The Slytherins entered their second morning class with a mix of worry and anticipation. They would be some of the first students to take Professor Salvatore's class, meaning there was nothing to prepare them for what to expect. That, coupled with last year's chaotic ending, had them on edge. Just about the only thing the Slytherins could agree on was that Bennett and Soros ought to sit at separate desks. Bennett settled herself next to Ignatov at the back of the classroom, knowing that Pierce -with her impaired vision- and Flinton -with her deep interest in defence- would both want to sit at the front of the class. Soros chose to sit with Orpington, certainly an upgrade in both breeding and study concentration, in the second row of desks. Once they were all settled in, the professor -who was already standing at his desk- regarded them with a welcoming smile.
"Good morning, students." He greeted them with a nod. "As you all know, my name is Marcello Salvatore. Over the next week I will do my best to learn each of your names, hopefully I will not need much longer than that." The statement was punctuated with a playful air. It was enough to have a couple students chuckle and diffuse some of the tension in the classroom.
"Over the course of this year, it is my hope to impart with you as much knowledge as possible on how to defend yourselves against dark enchantments and magical beasts." As he said this, the professor began to walk around his desk, stopping only as he stood front and center in full view of the students. "Our first lesson, however, will not be on any spell or magical object. No. Our first lesson is on the most important subjects of survival: knowledge and preparation. Knowing your enemy and strategizing not only what can be done to save yourself, but also knowing how it could go wrong and planning around that.
"I am sure you have all been wondering about this, hmm?" Professor Salvatore asked rhetorically, raising his metallic arm for the class to see. It's fingers flexed in demonstration. The arm itself appeared to glow a soft, deep purple against the grey, something Melissa could only just make out from a distance. "What you see here is not an example of a powerful creature, though the manticore that tore my arm was indeed powerful, no, what you see is the consequence of not preparing for the enemy. In my years at the CEC I have faced four manticores. The first three I prepared efficiently with my team. We scouted the territory and prepared our enchantments to face the beast. When the fourth time came, my confidence blinded me. I did not do the checks necessary to ensure my team was ready to face such a beast. Because of my hubris, mistakes were made, two wizards died, and I was left without an arm."
The entire class was silent, enraptured with the tale. The professor, himself, was grim; though he remained firm as much as his eyes hinted at the shame of the confession. "It has been with good fortune that I learned from that lesson. Over the following years the only problems my team ever faced were due to unforeseeable circumstances. That said, it cannot be forgotten the importance of preparation, of understanding your battles as much as you can before entering them." The professor paused, the slightest smile on his face. "Which is why the first thing you will be doing as a class is a pop quiz."
There was a moment of quiet chaos. Some students were stunned silent, or simply needed time to work out the sudden change of atmosphere. Others groaned indignation or whispered their grievances. The professor seemed amused by their reactions, but allowed the chaos to slide away as his wand waved a stack of pages to each of the students.
"Do not worry. This quiz will not be graded. In fact, I encourage you to fill in the 'I don't know' option each time you see a subject you are not familiar with. The purpose of this quiz is more for my benefit. I have been informed that Hogwarts has had a different professor for this class each year with… varying levels of teaching methods." The statement was made with a grimace. Melissa suspected he had a different choice of words for their teaching record. "Once I have the knowledge of what each year knows of this subject, I will have the ability to properly prepare how to best teach it to you all. This way I can avoid giving a lesson that has already been given, and I can fill in the gaps of fundamentals that may have been missed.
"Now, if you turn your pages over, you may begin."
"That was probably the longest and shortest test we've ever taken." Garrick stated as they walked down towards the great hall for lunch.
"It was an interesting method." Jacqueline agreed. "I suppose we were only able to complete it so quickly because we have had only one year of study."
"True. The N.E.W.T. students will likely require another day to complete the test."
"I feel sorry for them." Melissa flinched at the idea.
"I don't. Professor Salvatore is a genius!" Amy cheered. The surrounding Slytherins eyed her with a knowing smile.
"Of course you'd say that." Melissa teased.
"Well it's true! I can't imagine the Pheasant ever coming up with that idea!" A couple of the students, including some Ravenclaws within earshot, snorted at the thought.
"He is very interesting." One of the Ravenclaw girls, Rachel Onyilogwu, added thoughtfully. "His arm especially. There are etches of the Moroccan runic system connecting each of the joints."
"Is that what those were?" Amy asked excitedly. "They didn't look like any runes I've seen before."
"Oh, yes. I have seen them before in my father's study. They are known to work best with earth and fire element objects. A good choice for such advanced magic."
Melissa looked between the two girls with confusion. "Wait, I thought runes were just an ancient language?"
Rachel hummed as she shook her head. "Yes and no. The word Rune describes the ancient languages of wizards, but they do have power in their own right when arranged properly and infused with magic."
"Huh, cool stuff."
"I don't suppose you have any of your dad's books on the subject?" Amy asked hopefully.
Rachel shook her head. "No, but we can see if there are any at the library."
"That would be wonderful!"
As Melissa considered the proposition, an odd thought occurred to her. "Hypothetically, if you knew how to work those runes, you would be able to control limbs like the professor does, right?"
Amy turned on the spot and fixed Melissa with a stare. "Bennett, if you try anything on this professor, I will end you!"
Melissa waved her arms frantically. "I won't do anything! I wasn't even thinking of that, geez!"
Amy did not relent her scowl. "I'm serious. Don't ruin this for me."
"Okay! Okay! I won't, I promise." She turned away with a shudder. "I was just asking a question. Better yet, forget it, you two have fun, I'm going for lunch."
Friday September 7th, 1990
Dear Houdini,
Hope school is treating you well. How are things back home? Have you read any of the Hogwarts textbooks yet?
School has been fun so far. We've had a couple lessons with our new defence professor. He's an interesting fellow. Nice enough, but also serious when he needs to be. I feel like I can rank him somewhere between Flitwick and McGonagall, but I'll have to see how more lessons go before I'm sure. Everyone keeps pestering me about last year's defence professor, but I like this guy so hopefully I won't say anything to chase him out. I think Amy would kill me if I did!
Speaking of Amy, she and Rachel (the girl from Ravenclaw that helped out on Valentine's day) have been getting people into studying runes. It's an old language thing that's used in magic. I've skimmed through one of their books and it's pretty cool stuff. If I can figure it out I'll show it to you over Christmas.
Not sure what else to write. Pucey and Warrington are trying out for Quidditch next week. I really hope Warrington doesn't get on the team. It would be weird to cheer on the same Nazi brute that thinks Junior was a good thing for wizards.
Write back soon,
Melody
"Riddle me this, riddle me that,
"Who is the man behind the hat?
"Silver it gleams, a unicorn feast.
"A man once great turned to a beast."
"I think I should reiterate the same thing I said on the train," Barbary interrupted her guitar strumming, "your songwriting abilities are atrocious."
"Hey, it won't get any better unless I practice." Melissa argued back. She flicked her wand, launching a set of sparks in his direction. "And all that hater talk isn't helping!"
Barbary brushed away the sparks before they could singe his robes, while others in the music room chuckled at the exchange.
"Whereas being silent will give me nothing but terrible rhymes haunting me in my sleep."
"That's your problem, not mine."
He looked down on the younger student, confused by her brass. "You do know I could spell your mouth shut, Bennett."
"Try as you might, you will fail! For my kingdom is great, and you have no power over me!"
"...what?"
She looked at him with a saccharin smile. "Sorry, it's goblin magic, you wouldn't understand."
Barbary shook his head, exasperated. "Bennett, I am quite positive that you are completely and utterly mad." Melissa giggled at the boy's expense, prompting an annoyed frown from the boy.
Off on the other side of the room, one of the older boys, Donaghan Tremlett, strummed loudly on his bass guitar His leg had been propped up on a chair as he played away. Though, hearing the exchange, he shook away his long mane of black hair and regarded the two Slytherins with a grin. "You know, Bennett, you remind me of the babe."
Barbary looked back at the boy curiously. "What babe?"
"The babe with the power!" Tremlett vaguely exclaimed.
"Sorry, what power?"
"The power of voodoo." He explained.
"I'm lost-"
"Who do?" Melissa interrupted.
"You do!" Tremlett kicked back the chair his leg rested on and stepped down in almost a predatory crouch.
Melissa met his stance with a wicked grin. "Do what?"
"Remind me of the babe!"
The others in the room were completely lost as the older boy pounced into the middle of the room and started singing. It was some song about magic spells to soothe a crying baby. None of them knew it, aside from Tremlett and Bennett jiving in an impromptu jam session. They didn't seem to have the right chords for the song, but it didn't stop them in the slightest.
It got more entertaining as the two of them started enticing the other students to dance. It even was part of the song. "Dance! Dance, magic, dance!" they sang to the confused audience. A couple laughed and decided to join in. Some others, like Barbary, decided against it, but made an effort to play some notes on their own instruments and weave their way into the song. Others just looked on with befuddled faces.
By the time it was over, the room was full of laughter and swaying bodies. Melissa playfully slapped Tremlett's arm with a grin. "You are officially my favourite person! I didn't know you were a muggleborn!"
The older boy raised his arms uncaringly. "Never been much of a big deal to me."
"Well, it's cool to me. Especially being a Jim Henson fan, to boot!"
Tremlett laughed at her excitement. "More of a Bowie fan, really. Though it was a fun movie to watch."
"Fair enough. My dad's met him a couple of times, actually."
His eyes popped at the mention. "Merlin! Don't suppose he's got a number, does he?"
She giggled at the idea. "I doubt it, but I could ask. Imagine if he did!"
"Who are you two talking about?" Wintringham asked. The others hadn't even noticed him joining in on their conversation.
"David Bowie." Melissa answered.
"Who's David Bowie?" He asked.
The two muggleborns looked at each other, then back at Wintringham and the other curious faces in the club. Tremlett clasped the other boy's shoulder with a wicked smile. "Wintringham, you're in for a long, glorious night!"