Chapter 4. The new DADA Professor
It was breakfast the day after they had arrived and Professor McGonagall was handing out the schedules to the Gryffindor house table where many groans were to be heard from the students.
Kiara was whispering to Lisa and Lily, "Who's that new guy up there? He is mighty fine!"
"Who are you?" Lisa asked amused.
"Okay fair enough, but look at him!"
"I have to say it but I don't disagree with you, he only looks like 24 he must be quite good to teach at that age," Lily spoke.
"I wonder what he teaches," Kiara asked curiously.
"Defence against the dark arts," Lily replied straight away.
"How do you know that?"
"Well, what's the only teaching position available?"
"Right. Well I cannot wait for that class, when do we first have defence against the dark arts?"
Lisa checked her schedule, "Friday we have it double after-" She groaned, "-double potions."
"Well at least it's something to look forward to after a morning of torture," Lily said consolingly.
Kiara continued to stare up at the staff table.
As the girls resumed normal conversation, the marauders, as they had been dubbed in their third year, sat down at the table.
"Hi," Remus said. "What are you talking about?"
"The new Defence against the Dark arts professor," Lisa told him.
"Oh right. How come he wasn't here yesterday?" Remus asked them. "Do you think he'll be very good?"
"I bet he will," Kiara replied dreamily still staring at the staff table.
"I dunno why he wasn't here yesterday but I guess we'll find out on Friday," Lily said.
"Well we better get to class," James told the girls. "See you later."
Over the next few days the group of six came to know each other well with the exception of Peter who didn't seem to like hanging around with the girls that much and just kept to himself when they were around. Kiara still detested Sirius though who had had many failed attempts at talking to her since the train ride.
On a Friday morning they all had double potions first thing, so they all left breakfast early to be sure to get a seat at the back and not get detention as the potions professor didn't seem to like them that much.
James remembered in his first year when his dad had warned him about this professor saying that he might have a bit of a grudge against him because they went to school together. His dad told James that he had done something not very nice to professor Cape but James had the feeling it had been bigger than "something not very nice" as, as much as his dad tried to hide it James could still see a bit of guilt lingering in his father's eyes.
So the girls and the marauders, except Peter who had opted not to take potions anymore, walked down to the dungeons together laughing about something Sirius had done to James over the summer.
"And then get this, whilst trying to catch me he thought the pond was concrete and so he ran straight into it only to be swarmed by the fish and half drenched. I mean you don't even know where your own pond is!" Sirius finished clutching his stomach as he was laughing so hard.
Everyone burst out laughing except James who looked like he was trying to keep quiet to avoid any more embarrassment.
Then the potions professor came out of his dungeon classroom to see what all the noise is about, "10 points from Gryffindor for making all that racket."
"What? You can't do that sir that's so unfair!" Sirius argued.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do Mr Black or it will be another 10 for arguing with a professor."
Just then a group of slytherins came down the stairs and Professor Cape greeted them as he passed them by into the classroom exclaiming how nice it was to have some good people in his house to rely on that wouldn't break rules.
He then entered the classroom himself leaving the group of Gryffindors stood outside rooted to the spot until Lily said after a couple of seconds, "I think we better go inside before we lose any more points."
They all walked into the classroom in silence. Professor Cape was at the front of the classroom and as they walked in he stated, "Nice of you to finally join us. Let's see, you're a minute late so that's a point off Gryffindor for each of you."
Sirius looked like he was about to protest but Kiara elbowed him in the ribs and after that he shut up.
Professor Cape paired them up himself, "Lisa Taylor and Remus Lupin."
Remus and Lisa smiled at each other before moving to the same desk to get started on their potion.
"Sirius Black and Kiara Williams."
Kiara moved her things reluctantly over to Sirius' desk where he was stood wearing a superior smile.
"Lily Evans and James Potter."
These will be the people you are working with for the rest of this term at least so it maybe in your best interests to try and get on with them.
Lily and James smiled at each other before getting on with the potion they were brewing, the soul draught, a potion allowing the drinker to see clearly all the emotions they are feeling without becoming confused.
Remus and Lisa looked like they were getting along well with the potion but Sirius and Kiara were arguing about what should be put in first the quarter of a cow's heart or the eyes of a newt. Their voices were raising and they were waving fists at each other.
Now Professor Cape had noticed and was sweeping down on them a manic glare in his eye, "A further 5 points from Gryffindor for yet another racket and a detention for both of you for disturbing the rest of my class."
The rest of the potions class passed in much the same way with Gryffindor losing more points although they had all been subdued when Sirius and Kiara had got their detentions.
As they all got up and left the classroom the boys walked on ahead talking angrily about the unfairness of having a biased potions teacher.
Lisa was looking on at the boys. Or at a particular boy's behind. Lily noticed and said, "Enjoying the view are we?" to her.
"Yeh," Lisa sighed dreamily.
Kiara and Lily laughed which seemed to wake Lisa out of her daze. "Hey!" she exclaimed.
"You can't help how you feel. You should ask him out," Lily told her.
"Nah, he'd say no. He does to every girl."
"Maybe he's waiting for the right one to ask. He obviously likes you Lees. Give him a go."
"Maybe."
"Hey, we have Defence against the Dark arts next right?" Kiara asked excitedly.
"Yes we do Kiara," Lily replied a little bored.
The girls and Marauders walked into the DADA classroom and the girls took seats at the front whilst the boys took seats at the back.
They couldn't see the new professor anywhere; many murmurings were going round the class about where the professor had gotten to. And then as if from no where he appeared leaning slightly on his desk. Many audible sighs from the girls were heard throughout the room. He cleared his throat slightly and the few people who had still been talking quieted immediately.
"I suppose you are wondering who I am and how I have come to be teaching you this year?" He began.
The whole class stayed silent. "I am Professor Adams and as I am sure you have figured out I am your new Defence against the Dark arts professor. I have had much experience in facing the dangers of the world so I can assure you my opinion is probably one of the best you will get.
"Professor, forgive me for saying so but you seem awfully young to have had a lot of experience and become a teacher," a small Ravenclaw girl asked.
"Thank you. I actually went through the auror training programme straight after I left school. I trained for 3 years and spent 2 years out in the field. Until one day because of me one of my closest friends was killed and I decided that I was putting too many of my friends and family in danger by being an auror. From then I decided to put my talents to another use so I decided to become a teacher. And that is what I have been doing for the past year and how I came to be standing here in front of you today."
The class stared at him, shocked for his ability to be so unemotional about a matter that was clearly so emotional to him and his forwardness.
"Now shall we proceed with the lesson, your NEWT year holds many difficult tasks ahead and through this year you will learn how to best cope in a dangerous situation and what spells you could use to help you. You must also remember that Charms and Transfiguration are important factors of Defence against the Dark arts."
"Although I'm sure many of you will not like it this first lesson shall just be theory so I would like you to get out parchment and quill and copy these notes. I assure you not all lessons with me shall be so tediously boring but it is important that you learn the theory to help you understand the practical better."
The class did so without complaint and began to copy the notes down for the rest of the lesson. And when the bell rang for lunch Professor Adams said, "Next lesson I will tell you some tales of my experiences and we will do an overview of every practical spell you've learnt over your past school years. Homework is to find a spell you find particularly difficult so I can work on it next lesson with you. See you then."
The students all bustled out of the classroom talking about the new professor. "He was quite good wasn't he?" Lily said to the group.
"Yeah he was actually. I can't wait for next lesson though when we start doing practical stuff again," James replied.
"Me neither," expressed Sirius.