The class sitting before Taran was restless and more than a little bit nervous. If this was how fourth years were acting, Taran could only imagine what the first years would do. It swore, if a student fainted it would drop the child in the hall and leave it. The temptation was there to even hand out a detention for such a disruption of class, but that seemed a little extreme, even to Taran.
"I would like to make notice," Taran began after clearing its throat to silence the few students with enough courage to talk before class started, "that I have made a small library based on years. You may check out any book for your year or below. However, it would be highly inadvisable to attempt the acquisition of a higher level book through anyone but myself. The only thing less advisable, in fact, would be to deliver a book to a student of lower level than designated for it. Am I understood?"
All the students could do in response was offer small nods in reply, looking to their friends about the room. There was some mumbling as a good many of them wondered just what sort of books Taran had in the classroom library that would warrant such a system. Then there were the scattered few that wondered if they could get past it. No, Taran couldn't hear them, but it knew they were there and it was just a matter of time until one discovered the base to its warning.
"Please understand these measures have been placed for your protection, do not test them or you will regret it. Now, open your text books to the first chapter, there is a bit I need to make sure you know before we begin our first lesson."
With that for an introduction Taran fell into the teaching like it did anything else, with a sort of absorption that could only be shaken by a major event. This particular class offered no interruptions, possibly having enough of a measure of sense to not cause reason for the teacher to start watching them on the very first day.
By the time the class had ended Taran found itself in good humor, ready to deal with more students, even questions, quite over anger and nervousness from its confrontation the night previous. Well, at least that was the case for the moment, having something to do other than brood on it was really the main factor.
In the time between classes, Taran sorted through various books, contemplating dropping the shadow charm from its hood for a bit perhaps but no, there would be no point. Besides, it would just have to be put back up in a few minutes before any students arrived.
Taran focused its gaze on the wall, a quill working around its fingers repeatedly, a feat that would likely have been much easier with a Muggle pen. The next students coming would be N.E.W.T. level, and all the houses combined. It was, after all, a significantly smaller class after fifth year had ended.
This would, no doubt, be where Taran would be focusing much of its energy, shortly followed by preparing the fifth years for their O.W.L.'s. However, to it, the war that had finally started, or perhaps resumed described the situation more accurately, took precedence over any test.
Most the students weren't even the focus, no, that would be Harry Potter, the one who had been prophesied as vanquisher of the Dark Lord. Taran knew more than it should about that, but that wasn't an uncommon sort of trend. It took a slow breath, focusing on the door as footfalls approached. That would be the first of the next class, no doubt.
Taran maintained half-observant vigilance on the door as the class filtered in. Many among them looked particularly snide, namely the Slytherin's. Somehow that was not a surprise, if their head of house hated Dilerd, then they would too, whether or not they knew the reason.
Taran's lip contorted into an unseen snarl. If any class were going to be disrupted today, this would likely be the one, however, since this point and on was not exactly compulsory for the students it would have no qualms removing one from the classroom permanently.
Once students had finished filtering in Taran stood, shifting its head so that each would know it had concentrated on them specifically. Fortunately this group reacted with more dignity than the fourth years, none paled and many looked defiantly back, almost challenging Taran to turn out to be a death eater.
"Welcome to your first year of N.E.W.T. level Defense Against Dark Arts. If you are here, it means you have already showed exceptional talent in this particular field and I offer my congratulations on that. However I also see it fit to provide warning that it only gets harder from here on out," Taran began, shifting without losing a beat, "And five points from Slytherin, if you continue it will include a detention." As it finished it stood, glaring down at Malfoy who had been miming, paying more attention to laughing with his friends than listening to the teacher.
When Malfoy had fallen begrudgingly silent, glaring but still silent, Taran walked away. "I have provided a library based on year, and I must tell you most importantly, especially to your level, do not, and I repeat, do NOT put books into the hands of students of lower levels. The consequences for said action will be dire I can assure you. I also recommend you not try and weasel a seventh year into giving you a book from that level, if you have need of it, ask me and I might consider it."
Taran paused, silver eyes narrowing visibly beneath the hood as it stared out at all the students. "I cannot emphasize enough that these books are not all exactly safe. I trust that at your level you can handle them, but I recommend utmost care even so."
Once again there was a pause, this one longer as Taran gauged the students. "I cannot help but notice that you do not trust me yet and can hardly blame you," amusement tinted its voice at that, "but, I still hope you will take what I teach to heart because it may prove to be your best defense against Voldemort in times to come."
Taran yet again paused, watching once more. It was not a name the students liked hearing, and yet some didn't even flinch, focused utterly on what it said. Of all the students, Potter and his friends seemed to react the least to it. Very good then, better than anticipated even, maybe it wasn't much, but it was easier to conquer fear of something if you could name it.
"I've managed to get information on former teachers this class has had, including an imposter of a former Auror. This teacher demonstrated to you the unforgivable curses, and in that, might have given himself away. Does anyone currently have an idea of how?"
There was a long moment of silence in the class. Finally a girl raised her hand and Taran simply pointed her way to acknowledge. "I know that the unforgivable curses take a level of will to hurt. Someone doing one would likely be showing it."
Taran shook its head slightly. "No, that's not quite the reason, but it leads to it. You see, Aurors had and still have permission to use those curses on Death Eaters, which says that they must be able to use them. However, I can't particularly see a successful Cruciatus curse being used for learning purposes. The Cruciatus curse takes a level of Sadism that even anger for a loss doesn't give. Hatred could do it, but the mere desire to instruct," it paused with a bit of a scoff, "never."
Taran raised an eyebrow just slightly as Potter shifted a bit uncomfortably in his seat. Not that anyone saw it, considering the substantial shadow the hood maintained. It was curious now, not doubting that Potter had known that last part from experience, what sort of experience, it couldn't help but wonder. Oh, it knew of Voldemort's attack on the ministry the previous year, it was details that it wanted, but had little chance of acquiring.
After a small pause Taran flashed a small grin, not caring that students likely wouldn't catch it. "So unless the man was deathly afraid of spiders, he was something other than what he seemed, which, in the end, he turned out to be."
Taran paused again, clearing its throat, this time only for a moment, "Now that I've covered that I'd like to see how you manage with Patronuses, I am aware this might seem advanced at this stage, but with the likelihood of Dementors on Voldemort's side, it would be best to be prepared."
Taran pulled its wand from a pocket, stepping a small distance back from the first line of student desks. "The Patronus charm requires dwelling on a significantly happy memory and speaking the incantation 'Expecto Patronus.' It will provide in its weaker form, a bit of a shield, which might guard you for a time. In its full-fledged form, however, it becomes something of a guardian that will not only hold the Dementors at bay, but quite likely run them off."
"Expecto Patronus," Taran uttered watching with a dark smile on its face, the light of the Patronus revealing the smile. The wolf that formed stalked the front of the classroom, hackles raised and teeth bared, a silent snarl echoing in Taran's mind. It let the Patronus pace the area in front of the desks just a moment before releasing it and letting the light flood back into its wand.
"Alright now, I am aware that at least one and likely multiple students in this room can do a corporeal Patronus, if you are in that category please form a line at the front of the classroom." Once the small line had formed Taran gave a bit of a nod. "You will demonstrate, I may be utilizing your assistance if I deem your Patronus sufficient." Taran moved a bit to the side and pointed at the first student. Its glare was obvious, hood or no as it waited.
Author's Notes: Meh, I'm one beta reader short this time around, and it feels odd putting this up, but I rather wanted to get it up so I could get inspired to work on the next chapter. Be forgiving, whenever my final reader is around she'll help me fix up any problems that remain in this, which I'm sure that many do, and then I'll replace it.
