Defense Against the Dark Arts Class (Years 6-7)

[Gabriele Hedy]

It was official. The school year had started. Students arrived on the train over the hours. Catching up with old friends and meeting new people. The first years took the boats to the school while the older students went by the carriages. Gabriele was one of those people who had rode the train to Hogwarts. She had remained in the teachers cart ignoring most people as she looked over her attendance list slowly. She wanted to learn every ones name, before the class begin. The train came to a slow stop and she had grabbed her luggage off of the top bar. She had enjoyed the feast and the sorting ceremony. It was different than at Durmstrang.

That was her first night. Now it was time for class. She had many students attending her class. Some attending because they have too, others because they enjoyed the class. She had taken over from Professor Rafael Ochoa. He had gone back to the Aurors, or at least that is what she was told. Either way, she was going to do her best to meet his standards with the class. She had been spending the first few hours of that morning sorting her class room and making it look nice, well nice for her. She wanted it to be somewhat like home.

She had her first class that morning. First, Second and Third years. It was an easy class. She recapped with the third years on what they learned, and the second years. The first years she introdcued the class. She would have to assign different assighments for them, but oh well. She went through her next class of 4th and 5th years. They were abit more mature. She didn't care though really, she told them that they would be recapping for O.W.Ls. They understood it would be a harder class but she wasn't going to go easy on the upper class. They knew how the school worked, and were expected to do more work, and harder work. That class seemed to finish fairly quickly.

She had one final class. This class was the one she had been waiting for. The 6th and 7th years. She felt she could connect with these students, and they wouldn't give her a hard time. If they did she wouldn't give any warnings, just detentions. She knew this class would be the toughest for both her, and the students. Hard for her because she would be under pressure from the upper class who had Ochoa as there teacher before. Hard for the students though because they would be covering the N.E.W.Ts. The 7th years final test, and the 6th years preparation for the test. She wouldn't go easy on them, and would give them various practice tests to prepare them.

She looked up to the clock once more for the final class. She had to just make it through the last class. She looked to her list and saw plenty of Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. Joy for her. Gryffindor Head of House in a class full of mostly Slytherins. She would make it through the class though, No problem at all.

[Randilynn]

Randilynn Kay Bishop practically skipped down the hallway towards her last class, and as it happened, her favorite class. Defense Against the Dark Arts. That was something she could handle, flawlessly. She'd been practicing sense she was old enough to hold a wand. Counter-curses, jinxes and hexes. Her textual knowledge is sharp, and skill with her wand? Impecable. Defense had always been her strong suit. Followed by Charms, and the rest being evenly distributed among her other classes. Her arms were crossed before her, hugging her heavy tomb for the class, and a leather-bound folder for her parchment. They were fastened together with a leather scrip. Even to the passer-bye, the bounce in her step would be noticable. Her pace was quick, causing her robe to kick up abit, flashes of deep blue showing here and there, a showcase of her house's colors. She wore a pair of dark blue denim jeans. The 'stone washed' style everyone goes for, cinched with a lime green plastic looking belt. Her top was the usual, the predetermined, the white button-down blouse and striped tie representing her house.
It wasn't cold enough, in her mind, for the sweater's that lots of the other girls wear constantly.

The door to the classroom stood open. A portal to an even more magical world than Hogwarts. True enough, it was the first day of classes, nothing exciting usually happens. However, to Randi - the first day of Defense was exciting. It meant that months more of this class would follow. Unfortunately, at the same time, it meant that this would be her last session of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

As she entered, the first thing she noticed was her new Professor. Professor Hedy. She was pretty, and youthful. Randi instinctively thought that the new prof would have trouble fending off some of the more....blunt....Slytherin boys. Professor Hedy, well, Randi couldn't judge her quite yet. She always gave a new teacher the benefit of the doubt, for a few days. She did have rather large shoes to fill though, Ochoa was a gifted professor in the subject. At least in Randi's eyes.

As Randi's eyes turned towards her new Professor, her shyness took over once more. She darted her eyes to the ground, and quietly shuffled to a seat, on the left side, second row from the front. Her fingers hesitated as she untied the leather holding her books together, but she quickly finished, stowing the scrip in her robe's pocket. From her leather folder she withdrew a fresh sheet of parchment, and her quill. She set them out before her neatly, and almost obsessively. Her text to the left, and her parchment and quill to the right. Easier to take notes with the dominant hand. She reached into her robe pocket once more, and came out with a inkwell, and her antique Maple wand. She set both in front of her parchment.

Her eyes seemed to bore holes into her text as she waited for class to start, however, daydreams took over her mind...

[Anthony Davis]

Anthony made his way up the stairs toward the Defence Against the Dark Arts room. He had already had a long day of classes, but this was going to be the last one at least. He enjoyed the class and everything, but it was the end of the day and there was just so many other things he would rather be doing. Like sitting out by the lake with his friends or watching people play Quidditch. But he would suck it up and go to the class with a smile on his face. He wanted to show this Professor all the same respect he had shown his others through the day. It wasn’t her fault that she was the last class on a nice day, and she probably didn’t want to be there either. If he complained about it the class would just end up dragging longer, so he would suck it up.

Anthony smiled warmly as he entered the room. “Good afternoon professor, how are you? My name is Anthony Davis, I’m a Hufflepuff sixth year.” He told the woman for her attendance purposes. He then looked around the rather empty class. Looked like he was the second one here. He made his way over to the other side of the room from the other student. She looked deep in thought and he didn’t want to interrupt it. He sighed and looked out the window. He wished that Arista or Kelsi were here. Having a friend would make the class less boring.

[Artemis Regimus]

Artemis had gone through his whole day of classes. The day dragged on, and he just wanted to go an relax in the common room. He looked to his shecdule quickly and sighed. Defense Against the Dark Arts. He liked the class, but he was a sixth year, he didn't need any more defense. Besides what else could he possibly learn? He walked as slow as he could towards the class. He didn't want to be first, but he also didn't want to be the last one into the class. He looked out the windows as he walked. The sun was slowly starting to set and he had plenty of homework already to do.

School sucked in his opinion. If he had a choice he would of dropped out, but his father wanted him to stay in hogwarts. This year wouldn't be to bad hopefully though. With the announcment of a Tri-wizard Tournament it should be quite the interesting year. He knew the stakes of the tournament, but he wanted to be the Hogwarts champion...or atleast make it to the last 4 for each house. If he did that, then atleast he would have some form of pride to make it that far. It would mean he was the best in Slytherin house if he made it that far which was good enough for him.

He shook his head from his thoughts and finally made his way into the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. He looked around seeing a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw. Joy, no other slytherins. Ohh well atleast he wasn't first to the class, he didn't want to seem like a teachers pet being first. He looked to the teacher. He was surprised, she was young and beautiful. Maybe this class wouldn't be so bad after all. He looked at her again and his last thought imediatly left his head. She was the Gryffindor Head of House. Just great. Artemis was in a class with a hot teacher, but of course, there is always a catch. Gryffindors. Oh well. He took his seat in the third row and dropped his stuff onto the desk. He leaned back and crossed his arms and looked up to the teacher. He didn't say anything about his name yet unless she asked.

[Alyssa Lockwood]

Alyssa Lockwood and Isabella Gaunt had both grown to be really good friends over the past year. The two were really close and you've always seen them hanging out with each other but, both of them had been really busy lately with there boyfriends and hadn't hung out in a while so they both decided to walk to class together and catch up on the latest gossip and such in Hogwarts. They had both finally arrived to the class room and Isabella stopped dead in her tracks when she had seen Artemis. Isabella sighed and looked at Alyssa and she had just laughed a little and Isabella laughed with her.

Isabella knew she would see Artemis in her classes and such and plus they had been in the same house unfortunately. He knew mostly all of her secrets but, she had been cleared free thanks to one of the Aurors that were here to watch over the school during the competitions. She walked into the room her and Alyssa. "Hello Professor." They had both said. "I'm Isabella Gaunt." isabella said and introduced herself. "I am Alyssa Lockwood." She had done the same thing and nodded. The two went to go sit down at the front of the room. They both enjoyed this class a lot. Isabella thought she would be nice to her ex boyfriend and she turned around and smiled. "Hey Artemis." she said.

(I hope that's okay I posted both of them together?)

[Kelsi May]

Kelsi had been walking to class and she had been dreading her classes lately and not wanting to go to them. She was rather depressed lately and she could have sworn she was turning into a Slytherin lately she didn't know what was happening to her. It was so unlike her. "Move." She said as some first kid was in her way as she headed towards class. She felt like her best friend wasn't even her best friend anymore. She missed him a lot but, if she hung out with him or Arista it would make her miss Athan cause Athan was kind of seeing Adonia her cousin. She had finally arrived and walked into the class room and nodded at the professor not even saying a word or a word to Anthony as she had walked passes. She had seen Artemis and smiled she met him the other day. She went over to him. "Hey is it okay if I sat here next to you?" She asked. Once he said yes she figured she would just sit down anyways and she had done so. She couldn't wait to see Anthony's reaction when she had done that. She completely ignored him. This was different a hufflepuff being friends with a Slytherin but, Artemis hadn't been that bad at all maybe cause she was a pureblood too that's why it didn't matter. She tried not to look at Anthony as she had been sitting there she grabbed her bag off the floor and got her book and her wand out for the class and sat them on the desk and put her back back on the floor. She had sat back and glanced over at Artemis.. "So what's up?" she asked him.

[Artemis Regimus]

Artemis sat there bored drawing in the corner of a peice of parchement as he waited for others to join the class. He looked back hearing two people walk into the room. Oh joy, It was Isabella, of course it was, why would it be anyone else? He sighed to himself and looked back to his Parchment. He listened to them wondering where they would sit, and he sighed to himself as Isabella sat next to him. Just perfect, could this day get any better? He looked to her and smiled as she spoke."Hello Miss Gaunt, how are you today?" He would do his best to be polite to her, but it killed him inside to be nice to her. He looked back to his Parchement as he heard yet another person enter the room. He looked back to see it was a Hufflepuff. He raised an eye brow, she wasn't bad looking, and he had met her a few days back. He watched as she went to sit next to him on the other side. He motioned to let her sit, he wasn't one to say no to a beautiful girl sitting next to him. He continued to draw and looked over at her as she began to talk. "Nothing much. Kelsi rigt? we met a few days back, pardon if I don't remember your name that well..." He smirked and waited for both the class to begin and for Kelsi to respond.

[Randilynn]

Randi sat in her own little world. Staring idly off at nothing, pretending not to see the happenings that occured around her, in the pre-class environment. She was something of a people watcher. She recognized a couple of the students that walked in the room behind her. 3 Slytherin's, and 2 Hufflepuff's. And her, makes 1 Ravenclaw. Prof Hedy was head lion, which made for an entirely interesting atmosphere.

The first one in after her, she recognized as Anthony. A handsome 6th year. After him came Artemis. It's funny how the Slytherin's seem to be known by all. Some of them are decent people, too, contrary to popular belief. Artemis behaved more like her, at first. He came in quietly, and sat down. But he carried himself differently than Randi did. The girls then came in. Attached at the hip, not a surprise. Randi couldn't think of their names off of the top of her head. Following shortly after was a Hufflepuff that Randi didn't know, young, pretty. So far she was the only 7th year in class. That could prove awkward.

She almost laughed outloud at the thought, but it couldn't be more awkward than it was for the poor Professor. Her first year of teaching, and in a position that's been notoriously filled by Slytherins, and Ravenclaw's for the most part.

Randi really hoped class would start soon, she was anxious to pass judgement on Professor Hedy, and measure herself against her fellow classmates. She was competitive, but quietly. Randi unconciously adjusted her wand's location on her desk, and moved her eyes to the forward of the class. Hopefully she'd have a fellow Ravenclaw walk in so that she could feel a little more.....welcome in this odd group.

[Yelena Valdicar]

Yelena had been doing her hall patrols as she had a free period before her last class. being a prefect ment she had to keep trouble makers out of trouble, and give detentions if needed. She looked to her watched seeing she ha 10 minutes to get to her Defense against the dark arts class. She desided to do one last patrol of the floor she was on, before going to get her stuff out of the common room. She looked to her watched again, 7 minutes to get to class. She left the Gryffindor Common Room and made her way towards the class room. She was happy to go to the class, it was led by the Gryffindor Head of House, and she seemed pretty nice despite it being her first year. All teachers were nice on there first year. She entered the class room with 3 minutes to spare. She wasn't first to the class, but she wasn't late either. She somewhat froze seeing the class full of mostly Slytherins and Hufflepuff. This would be interesting. She took her seat in the middle of the room and took out all of her supplies needed for the class. She looked up to the teacher waiting for her to begin the class.

[Syrus Helling]

Technically he hadn’t needed to return to Hogwarts this year. The only real requirement to be a Cursebreaker was an O.W.L. in Arithmancy, which he’d gotten last year. However, if he didn’t come back to Hogwarts, what the hell else would he do? He was too young to actually start working as a Cursebreaker just yet, the Trace was still on him, and he wasn’t about to hang about his so called home for another year and a half while he waited for his seventeenth birthday. Besides, the more knowledge he could gain the better chance he’d have to stay alive in a career fraught with risks. Zaine had completed all seven years at Hogwarts as well, and he would do the same.

His first day back at classes had been rather uneventful so far, the usual setting ground rules and reviewing and what have you. The first days back at classes were generally fairly boring like that. And now he was headed to his last class of the day, Defense Against the Dark Arts. At least it was a practical class, though all the classes he’d chosen to take this year were chosen specifically because further knowledge in them might come in handy in future. Even Herbology might be some sort of use to him some day, as dull as he thought the class was. He’d dropped Astronomy this year after he couldn’t figure out any way it could be of any possible use to him any longer. Anything that would be of use to him from that class he was sure he’d already learned.

He walked into the classroom with his book resting on his shoulder. He paused when he saw the professor and raised his eyebrow slightly. Not just a new face, but a pretty one. However, she was also the head of Gryffindor house…. He scowled to himself and glanced around the room. Spotting Artemis and Isabella he headed over to sit near them. He rather expected to see them across the room from each other, not sitting so close. He took a seat on Artemis’s opposite side, glancing over the girl sitting beside him briefly, and set his book down before him. He wasn’t much in the mood for starting up a conversation, however, and seeing as class would be starting soon anyway, he just leaned back in his chair and waited for now.

[Archard Chevalier]

Defense Against the Dark Arts. One of the many classes Archard needed to do exceedingly well in this year. Not that he’d ever gotten anything less than an Exceeds Expectations in any of his classes, so he wasn’t worried, per se, but he was a lot more focused this year, even more than he had been for O.W.L.s during his fifth year. That hardly seemed to matter any longer, N.E.W.T.s were all that mattered now. Studying for N.E.W.T.s and Quidditch, but studying came first… maybe. Yes. Mostly.

All thoughts of studying and quidditch flew right from his mind as he entered the classroom and he saw the professor. He stared at her for a moment without realizing it. It actually took him that long to realize she WAS the professor and not another student. She looked so young and was exceptionally beautiful. He found himself wondering just how old she actually was, but knew enough not to ask. Even if they’d been alone together he didn’t think he would, not directly anyway. It was better to subtly work toward the conversation of age and influence a woman to admit her age of her own accord, otherwise they seemed to get offended rather easily, though for what reason he would never know.

“Mademoiselle, I am Archard Chevalier, and I shall be your most diligent student, zat I promise you,” he smiled genuinely and took a seat absentmindedly beside Randilynn. He might have heard someone muttering something about him had he not been too focused on the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor instead.

[Gabriele Hedy]

Gabriele watched the door seeing her first student arrive to the class. A ravenclaw no doubt. She figured they would always be the first to arrive to class. She didn't care though, she would award 5 points to house and person who arrive to class first. Wasn't really a favortism thing, she just thought it would be a good way for her to get on the students good sides. She marked down on the attendance list who she was. She had taken a guess as there were only a few Ravenclaws on her list. She looked back up to the door and watched as a hufflepuff strode into the room.

She watched as he sat down and spoke up his name. She marked him down and nodded to him and spoke in a sweet voice, her german accent quite noticeable "I am good Mister Davis" She smiled to the boy and looked to the door as only a few seconds after she finished speaking a Slytherin boy walked in. She wondered if he would speak his name, but alas he didn't she finally spoke up to him after waiting a moment."Name sir?" Once he had spoke his name she marked him down and saw 3 more students arrive in quick succession. Two more slytherins and a hufflepuff. She wrote down on her attendance sheet as both Slytherin girls spoke there names. She watched the hufflepuff. She didn't speak her name and she once again asked. Once it was spoken she marked down the name.

So far things were going good, people were arriving to the class on time, and she didn't have a problem with that. It just ment not that many troublemakers, or so she hoped. a few minutes passed and with 3 minutes left before class started a fellow Gryffindor walked into the room. She appeared to be a prefect, only making that assumption by the badge on her robe. She waited for the girl to speak her name. She could pick up the french accent in Yelenas voice as she spoke. She marked her down and looked up seeing a Slytherin boy walk in. He was also a prefect due to the badge. She smiled at him knowing that he was shocked she was the teacher. This would be an interesting class, they were in for a surprise when she actually started teaching. She marked him down once he spoke his name, and looked as a Ravenclaw walkd into the room.

He had a very prominant French Accent and she smild marking him down on the list before speaking to him "I sure hope you are. Ravenclaws are known to be smart, don't let me think otherwise" She dcided she would start the class now. If anyone else walkd in, she wouldn't mark them as late, she was leniant and people sometimes get caught up with things, but she wouldn't be that nice everytime they were late. Gabriele stood up from her desk and looked at the class. She held her wand in her hand and flicked it towards the chalk board. Words started to appear on the board. It was her name. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"Good afternoon students. My name is Proffesor Gabriele Hedy, you will call me Proffessor Hedy. As you all know, this is Defense Against the Dark Arts. This is NEWT level class, and NEWT preparation for Sixth Years. Now, This is my first year teaching, as I am sure you all know but I am keen to all tricks and excuses you guys can pull or try to pull. I will not stand for tom-foolery in my class room. You will recieve a detention if you are caught goofing off. You are 16 and 17 years old, you are nearly adults, and I will treat you as such. Now, a few things more. If you are going to be late for my class, be sure you have a good reason, I am leniant on being late, because I understand some of you have Quidditch, or Prefect Duties. DO not make it a daily mistake to be late. After two late classes I will start docking points. On the third late class, I will put you in detention."

She smiled to them, waiting for there reactions before begining again. "Now, first things first. I want to make this class as interesting as possible, but fun as well and knowledgeable for everyone in here. So the first thing I wish for you too do is write me a little summary of everything you have learned in this class. Simple enough, doesn't have to be too long, two paragraphs at most. When you are done writing them, Please bring them up to me on my desk. You may begin writing." She sat back down at her desk and watched as the students began writing.

((OOC: This writing assignment, if you could please send it to me in a PM, or if you wish write it in the topic, but if you write it in the topic, make it so where I can find it easily. thanks))

[Randilynn]

And things started with a bang! Randi thought quietly to herself. A writing assignment on the first day of class. Oh joy, even if it wasn't too much trouble. This class had been an interesting one for her, and the previous professor had done a good job of rounding out her education. He had a flair to him. Randi reached for her quill, and opened her inkwell at the same time. With a quick dab in the deep blue ink, she began to formulate her words.

Randi was going to make a good, solid impression on Prof. Hedy. She was hesitant to divulge some of her more...personal training, some of the more, how would you say it? Frowned upon methods. Defense was her class. She's practiced it since she first got her wand, and nearly every day since. She touched her quill to her parchment, and words appeared. She'd make this professor remember her.

She wrote about her accomplishments, what she'd learned, and threw in a bit of extra, concerning what she wanted to learn. She wasn't afraid to approach her previous Prof's shortcomings, and when she laid her parchment down, and walked it up to Prof. Hedy, she felt accomplished, on her first day of class.

Randi kind of bowed her head as she approached the young Professor's desk, and extended her arms - clutching her parchment. "Here you are professor" and as soon as it left her grasp, she turned and began back to her seat.

[Milly Edwards]

Milly rushed across the corridors. She was running late and she knew it. Not to help the fact that it was the first class of Defence Against The Dark Arts and there was a new professor. She ran across and saw noticed that almost everyone was in there classes.

Milly came across her class and pushed open the doors. "Oh crap" She thought to herself. sure enough there was everyone with their heads down writing on parchment. She caught her breath and saw the professor at the end of the class. "I am so, so sorry professor. It won’t ever happen again. My name is Milly Edwards."

She looked over at the students that were. Milly hated sitting alone but there really wasn't much students there who she really knew. Plus most of the seats where taken. She spotted one beside Syrus and walked over to it.

Milly didn't personally know Syrus but had seen him around before. She wasn't too sure if he wanted anyone near him or not but hey what else was she suppose to do?"Sorry but there really isn't much other choice. Is it okay if i sit here? If you don't mind me asking what are we working on if you don’t mind me asking?" She smiled at Syrus and got her parchment out.

[Avery Ward]

Avery pushed open the door to the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom just in time to hear who he presumed to be the Professor, beginning her introduction. Normally he was on time - after all, father had always stressed the importance of being punctual. Indeed, Avery looked up to a man as successful as his father or at least, formerly successful before the debacle that led to his imprisonment. Casting the foul, loathsome thought from the face of his mind he refocused himself upon the task at hand. His heavy, piercing eyes flickered over to the woman momentarily, before lowering himself into a seat near the door.

Sitting upright in a dignified, almost haughty manner he listened to the women's introduction with a stony expression. This year would mark the most important term of his entire Hogwart's career and yet, would this professor be competent in preparing him for his NEWT level exams? Avery's expression soon undertook a subtle change - a scowl, though only faintly detectible - his right hand clenched his quill waiting for something worthy of taking notes over.

The Professor, who he swiftly learned to be of the name of Gabriele Hedy was a complete neophyte when it came to education. After all, this was her first year of teaching and unfortunately, he, and the rest of this class would have to suffer the experience of being this women’s test subjects. It was nearly comical how she even had to caution a NEWT level class on playing ‘tricks’ as she termed it. His eyes strayed to the side, and he smirked at the sight of a girl with violently red hair. Perhaps some individuals would prove to still be quite immature. Tearing his eyes away from the girl, he tore a decently sized scrap of parchment from his roll and set to work upon his assignment.

How he could possibly cram five years of religiously studying Defense against the Dark Arts into two measly paragraphs was challenging. Avery privately disagreed with the aims of this class as well: to be interesting and fun. No, none of these students should have even signed up for the NEWT level class if they did not already find the subject interesting. Now was the time for serious preparation; he wanted a curriculum, like the sort his parents had undergone. No Ward has ever failed the NEWT exams and Avery had every intention on coasting through each and every one of them with flying colors.

He began his paragraphs writing in his usual distinctive script: Throughout my years at Hogwarts I have learned far too many curses, counter-jinxes, offensive spells and more to possibly explain them all in this assignment. Instead, I shall list off textbooks that I have studied extensively so as to hopefully give you some idea on where I am in my studies.

Firstly, I have read The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts by Arsenius Jigger. This particular book went in depth on various dark creatures to be wary of such as Hinkypunks, Werewolves and wraiths. More recently, last year our Professor had us read The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble. This book in comparison to the prior, focused more on jinxes and defensive charms. Overall, I hope that this class will build upon the strong foundation I have spent years developing thus far and look forward to learning far more elaborate curses and defensive spells.

Avery signed his name in clear, sophisticated cursive, and he rose from his seat, setting the assignment down at her desk. Returning to his seat, he folded his hands before him awaiting the remainder of the class.