Smell like Teen Spirit
A/N: Hello! Thank you to those who reviewed/followed. Sorry about all the bad grammar in those last two chapters. I was so ashamed when I found them…I'm supposed to be good at English…:O Anyway, I've re-read this chapter three times already, and I can assure you there are no mistakes. But, if you do spot them, please pick me up on them in a nice way. :D
The rest of the week had gone smoothly for the students. Despite arriving at school on the Tuesday, Professor McGonagall had declared that no lessons were to start until the following Monday so the first years can settle in and find their way around easier. However, much to the dismay of teachers and pupils alike, except Hermione of course, Monday rolled around to quickly, and the first lesson of the day found the eighth years in Defence Against the Dark Arts. They sat around their desks chatting when a voice was heard from the back.
"If you would please be seated." There was some scrambling around, but eventually everyone was sat down at their desks. Once they were, Professor Elliott strode to the front. Today, she wore blue jeans, a red and white checked shirt, and light brown heeled boots. Her long hair had been pulled back into a pigtail.
"Now then. My name is Professor Elizabeth Elliott and I will be your teacher for your remaining school year. I already know who you are of course, what with the Prophet singing your praises all summer, so I'll give you a bit of information about myself. I joined the aurors when I was eighteen, but quit two years ago to pursue a career in teaching. I would like to think, that after ten years in the field, I know what I am doing. As you may have notice, I am one of the few teachers who do not wear robes. That comes from my training. It is easier to do Defence when you are wearing clothes you can easily move in. So if you want to take off your robes, you may." There was a rustling as the students did just that. "I see you up until lunch on a Monday, and after lunch until dinner on a Wednesday. I don't mind if, for those lessons, you wear your own clothes and get changed during lunch, I really don't. But I will say this. When outside the classroom, please wear your robes over your clothes. I do not want you to get into trouble for not wearing your uniforms.
"Right, so, what will we be learning this year? First of all, we will be doing Patronuses…something funny Mr. Potter?" All airs of friendliness disappeared as she turned to the boy in question, who was indeed sniggering.
"No ma'am."
"No? You were laughing Mr. Potter that means you found something funny. Pray, do tell."
"It's just, half of the class can already cast a successful Patronus."
Professor Elliott folded her arms and fixed Harry with an uncomfortable stare. "No Mr. Potter, you can cast a successful Patronus. Tell me, did you have access to a boggart in the form of a dementor back in Dumbledore's Army?"
"No ma'am."
"No. And I presume none of you fought the dementors here at Hogwarts back in May? I didn't think so. Let me make one thing clear. Nothing is successful in Defence unless it has been put to the test. As you are the only one here apart from myself who has faced a dementor before Mr. Potter, you are the only one who can cast a successful Patronus. That does not mean you can get out of the lessons either, so take that idea out of your head. I do not appreciate arrogance or cheek Mr. Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor for such from you. Same applies to you Mr. Black!" Her eyes swept over to Draco, who was laughing at Harry's embarrassment. "I would have thought you more than anyone would have been working hard this year, if only to prove yourself. I believe that freedom and innocence is earned, but there are some people out there who still think you bought your way out of Azkaban. If I was you, I would be working my arse trying to get the best possible grades so I could prove those bastards wrong. Ten points from Slytherin for, again, arrogance and cheek." She looked back towards the whole class. "Let's get one thing straight. You may be the only ever eighth years. You may be legally adults, here and in the muggle world. You may be war heroes, and the rest of the staff may treat you as such, but to me you are normal eighteen year old students just trying to complete their education. No special treatment. No getting away with things you shouldn't, especially you Golden Boy. I normally am a nice person, and I do not want to treat you like first years, but I will if you do not drop the attitudes and arrogance. All I ask from you is politeness and respect. If you give me that, you will get the same and we will get along fine.
"Now, as I saying, this year there are three topics. First, you will learn how to cast a successful Patronus. Second, once you master animagus forms in Transfigurations, you will be learning how to cast spells in your animal form. The final thing you will be learning is Occlumency. No need to groan Mr. Potter, I am not Professor Snape. You will be pleased to know that I do not set homework, only that you practice what I teach you when you can. Also, the only time you will have to write an essay is once you have mastered what we are studying, no matter how long it takes. The first lesson of the new topic will be the theory behind it, and then every lesson after that will be practical. Also, I shall be pairing you up on Wednesday. Your partner may be from a different house, and they shall remain your partner for the entirety of the year. You will be working with them during all practical work, but apart from that, you may stay with your friends. Your partners will be decided after a little game of duel. Each of you will face me for five minutes, and I shall pair you up down to your ability and skill. Let's get started shall we? If you would all please move to the sides." There was a scrambling as the students did as they were told. With a wave of her hand, Professor Elliott vanished the chairs and merged the tables to create one big duelling stage. Astonished gasps went around the onlookers. "Yes, yes, I am one of the few people who can do wandless magic. Very handy, I can tell you. Tell you what, if we finish all three topics with at least a month left before the exams, I will teach you wandless magic, how's that sound? I thought so. Right, so," another wave of her hand, "in this cup are all your names. Bit like the Goblet of Fire, one name will come out and you will verse me in a duel. We go for five minutes unless one of us is disarmed. I will have a timer," and again, "so we know how long to go for and how long we have left. Any spell is aloud, even Dark Arts spells. Anything except the Unforgivables. To make it fair, I'll use my wand. Ready? First name is…Draco Black!" Draco stepped forward. "Excellent. Another rule. All spells must be non-verbal. I presume you know how to duel Draco?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. I also happen to know that Gilderoy Lockhart taught you all how to duel in your second year. That's one thing he got right. Let's hope you've improved since then. Ok, so, first we bow. Good. Then take five paces away from each other. One, two, three, four, five. Oh dear Draco, you look like a rabbit in headlights! Don't be scared, I won't hurt you."
Draco dropped into position, slipping on his Malfoy mask (one of the only good things his father taught him). "I'm not scared. I just don't want to harm a teacher."
"You won't hurt me Draco, I can assure you. I've faced worse than an eighteen year old. On three. One, two, three."
The duel commenced. Hex after jinx after curse was thrown, but Draco held his own. Even when faced with Serpensortia. After five minutes, Draco and the Professor where still standing. "Excellent Draco, excellent. Some good casts there. Ten points to Slytherin. Next." It continued this way, each student facing the Professor, each student gaining ten points for their house for facing her, for nearly an hour and a half, until only one student remained. Harry stepped onto the stage.
"Harry Potter. As I understand, except for last year and your fifth year, you were the top of this class. Even when Professor Snape taught you, although he loathed to admit it. If you managed to defeat Voldemort you must be good. Oh for goodness sake, the bastard's dead! Get used to the name." She addressed the reprimanded to the students who had shivered at the name. "Anyway, as I was saying you must be good to have defeated him, but let's put that reputation to the test shall we? One, two, three." At first, nothing happened, but then Harry fired his first jinx; Stupefy. It seems that again, Harry and the Professor would be evenly matched, but then something started to happen. Every time the Professor tried to cast something, the spell would only reach to an inch in front of the tip of her wand. The only spell she could cast was Protego, and Harry used this to his advantage, sending a barrage of spells one after the other towards the ex-auror. But just when it looked like the Gryffindor was going to win, the Tempus alarm sounded, ending the duel. The Professor straightened herself out, but before she could speak, Harry beat her to it.
"Did you like the spell I used on your wand Professor?"
"It was you who did that?"
"Yep," Harry said proudly, "I did. It's a spell I invented called Reverso. It effectively puts a barrier around your opponent's wand, rendering any spell they try useless. Except Protego, I'm not that cruel so as to make someone defenceless. It's the first spell I cast, even before that Stupefy. It's soundless, colourless, and slow-working, so your opponent doesn't realise you're doing anything. They just think something is wrong with their wand." Harry finished with a smirk.
"What was it called again?"
"Reverso ma'am."
"Reverso. Ingenious. And you cast that first? My word, you really are an excellent dueller. Ten points to Gryffindor for facing me, and a further fifty for inventing such a remarkable spell. Alright everyone, please move away from the stage." With a wave of her hand, the stage vanished and the tables and chairs reappeared. "Well done everyone, you did excellent today." Professor Elliott praised, once everyone was back in their seats. "I'm proud of you all. We clearly have some advanced duellers here, much above what you should be for your age. On Wednesday, I'll pair you up, and we'll start the theory on Patronused. That was the bell, you may go. Mr. Potter. Mr. Black. If you would please remain behind for a moment?" The class filed out, and when only Harry and Draco remained, Professor Elliott sat behind her desk and beckoned them forward. "I'm proud of you boys today. You clearly are the best duellers in the class."
"Thank you Professor." They said in unison.
"Besides being a good auror, I'm also good at reading people. For example, the only two in the class who are any near the standard you are at is Miss. Granger and Mr. Zabini. However, I get the impression that they prefer books, am I right? I thought so. You two, unlike Miss. Granger and Mr. Zabini who are more theoretical, prefer to be practical and actually do something rather than just read about it. That is why I am pairing the both of you together. Before you start to argue, at least let me finish. You're both very skilled, but there is something in you both that is making you hold back and not work to your best potential. If you did, you would be the best duellers this world has ever seen. I think, that by pairing you up, you can both overcome those burdens. You are more alike than you think. Why do you think Professor McGonagall has put you in the same dorm? Why do you think I'm pairing you up together? I know over the summer you came to a truce, and you are now civil to each other. But I believe that, if you work at it, you two could be friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter, friends. Best friends even. Now, any questions before I let you go?"
"Can't you pair us up with someone else? I am not having him anywhere near my head when we do Occlumency." Draco pointed an accusing finger at Harry as he spoke.
"No, Mr. Black, I cannot. And even if I could, I wouldn't. Besides, you can already do Occlumency, so I think Mr. Potter is more worried to have you inside his head. Any other questions?" They shook their heads. "Alright. Now off to lunch, I'll see you on Wednesday. Oh and Mr. Potter?" The boy turned back, "Good spell. Have a good afternoon."
Harry smiled. "Good afternoon Professor Elliott." With that, Harry shut the door, leaving Professor Elliott alone.
A/N2: Well there you are, another chapter done. I actually need your help. I need you to decide what form these characters' patronuses are going to take, and what form they will take as an animagus (their animagus form and patronus form will be the same). Ideas don't have to have reasons, but it would be nice if they did, and the best one for each character will be chosen. Think wisely though! They are:
Seamus, Dean, Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Lavender, Astoria, Gregory, Susan, Hannah, Justin, Anthony.
No Leprechauns for Seamus (too cheesy), no ferrets or dragons for Draco (too mean and too cliché), and no Gargoyles for Gregory (I said animal, not statue!). Thanks guys!
See that review button? It says hello. It says click me! Don't offend the button. Click it! :D
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