Which Witch? Harry Potter

003.

THREE.
Block Me Out

Her father wasn't there when Riley Jane arrived at the first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Everyone sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Remus smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. Being at Hogwarts seemed to have helped her dad greatly. He looked healthier, and Riley Jane was happy to see he had eaten a few square meals.

Although, there was a recent sighting of Sirius Black not too far from Hogwarts. Her father had closed up again, not doing very well in disproving Riley Jane's theory that he used to know Black.

"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags? Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

Curious looks peered at Riley Jane, as if she already knew what they were going to do. She didn't, however, and put away her books like she was told. They had never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts before, unless you counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cage full of pixies to class and set them loose.

Gilderoy Lockhart was definitely a special case, that was for sure.

"Right then," said her father, when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Remus out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in midair and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.

Peeves didn't look up until her father was two feet away; then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song.

"Loony, Loopy Lupins," Peeves sang. "Loony, Loopy Lupins, Loony, Loopy Lupins—"

Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect toward the teachers. Everyone looked quickly between Riley Jane and Remus to see how they would take it. To their surprise, Remus was still smiling.

Riley Jane's face gave no expression as usual. She would forever just be the strange, quiet girl that they didn't know.

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," her dad said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get into his brooms."

Filch was the Hogwarts caretaker, a bad-tempered, failed wizard who waged a constant war against the students and, indeed, Peeves. However, Peeves paid no attention to Remus's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry.

Her father gave a small sigh and took out his wand.

"This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely."

He raised the wand to shoulder height, said, "Waddiwasi!" and pointed it at Peeves.

With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.