All I Have Left

Chapter Seventy One

Warning: swearing. Not offensive, but if you're uncomfortable then don't read this chapter.

The first lessons were already hard enough, now being the year of our O.W.L.'s and the teachers expecting us to do more work.

History of Magic was as boring as usual, listening to Professor Binns drone on and on about the wars. I took notes as Daphne hummed a Weird Sister's song from next to me, listening as she dozes off and I take notes for us both to use later on for the essay.

In Potions, we had to make a Draught of Peace, which was hard for just coming back to school after two months away on break. We have a foot of an essay due and I heard Ronald murmuring some very rude words about Professor Snape on our way out.

In Divination, we started a thing called "Dream Diaries", where we have to write down every one of our dreams for a month. I was dreading this, for most of my dreams are just me reliving the third task last year in the graveyard or being in a hallway and coming across a locked door at the end of it, which was extremely creepy.

So I sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts next to Daphne, waiting until the entire class entered before listening to the new teacher, Professor Umbridge, speak.

"Well, good afternoon!" She greets giddily, her voice still high-pitched and annoying.

A few people mumbled a response, but she tutted her tongue at this.

"That won't do, now, will it?" She asks, giving a small giggle, and I send Daphne a look. "I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge." We chant in unison.

"There, now." Professor Umbridge nods, satisfied. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please."

I groan internally and shoot Daphne an annoyed look, one she returns with an eye roll. Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were never enjoyable when the period was just a lecture.

Professor Umbridge opened her handbag and extracted her own wand, tapping the board sharply with it; words in white chalk were written on the board in a neat cursive.

Defense Against the Dark Arts

A Return to Basic Principles

"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" Professor Umbridge says, clasping her hands together as she turns around and faces us. "The constant change of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year.

"You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."

I glance over at where Blaise and Malfoy sat, seeing Blaise giving Umbridge an incredulous look, and Malfoy smirking smugly to himself.

Professor Umbridge tapped the board again, the first message disappearing and being replaced by a new one.

Course aims:

1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.2. Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.