Disclaimer- I do not, in fact, own Harry Potter.
Hello! I forgot to give credit where credit was due, last time; the first few paragrpahs of the last chapter were J.K. Rowling's, as are most of the descriptions of characters, especially Remus. It's not uncommon right now, in the early stages of this fic, for a completely new paragraph to end with one of the book's lines, so going through and picking them all out would be a pain in the ass. :)
Anyway, I was super nervous about writing this chapter, because it's a very important chapter; this is the chapter where I establish that Remus Lupin is a Very Good Teacher, and I don't have the boggart crutch to lean on. Even worse, Lockhart was so bad that he didn't even have a semblance of a normal lesson plan, which made it very difficult for me. I think (hope!) that I was successful!
Enjoy! :)
It's their first week of lessons, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione are standing in the Hogwarts courtyard when Colin creevey approaches harry and asks for a sgined photo. Draco Malfoy overhears.
"Weasley would like a signed photo, Potter," smirked Malfoy. "It'd be worth more than his family's whole house-"
Ron whipped out his Spellotaped wand, but Hermione shut her book with a snap and whispered, "Look out!"
"What's going on?" Professor Lupin was quickly approaching them, one hand in the pocket on his shabby robes, the other carrying his battered briefcase. He looked a bit healthier, as though a few square meals had done him some good. "Did I hear something about signed photos?"
He stopped in front of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy. Colin Creevey quickly snapped a photo of Professor Lupin, who didn't seem to take any heed. He raised his eyebrows when Ron hastily stuffed his wand back into his robes.
"Well, far be from it for me to decide what any of you do in your spare time, I do have to suggest that all of you refrain from dueling, as it is against school rules."
Malfoy, who had never seen Professor Lupin close enough to see the full extent of his shabbiness, sneered at him, but he wasn't stupid enough to pick a fight in front of a teacher.
The bell signaling the start of afternoon classes rang, and Harry followed Lupin back to the castle, Ron and Hermione following. He didn't say anything as they entered the building through a side door, down a corridor, and up a staircase into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, whistling all the way.
"What do you think of him?" whispered Ron as the rest of the class wandered in. Professor Lupin had opened his briefcase and was taking books out of it, still whistling.
"We don't know yet, Ron," replied Hermione. "He hasn't exactly taught us yet."
Harry was about to speak when Professor Lupin cleared his throat and waited for everyone to quiet down as they pulled their old Defense books out of their bags.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he said. "You won't need those books right now, today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."
Everyone looked at each other, thrilled. They'd never had a practical lesson before; Quirrell had always stuttered his way through lessons, assigning them endless notes and homework. Lupin saw all their surprised faces and laughed.
"No need to be so shocked. I've been looking over the lesson plans my predecessor left. He seems to have started off the year with the normal theory of learning how to recognize a dangerous situation but never went into the basic duelling skills you're expected to know my second year, instead concentrating on learning how to heal injuries inflicted by magical creatures, which is usually left to Care of Magical Creatures classes. Is this correct?"
There was a general murmur of ascension and Hermione nodded fervently.
"Good. We shall start off the year by mastering basic duelling spells. Everyone, please choose a partner and stand about two arms' lengths away from each other."
Everyone stood up, uncertain as to how they would have they room for this between all the desks. As they watched, Professor Lupin waved his wand and made all the desks scoot to the corners to give them a wide practice area.
Harry partnered up with Ron, while Hermione took pity on Neville and partnered with him. Neville was looking squeamish at the idea of a practical lesson, but the rest of the class was excited.
"Now, I need a volunteer...who doesn't mind getting Disarmed?"
No one raised their hands, something Professor Lupin seemed to find amusing.
"It's not that bad, I promise. Neville, how about you?"
Neville looked stricken with fear, and Harry couldn't help but think Professor Lupin couldn't have chosen a worse candidate.
"Don't be nervous, I promise you won't get hurt, come on..." said Lupin soothingly, nudging Neville up to the front of the class.
"Now, stand two arms' widths apart from me, like I said...good, good," said Lupin raising his wand so it was above his head. "Now, brace yourself, Neville."
Neville didn't need to be told twice; he screwed his eyes shut and stood stock still as Lupin said, almost casually, "Expelliarmus!"
There was a burst of scarlet light and Neville's wand flew out of his hand, but there was no other effect.
"That was a rather weak one. If you are overzealous it can cause you to fly backwards in midair, which I'm sure no one would want," said Lupin, pointing his own wand at Neville's and causing it to zoom back to its owner. "Neville, why don't you try?"
Neville glanced at the class. Harry and almost everyone else instantly pretended to be interested in anything but Neville, so as to give him a chance. Harry saw Hermione crossing her fingers behind her back.
Neville held his wand like Lupin had and muttered, "E-Expelliarmus!"
Professor Lupin's wand twitched slightly, and he gave him an encouraging smile. "Hermione, why don't you come up here too?"
Neville tried to move away as Hermione bounded to the front, but Professor Lupin said lightly, "No, stay here, Neville."
He walked to where Neville was standing and stood behind him, guiding Neville's arm to the right position.
"Now, say it after me-the whole class too, without wands- Expelliarmus!"
When Neville repeated it after Professor Lupin his wand shot out a scarlet light just like Lupin's and whipped Hermione's wand right out of her hand, knocking it into the wall behind them and forcing her to take a step back. Again, Lupin sent it right back to her, leaving her looking a little shell-shocked.
"Good job, Neville, that was excellent. You and Hermione may go back to your spots now, everyone, start practicing."
Harry and Ron turned towards each other, and Harry's stomach dropped a little at the thought of Ron pointing his broken wand at him, so he made sure that he managed to say Expelliarmus first every time. When Professor Lupin walked by he happened to glance at Ron's wand and actually offered to trade for the class period, giving Ron the confidence to Disarm Harry three or four times in a row before Harry managed to figure his strategy out.
Neville was doing well after his demonstration with Professor Lupin and managed to Disarm Hermione almost as much as she Disarmed him. Lupin walked around the class and made sure they were holding their wand arms right and saying the incantation correctly, and it made for a very enjoyable class period, what with all the flying backwards.
"That was an excellent lesson, everyone. Now, five points to Gryffindor to everyone, because you all managed to do it, and an extra five for Neville and Hermione because they did the demonstration. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Disarming and summarize it for me, and if you'd like to get a little ahead I would skim the chapter on Shield Charms, but don't strain yourselves...to be handed in Thursday. That will be all."
Everyone was talking as they left the classroom. Harry couldn't remember a better Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, and he thought his classmates were feeling the same way.
"Did you see Dean and me that time when we cast the spell at the same time?" asked Seamus excitedly to anyone who would listen. "Bloody wicked, it was."
"Oh, yeah, bet it didn't beat when I made Lavender- sorry, Lav- fly back six feet in the air!" retorted Parvarti.
"I bet it did!"
Harry, now that he thought about it, could remember very few lessons he'd enjoyed as much as that one at all. He turned to Hermione, was was talking to a cheerful-looking Neville.
"Oh, yes, Harry?"
"What do you think of him now that he's taught of, huh, Hermione?" asked Ron, grinning.
"I think he's a very good teacher," said Hermione approvingly. "I'm glad we finally got someone who knows their stuff. It was kind of him to let you use his wand, Ron."
Ron screwed up his nose. "I dunno if kind is the word."
"What's the word you were thinking of?" asked Hermione, rolling her eyes.
"Um...macho? It was macho of him to let me use his wand, there!"
"Honestly, Ron," Hermione sighed as Harry roared with laughter.
Reviews are love! :)