AlsethGosia - Hey! Her notes left quite a few hints of what to expect for the first class, didn't it? hahah Here's the scene that prompted me to write this fic. It was stuck in my head for days! Seriously, it wouldn't leave me alone. I Hope you like it!
Valiernienna01 - Here it is ;)
Prompter - Woooah that's a great prompt! You have a very nice background for the characters, I really liked! But I can't promisse delving into it right now, 'cause I'm in too deep with this current one. I actually already have the finale half written, and I'm just settling into a nice rhythm to get there... maybe for a next fic? Thank you for prompting. If you find anyone else willing to write it right now, please let me know! I'd love to read that!
So, before you proceed, let me begin by reinforcing that I took great inspiration from this amazing fic: "Taken by Surprise". if it looks familiar, its because the idea came to me after reading that one particular chapter where... where those who read will know what I'm talking about, those who didn't... Guys, seriously... Go check it out already! I swear I'm not plagiarizing...
...and that sounds suspect.
Alright just read and judge for yourselves!
Once more, thank you all for giving this one a chance, I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter VIII - First Impressions
Bellatrix's pace was fast. Those ten-minute intermissions from class to class were precious, it was the best time to get some work done if she wanted to enjoy the rest of the day with her sisters. After leaving Transfigurations, she went on her way to the last class of the day, quickening her pace to have at least seven minutes to do some homework. She ignored the fools playing around in the halls, and how they reminded her of the easy way things had been some years ago, when Narcisa had just entered hogwarts.
Back when she was still living the dream of being able to become an auror, Andie wasn't obsessed with all things muggle, and Cissy was even more carefree. They explored Hogwarts to its fullest, marked some spots as their own, got their reputation as the great black sisters not to be messed with... All before father started pressuring her about marriage, just on her sixteenth birthday. And now this year's ultimatum...
So far, all her father's assessment had been right. The book they were going to use this year gave the idea that the dark arts was something abhorrent to be avoided. Not literaly like that, but it was implied in the general way that the author (a biased Half-blood) focused more on how bad the curses were, than on why they were being used in the first place.
Bellatrix understood the merit of learning how to defend against those, the class was meant for that, of course they should be aware of how these deadly spells could be used. But they shouldn't act as though the dark arts were meant to harm just for the sake of it, or that some 'light spells' weren't just as bad as some 'nasty curses'.
And a mudblood professor to top it off.
Her life had gone to hell because of the mudblood invasion. Andie doesn't seem to to realize it's their fault! ...And she got so touchy because I hurt her stupid pet. She should cut him off before he actually get any ideas!
Ungrateful little sister...
She entered the D.A.D.A. classroom without pausing to even address the farse of a professor. She saw, from the corner of her eye, the mudblood's head snap up to look at her. She ignored it, least she made Dumbledore's little puppet think that she had any right to address her outside of class.
Instead of dwelling on what was sure to be a disastrous class, she pulled out her transfigurations book and set to work on something that truly was of substance. The dangers of transfiguring living things.
She risked a look up to check if the mudblood would even dare to make conversation, but the woman seemed already focused on something else. Her short, light-brown hair was being partly held up by her left hand, which also held the weight of her head. Some loose strands covered the right side of her face, and their tips went just past her red-painted lips, touching her chin. It apparently bothered her enough to make her pause on her writings. Is that a muggle pen? She held it under her index, and above her thumb and middle finger, as she tucked her hair firmly behind her ear, then returned to writing on that god-awful book on 'dark-arts'. Her look of concentration stirred something within Bellatrix.
Look at her. She doesn't even bother to try and look like a real witch. Were are her robes? What is that red jacket she is using? Is it... leather? What about that soft-looking, white blouse? It's the mugglest piece of clothing I've ever seen! Don't professors have a dress code? That's unfair! I don't want to spend 40 minutes of my time staring at a muggle!
...and I'm losing time now.
Shaking her head, Bellatrix took full advantage of the complete quietude to enter her zone. She focused on the words of the textbook, taking notes, highlighting what she was sure it would fall on an exam, answering questions with an efficiency she usually just achieved on the library.
Silence was a blessing. She smiled to herself as she got close to finishing the rather small homework. For all her sterness, Minerva doesn't go hard on the first day of NEWT classes. She thought, trying to add some extra details to her answers. Trying to trully explain what she learned from the day's lecture, and chapter.
The obnoxious sound of giggles burst her little bubble of peace, and took her away from the state of deep concentration. She frowned as she looked up, searching for the source of the noise. Her eyes found the professor's, who smiled playfully and winked at her as if there was an inner joke she should be aware of. Well, she wasn't, and the familiarity with which that mudblood treated her was unsettling. Who does she think she is? She looked away.
The sound of giggles got louder as the rauccous Gryffindors entered the classroom. But of course. Bellatrix could almost growl with frustration. She is sure that she would have at least two more minutes - enough to finish her homework - if those dunderheads understood the value of silence. She felt like throwing a jinx at each person with red-lined robes.
Instead of acting on her urge, she deliberately focused on the action of putting away her book and parchment. She could not give leeway to the frustration building, or else she would find herself in detention with Professor muddy. She decided to distract herself with the disgusting book they'd be using for the current class, re-reading the first chapter about 'terrible curses: signs and counters'.
Most of those runes, curses, and jinxes were used on objects for protection. Why does the author make it sound like it is something anyone can use anywhere at any given time for no reason at all? As if, out of nowhere, a dark wizard would walk on the street leaving a trail of curses behind for unsuspecting victims to fall upon.
Any idiot who knows a revealing spell - which should be the focus of the chapter - can avoid touching anything cursed. Many books in her library were enchanted to afflict curious visitors with nasty curses like the peeling of skin, days of allucinations, and other things. It helped keeping their secrets safe. Not to mention their valuable artifacts, and family treasures. Everything worth protecting had their set of 'dark curses' on them.
Who would keep away if the only consequence for trying to steal was a warning 'shock'. Anyone who dared touch something unauthorized actually deserved to be fucking cursed. She scoffed as the book dramatically emphasized how bad it was the consequence of using those. Poor, poor souls, those who were hit with it. She amused herself with her own sarcasm. As if the ministry doesn't have measures of security to protect their secrets.
Nothing in that chapter was new to her, but she was actually curious to know how the mudblood would spin this. Would she find a way to defend the author's point of view? Give her own personal touch to the subject?
"Good Afteroon, class."
Bellatrix found herself looking up, despite knowing that Ms. Mud would - most likely - spit asnine, ministry approved, brainwashing coments. There was something about her voice, as it carried through the loud conversation going around the classroom, that comanded attention. She sounded confident, sure of herself. Her body language screamed 'I'm in control' as she got up to stand in front of her desk. Bellatrix could almost respect someone with that kind of imposing atitude.
But she saw right through it. So full of bravado. The woman was nervously fiddling with her wand on her right hand. Her eyes went over every face in the green side of the room with the other odd slytherins that decided to take the course. Scared of the bad, evil snakes, are we? Aside from her, there was only Rodolphus, Alecto Carrow, and Francine Canyon the tolerable half-blood who happened to be her roomate. The girl knew her place, and respected her betters. It was easy to ignore her.
This mudblood, on the other hand...
She put on her best expression of distaste, hoping to increase the professor's nervousness. The woman had the gall to stare back, before deciding to address the large number of Gryffindors, and few Ravenclaws on the other side of the room. Bellatrix considered it a small win on the staring contest.
"Close your books, we won't be using it today" Her playful smile was directed at a ravenclaw boy, but Bellatrix found herself smiling too. So the little puppet has her own text ready.
"For those of you who don't remember yesterday's introduction, my name is Jean Grey. You know the drill, call me Professor Grey... Or just Professor, your choice. I'll do the roll call now, pay attention because I won't hesitate to mark a distracted soul as absent"
She didn't pay attention to the names being called before her, "Bellatrix Black" was almost one of the first to be called. As she answered, she purposefully kept her eyes glued to the book.
She wasn't even reading anymore, it was just to be as dismissive as possible. The least respect she showed the woman, the better. That pest found herself in a privileged position she did not deserve. She needs to know her place.
A plan formed in her head: She would be the most infuriating type of student this mudblood had ever taught. If she ever taught anyone. She looks too young to even have any classroom experience.
Bella would test her knowledge, make questions she would have a hard time finding an answer to, turn Defense Against the Dark Arts into Debate About the Dark Arts. The goal was to make her life hell.
Yes, Bellatrix smiled with her formed plan I'll have some fun with this.
"Those of you who want to be an auror, raise your hands" Professor muddy raised her right hand, holding her wand as if she was ready to strike in a downwards motion.
Bellatrix took her wand out of the holster in response, and controled her left hand that itched to go up with almost everyone in the class. Except for the Slytherins who were there because they found the D.A.D.A. less annoying than the other options.
"Constant Vigilance!" The professor exclaimed, then sent a barrage of spells, a fucking sequence that hit almost every student who had their hands raised, unprepared to defend against her sudden attack. Wordlessly.
Addrenaline shot up in Bellatrix' system. I could have deflected that! She smiled as she looked around and saw everyone frozen due to a simple petrificus totalus. Her heart picked up its rate. She felt breathless. She was excited.
Looking at the Professor, she realized that the woman, too, was smiling. Gone was the trace of nervousness she saw and hoped to prey upon. She calmly walked towards one of the frozen students, as if she hadn't just sent more than half a dozen spells, while she spoke "Rule number one: Be always aware of your surroundings. That's constant vigilance for you. Congrats to those who deflected, the moment I raised my wand, you should be prepared for an attack." She reached the student she wanted to address, and paused in front of her desk "In the real world, you'd be dead. Don't focus on words, Ms. Campbell. Your magic reflects intention. See yourselffree. Will it. Intent is key. Free yourself."
To Bellatrix', and everyone else's surprise - she is sure she isn't the only one shocked by it - the girl started twitching. One finger, then her hand. Then soon she relaxed, free of the spell. "There you go!" The professor's smile was brilliant "Now would be the time to take your captor by surprise, in case you were lucky enough to be taken alive."
A mudblood teaching a mudblood, how cute. She wanted to dismiss what happened, but she was much too impressed by the Professor's approach to self-defense. She rather liked the interactive nature of the class. I mean, It's nice to see them being hit by errant spells... nothing impressive about teaching a bunch of idiots. These people are really slow if they didn't know already that magic reflects intention.
The Campbell girl smiled brightly back at her. "I can't believe it." Then she turned towards the Ravenclaw boy beside her "Yudi! Do as she says! You have to believe you can be free!"
Not only him, but at least another four gryffindors and one huffle-loser got free.
"You should train wordless finite, that's a must for survival." Ms. Mud freed the remaining students herself as she turned her back, and walked towards the front of the room again. "And the strenght of will. That's important for wordless casting." She suddenly turned with a spell already leaving her wand.
That's... Bellatrix imediately raised her wand. A wordless protego made the spell bounce and hit the ceiling instead of her. She smiled wide, as the feeling of exhilaration ran through her body. The challenge made her feel alive.
"My, my..." The professor's voice carried the amusement her side smile showed on her face "Ten points to slytherin. That was a nice wordless protego, Ms. Black."
Of course. I've only been doing this since I began waving my wand for duels. This is nothing. Either way... She raised her chin and smiled smugly. That's what a real witch can do.
The professor sent another two spells in the direction of two Ravenclaw boys, who raised their wands in tandem, "Protego" they were pushed back by the force of the spell that hit their shield, but since they were siting, they didn't fall backwards.
Although their chairs did move a bit. If they were standing, they would certainly fly with the impact. Bellatrix's eyebrows shot up, before she could control her own facial expresions to one of perfect indiference.
"Work on your protections. Your will to protect yourself must be stronger than mine to hurt you. Make your shields strong enough to hold dozens of spells. It may not help you against an avada, but it does wonders to keep the incapacitating jinxes away."
"Obviously." She scoffed. The professor frowned and looked her way.
"Is something the matter, Ms Black?"
"Just because an unforgivable can pass through, it doesn't make the defensive protego obsolete. Not everyone can cast an avada kedavra, but in a fight where you have more strenght than your atacker, you can outlast them only with defense. That's a coward's move, but a useful one. I don't know why anyone would ever not focus on learning that. That's... first-year subject... Or it should be. Being simple as it is."
There she was, doing her best to be infuriating. She found herself adding to the professor's lecture as if the woman was doing a bad job by suggesting the obvious... and offending those idiots who couldn't manage a proper protego. Two hits, one stone. She expected the mudblood to be thrown off, go back to nervously fiddling with her wand, or maybe look ofended that Bellatrix dared imply she wasn't teaching right...
She didn't expect the smile, nor "Five points to slytherin" What?! "Did you guys hear what she said? Take notes. For those who didn't I'll repeat: a simple protego can save your life. Practice that." She walked to stand in front of the board, where she waved her free hand.
Wandlessly, and wordlessly, she enchanted a chalk to write on the board.
Wandlessly?! Bellatrix paid close attention to the wand on her professor's hand. No, she probably just made a subtle movement that I missed.
1 - Constant Vigilance - Be always aware, expect the unexpected; 2 - Know your enemy - Study and prepare; 3 - Light and Dark - The intent behind magic.
This mudblood... isn't... Whispers in front of her cut her line of thought "Damn she is hot, if all mudbloods were like her I wouldn't mind mixed heritage so much"
This is the man I'll be marrying in a year. Disgusting. If looks could kill, Rodolphus would be dead. She is certain she is emanating enough hatred to the back of his skull.
"Even if your strategy isn't simply outlasting your enemy, a well timed protego can give you just the right opening to launch the winning counter attack" The professor said, turning around again, with another spell ready to reach...
Rodolphus. The idiot got hit.
Bellatrix put her wand down when the professor didn't make another threatening movement. She realized with some amusement that the boy lost his voice, because he was cut off right in the middle of another lewd commentary.
"You cannot afford distractions, Mr. Lestrange." Bellatrix grimaced, once more being reminded that this was going to be her last name. "Did you learn how to wordlessly cast the finite?"
He focused hard. His face was locked in a weird, constipated expression, as he tried his best to speak again. "Your will must be stronger than mine when I cast the spell. Do you want to speak again, Mr. Lestrange?" She approached him and, once she was directly in front of him, Bellatrix actually got a good look of her furious brown eyes. They weren't as dark as her own. For some reason, its light color reminded her of those milk chocolates Narcisa loved so much. "You better want to speak badly, because when I cast this silencio, I was really annoyed that you were whispering in my class."
His eyes were wide as saucers, as he stared at her in shock. Bellatrix loved the sight of her lovely fiancée's distress. She smiled as he once more started to struggle with the wordless finite incantatem. Pathetic. "I'll not lift the spell until the bell signals the end of today's class. So you'll either find your voice until then, or wait for it. That's another lovely-" She cast a wordless tempus, that showed 2:15 P.M. "twenty-five minutes of silence" Her smile was positively threatening.
"hmmm..." He tested his vocal chords, then smiled brightly "You're right! Intention helped more than thinking of the words..." He had that disgusting, rehearsed smile she saw him use on his quidditch fans.
"Look at that, you might be able to participate in the rest of the class, after all." Something changed in the teacher's demeanor. Bellatrix didn't like the way her eyes lost the malice it held when she was threathing Rodolphus, worse yet was the soft, kind smile on her face that was almost... friendly.
Oh, I can't believe she fell for his 'charms'! Seriously?! What is she? A stupid schoolgirl? "Better get to it then, Professor. We still haven't touched today's chapter, and we only have twenty-four minutes left" She crossed her arms and stared defiantly at the woman in front of her.
To her utter frustration, the professor laughed. "Seriously? You think we haven't touched the first chapter of your precious book?"
Bellatrix glared at her. This book is trash, but it is what you're supposed to be teaching... "I still haven't heard a thing about how to avoid curses inflicted by runes, jinxes or spells protecting dark artifacts"
The woman had the gall to smile at her. That infuriating side smile that made her look like she knew something funny, but didn't found in herself to share it. Why is she smiling like that? "Well, I did say that I wouldn't be using the book today... But let me get to the point, since you're so anxious." She walked back towards the classroom and underlined the 1 - Constant Vigilance - Be always aware. Expect the unexpected.
"Precaution is instinct. If you do not learn how to be constantly aware of your surroundings, it doesn't matter if you know the spell to reveal a curse, you might just forget to use it" Bellatrix's mind clicked. She was showing them how to counter the curses.
In case a person was dumb enough to actually touch a dark arctifact without checking first for curses, finite incantatem would be enough to counter almost everything. Only the ones with specific counter-spells weren't easily dispelled, but they were so rare, it was easy to remember the small list of counters. And aurors usually worked in pairs, so if one was hit, the other should be able to perform the counter-curse if it was particularly nasty. "This first rule applies not only to duels and fights. When I say be always aware, I also mean be aware of your food, your home, the unknown places you will enter for the first time, unfamiliar objects... Always check for signs of dark magic. Better than having to cast the counter, is being one step ahead. You cannot afford to be careless. If you intend to become an auror, you'll be in constant danger, have no ilusions."
Fuck me. This mudblood is actually a good D.A.D.A professor. Bellatrix could do nothing but stare as the woman effectively taught what was on the book, without making it sound like the dark magic was at fault for doing its job.
"Today's class is simply to set the pace. I'm showing what I expect of you when you enter this classroom." She sent three quick spells, hiting one surprised Alecto Carrow, and being deflected by the pair of mudbloods on the other side of the room. "Tomorrow I'll detail how Constant Vigilance and Knowing your enemy plays a part in avoiding the dark curses listed on the first chapter. Don't worry, next class we will wrap it up, alright? You won't leave this classroom without knowing how to reveal the curses." Ms. Mud looked at her as she said it. He tone was clearly teasing, to match the side smile.
Like I don't know already... That infuriating smirk was unsettling. Bellatrix had to look away, focusing on the stupid book. What is this mudblood playing at? When will she begin defending the prohibition of the dark arts?
"When you enter this classroom, I expect you to behave as if you were in a battlefield." She sounded serious, which compelled the young witch to look up again. "Have your wands ready at all times. I'm the enemy," She used her thumb to point at herself "and I'll constantly try to get you by surprise. I won't stop attacking because you're taking notes, or because you were distracted by something a coleague said." The professor didn't have to even look at Rodolphus to make him blush, Bellatrix smiled briefly as she saw him shifting in his seat.
The woman in front of the class paced slowly, still facing them. Her movement only served to make her look like she filled the room with her presence. Her wand was not on sight, but it didn't need to be. Everyone was enraptured, and ready for an impromptu attack.
"If you want to write something, better raise your protego before doing so. If you think that you have the time to talk or be distracted during a battle, then you better hope that your enemy has half the patience I have, to hit you with small stuners, and silencios. I will, for the sake of keeping you in condition to watch my classes, refrain from using anything trully hurtful. Don't expect the outside world to be as kind. You better take my lessons seriously."
Someone raised their hand, Bellatrix wasn't sure who. Her eyes were still on the Professor, as she nodded in the direction of the person, giving the permission to talk. "Is that what you meant by going hard?" Molly Prewett joked. She recognized the voice of the most anoying classmate a person could have...
Some gryffindors laughed at the mention of their professor's little speech from yesterday. She just rolled her eyes at the idiotic question, and at the fact that the professor also seemed to find it amusing.
"Not even close. This is just the begining." As if to prove a point, she sent a surprise atack in Molly's direction, who almost got hit. Her protego was shaky, which was why it promptly dissolved on the second spell that hit it, leaving her defenceless when the third came through... "When I see that you're getting used to my attacks, I'll step up with the offensive. I hope I'll get you up to shape before you even reach the auror academy."
Molly freed herself moments later "But... not everyone wants to be an auror..." Bellatrix just knew that the girl was refeering to the evil snakes. She watched the Professor, wanting to see her reaction. Do you agree with her?
"No. But everyone should know how to properly defend themselves out there. The world isn't kind."
Did she purposefuly ignore what the girl meant? I want to know her answer! "Professor..." The woman looked at her with a calm stare that made Bellatrix feel out of place after being so... Agressive. What the bloody hell? Why doesn't she react?! "I think that she meant that you probably shouldn't be teaching us. The future evil dark witches and wizards" She smirked, trying to get a rise out her "Aren't you scared of what we'll be capable of, if you teach us all the ways to defeat you?"
"Not at all. I don't want to throw you out there without at least knowing what you'll be facing, either, if you ever feel so inclined to go against the law." She had a confident smile that confused Bellatrix. "I'm giving everyone a fair chance."
"And what could be more dangerous than us?" She asked defiantly.
Her smile got bigger, if possible. "Me."
And for some reason... Bellatrix got the feeling that the woman wasn't bluffing. We'll see about that, mudblood. She glared at the cocky bitch. I'll change my name if I cannot beat you by the end of the year.