Hey everyone,
This chapter is going about my #1 absolute favorite character and how he deals with being a teacher. And let me tell you something, Sirius is not going to be the happy-go-lucky, goofy Marauder of a jokester as a teacher; he is going to be a teacher with Minerva's seriousness and Moody's battle-ready mind.
Exciting, right,

Venquine1990

Chapter 08
Dark, Light And Neutral

3rd of November 1994
DADA classroom
Sirius' POV

I really am very grateful that the students have allowed me the last two days to get used to not being on the run as well as keep an eye on my goddaughter as she takes her first steps in healing of the attack, but now I am ready to take on the role Lady Hogwarts gave me when she suggested my probation to Fudge and Albus.
And as luck – whether good or bad – would have it is my first class a combination of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff Fourth years, which will also include three of the attackers. And I have no doubt that Granger is planning something to get her way pushed through yet again, but I have absolutely no intent on seeing that happen.

Then I get the first bit of evidence that both Ronald and Granger are in the belief that nothing has changed since my escape from the Tower as Ronald actually struts into my classroom a good six minutes after the rest of them have already come in and noticed that I have stacked all of the desks up against the side walls.
"Mr. Weasley, students that just had their dirty laundry spread throughout the country, courtesy of the Ministry and Professor Dumbledore I might like to add, Mss. Granger, usually don't try to worsen their own situation by being late. We will discuss your punishment later. Now, may I ask if you have an excuse? A worthy one?"
"I doubt Harry would like it to hear how you treat me, Sirius." Ronald smirks, but I don't even flinch as I retort: "I wouldn't know, Mr. Weasley, as Harry is dead!" And the boy shrinks back as I turn away from him and say: "Everyone form a circle in the center of the class, please. A circle in the center of the room."

And while Ronald looks shocked that I turn away and ignore him, does he then scowl as he does as told and I make sure that the circle is wide enough that any wayward spells have weakened significantly before they can hit the students and I then wave my wand, conjuring a simple looking, white-clothed dummy.
"Wait a minute, what are you doing with Harry's wand?" Granger then snaps and I calmly explain: "Harry's death and Jillian's transformation, as Lady Hogwarts explained when she told you how Jillian is no longer a Champion, made the wand believe that it was without owner. And when I touched it, it chose me.
As Mr. Ollivander always says; the wand choses the wizard. And Mss. Granger, a more formal tone will be appreciated next time. You will now share with Mr. Weasley in being allowed to await your punishment." And the girl seems utterly infuriated that I am even thinking of punishing her, but I ignore this about her.

"Now, I'm sure you're all wondering why I decided to start my first class like this. Well, it's to teach you something very important, something that was actually forgotten during the last war and that Dark Lords like Grindelwald and Voldemort try to disapprove. Namely that Light magic – is much more dangerous than Dark Magic."
This causes everyone to look at me in various degrees of shock and I ask: "You've been learning the summoning spell recently, right?" Everyone nods at this, many of them now looking at me confused, while Granger and Weasley look at me as if they think that Azkaban drove me mad and I say: "Good, then watch this."
I then, again, aim my wand at the dummy and turn it transparent, allowing everyone to see that there are actually fake organs under the white cloth before I say: "Accio heart." And the organ actually gets pulled out of the dummy, leaving a gaping hole in what is supposed to be its tummy and landing in my hand with a loud squashing sound.
Everyone is now either white or with their mouths gaping and I say: "Light magic is more dangerous than dark – because no one ever expects Light magic to be used for Dark purposes. But – it – can. In fact, during the last war, there were plenty of Aurors and other people who used plenty of Light magic – to take out Dark Wizards.
And I can personally vouch that a total of 40 to 50 witches and wizards fell by this spell – though I never used it myself during the war. I was in my teens, if you remember that Mss. Granger." Here the girl scowls at me and I say: "Alright, everyone back up. I will put the desks back and we will get to the task of the day."

And a few minutes later everyone is seated, Granger and Weasley sitting in the back and sending me smirks that prove they think I am hurt by their actions. But I just ignore them and say: "Your task for the day: write an essay of no more – no more – than 80 inches. And the topic? How to use Light, Dark and Neutral magic – for each category.
Light magic for a dark purpose, neutral magic for either purpose and Dark magic for a light purpose. I have your scrolls here in this hat as well as half a bookcase on Light, Dark and Neutral charms. I am going to use a spell that will randomly make one of these books put one spell of each category on the top of your essay.
After that, it is up to you to write an essay on how to use each of these spells for the sake of the other purpose. And each category can be 20 inches, but you can do 40 on one category – only one. And as for our latecomer and our class-interrupter, I know you both, thanks to my letters with my late godson, so here is your punishment.
Mss. Granger, your amount of inches will be halved. I will still grade it as if it were 80 inches, but I will instantly fail it if it becomes any more than 45 – and I will only allow 45 if you have to finish a sentence or have a large handwriting. Mr. Weasley, your punishment will be the polar opposite; 160 inches, 80 on at least 1 of the 3 categories."

The two look at me shocked, their previous smugness having been wiped off their faces and I cast the charm I mentioned, the large hat sitting on my desk actually swirling on my desk and having its insides glowing with the magic of the spell. And when both have stopped, do I direct the parchment to each of the desks.
Everyone looks down at the paper in front of them and I notice some of them turn green when they reach the dark spell. Yet Neville Longbottom actually turns white and this concerns me. I approach the boy and my own face whitens with shock when I read the dark spell that is at the left upper corner of his parchment:

The Cruciatus Curse

"That is just my luck." I think as I turn to the boy, who has his hands squeezing into his flesh, has his eyes closed and his teeth working like mad on his bottom lip and instantly I say: "If any of you have a mental, emotional or physical reason you can't do an essay on any of your appointed spells, please let me know right now.
I won't accept It's Dark, it's light and weak or any of that, but if you have any other valid reason, I will have the charm pick another random charm, curse or hex." And a few of the students that had turned white raise their arms, yet I need to send Neville a hidden, pointed look before he does the same, at which I say:
"Alright, please highlight the spell you want to see changed." And when the five of them have done so, do I move their essays back into the hat and cast the same set of spells before sending them back. And I make sure to take a quick glance at Neville's as I move back to my desk, feeling relieved to see another Dark spell on his now.

I then move back to my desk and lean against it with my arms crossed, but while I notice some students take out either a library or their DADA book or just bow themselves over their essays, do I also take notice of how Granger and Weasley not joining their classmates. Instead they are glaring at me with their arms crossed.
However I easily get what they're trying to do and instead of speaking up, do I get back off my desk and move over until I am standing between the two and I softly ask: "Is there something wrong with your quills?" But the two glare at me and Ron almost shouts: "We are NOT doing this!" Drawing the attention of those in front of them.
I shake my head at the two female Hufflepuffs, telling them to get back to their own work and the two turn back around before I say: "And why is that?""We shouldn't have to. You're not being fair. You are just doing this, because of the attack." But I shake my head and say: "I would have done the same to your classmates, I assure you.

And if you don't do this, you will fail. Simple as that." And with that I want to walk away when Granger asks: "And what then? Are you going to take points? That will just hurt Gryffindor even worse." But I shake my head and say: "I am a Marauder, Mss. Granger, as well as a teacher. I base each punishment on each student.
You love proving yourself, so I lessen your chance of being able to do so. Your partner here prefers Quidditch and chess over homework, so I double his schoolwork. Now get to your essays or fail my first class. Your choice." And with that do I ignore their sputtering and leave their seats, going back to my own desk.

And at the end of the period, do I raise my voice a little as I say: "Everyone, quills down, please." And to my slight annoyance, are Granger and Weasley still with their arms crossed, smirks on their faces and their parchments blank. "Alright, Mss. Granger and Mr. Weasley seem to have failed their first assignment of my class.
The rest of you, I will do a quick checking spell to see how far you are and then will judge what you need to work on or read upon for the next class. And Mss. Granger, if your quill was even in your ink pot, I would have given you another chance next class. You chose to disobey me, you fail my class. Simple as that."
The girl had actually opened her mouth, but my commentary made her shut it again with a grumble. I then cast said spell and see several different amounts of inches showing above the desks of the students. I quickly make sure to study each of them and cast a little extra spell to define the numbers before I start talking.

"Mr. Thomas, Mss. Patil, Bones and Mr. Macmillan will need to erase some of their content as they are crossing the required limits, Mss. Brown seems almost done, very good and Mr. Longbottom, Finnegan and Mss. Abbott, I believe you best stay behind to tell me what you need extra information on as you are far from done."
The students all nod and I summon all of the scrolls, including the ones from Granger and Weasley and I say: "Remember my comments for your next class as well as see if you can find some reference material to the spells given to you. Mss. Granger and Mr. Weasley, you will be given a new assignment next class. Dismissed."
And while Neville, Hannah Abbott and the Finnegan boy stay seated, do Granger and Weasley do the same, both of them actually glaring at me, but I calmly tell them: "Mss. Granger, Mr. Weasley. Your year mates have my attention right now. If you wish to speak with me, please wait outside my office before dinner tonight."
And the two huff before they march off, Ron muttering: "I am not missing dinner for him." Before he slams the door closed and I think: "That boy must have taken a De-Aging potion, because he behaving way under his age." But I don't let this bother me as I am too busy making sure I make a good first impression as a teacher.

"Now, what can I help you with?" I ask the last three and for the next few minutes I help Hannah by telling her to check out Ancient Curses and Hexes of Medieval England, lend a book to Seamus Finnegan to read about the intestinis retorto curse and tell Neville that it'll be easier to go Light for the Neutral spell.
"Though it will be more of a worthwhile challenge if you try and use it for Dark." I tell the boy, giving him a handy extra tip with a grin just like I did with the other two and they all smile at me before I sign them quick notes explaining to their next class why they were late and send them off, smiling and waving them out.

PS. intestinis retorto is Latin for Intestines twisting

And when the door closes behind them, do I sigh and slack down on my chair in relief as Granger and Weasley annoyed me more than I let on and because I was worried that the students wouldn't take my actions seriously due to my former reputation or that I would be forced to tell them that I won't be discussing Jillian all class.
"Thank Merlin, this actually went better than I thought." I mutter to myself before I get shocked as an ancient voice asks: "Now isn't that just music to my ears?" And I look up to see Albus standing in the doorway, the man smiling as he walks in and asks: "So, does this mean that you're enjoying your new job as a teacher?"
But I shrug and say: "Can't really say yet. I'm just glad that none of my worries came true. Can I help you with something?" To which the man says: "I'm just here to keep an eye out, Sirius. Your next class is a Seventh years, so I thought you might need a bit of help there." At which I smile at the man gratefully and say:
"That'd be great, Albus. Though I actually just plan to do more or less the same for them as I did for the Fourth years, just – more detailed and elongated." The man seems intrigued by this and then takes a seat behind me and my desk as the door opens yet again and this time a group of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Seventh years.

The group seems to be discussing their last class as well as the article that came out earlier this morning, but before they can take their seats, do I raise my hand and say: "Forgive me, I had a few students of last class stay behind to give them some tips and couldn't prepare the room in time. Please stay in the back of the class."
And while they seem curious, do the students do as asked before I make sure that the desks are once more stacked against both sides of the classroom and then say: "Good, now please for a large wide circle around me. Albus, if you could cast a shield spell once they are around me to keep wayward spells from hitting them."
The man and the group nod and when all is said and done, do I summon three new dummies, one the regular white from before, one actually already looking as if he's been maimed and one actually wearing a Death Eater garb. This causes some of the students to gasp and others to look wide eyed with shock as I nod at them.

"Now, I know this class is Defense Against the Dark Arts, but the only reason they call it that is both because the Dark Arts are more common to be used for hurtful purposes, but also because it is the one form of art most used by Dark Lords and other tyrants over the centuries. However, they are not the most dangerous art of magic."
This confuses the students around me and I say: "Allow me a demonstration." And I want to do the same thing I did with the Fourth years just now, but then realize that I can use a better method. And so, instead of turning the white dummy transparent and then summoning their heart, do I do the first before I snap:
"Expelliarmus." And I don't know if it's because the wand is used to Harry using this spell or because I am so intent on teaching these kids, but the spell does exactly the thing I want, hitting the white dummy hard enough, it actually shoots the dummy against the shield before it falls, causing the students there to scream.
And when the dummy falls down, can everyone see that the dummy's spine is pushed far enough it has almost been pushed out of the body. "The Expelliarmus. The most common, most basic, most well-known Light spell – and if used right it can expel a human skeleton right out of their body, killing them instantly. Dark intent."

The students look shocked and I say: "Another example. You see this dummy here?" And I motion for the one that looks better off dead. The students nod, some of them looking a little green and two of them turning their faces after nodding and I say: "Good, cause 234 years ago, there was a curse used to take this poor soul out of his misery.
However, these days, that curse – is an instant sentence to a lifetime in Azkaban. Yes, little under a quarter of a millennium ago, the Killing Curse was used for Light. It was used to take out those that were diagnosed with painful, deathly illnesses. And finally, this one." And I motion for the one wearing Death Eater garb.
And a small, almost insignificant swish of my wand as well as a non-verbal: "Phantasma vivit." Causes for it to start creaking and moving, causing for those behind it to take a step back and it draws the fake wand I gave it upon conjuring. And for the next twenty minutes, I get the practice I haven't had in over a decade.

Yet in the end, I snap: "Glacius." And this cause for the wheel under the dummy to be frozen to the floor, causing for said dummy to lose his balance and fall apart. I stand up from where I had crouched for better angle and ask: "Who can tell me the one thing that stands out about my strategy in taking on that dummy? Anyone?"
However, none of them seem to have the answer and so I ask: "Albus?" And the man that takes down his shield and banishes the dummies, says: "You used only spells that can be used for both factions; Light and Dark." At this I nod and say: "Exactly, I used only Neutral based charms and spells. And that is how I beat many a Death Eater."
The students look shocked and I say: "Alright, everyone back to the back while Albus and I put the class back." And when everyone has done as said, the desks are back and everyone has taken their seats, do I pull up the same hat as before as well as the books that I used and new scrolls of parchment, which I both put into the hat.

"Now, I gave the fourth years an 80 inch essay on one Light, one Dark and one Neutral spell and how to use a Light spell for Dark purposes, a Dark spell for Light and a Neutral spell for one of the two. However, you lot have more experience and know how to find your reference material better, so I am going to up the ante a little.
One-hundred and twenty inches, with 30 on each category with permission to do 60 on one of the three. And you need to use at least one event of the last two wars where this happened. Where a Light wizard used Dark Magic for a Light cause, vice versa and where either a Light or Dark wizard used a Neutral spell for the opposite cause.
Now, in my last class I accidentally gave a traumatic spell to one of the students, courtesy of the randomizer spell. So if you find yourself to have a similar situation, please let me know. Same goes for if you have a mental, emotional or physical reason as to why you can't make an essay on this spell. Is that all clear?"

The students seem to have calmed down thanks to my explanation and I nod at them as I say: "Also, make sure you either get some hot chocolate or visit Madam Pomfrey after class, if you feel you need it. Now, let's get on with randomizing those spells." And I cast the required spells before handing out the pieces of parchment.
And for the rest of the class period do the students just check their books, ask me if I have any books on the last two wars – which I have to disappoint them on as neither Crouch nor Moody seem to have packed those and I am kind of using his stuff for the time being – and just working their hardest on their essays.
And when we are five minutes away from the end, do I say: "Alright, quills down." And I repeat the process with the fourth years, this time smiling widely as I don't notice any essays being blank, but I do say: "Oh, Mr. Coot. Do you have a large writing style? If not, I would try and tone it down on your writing, it is close to crossing the limit."
The boy nods and I say: "Also, those of you who have yet to write a bit about all three of the topics, please let me know why after class, so I can get you the reference materials you need to read before the next class. Now, all of you, please leave your essays on your desks and you can get on with them next class, dismissed."
And this time, as they leave, do I hear all of them talking about my last class, some of them shuddering slightly about what they saw and others in awe over the same. And while some of them complain about not being allowed to take the essays with them, does the whole class seem pleased overall as they leave the room.

"Sirius, I would like to remind you that these students haven't seen strive like in the war in over a decade, but otherwise I am very amazed at what you did right there. Though I must ask; was your last class exactly the same?" But I quickly shake my head at the man, the thought of this just horrifying me and I say:
"Of course not. I kept it to the white dummy and only summoned its heart before I set them on the essay. Also, I didn't ask them to write about the events. And, of course, Granger and Weasley were trying to use their old friendship with Harry to get the special treatment. Thought I'd favor them the way Snape does his snakes.
And no, Albus, I don't mind that Snape does that, I mind that they thought I would do the same." At this Albus nods and asks: "What happened exactly?" At which I shrug and say: "Ronald came in late, Granger just accused me instead of asking where I got my wand and both refused to write their essay, even after I punished them."
"And what was their punishment? Perhaps it was the reason they refused.""I told Granger that she was only allowed half of the length the others were set and Ronald that he had to do double. She loves proving herself, he hates studying, I based their punishments for the arrogant smug attitude and lateness on those factors.
And yes, Albus, I know how ironic and even hypocritical it sounds. But adulthood is synonym to hypocrisy, wouldn't you agree?" And the man laughs as I quickly use a few spells to again stack the desks against the walls and put the hat, the parchment, the essays and the books back in their place before I leave the room.

Now that was satisfying.
Should Ron and Hermione be more annoying? Maybe, but that wasn't the topic of the chapter. Should Sirius have been more harsh on them. No, they will take offense just to this alone, so it won't matter. Was Sirius too good of a teacher? Probably, but I just believe that Sirius, with his experience, fits this role just fine.
He wants to be a good godfather and a good teacher, so his new goddaughter won't have to worry about him and – this is how he'll do that. It will cause a few issues down the line as people will start wondering why he's not blundering more, but that's not for another while, so let's just forget that problem for now, shall we?
Merry Christmas,

Venquine1990