Dark Defense

Encyclopedia Demonica.

Vergil waited until he could no longer hear the echo of the detestable woman's retreating footsteps before allowing Yamato to slide back into place with an audible click. Using the butt of the sheath to close the door behind him, the blue clad man thus crossed the understandably silent classroom to his desk, before turning to face his fifth year class, his hands resting atop Yamato's pommel as he regarded them with his regal stare.

"Good afternoon." He called out, running his cold blue eyes over the assorted teens, as if measuring them up, like a butcher signaling out a lamb from among its flock "Now that the nuisance has removed itself, we can get down to business."

Several of the brats dared to chuckle at his disregard of Umbridge, but promptly quelled their humor in the face of his penetrating stare. "As you no doubt remember from the opening banquet, my name is Professor Vergil." He called out, his tone commanding "You will refer to me as such at all times, even outside this classroom." His eyes narrowed slightly, a sudden chill filling the air around the students "Let me make one thing clear to you," he pointed out "I am not here to coddle you, you will learn what I have to teach and you WILL remember it the first time, as I have no patience for incompetents and sluggards."

Holding their gazes for the briefest of seconds, as if to hammer home the point that he was absolutely serious, the blue clad professor promptly lowered the pressure and returned to his desk.

"Now then," he called out, picking up a textbook, that Umbridge had left behind in her bid to escape, with his free hand "how many of you purchased a copy of Defensive Magical Theory?" Several hands rose, tentatively into the air, only for the rest to shoot up as he cocked an eyebrow slightly in their general direction. "I see." He muttered, tossing the book idly in the air, "Well congratulations, you've purchased an overblown paperweight."

He dropped the book on his desk with a distinct lack of care, which would have undoubtedly have brought the wrath of Madam Pince, the harpy-like head librarian, down on his head had he done so in her presence.

"That book may have been on the Ministry approved list of school materials," the professor muttered, his tone dismissive "but I can assure you that it will serve no purpose here unless we happen to run out of firewood. Or lavatory paper."

Harry had to suppress the urge to snort at that, as well as the look of mortification on Hermione's face at the idea of desecrating any book, even one as pointedly useless as this, in such a fashion.

"In truth, there will be little book learning this year," Vergil continued, quirking an eyebrow at the sudden looks of eagerness from most of the class, save the bushy-haired prefect near the front "I prefer to take a hands on approach to teaching myself, but for now, line up single-file and take a copy of the book on my desk, which Professor Dumbledore has seen so graciously fit to provide you with."

The class did so, muttering eagerly amongst themselves as they obediently lined up, several of them sending the professor looks of awe as they passed him after claiming their books.

Harry was no different, though in truth it was not so much awe as intrigue that drew his attention to the regally dressed man. He idly wondered just what his story was, he clearly wasn't on the Ministry's payroll, as it was clear he and Umbridge were NOT on the same side, but at the same time he didn't recall any of the other staff members acting familiar with him. If anything they seemed decidedly on edge.

"You're holding up the queue, boy." Professor Vergil called out, snapping Harry out of his daze to find the man looking at him with those commanding blue eyes, the rest of the queue grumbling at his taking so long "If you're having second thoughts…"

Harry shook his head, muttering a quick apology as he stepped forward sharply, picking up the black tome and returning to his desk, a slight heat to his cheeks, looking over the title to hide it, only to blink in surprise.