At 8:45 on the dot, Netra's new Defence professor waltzed in the room, closing the door silently. Preethi, who had joined her sometime before that, stopped bugging her about leaving breakfast early, instead staring at their new professor, Dorcas Meadowes. Unfortunately, they were in the minority. After numerous Gryffindor-Slytherin debacles, Dumbledore had decided to make the fifth-year Defence classes with the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs paired. That made for an extremely chatty class.
After six minutes of waiting, Meadowes pulled out her wand, casted a few spells in the direction of the fifth-years (many of whom still had not noticed her) and then pointed her wand at her desk.
"REDUCTO!"
The ensuing destruction of the professor's desk caught everyone's attention.
Professor Meadowes waved her wand, fixing the damage with a smirk, "Now that I've got everyone's attention... who can tell me how long I've been standing here for?"
Netra knew for a fact that only she, Preethi, and Lily, along with Lily's seat partner, Abbott, had noticed Meadowes, and she wasn't surprised when Lily slowly raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms..."
"Evans," Lily supplied. "You've been here for about eight minutes, I think." Lily said, glancing at her watch.
"Correct," Meadowes said, pleased. "Five points to Gryffindor."
"Yeah, Lily!" Potter cheered, sadly reminding Netra of his existence.
In response to this, Professor Meadowes scowled, "What Ms. Evans noted is only common sense. Most of you lack any situational awareness. For fifth-years? This is unacceptable. By the end of my time with you, all of you should notice when someone or something is out of place."
The room was silent. Potter seemed properly abashed.
"Am. I. Understood?"
"Yes Professor," the class chorused.
"Good. Now, I am Professor Dorcas Meadowes, former, and hopefully future, Auror," she said, writing her name on the board. "I'm here because I owed Headmaster Dumbledore a favour, and in my time at Hogwarts, I was a Hufflepuff. As it is your fifth year here, I am tasked with making sure you pass your O.W.L.s, and I am damn well going to make that happen. None of you should have anything below an Exceeds Expectations once I'm through."
Again, silence met her speech. She was good at that, Netra noted.
"It seems all of you are in agreement," Meadowes grinned. "Can anyone tell me what the fifth-year Defence curriculum is focused on?"
Lily raised her hand again, and after a moment Netra's joined it.
"Yes, Ms..."
"Mitran, Professor," Netra supplied. "The fifth-year Defence curriculum is primarily focused on hexes and jinxes."
Professor Meadowes gave Netra a smile, "At least I know your class is capable of opening a book. For your Defence O.W.L., you will have to demonstrate both your theoretical and practical knowledge of Defence. Meaning, all the material covered from your first year to your fifth will be tested.
"I am to understand that there have been rumours of a curse on this teaching position. As such, your Defence education has been sadly unstable. It is my job to not only teach you the fifth-year curriculum, but to also fill in the gaps placed by my predecessors. I cannot do that if you don't give me your full attention. Obviously, disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated. Any questions?"
Black raised his hand. Netra already knew this wasn't going to be good.
"Yes, Mr..."
"Black," he replied, leaning back in his chair with a smirk on his face. "For future reference, what exactly constitutes 'disruptive behaviour' as you put it?"
"Anything that I deem deserves a detention or points removed," Professor Meadowes said flippantly.
Oh, I like her.
Black gave their professor an extremely fake smile. "Thank you, Professor."
"If that is all, I will begin with your first lesson," Professor Meadowes said, clapping her hands together. "Who can tell me about hex-deflection charms?"
This time, nearly all the Gryffindors, along with some Hufflepuffs raised their hands, and Professor Meadowes beamed.
"Yes, Ms...?" she asked, pointing at Preethi.
"Patil, Professor. Hex-deflection charms are pretty much what they sound like—they deflect hexes. The most common hex-deflection charms are the Shield Charm, along with all its variations, and salvio hexia."
"Correct!" Professor Meadowes exclaimed.
"Show off," a Hufflepuff behind them mumbled.
Netra was about to turn around and glare at him, but Professor Meadowes began speaking again. "Now, have you all learnt either of those charms in class before?"
"Not the hexia one," Potter called out from beside Black.
Professor Meadowes sighed, "Thank you but raise your hand before speaking, Mr..."
Potter raised his hand, and their Professor facepalmed before nodding at him.
"Potter," he supplied.
The professor nodded at herself before saying, "Alright, today we will cover salvio hexia. To cast this charm, you raise your wand and perform a downwards slash, from left to right, like so," she said, performing the slash. "May I have a volunteer hex me?"
Nearly all the Gryffindors raised their hands, along with two Hufflepuffs.
"Okay, Mr...?"
"Abbot, Professor."
"Alright, Mr. Abbot, stand up here and then hex me whenever."
The blond Hufflepuff walked up to the front of the class nervously, but then whipped out his wand quicker than Netra's eyes could see.
Wow, he's good.
"Vespertilio mucus!" he exclaimed, causing a bright, yellow-green jet of light to shoot towards their professor.
That's the Bat Bogey Hex! Wow, Abbot's good!
Dorcas Meadowes wasn't famous in the Auror field for nothing, though, and she instantly slashed her wand and said, "Salvio hexia!"
The resulting effect was almost as though Professor Meadowes had absorbed the Bat Bogey Hex's light with her hex-deflection spell.
"Thank you, Mr. Abbot," Professor Meadowes said calmly, as though she had not just demonstrated the fastest duel the class had ever seen. "As you can see, 'hex-absorption' is a more apt term for this spell. In a duel, salvio hexia is not the greatest, as unlike the Shield Charm, the jinx will not rebound upon its caster, but this spell is excellent for a ward.
"Now, everyone, stand up behind your chairs..." Professor Meadowes waved her wand and all the furniture was pushed on either side of the room. "Now, line up across from the person next to you. You will each take turns cursing and practicing salvio hexia. However, you may only use the Twitchy-Ears Hex or Bat Bogey Hex. The Jelly-Legs Curse is acceptable only if the caster knows the counter-curse. Begin!"
Netra and Preethi stared at each other for a moment before Preethi moved to the other end of the room.
"I'll cast at you until you get salvio hexia, alright?" Netra asked.
Preethi gave a sharp nod, and they both assumed their duelling positions.
"Pervellam auribus!"
"Salvio hexia," Preethi panted, but when it was clear that didn't work, she dodged Netra's Twitchy-Ears Hex. "What's up with you today?" she asked as Netra cast the Twitchy-Ears Hex again.
"What do you mean? Pervellam auribus!"
"You were acting weird at—salvio hexia—breakfast," Preethi responded, dodging the hex again. "And you're still mad."
"Pervellam auribus! It's nothing." Netra responded, biting her lip.
"Salvio hexia. Ooh, I got it!" Preethi exclaimed, referring to how Netra's hex was aborbed. "And no, it's not nothing."
"I was just realizing how stupid I am, alright? Locomotor wibbly!"
In her anger, Netra shot out the Jelly-Legs Curse faster than she expected, not giving Preethi enough time to cast salvio hexia.
"Shit, sorry Preethi," Netra said, eyes wide. "Finite gelata, finite gelata."
Preethi laughed. "It's fine, I get it, you don't want to talk about it."
"Still—"
"Come on, it's your turn now."
A/N: I google translated the Latin for the spells whose incantations aren't in canon, so if it went horribly wrong, apologies.