Death Parts Us

Part 2~Mad-Eye Moody

Fidgeting in his chair, Sly watched Mad-Eye Moody rush around the classroom. “Alastor Moody,” he started, writing his name on the board, the chalk crunching and cracking under the force. “Ministry malcontent. And your new defence against the dark arts teacher.”

Roger and Sly shared the same thought, backing away in their seats. ‘Scary.’ Ama chuckled, curling around Sly’s neck as she rested. 

“I’m here because Dumbeldore asked me, end of the story, goodbye, the end. Any questions? When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?”

Having Hermione in the class meant they were not required to answer. “Three, sir.”

“And they are so named?”

“Because they are unforgivable. Use of any one of them will-” Hermione could not finish when Moody interrupted. 

“Will earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. Now the ministry says you’re too young to see what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you’re up against, you need to be prepared, you need to find somewhere else to put your chewing gum other than the underside of your desk Mr Finnigan!” Moody became angrier as he spoke. 

Seamus jumped, looking around in confusion. “No way, the old codger can see out the back of his head.”

Moody spun, throwing the chalk at Seamus’s head. “And hear across classrooms!” Huffing in annoyance, Moody straightened up. 

Kevin and Wayne shared a look, glancing at Roger and Sly who looked one loud sound from crumbling in on themselves. 

“Which curse shall we see first?” Moody glanced over the crowd, fixing his eyes on Ron. “Weasly!” Both Sly and Ron glanced up, catching Moody’s attention. “This Weasley, not you.”

Ron sighed, glaring at Sly for a second before answering. “My dad told me about the imperious curse.”

Moody hummed, nodding. “Yes, your father would know all about that Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why.” Moody walked to the front, squeezing his hand into a jar and bringing out a spider. 

He held up the spider, holding it out to the class. 

“Hello. What a little beauty.” He pointed his wand at the spider, muttering the curse. “Don’t worry. Completely harmless.” He spun the spider around the classroom, watching the class squirm. “But if she bites… she’s lethal!”

Draco laughed, loving the expression Ron was making. Severed him right. 

“What are you laughing at?” Moving the spider across the room, Moody began scaring Draco. “Talented isn’t she? What shall I have her do next? Jump out the window?” Moody swung his wand across, hitting the spider into the window. She fell, just being held above the water in the bucket. “Drown herself?”

Sly frowned, resisting the urge to stop Moody. 

“Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the imperious curse. But here’s the rub, how do we sort out the liars? Another? Come on, come on.” Moody waved for Nevile to stand up and follow him to the front. “Longbottom is it?”

Moody paused, putting the spider in front of Nevile. “Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for herbology.”

Neville nodded. “There’s the…” he paused, unsure if he should say it. “The cruciatus curse.”

“Correct! Correct! Come come. Particularly nasty. The torture curse.” Moody turned his wand to the spider, growling out the curse. The spider screeched, fighting against the curse. 

Sly covered his ears, curling in on himself. Ama lifted her head, nuzzling into Sly’s cheek in an attempt to calm him down. Neville grimaced, stepping back. He couldn’t look at the spider. 

“Stop it! Can’t you see it’s bothering them! Stop it!” Hermione slammed her hand down on the table, looking at Nevile in distress. 

Kevin growled, jumping up as he pushed Moody’s wand away. “That is enough!” Picking up the spider, Kevin returned to Sly’s desk, grabbing him. “We’re leaving! If you’re going to teach this class, you might want to do your research because it seems you know nothing about the last few years.” 

Kevin continued to drag Sly to the door. 

“Before you leave, can you tell me the last curse?”

Kevin paused. “I will not.” 

Growling, Moody turned, spotting a spider climbing down the window. “Avada Kadabra!” The spider screeched, falling off the window and dying. “The killing curse. Only one person is known to have survived it.” Moody stared at Sly who gulped, hiding behind Kevin who moved protectively in front of him, quickly joined by Wayne and Justin. 

Roger snuck behind them, sneaking away with the group of badgers. 

~~~

Storming down the corridor, Kevin seethed. “That bas-” Wayne cleared his throat before Kevin could swear. “That meanie.”

Roger snickered, smiling at the alternative word that Kevin came up with. 

“I can’t believe he would use those curses! Doesn’t he understand what happened!” 

“Kev.”

“How could he think that was a good idea?!”

“Kev.”

“He makes me so angry I wish I could strangle him!”

“Kevin!” Wayne grabbed Kevin forcing him to stop. Glancing at the boy behind him, Wayne motioned to the distressed boy, making Kevin sigh. 

Sly lowered his head, Ama was butting her head against Sly’s cheek. She licked Sly’s cheek, hissing softly. “It’s okay Sly, he won’t hurt you.”

Roger wrapped an arm around Sly’s shoulders, rubbing circles on his back. “Are you okay?”

“I think so… I just… I remember…” Sly flinched, shaking as the group frowned. 

Justin stepped back, hugging Sly. “Hey it’s okay, it’s over now.” Justin rubbed Sly’s shoulders as he buried himself in Justin’s chest. The group smiled softly, hugging Sly tightly. 

~~~

Hugging his knees, Sly sighed heavily. He kept thinking back to that night. He hated that night. 

Hooting, the owl stole his attention. Ama lifted her head, slithering closer. “Who’s it from?”

Sly opened the letter, flipping it over. “I don’t know.”

‘Cub, I don’t know when I’ll get to write to you next but I want to wish you luck in your new year. Don’t let greasy Snivellus get you down and enjoy the tournament. Padfoot.’

Blinking, Sly put the note down. “Well, that was strange. What do I do now?” Ama shrugged as Sly sighed, laying down. He hugged Ama close to his chest, closing his eyes. “Night Ama.”

“Night Sly.”