Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Harry was the last one to wake up in the morning; his classmates were already awake and sitting in the common room waiting impatiently. Today was supposed to be their first lesson with Dumbledore as the DADA teacher. Everyone were eager to learn from a man who was one of the most powerfull wizards ever. Ron was waiting for his friend to go to the great hall for breakfast. On their way there Harry noticed that Ron was in a rather good mood
''So...How are you today?'' Harry asked carefully.
''Oh, I'm great. And you?'' Ron replied.
''I'm fine...'' Harry lied. ''Are you sure you're okay'' He didn't give up, something wasn't right here.
''Why do you ask?'' Ron said frowning slightly.
''Yesterday you were looking like you were going to cry any second for what happened to Hermione...'' Harry started.
''But you heard her; she will come back. And while she's gone we have no one to tell us what to do. Which is a good thing for a change.'' Ron smiled mischievously.
Harry cringed at his friend's words. Ron was right, Hermione is a great friend but now they can do whatever they want without someone to nagg about it being wrong. Maybe it was about time for them two to have some fun. During the breakfast Harry was every once in a while looking over the professor's table. His father returned him a look but Harry couldn't force himself to show any kind of emotions towards the man except of hate. One minute he wanted to tell his father to go to hell and the other just to forgive him because this was slowly getting imbearable. Dumbledore, on the other hand, seemed to look everywhere but in Harry's direction.
When they finished their breakfast, the 6th year Gryffindors and Slytherins were directed to an empty classroom upstairs where they were supposed to have Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry and Ron sat in the front, which they didn't do very often. The headmaster was late for his lesson wich caused tension between the two houses. Malfoy and his gang laughed at how Dumbledore probably ate too many lemon drops and ended up in the hospital wing.
Both Slytherins and Gryffindors were startled when Albus suddenly appeared in the classroom. Malfoy immediately stoped talking. They didn't even hear the headmaster come in. Students watched nervously as their new teacher raised his hand and the room went dark with only a few torches as their source of light. It was a scary sight. The ones sitting in the back were fidgeting at the disturbing sounds coming from every corner of the classroom. Dumbledore's blue eyes flew over the classroom making everyone concetrate. The headmaster's grave expression made everyone even more nervous. After a few minutes of silence and quiet moaning coming mostly from the ones in the back, Dumbledore raised his voice
''You should get used to this atmosphere, from now on this is how we are going to work.'' His voice was cold and formal. ''This year you are not going to use your books very much. You will be using your wands probably every lesson. I have to warn you from the beginning that my standards are high and I won't tolerate ignorance. The reason why I wish to work in this conditions is that I want to make you ready for what you will find outside the school. Not every time you will be ready to respond to attack or to even know what was going on until all is over.'' Everyone watched in awe but mostly in fear at their good old headmaster who wasn't acting like his usual self anymore. He was cold and not in a friendly mood, which contributed very much to the scary atmosphere in the room.
''I think we should start with summoning a patronus which I believe most of you already learned.'' Here he gave Harry a look. Harry was surprised by all this just as everyone else. ''I believe that the Dumbledore's Army, as you named yourself, won't longer need to exist. Due to the fact that professor Umbridge didn't show you any spell I can understand why you wanted to build an organisation, but now I don't think it is necessary. Does anyone have any questions?''
Dumbledore voice wasn't so formal anymore, but no one said a word. Students were quite shocked by this sudden change of the man's personality while teaching, in his usuall rolle of being the Hogwarts headmaster he was kind and understanding and now he seemed more like their Potions professor.
''Very well. Just to remind you, the spell is 'Expecto patronum'.'' The spell appeared on the blackboard as the old man pronounced it. ''Who would like to go first?'' Albus asked his petriffied students. No one said anything. They all tried to hide behind their collegues. ''How about you Neville?'' He asked turning towards Neville who was having the similar face expression as he had when Snape talked to him.
''I...'' Neville started, his voice was very quiet. Harry suddenly raised his hand looking at his friend with pitty.
''Yes, Mr. Potter?'' Albus said turning towards him.
''I would like to go first, professor.'' Harry said feeling sorry for Neville. Everyone turned their heads in Harry's direction. Neville gave Harry a gratefull look.
''Right. Take your wand and come here.'' Albus nodded his head and walked to the darkest part of the room without desks. Harry followed him pulling out his wand. He stood opposite to his professor who looked ghastly under the light of the torch.
''We are going to practice on boggarts, so don't be afraid.'' Albus anounced to the class. ''Harry, prepare...''
Next second a dementor appeared from the dark and headed towards Harry with his so called arms ready to grabb him. Students gasped in schock when all of the sudden two more dementors crawled from each corner of the room. Harry was surprised but nonetheless raised his wand and yelled
''Expecto patronum!''
A silver stag appeared from Harry's wand and ran towards one of the dementors. He passed right through him but nothing happened. The sixth years looked in shock how the dementors were getting closer despite the patronus Harry created and Albus didn't look like he was going to do something about it. Harry was starting to get nervous, but managed to get a grip and shouted once more raising his wand higher
''Riddikulus!''
This time the spell worked and one of the boggarts disappeared. Harry quickly repeated the spell two more times. Students sighed in relief when they saw the last dementor disappear. Albus smiled and spoke
''That was very good, Harry.'' Albus said tapping him on the shoulder. ''Who wants to go next? I don't expect from you to manage doing what you fellow collegue did just now. The rest of you are going to practice this spell with only one boggart. '' He added when he saw frightened faces of his students. ''Usually you would have to use only 'Riddikulus' to get rid of a boggart but that is not what I want from you at the moment. You won't have to make the boggart go away, your only goal is to cast a material patronus. After you cast a patronus I'll make sure to take care of the boggart. I believe you could easily do a patronus while you don't have to face with your fear. But that usually won't be possible. Every boggart will be in a shape of a dementor. Now, we can go on.''
Harry watched his patronus running around the classroom and wondered why it still looked like a stag. Now when he knew who his real father is, the patronus only reminds him how wrong he was believing that James is his father. He sat back next to Ron with his friends were looking in awe at him. They were amazed at how he succeded in casting two working spells under pressure. Harry on the other hand was surprised at how Dumbledore believed that he's going to do everything right without him meddling.
''Why don't you give it a try, Draco?'' Albus said looking over the Slytherin side of the classroom.
Draco stood up with a weak smile on his face. He can't show that he's afraid, especially now when Potter pulled out a perfect spell. He pulled out his wand shakily and faced the headmaster.
''Tell me when you're ready.'' Albus spoke to the frightened Slytherin.
''I'm ready.'' Draco said trying to hide his fear.
Albus waved his wand and a boggart appeared in a form of a dementor again.
''Expectum... no... Expecto patronus...''
Draco was completely confused, he was shaking nervously, The dementor was getting closer and the boy still wasn't able to summon a patronus of any kind. When it came dangerously close to him, Albus muttered 'riddikulus' and the boggart dissapeared.
''I see.'' Albus frowned. Malfoy looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. ''Everyone who were attending extra lessons with Mr. Potter raise your hands.'' Albus spoke. All the Gryffindors raised their hands while Slytherins looked rather confused and disturbed. ''Hmm... Maybe it would be better for the ones who haven't practiced before to work on the pronounciation of the spell. For our next class, I want Slytherins to read their books on pages 12 to 38 and answer to all the questions. Also, 20 points for Mr. Potter and his patronus. You can go.'' Albus finished and left the classroom which turned to her previous state.
Slytherins looked at Malfoy accusingly. He shot Harry a vicious glare but didn't say a word. Harry grinned at him gesturing towards his patronus who was slowly fading. Malfoy turned pale and left the classroom in hurry. Neville joined Harry and Ron on their way out.
''Thank you for doing that!'' Neville exclaimed with a glee in his eyes.
''No problem.'' Harry smiled back at him.
''Mate, what you did was amazing! Did you see the look on Malfoy's face when Dumbledore gave them homework because of him?'' Ron said excited. ''To tell you the truth, I'm surprised at how stern Dumbledore can be. I never thought of him like that, I just hope we won't get to make him angry or something. Really don't want to know his bad side.'' Ron said on their way to the Astronomy tower.
''It really was a good idea to create DA, I mean, at least we are more advanced than Slytherins.'' Harry concluded.
The rest of their day went pretty fast. After Astronomy the only had Herbology and Charms. Harry and Ron went to their dormitories after diner. Harry was glad that Malfoy got what he deserved today and he knew that there was much more to come if he had anything to do with it.
So what do you think about Albus being a new DADA teacher?
