.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.

The first week of school was exactly as expected. Zinnia basked in the feeling of being at her second home. The castle walls held the memories of some of the best, and mostly dangerous, times of her life.

Her classes went well with her handing in the homework she surprisingly completed on the last week of her break. The first couple of lessons began with the teachers gruelling the students with incomplete works and boring accounts of what was to come this year. Some even began to mention the importance of studying for their O.W.L exams. Zinnia was very unpleasantly surprised by this, as were her friends.

"O.W.L exams? But those aren't for another year" Zinnia questioned Professor McGonagall in their transfiguration class.

"You ought to be prepared, Miss Beaumont, these exams will not be easy" she replied looking down at the girl. The class replied with groans of agony at the thought of sacrificing their spare time for the next three years due to exams.
The Gryffindor students made their way to their next class, the one they were most excited for which was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Zinnia had always been good at that subject despite the influx of different teachers each year. She missed being taught by professor Lupin but would settle for Moody as she had heard so many heroic stories of him from her brother.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts next, You ready Harry?" said the girl catching up with him after stuffing her books in her bag.

"As I'll ever be, I'm excited about this Moody guy" he said, slowing down his pace so Zinnia could finish putting loose paper in her bag.

"Fred and George say he's brilliant, he really knows, you know? He's been there" Ron said from the other side of Zinnia. The twins had been talking about how great Moody is since their first lesson. They keep saying he's hardcore but he knows what its like in the real world.

"Well if he's that great let's just hope he doesnt get fired like the others" Hermione said as they approached the classroom at the top of the stairs.

"Yeah i don't know about that" Zinia whispered to hermione as they entered the classroom. Moody was hunched over the blackboard at the front of the room with his back facing the students. The four got an eerie feeling as they sat down. Hermione and Ron went to sit together and Harry placed himself next to Zinia on the two seater desks. They looked at each other and smiled, getting their books and quills out ready to start the lesson.

"Alastor Moody" a low voice grumbled from the front of the classroom now facing the students. Moody began writing his name aggressively on the chalkboard in illegible chicken scratch, throwing away the chalk carelessly after he was done.

"Ministry malcontent. And your new defence against the dark arts teacher." He spoke with authority towards the silent children. "I'm here because Dumbledore asked me, end of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions?" he pushed with emphasis, Zinnia made a mental note to never ask him why he was at Hogwarts, it seemed to be a touchy subject.

"When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?" he spoke, his fake eyeball whizzing around the room, focusing on the confused students.

"Three sir" Hermione spoke in a shaken voice, Zinnia felt bad for her as she was clearly nervous. She didn't think she could speak with any more confidence than Hermione if she were asked that question.

"And they are so named?" Moody asked, grabbing another piece of chalk and once again writing messily on the board
"Because they are unforgivable, The use of any one of them will-" Hermione said with a broken voice but a strong countenance.

"Will earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban, correct" Moody interrupted the girl, his voice getting more fierce as he wrote. "Now the ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different!" He yelled with a growl in his voice, Zinnia subconsciously leant back in her chair frightened of the man.

"You need to know what you're up against, you need to be prepared, you need to find somewhere else to put your chewing gum other than the underside of your desk Mr Finnigan!" He growled, the whole class responding by looking at Seamus.

"Aw no way, the old codger can see out the back of his head." Seamus complained, Zinnia fought to hold back a smile which quickly faded at the roar of Moody's voice.

"AND HEAR ACROSS CLASSROOMS" he shouted after throwing a piece of chalk at Seamus. Zinia along with the rest of the classroom ducked as to avoid the flying stationary.

"So, which curse shall we see first?" Moody surveyed the classroom "WEASLEY!" His voice boomed directly in front of Ron.

"Yes," Ron replied in a frightened whimper.

"Stand," Moody firmly demanded. Ron did as such slowly with a pale face and hesitant movements.

"Give us a curse" Moody spoke closely to Ron's face in a hushed tone. Well what seemed hushed compared to all the yelling he just did.

"Well, my Dad did tell me about one," Ron said, struggling to stand his ground in front of the leering teacher. Moody grunted, indicating Ron to continue. "The Imperius Curse"

"Oh,yeah, your father would know all about that. Gave the Ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago" Moody snarled still inches away from Ron's frightened face. "Perhaps this will show you why" he said, turning away from the boy. Ron sat down as soon as he could and looked over to Harry and Zinnia in fright, they both returned the same expression.

Moody limped over to the table which had an array of different kinds of bugs in an assortment of glass jars. He lifted the lid to one jar and muttered a mocking "hello" as he picked up an insect that resembled a spider crossed with a beetle. He intently stared at it as he pulled out his wand and muttered "Engorgio" as the bug grew twice its original size. He placed the imperius curse on the bug and it began to float around the room.

He made it jump over to Dean and Nevilles desk and the two backed away in disgust. He then traveled to Crabb's face and planted itself on his head. Crabbe squeezed his face in fear.

"Don't worry. It's completely harmless" he spoke over the chattering students looking at the scene in front of them. Although she felt bad for the bug, she couldn't help but laugh at the face the horrible Slytherin made.

The bug moved again, this time into the unexpecting hand of Pama Patil, it crawled up her arm as the classroom laughed along with the menacing chuckles of the Professor. It then traveled through the air to the set of desks next to Zinnia and Harry. The bug hovered atop Ron's head and teased the poor boy.

"If she bites, she's lethal" Moody teased as Ron whimpered. Harry and Zinnia couldn't help but laugh at the humorous reaction of the redheaded boy as the bug dropped onto his face. The loud cackles of malfoy could he heard from across the classroom, Moody seemingly wasn't too pleased with this.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked, flinging the bug into malfoys nose. He tried swatting it away and demanded the help of Goyle. Meanwhile the whole class was in hysterics, Harry started clapping next to Zinnia and they both laughed even harder.

"Talented isn't she? What should I have her do next? Jump out the window?" Moody teased dropping the energetic tone of the class and flinging the bug into a glass pane. Everyone fell silent at the realisation of what the curse was really capable of. "Drown Herself? He spoke amongst the silence, watching the bug struggle in pain over the pail of water.

Slowly he returned the bug to his hand, staring at it intently. He turned to face the class with a violent glare. Everyone's face was filled with horror as they turned back to face the front of the class.

"Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the imperious curse. But here's the rub, how do we sort out the liars?" he let the silence linger for only a moment before demanding more class participation "Another.. Another.. Come on, come on." Neville slowly raised his hand, abundant with nerves and hesitance in response to Moody's question "Longbottom is it? Up." The class remained silent and unassuming to what would come next.

"Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for herbology." the professor attempted to converse with Neville. Zinnia thought it was a strange thing to ask considering the situation. Neville simply nodded faintly in response, unable to muster up a verbal reply.

"There's the um.... The Cruciatus Curse" Nevile stumbled with his words. The entire classroom could feel his unerved tone. Zinnia felt for the boy and desperately wished she could do something to help him.
"Correct, correct. Come, come" Moody enthusiastically encouraged Neville. Zinnia was uncertain about what he was asking. She looked to Harry for assurance and he had the same expression on his face as they both let out a quivering breath of air.

"Particularly nasty" Moody elaborated. Zinnia swung her head behind her to look at Fay, she too was nervous but her eyes were fixed on the front of the class. They shared a glance as their eyebrows shifted in concern. When Zinnia averted her gaze back to the front of the class she found Neville being escorted to the front. Moody placed the bug in the middle of the table as Neville waited anxiously.

"The Torture Curse" moody muttered. "Crucio" he spat nastily as the bug began to squeak in agony. Its limbs convulsing and body shaking uncontrollably. Neville looked utterly horrified, his eyes were fixated on the tortured bug, unable to pull them away. It was as if something was forcing him to watch and he grimaced in pain, his mouth curling in disgust. He turned away as the bug spasmed more and more, unable to witness the sight of the cruelty. Zinnia couldn't bear to see her friend in such pain, she felt the cold and tight atmosphere too.

"STOP IT, CAN'T YOU SEE IT'S BOTHERING HIM" she yelled out, only to be ignored, Hermione looked to her and continued her plead

"STOP IT" she chimed in pleading with the professor to end the brutish display. As if broken from a trance Moody looked up at the two girls and stopped the curse. The bug curled into itself and whimpered in fright. Neville looked relieved but still traumatised.

Moody picked up the bug slowly with a stone cold stoic look on his face, and headed over to Zinnia's desk to place the bug on her books. Zinnia was breathing hard and fighting the urge to spill tears on her desk. She would have if not for the comforting hand of Harry beside her holding her wrist to calm her.

"Perhaps you could give us the last Unforgivable curse, Miss Beaumont is it?" Moody spoke in a hush to the frightened girl. Zinnia could do nothing but nod once and look directly into Moody's eyes. She was scared but she would stand her ground no matter what was in front of her.

"Huh, yeah the Beaumonts have made quite a name for themselves in the auror office, and not just because of your brother" He scowled at her. Zinnia took a deep breath in and continued to stand her ground. She knew he was talking about her Dad's side of the family, they didn't get a wrap for being the nicest wizards in the world considering they were very supportive of Voldemort in the first War.

"The last curse Miss Beaumont?" Moody repeated, determined to get her to say it. She shook her head faintly still looking into his scarred face.

"No?, pity. AVADA KEDAVRA!" he spat, shooting a blinding green light from his wand to the poor bug. Immediately the bug was dead. Zinnia knew how Harry would be feeling so she offered the only comfort she could in that situation, she wrapped her ankle around his to let him know she was there. He seemed to let out a sigh of relief at this action, his eyes still cemented on the limp bug.

"The killing curse. Only one person is known to have survived it. And he's sitting in this room." Moody glared at Harry, Harry amongst all his thoughts of his parents looked up to the teacher. Moody swiftly brought out his flask and took a hefty swig from it. Harry only looked confused at the teacher at this odd decision.

Suddenly the bell tolled, signalling the end of class. Almost everyone jumped out of their seats at the sudden noise as they collected their books and hurried out of the eerie classroom. The four collected their things, shoving them in their bag as they frantically ran off to lunch. They stayed in silence for a moment as they descended the spiralling staircase.

"Brilliant isn't he! Completely demented of course. Terrifying to be in the same room with, he's really BEEN there you know." Ron enthusiastically commented, ignorant to the tension in the air and the dismal mood the group was in

"Brilliant Ron? Seriously how daft could you get" Zinnia shouted at the boy, he replied with only a slightly startled look and an eye roll in the girl's direction.

"There's a reason those curses are unforgivable, and to perform them in a classroom. I mean, did you see Neville's face." Hermione voraciously spoke, but before she could finish Harry knocked her arm to alert her of Neville standing right next to them, staring out of the window. Zinnia's heart dropped for the boy, she slowly approached him and put her hand on his arm

"Neville are you alright?" Zinnia softly spoke, as not to startle him. However before he could response Moody came trudging down the stars to the quartet's position to plant his hand on Neville's shoulder

"Son? You alright?" he asked, however everyone felt that he didn't really care for the boy. Neville nodded his head in a daze, looking to the floor.

"Come on, We'll have a cup of tea. I want to show you something" he suggested, leading the boy up the stairs

"Neville you don't have to" Zinnia comforted him, uneasy about Moody taking him to his classroom after what just happened.

"I-i-it's alright Zinnia" he muttered shyly. Zinnia was about to object however he had already started going up the stairs following the formidable teacher.

The group stared at him for a moment longer before descending the stairs together in silence. As they all entered the great hall and stacked their plates with lunch, they chatted amongst themselves about what had just happened in class.

"I cant believe Dumbledore would allow such a lesson, I didn't expect us to learn about those curses until at least sixth year. To teach them to fourth years! It's ridiculous, imagine if he's teaching even younger years about that stuff!" Hermione rambled as they all found a spot on the Gryffindor table to eat. Harry sitting next to Zinnia across from Ron and Hermione. "And he calls it teaching." she finished in a huff, aggressively grabbing her fork.

"Calm down Hermione, he's just trying to scare us right? So we stay in line in his classes" Ron attempted to explain the odd nature of the class

"It's not just scaring us ron!" The two continued to bicker as Zinnia drowned the sound out, digging into her lunch. She felt a bit lost after that lesson, uneased by her surroundings. She remembered Harry's face when staring at the lifeless bug and frowned to herself.

"Hey are you okay, I know what seeing that curse must have brought up" she quietly uttered to her friend as the sound of Ron and Hermione bickering continued in the background.

"Yeah I guess I'm alright, not a fan of seeing that in class but I've seen worse" he assured her, although it only saddened her more as she thought of everything the boy had been through. His head lifted from his plate and he saw her crestfallen face.

"Hey, I promise I'm fine. What about you though, Moody intimidating you like that must have been chilling" he asked concerned for the girl he cared so much for. He felt a strong inclination to keep her happy as he hated seeing her upset.

"Im fine, nothing I can't handle" she said with a fake confidence she held to present a strong front.

"That's my girl" he smiled and chuckled along with her "Hey what was that Moody mentioned about your family?" he asked, curious about what he said about the Beaumont name. Zinnia sighed reluctant to answer

"Well you know how the Beaumont's were part of the sacred 28?" harry nodded, she explained that to him last year "Well what I didnt tll you was my grandparents on my Dad's side were sort of hardcore Voldemort supporters, that's why Dad left" she hesitantly said, not wanting Harry to look at her in any different way.

"Oh, I'm sorry Z" he quietly said, placing his hand on her shoulder in comfort.

"Do you kinda hate me now?" she grimaced, scared of his response. He looked at her confused and laughed

"Of course not Z, you're not your grandparents" he thought it quite amusing how worried she was about it. They both laughed it off staring at each other then returning to their meals. Just at that moment Zinnia looked around at the hall and spotted Violet studying at her lunch table. She excused herself from the group and headed over to the ravenclaw table then sat down next to her sister.

"You're not going to enter are you?" Zinnia blurted out with determination.

"Well hello to you too Z, i'm doing great thanks for asking" Violet commented, shutting her large and heavy book.

"Sorry, i just wanted to know if you're thinking of entering the tournament" Zinnia asked worried about the safety of her family. Violet hesitated for moment looking at her sisters anxious face

"I'm not gonna lie, I thought about it.... But it's just too much, I already have so much going on with N.E.W.T's and Head Girl duties" she resonated with her sister. It's not like Violet couldn't win if she wanted to, she definitely had the skill set to and was sharp as a knife. However she took her other priorities over eternal glory.

"I'm glad to hear so to be honest, don't know what i would do if something happened to you" Zinnia sighed out, relieved she doesn't have to worry about her sister's safety

"You're worried about my safety? Well isn't that ironic? How many times have you almost died?" Violet joked with her sister

"Three that you know of" Zinnia threw back, laughing off her dangerous antics.

"Hey its Daisy's birthday soon, make sure to send your gift her her early so it gets home in time" Violet ordered before opening her book once again

"Yes ma'am" Zinnia teased as she left her sister to stress over memorising spells, and headed back to fish her meal.

(A.N- shoutout to like the 60 people who read this lol ❤️ my posting is a little all over the place but i can say it probs won't be more than a week in between chapters)