Denying Draco

7 - Levicorpus

Defence Against the Dark Arts class was immediately intimidating and daunting to Poppy as Professor. Snape's deep and gruelling tone whenever he addressed his students sent an uncomfortable shiver down her spine. Not to mention, Draco Malfoy was in her class once again, but thankfully no sign of Pansy.

'Poppy Dumbledore...' Snape addressed her and pulled her from her thoughts, causing her to straighten up and force on a smile.

'Yes, Professor?' she replied.

Snape studied her in silence, his eyes locked on hers as if he was reaching into her mind and reading her deepest and darkest thoughts. It was unsettling.

'I do wonder,' he continued, his face unchanging. 'After six years of homeschool, I'm not so sure you will be able to keep up in my class.'

'I assure you I can, Professor,' Poppy replied. 'I was taught Defence Against the Dark Arts by a brilliant teacher.'

'Is that so?' Snape questioned, slowly and curiously, but also with a sound of disinterest in his tone.

'Remus Lupin, Professor,' Poppy informed him. 'He taught me well along with my father who is quite the expert in the subject.'

She noticed that the look on Snape's face suggested he did not care for her response and she sunk back into her seat slowly.

'I fear that an education outside of an actual school will set you back from your peers,' Snape told her. 'I don't have the time nor the patience to delay my classes in order for you to catch up.'

'There will be no need to delay, Professor,' Poppy stated, growing irritated. 'I assure you, I will keep up with the class just fine. I know this subject very well.'

'Oh, you do?' he questioned. 'So tell me, if I wanted to make my opponent stumble and cause them a great, sharp pain, what incantation would I use?'

Poppy frowned at the deliberate attention he was placing on her, clearly with intent to humiliate her and it appeared to be working as Malfoy subtly sniggered in the corner of the room.

'Everte Statum,' Poppy replied, flatly, turning back to Professor. Snape.

Snape's face did not change as he continued. 'How would I destroy a solid object?'

'The Reductor Curse,' Poppy responded, promptly.

'Incantation for a shield charm to reflect a spell and block a physical force?'

'Protego, Professor.'

'The incantation for a protective charm to produce a boundary that will keep you hidden from view?'

'Cave Inimicum.'

'The incantation of the tongue-tying curse?'

'Mimblewimble.'

'The incantation for the hex that will allow me to elongate someone's teeth...Miss. Dumbledore?' Snape's voice seemed to be at a higher volume as the class was in complete silence. Poppy was aware of his annoyance at her knowledge, but Defence Against the Dark Arts had been a favourite subject of hers, and she was ready to take on whatever Professor. Snape threw at her.

'Densaugeo,' Poppy replied, quietly and calmly. 'Anything else, Professor?'

Snape did not move from the spot and continued to study her. It was almost like he was a complete statue, if it were not for his infrequent blinking.

Draco's amused yet equally irritated voice sounded from where he sat. 'It's like having a second Granger in here!'

'Moving on!' Snape stated, suddenly, pacing back to the front of the class. 'We will be continuing on from sixth year with more of our non-verbal spells.'