Defense Against the Dark Arts: An Introduction

[Taebryn Malick]

The start of term always excited Taebryn, even now that she was a professor. It brought new faces, some new topics, and plenty of interesting turns in events. Honestly, while Taebryn still wished she had become an Auror, she didn't really regret taking on the teaching position either.

Her plain black pumps clicked sharply on the stone flooring of the halls as she made her way from her office to her classroom, opening the door promptly as her class was to begin. She had a small classroom and most students were seated, but even as she crossed from the door to her desk at the front of the class two students sneaked in late behind her. She raised her eyebrow at them, but her lips held a soft, amused smile.

"Good afternoon, class. Welcome to Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts, I'm Professor Malick, and you'll be seeing quite a lot of me this year. Let me start off by saying that you will be expected to work and work hard. This class isn't for future poets or Arithmeticians. This class is for future Aurors and other people in a line of work that's dangerous and puts them in a position where they may need to duel someone or subdue them. I suppose some of you might be here to pursue an interest instead of a career, but I expect you to work just as hard as everyone else despite not needing this information and only wanting it." As she spoke Taebryn whipped out her wand and pointed it at the floor where up sprang a rolling chalkboard. With another wave of her wand words began scribbling across the board.

Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts
with Professor Malick
Class 1: An Introduction

"In today's class we'll take it easy. I just want a brief essay from you and then you can leave." More words appeared.

In 150 to 500 words please introduce yourself to me, tell me a bit about yourself and your family, explain why you're taking this class, and tell me what you think Defense Against the Dark Arts is all about.

"There's your assignment, please submit it to me when you've finished and make sure your name, house, and year are at the top of it. If you have any questions, I'll be here so feel free to ask." Taebryn walked around her desk, motioned for the students to begin, and then took a seat and pulled out some plans for future classes to revise.

((OOC: You may post your essay here or PM it to me, whichever is more comfortable for you. You should however post something here, even if it's rping how your character is writing the essay, but then you hand it in separately.))

[Annabelle Merlin Grace]

Annabelle sat in the mid section of the classroom, it was small, she did not know any of the students well enough tot spark up a conversation, these people where way to smart for her. She was nervous, what was she even doing in this classroom, she should be in Astronomy or something. Then again that is like at midnight! her thoughts traveled during the wait, when was the professor going to be in?

As she worried and wondered the door opened, a young woman, most notably the professor came in, a few students scooted in behind her. She was at leas on time, one plus in a bunch of negative turns in events. The professor was pretty, had good taste in shoes too. Annabelle was uncomfortable in her annoying school uniform, her hair clashed from other students, if they only knew how much of a screw up she really was!

She squeaked when the chalkboard came up, how embarrassing! She sure would not last in this class, she would be lucky to get a score of Dreadful!

First lessons are always the best, I can write an essay! she thought, not keen on the word count but at least it did not require any spells or wand work! With no reason to expect otherwise she to out parchment, and started to write in a purple pen. Yes, she was slightly rebellious!

Annabelle Grace, Hufflepuff, year six

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Crap! She was drawing a blank, she knew what she wanted to say, at least she had an idea but where to start, clearly, HI, my names is Annabelle was too dumb, her name was on the top, she knew her name was Annabelle! She rested her head on her hand, just missing writing on herself, she sure was doing good!

’Kay, just start! she yelled at herself.

Annabelle Grace, Hufflepuff, year six

Defense Against the dark arts is one thing, but Advanced is another. The reasons I joined is not because I wanted to or for career reasons. It is family. My father and I moved here from Amreica, Vermont exactly, and that was last year. It was after there was an (still) unknown attack on my house and my mother was killed. My father worked in the government there, and said it was way safer here. I am not to sure that he was right, and clearly he has his doubts telling me that I had to take this class. It is for many reaons though.

I am not the best student; he thinks it will challenge me, I think that it well be too overwhelming in fact. You see I am not the best student, My hair is pink because I screwed up a spell! Granted I was pre-wizard age, but it is still an example of how wrong my spells go.

I am rambling, but that is good, you get to know more about me right? I can guarantee you will see a lot of me, and I will work hard in the class regardless of why I am here. However I have low expectations of my work, I just have a hard time getting things right, I am one of those people that it takes ten times before I can get something, but for the most part I will try until I get it right.

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That has to be the right amount of words. she thought looking around, some students had left already, but there where others around, at least she was not first or last today. Never had she been first, last was all to often, she took the parchment and placed it on the desk, a shy nervous smile on her face as she scampered back to her seat to take her messenger bag, that was indeed pink as her hair. (Well she needed to have something matching!) She took small quick steps toward the door, and once out took a breath, she was sure that they professor would move her to the regular class, at least she hoped.

[Janet Numan]

First lesson. “This will be a boar.” Janet said on her way to the class, her robes open and her uniform not as neat as they would like, shirt un-tucked, tie, not tied but before she entered the classroom they where fixed right. Her hair tied back in a loose pony, and she even managed to put on some eyeshades, something she never did. Then again she was trying to be a regular girl these days, and doing well. After all she did not want to be known as the sports girl either, but that would be better then the crazy girl.

Sitting in the classroom, second row she sat proper, alert and ready. She did want to get the lesson over, and hated these things. Introductions. For the love of Merlin she did hope that it would be an essay rather then a, discussion. She did hate to speak in the classes, Quidditch was sure enough talking for her. It was getting easier these days but still a challenge. The Professor in the room soon after she took her seat she was glad not to be too early, Janet was sure impatient. She smiled when a girl behind her squeaked at the chalkboard, wimp. she thought. She was looking around too, wanting to see if anyone here was worth a dime, there she was judging again.

She listened to the basic and expected talk from the Professor. Hard work, duh.

Janet Numan
Ravenclaw
7th year

Introduce yourself to me:

As a 19 year old 7th year student I am strange, have a past and angry too. If you have not seen my records I have not lead a cheerful life, and have lived in the dark a lot more then most of the other students if not all of them in this class. I left the school in my sixth year, returned to repeat that year. I had planned to finish too, but was in an accident where I was about 8 months in Mungo’s. Now this is going to me my finishing year, and I am proud to be here.

Tell me a bit about yourself & your family

Family, well I had a brother who was turned into a vampire, then killed later that year but the same person who put me in the hospital. I fought with anger, not smarts and for that I paid the price, nearly with my life. I went for about five years without speaking to my parents, but recently started to write letters and even visited them over the break. They had a hard time to understand everything, after all they are non magical.

For me, it is more then difficult. I have too many powers. I trained to be an earth mage in the past, and started picking up on it again. I am registered and it sure is in my records after a slight split personality disorder that I am a metamorphmagus.

Explain Why you are taking the class

Why? Because I have not the real proper ways to defend myself, I am self trained, raw and need help in learning to control my emotions in such situations. While therapy is one thing, it does not teach you what to do in extreme situations. I attend the dance, where I am proud to have helped out, but still it was hard to associate one thing from another.

What you think Defense Against the Dark Arts is all about?

It is about protecting not only yourself but others form the dark magic in this world. It is also learning to control the situation at hand, fast thinking and working together. It is knowing how to read others actions, and being able to react properly in situations. It is important to learn, and know but most of all it is work that requires a proper mind set.
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Janet was personal, unedited and even more it was a lot of information. However most of it was in file, and she knew that it would be there at some point. She had to embrace her past, and stop trying to forget it, as much as she hated it, it has shaped her to the person she was, and good or bad it was what happened. She did have a lump in her throat handing in the parchment, with her life story on it, her powers on there that any could read and see.

A step in the right direction…

At least for now, as Janet walked out the door with little stopping her, she did not seem to have any reflections on people or the class, work done, class over she was out. Perhaps the professor would offer her better challenges then the others students? However Janet had a feeling that the class was going to prove difficult for her, and that was why she took it.