Chapter 55: Classes
Tonks apparently knew many secret passages in the castle. We found a shortcut from the Professors Wing to the common rooms of the four Houses and to the different classrooms. No wonder those teachers are so quick. I found Ginny and Neville patrolling the corridor near the Gryffindor tower. Luna and Nikki were near the Ravenclaw tower. I found my job pretty interesting as I can roam around the castle without being "out of bounds".
"Good morning class!" Fred Weasley looking a bit more decent than usual addressed the class.
George settled on the back of the classroom.
The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students attending the class murmured greetings to the twins although formally.
"Let us start by stating that we never imagined that we would end up teaching you lot!"
The class laughed merrily.
"We won't be delving into serious matters on the first day of classes.."
"…Let us start by saying, yes, McGonagall is right. No one should attempt to steal the glory we have as prank extraordinaires / masters of mayhem/ whatever…"
"We are here to prepare you for that world outside where a big appalling baddie by the name of Voldemort try to steal our sunshine!"
The class became serious after that. Fred and George cited examples on how using Transfiguration can help save lives. They injected a few humorous anecdotes of their pranking days but most of the topics were very useful in emergencies.
The bell rang and the seventh years started leaving the room.
"Ianthé, are you coming?"
Ianthé shook her head, "Give me a moment…"
"Hey, nice lesson, Profs…."
Fred and George smiled at her.
"We didn't know…"
"… that teaching could be…."
"….so nerve-wracking!"
Ianthé smiled back, "Now, you appreciate dear 'ol Minnie?"
The twins shrugged, "A bit…"
"Guys, what about your shop?"
"Oh, we came up with the perfect ingenious plan. We take turns in teaching. We'll gauge our teaching skills on the first week and we divide the amount of work. That way, we can also handle the shop, Lee Jordan's acting manager… and also Verity... We can also enhance our research here in Hogwarts, with the library and other resources…"
Ianthé nodded, "Cool idea…"
"So, what do you think of Krum teaching here?"
Ianthé shrugged, "Change the topic, please…"
"We need to talk to you on the weekend regarding your share in Weasleys Wizard Wheezes…"
Ianthé nodded.
"Go, you might be late for Mr. Loverboy…."
Ianthé gave Fred the dirty finger before leaving the room and running to her next class.
She finally reached the classroom. The door was already closed, but she saw Viktor approaching. She waited for him near the door.
"Remember, no tricks…" Ianthé reminded him.
"Yes, love. Go inside, I'll count to thirty seconds and then I'll walk in."
Ianthé nodded and opened the door.
The girls in her class anticipated that it would be Viktor Krum who entered. They were particularly dismayed when it was only Ianthé.
She found Nikki seating on the back row of the class.
"Hey, saved a seat for you…" Nikki whispered.
"Thanks," Ianthé sat down, "Place your books back on your bag…"
Nikki looked at her, confused.
Ianthé raised her brows, "Trust me."
Their table was the only table with no books. Everybody else were rummaging their bags for a quill and some parchment.
Viktor entered at last. He made an entrance similar to Snape, but without the door shutting with a bang. His robes billowed as he walked.
The students sat up and looked attentive. There were a number of girls sitting in the frontmost part of the class.
"Good morning class."
"Good morning Professor Krum."
Viktor smiled at the seventh years, "I think I don't need to introduce myself to you as most of you already know me." His eyes flicked rapidly to where Nikki and Ianthé were sitting.
"Books away."
The students looked excited at the prospect of not having to read their books silently in class.
"From what the headmistress told me, you guys are the batch with the highest potential in comparison to the previous NEWTs batch. I heard a rumor about some group in you fifth year? Is that right?"
Ernie raised his hand, "The DA, sir."
"Ernie, right?"
Ernie nodded and smiled widely.
"DA? What does DA mean?"
Neville raised his hand, "It stands for Dumbledore's Army, Professor." He said this with ease and confidence.
Viktor nodded, "And what did you do in this DA?"
"We learn defensive spells, because that cow Umbridge never taught us anything important!" a very bold Seamus Finnegan answered.
The class laughed a bit.
"Who was your instructor in the DA?"
"Harry taught us…"
Viktor smiled, "Ah… I will say this but I might repeat it again and again for this entire year…."
The class grew quiet.
"You were very lucky to have him as your instructor. Harry is a brave and courageous individual who will risk his life for any of you… I remember him in the Triwizard Tournament… He tried to save every hostage in the second task, regardless of who they are because he thought all of them were in danger…"
"Sir?" Dean Thomas raised his hand, "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to you during the third task…"
Viktor's eyes became dark, "I was under the Imperius Curse of the impostor Professor Moody. It was a very serious miscalculation on my part. I admit that I was weak and I let him control me. That's why we are on this class today, so that you will not make the same mistake that I did and so much more."
Ianthé nodded in agreement and looked at him straight in the eye.
"Very well then, let's start by having a permanent seating arrangement, regardless of your House. All of you, stand up."
The class stood up and found the tables to be etched with their names.
Ianthé and Nikki still ended up as seatmates as their surnames were both in letter H.
"This way, I could remember your names properly. Okay, let's start. I suggest you guys to take down notes if you want to."
"That was some lesson!" Ernie exclaimed to Ianthé at the end of the class, "I didn't know he was knowledgeable in Defense Against the Dark Arts… I thought he was all Quidditch and stuff…"
"Well, he graduated with flying colors from Dumrstrang, did he not?"
Ernie nodded, "It was weird not having Slytherins in class."
"Yeah, I heard that both Pansy and Blaise dropped from the class," Nikki whispered.
Ianthé looked at her, "We'll find out about that in Potions class…"
Ernie rubbed his hands together, "Excellent… Now, with Harry gone…. Even playing field in Potions!"
Nikki rolled her eyes as she opened the door to the dungeon room where Potions class was held.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Ianthé exclaimed quite loudly.
There were no other students there.
"Perhaps they were late or something…" Ernie shrugged and prepared his cauldron and other things used in Potions.
"Jansen did not go to Hogwarts this year, and so is Grolden," Nikki looked up as to think clearly.
The door opened and four Slytherins, two of which is Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini, entered. They looked pale and lifeless without Draco.
Ianthé waved at them and smiled.
Ernie tried to refrain her, "What are you doing!"
Ianthé looked at him pointedly, "Trying for some Inter-House unity…"
Nikki got what Ianthé meant, "That means sucking up to those two and acting like nothing happened. Watch Ianthé wheedle information from those two later."
Ernie nodded.
Professor Slughorn entered the classroom, "Only seven of you?"
"Yes, sir," Ernie answered.
"I guess beggars can't be choosers….." Professor Slughorn suddenly noticed Ianthé, "Miss Herze! I didn't notice you there! Were you in the class last year?"
Ianthé nodded.
"Blimey! How come I didn't notice a Herze grazing the halls of this school! I never gave you an invitation to my little parties!" Professor Slughorn panicked.
Ianthé muttered under her breath, "I forgot to place the spell on him this year!"
Nikki sighed, "You're in big trouble…"
Slughorn looked at the grading sheets from last year, "It says here that you excelled in this subject. Oh well, perhaps I was too preoccupied with another Potions extraordinaire like Harry…"
"Let's start then…. Oh, remain after class Miss Herze…"
Ianthé sighed again, "Yes, sir."