An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
This class is intended to be read by 5th years and above only.
The classroom door was open, inviting students to enter and take their seats. Professor Hathmore had a confidence about him that was either intimidating or inspiring, depending on how the students viewed it. His sleeves were neatly rolled to his elbows, and he had his wand in hand -- an optimistic sign that their lesson would be practical.
He watched the 5th years enter, his expression neutral yet focused. He kept his gaze on the door, awaiting students to settle in. As they'd learned last year, they finally had a Professor who was willing to properly teach them how to defend themselves against dark forces. With everything that happened beyond the castle walls, then the tragedies within it -- being prepared was more important than ever.
Whatever was about to happen would not be a dull lesson, that's for sure.
Please refer to the Standard Classroom Layout for a visual guide of the classroom -- including full details regarding seating, class expectations, noise level rules, and any changes.
Kwame Achebe came to Defense Against the Dark Arts class. He was one of the first students in the room from what he could tell.
"Good morning Professor" said Kwame to Professor Hathmore in his usual polite way.
Kwame noticed the Professor had his wand out. He gulped in anticipatory dread. Another practical lesson of spell casting? Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He had managed to perform well in his Charms lesson yesterday after all.
Kwame had missed breakfast this morning due to sleeping late. He hadn't had the opportunity to talk to Amber or any of the other Ravenclaws about Quidditch try outs.
Kwame hoped his friend had made the team and that Ravenclaw would have a good team this year.
Kwame took a seat and pulled out his parchment and quills. He was still ready to take notes even if he would be using his wand as well.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on May 18, 2023 21:27:30 GMT 10
The exit from Breakfast had been abrupt and quick for Lindsey. The year prior, she would have taken her time and waited for her friend to be ready, but it had been made clear to her. Reena didn't want their friendship and that left Lindsey with a gapping hole and no way to fill it. With the Prophet though, she just couldn't help but feel something for her friend.
The door to the class was open, inviting people in and Lindsey took to find a seat that was empty. She sat nearest the windows of the classroom, second table from the front and on the left hand seat. It would allow her to be nearest the light source and she liked being able to casually look outside when needed.
It left the right seat open for the taking. She took out parchment for notes, her quill and inkwell and then placed her wand on the top of her desk for easy reach. She had read over the classroom as she walked in, noticing that even the professor looked ready for a good lesson. If this year was anything like the years prior, Lindsey was sure to enjoy her time and learn several things.
Post by Amber Lloyd on May 18, 2023 21:44:39 GMT 10
Amber entered the classroom and immediately spotted Kwame.
"Good morning, Professor!" she greeted Hathmore with a smile and then took the seat next to Kwame who seemed already good to go.
"There you are! Didn't saw you at breakfast!" she grinned at him while pulling out her writing utensils.
Amber had noticed Hathmore seeming to be ready for a practical lesson which made her more excited for class but she was sure there would still be time for her to take some notes.
"So, you decided against Quidditch?" she asked Kwame rather quiet as she didn't want to make too much noise. Although, she had to make an effort to prevent yawning too much. Excitement was only a temporary push against tiredness after all...
Post by Caine Hawke on May 18, 2023 21:48:43 GMT 10
Breakfast was all well and good - eaten quickly because... well... he had things to do! He'd muffled a good morning to a few of his friends around some toast and hastily darted out. Plans were afoot! He'd yet to write to his father to tell him about his new position, it was different than the one he'd had before but he was just utilizing the gifts he'd been given, right?
After running away, ignoring a few shouted hellos, he made his way quickly into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Yet another class he liked. Honestly, he was glad it wasn't like... Transfiguration or History of Magic... both of those classes were the worst ones for him to sit through. He wasn't good at changing things about and staying awake for history. It bored him to tears! But! He was here now.
"Morning, Professor! It's great out." distracted, but aware thankfully, Caine took a seat toward the left corner of the room and pulled out some parchment, a quill, and stared at it for a moment before glancing quickly around.
He waved a Kwame, offering a smile to Amber, and again at Lindsey before diving back into his parchment laid out before him. He couldn't think of a single thing to write to his father so... he'd sit here. And he'd follow the lesson. And he'd stay in whatever mood this was.
Last Edit: May 19, 2023 12:36:56 GMT 10 by Lena: Readability (and fixed spacing error)
Sinead headed down to Professor Hathmore's classroom with her companion. She was still brooding over the headline that she had read on the front of the paper. The brunette sighed and pushed whatever thoughts she had in her head to the back of her mind as she entered the classroom. She gave a polite nod of greeting to the professor and then slid into a seat and waited for the lesson to begin.
Post by Joshua Twiggs on May 19, 2023 1:31:54 GMT 10
Joshua strolled into the Defence classroom with a casual spring in his step, hands deep in his pockets as he gave a nod to Hathmore who seemed to wait for the class to fill. He was still riding the high of making the Quidditch team and even securing the first position he had tried out for and not even the look on Hathmore’s face could take that away from him.
There was something about the guy that was intimidating however and Joshua pulled his hands out of his pockets and grasped the straps of his secondhand backpack instead.
He smiled at Amber and Kwame when he saw them, yet did not dare approach to have a chat. Instead he merely walked the few steps until he reached the desk Caine occupied and plopped down in the empty seat beside him.
“A practical lesson?“, he leaned over and theorised.
Would it even be worth getting his ink and parchment out? Last time they had gone on a walk through the castle in search of Snuffrons. He hoped it wasn’t Snuffrons again.
Benjamin walked into the classroom, tossing the apple he pilfered from the table up and down in his good hand. He looked at the classmates already gathered and noticed Professor Hathmore already waiting. Benjamin gulped and quickly stuffed the apple into his backpack.
''Morning,'' he said towards the front, but with bustle at the normal volume before the start of the lesson, it wasn't clear who heard the Slytherin and who hadn't. Benji looked around for empty space, nose wrinkling in contemplation. He gave a nod to Sinead and spied Lindsey near the windows.
He didn't want to bother her after all the kindness she showed him in the Great Hall, but looking for familiarity, Benji did sit at the desk behind her, looking out of the window. Weather looked nice enough for an October day and he hoped it would hold for the Slytherin practice later.
Defense against the Dark Arts wasn't his favourite subject, that honour belonged to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, but Benji figured it didn't hurt to be prepared. Despite everything showing that it would be a practical lesson, he still took out his ink and parchment for any notes about what they'd be learning. And to jot down any successes or failures. Hopefully, there'd be more of the former rather than the latter.
Post by Reena Ashworth on May 19, 2023 6:40:32 GMT 10
Having found herself with some time on her hands before class, Reena had sat down in a quiet corridor on her way here to translate the letter from Antoninus. Now, she almost wished she hadn’t.
It was obviously a warning, yet he had also said he could not answer questions at the moment and that his letters might be surveilled. Which was worrysome. And frustrating.
And she did not know how to reply.
She should really tell her siblings about her new pen pal, but she already knew Jaxen would not approve that she had answered the first one in the first place.
“Good morning,“ she greeted the professor as she entered and chose a seat on the right side, away from the windows (and Lindsey). She ignored the few curious glances of her classmates that she felt on her, glad no one had the nerve to ask her about the Department of Mysteries.
Hathmore’s stance and wand made her hopeful for a practical lesson and she layed out her notebook, ink and quill so she could take notes quickly before it began.
Post by Oscar Tinkle on May 19, 2023 8:32:47 GMT 10
Oscar was not surprised that there were so many others already at desks when he arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Not surprised, but slightly disappointed.
Since there were that many people there before him, he could only presume that class was about to start any moment. Professor Hathmore’s stance with his wand in hand definitely did nothing to dissuade that thought.
That meant that there was probably not time to ask questions about extra curricular spells before the class began. He would just have to try to remember to ask at the end instead.
The other disappointing thing about being beaten to class by so many others, a lot of the good seats were taken.
Oscar hesitated in the doorway as he attempted to figure out his best option. Left, middle, or right? Decisions, decisions..
After hovering awkwardly for longer than was probably normal, he eventually decided to just bite the wand and sit in the middle. That way he was not too far away from the Professor’s spot where catching all of the information could be harder, but he also was not smack bang in front of the man.
Oscar made his way there, a smile flashed at his roommates as he passed them.
He dumped his bag on the floor under his chosen desk before he sat and unwound his scarf. His precious scarf went into his bag, and his note taking equipment came out.
It was only after he was comfortable in his seat that the thought hit him.. The Professor looked ready for a practical lesson. Had he really just wasted all of that brain power over where to sit for nothing?
Oscar’s ears gained a red tinge as he dipped his quill in some ink, ready to scrawl some quick notes. That was a bit embarrassing. It was lucky no one was looking in his head.
Post by Arthur Hocking on May 19, 2023 10:38:37 GMT 10
Arthur was always nervous to enter the classroom and see that Professor Hathmore had rolled up his sleeves. Whatever spell or defensive idea they'd be learning today would probably be tough, and Arthur just hoped he could manage to do it. He was still a little embarrassed about last year's lessons and those failures.
He looked around the classroom and decided to sit down next to Reena. He hoped she wouldn't mind too much, and besides, maybe she would need someone to talk to? Then again, she hadn't really been all that talkative in the past few years that they had known each other.
"Hey," Arthur said as he sat down in the seat, "Um, how's it going?"
Oh my goodness, he was an idiot. 'How's it going?' That's the best he could come up with? He hoped that at least the intention of the words was more clear from his face.
Professor Hathmore stood in front of his desk, as he faced the class while doing a quick roll call. He flicked his wrist and the classroom door slammed shut, locking as a signal the start of the lesson.
'Good morning, 5th years,' he said calmly, yet in a way that commanded their attention. 'If any of you have set foot inside my classroom with thoughts lingering on what happened at the end of last year... good. You are O.W.L students now, with only two years left after this one before you face the delights and dangers of the world beyond these walls...'
He let the sentence hang. They didn't need him to explain. They were old enough now to be growing out of their child-like views of the world, especially after the eventful end to their 4th year. They knew it was dangerous, but it was his job to prepare them for exactly how dangerous it could truly be.
'Today's lesson will be focused on a very important spell -- the Shield Charm.' Hathmore looked around sternly, with the impression that he hoped they'd be taking notes or at least listening intently. 'This essential, protective spell makes minor to strong jinxes, curses, and hexes to rebound upon the attacker. It can also cause a shield to erupt from the caster's wand.'
He paused, giving them time to get settled, take notes, or pose a question. Hathmore always encouraged conversation regarding the subject matter.
'Before we continue, I would like to once again make this perfectly clear: in this classroom, I am not teaching you to complete an exam.' Hathmore's tone was stern and non-negotiable, as it had been the first time he told them this last year. 'I am here to arm you against the dark forces of our world -- and if you learn it right, passing the exams will just naturally follow.'
Except now, it hit differently. Perhaps now they'd understand it better than they had then, before everything that happened when Hogwarts was invaded last term. And that someone had died.
'As I've seen proven time and time again, experience is indeed the best teacher,' he added. 'So, yes, you will be putting your wands to use this lesson.'
Class started soon after Benji settled himself down, and as usual, there were some tidbits about what they'd be learning. He quickly took a piece of parchment and started writing the information about the spell. Personally, Benji thought that Professor Hathmore was doomsaying just a tad, but well, it wasn't as if he was telling lies. World is dangerous, but Hogwarts always seemed impeentrable to Benji. Last year chaned that though.
Benjamin put down all the information and even added a very bad illustration of an unidentified Gryffindor getting hit by a spell after his shield charm broke. Though one might mistake it for a watermelon breaking on the top of someone's head. At least it gives me plausible deniability?
He frowned as he stopped writing for a moment, once again recalling the events of the last year. He heard about the death(s), everyone did of course, even if they weren't in the thick of it. It might be selfish, but Benji was glad it wasn't anyone he personally knew or personally witness them dying. He wondered how that felt, seeing someone's light go out of their eyes.
Shuddering, Benjamin put his quill down and looked at the rest of the gathered class. He was rather looking forward to using offensive spells and if it just happened to hit a Gryffindor by accident, well, it was just bad luck, right? Alas, the Shield Charm it was, so Benji wondered whether they would be put in pairs or would everyone gang up on one person and they would have to defend themselves.
''What is a minor jinx?'' Benjamin asked once he put his arm up and was called upon. ''And does the spellcast strength of a person matter in this case?'' he added. Benji was curious if it mattered since not all people could cast a strong Diffindo, for example. One person could be shielded from and one not.
Post by Amber Lloyd on May 19, 2023 15:45:37 GMT 10
Amber had returned a smile to Joshua and Caine, but her attention immediately shifted to Hathmore when he started the lesson. Although, she hadn't needed a slamming door as a sign for it...
She gulped as the professor mentioned last years events. Amber didn't like to think too much about it as it has always a rather dampening effect on her. However, it was also wrong to forget or ignore it. It was a reminder now that they needed to be prepared for their future as they didn't know yet what they would experience, so it was best to have a range of skills and spells available.
It might seem Hathmore's view about the world was rather dark but he was also not completely wrong either. And Amber was actually glad to have a teacher who cared about teaching them appropriate defense.
Shield Charm sounded indeed important. She listened to his explanation and to Benji's question, but also raised a hand to ask one too. "Is the shield only against spells which are targeted against the caster? Or could one also use it to shield someone else?
In addition, how big is this shield? Has it always the same size or could it be extended to cover a broader area?"
Amber eagerly waited for an answer from Hathmore and also questions the others might have.
Post by Reena Ashworth on May 19, 2023 20:04:14 GMT 10
Reena glanced up when someone sat down in the seat next to her. She was glad to see who it was. Arthur was definitely her most favored classmate right now. He was also least likely to pry for any gossip, that just wasn't like him.
"Fine," she said and smiled almost genuinely at him.
He looked as though he regretted his question, which managed two things at once: Tell her that he too had read the Daily Prophet this morning -- and amuse her. She just could not account malice to the Hufflepuff, there was no way. That was what she liked about him.
"Thank you," she added. She wanted to ask how he was doing with the prospect of a practical lesson,knowing that he was nervous about trying new magic, but it appeared they had run out of time as Hathmore started the lesson.
She appreciated the reminder with which the professor started, although unnecessary. There were also dangers that would find them inside these walls, or were outside of that which the curriculum taught them. There was a lot to do for them all this year.
Reena dipped her teal coloured quill into ink and began jotting down her notes on the subject at hand.
The Shield-Charm sounded like something they should have learned years ago, she thought. Last year's events had made that clear. However, she supposed there was a reason it was only taught in OWL year. It might be too complex for a younger witch or wizard to yield.
Reena undid her scarf and hung it loosely over the back of her chair before she raised her hand to add a question:
"If it causes a physical shield to erupt from the caster's wand, does it also protect against non-magical threats?"
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