Chapter Five
"Who do you suppose our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is?" Ron asked as the four of them approached their first class of the day.
"Professor Anna Archer." Serena said. "Dumbledore told me, and she was one of my teachers back at Phoenix Gate, three years ago I think. She was trained as an Auror, she graduated from Phoenix Gate the same year I turned one. She's not very old at all, but she did help fight against Voldemort, so she knows what she's doing."
"Umm, okay…" Ron said.
They walked into their classroom to find a picture of a giant leopard stalking through an African village. A blank line fell beneath the picture, and five X's fell beneath the line.
"Now that's an odd painting, the picture isn't moving." Ron said.
"It's a muggle painting Ron. It was never bewitched to move." said Serena.
"Good morning everyone!" said a pleasant voice.
A woman walked into the room. She wore robes of deep blue and silver. Her hair was a copper colour, long and curly. Serena was right Anna Archer wasn't very old at all; she was in fact young and quite attractive.
"Now then, my name is Professor Anna Archer. I do believe it is time for class to begin. So can anyone tell what the creature is one the board, and can they tell me what the five X's indicate?" The young professor asked.
Naturally Hermione's hand shot straight up into the air, but not so naturally so did someone else's hand. Serna's hand went into the air almost the same time as Hermione's.
"Alright, Hermione is it? What do you say?" said professor Archer.
"Yes professor, the creature indicated in the painting is a Nundu. The five X's below it indicate how dangerous it is. Five X's is highly lethal, and one is virtually harmless." Hermione said beaming with pride that she was chosen instead of Serena.
"Very good, alright…oh! Serna Valmont! It's good to see you again my dear. Now then Serena, can you tell me, where the Nundu is found, and why it is considered to be so dangerous?" The professor asked her past student.
Serena cleared her throat.
"The Nundu is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous beasts in existence. It is a gigantic leopard, native to East Africa, whose breath carries disease and death. Whole villages have been wiped out by the Nundu." Serena said casually, though everyone looked at her as though she was some kind of dictionary.
"That's exactly right, good job girls, ten points each." Archer said.
Class went by quickly. They discussed all kinds of bizarre creatures. Professor Archer also informed them that she had received permission form the Ministry of Magic to use the Imperio curse one her students, to teach them how to shake it off. Harry didn't see much of a problem with this at all. They had done this, somewhat, last year when Mad Eye Moody was teaching them.
Class ended, Hermione and Serena each received thirty points for Gryffindor, by simply answering the questions. Hermione, despite her new friendship with Serena, was still very competitive. It seemed she was quite determined to become Head Girl. It was more than obvious that Hermione was up against Serena for the position. Hermione was not in any way going to make it an easy thing for Serena to get.
Professor Flitwick's class flew by since they simply reviewed the charms they had learned in the previous year and continued to study apparating and diapparating. He did it mostly for Serena's sake, so she would know exactly where they were and where they would be starting off this year. The class went well and Gryffindor earned a few more house points. Serena even got started on using her wand. The Bell sounded and class ended.
"Well, who ready for it?" Harry said. "I know I can't wait to see good old Snape again. I almost miss his insults and sarcasm so much I can hardly contain myself!"
Ron laughed, and they all walked down to the dungeons together. They walked for a moment in silence, until they heard a snicker behind them. Ron rolled his eyes as he heard a girl giggle after an all too familiar voice threw out a few extremely rude comments out into the air.
"Now I know you didn't just say any of those things to us, especially after what you and Serena discussed earlier, now did you Malfoy?" Harry said turning around.
"To you? Of course not Potter. I wouldn't dream of it." Malfoy said as he walked by them.
"Malfoy, what did I tell you about your eyes and my butt?" Serena said as Malfoy passed her.
Malfoy stopped walking for a second but then he kept going. Serena saw him blush at her comment, his ears turned a little pink. This time Serena had the last laugh.
Professor Snape burst into the room, the same way he always did on the first day with this class, and he proceeded to the front of the room. He whipped around; his black robed swishing with his every movement. He glared at all of the entire class, except Malfoy of course.
"This year," He paused, "will not be as simple as the past four. You will work twice as hard and twice as much, as it is I see you three times a week. If that is too much for you to handle, you will not survive my class next year at all. Today we will write down the ingredients, and methods to making two potions. One is a poison and the other is its antidote. You will brew them both the next time I see you. As it is you are now in your sixth year at Hogwarts, you will be taking classes on Saturdays, not that it affects this class at all, and I believe I will be seeing you next on Wednesday morning, and that is when these will be brewed. Now begin writing the notes." He demanded, and with a wave of his wand, a chalk began to scribble on the blackboard.
Serena muttered a few words and her quill began to scrawl across the parchment she had in front of herself. Her quill was writing everything she was reading. Neville's quill was doing the same, which got a strange look from Professor Snape. As it appeared Serena was a good teacher, since she taught Neville how to do that, and it stayed in his head.
There were a lot of ingredients in these potions. The methods needed to concoct these potions were very complex, class dragged on as the class continued to take notes. Everyone, except Serena and Neville, paused the shake off writer's cramp. They had an hour and a half to brew two potions on Wednesday, when they could have an hour and a half on Wednesday to make the first one, and an hour and a half on Friday to make the next one. Snape was really going to make them work hard this year.
Finally the bell went and class ended. Everyone hurried to pack his or her things and left.
"We'll see you upstairs for dinner, ok Serena?" Harry said, not wanting to be the left in the room with Snape.
"Yeah I won't take long." Serena said as she slowly packed up her things.
Everyone left, and it appeared that Serena wasn't the only one who was taking their time. Serena glanced out the corner of her eye to the other side of the room. Malfoy was packing his bag just as slowly as Serena was. It was no coincidence; he was doing it on purpose.
"Whatever you're plotting, Malfoy, don't." She said. "I will just get you back, and you know it. Why begin something you'll never finish? You could never win against me."
Malfoy threw his now packed bag over his shoulder and walked toward Serena. He walked right up to her; there was hardly any space between the two of them. It appeared he was trying to intimidate her the way she had to him. Unlike Malfoy Serena didn't cringe when he approached her, in fact she stood her ground.
"Is that so, Valmont?" Malfoy said. "We'll see."