The Journal of Regulus Arcturus Black

Chapter 17. Defence, Potions and Clock Towers

The very first lesson that Draco had on his timetable was Defence Against the Dark Arts and it was with Professor Snape. He had to remind himself that he wouldn't be down at the potions classroom like usual and instead made his way towards the Defence rooms instead. "It's going to be interesting, I think," Millie said, her arm linked with Pansy's as they strode towards the class.

Draco and Blaise had also linked arms, and were bodily trying to copy both Pansy and Millie's obnoxious movements from behind the two girls. Pansy was still wearing her lace covering but everytime she turned to look back at the two boys, she snickered quietly. Millie took one glance at them, rolled her eyes and continued to walk. "Professor Snape is such a talented Potions master, I wonder how he'll teach Defence," she said.

"I think with the same talent," Draco said. He let go of Blaise's arm and walked into the Defence classroom, picking a table at the back. "He's one of the country's best potions masters and Defence is a subject that he's wanted to teach since he became a professor. So he's probably the best teacher we're going to get since... well..."

Blaise snorted, "since forever."

"Professor Lupin was alright," Pansy whispered, pulling out her textbook and clutching it tightly in her hands. The others all silently watched as she sat down and placed her textbook in front of her, rubbing her thumb against her hand.

"Yeah he was," Draco decided to say, cutting the tension away. He smiled slightly, seeing the way Pansy's shoulders seemed to drop as the tension left her. "Could have done with a more conscientious lesson plan though," he muttered thinking back to the boggart they had to face in their Third year and remember definitely not wanting to face it.

Now though?

He had no idea what he would see if coming face to face with a boggart. Realistically speaking, he didn't really know what he would have seen back then either. Just the thought of showing that he, a Malfoy, was scared of something seemed so out of his psyche he didn't want to participate. It was probably a good thing Potter had that whole dementor boggart situation and the lesson ended when it did.

Professor Snape swooped into the classroom in all his black-cloaked glory and the blinds fell down, littering the classroom in shadows. Draco watched the small torches on the side of the walls start to flicker to life and he eased into his seat, feeling the same ambience he usually did in the potions classroom.

It was cool to know this was just Professor Snape's aesthetic.

"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe," came Snape's drawling voice. Draco and Blaise both shared incredulous looks with one another. Yes, technically they did like Snape. He was their Head of House and he also favoured the Slytherins, giving them more house points than any other House considering everyone already had their prejudice on their 'evil' snake den. But even most Slytherin's couldn't handle Snape's use of the dramatics at the start of every year.

Draco was definitely included in that. He thought back to the previous five teachers they had and really- Hogwarts was a terrible school when he listed them all in his head. A possessed teacher, a self-centred fake, a bloody werewolf, a Death Eater in disguise and then Umbridge. Last year was definitely the worst.

She did actually end up banning homosexuality at some point. Shame really, Draco didn't think he could get more bent than when he read that new decree. He even encouraged Blaise's shameless flirting for a week. A week!

Draco shook his head, looking back at Snape, who seemed to be in his own little world. He said something about the N.E.W.T.s and that's when Draco realised he probably should be paying attention. "—-s like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."