SKREIGH- C.DIGGORY

20

"Alastor Moody,"

He writes his name on the board aggressively before slamming the chalk down, causing some of the students to jump.

"Ministry malcontent. And your new defence against the dark arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me, end of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions? 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?"

"Three sir," Delilah answers.

"And they are so named?"

"Because they are unforgivable," Delilah says. "The use of any one of them will-"

"Will earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. 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 somewhere else to put your chewing gum beside the underside of your desk Mr Jordan!"

"Aw no way, the old codger can see out the back of his head," Lee says.

Mad-Eye throws the chalk in anger.

"And hear across classrooms! So, which curse shall we see first? WEASLEY!"

Mad-Eye points at Fred.

"Yes?"

"Stand. Give us a curse"

"Well, my dad did tell me about one," Fred says. "The Imperius curse"

"Oh, yeah, your father would know all about that. Gave the Ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why"

Mad-Eye pops open a jar with a spider in it before taking the arachnid into his hand, making it larger so the class can see.

"Hello. What a little beauty. Imperio!"

He uses his wand to send it around the class, amusement dancing across his face accompanied by crazed laughter.

"Don't worry. Completely harmless"

The class is unsettled as Moody launches the spider at them. People were hiding behind their books with some students ducking under their desks.

"But if she bites- she's lethal!"

Flint laughs loudly when it lands on Angelina Johnson's head, causing the girl to squeal.

"What are you laughing at?"

Mad-Eye sends the spider onto Flint's face.

"Talented isn't she? What shall I have her do next? Jump out the window? Drown herself?"

Mad-Eye has the spider over a bucket of water, it's wriggling trying to get free as everyone but Delilah and Stuart laugh.

"Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the Imperius curse. But here's the rub, how do we sort out the liars? Another- another- Come on come on. Longbottom is it? Up"

Stuart stands up, looking around anxiously.

"Professor Flitwick tells me you have an aptitude for charms"

"There's the um- The Cruciatus curse," Stuart says, gulping slightly.

"Correct! Correct! come come. Particularly nasty. The torture curse. Crucio!"

Mad-Eye begins torturing the spider with magic, it squeals and thrashes in pain as Stuart's hands begin to shake.

"Leave him alone!" Delilah shouts angrily, slamming her hands on the desk as she stands up.