Witch

Defense Against Mad-Eye

I walked with Harry as we made our way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. I opened the door to hear Ron say "-Imperius Curse."

"Ah yes, gave the - come in Mr. Potter, Miss - last name?"

My face flushed as I said. "Just use Belle, please, it's my second middle name."

Moody nodded curtly, glancing at the register, and returned to the lesson. I took a seat next to Hermione.

Moody cleared his throat loudly, making a weird gurgling sound. Ew.

"Well, the Imperius Curse gave the Ministry a right bit of trouble, I'll tell you that. Complete control, over anybody you like! See, many of the Dark Lord's Death Eaters claimed they were only doing his bidding - under the Imperius Curse! So how do we sort out the liars?"

I rolled my eyes impatiently.

"Wow! Hm, I'm totally stumped. It's not like I could just brew up some Veritaserum or something. There's definitely no such thing as a Potioneer."

Moody looked at me, with both his magical and non Magical eye, which, according to Ron's mind, could see through everything.

The rest of the class was staring at me. Hermione's eyes had widened with shock, and Harry's brow furrowed.

"It's a truth-telling potion," I whispered to Harry, before continuing even more loudly. "No, really, why not?"

Moody froze for a moment then chuckled.

"Well, Miss Belle, you're already learning to think like a criminal."

Should I be flattered? Or worried?

He turned around, his wooden foot protruding from beneath his robes, and reached into a jar, pulling out a spider. I could feel Ron shudder. Hermione had informed me of his fear of spiders.

I wonder if he would like Acromantulas...

Moody placed the spider on his palm so the entire class had a direct view of it, and muttered, "Imperio!"

The spider immediately jumped off of Moody's hand, hanging from a single piece of webbing. It began to swing back and forth like a trapeze performer before backflipping and landing on the desk. It then cartwheeled to the center of the desk and went into a sort of jig.

Everyone was laughing, except the trio and I. Harry looked rather blank, and Ron was still shuddering. Hermione looked furious, but she was clearly trying to keep herself calm.

Unable to watch any longer, I yelled angrily. "Think it's funny, do you?" I roared at the class. "Why don't you try? Do you have any idea what it's like to be forced to do something over and over? Against your will?"

The class quieted. Most of them looked down, ashamed, but a boy I knew as Seamus Finnigan stood up and said, rather arrogantly, "How would you know what it's like? Even if it's so bad, you wouldn't know."

Oh Seamus, you just messed with the wrong witch.

I rose slowly and gave him a dangerous smile.

"Actually, I would know, Seamus, but if you're really so curious, why don't you try it out for us?" I said, my voice cold. "I'm sure we'd all like to know."

Seamus sputtered. I narrowed my eyes and told him, "And if you don't shut up, I'll send a banshee after you."

Seamus looked shocked, and he began to speak "What the bloody h-"

"No swearing in the classroom!" Moody growled, but I got there first. I whipped out my wand and concentrated and thought, Carpe Retractum!

Dark blue ropes shot out of my wand - strange, as I had always produced white ropes - and wrapped around Seamus' mouth. He struggled against his bonds and Moody said, rather carelessly, "Take him to Madam Pomfrey please, Mr. Thomas." Apparently the ropes were too tight to unbond.

Serves him right.

I sat back down and crossed my arms and legs. Moody glanced around the class before continuing.

"Er - another curse?" Hermione's hand shot into the air, and, to my surprise, so did Neville's.

I had only ever seen Neville volunteer in Herbology, and I knew for a fact he had never volunteered in class. He looked shocked at his own nerve.

"Longbottom, is it?" Moody said, glancing at the register.

Neville gulped. "Yes sir."

"Well gimme a curse, sonny."

"The Cruciatus C-curse."

Moody looked at Neville strangely before nodding. He turned around slowly and pulled a second spider out of the jar.

"A little bigger - Engorgio!"

The spider swelled even louder. A whimper escaped Ron's mouth. Pathetic.

Moody placed the spider on the table and raised his wand menacingly.

"Crucio!"

The spider writhed against an invisible force, rolling onto its back and rocking back and forth. I could practically hear it screaming.

"STOP! Stop it!" Hermione shouted ferociously. I saw her eyes on, not the spider, but on Neville. He was gripping the edge of his desk tightly, his eyes wide and horrified, his knuckles white as he sat there, frozen.

Moody lowered his wand and placed the spider in a larger jar, and slowly pulled out the last one.

"Perhaps you would like to tell us the last curse, Miss Willow Ava Belle."

I opened my mouth.

"The Avada Kedavra."

Moody simply placed the spider in front of me.

He hissed, "Avada Kedravra!"

A flash of green light, and the spider lay there, dead.

I immediately looked at Harry, horrified, but the blank look on his face was worse than if he had screamed.

I blinked, a strange realization coming over me.

I hadn't told Moody my first middle name was Ava.

~~~

Author's Note:

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this kind-short chapter! I will publish a new chapter ASAP!

New chapter of Jocelynn Lupin coming soon!

Also, Jocelynn Lupin and Witch are 100% not connected. I will be continuing in the Witch universe, and the Next Malfoy is the only Jocelynn Lupin book. Just thought I'd clear that up!

Anyways, luv y'all!

xoxo

Claire Luci