Silver Hourglass

Classes and Friends Chapter 7

Defense Against the Dark Arts was held in Classroom 31, which was on the third floor and next to the library. Harry wrinkled his nose as the smell of Garlic took over his senses. The room had rows of desks, each desk able to hold two students. Draco made sure that he and Harry were in the middle of the room, with Theodore and Blaise in front of them, as the Ravenclaws all sat in the front, where the smell of Garlic was the strongest. Professor Quirrell walked in and told the Ravenclaws and Slytherins to put their wands away, much to Harry's confusion. Quirrell told them to take out their textbook, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble. Learning magic was more than just waving his wand and saying funny words Harry quickly learned, even in this let down of a class all Quirrell did was talk about some of the beasts that they'll be learning about for the year. Quirrell mentioned that his turban was a gift from an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but Harry wasn't sure if he believed that story. Blaise asked eagerly how Quirrell fought off the zombie, but Quirrell went pink and started to talk about the weather. Harry noticed that when Quirrell walked by his and Draco's table, the Turban stunk of something rotten. Blaise whispered that Quirrell probably kept garlic under the robe as well, to ward off a vampire from Romania that Quirrell said he met one day, and is afraid that he'll come back.

The entire class was just theory, and Harry had to stifle a yawn several times as Professor Quirrell talked about spells, but hasn't actually shown the spells, or told the students how to cast them. When Class ended, Professor Quirrell told the students to read the chapter about Vampires, and to write down several probably defenses against a Vampire, and a Vampire bite. Harry packed his book away, feeling as though he had just wasted two hours of his life. Draco confirmed this when he said "What a joke that was, cures for vampire bites? What a load of rubbish. Just wait until father hears about this."

"Are classes normally going to be like this?" Harry frowned.

"Hopefully not." Theodore said, "I felt like I could learn more about Defense from my cat." Harry laughed and said "I didn't know you have a cat Theodore."

"Technically it's my mother's. But yes, we Nott's own cats. Not that he would help in this class." Theodore said.

"My father," Draco said bringing the attention back to himself, "said that the professors here are at least should know how to cast the spells they teach. That witless farce looked like he didn't know what he was even talking about. And that garlic? It was just distracting." Draco sneered. Harry checked his timetable, and saw that their next class was in classroom 102, and he's with Ron! That gave him a smile and he asked Draco "Does that mean Garlic doesn't work on vampires?"

"Of course not Harry. That is utter hogwash that only Muggles and Half-Bloods believe." Draco said. Harry felt that he was insulted, so he said a bit coldly, "So then Mr. Genius what does work?"

"Simple Harry, vampires are like humans. Just do what would normally kill a human." Draco shrugged. Harry was unhappy with this answer and slipped his wrist out of Draco's hand. Why is Draco suddenly treating him like a little kid? Harry wondered. "Harry?" Draco asked.

"That was a bit mean Draco." Harry frowned.

"What? The hogwash comment?" Draco asked. Harry nodded and Draco sighed, "Fine, I'm sorry for insulting your intelligence about our world. I forgot that you were reintroduced into our world recently. Okay?"

"Really?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Draco said, offering Harry a small smile, "but that's just because you're such a good boy and learner." Draco praised. Harry gave a small smile and forgave Draco, his wrist going back in Draco's hand. The group then made their way to Classroom 102, which was on the ground floor and connected to the Greenhouses. Draco made sure that he and Harry sat near the front, with Blaise and Theodore again sitting in front of them. Harry looked around and saw various plant-life in the classroom. Some swayed and moved on their own, while others just stood still. Harry saw one plant that looked like the tentacles of squids Harry saw at the Zoo, and watched as that plant moved from its pot, reaching over to a near Gryffindor and stole her hat. Harry giggled at the antics, especially the Gryffindor's desperate attempts to get the hat back.