Chapter 8

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Whispers filled the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom as students waited for their new Professor's arrival. Murmurs about Moody's pass could be heard surrounded the Ravenclaw as she fiddled with the ends of her textbook on her desk.

Harry and Ron sat in front while Aidan sat with Neville behind them, Y/N and Hermione sat beside Harry and Ron whereas Caleb and Lizzy sat behind. "Hey Y/N/N, what'd you think we'd be learning today." Caleb asked, the Ravenclaw thought about it for awhile before turning around and replying with a shrug, "No idea, i've heard from Fred and George that they had fun during their class, so let's hope that's the case today."

Caleb hummed in response as he turned to his bag and took out his textbook, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.

Suddenly, the doors of the class room burst open, instantly students fell silent as all their attention was brought to the man limping towards the front. With a loud thud, he dropped his textbook onto Neville's desk.

"I see you all slogged down to Flourish & Blotts like good little boys and girls and bought the textbook. Congratulations...It'll make a fine doorstop.." he monotoned, then he slowly turned around to face the class, his normal eye squinting as his blue eyeball scanned the entire classroom.

"I'm Alastor Moody, ex-Auror, Ministry melcontent and your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me. End of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions?" he concluded, his blue eye continued to scan the silent classroom.

Y/N noticed how the blue eye landed on her, she felt the same gut feeling she felt during the feast, it certainly wasn't a good one.

Moody abruptly turned around and took out the same flask bottle out from his cloak and poured it into his mouth before slamming it down onto his desk. He clicked his tongue before turning back to face the classroom, "When it comes to the Dark Arts. I Believe in a practical approach. You may wonder what I mean by that. I'll show you, But first, which of you can tell me.."

He trailed off as he motioned behind his desk, kneeling down slightly, the sound of ruffling drawers could be heard as he took out a specimen jar, inside there was a spider that scuttled within.

"how many Unforgivable Curses there are?" he continued as his normal eye stayed glued onto the spider in the jar while his blue eye rotates around the classroom.

Students started to secretly exchange uneasy glances before turning back to the Professor in front who still held an emotionless face. Just then, his blue eye landed onto the bushy-haired girl in front, "I might've known. Go on, Granger."

Immediately, puzzled expressions spread across the students face but no one felt as puzzled as the bushy-haired girl herself, "There are three sir..." she trailed off as she exchanged a glance with Harry before turning back to the front, "How did you know-"

"Your name? I know a bit more than that." Moody interjected as he began to circle the classroom, "You're on top of your class, correct?"

"Yes, sir-"

"Naturally inquisitive?"

"Yes-"

"Socially inept?"

"Well-"

"And...Muggle born."

Instantly, the Ravenclaw felt an urge of uneasiness fill her body causing her to adjust her seat before letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Moody's eyes continue to rake over the other students, clonks could be heard from every step he took, "I'm not about to walk into a room full of strangers without doing background. Constant vigilance!" he spat as he jabbed his staff into the floor, right in front of Y/N.

The class jumped at the aggressiveness of the Professor, the Ravenclaw however, was transfixed to the Professor that stood beside her, her eyes studied the scars that could be seen all over his face.

"The devil likes disguises. Never forget that." Moody growled lowly towards the Ravenclaw. Y/N didn't shift her gaze as her eyes stayed glued to Moody, same with the Professor.

After a few seconds, he finally breaks the gaze and moved on, "Again, Granger. How many curses?"

"Three." the bushy-haired girl responded her tone slightly shaky. "And they're so named...?" Moody questioned again as nobody but the bushy-haired girl chose to respond, "Because they're unforgivable. The use of any of them-"

"will earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban, correct." Moody interjected as he once more reached the front, his back facing the students as he scribbled words onto the black board, "Now, the Ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different. You need to know what you're up against. You need to be prepared. You need to find another place to put your gum besides the underside of your desk, Mr. Finnigan."

Instantly, everybody's attention shifted towards Seamus, the boot sat there stunned , though one of his hands were placed under the table, caught in the act. "Blimey. The old codger can see out of the back of his head-"

"and hear across classrooms." Moody interjected sternly, he turned around and clicked his tongue, "Which curse shall we see first? Weasley!"

Ron jumped up slightly from his seat at the sudden mention of his name, eyes going wide, "Y-yes?" he stuttered nervously. "Give me a curse." Moody ordered as he returned back to the specimen jar, he reached his hand inside, letting the spider climb up his hand.

Y/N noticed the red-haired boy starting to feel uneasy as he held a cringed face, "Well..my Dad once told me about one...The Imperius Curse." Ron recalled as Moody hummed in response.

"I expect your father would know that one. Gave the Ministry a fair bit of grief some years ago. Perhaps this will show you why." he responded, taking out his wand and poising it towards the spider in his hands, "Imperio!"

The spider leaped from his palm onto Parvarti's shoulder, causing a loud shriek to be heard across the classroom. Moody didn't stop there as he flicked his wand and the spider bounded from Seamus to Dean to Lavender, on and on as some students shrieked in fear while some howled in amusement, finally it lands on a very horrified Ron.

The red-haired boy could be seen trembling as the spider neared him, Moody grinned at the sight like he found it amusing,"Talented isn't she?" Moody mused as he continued to circle his wand around the spider, "What should I have her do next?"

Moody flicked his wand causing the spider to hover on top of a bucket of water, "Drown herself?" he questioned devilishly as he slowly lowered the spider. Instantly, smiles on students faces withered as they watched the spider in horror.

Just then, Moody retreated the spider back to the palm of his hands, "Scores of witches and wizards claimed they only did You-Know-Who's begging while under the Influence of the Imperius Curse." he stated lowly, glancing back up to the students in front of him, "But here's the rub: how do you sort out the liars?"

An uneasy silence filled the classroom while Moody continued to scan through the students in the classroom, "Another?" he questioned as a few students started raising their hands including Neville.

Moody grew interest in Neville as he pointed towards him, "Longbottom." he called as Neville hesitantly stood up. Moody stepped closer to the nervous boy, their face only a feet apart, "Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for Herbology."

Neville nodded shyly, "There's...a-a Cruciatus Curse." he mentioned with a shaky voice. Moody's face lit up at the mention, "Yes! Yes! Correct! Here Come!" he told as he motioned to his desk, encouraging Neville to follow him, the boy reluctantly obliged.

Moody let the spider onto his desk as Neville stood in front of it, he poised his wand towards the spider, "Crucio!"

The spider twitched and shrieked, its legs trembled violently. Y/N cringed at the sight, shifting her gaze from the spider towards Neville, she noticed how the boy's breathing quickened, he held an extremely disturbed and pained expression. However, Moody was still transfixed to the spider that was trembling in pain.

Hermione couldn't stand it, she abruptly stood up, "Stop it! It's bothering him! Stop!" she yelled out, her fists clenched against her desk. Moody seemed to snap our of his trance-like state and quickly retreated his wand, instantly, the spider stopped while Neville had his eyes shut closed, trying to relax himself from what had just occurred.

Moody placed the spider back onto the palm of his hands and placed it on top of the bushy-haired girl's textbook, she had her eyes glued to the front. The Ravenclaw noticed the uneasy state of the bushy-haired girl, her own lips started to purse together as she reached an arm over to her thigh, giving it a comfortable squeeze as the bushy-haired girl seemed to relax slightly at the contact.

"Perhaps you could give us the las Unforgivable Curse, Miss Granger." Moody suggested, though the bushy-haired girl shook her head not wanting to answer. "The Killing Curse." Y/N interjected, not noticing that she herself held a pained expression, "Avarda Ke-" she stopped herself mid sentence, unable to finish her own sentence as she felt a pang of pain hit her chest.

She shut her eyes close before letting out a deep breath to calm herself, she leaned back into her seat as she watched the spider on top of the bushy-haired girl's textbook.

"Yes." Moody responded as he took out his wand and poised it to the spider once more, "Avarda Kedavra."

There was a flash of green light from Moody's wand, shooting straight at the spider, it rolled onto its back, no longer moving. Dead.

The Ravenclaw felt herself tense up, shutting her eyes close as she felt her heartbeat racing, her mind recalling the events that happened the night Lily saved her and Harry, and once more, the dream of her father and Grandfather. The same green light, the same curse repeated over and over again in her head.

The more she tried to relax herself, the more the pain in her chest builds up, she felt her airways tightened, like she was about to just collapsed any minute now. The faint voices of her father and grandfather's pleading filled her ears, combined with screams of Lily's voice.

Her body was about to give up on her, she could feel it, her chest growing heavier and heavier, her breath getting quicker and quicker, her vision slowly darkening.

"Y/N?" a voice called out, instantly her eyes shot back open, she looked around frantic but noticed that everybody's eyes was on her. "Are you okay?" the bushy-haired questioned concerningly as the Ravenclaw still looked slightly stunned from the occurrence.

She shook her head as she calmed herself down, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

Moody cleared his throat before glancing back to the class, "The killing curse. There is no blocking it. Only two are known to have survived it. And they're sitting in this room, right now."

Students eyes shifted towards the raven-haired boy and the Ravenclaw, Moody's stayed glued to the Ravenclaw who shifted her seat uneasily. Y/N and Harry exchanged a glance before turning back to the Professor, the Ravenclaw noticed his tongue nervously probed the corner of his mouth.

Instantly, he took out his flask and chugged it before the bell rang, the class instinctively packing their bags and exiting the class. 

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"Brilliant isn't he?" Ron praised as they descended the stairs, "Yeah, I mean he's terrifying to be in the same room with, you can tell, he's really been there." Caleb hummed in agreement.

Lizzy scoffed at the boy's remark, "I think he's cruel." she pointed out as Hermione nodded in agreement, "Did you see Neville? I thought he was going to-"

A tug on her hand made her shut up, she glanced over to the Ravenclaw on her side, about to question her before noticing her eyes were staring at something, curiously she followed her gaze and frowned. Neville stood by a stained glass window, his face running in rainy blue light as he gazes vaguely beyond.

Y/N made the first move as she softly tapped the boy on the shoulder, "Neville?" she called out, making sure to keep her tone gentle but before she could utter another word, a hand pushed her to the side. Professor Moody.

He limped pass the group and placed a leathered hand on Neville's shoulder, "It's alright, sonny. You come with me. We'll have a cup of tea in my office."

Neville hesitantly nodded, as he turned around, the group sending him apologetic looks as they watched him ascend the staircase, trailing behind Moody.

"Have tea with him? Now that's a nightmare." Aidan shuddered as he faked a shiver affect, Ron and Caleb nodded in agreement as they continued to climb down the stairs.

Harry walked down next to the Ravenclaw as he swung his arm around her shoulder, "You okay? Whatever happened back there seemed to affect you a lot."

The Ravenclaw shook her head before looking over to her side, flashing the raven-haired boy a reassuring grin, "No, yeah. I'm fine. You?"

The raven-haired boy let out a deep sigh and shook his head, "I'm fine, it's just..I've never really seen it with my own eyes." he told as Y/N hummed in response, "Neither have I."

The raven-haired boy glance over to the Ravenclaw and sent her a comforting smile, "Just remember, if there's anything going on, I-"

"You'll be there to listen, you've said that thousands of times already." she grumbled, the raven-haired boy snickered and nodded, "Just a reminder."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Thanks, Har. same goes to you, if there's anything I'll be here too." she hummed as they walked down to the corridor.

The Ravenclaw knew there was something more bothering her, the dream about her father seemed to keep reappearing, replaying in her mind over and over again but she didn't want to be a burden to her friends or her girlfriend, so stubbornly she decided to keep it to herself until the times right.

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I think i wrote this poorly but oh well, todays one of those days, vocab is just not in today