Defence Against the Dark Arts ((4th-5th Years))

[Professor Julius Foxcroft]

Today's lesson would bring Julius a lot closer to his students - or at least he would learn something about them he didn’t know before. It was his first class but these were students he wasn't meeting for the first time so he didn’t feel that he shouldn’t be doing this in their first class of Defence, especially since this wasn't really about defending yourself again others, it was more about confronting your own demons and fears, which was never an easy step for anyone. But Julius wanted his students to learn to do that, he wanted to prepare them for the unexpected and that which was expected but feared, for the time when they had to confront both was no longer distant.

He gave the cupboard at the back of the room a grim smile as he awaited the arrival of his students. He doubted any of them expected he was teaching the class, and knew they would all be wondering who had taken it this year. One thing he was happy about was the number of students he would meet this year, for rather than the small amount of students who chose Muggle Studies as an elective he would be meeting all of the students at Hogwarts from the first to fifth year as the subject was compulsory. Julius waved his wand several times at the chairs and desks in the classroom so they were arranged in straight lines right next to the classroom walls, leaving the middle of the room empty. They would need the space today after he'd explained and discussed their task for the day with his students.

[cleo]

„Grow up you two!“ Dana smirked as she withdrew her wand and muttered two quick incantations while drawing a knot with the tip of her wand and watching with pleasure how Kris and Cleo were drawn towards each other immidiately as Cleo’s left hand and Kris’s right – as he could use his left hand as well – were bound together by a pair of very solid and very real handcuffs.
„Really, Dana? Handcuffs? I would have expected better from you,“ Kris drawled out slowly while Cleo scowled darkly at Dana.
„HANDCUFFS? You really expect me to spend time with him this much? What’s next? You are locking us into a broom-cupboard?“ Cleo asked indignantly as she tried ’Finite Incantatum’ on the handcuffs, which only resorted to the handcuffs tightening around the wrist and pulling Kris and Cleo even more closer to each other.
„What ever works! Now don’t be late for DADA. I do NOT want you loosing any points for Ravenclaw,“ Dana threw over her shoulder as she moved up the staircase towards Charms herself leaving the scowling couple to their own devices.

„Get rid of these handcuffs!“ Cleo demanded from Kris as she shook their connected hands while Kris just shrugged and drawled out too calmly to smooth Cleo’s nerves: „As you saw, a simple Finite won’t get rid of them. Give me some time to think about this. Besides you get to enjoy my pleasant company while this time.“
Kris was rather prepared for a one more jinx hitting him so he merely arched an eye-brow letting his hand feel the soft cloth of the tunic he was now wearing.
„True, I was feeling rather angelic today. But really... no slit in the tunic? I’m appalled. How will you ever see my glorious leg-line this way?“ Kris opened the door rather calmly pulling Cleo into the room after himself with the help from the handcuffs. Catching the tip of one of the big wings sprouting from his back Kris pulled the wing open before trying to move it, „Couldn’t you have made me able to fly with these? It might have been a perfect opportunity for me to float around and be proclaimed a saint.“
„Of course, you are the perfect little angel. Fallen angel rather,“ Cleo snorted in answer scowling darkly at Kris’s back as he dragged her rather unceremoniously to a first bench under the window before nudging Cleo to sit btowards the wall, while Kris himself seated himself calmly, creating a living shield between Cleo and the rest of the classroom while offering a one-sided smirk: „A fallen angel – perhaps. But an angel none the less. You yourself gave me the wings. Am I going to get a cute little harp too?“

Kris hung his walking-cane rather calmly on the edge of the table they had chosen while Morrigan ran down his arm, curling up on the table in fornt of Kris who stroked the small kitten's back with one hand.
Cleo kicked Kris’s angkle rather sharply under the table while turning her eyes towards the professor for a moment giving him a brief nod. Perhpas she even would have been surprised to see Foxcroft here, if she hadn’t been so angry at Kris. Angry and just a bit amused at the same time. „Professor,“ Cleo greeted a bit snappishly before turning her full-timet scowl back at Kris – who unfortunately didn’t seem botehred by the least – as the two continued to bicker, even if it was in a lot quieter tone of voice than before they entered the classroom.

((Blame the late hour. Or early hour actually for this post as it's 00. something. And bad influence form Noko and Izy. Sorry, if I cause any trouble professor, but feel free to kick Kris out at any moment.
And I’m only god-moding my own characters. So obviously all god-moding is being done by permission. Just figured it's easier to get it all done in one post.))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass gathered her books from her bookshelf and left the dormitory at a trot. She was running a bit late, but she knew that she would make it if she hurried. She loved Defense Against the Dark Arts. It rivaled closely with Transfiguration, and she was eager to begin today's lesson. She did feel that she was a bit behind in curses, but knew that she excelled in protection spells. Without stopping, she smiled and waved at a couple of Hufflepuffs that she knew.

Cass entered the classroom and was surprised to see Professor Foxcroft there. Smiling and waving, she said, " Hi, Professor." She looked around to see that a large space had been cleared in the middle of the room, and that all the desks had been pushed to the side. Pulling a chair out, she sat down and smiled at the older girl who had arrived before her.

[ryan]

Ryan finsihed pushing a muffin into his mouth as he checked his scheduale for today. DADA was coming next and that wasn’t really bad at all. Throwing things he might need in DADA and the following classes after that into his bag again Ryan grabbed the bag and trotted out of the dormitory. Only to return a moment later to grab a quill and a half-ful ink-well from his bed-side desk. He would need those. Pushing the said things also in his bag Ryan looked around to make sure he hadn’t left anything else before he trotted out of the common room and weaved his way through all the people heading towards their classes. Finally reaching the DADA classroom Ryan stumbled which ended up his pushing the classroom door open with a rather dramatic gesture and the door crashing into the wall.

„Sorry, professor... professor Foxcroft!“ Ryan said witha sheepish smile that turned into amazement as he saw the man in front of the classroom. He knew Foxcroft wasn’t teaching Muggle Studies anymore but he hadn’t really expected him to take over DADA. It was a surprise. A pleasant surprise, making Ryn smile showing the dimple in his right cheek, but a surprise none the less. The next double-take Ryan had to make was at the 5th year Ravenclaw and the 6th year blind Slytherin who was... wearing a tunic and wings? „Er....“ Ryan shook his head and blinked before casting a bit hesitant glance at Foxcroft before deciding to not say anything. Shaking his head wonderingly Ryan trecked across the classroom from the odd couple and chose a seat for himself for once being pleasantly early for class. Usually Ryan seemed to be one of the last peroson’s to reach the correct classroom.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy was going to be early for class today. She'd risen at a reasonable time (not too early and not too late) and actually breakfasted with a friend for once rather than sitting on her own or not eating until someone she knew came along. And now she was on her way to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Since the Professor they'd had last year had left (Ivy had never had a DADA Professor for two years running, and now she began to see why people said the job was cursed) they must be getting a new one this year. The corridors were awfully busy today though and Ivy soon found herself trying to dodge through people. It was as though she were invisible. Sometimes she wondered if she was spacially challenged or something, but if she was going in a straight line, couldn't the other people stop going all over the place until they bumped into her? She couldn't track where they were going to end up on their zig-zagging courses - she wasn't some sort of mathematical genius. If there was any logic to their paths. And then there were those four-people-wide lines of second years who went around talking loudly and laughing in what sounded like high-pitched shrieks to Ivy. If you held a door open for them they wouldn't give you a thank-you or a smile, they'd just carry on and drop the next door they came across on you. If you were going in the opposite direction to them, they wouldn't split up to let you through; no, somehow their line would widen impossibly to leave not the tiniest crack between the two walls of the corridor for you to squeeze through (not to mention your oversized bag) and they would advance forward. What were you supposed to do? Turn on tail and flee? Barge straight through them and get the only reaction it was possible to get when you were invisible - dirty looks? Ivy often wondered whether anyone else had as many problems as she had.

Blood pressure and stress levels must have been severely elevated as she finally reached the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. There was a boy there who was taking rather longer than the usual person would to enter the classroom, and Ivy almost misjudged when she should take a step into the classroom as he seemed to start forward and stop at least twice. A highly irregular way of doing things. She simply couldn't cope. The next thing you knew she'd be sitting on the floor, her knees drawn up to her head and gently rocking. The most she could do now was to rub her eyes in the hope that the world would be a little less confusing when she emerged.

Since the boy (wasn't he the one Ash had gone with to the Halloween Ball?) had now managed to take a seat, Ivy entered the classroom cautiously. Since the rest of the school seemed determined to spring traps on her this morning there was no telling what the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom would do. The blind Slytherin boy was there, though not really looking particularly... normal. To any degree. While he shouldn't really even be here anyway (it being an OWLs class and he looking too old for that), Ivy decided to give him a wide berth so that he hopefully wouldn't realise she was here and went over to the opposite side of the classroom, taking a seat a few ones along from the Ravenclaw boy who Ashley had gone to the Ball with. Ivy wouldn't mind getting to know him but he did seem more than a little clumsy and, not being able to cope with anything more today, a margin of error could be nothing but a good thing.

[crane]

Gary frevently scribbled down the last paragraph for his Charms essay while trying to mulitask and eat at the same time. Not that it was working very well. Finally Gary was forced to stop eating until he could finish the essay. Heaving a deep sigh as he finally finished the essay Gary stashed it carefully away in his big and a bit tattered bag and turned his full attention to the food. Eating his full of the glorious as always stack of food Gary stood right at the correct time and calmly start to make his way at the DADA classroom. It would be interesting to see who would be teaching the class this year. No teacher did seem to want to stick around for more than one year. That made it all the more interesting as to who would be giving the class today and this year on the whole.

Opening the door to the room Gary looked curiously at the clared space in the middle of the classroom. Were they going to have a practical lesson today? Only after this conclusion did Gary look at the professor. Hadn’t he also given Muggle Studies the previous year? Gary thought that he might have seen the man before at Hogwarts but he had never taken Muggle Studies himself. He was a muggleborn after all. Doubtful he would have learned much in the class. “Good day professor,“ Gary greeted politely while looking around the classroom sparing a curious glance at the older boy who seemed to be supporting angel wings. Seeing the Slytherin badge Gary decided not to ask anything however as he made his way at a free bench on the same side of the classroom where a 5th year Ravenclaw who was on eht house team and a faintly familiar Hufflepuff 4th year girl were sitting.
“Hello all.“ Gary smiled at both as he took a seat netween the two so there was still one free seat separating him from both other students and pulled out his things needed for the class.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona woke bright and early that morning. She moaned with disgust. She hated waking up so early without something to wake her up. She decided to turn over and go back to sleep, but her cat had decided to start bouncing on her because she awake. Fiona sighed, "Get off," but smiled and began to pet her cat. The only thing she truly cared for had been a gift from her late parents. She loved her cat so much, but right now she needed to go up and go to her most dreadful class. She picked her cat up and sat her beside her as Fiona quickly got up. She pulled back her bed curtains and looked out. Some of her dorm mates were still sleeping, that was a change. Fiona had a knack for being the last one out of bed. This morning she was one of the first. She made her way to her dresser in the darkness of the dorm room. She tripped over one of her shoes and fell face first. "Ow," Fiona said softly as she put a hand to her face. She had definitely hit something with her face and it had hurt. She got back up and tried again only to finally give up. She retreated to her bed and grabbed her wand. "Lumos," Fiona said. A blast of light came from the wand. Fiona held it up and found her dresser. She continued to use her wand as she pulled out her school robes. She quickly dressed and headed to the door, grabbing her bag along the way. Her cat followed after her. "Stay here," Fiona said. She quickly opened the door and shut it locking her cat inside. Fiona smiled at the light from the common room. Looking down at her wand, "Nox." The light ceased immediately.

Fiona passed through the common room. She glared at some of the younger students who were making a ruckus in the room. She quickly turned her attention away from them as she left the common room and headed into the dungeon. The fiery torches let her path as she continued down the dark cool dungeon tunnels. She smiled brightly. She loved the dungeons of this castle and she secretly wondered if anyone had ever been tortured down here. Her smiled faded quickly as she came to the end of the tunnel and walked up to the main floor of Hogwarts. The sun burned her eyes and she brought her hand up to shield her eyes. She walked toward the Great Hall. She had enough time to eat before she went to class, that was a first.

Fiona sat down at the Slytherin table and ignored the others around her. She wasn't in the mood for conversation this early in the morning. She grabbed a muffin and ate it slowly. She had plenty of time to waste before class and she didn't feel like eating fast. She poured herself a class of milk and drank it slowly. Milk in the morning had always been her favorite. As she ate her breakfast the owls arrived with the morning letters. A small brown Tawney brought her a letter. She smiled at the bird and took the letter. Opening it quickly she read:

"Fiona,
Your uncle and I have decided to move into your parents house in Ireland. It will make you feel closer to home. Don't worry about coming back for Christmas Break. It's not that important anyway. Just stay up at school. Your uncle and I are rearranging the house to fit our liking.

Sincerely,
Aunt Georgie"

Fiona smiled in disbelief. She didn't have much time to think about the letter as she looked up and realized she needed to get to class. She shoved the letter into her bag and started toward her Defense Against the Dark Arts class. She quickly made her way through the hallways full of people. She pushed most aside as she continued walking. Why couldn't they just walk faster? As she reached the door to the classroom she walked in and stopped. She looked up at the professor and glared. Since when did Professor Foxcroft not teach Muggle Studies? A smile came to her face when she realized the cursed job. He would be gone in a year. She wouldn't have to worry about him at all. Someone who loved muggles enough to teach that class surely didn't have the right to teach such a class. She shrugged to herself as she continued into the classroom glancing at the other students. She held back a laugh when she saw Kris. He seemed to be enjoying himself that morning, though she wasn't sure exactly why he was in the class, other than the fact that he was handcuffed to someone that was. Fiona turned with boredom to the rest of the class. No worthy students had arrived just yet. She took a seat toward the back placing her bag on the table behind her. The entire space was cleared, she couldn't help but wonder with interest what they were going to do in class that day.

[aubree]

Defense Against the Dark Art. Aubree despised the subject for good reason. It served no purpose. It's not like Aubree would need the magic to save herself from her self. The whole subject was a joke and Aubree wished it would be replaced. But, it wouldn't as long as Dumbledore was Headmaster and Fudge was the clueless minister of magic. Aubree could use the time it occupied for more valuable subjects. However, Defense Against the Dark Arts, was necessary if she was going to join the ministry in a few years. Aubree didn't really want to join, but she knew it was a one way ticket to the job she really wanted. But, all of that was years away. She would not have to worry about it for a while. So, Aubree just decided to let it go.

Aubree was brushing her hair in her dorm. When it looked satisfactory, she quickly got into her clean Slytherin robes. Aubree leaned against her mirror and applied her make-up. It was light beiges and silvers as usual. Nothing too dark or that would over power her. She always went for the soft tones that made her glow when she turned. After finishing, she did a quick check of her appearance. Aubree then received her green silk messenger bag from her dresser and headed down from her dorm. While passing the common room, she stared at the first years lurking about. Didn't they have a class to attend? After all, Hufflepuff was in the lead for House Points! Slytherins couldn't let Hufflepuff win the cup that would be horrible. Aubree sneered at them hoping they would get the message and headed off to class.

Walking down the hall, Aubree didn't see many other first years. They all seemed to be in class. Great, she thought. Did the first year Slytherins not realize what they were putting on the line? It was like they were handing the House Cup right off to Hufflepuff. Aubree wouldn't allow that. She had every intention of winning load of House Points in class that day. She was rather gifted in the useless subject. So, she wasn't worried at all. Aubree sneered at some second years and then made her way into the classroom. She was disappointed to see all the Ravenclaws. They were in second place for the House Cup and as they were better than Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, Aubree still planned to beat them. She looked around for a chair. Spotting Fiona, Aubree walked over to her and took a seat hoping she didn't mind. "Hello Fiona." She said. Aubree then looked at the professor waiting for class to begin.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack woke up bright and early the next morning. He had been tired from yesterdays homework, but today he felt more refreshed and energized. Gathering up himself, he jumped out of bed and changed into his clothes and Slytherin robes. He smirked at himself in the mirror, running a comb through his hair before walking down to the dorm. He was bored and since it was so early, he planned to spend some time sitting in the common room. Maybe if he felt like it, he would read a book about today's lessons, or maybe he wouldn't. As he entered the common room, it was empty except for one lone figure sitting in an armchair farthest away from the fire. The fire was were all the warmth was, so Jack couldn't exactly understand why this person was sitting away from it.

"Padme?" He asked as he approached his younger sister. He hid his surprise quickly. "That's my name. Don't wear it out," she replied with a quick smirk. Jack focused hard on not rolling his eyes. Padme was always the snapper attacker. Like a snapping turtle almost. Although Padme wasn't slow, she had a real bite. Her talk was just as good as her bite, and that was something. "What are you doing down here?" Jack settled down in the armchair closest to her. "I would ask you the same thing." Padme replied. "Oh, I see how it is. Not going to answer anything, are you?" Jack said and Padme remained silent. He shook his head. Something was wrong with her lately. He sighed and picked up his bag, realizing he had spent enough time in the Common room already.

"You better get a move on," Jack told her behind his shoulder. "Or you'll be late for class." "Sure," she said but didn't move. Jack shrugged. He wasn't about to baby-sit her in any way, so he would let her be late. The halls this morning were extremely busy and Jack had to squeeze his way through the crowd quickly to make it to his class. DADA was his first one. He entered the classroom and looked around. The only people worth mentioning was Aubree and Fiona. Cass was inside as well, but Jack felt no desire to sit with her. He looked around the room with an arched eyebrow; all the chairs were pushed against the walls, leaving the middle bare. Jack walked over the the desks and sat in the one behind Aubree.

((Padme is my charrie, so naturally the god-moding is alright. ))

[giselle]

Giselle took a bit of her French toast daintily while looking across the Great Hall. She was really looking for Catherine to tell her she wanted to sit by her in class. Giselle and Cathy almost had all classes together, which was nice in a way. Giselle didn't have to worry about sitting with someone she didn't like to sit by her. Cathy liked to sit by Giselle because Giselle forced her to. They were all a happy family. Giselle put down her fork, leaving a half-eaten French toast on the plate. She stood from her place at the table and went toward Gryffindor table.

She walked to the back of the room and sat down quickly, but not rashly. Her robes were thicker then before. The castle was getting colder and she needed warmth. Under it she had on a pair of dark jeans and a purple sweater. Giselle ran a hand through her hair an
"Psst," Giselle hissed at Cathy, although there really was no need. Cathy turned. "I'll save you a seat in class," said Giselle and she turned around sharply to leave. Cathy didn't say anything but Giselle knew she would have no object. After seven years of being together, the two were starting to grow closer together. Giselle trapezed down to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, wondering what the lesson would be today and who the next professor would be. There would be a new one this year, no doubt. Giselle opened the heavy door and peered inside. Professor Foxcroft was at the desk. Giselle was slightly surprised; he taught Muggle Studies, not DADA. She shrugged; apparently he wasn't such a bad teacher.

She decided to sit toward the front today, although all the desks had been pushed to the walls. Or magically pushed. Giselle's eyes wandered over the class as she sauntered by and her gray-blue eyes spotted Kris Graas sitting with a Raven fifth year she hadn't had the misfortune to meet. Giselle smirked at his white tunic and wings. "Aren't you missing your halo?" She asked him softly when she walked by. She didn't want to speak to loud in case Foxcroft wouldn't like her comment. She turned away from him when she reached her desk. Her things were taken out a moment later and she leaned back lazily in her chair. "Hello Professor," Giselle greeted as she was in front and closest to him.

[kris]

„Missing my halo too? Shamefully really, Cleopatra. I would have expected you to do a proper job, if you already begun,“ Kris clicked his tongue in admonishment as he withdrew his wand from it’s pocket in his right sleeve having a bit of trouble sliding the wand out becasue of the handcuffs. Even with the trouble it only took a moment however.
Raising the wand in his left hand Kris drew a bit wobbly circle around his head. Flicking his wand only once the circle turned into a perfect round. One more flick andthe circle started glowing with a silvery light as it rose to float a little above Kris’s head who waved his wand once at his clothing while he muttered ’Finite Incantatum’. The white tunic shifted back into the black silk-pants and the black blouse wiht the silvery dragons embroided onto both shoulders.

„I am afraid I haven’t reached the rank of the main angels just yet. Why, I haven’t even been given a harp just yet. Even my halo hasn’t been polished to shine properly,“ Kris drawled out lazily ignoring the snort of laughter coming from beside him, „Perhaps you want the job, Giselle? I mean what greated honour would there be but polishing an angels – even if the angel is fallen – halo?“ Kris nodded his head with mocking respect towards Cleo managing to not wince as a kick hit his right ankle again.

„Really, pharaoh,“ Kris ignored the demand to not be called ’Cleopatra’ or ’pharaoh’ as he simply continued, „Perhaps you still should think about anger-managment. This constant violence towards me either-wise will make me think you are attracted to me.“ Kris could almost feel the scowl Cleo was giving him on his skin, but the girl’s voice was almost sugary as she raised their hands that were bound together giving it a little shake. „Really? And you never noticed it until now? I have grown especially... close... to you today. Tell me, how on earth could I spend any day without your company?“
„But you don’t life a fully-worthy life unless you are in my company,“ Kris answered with a knowing smirk hovering over his mouth as he shifted to sit more comfortably on the bench - not an easy task really, with the huge wigngs sprouting from his back - wondering if Foxcroft would kick him out or not. What ever would happen would still take a couple of minutes however, so until then he could amuse himself by bickering with Cleo as he ignored the rest of the classroom.

[Charles Driscoll H7]

Charles did not eat well at breakfast that morning, and seeing as he was never much of an eater anyway this was not at all a good sign or a good way to begin the day. But he had much more important matters weighing on his mind at the moment, like
Samantha refusing to see him, and also that his only source of hope who had been Kris was now going through his own trauma. Charles hadn’t spoken to him ever since Kris had lost his sight, as he didn’t know what to do or say to him, but he had been hearing his news through Mary. Even Professor Foxcroft Charles couldn’t meet, as he no longer gave them Muggle Studies and for some reason Charles couldn’t find him in his office whenever he had some free time which was becoming less and less now he was practising Quidditch. He had wanted to ask for his help or even just talk to him, for it wasn't easy talking about this to his friends and Professor Foxcroft had promised to help and had kept his promise to Charles during the summer.

Looking rather glum the small fourth year made his way to class without any real enthusiasm, not even curious about who was going to teach them this year. His eyes widened when he entered the class and saw the two people he had just been thinking about, Professor Foxcroft standing at the front of the class "Professor Foxcroft!" he said excitedly. "Good morning sir," he said in a lower voice. Charles wondered what Kris was doing in the classroom and wanted to say something to him but decided now was obviously not the right time. He noticed Ivy sitting down looking distinctly disgruntled and he plopped down beside her and whispered, "Has anything happened this morning?" He remembered she seemed all right last night in the common room and hoped she hadn’t got bad news from home. He still knew very little about her home and hadn’t dared to pry into anything concerning it as he didn’t want to ruin their budding friendship.

[Nasser Salah G6]

Nasser had left the Great hall quite early but he reached class just on time due to the large amount of students who were too reluctant to start the day and were trying to spend as much time as they could talking in the corridors without getting into trouble. When he arrived at class though it seemed it would be a little late starting as there was someone wearing and angel costume and a girl with vivid red hair were quarrelling in low voices. Nasser greeted the Professor in a low voice and then frowned slightly. He knew this Professor – he gave Muggle Studies but Nasser as a Muggle-born hadn’t really seen the use of taking the class as an elective besides he had no time in his schedule anyway.

He wondered why the chairs were arranged this way and deduced that today's lesson was probably going to be a practical more but other than that he couldn’t imagine what they were going to do. He sat down next to Cass giving her a quick smile before doing so and realised that one of the students was the Dana's cousin Kris. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling a little when he saw the two students handcuffed to each other and hoped that no Gryffindor had anything to do this as they were once again the house with the least points, and things weren't looking too bright for the Gryffindors at all as nobody seemed to winning them any points these days.

[Professor Julius Foxcroft]

Julius watched in mounting amazement as two students came into the class bickering, both of which he had interacted with before enough to know they were both very strong-minded and it was quite a surprise for him to see that they were acquainted as he imagined they would spend most of their time doing what they were doing right now: quarrelling. The corner of Julius' mouth curled as they approached him, and then in the quiet no-nonsense voice that made him seem older than he was he addressed them. "Graas, it is indeed a rare pleasure to see a student so keen to master magic that he attends the class of a lower year to revise previous material. I must ask you however to please restrain yourself from distracting any of the other students for surely you have more knowledge than them and you must be gracious enough to allow them the chance to learn please. Hardwick I know will let nothing short of an earthquake affect her concentration. Now if you and Hardwick would please take a seat at the back of the class until your current problem," Julius tapped the handcuffs lightly with his wand, "is solved. I would like to see if any of you will be able to solve it but when it is your turn to attempt your task then if you are still attached to each other I will have to solve it myself. A pity really, as something tells me I could end up hurting one of you," he said, his left eyebrow raised slightly. "Oh, and much as I love your costume, which I must say suits you perfectly," continued Julius, "it is a school rule that you must attend class in uniform, and I know how you like to conform to all the school rules Graas," said Julius, and with a few flicks of his wand Kris' costume was replaced with the school uniform. "Good morning," he said to each of the six students who had greeted him, and he gave Charles a little smile. He needed to talk to him later, for he'd been a little busy lately with all the preparation he had to do for the seven years he was teaching.

Julius' observant eyes travelled around the classroom, taking in each student, many of which he didn’t know but had heard about in the staff room which he had been visiting much more frequently now than in the past two years. He waited until the classroom was completely silent before he spoke. "Welcome back to Defence Against the Dark Arts. My name is Professor Foxcroft, which some of you know already. I have had the pleasure of teaching some of you, and those which I have not, I am equally pleased to see you and look forward to getting to know you all." Julius eyes twinkled before he said his next words, a slight sarcasm entering his voice as he continued. "I am quite sure you have all made use of this summer by revising all you have learnt during your past years at Hogwarts, mastering and perfecting anything you might have missed over the years. I am also sure your books look tattered from their constant perusal, and undoubtedly you are on the edge of your seat, awaiting a chance to further your knowledge, and hone yours skills and work as hard as you can after the summer vacation." Julius knew this was probably not the case with most of his students. "Anyhow, I can see you all look refreshed and are ready for the next phase of your magical education, which while I am sure you have heard is harder than what you have done before, will only seem impossible to those who do not realise its importance from the very beginning and give it the concentration and effort it deserves. On a lighter note, please remember I am always here to help, and that I do like the idea of overworking my students, but that I also do not put up with any nonsense and will be swift with punishment when I feel I must be." Julius paused for breath, surveying the students and trying to gauge their reaction to all he was saying.

"During this year our main focus will be on Dark creatures – you will find that this may come in very useful not only in your exams which are important of course but also in real life because a lot of these creatures are being used by the followers of Voldemort to wreak havoc and instill fear in everyone whenever they get the chance. Naturally you will need to learn several new jinxes and charms to deal with such creatures, though you will find the difficulty will not always be in the incantation, for there is much more to magic than a wand and the recitation of an odd-sounding string of syllables." Julius brought his hand down on the desk to signal he was about to move on to their topic of the day.

"Right then. Can anyone tell me what a Boggart is?"

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass raised her eyebrows as she watched Professor Foxcroft address Cleo and Kris. Smirking to herself, she found it kind of funny. Maybe a girl had finally tamed Kris' wild ways?

Cass listened to the teacher intently, but was surprised when he asked if anyone knew what a boggart was. Knowing the answer, Cass raised her hand in the air.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona smiled as she was greeted by a friend. "Good morning, Aubree. How's life?" Fiona asked. She knew that life was probably going just the same for Aubree as it was for her. In seconds Fiona saw Jack and she nodded her head to him as if saying 'hello.' It seemed that there would be a few worthy students in class that day. Fiona began to fidget with her mother's pearl as she sat looking around the classroom. Fiona thought she might know what they were doing today, but then again she wasn't sure. Fiona yawned and she put her hand to her mouth. She hated yawning, but it always seemed like she did during classes. It's a sign that class is boring. She just wished that the professors would acknowledge it and stop their boring lessons, spice them up, or start them! Her wish was granted a few seconds later when Professor Foxcroft started talking.

Fiona yawned again half way through Professor Foxcroft's speech. It was pretty boring, but she wasn't going to tell him that. It seemed that all the professors gave the same boring speech every year at the beginning of classes. It was getting old, but she paid attention anyway. That's all she needed; to fail DADA. She wasn't going to. Ironically, it was one of her better subjects. A smile came to her face as she thought about the class last year. She had been ditching her last DADA class last year when the Death Eaters had attacked. She had managed to remain safe during the entire attack, though she had watched some students get attacked. That had changed so much for her, but she shook her head of the thoughts and put her attention back on the Professor.

As Professor Foxcroft came to the end of his speech, he asked the class if they have ever heard of Boggarts. 'Yep,' Fiona thought to herself. She sighed as she rose her hand. She hated giving answers in class, but she was still trying to make up for when she lost 30 house points, because of Cassandra Blackfire. Fiona's eyes drifted to the girl and she glared. Blackfire's hand was also raised, but it didn't matter. Fiona was just hoping that Professor Foxcroft would call on her. She knew about Boggarts; had a couple in the closets at her castle. She sighed as she waited to see if he called on her.

[kris]

„I will NOT sit in the back of the classroom because of you!“ Cleo complained loudly not caring who in the class would hear this comment.
Kris snickered at Cleo’s comment as he tilted his head slightly at the sound of footsteps. „Good day professor,“ Kris drawled out lazily having to rather quickly shift his position as the big wings disappeared from his back. „But of course professor, I’m your angel extra-ordinaire. And very... attached... to this young lady next to me. Always so ever helpful and charming and kind. Yes, I do wonder myself too sometimes how I can be so wonderful. However being a living practice-dummy where 4th years try to get rid of these handcuffs hasn’t been on my list of dreams for some reason.“
Kris smiled sweetly while this time it was Cleo that snickered at the professors words while Kris mentally swore that he would be out of the uniform as quickly as humanly... and magically possible. But there was a difference - you could irritate a professor and kepe balancing the whole lesson on the verge of being kicked out. But there was a clear line between annoying a professor and down-right infuriating him. And Kris wasn’t idiotic enough to try and get rid of the uniform in front of Foxcroft.

Kris tensed feeling the handcuffs moving slightly around his wrist and forcefully kept himself from clenching his fist. What exactly had Foxcroft done to the handcuffs? Just tapped them or used a charm? As he wasn't able to see the professor Kris couldn't really tell. YOu dind't have to say every spll aloud after all. Kris knew Dana’s mind well enough to know how to get rid of the previous handcuffs... now that Foxcroft had tapped them, Kris was a lot more wary. But Kris would live with that. He could live with some annoyance and even a bit of pain by accident while removing the handcuffs. But hurting one of them? It took most of Kris’s self-control to keep from growling out loud. Foxcroft would be facing a lot of unconvienences Kris’s name and relatives could pull on him if Cleo was hurt even as much as from a quick needle-poke.
„Something tells me I could end up hurting one of you,” Kris quoted with an icily quiet voice where his fury had been properly pushed down, “I’m afraid the Head-Master wouldn’t really appreciate you causing any physical damage to a female student on purpose? Nor would the school council-members like it.”

“Easy, wolfie,” Cleo murmured raising her hand and stroking the hair behind Kris’s right ear with an amused smirk on her face, knowing fully well that while Kris didn’t have any trouble hexing her himself. Yet Kris would never let anyone else would her while it was in his power to stop it.
“I was named Faolan for a reason. Besides I bite,” Kris murmured easily turning his head towards Cleo none the less, easily picking up the hint at his middle name that came from old gaelic.
Cleo just let out a snort of laughter giving Kris’s hair a sharp pull, before leaning forward as their conversation quieted down as Kris calmly shared all he knew about the handcuffs Dana had attached to them.

“It’s the celtic knot principle she used. We either have to wait it out or you can feel free to get rid of it the old way…” Kris paused and Cleo was already ready to give him a hard shove in the ribs when the boy drawled quietly into her ear, “which means that unless Foxcroft modified the handcuffs - I couldn't really see if he used any charm or not - in some way you can have the pleasure of kissing me. And no, a kiss on my cheek will not be good enough. I’m guessing about at least a 5 second kiss?”
“He dind't modify them. NOT A CHAN…!” the rest of Cleo’s words were muffled by Kris’s hand clamping down firmly on her mouth as Kris tried his best not to snicker as he clicked his tongue: “My-my-my. What do my innocent ears have to hear? A Ravenclaw cursing? Shameful. And I suppose that this means we are waiting Dana’s spell out.”
Kris removed his hand form Cleo’s mouth who just sighed and glared at the Slytherin thoughtfully before glancing at Foxcroft thoughtfully and wondering which would be worse. Ignoring the professors somewhat command or kiss Kris. While Cleo had to admit that she did like the Slytherin and admired his mind and character – though he could go from being the charmer to the most infuriating being ever existed within seconds. But if she kissed him, how could she know she wouldn’t want to kiss him again?

“We’ll wait it out. And hope that none of the students here try to do something idiotic to the handcuffs,” Cleo said resolutely into Kris’s ear before leaning back in her chair as well curiously avoid of her smirk now as she regarded Kris, who simply shrugged and made himself comfortable in his seat though Cleo could sense the slight readiness in him. He obviously hadn’t forgotten the mention of one of them getting hurt.
“I volunteer Cleo to demonstrate how to battle a boggart,” Kris said in a measured half-voice – strong enough so that Foxcroft could hear, low enough so Foxcroft could ignore it without problems should he wish.
“Oh shut up and remind me what boggarts were,” Cleo muttered moodily as she shifted in the seat while placing her shoe-noses on the side of Kris’s leg and leaning her elbows on her bent knees before supporting her chin on her palms. It really wasn’t that annoying to have Kris idly tracing random patterns on his temple with his index finger as his right hand had been forced to raise up with Cleo’s hand even after Krs had finished whispering hte correct answer in Cleo's ear.

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

Meyghan had been sitting quietly in the back of the classroom, watching as everything went on in front of her. She listened carefully to what Professor Foxcroft was talking about, and she wasn't sure if she knew what a boggart was or not. She thought she had heard her father talk of them at one time, but never had he mentioned what exactly they were.

Meyghan looked around the classroom noticing a few people that she knew. There was a girl from her dorm that Meyghan hadn't really gotten to know that well, and Gary was also there. Meyghan wondered if he knew that his mom and her dad had met in Hogsmeade. She looked over at Gary and smiled, as a way to say hello. She wasn't sure if Gary had seen her simple smile, but she felt better for at least trying.

Meyghan turned her attention back to the professor. She wasn't sure what she was waiting for, but felt that she should pay attention.

[Monica Henshaw S5]

Monica arrived to class just in time. She took a sit in the back away from everybody. As always she was never glad at this. When class began the teacher started talking about boggarts. The problem with Monica was that she didn't know what she feared. It wasn't more of an object something. It was king of a prblem something. She sighed at this. She knew that this class was going to be the same as always. Homework her and homework there, notthing plain new about it.

Monica thought about what she was going to do after class finish. "what shall I do?" she thought obviously she didn't had friends. She didn't believe in that kind of stuff. She'd never trust anybody in her life because she knew they'd probably turn their back at her. Monica as usual sat in her sit and observed the class full on nonsense.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack smirked as he watched a Raven girl and Kris Graas bicker together. He was too far away to hear them well, but he could tell it was a heated arguement. Kris was not someone Jack knew well, but fighting with a Raven and being chained together seemed a little drastic for a Slytherin. Why would he want to be attached to some brainy Raven anyway? It made Jack raise his eyebrows, wondering what exactly Kris's motives were. He probably hadn't made the hex, but he wasn't giving any attempt to un-due it either. Maybe they were impossible to get off? That would be some good magic there, whoever had cast them. The girl who had red hair was fiesty and could somewhat tame Kris's comments as well. Jack was surprised, but since Kris was blind, he had thought that he might soften a bit.

Jack took his eyes away from the two, still not sure what to think about it, and looked at the Professor. Foxcroft was to be the new DADA teacher? There seemed to be no doubt about it, as he was sitting at the teachers' desk, looking slightly worn but still ready for class. Jack knew that he had taught Muggle Studies before, and couldn't help but wonder how well he was at teaching. Jack had never attended the Muggle Studies class; a complete waste of time, that. If Foxcroft could make a good Defence teacher remained to be seen. As Jack leaned against his desk, he watched as Foxcroft, after addressing Kris and the other girl, start a large speech. It was mostly about the stuff that Jack expected teachers to say: "Oh, I know you've done your homework and studied over break, learing as much as you can...blah, blah, blah." He leaned back in his seat, trying to tune into the words and look like he was listening, but everything seemed to slip away when he focused on it. Finally, the speech part was over and the Professor began to speak upon what they would do this year.

Dark creatures? Joy. Jack's eyes brightened somewhat and he sat up straighter. He had read a little bit about the many magical creatures of the world. Like the magical population, animals had a large number to adjoin to the people. What did Dark Creatures mean exactly? The dark part, anyway? The bad creatures.... That even sounded silly in Jack's mind. He shrugged it off and thought over the Professor's question, weighing it over in his head. Boggart.... boggart. Jack thought he had heard of a boggart before, but whether his hunch was right or not, he would have to be called upon to see. He raised his hand up in the air slowly, looking around the class to see who else was. A few people, Fiona, as one. He gave her a tight smile and looked back at the Professor, his arm already aching from having it up. His other hand supported his forearm and he waited impatiently for the Professor to decide who to pick upon.