At that precise moment Dolores Umbridge entered the room from the teacher's entrance, she started off by burning a paper bird that was flying around the classroom, effectively killing the happy mood at a speed that could only be beat by a group of dementors.
"Good morning class." She said in a sickly sweet voice as she gave them a wide and disturbing smile. "No, no that won't do." She said when the class gave a half-hearted reply. "A little louder please, 'good morning class'."
"Good morning Madam Umbridge." The class said reluctantly. Not Harry though, part of growing up and attending muggle schools meant that he had to take part in the school plays. And unlike Dudley, Harry had quickly realised he could not sing so always just stood at the back and mouthed the words, which turned out to be good practise for now.
"I told you so." Harry whispered to Daphne and Tracy as Umbridge walked to the front of the class, the former gave him a small nod as she was already able to tell that the lesson was not going to be as good as she would have liked. Umbridge's ridiculously cheery attitude was already ruining it.
"There, that wasn't so difficult, was it? 'Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations'," Umbridge spoke as the words formed on the black board. "more commonly known as 'owls'. Study hard and you will be rewarded, fail to do so and the consequences may be severe." She smirked. Harry along with others did not miss how the woman seemed disturbingly happy at the mention of consequences. Umbridge waved her wand and books flew off of the teacher table with one going to each person. "Your previous instruction on this subject has been disturbingly uneven, but you'll be pleased to know that from now on you'll be following a carefully structured, ministry approved, course of magic. Has everyone got their copy of 'Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Silkhard'?" She asked, the class responded at a barely heard level. "No," Umbridge tutted her teeth, "that will not do at all, when I ask a question I expect a 'Yes, Professor Umbridge' or a 'No, Professor Umbridge'. Now does everyone have their copy?"
"Yes Professor Umbridge." The Class droned.
"Good," Umbridge smiled, "wands away, read chapter one, there will be no need to talk." She said. "Yes?" She asked when Hermione raised her left hand.
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells." Hermione pointed out.
"Using spells?" Umbridge let out a short and amused laugh. "I can't imagine why you'd want to use spells in my classroom." She said as if the very thought was ridiculous.
"We're not going to use magic?" Ron asked with disbelief
"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk freeway."
"What use is that?" Ron asked "If we're going to be attacked, it's not going to be risk free." Harry rolled his eyes, he was doing a lot of that recently, and focused in the direction of the book in his hand.
"Students will raise their hands in my classroom." Umbridge turned around as if the sight of Ron upset her, a moment later she turned back and spoke to the class with a smile.
"Professor," Hermione once again raised her left hand. "Isn't there a practical portion for our owl exams?"
"It is the view of the ministry" Umbridge spoke. "that a theoretical approach will be more than sufficient in helping you pass your exams".
"Without practising them first?!" Ron blurted out with disbelief.
"You are to raise your hand first Mr..."
"Weasley," Ron said, answering the unasked question about his name. "but what I was basically saying was you can't expect us to just do the theory and not practise against what's out there."
"There is nothing out there, who do you imagine would want to harm children such as yourself?" Umbridge asked, Harry took a lot of effort to stop himself from reacting when in all honesty he was willing to go up to the front and write an entire list of possible dangers.
"Oh I don't know, how about you-know-who?" Ron said, "Dumbledore says he is back."
"Ah but Dumbledore has no proof," Umbridge countered with an annoying smirk. "Mr Potter has never publicly stated that you-know-who has returned, the only people who have claimed so are Dumbledore and his followers in a rather obvious attempt to ignite panic and chaos, the ministry will not tolerate such lies. Mr Potter, would you like to say something?" Umbridge asked Harry who glanced up from the book.
"Not really." Harry shrugged before he returned to his book, Umbridge gave a pleased smile before walking back and sitting at her desk while Hermione barely kept Ron from saying anything more.
"I can not believe you read that book and didn't fall asleep." Tracy commented as she, Daphne and Harry walked out of defence class.
"Please, I am not reading that bullshit." Harry snorted. "I read a bit of it before class and skimmed the rest, it's shit."
"But you were reading it in class." Daphne pointed out.
"Was I?" Harry smirked as he pulled his book out, he waved his wand around it and the cover changed into one that said '100 unique curses'.
"You were pretending?!" Daphne blurted out. "Genius! I wish I had thought of that.
"Stop it, you'll make me blush. I can show you both how to do it later if you want."
"Thanks Harry." Tracy smiled at him. Harry smiled back at the two, looking very pleased with himself, by the way they were looking at him he was pretty sure that he had just mastered friendship.
"Yeah well that can not be true," Harry said as he sat against a tree near the lake, Tracy and Daphne sat near him as all three were doing their homework. "I mean there is no way that Malfoy could have sex without at least some money being transferred."
"Parkinson would disagree with you," Daphne frowned. "all of the school have seen her fawn over Malfoy."
"Urgh, do not remind me." Harry said as he tried not to picture the over the top way Pansy Parkinson would hang off of Draco Malfoy's side. "That is one case where I would have more respect for a girl if she was a gold digger."
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