It's Going to be Fine.

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Devan’s P.O.V

“You see, previous Defense Against the Darks Arts Teachers have always been... off...” Hermione stated. We shared the first class of the day so we decided it was only natural that we sat together, me being a brand new student and her being a prefect. I listened to her talk about the ‘cursed’ job, but also found my eyes wandering. A student named Pavarti, I think, was making a paper bird fly round the classroom. Various boys were trying to knock it out of the sky. As I watched the bird fly around the classroom I locked eyes with Neville. He was talking with a Ravenclaw boy sitting at the desk next to his. My face turned a shade darker and I gave him a small smile, but when I noticed he was just staring I looked away. I felt like throwing up, I made it awkward, I was never going to be able to hold a normal conversation with him now, I-

“Good morning children.” A voice said from the back of the classroom. I noticed the paper bird was in ashes on Pavarti’s desk and everyone was looking back at the source of the voice. Dolores Umbridge, Hogwarts’ new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher.

“Ordinary. Wizarding. Level examinations. O.W.Ls, more commonly known as OWLs.” She stated as she walked through the rows of desks. She reached the front of the room with a fake smile plastered on her face, “Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be... severe.” She waved her wands at the stacks of books on the table behind and they started to pass themselves out. “Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven. But you’ll be pleased to know, from now on you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic.” Everyone looked down at the books in front of them. They were  vintage looking and said, ‘DARK ARTS DEFENCE, Basics for Beginners’. I simply looked down and scoffed, which earned a giggle from Hermione and a stern look from Umbridge. Hermione raised her hand, “Yes?”

“There’s nothing in here about using defensive spells?” Hermione inquired.

“Using spells?” Umbridge laughed her annoyingly high pitched laugh, “Well, I can’t imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom.” I was very tempted to go off but it was only my first day, and I already had enough people talking about me.

“We’re not going to use magic?” Ron asked.

“You’ll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way.” Umbridge told everyone.

“What use is that?” Harry asked, looking painfully annoyed, mirroring the faces of many others in the room, “If we’re attacked, it won’t be risk-free.”

“Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class.” Umbridge stormed, turning away. It seemed as if she didn’t want to admit to the clear defeat, “It is the view of the Ministry, that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations which, after all is what school is all about.” Despite hating it, i did have to agree. It was school, we come here, take exams and tests, prove we can remember things and we leave, that was all.

“And how’s theory supposed to prepare us for what’s out there?” Harry called back at her.

“There is nothing out there, dear.” I could see Harry’s face wince in disgust at the word ‘dear’, “Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe, Lord Voldemort.” As Harry said that the sound of whispers filled the room. The faces either being skeptical, understanding or scared. Umbridge took note of this as she glanced around the room. Her and Harry went back and forth for sometime until she sentenced Harry a detention. After a while this got quite boring and simply gave me a headache. They both had such clashing personalities and views, this could’ve gone on for hours in a civil debate. But let’s face it... no matter what, neither of them are civil people. 

The rest of the class dragged on silently. Nobody wanted to start something like that up again, so we merely followed her lesson for that day. 

“You’re all dismissed. Mr. Potter, my office.” Umbridge announced as she made her way up to her office. All the students stood up and rushed towards the door. Neville, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and I, all made our way towards the door a bit slower.

“I don’t know whether this is Ministry brainwashing or she was kicked in the head by a Hippogriff as child... if she ever even was a child.” I scoffed thinking none of them could hear me. They all stopped and burst into laughter.

“I would go with the second option.” Hermione laughed. I smiled, I was finally starting to feel comfortable around them.

“Hey, I’ll see you guys later. I should really go see Umbridge now.” Harry said as we departed. As soon as he left I was knocked into the floor, my things were scattered all over the corridor floor.

“Watch where you’re going Malfoy!” Ron called. The blonde boy and his friends just ran off laughing. Neville helped me up.

“A-Are you alright?” He asked, looking genuinely worried. I nodded.

“It was n-nothing.” I stated, about to pick up my things. 

“No, I’ve got it.” Neville claimed, as he picked up my books

“Oh, t-thanks.” I hadn’t really talked to Neville as much as Hermione so I can’t say I was completely comfortable around him yet. On top of all that, I had to admit, he was cute. I know if I told my sister that she would be howling with laughter. 

“Hello?” The voice snapped me out of my thought.

“Oh, I’m sorry. What was that?” I asked, I could feel my face getting warmer.

“You like Herbology?” Neville asked, holding up a miscellaneous book. 

“Oh, um.. yeah. Like magical creatures... i find it pretty interesting to read about.. but unfortunately I don’t have the biggest green thumb our there, so hands on is a whole different story...” I slowly got quieter as I rambled on and he handed me my things.

“I haven’t really met someone besides Professor Sprout who was interested in Herbology more than just another class.” Neville smiled. I was really happy to talk with him. Ron, Hermione and Harry were great friends, but they seemed much more invested in each other than anyone else. Neville seemed to care about everyone and the school as a whole, and it was nice, “So, what class do you have now?”

“Herbology actually.” I smiled up at him.

“Same! D-Do you want to walk there together?” Neville asked looking away.

“Well considering I don’t really know where it is, that would be nice.” We both laughed.