The girl who wanted to live

Meet the monster

My next class is Defense Against the Dark Arts.  Not to be a brag, but I could beat anyone's ass in that class, including Hermione since my father taught DADA in Hogwarts two years ago and he taught me everything about it, even some forbidden tricks from his own making. It's my favorite subject, beside Astronomy of course. I couldn't be more excited to make a good first impression on my classmates. I'm not the show off type, but when I'm great at something , trust me, you'll know. 

The golden trio told me there was a new teacher after the  last Triwizard (well, Four-Wiz because of Harry) tournment incident.   We walk into the classroom to find a small and round woman dressed like a pink marshmallow.  She has the pointiest nose with a toad-like face. A satisfied smile stands on her face but her eyes betrays her:  if they were armed with laser guns, we would all be dead.  I sit beside Harry, after Hermione asked weirdly if she could sit at Ron's table, not without mumbling some weird excuses.  I'll speak with her about it, something fishy is happening....

The old cotton candy human in front of us coughs in high pitched tone and starts her class. As she says, her name is Professor Umbridge (charming) and she goes on and on about her closeness to Minsistry and Fudge. She vaguely explains all the stuff we'll see this year, repeats her safety policies six times each and mentions our OWLs at they end of the school year.  She's firm and transpires fear and hatred for teenagers through her creepy little smile. If I was the night terror type, I would see her every night in my dreams, probably trying to bite my ears off.  This year is going to be... I can't choose between boring or sad.   She teaches us about facing our worse fears with the Ridikulus charm for a reminder of third year. I'll do the math for you, even I, who wasn't even at school that year, learnt it two years ago with Jacques. Beside this easy charm, Umbridge isn't planning on teaching spells made to protect ourselves from Dark forces.  She specifies that in her class, we can't use our wand for anything and that practice will be made with a parent or the presence of a teacher in study remedial, which is ABSURD.  Ministry of Magic has made new security rules about teaching DADA because of the dramas of past years and  Umbridge applies them to the letter.  I think she even has a frame with Fudge's picture in it...  what. a. freakin'. freak.

After a while of discussing this year's program, Harry enters dangerous zone by annoying the teacher with his questions about practice of defence charms in class.  I say annoy the teacher, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that Harry's right and she's absolute nuts. They dispute for minutes before he ends up with a detention for disrespectful behaviour. I can't believe this... I come to Hogwarts to learn magic for once and I can't even use my wand in the class I'm the best at (yeah, braggy brag brag). I roll my eyes at the thought of it and when I turn my gaze back to the new teacher, she's staring right at me, her eyes narrowed like she smells something weird. She walks slowly my way with a crisped smile on her lips. Her fat little feet click on the tile, making my heart skip a dozen beat at every step her bubble figure takes.  

"I'm sorry, Miss?

-Um, Lupin, M'mam. Ophelia Lupin.

-Ah, yes. Lupin. Well am I upsetting you or something? If not, be carefull. We don't want your eyes to become locked up behind your eyelids, would we? No direspectful behavior in my class, or you'll end up like Mister Potter, here. Having a Defense against the Dark arts connaisseur in the household doesn't mean you can act like you know everything about the subject, um? Am I being clear?"

My breath is caught in my chest. My throat is dry as Filch's hair. I never thought I would be the troublemaker in this school. I can't move, even blink once, scared to upset her. My eyes water with the lack of movement. Nice one Stupid, you're crying for nothing and you just angered a bloody dragon...want to spit in her face now to make your first day even worse? 

Before my tears crash on my cheeks, I hear someone clearing their throat a couple of rows behind me. The toad-like pink lady turns her iced gaze in the direction of the sound. My chest falls and I sink into my seat before she turns her attention back on me. I turn slightly to find Draco, his pale hand in the air like he has a question for the professor, looking at her with a cold neutral gaze.

"Yes, Mister Malfoy?

-Miss, can you tell us more about the theorical program for this year that was specifically given by the Ministry of Magical Education, please? I most strongly approve of Mister Fudge's approach and I would like to know more."

The teacher beams at him, her cheeks rounding up like apples as she smiles and returns in the front before starting her speech on the great idea that the Minister had to install bla bla bla.... I keep my gaze on Draco, who gives me a gentle gaze, without changing his poker face an inch, meaning you're welcome. I smile back and turn to listen to the rest of the class, my thoughts turning around my classes and a certain piece of paper under my pillow with a silver ribbon.