(Dark Arts) TIV: Lesson One: Theory and Debate

[Prof. Hansel Hanzel]

Hansel sat hunched behind the professor’s desk like a bat waiting for the sun to go down, dark cloak folded around him. Hogwarts’s first ever Dark Arts lesson was due to begin as nine o’clock sharp, but with the winter sun always rising so late in this far reach of Scotland, it was hard to tell whether it was morning or night.

Hansel was aware that there had been little warning that this controversial subject would become part of the curriculum, but he was confidant nevertheless that there would be several students secretly willing to learn more about the less talked about branches of magic. It had always annoyed Hansel that it was called "Dark" Arts in the first place – he preferred… misunderstood.

A dark green stick of chalk hovered in front of Hansel’s face for a moment before whisking away to scribble on the blackboard.

Dark Arts
Professor Hanzel

Lesson One: Theory and Debate

Coming Up:

Hexes and Spellwork
Potions and Elixirs
Pyromancy
Voodoo
Necromancy

The door to the classroom stirred, prompting the many pans of oil hanging from the walls to belch into flame, throwing hot, stifling light about the dungeon room. Hansel would have preferred his own tower in which to teach, but it seemed there were still limits to the privileges a Dark Arts teacher could have. It had only been through a heated discussion with the school governors that Hansel had found himself a place here at all. “You cannot teach Defence Against the Dark Arts without first showing them what they are supposedly defending themselves against! It’s illogical!’ He had preached, tirelessly, until several elderly and exhausted patrons had finally given in, desperate for a toilet break.

[Maria Turolia]

Maria stepped into the Dark Arts classroom, slowly taking in her surroundings. There were no other students in the room yet, but she was certain that more would arrive shortly. It seemed strange having this particular subject offered at Hogwarts. She spotted the professer sitting behind his desk wrapped in a dark cloak, exactly what she had expected. Walking to the front of the room, she sat down. "Hello, Professor Hanzel," she said, looking up at the board to check and see what his name was.

As Maria got her things ready for class she wondered what it took to get a Dark Arts class going at this school. It certainly couldn't have been an easy task. You would definately have to admire someone who would put the effort forth to make this part of the curriculum. She glanced at the door wondering exactly how many students would actually be willing to study such a subject.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac was very impressed with herself. She was not going to be late for this class. She had woken half an hour earlier so wasn't late from the get go, which was usually her problem but not today. She walked speedily down the corridors in the Dungeons heading towards the class and saw a flash of yellow ahead. Jac had not been watching ahead of her so looked up to see someone arrive at the same door as she was heading for. Glad she wasn't the first one in the class with the new professor, Jac jogged to the door and through it, entering the class.

The first thing to catch her eye was the blackboard. Jac read it quick as she could and smiled mischievously. This is going to be wicked, Jac thought to herself and moved to a desk in the third row. Next, Jac saw the professor. "Hello Professor," she said cheerfully, "lovely day, isn't it?" Jac was in a very cheery mood and couldn't hide that fact. Then she saw the cause of the yellow flash she had seen. A couple of rows ahead of her, Jac spotted the head of a Hufflepuff she was certain she had seen of the Quidditch pitch. "Maria, right?" Jac offered with a smile, "I'm Jac. Pleasure to meet you, properly. Not just rocketing bludgers around, huh."

[Prof. Hansel Hanzel]

Hmm, at least she can read, Hansel thought sardonically as the first student arrived, her canary yellow school tie trailing against her shoulder as she walked in. ‘Good morning, my dear,’ he grumbled back cheerlessly, watching her with one narrowed eye as she began fussing with her quills and parchment, laying them out at perfect angles to one another. It rather surprised Hansel that his first pupil should be a Hufflepuff. Although he admitted they were not as morally insufferable as Gryffindors, he certainly hadn’t known any with the stomach to handle such a usually serious, no-nonsense subject. I’ll see what she can handle soon enough, he reminded himself.

Upon the door opening a second time, the sides of Hansel’s mouth dropped into a disappointed grimace. Grinning like a ray of sunshine and behaving as though she had just arrived for a friendly game of Quidditch, the Gryffindor’s lack of manners were not appreciated by Hansel. ‘The weather? I wouldn’t know unfortunately. I wasn’t given the luxury of a classroom with windows – and I hope you’ll forgive me when I ask you to shut up and sit down.’ He replied menacingly, towering over the two girls as he stood up. 'You'll quickly find there is no room for pleasantries in my classroom.'

[Alexis Heart]

'You'll quickly find there is no room for pleasantries in my classroom.'

Alexis walked in just as the professor made that little statement. She had so far been excited about this class, reading up all night just so that she was prepared. Even during breakfast her nose was buried in a book on the dark arts but her good mood seemed to fly right out of the window when she heard those words. It didn't take her long to get a bad vibe from him. Marching quickly into the room she found a seat near Maria risking a small smile. Then taking out her things she placed them neatly on her desk and began to write down the things she had seen on the board simply because it seemed the right thing to do. Hoping that once the lesson was started the professors personality would change perhaps he wouldn't be so mean.

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny had to admit that she was quite taken aback when she was informed that dark arts classes would once again commence at Hogwarts. It wasn't that she disliked the class she just thought that...Quickly squashing the thoughts she left the Great Hall after breakfast. As she walked around the school she wondered who they would be getting to fill the post as professor.

She entered the room after a Ravenclaw girl and immediately spotted Jac sitting there. Not hesitating she made her way over to her friend and sat down. She was about to give her friend a proper greeting when she eyed the professor, who didn't seem they type to enjoy disruptions in class. So sitting back and being the model student she just got her things ready.

The room was cold and she began to shiver, part of her wondered if it was because of their location or because of the name eying them all from the front of the room. Ginny would admit he didn't give off the ere of someone you'd want to have mad at you. Suddenly dark arts class wasn't as appealing.

[Maria Turolia]

A Gryffindor entered the dungeon room, shortly after Maria. She was surprised to see a Gryffindor taking the class, but curiousity wasn't a rare trait in Gryffindors and it was probably surprising to see a Hufflepuff in there as well. She knew the girl's name was Jac, but they had never actually talked before. She couldn't help but smile slightly at the girl's bludger comment. It had always been one of Maria's favorite things to do. Who wouldn't have fun knocking bludgers at people? Before she even at the chance to reply to Jac the professor spoke.

Her gaze quickly went from Jac to the professor. Maria wasn't at all surprised by the professor, when he told Jac to shut up and sit down or when he said there wasn't room for pleasantries. Maria nodded politely to the professor. She hadn't expected this to be a friendly class at all really. She was actually surprised as she looked around by the lack of Slytherins in the room and by the abundance in Gryffindors. She could tell that the professor wasn't too pleased by this fact. Maria didn't even glance at Alexis as the girl sat down beside her. Her eyes stayed on the professor as she waited patiently for class to begin.

[Jac Shaw]

The weather? I wouldn’t know unfortunately. I wasn’t given the luxury of a classroom with windows – and I hope you’ll forgive me when I ask you to shut up and sit down!’ He replied menacingly, towering over the two girls as he stood up. 'You'll quickly find there is no room for pleasantries in my classroom.'

Jac smiled at the Professor all through his little rant. He was clearly not accustomed to Jac's unfailing smile. She was quiet as he spoke, keeping eye contact because it was good manners to do so, and linked her fingers together, resting her hands on the desk before her. How can one man be so uptight? Jac wondered, still smiling. She didn't need to be told to keep quite or to be seated as she was old enough to make such decisive decisions by herself, but apparently the Professor felt otherwise.

Calm, Jac was so calm when she answered. "But I am already seated, Professor," she said. Her tone was not cheeky or rude, simply informative, she did not want to seem disrespectful in any way. Maria had looked at Jac but all they could exchange face to face was a smile. Jac could live with that for now but she made a mental note to make contact with her soon. Another Quidditch player arrived, a Ravenclaw and Jac smiled at her too. To Jac's great surprise and joy, Ginny came in and joined her in the third row. Jac didn't dare speak to her but rather turned back to the professor.

Smiling sweetly, Jac cleared her throat before adding, "and I think you should do something about that, Professor," she added, testing the water as it were, "seeing outside. It helps for small talk and is a generally good starting point in any relationship." Always the sweet, innocent lamb. Jac smiled sweetly at the professor, her strong gaze unwavering.

[Alexis Heart]

Alexis didn't get much response from Maria after she had taken a seat she wondered if it was a snub. People could be fickle nice to you one minute, mean or unresponsive the next. It wasn't a vibe she got from Maria or anything but since Alexis didn't know her she couldn't really rule it out as a possibility. Then another thought struck her perhaps she was worried about the professor catching her making pleasantries with her fellow classmate. This teacher was already sucking the fun out of a class Alexis thought would be interesting.

Sitting back in a huffy manner she had to hold back from crossing one arm over the other like a petulant child. Just closing her eyes she hoped this would start and be over with soon. That's until Jac started to speak again. For a second Alexis thought she was going to apologize or something but no she was actually answering him back. She had a bit more tact and did it in such a way that it didn't sound rude or what have you, but still. Apparently Gryffindors were a lot more courageous than she thought, or perhaps they were just foolish. A wise man once said only a fool pokes a sleeping bear. Jac might not be so flippant once this man answers her.

Despite her initial shock, and misgiving about the situation Alexis couldn't deny she admired Jac a bit more for having enough guts not to falter under the scrutinizing stare and unpleasant demeanor of the man that was thrust upon them as Dark Arts Professor.[/size]

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie walked in shyly she didn't know if she was old enough to take the class. She was nevrous and really didn't to be yelled at. She looked around to see a seat in the back of the class. She headed for it.

[Agnija Valore]

Molly walked into the classroom and looked around for a place to sit. She saw a fellow Ravenclaw and made her way over to her. Molly took a seat. "Hello" she smiled. She looked at the girl before turning to the Professor. What had she missed?

[Edward Niven]

Edward pushed his best quill to the far end of his desk absently while his eyes scanned the blackboard. He read the list with a twinge of anticipation at first, but it lasted only until he became distracted with a Gryffindor. Prying his gaze away from the neat cursive, Edward regarded the girl from his small corner nook and arched a brow.

"That is assuming one wants to start a relationship with you at all," Edward stated his blunt reply as he returned his attention to the blackboard, spindly fingers twining around the bronze quill again. "And if windows are good for such things, I'd rather they be kept away." he added noncomittally, though in a way that suggested he felt his opinion held a significant weight.

[Maria Turolia]

Maria turned at looked to the corner of the room, where the voice had come from. She smiled at a small smile as she saw the familiar face of Edward Niven, sitting back there. It didn't surprise her in the least that such a comment had come from him. They were in the same year, and even though Maria didn't know much about Edward, she did know that he was one to put in his as though it were actually important. She liked that about him; it made him interesting.

Maria then turned her gaze to Jac wondering what great retort, the quintessential Gryffindor would have for it. She knew that Jac would have one, the girl always did. But Maria was never one to interfere with people's conversations and interactions. She preferred to observe, to learn.

[Blaire Lestrange]

Blaire Lestrange walked into her new dark arts room with a big grin on her face. She knew that this was going to turn out to be her favorite class at hogwarts. Because she was a Lestrange, and had Black family blood running through her she had grown up knowing all about the Dark Arts. She was suprised that Hogwarts was letting someone teach the subject but she wasn't complaining. The more I know the better she thought to herself.

She sat down near the front of the room and started to get ready for class. "Hello Professor, I'm Blaire Lestrange," she said, introducing herself. She arranged her supplies in front of her, ready to learn.

[Kendal Montgomery]

The second Kendal walked in it was to hear the professor yelling at one of the other students. Oh goodie how pleasant. A cranky DADA professor. Kendal swallowed hard it didn't seem to take much to set the man off. Finding a seat any seat, she tried to make herself invisible. Last thing she needed was someone in her face yelling that way. She hated yelling and he seemed to enjoy it so much.

This was one of the classes she had to take right? She was trying to remember, oh yeah she had gotten enough on her owls so yes she did need to take it. Perhaps if she kept her nose clean there'd be no need for a scene such as the one that was unfolding in front of her. Taking out her materials she tried to be as silent as possible. A hard feat when taking out parchment paper, but somehow she managed it simply because she couldn't stand the though of that man anywhere near her. He looked as scary as he sounded.