HER, fred weasley

6 - moody & the names

"Alaster Moody." The auror wrote on the board, the squeaky chalk bothering everyone but him.

I stared at him interestedly, wanting to take in every word he was saying. For some reason, I wanted to prove myself worthy of applying for his career.

"I'm a ministry malcontent, and your new defense against the dark arts teacher. I'm also here because Dumbledore asked me. End of story, goodbye, the end." Fred and George sniggered. "Any questions? When it comes to dark arts, I believe in a practical approach."

I waited in anticipation to see if he would actually talk about the unforgivables. Maybe he switched it up for each year.

"But first, which of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?" Nope. Same every time.

From in-front of Fred and I, a Ravenclaw boy, Archie, raised his hand. "Three, sir."

Moody nodded. "And they are so named?"

"Because they are unforgivable. If you use them, you will—"

He cut Archie off. "Earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban. Now, the ministry thinks you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different. You need to be prepared for what you will be up against." I made contact with his eye again, feeling like he was speaking to me personally. What did I do?

However, I stared back stoically. There was no reason for me to feel afraid of him just because he was an auror.

"WEASLEY." Fred and George flinched in their seats, staring up at him guiltily. "You," he nodded to George, "find some other time to get mushy with your girlfriend. This is important information which will teach you CONSTANT VIGILANCE."

George had no choice but to nod, separating his hand from Angie's and scooting a bit further.

"Give me a curse, Weasley."

My bestfriend gulped. "Er... my dad told us about the imperius curse..."

Moody looked excited, and I was eager to learn for once in my life.

"Ah, yes, he would know all about that. Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief the other day. Your brother Ron said the same thing." He coughed hard. "Perhaps this can show you why."

He revealed a jar with a large spider in it, making me instantly cower backwards in fear. I felt Fred's hand on my arm, slowly sliding down to my palm and rubbing in circular motions. Its okay.

"What a little beauty," Moody grinned, I grimaced at his yellow teeth. "Hello, there."

And my worst fear came true. He used his wand to float it around in our faces, I buried my face in Fred's shoulder as it came to me. Thank god for Fred.

"She's completely harmless. But if she bites, she's lethal." He smirked, not moving the spider away from my face. "What's your name, blondie?"

I looked at him in confusion, wondering why he was picking on me. "Callista Hearth."

"Hearth. Doesn't sound familiar. Muggleborn?"

I nodded, doing everything in my power to avoid looking at the spider.

"Ah. Well, a little birdie told me you're putting your name in the goblet tonight." I didn't appreciate the rest of the class staring at us. "Hearth, you'll be facing much, much greater things then spiders in those tasks."

Why was he talking about it like i'd automatically get chosen? Who even told him I was putting my name in?

"To be honest, sir," i clear my throat, "I may not even get picked to compete."