Emma Melody Vane: Harry Potter Fanfic

First DADA Lesson of 2nd Year

Emma's POV

So I won the bet, Ginny was placed into Gryffindor like her six brothers before her. The Sorting Hat song was different from last year. Harry and Ron apparently flew to school in Mr Weasley's magical car. They both received detention, though Snape wanted them expelled. The rest of the night was uneventful.

It's now the first day of lessons. I had toast and juice for breakfast. Ron received a howler from his mother. That said this: RONALD WEASLEY!!! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR!! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT!! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!!! Oh, and Ginny, dear, congratulations on making Gryffindor. Your father and I are so proud. It then blow a raspberry at Ron before I heard the sound of ripping paper.

None of us wanted to continue eating after that and went to herbology early. Where I heard Lockhart talking to Professor Sprout. Did I forget to mention he's our new DADA? Well he is, it's going to be terrible. We have him after lunch according to Fay. We go to Greenhouse three and I stand with Fay like usual.

"We'll be repotting Mandrakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?" Sprout asks. Hermione and I raise our hands. "Yes, Miss Vane" she says.

"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative. It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state" I explain.

"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor" she praises me and I smile. "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?" she asks. This time she asks Hermione to answer the question.

"The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it" Hermione says promptly.

"Precisely. Take ten points Gryffindor also Miss Granger" Sprout tells her. "Now, the Mandrakes we have here are still only samplings. So their cries won't kill you yet. But will knock you out for a few hours. Which is why you each have a pair of ear muffs for protection" she tells us. "When I tell you to put them on, make sure your ears are completely covered" she instructs.

"Here Emma" Fay says handing me a pair.

"Thank you" I say as I take them.

"I already put a pair on Coal, but he keeps trying to take them off" she states.

"Coal, enough. Leave it" I say firmly and he whines. "I'll give you a pig ear later" I state and I feel him hit my leg with his wagging tail.

"There" Fay says. "His ears are covered" she tells me and I give her a grateful smile.

"When it is safe to remove them, I will give you the thumbs-up. Right - earmuffs on" Sprout instructs. I put mine on. We start to re-pot Mandrakes and Fay helps me find the mandrakes. Then the new pots and fresh soil. We work together until she taps my shoulder. She removes my ear muffs.

"Time to pack up" she tells me and I nod my head. She guides me to the sink and I wash my hands. Then dry them.

Fay and Coal escort me to Transfiguration. Where I sit by Hermione. We had to turn a beetle into a button. But mine wouldn't stay put, in the end McGonagall stunned it for me. And I was able to turn it into a button on my third attempt. Apparently Ron squished his by accident and had to ask for another. McGonagall was not happy. But Hermione made a handful of perfect coat buttons. Class ended and I went to lunch with the girls. While the boys stayed behind to receive their detention instructions from McGonagall.

"What've we got this afternoon?" Ron asks as the boys join us for lunch.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts" Hermione says brightly.

"Why have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?" Ron asks her. I groan, not her too. It's bad enough Fay won't shut up about Lockhart's smile. But now Hermione is a fan girl also. Guess I'm the only sane girl at Hogwarts this year. We finished lunch and went to class.

Lockhart introduced himself and took attendance. Then gave us all a quiz to do. Thing is though, he gave me a normal one and not one in Braille. So I have no idea what the questions are. I would of asked Hermione, but she was to focused on doing her own quiz. Why didn't I sit next to one of the boys?

"Tut, tut - hardly any of you remembered that my favorite color is lilac. I say so in Year with the Yeti . And a few of you need to read Wanderings with Werewolves more carefully - I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic people" he states. I frown, so the quiz was all about him and not defense. Had I known, I probably wouldn't of bothered anyway.

"Miss Vane, why did you not fill in any of the questions?" he asks me and I give him a dead pan look.

"I'm blind, surely Dumbledore told you that" I drawl.

"Thought he was joking" he mumbles. Why would someone joke about that? This guy is stupid. "Never fear, I'll remember for next time" he tells me. He then gave Hermione ten points for knowing his secret ambition. "Now - be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizard kind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know that no harm can befall you whilst I am here" he tells us. I doubt that.

"Cornish Pixies" Dean says unimpressed.

"Freshly caught Cornish Pixies" Lockhart states. I hear someone laugh. "Laugh if you want Mr Finnegan, so what you think of them now" he says and I hear students yell in shock. Hermione pulls me under the table.

"What's happening?" I demand as Coal barks at something.

"Lockhart released a cageful of Cornish Pixies into the classroom" Harry states.

"Is he mad?" I demand. Something tugs sharply on my hair. "Ow, one has my hair!" I yell trying to swat it away.

"Hold still" Harry tells me and I do so. I feel it being whacked away. "Keep your head down. We'll deal with this" he tells me. I hear Hermione freeze the pixies and sigh in relief. Fay helps me up. She and Coal lead me from the room.

"His mad, who releases a flock of dark creatures without telling us how to defeat them first. Especially with a blind person in the room" she snaps.

"I take it, you're no longer in the Lockhart fan club?" I ask.

"You bet I'm not, the guy is a lunatic" she states.

"Thank Merlin" I say hugging her. We go to our next lesson History. Then went to dinner afterwards and have an early night. To avoid Hermione, who is still a Lockhart fan girl.