The Unbreakable Vow

Chapter 6- The new defense against the dark arts teacher

Every Wednesday, we would head down to the fourth-floor classroom on the right-hand side to our tiny defense against the dark arts classroom.

We were taught by Professor Faivre. He was a portly old gentleman and we learned a lot with him. Everybody adored him and each week you knew it'd be something new and exciting to learn about.

We all went down as we usually did, deep in conversations about something or another.

Suddenly, the students in front of us halted. Cries and shrieks were heard from the front. Whispers echoed across the walls. Then people began to shout and back away.

"He's dead!" they cried.

"Dead?"

"DEAD!"

Everyone was pushing and shoving to get out of the room. People stood on my toes and nearly knocked me over once or twice.

"Hey watch it!" Giselle yelled at them.

Another Professor entered, pushing past all of us and clearing the way.

"What is going on-" She gasped "Everyone out, get out now!"

Everyone scrambled away. Me and Giselle, right at the back, glanced at his body. He was laying as still as though he could've been asleep. A pool of waxy blood dripped down off his desk... he'd been stabbed or eaten, I couldn't tell.

Once we were out of the classroom and the door had shut with a bang, everyone began their bumble bee-like chatter. Some propped their ears to the door to listen to what the teachers were saying.

Then everyone silenced.

Headmistress Auger strode down and parted the sea with her long strides of authority. Some of us bowed our heads, others just stared blankly, unable to wipe the picture of our Professor from our heads. The image had been imprinted in my brain and wouldn't be erased anytime soon.

Hastily, Auger opened and shut the door. The chatter erupted again.

Even though I barely knew him for long, I still felt an odd sadness in my chest for his death. He was my teacher after all and people around me were upset, which only made me more like this.

We didn't have a defense against the dark arts for a couple of weeks. Gossip spread like wildfire. Some said he had been eaten by the animal he had brought in that day but no animal had been found. I found that rumor ironic. However, other rumors were worse. Some said that someone had killed him because he knew something, a secret. Once I ignored the chatter, I was fine with losing one lesson because I already had enough on my plate.

Currently, Giselle and I were spending every weekend; every evening; every spare morning; every break; every lunch, and any free time we had in between lessons, studying for the end-of-term exams. They were crashing down on us like rocks. Crushing us with pressure.

On top of that I had to teach Giselle to read, how would she pass the exams otherwise? She wouldn't have me helping her.

As the exams crept closer I felt my heart beating anxiously. I could barely sleep. I had struggles eating and my well-being was going down the drain. If that wasn't enough, I fell asleep in some of my lessons and had to catch up that evening instead of revising.

Giselle told me every night "You're exhausted, please just get to sleep. You don't need to teach me to read tonight"

But I ignored her and helped her anyway.