Chapter 5
First Lessons
Amanda woke early the next morning to find the work of many house elves in her room. They had made her breakfast, made up her bed and pick out her best robes. House elves can really accessorize. Now that she was dressed, she was ready to teach a bunch of 7th years until they dropped.
She made her way slowly to the classroom she was to teach her Defense against the Dark Arts classes in for the year. When she arrived, the male half of the population of the 7th year Hogwarts students was standing there waiting for her arrival. There were maybe two or three girls standing amongst the young gentlemen of Gryffindor and Slytherin. By the time she had gone in, put her books on her desk and straightened her robes, the final student had walked through the doors. She had a good lesson planned out to start the year out with a kick. Something that most of her students probably didn't know existed, and yet it was so close to them. They had no idea how close…
"Good morning all of you. Today, I bring to you a topic that most of you are most likely unfamiliar with. But before I begin, I must pressure you on the fact that you are quite very behind in this course of Defense Against the Dark Arts. So I've taken the liberty to grant you all permission for field studies, to take you to the front lines so to speak.
"As many of you know I am an Auror, more specifically, I am the captain of the department of mysteries. I'll be taking all of you into Hogsmeade to our head quarters there. It'll be several weeks though. You will get to watch first hand how we teach our new Aurors to defend themselves and attack. By the time we get to go, we will be caught up enough to identify some more of the spells they use than you would without me. Now any questions before we begin the lesson?" she finished
"What kind of things will they be fighting?" asked Draco
"Ah, they usually use Deatheaters, but by that time I think they will be working on a wider variety. Things like Evil Vampires and Evil werewolves. Not all creatures of a species are evil and want to kill everything just like people. Not all of us run a rampage. Anything else? No, well since there's not another hand raised, we will proceed. How many of you know what a Intremance is?"
Hermione's hand shot up so fast Neville, who was sitting close by, almost took the blow.
"Alright, that's more than I expected."
Everyone put there hands down and waited.
"Intremances are extremely rare. There's only a counted one Intremance left. You can compare them to vampires. Like vampires, they must drink blood to survive. Well, they need it more to health than survival. They are immortal, but have heartbeats and are born, not made. Many centuries ago the first Intremance was born. No name was rewarded to this new species. Later on, two more families were born: Leona Saylear and Deevon Kunock. The unnamed family took the name of Vansire. Now, they will the power of seduction and will bending, but unlike vampires they can walk in the sun freely and are not driven away by garlic and they are able to walk into a home without invitation. They are almost impossible to kill. Vampires can die by prolonged exposure to sunlight, stake to the heart, beheading and the killing curse. The Intremance is unsusceptible to all of the listed deaths. The only way to kill an Intremance is to kill the object of their love. See that's the problem with Saylear and Kunock. They fell in love with mortals. Though so did Vansire. Saylear and Kunock have died out but the eldest still remains. Another interesting fact would be that Kunock and Vansire have always had male heirs while Saylear has always had female. It is theoretical that if two Intremances were to fall in love together they would be invincible. Now anything you want to ask?"
"Like vampires, can they turn humans into immortals?" said Hermione
No, see that's why they all died. Their mates usually died of old age, in turn they die and well they kind of go puff. If one were to fall in love with a vampire they could possibly live forever but that's it.
Why is it true love that separates them form life and death?" said Draco
Truthfully, I don't know. But being the object of one's love you would learn a thing or two.
"One fell in love with you" spoke up Neville
"Yes. And I he."
What's his name?" said Draco
"If I told you I would have to kill you," said Amanda (A/N I just had to say that)
Amanda abruptly changed the subject to homework assignments. She received several groans from around the room.
"Now listen. I don't assign a ton that you can't get done in a week and then forget about other teachers assignments. I never liked to do homework, so you're not getting much homework from me mainly because I don't have the time to grade it. That and I believe your smart enough. No homework."
The room erupted into cheers and hoots and several sighs of relief. Everyone on the room was now completely looking forward to her next lesson. She only spent about 70 of the class time and they had several minutes left.
"Now I would like to tell you about another subject. Do any of you know what Occlumency may be?"
Hermoine stood up in her attempt to get to answer the question. Amanda recognized her and let her answer. "It's used to block others who attempt to hack into one's mind to steal thoughts and memories."
"Well, I believe you can learn this challenging subject. You all seem strong minded and willed. Thus, what you need for such a demanding course." Amanda paused to look at the clock on the far side of the wall, "Now, pack up. Next Monday I expect bright faces and cheery smiles ready to learn more on the subject of Intremances and Occlumency."
They went about their business for the remainder of the class. They sat there and talked and gossiped about all sorts of things. The bell abruptly rang and they all filed out the door one by one. Hermoine was once again excluded from the trio. Harry had over heard a few words of Draco and Hermione's conversation one day and, strangely, Draco had begun to call Hermoine by her first name and she to him. Odd Harry thought
The direction to potions had changed with the staff. No longer was Potions in the dungeons, but was on the third floor corridor. Harry and Ron walked in to find Professor Frost sitting at his desk poetically reading a potions book titled 'What to Do When Potions Go Bad'. The professor noticed them standing in his door and automatically invited them into the room.
"Please boys, take a seat."
As Harry walked to a desk near the left wall, he noticed a potion near the side of professor Frost's desk. It was a dark red, almost the color of blood but darker. Harry wondered over to the side closest to the potion.
"What's that potion for?" Harry didn't realize that he had spoken this out loud.
"This is a location potion. I'm making it for professor borders." Said professor Frost
"What does she need it for?" Harry pressed the professor for the answer just as he was pressing the subject.
"For when she goes hunting tonight. She's hunting the right hand man of Voldemort himself." The professor added punctually
"And who would that be" Harry pressed him again to answer the question which the professor did without hesitation.
"Lucius Malfoy. Didn't you expect it?" (A/N: Lucius is still on the loose in this fic)
"Well, we don't know exactly what to expect anymore, professor." Harry answered truthfully
They finished their little conversation of questions and Harry took his seat next to Ron. Professor Frost stood up and began the lesson.
"Good morning students. Today I expect to see you study the different types and effects of love potions. In our next lesson you will continue you studies and after that we might brew your chosen love potion. You're probably thinking 'we're not allowed' but it's part of your curriculum. Now let me separate you into groups. Granger, Malfoy Weasley, Bulstrode Potter, Parkinson Longbottom, Brown…" he went and on and on until all the Slytherin and Gryffindor students were partnered. And then began again "We will continue today with studying the types of love and lust potions and their symptoms and later you and your partner will chose one of the potions, construct it and try it out on yourselves. This will be a large sum of your grade for the year."
"So you're going to make us fall in love with one another?" blurted Draco
"More to the lines of your match. Most of the potions attract you to your mate or perfect match. You won't fall in love just…act like it. My fiancé will be joining us when we try them out. But until then we will classify and study any love or lust potion possible."
"Fiancé, who is she?" asked Draco yet again without permission
"You'll see."
After class, Harry and the gang went down the spiral staircase to go to Herbology. At the bottom of the stairs they could see the Goblet of Fire. Amanda was stuffing in two small slips of parchment into the bottom of the Goblet without suffering pain from the flames.
"She's pyrokinetic. Flames can't hurt her." Said Ron very secretively
"The flames can't hurt anyone. Oh, don't you remember fourth year? Excuse me." said Hermione very punctual
Hermione walked across the limit line and pulled out three small wades of parchment she threw them all into the goblet and came back to walk with her friends.
"I've entered all three of us." She said
"But we may not have wanted to enter Mione." Ron complained
"But you did."
Will you just give it a rest?"
"Oh, Malfoy I forgot you were with us," said Ron
"Yeah it's rather easy to do a thing like that. Any way, Hermione, why do we have to drag this ferret around with us all day?" Said Harry
"I told you, Harry. House unity." Said Hermione
"But…"
"No buts"
"But..."
"Harry!"
"Fine"
"Good"
"Good"
"Fine"
"SHUT UP!" screamed Draco ending the quarrel
"Who died and made you ruler of the Earth?" said Ron with a sarcastic tone
"Can't we all just shut up as Draco says and walk to the green house in peace?" said Hermione
"You notice that Malfoy will be the only Slytherin in that class?" asked Ron
"Yes, well tomorrow, I have to follow him around." Answered Hermione
They continued the journey to the new green house in silence. They had been upgraded to green house 7. It was home to the more exotic plants.
Harry, Ron Hermione, and Malfoy all entered the smoldering greenhouse to discover a plant larger than Hagrid himself. It looked a lot like a pansy. Nothing like the person.
"Lapazies, I love these. They're so beautiful." Exclaimed Hermione
As it turned out, Lapazies were the topic of Herbology for the day. Hermione was so intrigued by the giant plant she was often caught staring at it.
The rest of the class went by very quickly as did the rest of the day Soon everyone was sitting at their own house. Hermione had finally been separated from Malfoy. She was now sitting next to Ginny and across from Harry and Ron. McGonagall stood and the room quieted very quickly. All were excited to hear the names of the new champions.
"Will Mr. Filch please bring the goblet?"
The doors to the halls swung open on their massive hinges to reveal an old caretaker in what must have been an attempt to clean himself up for the revealing of the new Champions. He placed the Goblet of the stool used every year for the sorting hat.
"We now may begin." Boomed Professor McGonagall
The candles dimmed with a wave of McGonagall's old wand. A small bit of parchment shot out of the blue flames.
"The first champion for Gryffindor is Harry Potter."
The room erupted with cheers for the new champion. The next bit of parchment floated out of the goblet.
"Hufflepuff's new champion number one is Ronald Weasley."
The room was in shock. Then, complaints and cheers could be heard shouted from every which way. McGonagall raised her hand and the room became dead silent.
"I suppose the goblet chose the best recipient, despite house difference. The goblet has made its decision and we must accept this."
McGonagall's words seemed to hit the spot and the crowd quieted to hear the next name. Ron had changed to a brilliant shade of white. He seemed as translucent as nearly headless Nick. The next small amount of parchment flew threw the air.
"Ravenclaw's next champion is Hermione Granger."
The same process repeated for Hermione. She had changed to a bright red. A very good contrast with Ginny's hair.
"The first champion for Slytherin is Professor Amanda Borders."
The hall erupted with glad cheers, hoots and hollers for the blushing girl. (A/N I'm from the south, so the phrase hoots-n-hollers is a natural thing) The next round of parchment began to be regurgitated from the goblet.
"Gryffindor's second champion is Professor Jacob Frost." (For reference, Frost is 19)
Now the cheers were beginning to slow and quiet. The next slip of parchment came from the goblet.
"Second champion for Hufflepuff is Melody Hart."
Not quite as many cheers as the other champions.
"Ravenclaw's second is Isaac Cane."
Almost no cheers at all came from the awaiting crowd of students.
"The final, but not least, Champion for Slytherin is Mr. Draco Malfoy."
The students went wild with cheers and catcalls, well, the Slytherin part of it anyway. Gryffindor students could be seen with sneers on each normally bright face.
"Now the ceremony is complete. I invite all of you to a good night's sleep. Pleasant dreams all of you." The Professor was glad to send them away.
Everyone proceeded to his or her common rooms. There would surely be a party held in the names of the new champions.
Love Peace chicken grease
Flamed-heart