What if Sirius Black didn't die?

Chapter 14: First Class of 6th Year

PROFESSOR UMBRIDGE- Nicholas Hooper

HARRY POV:

Ron and I rushed up to our dormitories to retrieve our books, and rushed back down the stairs both with the Standard book of spells-Grade 6 and Confronting the Faceless, both of which were for Defense against the Dark Arts, with the new teacher, Professor Snape. Uhh. Who knows what Dumbledore was thinking putting him-

"Quickly!" Hermione yelled, near the portrait door.

We ran around the castle running towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower. As soon as we reached the door, the clock tower started chiming, and we knew we weren't late. The classroom was darker, with a few candles lit here and there.

Brilliant.

"This should be fun." I snickered as Ron and I sat down next to each other.

Snape was standing and slightly pacing around until the last chime of the clock was finished. Then, he waved his wand, and the door slammed, gaining attention from everyone, and a few gasps.

"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe." He spoke.

"Naturally," he continued,

"These teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion, I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject." He said, staring at his class.

I had to hold back from smirking and scoffing, but he soon continued and I managed to control myself.

"I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced." He finished.

"In this classroom, the Dark Arts shall be respected as a dangerous and ever-evolving opponent, and their defenses must be as versatile as the foul arts they seek to undo." He started.

"As some of you may already know, Nonverbal spells shall be taught the first few weeks of this class, and will be required of use throughout the courses of any upcoming classes." He stated.

"Evidently," he continued, eyeing all of us at once.

"You will now divide, into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on." He finished, vanishing all of the tables and obstacles in the room and returning near his desk.

Hermione gave us both a quick look and turned to a girl next to her to pair up and start practicing. I looked at Ron and he gulped, looking at me and moving us both into a corner to start practicing. We mainly knew how to block nonverbally, but casting nonverbal spells was still something most students hadn't learned. I had tried multiple times, and I think I got a few, but I can't say the same about everyone else. Ron took his wand out and so did I.

"You first." He said nervously.

I gave him a look and took a deep breath. I stared at him and thought

"Stupefy."

A jet of red light blasted out from my wand, and Ron quickly blocked it with a wave of his wand. Some students were staring at us, but I nodded at Ron, and I saw his confidence go up. He pointed his wand at me and soon, a jet of red light came towards me, but I quickly blocked it, and made eye contact with Ron, to go faster. I held my wand out and thought

"Impedimenta."

Almost immediately, a turquoise light blasted out of my wand, and Ron hastily blocked it and sent one back, surprising me slightly at his speed, but I blocked it nevertheless and sent one back. He blocked it again, and soon we were the center of attention as everyone was watching us. My tongue almost slipped a few times and I was about to say the words instead of thinking them, but I caught myself. It seemed to go on and on. Block. Cast. Block. Cast back. Block. Cast. Block. Cast back. It also seemed to be getting faster and faster. I had to slow it down or I would lose control and go full force on Ron, but I think he was holding back a bit too. I made eye contact with him, and we started to slow down the lights and blocks. We were both having fun now, starting to get used to the stares we got once a second. Ron had a bright smile on his face when suddenly, we both shot a spell at the same time.