The next few weeks passed without much to report. Fourth year lessons proved to be much more difficult than those of the past three years. Mostly due to the fact that during a wizards fifth year in school they took the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations than anything else. All of the Professors wanted us to be prepared for the OWLs next year and so they began to push us harder than in the past. No subject was more challenging than Defense Against the Dark Arts. Two weeks into class Professor Moody announced he would be putting each of us under the Imperius Curse so that he could properly demonstrate the power of the curse. I almost vomited at the idea no one needed to demonstrate the power of the Unforgivable Curses to me. Especially not after the first lesson with the spiders but I was determined to follow Severus' advice and not let the dark side of magic cloud my better judgment. Instead, when Moody asked for a volunteer to begin cursing I shot my hand high in the air. I needed to prove to both Moody and myself that I would not be scared away so easily.
"Imperio!"
At first being under the curse was a wonderful feeling. Everything was foggy, but I also was free of thought and worry. There was nothing in my head but a vague, untraceable happiness. I stood in the center of the room completely relaxed, despite knowing everyone in the classroom had their eyes on me. And then intruding on my thoughtlessness was Mad-Eye's gruff voice echoing the words Jump onto the desk. The phrase repeated itself over and over again. Jump onto the desk … Jump onto the desk… Jump onto the desk. I felt my knees buckling in obedience as if preparing to jump, but another voice began fight for space inside my brain. Why though? Stupid thing to do really.
Jump onto the desk…Jump onto the desk…Jump onto the desk…
No, I don't think I will, thanks. The other voice answered firmly.
Jump onto the desk…Jump onto the desk…Jump onto the desk…
No, I don't really want to…
Jump! NOW! The next thing I knew I was sprawled out on the floor with a pain on my forhead. Sitting up I put my hand on the spot where the pain was coming from, it was warm and wet. Pulling my hand away I saw it was covered in blood. In appeared I had both tried to jump and prevent myself from jumping at the same time, causing me to only knock my head on the nearest desk and twist my ankle. I was in pain, but I scanned the room for Moody. He was standing to my right beaming as if proud of himself, no proud of me.
"Well done Miss Potter. Class what happened her, is Miss Potter fought. She fought it and damn near beat it! Excellent work Miss Potter. Five points to Slytherin. Very good indeed! They'll have trouble controlling you! Who's next?" By the end of the lesson only Harry and I were able to even attempt to fight off the Imperius Curse. Though Moody was disappointed in the majority of the class he seemed exceptionally proud that Harry and I were able to accomplish the little that we could.
"The way he talks," Harry muttered nursing a bruised elbow as our group made its way out of the classroom. "You'd think we were all going to be attacked an second."
"Yeah, I know." I replied as I limped along with my twisted ankle. "The least he could have done was fix this!" I exclaimed gesturing towards my foot. "Who wants to accompany me while I limp my way to the Hospital Wing before lunch?"
"Miss Potter, Mr. Potter I see you two have sustained injuries. Might I ask which piece of school equipment you've broken to earn such wounds?" If Severus had any genuine concern for Harry and I, he was not showing it on his face. Then again part of that could be due to the completely uncalled for death stare Severus was getting from Harry.
"Nothing too painful Professor." I reassured him. "Fourth year Defense Against the Dark Arts is learning to defend ourselves against the Imperius Curse. While trying to beat the curse, I've earned myself a gash to the forehead, and a twisted ankle. Harry's got a bruised elbow, and he's twisted his nose up a bit, but I think no Hogwarts equipment was harmed."
"If you wish I could take care of those small things for you. Madam Pomfrey is mostly likely already on her way down to lunch."
"Might as well." I whispered to Harry. "No sense in us going all the way there when Snape can take care of it. It's nothing that really involves any complicated bits of magic." Harry grumbled something about there being worse ways to die, and in the end allowed Severus to patch him up.
"Thanks Professor Snape!" I said once we were repaired.
"Don't mention it." Severus growled before stalking off.
"That was weird." Ron interjected.
"Yeah wonder what he's playing at." Harry agreed.
"Maybe he wants us at full strength so he can poison us later!" I said joking around.
"Yeah!" Ron agreed, not getting the joke. When we arrived in the Entrance Hall there was an unusually high volume of students crowded around a large sign that had recently been placed by the doors of the Great Hall. It took several minutes for the Entrance Hall to clear out enough that we could read the sign. Even then we had to each stand on tiptoe to see over the heads of a group of first years.
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT
The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday the 30th of October. Lessons will end half an Hour Early. Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and assemble in front of the castle to greet our guest before the Welcome Feast.
"Brilliant! It's Potions last thing on Friday! Snape won't have time to poison us all!" Harry smiled referencing my earlier joke.
"We do have another potions lesson before Friday." I reminded him. Harry swatted his hand as if waving that idea off.
"Yeah but it's the first class in the morning there's no way he'd have time to make the poison."