Chapter 11- Professor Sanchez

"I wonder what'll be wrong with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Ron asked over lunch the next afternoon.

"Knowing the luck with that spot," Harry said, "I'm not sure what to expect."

"What's wrong with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers?" Cassie inquired.

"Every year we get a new one because something happens with the previous one so they can't teach anymore," Ron explained monotonously.

"Have any of you guys noticed this girl looks like Snape?" Harry asked, somewhat whispering in case Snape heard that somehow.

Cassie was giggling. "I saw that too. I swear, every time I look at Professor Snape I picture him in Professor Sanchez's clothes. They look almost identical."

"Let's just hope that Professor Sanchez isn't anything like her male counterpart," Ron said.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, is not a simple class," Professor Sanchez said sourly. "Like any talent it needs to be studied, practiced, and honed." She was strolling up and down the aisles of desks, boring her eyes down at the students who were following her every move. "I understand that you have extended knowledge of creatures in which you might need to defend yourself against. But this year, I shall teach you about dark artifacts that you need to know how to prepare yourself for. Diligence is the number one priority. Please take down the notes on the board." She flicked her wand and the board was filled with neat, bold handwriting. After a few minutes, the scratching of quills ended and the class looked expectantly around the room.

"Now," Professor Sanchez said sternly, piercing the silence that once occupied the room, "I have in my possession the Orb of Hex. Now when the incantation is recited, the orb will produce a hex at the person it is aimed at. The hexes are somewhat harmless, if anything, we are not too far from the hospital wing. Now, on the board I have written down the spell that will help you fight against the orb. Repeat after me now, Bobulcious."

"Bobulcious," the class repeated dully.

"Professor," Hermione said timidly, her hand was half-raised in the air. "Are you sure that this is safe? I mean, we don't know what hex could come out of that thing and..."

"I assure you Miss Granger that none of us will be severely harmed," Professor Sanchez said through clenched teeth. Hermione gulped and dropped her wavering hand back down into her lap.

"Now, who wants to be the first volunteer?" She looked around the room, everybody was afraid of what Hermione had been talking about. They didn't know what that orb could do to them.

"Then I suppose I will just pick a student. Let's see," she said as she glanced around the room. "How about you," she said, pointing to Neville. There was a quiet murmur from the class as he glimpsed around the room, trying to find somebody who could help him, which was impossible, seeing as he had to do this himself.

"Oh dear," Harry heard Hermione mutter. Neville wasn't the best at doing much, and with this mysterious orb thing, it probably wasn't wise for him to defend himself first.

"Come up here boy, we don't have all day," Professor Sanchez said impatiently. Neville sheepishly got out of his chair and dragged himself to the front of the class.

"Now," she said sharply, startling the class, "I will utter the incantation and you will say the spell to protect yourself. Focus all your energy into controlling the spell so that it will last long enough to repel the hex. Are you ready?"

Neville nodded shakily and lifted his wand. Professor Sanchez lifted a tarp to reveal a clear black sphere. To Harry it just looked like a giant black marble. She muttered something under her breath and the orb began to fade into a fiery red color. In the center there was a bright yellow spot that contrasted the red surrounding it. She aimed the orb at Neville and a blue flash emitted from it. He heard Neville bellow the spell and saw a bright white light form around him. The blue flash from the orb seemed to be absorbed into the light from his spell for a brief second but then Neville couldn't control it anymore and fell down due to the hex. Several Gryffindors got out of their seats to see what had happened to him, most of the Slytherins were just laughing.

"Jelly legs," Professor Sanchez said monotonously as she pointed her wand at Neville's legs and returned them to normal. "Now," she said sharply. "As you can see, Mr. Longbottom was not able to protect himself from the orb. I hope that the rest of you can harness your energy into defending yourself. Now for another volunteer."

The rest of the class proceeded in the same manner. Professor Sanchez randomly picked students from the fearful crowd to face the orb. The orb would continuously spit out hexes and a few lucky students were able to block the spell. Most of the students however (Harry and Ron included) fell victim to its mysteries to the displeasure of Professor Sanchez.

"I'm surprised at the small amount of students that are able to fight against this," she said once everyone in class had a turn. "Now, for homework please write two rolls of parchment on the difference between hexes and curses and why the Bobulcious spell will not work against curses."

"Two rolls?!" Ron exclaimed.

"Don't push me Weasley or I'll make it three," she warned.

Thankfully the bell rang before Ron could make her angrier than she already was.

"That wasn't such a bad lesson," Hermione commented as she began packing her things.

"It was interesting," Cassie agreed.

"Easy for the two of you to say," Ron said as they walked to Transfiguration, "You weren't on the receiving end of that orb's Bat Bogey hex."

Hermione and Cassie shrugged.

"Well at least we know one thing," Harry said as he took his seat in McGonagall's classroom, "She sure does give the same workload as Snape."