THE UNFORGIVABLE CURSES

It was morning. They had their first class with Alastor Moody. Alex walked through the halls next to Hermione. When they arrived at the class, she sat on the front row, next to Neville. He smiled at her and so she did. As she was getting ready, Draco got close to her, and kneeled next to her.

- Why don't you sit with me? – he had some puppy eyes.

- Because I focus more with Neville.

- What does that mean? – he tilted his head with a grin on his face. – I don't let you concentrate?

- Something like that… - Alex reddened. Lucky her, Moody walked into the room, and Draco went back to his place.

- Just in case you want to hide your feelings… - Neville whispered at Alex. – It's not working.

- Thanks, Neville… - she facepalmed herself and opened up the book and her notebook to take notes. Neville did the same. He was glad Alex was his friend. She was smart and nice, and she always helped him with the studies.

- Alastor Moody, ex-auror. – Moody started writing on the black board. - Ministry malcontent. And your new defence against the dark arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me, end of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions? – they all looked at each other. - When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?

- Three, sir. – said Hermione.

- And they are so named?

- Because they are unforgivable. Use of any one of them will…

- Will earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. Now the ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you're up against, you need to be prepared, you need to find somewhere else to put your chewing gum other than the underside of your desk, Mr Finnigan! – everyone turned to look at Seamus, in the back.

- No way, the old codger can see out the back of his head… - Seamus said, way too loud.

- And hear across classrooms! – Moody threw a chalk at him, in anger. – So, which curse shall we see first? WEASLEY!

- Yes?

- Stand! Give us a curse.

- Well, my dad did tell me about one…The imperious curse.

- Ah, yes, your father would know all about that. Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why. – Moody walked to his table and grabbed a spider from a jar.

- Why did it have to be a spider? – Alex whispered.

- Engorgio. – the spider became so much bigger.

- Oh, yeah, this is so much better… - Alex looked back at Ron, who looked as terrified as she did.

- Imperio. – Moody started moving the spider with his wand around the class, and everyone seemed afraid. – Don't worry! Completely harmless. – some people laughed as long as the spider wasn't near them. Suddenly, it was on top of Ron's head. – If she bites…it's lethal. – Draco started laughing. – What are you laughing at? – the spider was suddenly on Draco's face. – Talented, isn't she? What shall I have her do next? Jump out the window? Drown herself? – the laughs stopped at that moment, when they realised that the spider was suffering, really. - Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the imperious curse. But here's the rub, how do we sort out the liars? Another, another. Come on, come on. Longbottom, is it? Up. Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for herbology. – Neville nodded, nervously.

- There's the um…The cruciatus curse.

- Correct! Correct! Come, come. Particularly nasty. The torture curse. – he pointed the wand at the spider. – Crucio. – the spider started squeaking and writhe in pain. Neville was closing his eyes, trying to ignore what was happening.

- Stop it! Can't you see it's bothering him? Stop it! – Alex screamed. Moody stopped and looked at Neville, who was disturbed. Then, he headed towards Alex, placing the spider on her table, in front of her.

- Perhaps, you could give us the last unforgivable curse, Miss Black. – Alex shook her head, looking down. - Avada Kedabra! – a green flash was expelled from Moody's wand. He killed the spider. – The killing curse. Only one person is known to have survived it. And he's sitting in this room. – he looked at Harry. Alex looked at the spider, dead, and then at Neville, who was petrified, looking down. She got up and took him to his seat. When the class came to an end, Alex led Neville downstairs. He looked dizzy.

- Let's sit down, Neville. There. – She helped him sat on the stairs.

- There's a reason those curses are unforgivable, and to perform them in a classroom? I mean did you see Neville's face? – Hermione came down the stairs, followed by Harry and Ron. When they got to Neville and Alex, Hermione stopped. – Neville?

- Son. You alright? – Moody had climbed down the stairs, and placed his hand on Neville's shoulder. Neville nodded. – Como on, we'll have a cup of tea. I want to show you something. – Moody went back to his class. Neville got up, ready to follow.

- Do you want me to go with you? – Alex asked her friend.

- It's fine…Thank you, Alex. – Neville followed Moody steps. Alex and the rest of them looked at him.

- I can't believe he did that. Perform the unforgivable curses in a classroom? – Alex was mad.

- Right? Just what I was telling Harry and Ron.

- C'mon, let's move. We have potions now and we don't want to be late to Snape's class. – Ron said, leading the group to the next class.

Morning went by quickly. Lunch time arrived, and Alex was eating next to Draco, talking about what had happened at Moody's class.

- You must be quite bold to do that in a class.

- You must be quite stupid…We're kids, we're not supposed to see those kinds of things!

- We're kids? What are you, four? – Draco laughed at Alex, and she rolled her eyes.

- You know what I mean! One thing is to know how to protect ourselves from those curses, and another is to basically teach us how to use them! What's his intention? Educate dark wizards and witches? – in that moment, she saw Neville coming into the Great Hall. She got up. – I'll be right back! – she headed towards Neville. – Hey, Neville!

- Hi, Alex. – he looked better than that morning. Less pale, at least.

- Are you okay?

- Yes, Professor Moody gave me this book! – he smiled, showing Alex the book in question.

- "Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties"?

- He knew I liked Herbology. Gave it to me to make me feel better after…you know.

- Well, not bad. Looks like a cool book!

- We could read it together! You like herbology as well. And I'm sure it will help us a lot with the Herbology exams!

- Sure! Why not? – they smiled at each other.

Classes had gone by. It was pouring outside. Some students gathered around the Goblet Room, watching those students who put their names in, and contemplating the goblet and its blue fire. Some people were reading or studying, since it was a sort of silent room, like Alex and Hermione. Every time someone placed their name on the Goblet, the people around would clap.

- I don't get it…Why would you want to participate in a game in which there's a lot of possibilities of you dying?

- It's interesting and exciting. – Hermione said.

- It's stupid. – Alex didn't get all the flush about the tournament. "Eternal glory…useful if you're dead". Suddenly, Fred and George entered the room, cheering, holding a couple vases. People cheered at them.

- Thank you, thank you. – they high fived their way into the room. - Well lads we've done it.

- Cooked it up just this morning. – Fred said, walking behind Alex and Hermione.

- It's not going to work… - said Hermione, smiling at Alex, who smiled as well.

- Oh yeah? – Fred kneeled next to Alex, his face way to close to her. – And why's that, Granger?

- You see this? This is an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself. – Alex said looking at Fred.

- So, what, Black? – they looked intensely at each other's eyes, grinning.

- So, a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by something pathetically dim-witted such as an age potion. – said Hermione, noticing the tension between Alex and Fred.

- That's why it's so brilliant! – said George.

- Because it's completely dim-witted! – Fred said getting up. The twins stood next to each other.

- Ready, Fred?

- Ready, George? – they drunk the potion and jumped into the circle. It seemed to have worked. Everyone cheered at them.

- Give them five seconds… - said Alex with a laugh. Hermione grinned. The twins got their names into the Goblet and high fived. Suddenly, the flame fired up and they were sent across the room, flying. When they got up, they had grey hair and beards.

- You said…

- No, you said… - both of them started fighting as people around them laughed and cheered them to keep on fighting. Alex and Hermione looked at each other with a look of satisfaction. Then, the whole room went quiet. Viktor Krum entered and placed his name in the flame. He left, looking straight at Hermione.

- What was that? – Alex asked her friend with a mischievous grin.

- I don't know… - Hermione looked at her book, her face completely red. Alex smiled.