Chapter 2: To Protocol or Not to Protocol, That is the Question?

I remember my first DADA class. Snape's classroom suited him perfectly. The windows were closed with curtains drawn. The room was dim with only candlelight for the source of illuminating the area. Along the walls as Harry and I made our way to our seats were covered with gruesome pictures of victims of the Dark Arts. There were people with grisly injuries and contorted body parts. I didn't look away even though the images were brutal.

I had been walking with Harry after lunch as Hermione and Ron had walked off, bickering over nonsense I presume. It was one thing I had noticed with this trio. My morning classes with Hermione was a delight though. She was so intelligent that she was comforting to be around. Harry and I took our seats behind Hermione and Ron who were at the further back on the left with the other Gryffindors. Ron was trying to make Hermione laugh but she was ignoring him, not hesitating to look at what idiotic thing he was going to do.

Draco Malfoy who I met yesterday walked past us with two big fellows, the size of huge pigs and smirked at Harry who glared. It seemed to me that Draco was an indecorous guy, but I didn't understand what was going on between Harry and him. Even last night they both seemed to be glaring at each other across the Great Hall during the feast.

The classroom doors swung open with a bang and in stormed Snape. As he strolled into the room everyone's voices began to descend away and the only thing that could be heard was the clotting sound of his shoes. He walked all the way to his oak desk and turned around with a smirk. Whatisitwithmenandsmirks?

"I have not asked you to take out your books," Snape said, moving to face the class from his desk.

I pushed my copy of ConfrontingtheFacelessback into my bag and noticed that Hermione did the same.

"I wish to speak to you and I want your fullest attention. You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced."

I then watched as Snape moved to the edge of the classroom speaking in a lower voice. "The Dark Arts are many even-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and clever than before. Therefore you are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating and indestructible. Your defense must therefore be a flexible and inventive as the Arts you seek to undo. These pictures," he indicated a few of them as he swept past, "give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance the Cruciatus Curse, feel the Dementor's Kiss, or provoke the aggression of the Inferius." He then set off around the other side of the classroom towards his desk.

"You are I believe, complete novices in the use of non-verbal spells. What is the advantage of a non-verbal spell?"

I noticed Hermione's hand shot up into the air. Looking at Snape he took his time looking around the room for someone else to answer. "Very well – Miss Granger?"

"Your adversary had no warning about what king of magic you're about to perform," she said, "Which gives you a split-second advantage.

"An answer copied almost word for word from TheStandardBookofSpells,Grade6," Snape said dismissively not impressed.

I heard someone in the corner snigger loudly.

"However correct essentials. Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some lack." I noticed that Snape's gaze lingered on Harry. I found it rather peculiar.

"You will now divide into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other withoutspeaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equalsilence. Carry on."

Harry instantly got up and went over to Ron to partner off with him. I wasn't surprised. I knew they were going to be talking probably about that blonde guy. Hermione as well went off with a boy who looked pudgy and had a round face. I heard her call him Neville.

I sat alone for a bit until that blonde boy came over to me, "Since everybody has a partner, I would be delighted to be yours," he said smiling.

Behind that smile it appeared to me to be very peculiar. That his arrogance during the carriage ride to Hogwarts was being ignored. "Fine," I uttered getting up from my desk. "Did you want me to try and jinx you and you try to repel it or did you want it the other way round?"

"I can take whatever you throw at me," he said with a smirk. Andthere'sthearroganceagain.

Poor fool, I thought. He didn't know what was going to hit him.

I could hear the other students around me cheating under their breaths instead of saying the jinxes in their heads. It was frustrating to concentrate.

I eyed Draco, and noticed him watching me. His eyes looking directly at me, his posture upright. He looked like he was going to try his best to repel my jinx. So he wouldn't look like a buffoon.

I kept my eyes focused on him, letting the sound around me vanish as I took in deep breaths and muttered in my head, 'flexipe.'

Just as I suspected Draco could not repel my jinx and he was blessed with club foot from my jinx. I watched as his left foot turned inwardly to his body, but he didn't flinch. He just kept his eyes locked on me. I was surprised that he even didn't look at his foot. If it was me I would have.

He didn't speak but just kept focus on the task. I didn't speak either, the silence between us was nice. It meant I didn't have to put up with his behaviour. Ten minutes later Draco still hadn't repelled my jinxes. I heard that Hermione with that Neville guy had blocked his Jelly-Legs jinx. She was the first in the class to succeed. I knew that I probably would have been the first because I had practiced non-verbal spells with granddad recently before school began. But it wasn't my turn today to practice the non-verbal spells- it was Draco and the rest of the class. I was happy to just improve on my skills.

I then heard Snape say, "Pathetic Weasley" and looked over to where Harry and Ron were. With my eyes now focusing on something else I noticed that Draco as well from the corner of my eye looked over as well.

"Here- let me show you-" I heard Snape say pulling out his wand.

Then instinctively Harry defending himself pulled out his own wand and yelled, "Protego!" and because the Shield Charm was strong Snape was knocked off balance and hit a student's desk. I noticed that Snape scowled under his breath and retaliated.

"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing non-verbalspells, Potter?"

"Yes," I heard Harry say.

"Yes sir."

"There's no need to call me "sir," Professor," I heard Harry say, not realizing who he was talking to.

I gasped in shock and I heard Draco near me silently snigger.

"Detention, Saturday night, my office," I heard Snape. "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter… not even the ChosenOne." Snape walked off and went to watch other students like an overgrown bat to teach them.

Draco looked at me, his pale pointed face with a smirk. "And why on earth are you smiling?" I asked him.

"Just listening to the kind words of the Professor punishing Potter," he said sycophantically.

"Well technically the Professor is a hypocrite- if he wants us to practice non-verbal spells he shouldn't have produced his wand on Harry about to say a verbal spell like in a duel. He should have just said one in his head. It's his own fault."

"But as a Professor he was trying to teach him to be ready on the spot by letting him know he was about to jinx him."

"You're one to talk. You haven't even repelled any of my spells," I stated looking at him.

His raised his pointed nose higher like a snob. "How do you know I haven't already?"

"Because I would have felt the rebound," I responded, surprised with his cockiness. "Besides you still have club foot."

"And so do you," he said looking down at my feet.

I followed his gaze and saw that my own two feet had turned inward. I shot my head up at Draco, "When did you-"

"Nice work Malfoy, your another success of today's class," Snape announced as he walked passed looking at my feet.

Inside I was glaring at both of them.

"You didn't notice because I non-verbally repelled your jinx and also incanted non-verbally a spell to numb your feet," he smirked, his grey eyes glistening in the candlelight.

"Quel enfoiré," I muttered under my breath.

"I beg your pardon?" he knotted his eyebrows in confusion.

"Oh nothing," I said, looking at Harry and Ron who were talking to each other.

"Did you just swear at me in French? Because everyone's been talking about your accent and that you've transferred from Beauxbatons?"

"People shouldn't talk about other people's business. Especially behind their backs. What else have you heard?"

I saw the corner of Draco's lip inch upward. "Wouldn't you like to know? But then I would be one of those people talking behind another person's back," he impishly replied.

"Technically they're just rumours. People passing information on to other people. So technically it's like a web of lies and it's hard to find the number one source."

"Wow, you sure get down to the nitty-gritty of things." For a split second I felt a pang of amusement. That I found Draco's cockiness and arrogance thrilling to fight with.

"Yeah you have to when you're dealing with quel enfoirés," I smirked at myself and chuckled.

"What are you calling me?"

"Look it up bookworm," I said, after hearing Snape say that class had finished. I walked passed Draco and winked at him. If he was going to play mind games and be a prat, well I was going to go along with it too.

Leaving the classroom doors I saw Harry, Ron and Hermione scuttle off down the corridor. I was about to yell out to them to wait for me but they seemed to be in deep discussion. And being a new person, and a new friend I didn't want to pry on what they were talking about, or even my presence being there they wouldn't continue their conversation they were having. So I made up my mind to go visit granddad in his office. I went the opposite direction of the corridors and it took me about ten minutes to get to granddads office since I didn't really know my way around and the only thing I knew about it was that it was behind a gargoyle. It was actually quite difficult to get there. Granddad told me beforehand about what the password was if I wanted to speak to him. Finally when I arrived to the allocated place for his office I said, "Acid Pops." Once I said the password the gargoyle moved aside and revealed stairs for me to climb up. Once I scrambled up them and reached a door I knocked twice.

"Come in," I heard his familiar, friendly voice.

I opened the door to reveal a huge circular room with portraits of former Hogwarts headmasters covering the walls. The room was spacious with a phoenix perch, owned by Fawkes (whom I love and adore), a claw-footed desk with a high-backed chair, several spindle-legged tables which had strange silver instruments whirling and emitting puffs of smoke. I could see the Sorting Hat sitting on a shelf behind granddads desk and a black cabinet which granddad had told me about was his pensieve.

"Ahh, I thought I would see you soon," Granddad noted, while pointing his left hand to a chair for me to sit on. I gradually sat down and smiled at him.

"Hi Granddad."

"So how have you been settling in?"

"Just fine. Students have already started talking about my accent that I did warn you about that they would catch on that I was new. But it doesn't matter," I said, getting cozy in the chair.

"And how are your classes?"

"Good, I'm with Hermione Granger for most of them and she's very sweet. She's a very smart witch."

"And independent like you when she wants to be," he noted.

"I was just wondering. How come you didn't tell me there was going to be a ball?"

"Because I know that you like surprises," he said smiling at his desk. His blue eyes twinkling behind his spectacles.

"Sure, I do Granddad, sure I do," I said sarcastically. "Anymore "surprises" that you have install for me?"

"Nothing that I can think of at the moment. But when I do, I'll owl you straight away to meet me."

I smiled warmly at my grandfather. I loved the conversation I had with him. He was the only living relative I had left. "Granddad, people have been asking about your hand a lot since the feast last night. From my point of view it looks darker than it did a couple weeks ago. Have you had it checked out again?"

I noticed him move his burnt hand from the top of the table to his lap. "There's no need to worry. I can still move my hand, its fine. Just some discolouration."

"If you say so," and for the first time in my life I didn't believe him. But I thought it best to change the subject because I knew he didn't want to prod about it anymore. "I was partnered with that Malfoy boy today in DADA," I told Granddad. "His arrogant just like when you spoke about his father. I can hear it in his voice."

"Didn't I tell you not to judge people before you get to know them?"

"Yes but this is under different circumstances. I was just keeping in mind and looking out for signs that compared him to his father. And for some reason him and Harry don't get along. Like they're rivals or something?"

"Looks like someone has been observing people like an anthropologist."

"Just getting used to the school and students that's all. Besides we best be off. We don't want to be late for dinner," I said, rising from my seat and walking over to my grandfather to help him up. I knew he could get up himself but I always liked giving him a helping hand. He was one-hundred and fifty. As he grabbed my hand and I put my other arm over his shoulder I looked down at the contrast of his blackened hand and that of my pigmentary skin. It didn't look good.