4. Offense Against the Dark Arts
After a good night's sleep, Harry was ready for another year of learning magic. He was especially looking forward to Offense Against the Dark Arts. What are we going to learn in this class? Surely no Unforgivable Curses.
"Ron, come on. Let's get an early breakfast, and find out what we can about the new teacher." Ron still looked half asleep, but agreed. They met Hermione in the Common Room, and went back down to the Great Hall.
It was a much different crowd than they usually ate with, for they usually didn't eat at six thirty. Professor McGonagall was, yet again, sitting in Dumbledore's seat. This would take some getting used to.
Harry saw Professor Slughorn sitting where Snape used to sit. This also would take some getting used to. Ron and Hermione started arguing about the pumpkin juice, so Harry decided it was time to wander around a bit.
A few more people were just starting to get up. He was just walking past the entrance to the dungeons when he saw something that made his mouth fall open. Swishing past was Snape. When Snape turned around, Harry was even more surprised.
It was a woman. She had the same prideful stature, and had black billowing robes. She had black hair, and the only skin showing was her gaunt, skeletal, white face, and fingertips. Her face looked nothing like Snape though. She had heavily lidded eyes, and her face would have been white as snow, had it not been for a grayish tinge.
"You must be Mr. Potter," she whispered. Harry was still speechless. Even when she walked towards him, it was the same kind of way Snape would walk. She had the same sort of mannerisms. She extended a hand, and Harry's scar suddenly twinged painfully.
"I am Professor Wilhelm," she said with a cruel, twisted smile. Her voice was echoing strangely.
Harry was glad when Ron and Hermione walked towards him; he had an excuse to get away from this eerie, new Professor.
"Who was that?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Oh, that was Professor Wilhelm," Harry replied. He was still rather shocked.
"What's wrong? Is she nice?" Ron said, looking hopeful. "We haven't had a decent new teacher in a long time." Harry knew Ron wasn't fond of Professor Slughorn, the potions master. He was well known for only befriending people with popular associations. Ron had never been invited to any of his parties.
"Oh, ah, she's alright. I got the same strange feeling I did when I met Snape. I don't think she likes me."
"Oh don't be ridiculous Harry," said Hermione, "honestly, she can't be that bad." They walked down the hall to get to their first class, which unfortunately was Offense Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins.
They walked into the classroom, which was previously used as Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Harry was surprised to see that the gruesome pictures of people being tortured were still lining the walls.
Snape had put them up last year. Most everyone was already seated. Draco was sitting in the back corner by himself. What's he up to? Why isn't he with his usual friends? The last few students dawdled into the room. "Where's our new teacher?" Harry heard Lavender Brown ask. There was a sound in the front of the room. It made a few people jump. Apparently Professor Wilhelm was there the whole time, but no one noticed her because she blended in with the candlelit classroom.
"Well, hello seventh years," she whispered, "welcome to your first Offense Against the Dark Arts class. I am here to teach you ways of attacking your enemies, rather than defending yourself. You need stronger protection. Stronger than silly little disarming spells. You need to give them a taste of their own medicine. It is vital that you know what is coming. By enemies, I mean Death Eaters, and worse. I have met them before, and they are not pleasant. It is foolish to hold grudges against fellow classmates. I know the terrible damage it can cause."
Her eyes were fixated on Harry. They flickered towards the corner of the room, gave someone else a piercing gaze, and then roved back to Harry again.
"It is time to unite in these dark days. Holding a grudge is like swallowing poison, in the hopes of killing your enemy. If you even attempt to curse someone who isn'ta Death Eater, I will see to it that you are sent to Azkaban, for you have now come of age." Her gaze fell again on someone in the corner of the room. "So I warn you now, I am teaching you the darkest of magic. Use it wisely."
There was total silence after these words.
"I assume I am correct in saying you are familiar with the Unforgivable Curses?" Professor Wilhelm asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Good. Well at least that will save me from a tedious explanation. You are already familiar with them. Now you will learn to use them. Remember, if used against the wrong person, you will receive life in Azkaban. We will start with the Imperius Curse."
A few people looked apprehensive.
"Ohhhh, the Imperius Curse," Hermione whispered.
"You must be Miss Granger. Yes, I've heard all about you," Wilhelm said more to herself than to the class.
"Professor? Are you sure we're supposed to learn how to use dark magic?" Hermione asked, as if she didn't here what Wilhelm just said.
"In my class Miss Granger, we do not speak out of turn. Next time raise your hand." Hermione looked crestfallen that she'd already made a bad impression.
"Now, the Imperius Curse does not require much magic behind it. You need to first say the incantation. Imperio. After the incantation has been said, a spell comes over yourself, as well as the victim. After you say the words, you say out loud what you want your victim to do. But because of the magic over yourself, it appears that your mouth is not moving, and only the victim can hear what you are saying. It is quite simple. You must speak very loudly and clearly when giving instructions to the person under the spell. Only the incantation can be used nonverbally. Also, you will not be able to speak properly until you have lifted the curse. If you try, only your victim will hear you. Any questions?"
Everybody was silent. Harry had thought of a question almost immediately after Wilhelm's speech began. He raised his hand.
"Yes Mr. Potter?"
"Which Death Eaters have you met?" Wilhelm stared at him for a moment.
"Curious little one aren't you? I have met many of them, if you must know. I am sure you know who many of them are. But not all..." She trailed off. Is she trying to tell me something? They stared at each other for several seconds.
"Now, if you will all turn to page six of your Offensive Method Volume Seven, you will find a list of side charms, to help you with the Imperius Curse. Your homework is to list all offending spells that you know. Good day to you all," she said as she stood up and straightened some papers.
"Oh, and a word with you Mr. Malfoy," she added. Ron and Harry turned their heads sharply. "I wonder what she wants with Malfoy?" Ron muttered quietly. Everyone left the room, but Ron, Harry, and Hermione were standing right outside the door. "Now, Mr. Malfoy," they heard Wilhelm say, "I am serious when I say that any use of dark magic on a fellow student will land you in Azkaban. We can know longer vouch for you. You know that. As much as I was opposed to it in the first place. I am terribly sorry if you thought you could get away with something," she added bitterly. "Good day."
Ron and Hermione looked quickly at Harry, looking both worried, and puzzled. "We've gotta get out of here before Malfoy comes," Harry said. They ran swiftly down the hall, and heard Malfoy just exiting the classroom.