A Room With a View

First Lessons

September 2, 2005

Severus Snape, you are the worst sort of coward. You can spy for a Dark Lord. You can spy for a Light Lord. You can face society's censure and bear the burden of their gratitude. You can curse and hex and duel with the best of them, but here you are quaking in your dragon-hide boots at the prospect of greeting a class full of sixth-year D.A.D.A. students. Pull yourself together, man!

Severus turned toward the small mirror in his office and adjusted the high collar of his shirt and vest, smoothing out the wrinkles in the dark grey material beneath his black teaching robes. He'd decided to adopt a slightly less formal air for this, his second go-round as a professor, and had eschewed the frock coat and cravat for a style that would allow more freedom of movement in his arms. He had, likewise, chosen trousers without the button cuff to allow for an unimpeded stride while moving around the classroom and demonstrating the broader movements of defensive spells. Oh, he still looked professorial... he just looked more approachable.

A quick Tempus showed that students should be gathered in the classroom just beyond his office doors. He took a deep breath, muttering "Showtime" under his breath and making for the office door. One affectation of his former persona that he simply could not give up was his tendency to make an entrance, and he did so with a flourish. With a wave of his wand, the heavy slab of oak flew open and Professor Severus Snape, Death Eater, Spy, Savior and Hero whisked into the room. He walked to the front of the space and paused, crossing his arms and leaning against the darkened surface of the desk. He cast a weathered eye over the assembled students, who seemed to be in shock at his abrupt arrival, and regarded them with an impassive face. Then, slowly, he smirked.

"Good morning, and welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Can someone please tell me why there is not a single wand aimed at me at this moment?" He paused and looked at his silent students. "No? What about you, Miss...?"

"Frome, sir. And it's 'cause you're a professor, sir. We can't draw our wands on a professor."

"Thank you, Miss Frome, for answering the question. I would like to disabuse you and all of your classmates of the notion that you will not aim a wand at me in this classroom." He shifted to his feet and began to circulate the room, pausing between desks as his borrowed book had recommended. "Defense Against the Dark Arts is first and foremost a hands-on learning experience. You have a text which I have personally selected and its readings are useful for learning the theory and uses of the spells that you will cast in this room, but it is a text that I will tell you to leave in your dormitories. During our sessions together, we will work on wandwork, spellwork, casting and discussion. I will announce reading and writing assignments for the next session at the end of each class; I fully expect you to complete this work in-between sessions so that we can spend the majority of our time in this room together in active practice. For those of you who have not heard, I have a reputation as a somewhat stern instructor. This sternness comes not from my desire to overwork you or embarrass you, but out of a desire to guard your safety whilst under my care and to prepare you for your entry into the world as magical adults. So please heed my words when I say this: If you have not done the reading or completed the written assignment for my class, you will not be permitted to participate in our practice for that day. I do this to protect you from harm, and to protect your fellow students from your poor work ethic. Failure to adequately prepare for class will result in a lowered mark and the loss of house points. However, if you are genuinely struggling with the material and bring a completed - if incorrect - assignment to my classroom, I will happily guide you through the material and allow you to work with your peers. All I ask is that you put forth the effort to understand and place your trust in me to teach you to defend yourselves well."

At this moment he completed his circuit and turned to look out over the gathered Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff sixth years. "Are there any questions thus far?"