[Dark Arts] V: Hexes & Spell Work

[Prof. Hansel Hanzel]

Hansel sat slummed in the high backed chair behind the teacher’s desk, one knee hooked over the arm as he picked at his teeth with the tip of his wand. This lazy habit had whittled the end down to a fine point so that his wand was unusually sharp, and he dragged it along the scarred desktop, the dusty stubs of green chalk trembling before whisking out of the way. He watched them with narrowed eyes as they pounded against the blackboard to his right, forming shivering letters…

Hexes & Spell Work

'Not for the morally burdened, I must say…' He smiled to himself humourlessly. After last lesson’s… unfavourable turnout, Hansel had delayed any proper curriculum until the beginning of the new term, but despite this time in which to try and persuade himself of the student body’s worth, he had yet to be impressed.

The sound of shoes tip tapping on damp flagstones approached from outside the classroom door. 'Oh, how exciting.' Hansel muttered softly, returning to picking his teeth…

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie walked in class room rather nervous she didn't know any thing about the dark arts then again that was why she was taking the class. She sat down 2 rows back dead middle. She didn't want to be too close. She pulled out what she would need for the class. She had met the teacher before and it had not been a very good time.

[Erys Grace]

"Professor."

She greeted him as she entered the classroom after Miss Sarie - who she and Ricky would have to become aquainted with, heh - with a respectful nod of her head, which was alot more than she gave other teachers. He deserved politeness and respect, with his awe-inspiring profession. Normally, a Slytherin such as Erys Grace would pop a squat way in the back, where her house was prone to chill. Then again, this class wasn't quite normal, in most cases. This was Dark Arts, her favorite class. The one she excelled most at, go figure. For this lesson she took her rightful place at the front, whisking her wand and summoning her raven-feathered quill, a small bottle of ink, and fresh parchment. Placing her wand back on the table, she then dipped the quill in her jar, scrawling her name in the top right hand corner. Her beautiful script trailing prettily across the page, as she looked up at Hanzel.

Sliding her emerald green eyes to the door, the Slytherin nearly arched an eyebrow, expecting her housemates to enter with pride and determination. This class was practically invented for them.[/color]

[Prof. Hansel Hanzel]

Hansel’s mouth twisted uncomfortably as the door open a crack, just enough for a very small and very familiar Gryffindor to slip through. Despite her feeble demeanour Hansel had learned that she – what was her lovey-dovey name? Thimble? – was not as meek as she seemed. Last term he had been startled to find her wandering near the Forbidden Forest without any agenda, actually having the audacity to ask him if he was lost of all things. If it had been any other House Hansel supposed he would have commended their daring – but a Gryffindor… it seemed these days their bravery was more of a handicap than a badge of pride. They did not get themselves into predicaments unafraid of the consequences: they were simply too ignorant to remember that fire burns.

‘I’d have you banned from this classroom if I hadn’t been warned not to – shall we say – discriminate.’ He remarked cuttingly, eyeing her sideways.

The door opened more fully now, allowing some extra light into the room. He blinked unappreciatively and waited for the faulty hinge to let it fall shut again before he could see the tall Slytherin girl materialise in the front row, blotting out of rag doll behind her. She greeted him with the air of having already met him, and apparently supposed to recognise her Hansel discreetly dragged a slip of parchment from the hectic stack on his desk. Upon it was a list of names from the last lesson, and tapping it gently with his wand, the name right at the bottom glowed emerald green, the parchment around it peeling a little.

‘Miss Grace,’ He suddenly replied after a moment of silence, fixing her with a stiff smile. ‘I never forget a pretty face.’

[Alexis Heart]

Why did it always seem that when you were dreading something time seemed to speed up. The day usually dragged seemingly endless until that glorious last bell rang, but today was different, today she had Dark Arts class and the time seemed to whiz by and she was not too happy with it. Sooner than she liked she was heading down the hallway toward the classroom, face set in a grimace with her teeth clenched tight. She looked more like she was headed into battle than into a classroom. She had to stop, because her attitude would just make things there worse. So she fixed her face-hard as it was, and plastered a smile on her lips as she entered the room a few seconds after Erys.

Noticing the professor she did the polite thing and said hello. As she took a seat near Sarie a younger year Gryffindor. Her instinct was to say good morning, but she remembered what happened last class when some students spoke to one another on a personal level. Instead she nodded to the girl before diving into her bag for what she'd need for class. As she sat up once more she noted the words on the board. Sounded interesting enough, she'd have to admit that. Perhaps today wouldn't be so bad after all, glass half full and all of that.

[Erys Grace]

Judging by how he didn't respond back quickly, Hanzel hadn't a clue what her name was. Funny, seeing as he probably used to be Slytherin, and thus preferred paying more attention to them. Not to mention she had been present for his last lesson. Surprising, it was, to find someone unaware of her admirable accomplishments. Surely he'd been here for longer than a few days, right? He was a good teacher, she'd give him that much, so Erys found no need to withdraw her respect for him.

Offering a slight smile in responce to his compliment, the Slytherin ran her fingers down the edge of her wand, her eyes hovering on the vampire fang welded to the end. Glancing up at the board now, her face spread into a wider grin, "What sort of hexes might we be learning today?" Wow, for once, she actually asked a question like this before class started. Usually it was some Gryffindork or 'Claw who popped it. Nobody should be surprised though, it wasn't shocking to see a Slytherin interested in the Dark Arts. In fact, they should be flabbergasted if they find one who isn't.

Paying no mind to Miss Heart as she entered the room, Erys instead turned her head the other way, listening for more footsteps as they approached the door to the Dark Arts room.. Slytherin steps?[/color]

[Angelique Juliette]

It was a rare occasion when one would see Miss Juliette walking the hallways with a smile on her face. Usually her face looked like someone placed smelly skunk in front of her. Not today thought not at all she was headed to Dark Arts class. Finally, a class worthy of taking, it took them way too long to finally acknowledge that not everyone wanted to learn simply the defense of dark magic, there were those who wanted to learn of the dark magic itself. She knew her and her fellow Slytherins would thrive in that room.

Upon entering the room she too note of the professor smile still firmly in place as she greeted him politely "hello professor" then her eyes locked on the one person she was most happy to see in this class with her. Erys Grace. Without further ado Angel made her way over. As was her new custom she winked at her friend. It was safer than talking since some of these professors were so strict about it.

Looking up at the board she noticed they would be focusing on hexes and spell work. That could prove promising, she thought as a smirk appeared to replace the smile.

[Ellie Rook]

Again scheduling conflicts had darken Ellie's footsteps. She had made a deal with the administration that she would not have to take the dreaded Care of Magical Creatures class if she would enroll herself in Dark Arts. Wincing, Ellie had decided to do so. However, the dirty double crossers had screwed up and Ellie was in both Care of Magical Creatures and Dark Arts. Not to mention the classes were back to back.

She walked in, adjusting her yellow tie, seeing as it was crooked. See looked up at the Professor. He was saying something snippy to a small Gryffindor girl. Ellie sighed, and grimaced. If he didn't like Gryffindors, she was sure herself, as a Hufflepuff, was not welcome either. However, Ellie would show him. She had good work ethic, even if she wasn't a back stabbing, cunning little snake of a Slytherin.

Ellie went and sat next to the Gryffindor, even though she was much younger. Ellie felt bad, and the 'good guys.' had to stay close. Erys and another Slytherin were so where close, as was a Ravenclaw. However, Ellie ignored them. Although she was very worried about being paired up with someone like Erys, who was known for her outstanding hexes, and not to mention the enjoyment she got out of them.

[Erys Grace]

Pleasantly surprised to find that her suspicions were correct, Erys watched, shell-shocked, as her old friend Angelique entered the room. She winked at her, and, once her fellow house mate was sitting by her side, the Slytherin angled her body towards her, "Where have you been?" Her voice was a low hiss, quiet as to not disrupt the not-started-yet class, and a little angry. You couldn't blame her.. Her three best friends just up and abandoned her, with no notice at all. And that was months ago! She'd gotten over it, though imagine her surprise to find one of them right beside her now.

Remembering how Hanzel had wanted to ban Sarie from his classeroom, but had been warned not to discriminate, Erys felt her expression mold into a smirk. He must have been in Slytherin, right? There was no doubt in her mind. Either that, or he was a really cunning Ravenclaw.

Sliding her sharp eyes over as the pompous Ellie girl came in, Erys rolled her eyes, glad to have another snake with her. She wasn't going to be paired up with a 'Puff, even if her life depended on it. Apparently by the feeling she sensed radiating off of her, Ellie felt the exact same way, though a bit more worried than Erys was. In fact the prefect was confident the professor wouldn't be doing anything of the like. To put someone as excellent at hexes with someone so.. Inexperianced, at them, was outlandish.[/color]

[Angelique Juliette]

What had she been expecting when she walked in? A welcome back party, well that surely wasn't going to happen. She had sort if disappeared, without so much as a word to Erys who happened to be one of her closest friends. Angel wasn't usually the type to feel bad about her actions, often not caring what others thought of her behavior. If it had been anyone else she would have brushed it off but with Erys it was just different.

Angel had recently returned to school after her parents forced her back. She had opted to leave and start living life as an adult already but they wouldn't hear of it, they indulged her for as long as they could stand it, which was probably longer than she deserved but eventually they were too through with her childish ways and ordered her back to school to finish out her term.

She wanted to explain this to Erys but right not wasn't the place or the time so she simply hissed back so low only Erys could hear her "Long story we'll talk after". Hopefully her friend wasn't too mad that she had abandoned her.

Angel was beginning to wonder if she was right in coming back, just then Ellie something or another walked into the room. As she spotted the two Slytherins Angel could have sworn there was some apprehension or something there. Rolling her eyes Angel thought it was probably good she took a seat near Sarie, she had been out of practice in hexing people during classes, what she wouldn't give to get some practice in. Smirking she was starting to remember how fun school could be.

[Prof. Hansel Hanzel]

Hansel stared unresponsively at each new pupil that strolled into his classroom, eventually a member of every House taking their place. There would indeed be more, but predictably it was already the Slytherins who out numbered everyone else. The Dark Arts was a subject with a reputation, and only those with a similarly distasteful stigma attached to their name would find a fondness for it in their cold blooded hearts. There was a territorial attitude surrounding the Dark Arts that it was reserved solely for Slytherins, and already Hansel could sense the Hufflepuff’s unease, one that could only be caused by being somewhere she was dangerously unwelcome.

Of course, that was untrue. Hansel knew that some would already be under the impression that he played favourites – namely in favour of what was assumed to be his old House, also untrue – but Hansel had no favourites. He simply disliked some more than others. He wasn’t interested in making friends, and anyone who thought they could get in his good books would find he responded to such attempt rather… unpleasantly.

Glancing at the grandfather clock lurking behind the door, it seemed it was time to teach them their first lesson. Standing up, Hansel aimed his wand squarely at the Hufflepuff girl, a grave seriousness in his eyes. ‘Imperio!’

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie jumped as the Professor shouted. She knew that he might do it to her too. She knew that this is how it would happen in the real world people weren't nice at all. She knew that all ready. She was ready for when or if he turned his wand on her.

[Angelique Juliette]

Angel had been a bit pre occupied with thoughts of school and how it felt to be back, well not only to be back but to be sitting in an actual classroom. It wasn't half bad seeing as how this was subject she was full interested in, the only thing that marred her return was having to share her air space with the riff raff from other houses. That was one of the deciding factors in her not wanting to come back. She was always one to believe that magical learning should be kept in all magical families, one of the few houses in the school that was mainly pure blood was her own. She sometimes hated being around them because she felt strongly that they didn't belong and sometimes she had trouble hiding those feelings leading her to be cruel and malicious sometimes she feared her pranks would get her booted from the school, though it might not be such a bad thing.

If she had been paying attention she would have first seen the look on the professors face before she heard him utter the words "imperio" she shook her head her eyes focused on the man leading the class, and suddenly he most dazzling smile appeared on Angel's lips as she watched him point his wand at the Puff.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie shifted in her seat. She really didn't like the atmosphere. It was as if someone had died, or was going to die. She knew that the lesson would probably be the hardest lesson she would ever face, but she still didn't understand what it would take out of her to perform these spells.

Ellie watched the Professor closely. He was the sort of character Ellie's father had warned her about. Not someone you would like to meet down a dark alley, like Knockturn Alley, where Ellie was sure Professor Hanzel spent his weekends. His dark eyes were cold and Ellie shivered as the gaze flicked over her.

She watched him stand up and in a second she heard his voice. Stand Up. She heard and she stood up. The voice was in the back of her head. She didn't know why she stood, only that she was told to stand and so she did. Get on the desk. The voice told her. She put a foot on the chair to step up, but then her own voice came into her mind. Why? It said, but the deep voice in the back of her head repeated the command. No. I think I'll stay here. Ellie's voice echoed. Up. The voice said again. No. I'm staying here. Ellie's voice yelled. Ellie struggled against the urge to get up on the desk. She didn't know what she was fighting, it was an attacker she couldn't see or find. Ellie yelled out in pain of the fight and flung herself over the desk, landing hard on the floor in front of it.

A tear was running down the Hufflepuff's cheek, she was breathing hard and fast. She had landed on her knees, which were now throbbing, the blood rushing to the spot where two bruises would soon form. She starred at the Professor, a look of pure hatred on her face. She wiped away the tear, and stood up shakily. "The Imperius Curse." Ellie said with loathing, her voice low and shaking along with her body.

[Erys Grace]

'Imperio!'

[/I]
The moment it left his lips, Erys' own face contorted into a wide, wide smile. The light from the spell that flew from his wand towards Ellie sparkled in her eyes, as a smirk danced on her lips. She was perfectly aware of how capable he was at casting spells, truly. But she had been a little wary at first, concering the unforgivable's. All trace of doubt vanished off her face, the Slytherin watched on, the emotion draining from her face. He might possibly be one of those teachers who turned his wand upon the mocking student, if they decided to open their mouth or grin stupidly. So she didn't.

The only time someone had taken a peek into her mind was during her Occlumency lessons, and when she foolishly didn't realise that brat Ashton could read minds. Could a successful, exceptional Occlumency graduate be affected by the Imperius curse? It dealt mostly with control, right? But the commands that the 'Puff was following seemed to be spoken only in her mind.

Giving this a fair bit of thought, Erys shot a secretive glance at Angel. One of those best friend, bonding ones, that both knew the meaning of. In this case, it was around the lines of 'oh my god, this is so awesome, look at her move!', even though it was only for a moment she knew she'd get the picture.[/font][/color]