Harry Potter Fanfic: A Fighting Chance

Chapter 6

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Bellatrix trudged along the way towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with all kinds of thoughts whirling and swirling around her head. Would the professor remember her snubbing him in Gringotts? Would the professor be a competent teacher? Would the professor be able to teach her sufficiently well enough for her to pass her NEWTs with sufficient marks? Was the professor as practical as the first years said he was? Did he actually cast the cruciatus curse? All these thoughts wormed their way through into her head as Andromeda looked at her amusedly.

Andromeda was the eldest of the three Black sisters; Andromeda, Bellatrix and Narcissa. Andromeda and Bellatrix were really close in the age gap, about only two or three months off of each other. Andromeda was tall and lean like every black woman with onyx black eyes and silky black hair that reached down to her waist. Her face was flecked with freckles that instead of disfiguring her, made her even more beautiful. Bellatrix was much like her older sister, except the fact that she had half-lidded eyes and no freckles. Her hair was also very silky however she liked to keep it curled instead of straight. Then there was their younger sister Narcissa. A perfect mix of their parents. Narcissa was tall and lean like their father, her eyes were light black and her hair was the perfect mix of the blonde of their mother and the black of their father. Bellatrix frowned as she thought about her parents, Cygnus Black and Druella Black nee Rosier. The two had made it perfectly clear that the moment Andromeda's and Bellatrix's NEWTs were finished they would become subjects of marriage contracts. With whom however, she nor Andromeda did not know.

Andromeda quickly made her leave her train of thought as she and Andromeda sat down on the second row bench as their professor entered in. It was the first time all of the seventh years were seeing their new professor up close. He was wearing a formal pale blue shirt with its sleeves pulled upwards. He also wore a normal black formal pants and leather shoes. The professor simply pushed his glasses upwards and said "Well, it seems that not many students chose Defense Against the Dark Arts as one of their NEWT subjects."

What he said was of course true. Only she, Bellatrix herself and Andromeda were the slytherins in the class. An Arthur Weasely, Molly Prewitt, Gideon Prewitt and Fabian Prewitt were the only Gryffindors. There were two ravenclaws and two hufflepuffs amongst the class. Ten students in total.

The professor simply looked at around gauging their reactions before saying "Please forgive my abrupt and blunt remark. My name is Hadrian Potrera. You may call me Professor Hadrian or Professor Potrera. Either one is fine. Now before we start how about some introductions? Why don't you go first Ms. Prewitt?"

Molly quickly stood up as she said "My name is Molly Prewitt of the Noble House of Prewitt. I am from House Gryffindor in Hogwarts."

Fabian and Gideon went next.

"I am Fabian-"

"And I am Gideon."

"We're the Prewitt twins of the Noble House of Prewitt. We're from the Gryffindor House and the resident pranksters. So professor you better watch out." Both of them said cheekily.

Bellatrix shuddered slightly as she heard the twins talk in perfect sync. She knew that in the magical world twins were awfully rare and shared a psychic bond with each other however sometimes it was simply weird when they talked in perfect sync. She looked at the professor who seemed to have the hint of a smile upon his lips. Perhaps he had known another set of twins?

Arthur went next. "I am Arthur Weasely of the Ancient House of Weasely. I am from the Gryffindor House."

The two ravenclaws and two hufflepuffs quickly introduced themselves before the professor's gaze went to Andromeda. Andromeda coughed slightly before standing up and saying "My name is Andromeda Black of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. I am from the Slytherin House."

She quickly sat down as Bellatrix slowly stood up. "My name is Bellatrix Black of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. I am from the Slytherin House."

She quickly sat down as the professor looked around the class before briefly smiling. "Now that we all are acquainted with each other, I believe we need to start our class. Now as we all know, Magical Britain is embroiled in the midst of a civil war. Now this civil war is between the Ministry of Magic and the Death Eaters as they like to call themselves as they follow Voldemort, a dark lord. It is because of this reason I am frankly astounded so few students took this class, however there is nothing I can possibly do at this stage. Now, I will briefly be going over some dark spells and emonstrating them to you."

Arthur Weasely looked horrified as he said "Professor Potrera, I do not believe it is wise for you to cast the dark spells for us to learn about them! Anyway why do we need to know about dark spells?"

Bellatrix turned her head from her fourth once removed cousin Arthur Weasely as she looked for the professor's reaction. The professor simply smirked a little bit.

"Mr. Weasely this class is the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. How do you expect yourself to defend yourself from dark curses if you do not know what they do, what they look like and how to counter them? And believe me when I say this Mr. Weasely, the normal shield charm is useless against most dark curses." The professor said in a chastising tone. Arthur looked slightly abashed as he nodded. The professor nodded with acceptance as he conjured up a target on the other side of the room as the professor aimed his wand at the target dummy.

"Now I will be showing you some of the common dark curses that the death eaters seem to be use. I will explain each and every one of them and I want you all to take notes. Oh and Mr. Prewitt and Mr. Prewitt, those are your class-works that you need to turn in by the end of the class." The professor said as the Prewitt twins looked simply horrified at doing a class-work. Bellatrix shrugged as he brought out an empty scroll and brought out her quill. Andromeda and the others quickly did the same.

The professor nodded as everyone brought out their materials as the professor said "Cultro!"

Ten to twelve knives were conjured mid-air as they raced towards the dummy and pierced the dummy's eyes, neck, stomach, legs and erm….private parts. The professor put his wand down as he said "The knife conjuring curse is perhaps the most common dark curse that you will find amongst death eaters. It is quite gruesome and shows that you particularly do not need the killing curse and the cruciatus curse to torture and kill a person. However it is one of the very few dark curses that can be deflected by the shield charm. Did you all get that down? Good."

Bellatrix quickly write down her notes from the professor's short explanation as she looked at the dummy. She winced slightly as her eyes travelled down to the place where the dummy's genitals would have been and saw two knives lodged in them. She was suddenly struck by a question as she raised her hand. The professor acknowledged her as she asked "Do the knives go in the direction they are cast or do they go towards the place where the caster wants the knives to go professor?"

The professor nodded as he said "A very good question Ms. Black. Take two points. I believe the answer is the latter Ms. Black. If you do not know the shield charm and the curse is fired upon you, no matter how much you dodge the curse will not end until the knives have been embedded upon the body of the intended victim."

The class collectively winced as the professor turned towards the dummy as the knives disappeared with a flick of his wand. He quickly aimed at the dummy again as he said "Vitaeque reddenda!"

A black thread of smoke erupted from the wand of the professor as the thread elongated before wrapping itself around the dummy. The classroom started to shake slightly as Bellatrix and Andromeda gulped slightly. As Black's they both knew what curse had just been casted. The curse of the living dead…

Skeleton hands erupted from the floor beneath the dummy a black disfigured skeleton rose out of the ground and tore viciously into the body of the dummy before pulling the dummy down into the hole in the floor. Once the dummy and skeleton vanished into the hole, the hole sealed up.

The shaking immediately stopped as the professor conjured up another dummy in the place of the first dummy. The professor shook his hand slightly before saying "Does anyone know what dark curse I just casted?"

Andromeda shakily raised her hand as she answered "The curse of the living dead or the Reanimation Curse."

"Indeed. 3 points to Slytherin. The Reanimation curse first uses an elongated black thread to denote its victim. Once the thread disappears, something that muggles like to call zombies, or in simpler terms skeletons erupt from the ground and eat the victim, while the victim is alive. Then midway through the skeleton will stop and drag the victim down to the earth. If you are to dig the place where the victim was dragged under you will find the skeleton of the victim. The Reanimation curse cannot be deflected and the best method of fighting against it apparating away before the thread catches you or just running away before the thread captures you. If the thread catches you, you will die, it is an absolute fact that cannot be fled against no matter how you try to do so." The professor explained as the scurrying of notes was heard as everyone frantically wrote down notes.

Bellatrix and Andromeda shared a look as they both shuddered. Being a member of House Black was not always a privilege as people liked to say. The professor looked at them before saying "Now I will be demonstrating another common curse used by the death eaters before we move onto another topic. FiendFyre!"

A flaming whip of a fire basilisk erupted from the professor's wand as the basilisk roared and flew towards the dummy. Within seconds the dummy was incinerated into pieces as the basilisk turned its head and roared at the students and started to slowly advance upon them. All the students panicked as the students quickly stood up and slowly backed away. Bellatrix looked at their professor who was contently sipping tea. Bellatrix could feel Andromeda's scared emotions as they backed up as well. The basilisk hissed as it advanced. Suddenly the professor flicked his wand and the basilisk dissipated away. Molly Prewitt collapsed into the ground while breathing heavily as Arthur trembled uncontrollably. Gideon and Fabian were trying to reassure Molly and Arthur that they were fine but they too looked rattled. The hufflepuffs and ravenclaws were frozen stiff. Andromeda had slumped on the wall trying to control her breathing as Bellatrix tried to take the support of the walls trying to calm her nerves.

The professor sipped his tea as he surveyed everyone. After finally sometime when it looked like everyone had calmed down a little he stood up and said "Well, I suppose that your reactions were….disappointing ."

In an instant everyone, including Bellatrix and Andromeda started to shout profanities at the professor. The professor simply stood there with an amused smile on his lips. Amongst the chaos Bellatrix idly wondered where Andromeda had learned so much cuss words that could have qualified her to become a sailor. After the profanities died down somewhat the professor's eyes hardened as he raised his right hand.

The classroom immediately quietened as he said "25 points from each house." The professor looked at them and in a deceptively calm yet dangerous voice said "That fiendfyre was a controlled one. Many death eaters do not even know how to control them. However controlled or uncontrolled, what would you all do if a fiendfyre advanced upon you all. Simply back away? Because if you do that the Fiendfyre will just continue to advance destroying everything in its path. And in its path is you all. I simply wished to gauge how you all would react and it seems you all would react….poorly. Very poorly."

No one responded as the professor's hardened face simply said "Sit down in your seats now."

The students nodded as they shakily made their way to their seats. Once they all were seated the professor said "A simple aguamenti maxima would have been enough to temporarily dissipate the fiendfyre so that you all could have ran away. Of course I did not expect seventh years to not know what fire's main weakness is."

The seventh years looked down in shame as Bellatrix mentally scolded herself. Of course she should have known a fiendfyre's weakness. One fo the very first lessons that her father, Cygnus Black had taught her was how to counter a fiendfyre. But this fiendfyre that the professor had casted…it was unlike any fiendfyre she had seen. About twice as large, much more dangerous and it gave off an aura of death that no other fiendfyre gave off. She knew that Andromeda was thinking the same thing beside her.

The professor looked at all of them before saying "The fiendfyre is a dark curse commonly used by the death eaters. Till now, it has been shown that it can only be deflected by the Aegis Shield."

The class nodded as they slowly wrote that down. The professor looked at all of them once more before saying "Now close your books, take your wands out and come down."

The class did so as the students sat in a line as the professor said "Now we have a block period so I will now be teaching you all the aforementioned Aegis shield. It is a much more difficult and stronger shield charm that on some occasions is known to have deflected the unforgivable curse themselves."

Bellatrix could simply gape at the professor. He was going to teach them the Aegis shield charm? What? Did he realize how hard the charm was to cast? As if reading her thoughts the professor looked at her and said "However this is something we will be doing for the entire week as it is a highly difficult charm to cast. However it is quiet essential for your safety. It is also useful for getting extra points in the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical NEWTs exam. Now the incantation of the charm is Athena Aegis!"

Immediately a bright blue shield much like the normal shield charm came to being in front of the professor as he faced the students. However a few seconds after materializing the front side of the shield took on the shape of a face of a woman with snake for hairs and slit eyes with a mouth that snarling at them. The face of Medusa. The students cowered slightly as they saw the legendary face of the legendary Dark Lady of Ancient Greece.

The professor dropped the charm as he said "As you can probably guess, the charm has a psychological effect as well that makes attackers to get double thoughts about attacking the person casting the charm. It is a side effect of the charm that is very powerful and people with very high will power would only be able to cast a spell at you after seeing the fearsome face of Medusa. Now I want all of you to separate and start trying to cast the charm. If you want in your free time you can ask Professor Flitwick for some advice as well, if you want."

The students all separated as they started muttering the incantation over and over again trying to get at least a minimal result. However like Bellatrix thought the charm was increasingly hard. Of course being a Black she knew about the charm. The charm was not magically draining, no infact it was the exact opposite as it took even less magic than the disarming spell. However she and Andromeda knew that the Aegis shield was much more refined and needed much more concentration and magical control to cast.

By the end of the class, she and Andromeda were able to cast small wispy blue magic of the shield while it seemed that one of the ravenclaws was also successful to produce the wispy blue magic along with Fabian and Gideon. The Professor looked at them as the bell started to ring and said "Now your homework is very simple. Practice the charm. By the next lesson I do want every one of you to produce at least the wispy blue magic of the shield. Class dismissed."

As she exited the classroom, Bellatrix could not help but grin. Perhaps this new professor was alright after all.

x-x-x-x

That evening was of course the Black Family Meeting and the black children were forced to come to Black Manor with the permission of the teachers. Bellatrix, Andromeda, Narcissa and Sirius had all flooed to Black Manor where Lord Arcturus Black welcomed them.

Bellatrix sighed as she took her seat in the Hall of Black. All the Black's were present. She sat alongside the children, meaning her, Andromeda, Narcissa, Sirius and Regulus. At the middle of the Hall was of course of the Lord of Black's, Arcturus Black the Third. Beside him was her grandfather Pollux Black. Sitting beside Pollux was his wife Irma Black nee Crabbe. Beside Arcturus sat his wife and the Lady of Black's Melania Black nee Macmillan. Sitting beside Melania was Cassiopeia Black. Beside Cassiopeia sat Orion Black and his wife Walburga Black. Beside them sat her father Cygnus Black and her mother Druella Black nee Rosier. Alphard Black was sitting down upon chair beside her looking like he wanted to be anywhere except here. Other members of the family who had married outside the House of Black such as Callidora Black who married Harfang Longbottom, Lucretia Black who married Ignatius Prewitt and Dorea Black who married Charlus Potter were also in attendance.

Arcturus looked at all of them before saying "Welcome members of House Black to yet another of our annual meetings. I am sorry to all of you if the date of this meeting was an inconvenience however as you all know, traditions are traditions. We can do nothing against them."

"It is better that we do nothing against them." Walburga said snottily as Druella chuckled. Arcturus pointedly ignored them and said "Now as our meeting goes, is there matter that any member of the House of Black would like to put forward a topic of discussion?"

No one raised their hands at the question. Arcturus looked at all of them sharply before saying "Seeing as there are none I would like to open a floor of discussion on the topic of certain person."

"A certain person, father?" Lucretia asked as her neat and sleek black hair flowed as she shifted her position to ask the question.

"Indeed. I have heard he goes by the name of Hadrian James Potrera." Arcturus rumbled as Andromeda, Narcissa, Sirius and Bellatrix looked at him in shock. What did he want with their Defense teacher?

Arcturus looked at them and said "Now I believe that you four have him as your defense teacher and he has already taught you four his first class, If I am not mistaken?"

The four of them nodded respectfully as he rubbed his chin with his index finger before saying "Sirius, as Heir Apparent to the House of Black, I wish to know your opinion of your defense teacher."

Sirius nodded respectfully as he stood up and in a slightly quivering voice said "Well, Professor Potrera is a very competent man from what I have seen. Professor Dumbledore told us that he was a former unspeakable. Professor Potrera was also very soft spoken and used practical means as well theoretical means while teaching us."

"Practical and theoretical means? Please do elaborate Grandnephew." Pollux replied with a calculating glint appearing in Bellatrix's grandfather's eyes.

"Well when James, my friend told him that Dark Magic was any magic that simply killed others the professor simply smiled and said he was wrong. He quickly conjured up a cup and told us to suppose the cup was a man and the place where he and the cup were standing upon was a cliff. He quickly used a levitation charm on the cup and threw the cup over the supposed cliff. He then explained that any normal charm had the capability of killing people and that Dark Magic was a kind of Magic that was addictive and slowly stripped a person of his or her morality and humanity." Sirius replied slowly.

Dorea Potter nee Black stood up and said "What Sirius is saying is true. My son James told me as such in his letter to me and Charlus."

"Well, this Potrera seems to be a fine teacher if you ask me using logic and demonstration to teach the class. Why are you so interested in this man Lord Black?" Alphard asked curiously.

"On the surface yes. However that was not all he did, did her Heir Black?" Arcturus asked Sirius. Sirius shook his head as he said "No Lord Black, he said that Dark Magic had two types. Classified and Inherent. He told us that the Imperious was classified as it stripped the user of the humanity and morality very slowly and could be fought against, by both the user and the victim. However he told us that the Cruciatus and Killing curses…..they are both inherent dark curses…..because they use negative emotions and hatred to fuel the curse. To demonstrate he cast the cruciatus curse at the class."

No one said anything however there were many raised eyebrows which was the Black equivalent of screaming and shouting. Arcturus looked at Sirius to elaborate.

"Well, the curse did not do anything because the professor told us that he did not have any hatred for any of us and thus the curse would not react towards any of them." Sirius said as he avoided the eyes of his parents.

Arcturus nodded as he gestured for Sirius to sit down. Sirius gave a quiet sigh of relief as he sat down. Arcturus then looked at Bellatrix and said "I have heard your NEWT class with your new professor was interesting as well Bellatrix. Would you care to explain your first class with the new professor?"

Bellatrix nodded quickly as she stood up and said "Well for starters he introduced himself and made us all introduce ourselves so that he could become acquainted with all of us. He then said that the class would be heavily oriented with the current civil war and said that he would demonstrate three of the most common dark curses that Death Eaters were known to be using. He conjured up a dummy and demonstrated the Knife Curse, Reanimation Curse of the FiendFyre Curse. He told us about the curses, their consequences and how to counter them."

"Is that all grandniece?"

"No Lord Black. He set the Fiendfyre upon all of us. However none of use were able to react properly. He quickly dissipated the fiendfyre and expressed his disappointment to which none of us took nicely. He became in my opinion slightly angry and said that a simply water conjuring charm would have been enough to temporarily dissipate the fiendfyre."

"You and Andromeda were taught about that when you were small. Why did you fail to act?"

"Well Lord Black, the fiendfyre that be casted was very different. It was twice the size of the normal fiendfyre and gave off an aura of death that seemed to still us to our core." Bellatrix replied truthfully. "In my truthful opinion, his fiendfyre was twice as powerful as yours Lord Black."

While some of the Black's looked outraged at someone being stronger than their lord Arcturus simply rubbed his chin in though before saying "He is teaching you something else as well is he not?"

"Yes, he is teaching us the Aegis Shield Charm." Bellatrix replied. Again there were many raised eyebrows. Amongst all the Black members, only Arcturus, Pollux and Dorea were capable of casting the Aegis Shield Charm properly.

Arcturus smiled and said "Indeed I had heard as such. Now you may ask why I have asked you these questions and what do they mean in broader terms. However to some of our inconvenience, the main topic of our dear new Defense teacher is just beginning…."

END OF CHAPTER