"Okay class. I am your Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Hazel." Professor Hazel pointed her wand at the board and curly writing appeared as she talked. "Now, I suggest you all be quiet so I can take the register." The already quiet class fell completely silent. Professor Hazel was very intimidating, with several battle scars all over her face, neck and hands and a wooden hand. James wondered which Death Eater she'd been fighting when she lost her hand.

"Bertram Aubrey?"

"Here Professor."

"Jack Avery?"

A boy in Slytherin robes gave a non-verbal grunt. Professor Hazel looked up at him with eyes like a hawk.

"Jack Avery?"

The boy sighed. "Here."

"Good. Luella Baker?"

Someone in Slytherin robes looked up. "Here."

"Sirius Black?"

"Here Professor." Sirius grinned and brushed his hair out of his face. Hazel looked up at him, unimpressed.

"You'll want to tie that up when we get to spell-casting, Black. Alecto Carrow?"

A short girl in Slytherin robes stopped giggling with her brother. "Here Professor."

"Amycus Carrow?"

"Here." The shorter boy next to her called.

"Amos Diggory?"

A bouncy boy in Hufflepuff robes looked up from writing down everything that was on the board. "Here Professor."

"Antonin Dolohov?"

"Here."

"Dianna Dixon?"

Someone in Hufflepuff robes waved. "Over here Professor."

"Jamie Dixon?"

The person next to Dianna waved their wand in the air. "Here Professor."

"Make sure you put your tie on, Jamie."

The Ravenclaw's eyes widened. "Oh Merlin. Thank you Professor." James could've been wrong but he swore he saw a small smile cross Professor Hazel's face.

"Lily Evans?"

Lily raised her hand shyly. "Here Professor."

"Violet Elliot?"

Someone in the middle row in Ravenclaw robes raised their hand. "Over here Professor."

"Sunny George?"

Someone in Hufflepuff robes next to Severus grinned brightly. "Back here Professor." And on it went.

"Okay class. Today, we're going to try disarm our opponent. Does anyone know the disarming charm?" It was so quiet a quill would've made a noise if it had fallen. "No one?" Still silence. Then, Peter raised his hand in the air slightly. "Yes, Mr Pettigrew."

"Um, Expelliarmus?"

Professor Hazel nodded and Peter breathed a sigh of relief. "Correct. Five points to Gryffindor. Yes, Expelliarmus is a very simple spell. Move your wands with me but don't say anything. We don't want wands flying everywhere. Now, follow my movements." Professor Hazel pulled her wand from deep in the folds of her robes and pointed it at the class, making the front row shrink back a little. "Now, along and down." Professor Hazel instructed, moving her wand as she did so. "Well don't just sit there. I want to see some wand movement." Simultaneously, 40 wands were pulled out of 40 robes and 40 almost identical Expelliarmus movements were performed. Professor Hazel nodded. "Good. 5 points to Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Each." A couple of fists hit the air at this statement and there were a couple of whispered 'yes's.

"Now, I need a volunteer." James and Sirius' hands hit the air at the same time. They looked at each other and there was a moment of 'every man for himself' as they started trying to pull each other's hands down. "Mr Black and Mr Potter." Professor Hazel. "If you think that this childish behaviour is any way to get me to pick you, you are dreadfully mistaken. Ten points from Gryffindor, five for each of you." James and Sirius lowered their hands. "Now, let's see if someone from Gryffindor can redeem these two." Hazel's eyes raked the room, looking for a Gryffindor who hadn't been called on yet.

"Not me, not me, not me, not me, not me, not me." Remus prayed, his fingers crossed.

"Mr Lupin."

"Dammit." Remus looked over the top of the pile of books. "Yes Professor."

"Why are you hiding behind those books, come up to the front."

"Professor, do I really have to?"

"Yes, you do." Remus sighed and walked to the front of the classroom with his wand out, feeling sick.

"Now, Mr Lupin, I am going to attempt to disarm you and you are going to attempt to deflect the spell."

"But we haven't learnt the counter spell, Professor."

"At least try, Mr Lupin." Remus sighed internally and straightened his back slightly, ready. "Expelliarmus."

"Protego." Remus flicked his wand up in an attempt to deflect the spell. His wand fell out of his hand and onto the floor. His shoulders slumped slightly and he bent down to pick it up.

"That was a very good try, Mr Lupin. Ten points back to Gryffindor. You may go back to your seat now. Now, do you see what Mr Lupin did?" Remus nearly ran back to the back row.

I went a little over-board with this chapter. And yes, I included my Sides. I couldn't resist!
Bye,
Blaize