin talk of her, but never had she imagined it to be this bad, that a single person could awake such anger in school children.
She had decided before she had entered the classroom that she would allow them to throw a little tantrum if they needed to and without her interfering, but she hadn't sworn she wouldn't punish it.
Slowly the class started to calm down again and when it was still in there again Hermione shot a hand in the air. Everyone turned their heads to look at her, interested in what she had to say.
"Miss Granger. oh, for heavens sake. Hermione.?"
She put her hand back down. "Professor, how does the Ministry know about DA?"
"It doesn't." She rose once more. "If the Ministry had known the participants of DA would have been expelled for sure even though the Ministry is aware of that Voldemort has regained his powers. The club was started before the Ministry started cutting Hogwarts some slack again. It was the teachers of Hogwarts that came to this conclusion and not the Ministry. In unison we sat down and decided that since we are responsible for what happens at this school and since there are no teachers available to supervise we all decided that it was for the best that it was banned. I must admit that I thought the idea was excellent and the usefulness should not even be questioned, but it that tedious detail that there is no one there to make sure you don't send each other to the hospital wing."
"Can't Lupin supervise it?" asked Neville.
Venara smiled at him and, voluntarily or not, he smiled back. "Remus Lupin is nowadays otherwise engaged and is unfortunately not allowed to teach you. Supervising such a club falls under the category teaching, I'm afraid."
"How are we then going to defend ourselves against Voldemort when we are not allowed to practice defensive spells?" asked Harry, not being able to keep his tongue any more.
A veil of silence fell over the students and everyone watched Venara.
"This year Harry, we will not practice spells. From here to Christmas, that is. After Christmas we will be practising defensive spells." There was a gleam in her eye. "Maybe I can find someone who can help you with DA after Christmas. Now I really want to get on with this lesson so if you all can open your books on page fifteen and start reading about vampires I would be a very happy woman."
There were muttering among the shameful students, being so wrong about her, as they opened their books and started reading.
When the bell rung they all started packing away their books.
"Just a moment" said Venara. "I can not allow such behaviour you have displayed here today unpunished so I see no other option than to give you all detention."
"The entire class?" piped Neville in disbelief.
"The entire class" confirmed Venara. "Friday evening at six you all are to gather outside Hagrid's cabin. Put on some warm clothes because you will be spending the evening outside. Now, get going." She turned her back on the stunned class.
Chaos in the DA classroom
The first thing Harry had done when he had arrived at Hogwarts was looking up at the teachers' table to find Fransisca and the rest. They were thankfully all gathered there. And with a new addition. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, a woman that looked no older than Fransisca.
At breakfast of the first school day he got a chance at a better look. He had first thought that there was a mistake, but no, she looked just the same. How could someone like that be a proper teacher when they looked like they were fresh out of school themselves?
A person sitting in a glass house should not throw stone said a voice inside his head. He had, after all agreed to lead the Defence Group, Dumbledore's Army, the previous year.
"Look at this" said Hermione as she sat down next to Harry, between him and Ron. She handed out their timetables. "First thing is Defence Against the Dark Arts, then we can see what she is really all about." She looked up at the teachers' table. "What is your cousin doing up there, Ron?"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances.
"Didn't you see her there last night?" asked Ron.
"I barely cast a glance in that direction last night" she replied.
"Well, say hello to your new Muggle Studies teacher, Hermione" said Harry.
"What, what's the matter with-"
"Nervous breakdown" replied Ron. "Sisca will replace her till she dares go out in public again. Hard telling when that will be" he added.
Hermione said nothing, apparently she had decided to give her a chance before she uplifted her mouth and complained.
Harry couldn't help but to look up at the teachers' table again. so, DA was the first subject of the day, the first subject of the year. He could hear muttering about the subject all over where there were sixth graders. It was a mix of curiosity and nervous excitement, none of them had any idea what they were heading to, having to face yet another unfamiliar teacher, whom none of them had any knowledge about. In such difficult times.
Lupin had told the three of them that they were in for a treat, but that told them practically nothing. But whether or not she was a good teacher he still had DA.
He looked straight at the new teacher at the teachers' table. She didn't stand out in any way, she didn't have a turban where there could be hidden any head of any Dark Lord, no jumpy movements and strange magical eyes like Moody's impostor, no sassiness like Lockhart, not the toadlike appearance like Umbridge and not social and smiling like Lupin. She was wearing long, silver robes and a few small bridles in her hair at the front, which were hold together by beads and what looked like falcon feathers. She had a spotted dusty headband around her head that seemed to squash the top of her ears.
Harry nudged Ron in the ribs. "See that?" he asked him.
"See what?" He looked in the direction Harry was pointing.
"Professor Venara's headband" replied Harry.
"It's stained with blood" said Hermione without taking her eyes off her Daily Prophet. "Seems like she's been in a battle or two and the fact that she is sitting here means that she survived them, that should count for something. I think it is safe to say that she will be letting us practice the spells.
The teacher in question got up and left the Great Hall.
"Time to go" said Hermione and got to her feet.
"Ten minutes left" replied Ron. "I'll spend at least five of them finishing my breakfast. If the woman is a hag I would not be known as the first sucker to turn up for class."
Harry didn't reply. He couldn't truthfully say that he looked forward to the first lesson of Defence himself due to previous encounters with. inadequate teachers.
But when the bell rung they entered the Defence classroom nonetheless.
"Good morning, class" said Venara as she closed the door behind Neville, who was the last student to enter the room.
"Good morning, professor Venara" chanted the class in the same manner they had done with Umbridge.
Venara looked at them for a bit, she had clearly not expected a greeting such as that. "Well, then" she said and stepped up to her desk. "First of all you can put your wands away because I decided that we start this lesson with a little chat. I see there is no need for me to introduce myself as it seems that you already knows it quite good by heart." The corners of her mouth curled slightly upwards, but it was gone nearly as quickly as it had come. "I don't think there is any need for me to ask who has turned you into a flock of obedient sheep." She took a deep breath. "None of you know me, hardly any of your parents know me so it is only fair of me to tell you what I am all about."
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, not knowing what to say or what came next.
"First of all I want you to know that I am a strict teacher who is not afraid to pass out punishments if I see it fit. I consider myself strict, but fair. If anyone is late for class there will be withdrawn five points from their house, fifteen for the next time the same student is late, twenty-five if it should happen again. if it happens more than three times he or she can expect detention, also if the person is more than ten minutes late. This is done because it is an awful lot you need to go through this year and I have promised the headmaster that I will manage to get you all through it all. I will treat each and everyone of you equal, no matter what your beliefs are or in which house you belong."
Hermione looked a bit nervous.
"I am a great believer in tests doing you more good than writing essays after the books up in your dormitories. So, instead of you writing me essays I will each weak hand out one or more pop-quizzes to find out if you really have your homework down. I promised your previous teacher Remus Lupin that I would run you hard in order to get the knowledge through to you."
A hand shot in the air.
"Yes, Mr. Finnigan?"
"Why can't Lupin teach us?"
Harry had the strangest feeling of Deja Vu when the last word had exited Seamus' lips. He knew that another class-mayhem would break out right here, probably right now.
Venara tapped her wand against her chin. "Because he is a werewolf who the Ministry considers a liability and a danger to the students of Hogwarts." She sighed, as if she didn't quite mean that herself. "I know that you would all be much more comfortable with a teacher in whom you all trust and know, but the Ministry as well as Dumbledore wanted me to take this job."
Hermione's hand shot in the air.
"Miss Granger.?"
"Will we practice spells this year?"
She looked like she was prepared for this question because it seemed as she was bracing herself. "Not this year, Miss Granger."
"But what about what's going on around here?"
"There is nothing going on around here, Miss Granger."
The entire class exploded into fury and nasty comments.
Harry, who didn't want to place himself in the same position as last year and since he had no idea how much power this Ministry official had, remained quiet. He wanted so badly to give her a chance before he opened his trapper. He also noted that Venara did nothing to stop the class' uproar, she just crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against her desk, watching them all with mild interest.
He picked up some of the words the others were saying. Words like "idiotic Ministry", "thumbs up their rear" and "can't believe Dumbledore is allowing this".
After about ten minutes the loud voices died down and they all looked up at their new teacher again. She was in the exact same position as she had been when it had all started, but she was staring at them with a slight frown.
She straightened up. "Also." she said calmly as if nothing had happened. "It has come to my ear that Mr. Potter has, along with Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, started a Defence Against the Dark Arts club called Dumbledore's Army, DA for short."
At this Harry stared up at her in disbelief. How could she know?
Ron sank in his seat so that the only visible thing above the desk was his now red ears.
Hermione just stared up at Venara, seemingly expecting the worse.
Those who were a part of this club stared up at Venara while those who weren't stared at the three in the corner.
"It is my sad duty" continued Venara. "To inform all of you who are a part of this club that from here on end, due to lack of adult supervision, I will be forced to ban this club."
Those who were a part of the club all rose to their feet and started shouting protests.
Venara sighed and sunk down till she sat like a sack of potatoes on top of her desk. She had heard rumours of this woman, this Dolores Umbridge. She had heard Lupin talk of her, but never had she imagined it to be this bad, that a single person could awake such anger in school children.
She had decided before she had entered the classroom that she would allow them to throw a little tantrum if they needed to and without her interfering, but she hadn't sworn she wouldn't punish it.
Slowly the class started to calm down again and when it was still in there again Hermione shot a hand in the air. Everyone turned their heads to look at her, interested in what she had to say.
"Miss Granger. oh, for heavens sake. Hermione.?"
She put her hand back down. "Professor, how does the Ministry know about DA?"
"It doesn't." She rose once more. "If the Ministry had known the participants of DA would have been expelled for sure even though the Ministry is aware of that Voldemort has regained his powers. The club was started before the Ministry started cutting Hogwarts some slack again. It was the teachers of Hogwarts that came to this conclusion and not the Ministry. In unison we sat down and decided that since we are responsible for what happens at this school and since there are no teachers available to supervise we all decided that it was for the best that it was banned. I must admit that I thought the idea was excellent and the usefulness should not even be questioned, but it that tedious detail that there is no one there to make sure you don't send each other to the hospital wing."
"Can't Lupin supervise it?" asked Neville.
Venara smiled at him and, voluntarily or not, he smiled back. "Remus Lupin is nowadays otherwise engaged and is unfortunately not allowed to teach you. Supervising such a club falls under the category teaching, I'm afraid."
"How are we then going to defend ourselves against Voldemort when we are not allowed to practice defensive spells?" asked Harry, not being able to keep his tongue any more.
A veil of silence fell over the students and everyone watched Venara.
"This year Harry, we will not practice spells. From here to Christmas, that is. After Christmas we will be practising defensive spells." There was a gleam in her eye. "Maybe I can find someone who can help you with DA after Christmas. Now I really want to get on with this lesson so if you all can open your books on page fifteen and start reading about vampires I would be a very happy woman."
There were muttering among the shameful students, being so wrong about her, as they opened their books and started reading.
When the bell rung they all started packing away their books.
"Just a moment" said Venara. "I can not allow such behaviour you have displayed here today unpunished so I see no other option than to give you all detention."
"The entire class?" piped Neville in disbelief.
"The entire class" confirmed Venara. "Friday evening at six you all are to gather outside Hagrid's cabin. Put on some warm clothes because you will be spending the evening outside. Now, get going." She turned her back on the stunned class.