DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS -- seventh years *

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UNFORGIVABLE CURSES
the killing curse / avada kedavra - the cruciatus curse / crucio - the imperius curse / imperio

is what was written on the board for the lesson that would teach his seventh years about the unforgivable curses. it wasn't something that he was particularly thrilled to teach them but they needed to know about these curses. parents told their children about them, rumours were flying around the school about someone having used them and he had to admit there were some signs but not a lot. these three curses required strength and the will to hurt. it wasn't easy for people with no anger or no malice behind them to cast them. folding his arms over his chest he glanced out the window for a moment, thinking about the lesson ahead before he turned his attention to the door when his students started to arrive. it would be an interesting lesson to say the least, he was sure it would disturb one or two students but he'd deal with that later. for now? he needed to get started on this.

@crystal2, @cainedge, @alucard, cordelia regan smith, @carcerronaldhagrid, @kay, @alice, @theodorus, @james, @marcia, @abigail, holly proserpina mcgonagall, @alina

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Holly had always been amused to learn that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors had changed constantly back in the early years of Harry Potter at Hogwarts.  But what did she think about the class itself? Well, it was always essential to know how to combat the dark arts.  That didn't mean it was easy, and sometimes the topics of the class could be terrifying. 

That was what she believed when she stepped into class.  The moment she looked at the board, she felt a feeling of foreboding.  The Unforgivables.  Holly figured they would be discussing about them in class instead of casting spells.  The aspect of talking about them in class was exciting as much as it was creepy, but she was definitely looking forward to it.  They were seventh years now, so it was about time they had this talk.  They couldn't be sheltered forever.

She quickly greeted the professor before sitting down on a desk in the front row, placing her stuff down on the table.  She kept on thinking about the Unforgivable curses their deadliness while she waited for others to enter the classroom.  

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Defence Against the Dark Arts was certainly one of Elias' more favoured classes. He always found the dark arts somewhat appealing and it was in this that had him listening attentively in every lesson of the subject. As someone who lost focus easily, it was sometimes hard to tune in on what a teacher was saying. Defence Against the Dark Arts managed to capture his attention in a way no other class had. More so now than ever before.

The reason being the sexy librarian Miss Rawlins was now their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. In Elias' opinion it just didn't get any better than that and he was genuinely excited for class. After having gone the whole Christmas break without seeing her, he had cooked up some of the corniest pick-up lines to charm her with.

Walking into the class though, Elias was shocked to see Miss. Rawlins replaced by a man whose face wasn't at all familiar. Well so much for his pick-up lines...Curse the school and their constant switching of teachers. Elias didn't know the guy who was up in front, but he preferred the librarian over him. He had nothing against the man, Elias simply valued the relationship between Miss. Rawlins and him more.

With a disappointed sigh, Elias put his bag down on a table to the back of the classroom. Not too far away from him he spotted a Ravenclaw, Cain who looked petrified over something. Elias' immediate thought was that like him the Ravenclaw was saddened by Rawlins' departure. "I know, I'm sad that she's gone too. Just hang in there buddy." he said, patting him reassuringly on the shoulder before walking to the front to talk to Holly.

"What's on your mind there dragon girl?" Elias said with a smile as he sat down next to Holly. He greeted the professor curtly, before turning his attention back to red head beside him.

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Defense Against the Dark Arts was not a class he particularly needed. He knew nearly everything that was being taught already: the spells, the counterspells, how to deal with malevolent creatures. But Theo lacked the blind arrogance of many of his fellow Purebloods. He had extreme confidence in himself, and that tended to come off as arrogance, but there was a key difference: confidence did not blind itself to room for improvement. So, despite how dull the class tended to be, the Slytherin never failed to attend class, because there was always a chance he’d learn something.

He strode into the class, eyes sweeping the room. The first thing to notice was the new DADA teacher. Male, late twenties. Clearly a former Auror, or at the least an incredibly accomplished duelist, from his stance. His arms were folded, but loosely, where he could still get to his wand in an instant, and he had that alertness to his eyes that spoke of experience in gathering information at a glance. Likely he had already sized Theo up as well, at this point. Few students could appreciate how much information a person’s stance or where their eyes went gave you. Then he noticed the words on the chalkboard—the Unforgivables? He arched a brow in interest. To his knowledge, the Ministry was still iffy on teaching about those particular curses. The parents…were probably okay with it. It seemed like a cycle—people didn’t want their children learning about stuff like that, until a generation that had to deal with it anyway became parents, and they were alright with it, because they understood that it was there nonetheless, and that ignorance did not shield one from reality.

He looked over at the students. There was the Ravenclaw overbite, looking severely put out by something. Surely not the day’s lesson? He’d had the impression that Edge was made of tougher stuff than that, had even considered that he might be one of the few students able to give him a fun fight, but if he was so easily cowed, perhaps not. There was Elias, too. Theo knew Elias wanted to hate him for his attitude and his fling with Little Girl, but he was pretty sure his Quidditch performance and overall skill with magic was making it difficult. And—aha, this was a Weasley. She was quite attractive, though given her heritage and that she was a dormmate of Abby, she probably wouldn’t be interested in…interacting…with him. Still, he let his gaze linger on her just a little longer than usual before he looked away, just to see what kind of reaction he'd get. Theo tossed his book on an empty desk, pulling the chair out and dropping into it in an unceremonious slouch. He knew this subject.

Looked like it would be another boring week in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

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Carcer was, for once, making his way through the school in his normal form. Ever since getting his license to transform, he’d been quite happy to use that form to maneuver through the halls. But it had occurred to him that, being a prefect, he was meant to be visible. He was still using the form liberally, but he was making a conscious effort to be seen going to and from at least half his classes each day. Convenience, while nice, was not a luxury a prefect could claim at all times.

Carcer was quite used to shifting at this point, though, and when he reached the DADA classroom, he didn’t even hesitate. The half-giant smoothly transitioned into a flying squirrel as he approached the door, and just as smoothly shifted back on the other side, looking around. Ah, a new teacher? He’d been told Miss Rawlins was only a temporary professor while they found a replacement to take the post up full-time.

The half-giant lumbered toward the back of the classroom, the tremors of his steps registering to everyone, and as per usual, Enlarged the very back desk and chair, and sat down quietly. His eyes roved the board—the Unforgivable Curses?

Carcer was more or less a natural at Defense Against the Dark Arts thanks to his heritage, but there was one spell on that board even he had to respect...

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Since Ethan's accident, Cordelia had not quite been the same. The other attacks had saddened her deeply, as the majority of her family were muggles and her own parents were both muggleborn. But the attack on Ethan hit her closer to home than she ever thought it would. She was thankful he wasn't dead but devastated that it had happened to him, or anyone for that matter, at all. The tall blonde had carried on about her usual activities, taking every break she could to visit Ethan but she was... sad. Ethan had been performing his prefect duties when he was attacked but he was also on his way to deliver a letter to Cordelia, and for that Cordelia felt so guilty. Not to mention in the back of her mind she kept thinking about Sam... Cordelia felt like a retched human being and while she did her very best to continue smiling and acting like nothing was wrong, those who really knew her knew that something was wrong with the aspiring Quidditch player.

Cordelia felt a little better on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning. Ethan wasn't going to be there, and that made her sad, but the class was always interesting enough so she had faith that she would be distracted easily. Cordie entered the classroom to see it filling steadily. She looked up at the professor and smiled at him and her eyes glanced at the board. Her smile instantly faded. Cordelia felt an instant pressure put upon her shoulders and she felt still as a statue. Her eyes darted around for a place to sit and she settled on a seat in the middle of the classroom. She sat down and just looked down at her hands in front of her on the desk. So much for being easily distracted.

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Holly grinned when Elias sat down at the desk beside hers.  "Hey, Elias," she greeted him.  He was one of the more likable Slytherins.  She remembered the Phoenix Rising meeting where most Slytherins had been suspected, but no way could Holly really believe Elias to be a serial killer in secret.  "Oh, well...I'm quite curious what we're going to learn about the Unforgivable curses.  I think it's a bit morbid."  It was probably fortunate or unfortunate for her that she was so honest about her thoughts, but Holly was sure that most people found it morbid as fascinated as they were.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted a blonde-haired gent looking at her.  Theodorus Nott.  She thought that he was simply glancing at her idly and would quickly look away, but to her surprise he continued to observe her for a longer moment than was normally accepted.  The Gryffindor blinked, not really knowing what to make of this.  She summoned up an sheepish smile to bridge the awkwardness.  She continued to watch him as he roughly put his book on his desk and sat down in the seat ungracefully.  Her eyebrows were raised at the sight; normally, Slytherins, like Elias, were as suave as sleek businessmen.  On the contrary, Theodorus reminded her of some of her male cousins when they were in a bad mood or were exhausted after a long day.

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UNFORGIVABLE CURSES
the killing curse / avada kedavra - the cruciatus curse / crucio - the imperius curse / imperio

watching some students trickle into the room calex stayed at his desk and kept leaning against it. he watched them all, this was the first time he'd taught this group of students, seventh years they were. which was good, it meant they had learned a lot of what they would at hogwarts and now it was about helping them learn to use their defence skills rather than just learn about them. though that wouldn't be happening today. today was purely information being tossed around the room and he planned to let the students voice their opinions about the three curses that were written on the board. it would be interesting to say the least. greeting each student as they came in, he decided after the last one to enter the room that he would get started. they didn't have all day and late people could just catch up.

"okay so welcome, i'm your new teacher, professor jakebson or calex if you'd rather" he didn't have anything against the students calling him by his first name, he used their names so why not let them use his. he wasn't one for titles anyway, not really. besides, he loved his new job, but professor made him feel a little older than he was. he was only just in his thirties for merlin's sake. "unforgivable curses." he said, stepping away from his desk and stepping forward into the class, letting his hands fall by his side but he didn't relax completely. "what can you tell me about them, anyone?" he asked, putting the question to the class to see how much they already knew.

@crystal2, @cainedge, @alucard, cordelia regan smith, @carcerronaldhagrid, @kay, @alice, @theodorus, @james, @marcia, @abigail, holly proserpina mcgonagall, @alina

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Defense Against the Dark Arts was not one of Alice's favorite subjects simply because of the topic. She was good at it, sure - but she just wasn't a fan of the Dark Arts in general. She had heard many, many stories of how the Dark Arts have caused people to rise to power in the past and she didn't like what it sometimes drew people to do. To be honest, the subject sometimes scared her. So when she had heard that a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be teaching them after the holidays from her father, Alice had to admit she was a little wary as she walked into the classroom for the lesson. As Alice was walking in, the professor had just began to speak so Alice silently made her way to the back of the room, smiling slightly up at Carcer when she saw him. Alice took a seat at the table directly in front of him, hoping against hope that she wouldn't be forced to watch James attempt to snog Aurora all throughout class. Where were they anyway? Showing up late together to class now? That wasn't the Ravenclaw way at all. Alice rolled her eyes at the thought and that was when she had finally registered what the professor was speaking about.

The Unforgivable Curses. Alice knew plenty about them. After all who didn't in this day and age? Alice looked down at the desk in front of her, reminded of how her grandparents, while she had never been extremely close to them at all, had suffered at the hand of one of those curses. They were indeed unforgivable. Alice let out a deep breath and slowly raised her hand to speak. "They are illegal," she stated, surprising herself with the level of her voice. Alice normally didn't speak out unless it was in Care of Magical Creatures, but one could say that this was kind of a topic of importance to her. "The use of any one of them on a wizard or muggle will earn you a life sentence in Azkaban." She lowered her hand, returning it back to her side as she watched the new professor. So his chosen first topic was the Unforgivable Curses? He must know what he was doing.

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UNFORGIVABLE CURSES
the killing curse / avada kedavra - the cruciatus curse / crucio - the imperius curse / imperio

watching one of the students, a longbottom he thought, raise her hand to speak he nodded at her for her to go ahead with her answer. she was right of course, they were frowned heavily upon and most of the time came with a one way ticket to azkaban like she had said. "very true" he said, still not knowing everyone's names was difficult but he would learn them in time. when one of the boys spoke up calex turned his attention and nodded in acknowledgement "very good" he'd been on the receiving end of the cruciatus curse before and he wouldn't wish it on anyone. but that was a different story and not something he'd be telling the students. so they knew about them. he'd expected them to know, they weren't first years they'd been at the school for most of their teenage lives, they ought to know a thing or two. he moved forward, walking between the desks as he waved his hand back to the board casually as he, without speaking, cast a spell on the chalk to write up the information that the students had told him. "while they are illegal now, there has been twice throughout the last century when it was legal to cast them, can anyone tell me when?"

@crystal2, @cainedge, @alucard, cordelia regan smith, @carcerronaldhagrid, @kay, @alice, @theodorus, @james, @marcia, @abigail, holly proserpina mcgonagall, @alina

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Sitting in the back of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom Alina listened to the questions that the Professor asked the class. Of course people were giving textbook answers. Her whole life she had been subject to the unforgivable curses and other curses that were used to inflict pain. That is until her father had been locked up. Memories popped up in her head unbidden. “During the first wizarding war and during Tom Riddle’s regime. After that they were made illegal once more after his regime.” As she spoke up her facial expressions were neutral so as not to show any emotion about the topic.

It was not the fact that she had been on the receiving end of them but that she was forced to watch as her sisters, brother and mother were put under the curses. However they had all been able to easily throw off the impierius curse since her father was not adept at that curse but the cruciatus was a specialty of his which he used many times. As well as the killing curse. He was a prized torturer during the reign of Tom Riddle. Alina hated everything about her father and there was no way around that.

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"It's Defense Against the Dark Arts this whole subject is morbid if you think about it." he said at Holly's comment about Unforgivable Curses. With regards to the curses, Elias didn't really have much to say about them. Like everyone in this room he had prior knowledge of their use, function and consequence and it pretty much ended at that for him. Not once in his life had he come to witness any of the curses in full effect. Times had changed now. Ever since the fall of Lord Voldemort, The Ministry had slapped heavy laws on the practise of such magic and it came as a wonder to Elias to see this new professor preparing a lesson on the very teachings that were sort of banned in this school.

He guessed it could be owed up to the string of recent killings in the school, but what good would learning the theory of the killing curse do if one was fired straight at you?
Unless Professor Jakebson would be putting the full work of the curses at display today, Elias didn't really see the point of this lesson.

When the Professor decided to begin the lesson, Elias stood up to take his real seat at the back of the class where his bag was. "We should finish this over a drink sometime." he told Holly with a smile. "Oh and if he gives you any trouble call me. I'll kick his ass for you real quick." he added jokingly, making reference to Theo. Earlier on, Elias noticed him looking at Holly in a way that seemed to make the girl uncomfortable. He already didn't like Theo much for what he had going on with Abigail and if the guy was planning on getting Holly to jump on his 'Crazy About Theo Train', Elias was prepared to put an end to it before it got that far.

Bidding Holly goodbye, he walked to his seat where he sat quietly, listening to Alice and Cain's answers. He didn't have anything to add to what was said so his eyes roamed around the class where they rested on a brunette haired Hufflepuff beside him who was currently answering the Professor's next question. He hadn't noticed her face up until now and he made a mental note to charm the magic out of her later.

For now he'd focus on the lesson and try his best not to think about the pretty girl sitting next to him.

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Theo listened to the professor ask about the Unforgivables, ignoring Alucard's message very deliberately, and considered answering the man’s question, but Cain beat him to it, spewing out the textbook answer. Sounded like the usual Ravenclaw I-read-it-in-a-book answer. Theo knew personally that it was more involved in that, and that each of the three spells required a different kind of intent; he himself was unable to cast the Cruciatus Curse, because he didn’t want others to suffer. He didn’t particularly care if they did or didn’t. But not caring means not wanting, so he was incapable of that spell. The Imperius Curse was easier—Theo did want to prove he was stronger than others, to defeat them. This strength of will made his Imperius Curse one of the strongest his tutor had ever seen. Avada Kedavra…well. He could cast it, because he could disregard life, but he’d never actually killed anything with it. Death was boring.

Dead enemies provided no challenge.

Theo listened to Alina’s words, before speaking up to add his own. “During the war, they were legal only for the Aurors, but in 1998 they were legal for everyone.” This was an important distinction, though it might not seem like it at first glance. Crouch had given the Aurors teeth to bite back at the Death Eaters with; Voldemort had handed dangerous weapons to everyone, knowing that those on his side were more willing to use them.

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The Unforgivable Curses had rarely come up in Carcer’s life. The Imperius and Cruciatus Curses were ineffective against him thanks to his giant blood, but the Killing Curse worked on anything living. That spell was…disturbing. And not just for what it did—for the fact that it had been created at all. From what he could tell, it wasn’t enough to want someone dead, you had to want to kill them yourself. But he didn’t speak up—Carcer didn’t really know much about the spells outside of the textbooks, and anyone could regurgitate that information. Which Alice did, surprisingly. Carcer could hear the…force…in her words, even if it wasn’t odd enough that she was speaking at all. He listened to the others, but reached out both arms and gently put his hands on Alice’s shoulders. She was sitting in front of him, so she couldn’t see him, but he wanted her to know he was still here. He knew her family’s history with the curses, who didn’t? So he didn’t think there was anything he could say to her to help. But at least he could be here, if…well, if she needed him to be.