Failures and Successes

The next morning during breakfast Rose, Scorpius, Yana, and Albus were discussing the previous days classes when a fourth year Ravenclaw named Tina Skeeter walked over and sat down. They all stared at her for a moment and when they started to go back to their conversation she interrupted them. She said, "You're Scorpius Malfoy right?" pointing at Scorpius and before he could answer question she continued, "Why aren't you in Slytherin like the rest of your pure blood family? I'm also guessing that all three of you will be good quidditch," she was speaking to Rose, Scorpius, and Albus now, "I mean all of you have at least one parent who was good at it. You Albus will probably be good at Defence Against the Dark Arts. And you, Rose, will probably be as smart and a know-it-all as your mother." With that she started to stand up and go back to her own table.

Right before she walked away Yana said, "Who the bloody hell are you?"

"Tina Skeeter," Tina replied and walked away. Rose, Scorpius, and Al were still sitting there in shock. Al was thinking, Why does she know so much about our parents? Then he thought of the more important point, Does everyone think that?! The more he thought about it the more it worried him. He didn't want to just be a mini version of his parents. He had always thought of himself as his own person, but what if that wasn't true?

Thankfully, right at that moment Yana broke their concentration by asking them, "Who does she think she is, so she can talk to you guys that way?" She was obviously perturbed.

Like her usual self Rose answered saying, "She Rita Skeeter's daughter and she think she's the queen of gossip here. Her mom in my opinion is a complete monster that will write any story she can even if it's not at all true. We should probably get to class. We don't want to be late for Defence Against the Dark Arts." And with that they got up and went to their first ever Defence Against the Dark Arts class.

All four of them had almost forgot about their run in with Tina Skeeter until they got to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom then Al remembered what she had said about him being good at Defence Against the Dark Arts and he didn't want to prove her right. But, the thing was that this was the one class that he had been personally looking forward too because it sounded interesting.

He was thinking about that when the four of them sat down and class began with Professor Jansen, who was a mid-forties aged witch with brown slightly curly hair and shining brown eyes, calling roll. After roll was taken she addressed the class with a surprisingly firm but soft tone saying, "Welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts. My name is Jane Jansen but you will call me Professor or Ma'ma at all times. This subject is very serious, so as that is said you will receive one warning and then you will get a detention for not paying attention or any messing around," she said those last words sharply slapping her hand on the desk where Thomas Abbott and Peter White were sitting playing a game of hangman on a slip of paper and not paying attention. Both of them jumped about a mile out of their seats. Al smiled at this. He already liked her. She sure had style. Professor Jansen continued, "Today we will start out by learning a very important spell expelliarmus, or the disarming spell. Now some of you might think that you are too young to learn this, and I don't expect perfection today, but you're never too young to learn how to protect yourself. Some people like to believe that all danger has gone since the War against Lord Voldemort and his death eaters, but danger is everywhere. So, in my opinion it's better that you at least know how to disarm an opponent then be totally defenceless. Before we begin can anyone tell us one person who was particularly known for this spell during the war and even used it against Lord Voldemort himself?" Of course Al and Rose both knew the answer and raced each other to raise their hands. Al won and Professor Jansen said, "Yes, Mr. Potter,"

"My dad, Harry Potter, Ma'am'" he answered the question assuredly.

"Very good, Mr. Potter," Professor Jansen praised him.

He could hear Thomas Abbott behind him hiss, "Of course he would know," to Peter White next to him. Al felt his ears turn red as he heard this. It was meant as an insult but he was proud of his father and his accomplishments.

Al snapped back to attention as Professor Jansen instructed, "Partner up and stand on opposite sides of the room from each other," Al looked at Rose and they got up and moved to opposite sides of the room as Scorpius and Yana and the rest of the class did the same. With a wave of her wand all the tables and chairs flew to the sides of the room and she said," Now raise your wand in the ready position like this," she demonstrated the way to hold your wand and the class matched her, "Now face your partner. The partner on the left side of the room now repeat after me. Expelliarmus!"

There were cries of Expelliarmus from the left side of the room which included Scorpius and Rose. Nothing happened. Most of them looked a little disappointed at this except for Rose, who looked absolutely devastated at not getting it right on the first try.

Al saw Professor Jansen smile at the reactions of her students and said, " I told you that I didn't expect any of you to get it on your first try or even today. Now the rest of you do the same."

What happened for the other side of the room happened on Al's side of the room except for one thing. When Al said "Expelliarmus," to the class, Professor Jansen's, and his surprise Rose's wand flew out of her hand. He had done it! On his first try even.

Everyone just stood where they were for a few seconds until Professor Jansen came to her senses and said, "Very well done, Mr. Potter! Ten points to Gryffindor! Now the first side try again," Rose and the others tried again and this time Rose did it.

To this Professor Jansen said, "Very well done, Mrs. Weasley! Ten more points for Gryffindor. Now the other side try again."

The class went on like this. Only three students were able to get the spell right: Al, Rose, and Scorpius, who earned Gryffindor ten points as well.

As the bell rang Professor Jansen addressed the class, "That was a very very good first class. Good job all of you. You are dismissed." And with that the first years headed off toward their next class which was Potions. As they walked to the class Al remembered that morning with Tina and he's thought that he wanted to prove her wrong. He had failed at that. He moped over that for a whole second before he realized that he didn't care what others thought. He had found a class he really liked. Even if those two boys were rude he really liked the professor and he was actually really good at the subject. So, in his mind it counted as a success. After all he had earned points for Gryffindor, found a class he liked, and decided what he thought about what others think about him. Overall a very good start to the day, he reflected as he entered his next class, Potions.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter I know I did. How did you guys like how I let Yana express her anger a little at Tina Skeeter. Also, do you guys like how I brought in Rita Skeeter's daughter along with Hannah Abbott's son? If anyone wonders I based Professor Jansen after my fourth grade teacher.

I will be gone for five days for girl's camp so you will not hear from me until I get back. Thank you to all those who Favorited, followed, and reviewed. It really means a lot to me. So, Read, Review, and Enjoy.