Nightmare (Harry Potter OC Fic)

22. Defence Against the Dark Arts

With the debacle of last year's Defence Professor, Kei and Tiberius were wary of going to the lesson. They knew the kind of person Undersecretary Umbridge was, they didn't want to think about how the awful woman was going to teach.

"That's the woman Moody threw up on, right?" Gina asked Kei softly.

She nodded, manoeuvring through the corridors with her, Tiberius, and Vic, "granted it was a few years ago, she hasn't changed."

"Is she really that awful?"

"Yes," Tiberius and Kei said together.

The twins blankly looked at one another, having their own twin telepathy conversation.

"Let's not be late then," Vic grumbled, not so excited about the lesson.

When they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom they found Professor Umbridge already seated at the teacher's desk, wearing the fluffy pink cardigan of the night before and the black velvet bow on top of her head. Vic sniggered, Gina elbowed him and followed Kei and Tiberius towards the middle of the room. As usual, the two best friends sat at a table together with the twins finding themselves in the one behind the pair.

The torment of the class had to be Umbridge's childlike instruction towards the seventh years. There were only so many "Good morning, children" and snide remarks on mannerisms Kei would take before she wanted to bang her head against the desk. Roll call was the best part of the entire lesson:

"When I call your name," Professor Umbridge began sweetly, "you raise your hand and call out a well heard 'Present' in return. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," she had instructed them to respond in unison.

There were a few names she smiled at and other's she kept a stoic look. It seemed as though she had a reason to dislike Gryffindors as she upturned her nose when Atticus Montague was present.

"Miss Franklin Higgs?"

"Present," Kei called out.

Umbridge looked up from her clipboard with a wide smile. Her eyes found the Head Girl pin on Kei's chest and, Kei swore, the professor was going to jump with joy. Tiberius' name followed Vic's and, once again, Umbridge seemed pleased that he was in her class.

Unlike how Kei thought, Umbridge didn't address the pair any more than her overzealous demeanour. But the first lessons dragged on and it dragged. Professor Umbridge believed that the students shouldn't be allowed to use their wands in the class as there was no reason to put themselves in danger.

"Spells gone wrong," she reasoned.

Kei restrained an eye roll and covered her disdain by rubbing sleep off her face. Ninety minutes of sitting in quiet, rereading a summary of last year's assignments and teachings only to conclude that the first month will be a refresher course. A four-foot assignment was due by the next lesson, wands were meant to be out of sight, and hands were raised if questions needed to be asked.

Six minutes after the lesson was supposed to end, Dolores Umbridge finally dismissed the class. Nearly everyone bolted out of the room, except for Tiberius and Kei, who were asked to stay back. Restraining a groan, Kei plastered a smile on their face as they pushed the books into their bag.

"Have we done something wrong, Professor?" Tiberius asked sweetly. Kei coughed as she covered a bubble of laughter. His condescending niceties seemed to have gone over the professor's head as she beamed at the properness.

"Of course not, Mr Moody," she sighed happily. "Miss Higgs. I'm so glad you two are in this class. Such respectable students! Head Girl, too— I'm sure your father is pleased with your success."

Kei's smile faltered slightly before nodding stiffly, "he is most pleased. Since my brother got on the Quidditch Team second year, my success in getting Head Girl was the best news he had gotten since then."

"And you?" Umbridge addressed Tiberius, "sad to see Headmaster Dumbledore didn't appoint you Head Boy. I'm sure your father could have said something."

Maybe he didn't miss Tib's condescension, Kei thought to themselves at Umbridge's slight jibe.

"I would rather focus on my studies than be in charge of fourteen students," Tiberius shrugged nonchalantly.

"Very well," she clasped her hands. "I just wanted to personally welcome you both into my class and your final year. I expect greatness from you both."

With that, the pair chorused a thank you and quickly left the classroom. They waited until leaving the wing before finally relaxing.

"Isn't she just lovely, Mr Moody," Kei rolled their eyes.

Tiberius let out a laugh and bumped Kei, "hopefully she's not as bad as the dunce from third year."

"Oh Merlin, the professor with that horrible stutter?" she gasped. "I don't think he was too bad—"

"Right, no. The worst was fourth year, the famous author," he groaned.

"Says you!" Kei laughed as she climbed up the steps. "You were obsessed with him. Between his adventures and easy assignments, you were enamoured!"

"I was not," Tiberius shot back, earning an eye roll from Kei.

The pair continued to argue about their preference of professors before making it to History of Magic where Gina and Vic were waiting for them. They looked as though they were having their own argument. When Gina noticed the pair, she hit Vic's arm and pushed something into his bag. Vic flung his bag over his shoulder before plastering a small smile onto his face.

"Everything all right?" Kei asked.

"Of course," smiled Gina. "Ready to be bored to death?"

"Don't remind me," Vic groaned.

Tiberius rolled his eyes and walked into the classroom before the other three.

"Who spit in his breakfast?" mumbled Gina as she sat next to Kei.

Kei glanced over to Tiberius and responded to Gina, "Dolores Umbridge."