𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 ━ Golden Trio Era

━chapter 21

Chapter 21
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"I MUST APOLOGISE FOR NOT HOLDING A CLASS ON THE FIRST DAY. I had an urgent family matter to attend to."

Adhara and Millie exchanged a telling look. The news about the Azkaban escapees was released that day, and not a moment later did Professor Rosier announce that he was going to be absent for a couple of days.

Not for the first time did she wonder why Dumbledore didn't check potential teachers' forearms before hiring them.

Rosier scanned the DADA classroom, holding each students' gaze as he did so. When he reached Adhara, his stare remained for a minute too long, making Adhara narrow her eyes.

"As I told my classes earlier today, my teaching methods will be quite different from what your previous teacher was exercising."

When Adhara first saw Victor Rosier, she thought of him as quite cowardly. It was that day at Aleyne, when he dropped off his son and exchanged him for a muggleborn. He was obviously the type of man who catered to every one of his wife's whims. But that wasn't the problem. The way he talked, the way he obeyed showed that he was quite a spineless person who bent at society's whims, as well.

During the Yule Party, he was different. Still lanky, tall and with a curved spine, but he harboured this look in his eye, a glint when he was addressing Sirius, as though he had something planned.

And right now, that spinelessness was gone. He stood tall in front of the classroom. Prim, poised, like a pureblood. He held their textbook in his hands and talked like he owned the place, while maintaining a condescending air to him.

"I went through her materials. It seemed like she left quite a bit of her stuff behind. I must say, not all of her plans were useless. I remember reading something about an Inquisitorial Squad, though I would need the Minister's permission to form one."

He walked along the space between the desks, a wicked smile on his lips.

"The rest. Well, let's say Dolores' teaching ability was quite subpar."

Some girl's — Carmen Serrano, muggleborn, Hufflepuff but who was paying attention? — hand shot up. "Does this mean we will be finally practising defensive spells?"

The defence professor came to a halt. The sound made by his shoes — sleek, Oxford, black — stopped. His lips curved downwards, and he rolled his eyes at the girl.

"What else would it mean?"

Serrano's eyes went wide, mouth parting slightly. She put her hand down.

Adhara saw Millie's hand curl into a fist. Adhara grabbed her wrist to stop her. The action didn't go unnoticed by Rosier, who met their gaze and smirked. Apparently, the man wasn't going to let his opinions on blood status be a secret.

"Of course, you will be learning defensive spells. How else would you learn to defend yourself in the outside world? Against wizards? Or creatures?"

He made his way to Adhara's desk, looking down on her. "Say for example, if you were ever to encounter a werewolf?" He looked directly into Adhara's eyes. "You know all about werewolves, don't you, Miss Black?"

Adhara dug her nails into her palms, but she held the man's gaze, refusing to be the first to avert it. Rosier simply smiled wider in response. He returned to the teacher's desk and picked up a roll of parchment.

"There are other changes I want to bring, as well. I will be pairing you lot up. I ensured to pair every muggleborn with a pureblood, and every girl with a boy. Hopefully, it will help you sharpen your substandard magical skills."