Hi guys, here is another chapter for you all. Please read and Review...
Big Thank You to ebonbon and Jannice Sace for their reviews.
Previously...
"That's terrible. Why aren't they arrested?" Lily asked, joining the conversation.
"Because they are hard to find and well their usually quite wealthy – money gives diplomatic immunity – it's corrupt but it's true." James answered. "They're not all immoral. According to my dad Bartlet is one of the better ones. He's even worked with the ministry on occasion."
"That's how I know his name. Dad said ages ago that a Bartlet was helping them with a case. Some international dark wizard had come into the country and was wrecking havoc." Frank concluded.
Several minutes passed before Peter opened his mouth, "I'm starving. Let's go get some lunch."
Chapter 16:
The second year Gryffindors sat in classroom 3c on the third floor corridor with their Ravenclaw counterparts. They were all talking excitably about their new professor who had yet to make an appearance. The classroom was full of expectation. The door at the front of the classroom opened and in walked Professor Bartlet. "Settle down, settle down."
The classroom quickly went quiet as the new teacher stood before them. He was slightly older than most of them had expected and was clearly close to retirement. He had several scars on his face; some of which looked fresh. His eyes had a dangerous glint that made several girls shiver in fear. "I am Professor Bartlet. I have spent the last decade travelling the world in search of dark wizards. I work privately but have on occasion – when I see fit – helped the ministry. I was planning on retiring this year but your headmaster asked me to teach you for a year – that is until he finds a replacement. I believe your last teacher was adequate. Can any of you tell me what you learnt last year?"
Everyone suddenly went incredibly shy but Lily's hand made it into the air. "Yes Miss?"
"Miss Evans, sir. We learnt about the knockback jinx, the wand-lighting charm, the curse of the bogies."
"Very good. Anything else?"
James stuck up his hand, "ah Mr Potter. You don't half look like your father, do you?"
"Yes sir. I suppose I do," James answered running a hand through his already messy hair, "we also learnt how to disarm and block."
"Very good. Essential spells for anyone wishing to live more than two seconds in a battle," the professor smiled. "Well this year is going to be a bit different. I will teach you about dark creatures from now until Christmas, spells from Christmas until Easter, and cursed items after the Easter break. You will have weekly homework and you will have a few weeks to revise before your exams. I must warn you that the previous teachers who taught this subject felt that it wasn't necessary for second years to do a theoretical exam as well as the practical one. I however, feel that considering the subject matter it is essential. Therefore you will have two exams."
There were several groans around the room. "You complain now but one day you will be incredibly grateful. Some of what I will teach you will not be so much – to use a muggle term – hoccus poccus but rather it will be how to feel dark magic. You see, I am going to teach you how to become aware of magical signatures, how to feel it, how to recognise whether it is dark magic, all without the use of a wand. This is a skill that many of you will fail to achieve but it is invaluable if you want to go into the dark wizard catching business – whether as an auror for the ministry or privately."
The class sat in awe, listening to him talk about magic as if it were alive, as if he could smell it, taste it, touch it. James thought about it; his father had once said something similar. James resolved that he would be able to recognise magical signatures without a wand by the end of the year.
"Today, we will begin our work on dark creatures. There are many dark creatures but I thought I would start with something exciting. It is called a Lethifold. Has anyone ever heard of it?" He looked around the room expectantly.
Lily's hand quickly shot up, "yes Miss Evans?"
"The Lethifold – also known as a living shroud – is a carnivorous and highly dangerous magical creature. It looks just like a black cloak and is about half an inch thick. It becomes thicker when it has recently digested a victim. It usually attacks it's victims at night; suffocating them before it digests them. The only known protection against a Lethifold is the patronus charm."
"A very comprehensive answer Miss Evans; twenty points. The Lethifold is very rare and has only ever been found in the tropics. For homework, you will write an essay on Lethifold attacks; how it attacks, why so very few people ever survive, how to protect oneself against the Lethifold and give me an example of someone who has survived a Lethifold attack. For the rest of the lesson, you will make notes from your textbook to assist yourselves with your essays."
The rest of the class was spent in silence. The only sound was the sound of quills on parchment and textbook pages turning. The hour passed slowly but eventually Professor Bartlet asked them to put down their pens. "Before you go I must warn you that after Christmas you will be sitting your W.O.M.B.A.T test. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about it is the Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test. There is a whole series of these tests that you must pass before being allowed to become a fully fledged member of magical society when you become of age. You will have your first this year, your second in fourth year, and your final exam will be in your sixth year. Unlike your end of year exams, this exam is marked by the ministry. You will have a couple of extra lessons with your head of house to help you pass this exam. It is nothing to fear – just the ministry being ridiculously controlling as ever – even a muggle could take this test, although it is questionable if they would pass." Professor Bartlet smiled. "Any way you are dismissed. I want your homework in tomorrow. See you then."
The students made their way out of the classroom and began to make their way back to the common room. Sirius grinned, "Are you guys up for a party tonight?"
"Yeah sure," James smiled, excitably. "I'll ask the house-elves for snacks and butter beer."
"Cool," Peter piped up, "I'll come with you."
"You missed the kitchens, Pete?" Sirius laughed.
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Next couple chapters...
A Gryffindor Party...
Lethifold Essays...
Tuesdays lessons...