On Monday afternoon after lunch the 5th year Gryffindors arrived at her pa's first DADA class; Fred, George, Lee and Will teasing each other about who would be the first to get detention with Niamh's dad until Niamh quelled them with a look. Maisie elbowing Niamh in teasing mirth when her Pa came down the stairs from his office. Niamh rolling her eyes in embarrassment as she well knew Maisie's sudden crush on her pa despite her growing relationship with Eric Bampton, a fellow fifth year Slytherin. Niamh then smiled at her Pa who was looking healthier than he had yesterday on the train, the physical affects of his most recent transformation gone from his face and the excellent cooking by the House Elves building his strength up.
"Good afternoon." He greeted them warmly with a smile. They responded with gusto except the Slytherins. "Would you all please put your books, quills and parchment away. Today's will be a practical lesson. You'll only need your wands."
A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put their stuff back in their bags. They hadn't had a practical Defence Against the Dark Arts class since second year. Quirell had, of course being possessed by He who must not be named, only taught them theory and Lockheart last year had been a fraud who had used his classes to talk non-stop about himself.
"Right then," Her pa said when they were ready. "If you'd follow me."
Puzzled but interested, with Niamh tipping Fred, George, Lee, Will, Angelina, Alicia, Maisie and Serena a promising grin, they followed her Pa out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where they met Peeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in mid air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum. He didn't look up until her Pa was two feet away then he wiggled his curly toed feet and burst into song:
"Loony loopy Lupin! Loopy loony Lupin-"
Niamh bristled and took a step forward to whack Peeves away but her Pa simply smiled as if the insult wielding poltergiest was simply a mischievous child playing pranks. Fred quickly touched her arm then pulled his hand away when he caught her attention as well as George and Lee's.
"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you Peeves," Her pa said patiently. "Mr Filch wont take too kindly to not having access to his brooms."
Niamh and the Gryffindors laughed at Peeves being calmly dealt with. Normally the targets of the Poltergeist's tricks and insults would resort to insulting him back or trying to bat him away. Peeves paid no attention to her pa's words and blew a loud wet raspberry.
Again Niamh took a step towards Peeves and again her Pa reacted with coolness. Heaving a patient sign, he took his wand out.
"This is a useful spell. Please watch carefully," Her pa turned his head back to wink at them. Then turned again and raised his wand to shoulder length. "Waddiwass!" He cried, waving his wand at Peeves.
With a force of a bullet, wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves’s left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing. The Gryffindors burst into loud chuckles and Niamh grinned, shooting her friends a smile that meant "I told you it'd be good."
"Cool spell, Professor!" Will cried in amazement.
"Thank you, Will." Her pa replied with an embarrassed smile, putting his wand away again. "Shall we proceed?"
They set off again, the class looking at shabby Professor Lupin with increased respect. Niamh beamed with pride and happiness for her pa, respect and awe were things he wasnt given everyday. She was glad they were seeing what a brilliant man he was. Her Pa led them down a second corridor and stopped, right outside the staffroom door.
“Inside, please,” said her Pa, opening it and standing back. The staffroom, a long, paneled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth. As her Pa came in and made to close the door behind him, Snape said, “Leave it open, Lupin. I’d rather not witness this.” He got to his feet and strode past the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway he turned on his heel and said "Probably no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains the Weasley twins, Kenneth Smith and Maisie Arwyn. I would advise you not to entrust them with something difficult. Not unless your… daughter, Miss Maoko and Mr Sethton are whispering in their ears."
