Chapter 20: Defense Against the Dark Arts as Taught by Tonks

A/N: Alright here's the deal. I love you guys cause you review. As thanks for said reviews (at this moment numbering 123) I am giving you an extra long chapter. (hopefully)Let me answer a few questions and address a few issues first. Let us begin.

1. Signeus, I never said you were an ass nor anyone else that corrected me. I said thank you for helping ME not look like an ass. Personally I think you are great and I am happy to have your attention even if it is brought on by bordem. This story was brought on by bordem.

2. Sweetgirl, Some people have made the connection, some will never figure it out because they are a bit thick. (Give you three guesses who the thick ones are.)

3. Someone brought up the fact that sometimes I call Emalia Emily. (It takes to long to go look sorry.) I thank you for paying attention but it is like a shortened form of the name.

4. Shadow64, I might be wrong but I don't believe the Order of the Phoenix book said what Ron and Hermione's career choices were. My thought is that you probably read my Life after Graduation story and got them mixed. I really don't care what they do I just wanted them all to have DADA together.

5. Couples in this story will change randomly according to my mood. Thus I havent put much Ron/Hermione as it is. I might make it a Harry/Ginny fic, a Draco/Ginny fic, or a Harry and Draco with other people fic. It depends on how my mind decides to do it. It's full of surprises.

6. Last one, I will be making some of the characters I made sure to introduce (i.e. Emily, Natalie, Mellissa, and Dudley) important later in the story. I don't really know how but I do know I will make them important and thus there will be more of them.

Disclaimer: If you've seen it, I don't own it.

Tonks was nervous at the front of the class but that quickly left her when she noticed that it was mostly DA members in the class.

"Ok, so you know ahead of time, I am a bit clumsy. Most likely you knew that but hey fair warning to those of you who didn't. Mad-eye figured I would be good at teaching this class so I got stuck here. I am to teach you defense in one of the most crucial times in History. You've studied creatures, you've studied curses, you have probably learned a bit from the DA that most of you are in, but I am to teach you how to fight and how to protect yourselves." She looked at Draco who was the most injured.

"OK. I need a volunteer. Harry, Hermione you'll do nicely." They made their way to the front of the room. "Every witch or wizard has a strong point. Mine is concealing." Tonks changed her looks a few times. "Harry here is a parslemouth and very courageous, Hermione's is her quick thinking. Everyone has their strong points and their weak points. My weak point is stealth. Harry's is well his hero mode, and Hermione's is the rules. If you plan to go into battle, you must know these and how to use them to your advantage."

Tonks gestured for Harry and Hermione to put away their wands. "Say Harry was a bad wizard. If he were to send say a stunning spell at Hermione from this distance apart." Tonks had moved them across the room from one another. "What would you do Hermione?"

Hermione smiled. "A reflection charm as opposed to a shielding charm so that he would be caught off guard."

"Very good. The unexpected is a powerful weapon. Harry what would you do if Hermione sent a stunning spell at you?"

"Roll diagonally a bit and shoot a different curse at her while she is distracted. Its easier to get through defenses when someone is attacking." Harry answered simply.

"Daring yes but I recommend that you stay down while you fire off the curse and aim for the lower body. This way when she ducks it will hit her." Tonks looked at the two examples before waving her wand and making a snake appear.

"Snakes are not particularly dangerous creatures most of the time. If you provoke them, they are some of the fiercest opponents ever known to man but otherwise they are harmless. Harry can use this to his advantage. If he learns to conjure snakes or the fighting is taking place somewhere that is inhabited by snakes they can warn him of danger." Tonks put the snake down.

Harry called the snake to him and picked it up.

"Animals can help all sorts of ways during battle. Many animals can sense danger before humans do, some can heal, and some can aide in a fight. Now someone besides Hermione name an animal that could be of help during a fight." Tonks looked towards the class.

"Phoenixes." Draco started.

"Very good, they have healing properties as well as they are able to fight."

"Centaurs help sometimes." Neville supplied.

"Not very often. Centaurs aren't the nicest of creatures."

"Dogs." Ernie offered.

"Excellent you are getting the idea. What is another skill that could prove useful in a fight?"

"Invisibility." Hannah brightened starting the chain.

"Depends on who you are fighting. If you are fighting Mad-eye no."

"Flight." Padma Patil joined.

'Again it depends on who you are fighting."

"Animagi." Remus said from the door.

"You don't count you aren't a student."

"Since when has that ever stopped me?" Remus joked.

"Shut up, I'm in the middle of a class. Speaking of animagi, might as well get into that."

The class was happy now. Harry and Hermione had taken their seats for a while.

"Animagi is a skill that only few know. It takes power, dedication, and a lot of hard work and skill. Not everyone can become an Animagi. I can't because of my metamorphic qualities. If I were to change into an animal I would have too many differences brought on by my powers. Remus here can't become an animagi because of the wolf in his blood. This changes the chemistry of his body so it prevents changes. Simple right?"

Remus smiled. "If that's what you call my pain once a month."

"I meant about Animagi you git. Get out of my class or shut up." Tonks glared at the man.

"Fine fine. You said you wanted one of us here for the class..." Remus turned to leave.

"Help me clear the desks." Tonks waved her wand and half the desks flew to one side of the room. Remus sent the others to the other side.

"Ready?" he asked as soon as all the students were clear of the path.

"Go. Stupefy." Tonks began their duel.

Remus decided to use his agility to dodge and cast at the same time.

Tonks changed to a shorter person while casting a curse a little to the right of him. Remus expecting such a thing stayed where he was and aimed a curse at her head. Tonks moved and grew at the same time while trying to cast another spell. The werewolf was too quick and Tonks was sent across the room.

Tonks stood and dusted herself off. "When exactly did you get to where you can beat a trained auror?" Tonks asked baffled.

"When I had to have duels for money. You forget I lived on the streets for the majority of my life because I couldn't pay the rent." Remus smiled and bowed before making his exit.

"That was what was called a basic duel. It is the most common type of duel around here. Another type of duel is when you use objects to help you..." and so the lesson went. All of the sixth years present were enthralled with her class. She briefly covered each topic before moving in on the next one. Just before the bell rang, she assigned homework and points.

"Alright class settle down. Everyone participated today and that's what I expect everyday. I'm giving each house 10 points except for Slytherin due to the fact that they aren't here. For homework, I want you to pick one of the things we talked about and write a foot and a half about what is important about it, what ways it can help defense, what ways it can help attack, and what the downside to it is. Due next time I see you." Tonks nodded and dismissed the class.

As Tonks passed the group on the way to lunch she leaned down and whispered, "Great prank on Remus, I'd like to see how he pays you back." Before heading on to lunch.

A/N: Well that's probably it until Mon. Still look for an update and review but don't get angry if I don't update until then.