Chapter 5: Lesson Nightmare

(written by Maddy edited by me )

Disclaimer: We don't own the characters. Except Rizzy and Maddy own themselves and I own the new DADA teacher.

The next day was the girls' first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. (Double Gryffindor/Slytherin) There was a buzz around the school with rumors about the new professor. Secret bets were being made about how long she would last. Maddy and Rizzy didn't see what the big deal was.

They arrived at the classroom a few minutes before the bell. Rizzy was babbling on about this Neville boy she'd met.

"He sounds nice, Riz. You never know-Oh my god!" Maddy moved quickly behind Rizzy.

Rizzy was caught off guard. "What? What's wrong?" Her eyes frantically scanned the room.

"It's him…" she said, pointing toward a desk at the back of the room. Harry sat there talking to Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, so that's him?" Riz smiled, moving out of the way so Maddy was out in the open. Maddy froze like a deer in the headlights.

"Rizzy!" she hissed.

"Oh, come on Mad…" she said, grabbing Maddy by the arm and leading her to a desk not to far from Harry's "He's in your house. He's gonna have a lot of classes with you."

"Maddy blushed. "I know…" she glanced in Harry's direction, who, at the same time, looked back at her smiling. She looked away quickly.

"I mean it's a big school and all, but there aren't that many-Oh my God!" Rizzy cut off just as Maddy had only moments before.

"It was Maddy's turn to look puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"Neville…" Rizzy squeaked. "What's he doing here?" Her eyes were roughly the size of hubcaps.

Maddy looked at her oddly, not looking at the boy Rizzy was gawking at. "Do I look that ridiculous when the same thing happens to me?"

Rizzy snapped out of her stupor; "Me? I don't look ridiculous! What are you talking about?"

Maddy smirked and sat down, suppressing the urge to look back at Harry again. Professor Tsuki appeared at the front of the room just as the bell rang. Each of them jumped as she clapped her hands together to get their attention. For a few moments she just grinned as she looked over them all.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I am your new teacher Professor Tsuki." She introduced herself in a faint accent. "This year-"

The door opened up unexpectedly and a teenage boy, about seventeen, entered. His hair was even blonder than Malfoy's. Under his Slytherin robes, you could clearly see a leather jacket. The boy was tall and lanky, but very attractive.

"Hello!" Rizzy said in a low voice to Maddy, gazing at the boy.

Maddy nodded and replied in the same hushed tone. "Gorgeous, much?"

"Class started five minutes ago, little brother, but I'm glad you've actually decided to join us." Professor Tsuki's grin didn't flicker.

Rizzy and Maddy looked at each other dumbstruck. Brother!

"I got lost…" he said through gritted teeth, "And what have I said about calling me that in public?"

Professor Tsuki frowned for the first time. Rizzy and Maddy immediately both preferred her smiling. This (frowning) made her look stern, frightening and very McGonagall-esque. The uncanny resemblance sent shivers up Ron and Harry's spines.

"Very well. Five points from Slytherin, Mr. Tsuki. Happy now?"

He didn't respond.

"Please take a seat" Her hand rested upon a wooden stake that sat at her desk. The boy glanced at it and sat down rather quickly. "Now where was I? Oh yes. This year we will be covering many different creatures and beings that you may come across in your later years. If you have continued with the N.E.W.T level of this class, you must have an obvious passion for it. You will be expected to participate in class and perform with partners occasionally-"

Dean Thomas's hand flew into the air. She stopped short and stared at him a moment.

"Yes, Mr.…?"

"Thomas, Dean Thomas. Does this mean we actually get to do spells this year?"

Professor Tsuki looked confused, but noticed that the rest of the class looked interested as well. "Of course. Why wouldn't you be able to?"

Some student looked at each other. The memory of Umbridge was still fresh in their minds. Harry raised his hand. Professor Tsuki's eyes widened and she smiled again as she noticed him.

"Yes, Mr. Potter?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from Maddy, who was the only one who didn't turn in their chair to look at him.

"Well, Professor last year she didn't let us do spells in class. She thought it was better to learn from theory." Harry explained.

"How ridiculous!" Professor Tsuki laughed. 'No, No…in this class we will be performing spells. As I said before, they will be used to protect you from magical creatures and other dangerous beings."

Maddy's hand shot up, without warning. Rizzy looked at her.

"Miss…?"

"Black…" she replied shakily. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. Harry was staring directly at her, though she was not aware of this. (this was a good thing, for if she were, she would have fainted.) "What exactly do you mean by 'dangerous beings'?"

"Not very bright is she?" Ron muttered.

"You're one to talk…" Harry said quickly, not realizing what he said. He looked at the offended look on Ron's face and apologized quickly. "Sorry."

"I mean like…" Professor Tsuki couldn't seem to find the words that could explain what she meant. "Beings like half-humans, like centaurs, for example or whole humans who have extremely dangerous weapons other than magic…"

"like vampires?" the drawling, snide voice that belonged to Draco Malfoy cam from the other side of the room.

Professor Tsuki's eyes flashed, and if one were to look closely you would see bits of red in her eyes as she turned to face him. Her brother also looked up. The stake that was on her desk was now in her hands and she tossed it in the air. She looked defiant…

"Vampires? Yes, I suppose so…" she cleared her throat, "But , I have heard that you already covered them so we won't be going in depth….

"Like Sirens?" Maddy asked abruptly.

Professor Tsuki looked relived that the subject had moved on. "Yes…like Sirens and other Merpeople. I believe we'll cover that this year…yes I do believe so. Yes, you will learn how to protect yourself from Sirens. Gentlemen, you should be keen to listen to that lesson. They are probably the most dangerous of the Merpeople…she seemed to prattle on and on.

"Maddy could feel her hands curl into fists under the desks. Rizzy kicked her leg, quickly. Maddy looked at her and spread her fingers out. Harry and Ron looked at each other, confused. No one had really ever mentioned Merpeople before. Harry had to face them once and they were a violent bunch, but he'd never actually heard of a siren before.

"Are they like Veela?" Lavender Brown asked, not even bothering to raise her hand.

Maddy glared in Lavender's direction. Being compared to a Veela was the worst insult she had ever received.

Professor Tsuki laughed, "Actually, Veela and Sirens are mortal enemies. Though they do share the same violent tendencies and a charming nature that attracts men like flies. " She gazed over her students and her tone became sober. "Actually, what you will be learning to protect yourselves from is not from the creatures themselves, but their magic, their power. I should hope you never have to ever really use this magic, except for your exams. But unfortunately where there's good there's also bad."

She turned her attention to the lesson at hand. The class continued on for another hour and a half. They talked about upcoming topics and took notes on Lethifolds. Rizzy continuously glanced at the brown haired boy near Harry. Maddy couldn't see him very well, so she couldn't make much of a judgment. It turned out that Professor Tsuki's brother was named William, though he gave his sister a look when she called him that. Maddy didn't get it.

When the bell rang, they began to file out the door. As they passed Professor Tsuki's desk, Maddy and Rizzy glanced at some of the items on it. Along with the stake, there was a picture of a family (obviously Professor Tsuki's. William was standing in the back.), a pile of books about various creatures, and what looked like a weird amulet. There were also several potion bottles filled with a strange red liquid.

Out in the hall, Rizzy finally spoke her suspicions.

"She's a vampire!"

"Maddy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure Riz…"

"She is!" Rizzy insisted. "Did you see the look on her face when Malfoy said something about vampires?"

Maddy wasn't sure who Malfoy was, but assumed he was the blonde boy who had spoken. "Sure…I guess. I dunno. She might have had a bad run in with one. I mean, if she's a vampire, why would she have a stake on her desk.? That could kill her couldn't it?"

"Only if it's stabbed through her heart." Hermione showed up next to Rizzy, closely followed by Ron and Harry. Maddy tensed up and looked at her feet.

"I knew that…" Rizzy said quickly.

"So you think she's a vampire too?" Hermione asked. Rizzy nodded and Maddy shrugged. "Yeah, so do these two. Oh, by the way. This is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter." She indicated each of her friends.

"Rizzy glared at Ron an nodded in Harry's direction.

"This is Rizzy Raven…"Hermione began to introduce the girls," And Madeleine Black…"

"Hi." Ron said shortly.

"We've met." Harry said nodding toward Maddy, who had begun to chew her bottom lip.

"Where are you going next?" Hermione asked the girls, curiously.

"Charms" they said unanimously.

Hermione glanced at Rizzy, "I didn't know you were in our Charms class. You weren't there yest-"

"I know…" Rizzy cut in. "There was a small mix up with my schedule. Now, I'm in your Charms class…"

Harry, Ron and Hermione joined the two exchange students as they made their way to the second floor. Rizzy moved to go into the bathroom next to the Charms Classroom. Hermione flung out her arm to stop her.

"You might not want to go in there…"

Rizzy looked at her. "why not?"

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. They hadn't been in there in a long time, but they still remembered who resided in that particular bathroom. Harry also remembered that that person had an eerie crush on him.

"Moaning Myrtles in there..." Hermione said warningly.

'Who's Moaning Myrtle?" Maddy asked quickly.

Harry answered her, moving toward the classroom. "Trust me…you don't want to know. Rizzy if I were you, I'd hold it…"

Rizzy nodded and followed Harry. "It would be really weird if Harry was me…" she muttered into Maddy's ear.

Maddy shuddered, "Yeah it would…" she stopped abruptly with a strange look on her face. "Oh, man…now I've got a picture of him wearing a skirt suck in my head…Thanks, Riz!"

Rizzy burst out with laughter. Harry turned around and stared at them.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Nothing!" Maddy said hastily, glaring at Rizzy. "Nothing!"

Once they were inside, they took their seats quickly. Professor Flitwick appeared on his usual pile of books and squeaked the day's lesson at them.

"I will be dividing you up in pairs. Now…Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger…Mr. Longbottom and Miss Brown…Mr. Potter…"

Harry looked up quickly. Maddy crossed her fingers under her desk.

"Will you please partner with Miss Black?"

"Of course," he replied cheerfully.

Rizzy smirked and Maddy elbowed her although she could hardly hide her smile as well.

"Miss Raven…" Flitwick chirped.

"Yes, sir?" she said sitting up straight.

"Partner with Miss Bulstrode…"

Rizzy looked over to the Slytherin he had indicated. She had broad shoulders and looked extremely mean, Rizzy looked at Flitwick and smiled weakly. Maddy patted Rizzy's shoulder sympathetically.

"Oh, I'm sure she's not that bad…"Rizzy said optimistically, though something in her voice sounded doubtful. "Have fun with Harry…"

Maddy smiled half-heartedly and made her way over to where Harry was sitting. Flitwick showed them a new levitation. This gave them the power to control the object that they were levitating. On their desks appeared six miniature Quidditch goal posts and two minute broomsticks. They were supposed to levitate the brooms and move them through each of the six goal posts.

"The incantation is Wigardium Leviosa Maxima…" he announced with a chuckle. "Try saying that five times fast."

"Do you want to go first?" Harry asked offering Maddy one of the tiny broomsticks.

"Sure…" Maddy said, uncertainly. She was still really shaky with her wand.

On the other side of the room., Rizzy didn't seem to be having as much difficulty.

"Careful…" Millicent murmured as Rizzy's broomstick made it through the second hoop and dropped onto the desk.

Rizzy was still uneasy around the massive form of a girl, next to her. For some reason Millicent's tone of voice didn't match her looks.

"You don't have to be scared of me, y'know…" Millicent said as though she could read Rizzy's mind.

"I'm not scared of you…" Rizzy said quickly.

Millicent laughed harshly. "We're Slytherins…we gotta stick together. Trust me, you're doing a lot better than most people in this room. Like that new girl over there…" She nodded in Maddy's direction. "Potter will end up in the hospital wing if he's not careful…"

"She's new with a wand…"Rizzy said defensively.

Millicent shook her head slowly. "Whatever. She's a Gryffindor. That's bad enough…"

"Oh…"Maddy said loudly. "Okay…I can do this…"

"Just concentrate…" Harry said reassuringly.

"Wigardium Leviosa Maxima!" she said rapping her wand hard on the broomstick. It shot off into the air and zoomed around their heads several times before-

"OW!"

Maddy's hands clapped to her mouth as Millicent guffawed.

"See…what'd I tell ya?" she elbowed Rizzy.

"Oh, Harry! I am so sorry!" Maddy couldn't believe what had happened.

Harry's hand covered his left eye. Somehow, the broom had flown past Harry's glasses and poked him in the eye. Maddy couldn't quite figure out how.

"Oh, and you were wearing glasses and everything…" She panicked. "Are you okay?"

'I'm fine…" he said laughing "Trust me, its not that bad. I've seen worse. I'll be fine…"

"Potter!" Flitwick, who was busying himself with Neville's mistakes, called over the class, "Go to the Hospital Wing and have Madame Pomfrey check it out…Mr. Longbottom give me your wand…"

"No, Professor…really, I'm all set…" Harry protested. This was stupid really. He had been in far worse situations.

"Miss Black, will you kindly escort him?"

Harry dropped his hand. "All right, I'll go."

Maddy grabbed him by the arm and dragged him towards the door. She stopped abruptly.

"Do we need a pass?"

Harry shook his head, "No, just go…"

"Well…that was certainly the most excitement we've had in this class in…forever…" Millicent said, eyeing the pair hurrying toward the door. "It's usually Defense Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures where someone gets hurt…"

Rizzy nodded, unsure of what to say.

"I'd get used to it though.." Millicent advised. "A lot of weird things happen here."

"Like what?" Rizzy asked, suddenly curious.

Millicent scoffed, "Where do I start?"

"Mr. Potter, I dare say that I am seeing too much of you…" Madame Pomfrey frowned as she peered at his now slightly blue eye. Harry attempted to roll his eyes. "Now explain to me again what happened…"

Maddy continued to pace around the Hospital Wing. "We were trying out a new charm in Flitwick's class, and I have never been really good with a wand, and something went wrong and to make a long story short, the little broomstick we were trying to make fly through the hoops, somehow hit him in the eye…"

Madame Pomfrey glanced at her, "You may be having a fit of hysteria. Come sit down dear…"

Maddy shook her head, No, I'm all right. Are you sure you're ok Harry?"

"Oh he's fine.." Madame Pomfrey answered before he even got the chance. "He's been through much worse."

"As I've said a hundred times, Maddy…there's nothing to worry about…"Harry said looking at her.

"So the broom went through his glasses?" Madame Pomfrey peered into Harry's eyes.

"I don't know." Maddy stopped pacing and crossed her arms. "I don't know what happened. I was just trying to get the broom into the air and next thing I know, Harry's hurt."

"I'm not hurt." Harry insisted. "Maddy you should really sit down."

"Ohh…I've never hurt anyone before…" she said, starting to walk around the room again. "Not by accident at least…I mean I've hurt Rizzy before, but that was on purpose and I've always had a really good reason…"

"Please, Miss…" Madame Pomfrey couldn't seem to concentrate. She brushed back his bangs, exposing his forehead.

Maddy stopped and stared at Harry. "What's that?"

Harry looked up at her, "What's what?"

"That…on your forehead…" She tried to get a better look at the marking.

Harry turned his head sharply and the hair fell back into place, covering the lightening-bolt scar. "It's from the accident…"he mumbled.

Maddy could tell he was uncomfortable with the subject. "I'm sorry…"

"MR. POTTER, WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP MOVING YOUR HEAD SO I CAN FIX YOU UP!"

About an hour and a half later, the five of them made their way toward the dungeons where they were having their first N.E.W.T level Potions class. Harry and Ron were astounded that they would still be taking it, for they had both received E's on their O.W.L's and had been told that they needed O's. Apparently not many people made it into the N.E.W.T level of Potions anyway.

Rizzy bore a smile that was a complete contrast to the dreariness of the hallways under the school. Everytime Maddy looked at her, something in her stomach turned nastily. She never thought that she would be so nervous for a class, but she knew it was going to be horrible. She was terrible at Potions!

"So, why don't you like Potions?" Harry asked Maddy as they approached the Potions' dungeon.

Maddy glanced sideways at Rizzy who was now humming happily, and spoke in an undertone. "I've never been very good at them. If it weren't for Rizzy, I would never have even passed. I'm only taking it, because I really want to be an Auror, so I kinda have to."

"You want to be an Auror?" Harry's eyes brightened.

"Yeah, I thought it would be cool…"

Harry shook his head as they walked towards the room. "You play Quidditch," (Maddy's stomach turned) "You want to be an Auror. Is there anything you don't do?"

"Oh!" Rizzy butted in, "She doesn't fall in love."

Maddy gaped at her.

What a wonderful time to bring that up!

Rizzy grinned. Maddy had always told Rizzy that she couldn't fall in love with anyone. She was a Siren and that's just the way things were. Sure she liked Harry, but did she love him? No! ( Or that's what she would tell you, if you were to ask.)

"Hey…you said it yourself…" Rizzy said hurrying forward.

"But, I…I never…" Maddy couldn't seem to come up with anything to say.

Harry didn't look at Maddy, nor did he reply to Rizzy's comment. The group fell silent. Rizzy continued to wear a broad smile that began to get on Maddy's nerves.

"Potions is going to be awesome, you guys…" she said happily. Harry, Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes, "I am the best at Potions. Well…maybe not better than my dad, but I'm pretty close, he-"

"Rizz…" Maddy said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

Rizzy closed her mouth but continued to smile. Maddy couldn't see how anyone could smile being down in the dingy dungeons halls. The whole place reeked of gloom.

Outside the classroom, a couple of Slytherin boys, stood talking amongst themselves. When they spotted the approaching group, the blonde boy elbowed the one to his right and nodded in their direction. They stopped a little distance from the Slytherins.

"I hat him…" Harry said curtly.

Rizzy didn't bother lowering her voice, "He doesn't seem to fond of you either…" Maddy glared at her. Rizzy looked innocent. "What! Just saying…"

"Why do you hate him?" Maddy asked curiously.

"Cause he's a spoiled, little bast-" Ron began quickly.

Harry stepped on his foot to shut him up. 'He's a jerk."

Maddy glanced over at the blonde boy. He was the one who had spoken out in Defense Against the Dark Arts. She couldn't deny that the boy was attractive, for indeed he was, but there was no desire to associate herself with him.

Rizzy glared at the blonde boy, as well, though her expression was great bit fiercer. She remembered what he had said about Neville and did not like the boy one bit.

When the dungeon opened, they, accompanied by a few more students who showed up soon after, entered the classroom.

Rizzy led Maddy over to a table near the middle of the room. (She had tried to convince Maddy to sit in the first row, but Maddy refused.) The door at the back of the room opened suddenly and Professor Snape made his way toward the front desk at the front. As he walked by, Rizzy smiled wider and Maddy shivered.

Snape stood behind a desk and glanced around the class. He seemed to be disgusted at the small amount of students that actually achieved good enough grades to be there.

"Welcome to the N.E.W.T level of Potions. Some of you, I am sure, are mastering the skill of Potion making." His eyes wandered over Rizzy. "Some of you…I have no idea how you got here…" Harry avoided making eye contact with Snape. Neville who sat next to Ron, trembled. Of all of them. He was the greatest shocker when it came to his Potion grade. Somehow, he had achieved an E as well.

"Today you will be learning how to make a simple Amortentia solution…" he tapped the chalkboard and the instructions appeared. "Good luck."

'But Po-" She caught herself and shoved he hand into the air, "Professor, don't you think that this is a bit advanced…not to mention illegal…"

Snape turned his eyes onto her, "Rizzy as long as I am here, overseeing the process, nothing is considered illegal."

Maddy narrowed her eyes. Amortentia was the most powerful love potion in the world. It could be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. Even Maddy, who was the worst potion maker, knew that. Rizzy seemed to agree.

"But, sir…"

"That's enough…" He said turning back to his desk. "Now, you have the rest of class…get started."

Maddy peered at the board. Rizzy didn't even bother, and immediately started to pour different ingredients into her cauldron. Behind her , she was happy to know that Harry was having difficulty as well.

"Harry…it says four drops of Hellebore. "Careful…" Hermione told him.

An hour and a fifteen minutes later, the dungeon was filled with different colored smoke. Rizzy's potion was, of course, flawless and she seemed lulled into a sleepy stupor by the scent it gave off. Maddy's gave off spiral smoke and smelled right, but wasn't exactly mother of pearl in color. It was more of a lavender-purple.

"Stop!" Snape called over the class. "I will be coming around the room to check your work."

He started in the back, where he didn't bother to look at Neville's which was a smoggy kinda grayish-blue. His lip curled as he stepped in front of Harry's cauldron.

"What's this Potter?"

"Amortentia, sir.." Harry said lazily, not looking at is Professor.

"What does it smell like?" Snape's smile was sickening.

Harry didn't answer. Maddy didn't think it was a fair question for Professor Snape to ask. It was none of his business what Harry smelled. That was personal. Snape moved along. He nodded politely at Rizzy's cauldron and stopped at Maddy's. Suddenly the weird feeling in her stomach returned.

"Miss Black…could you tell me what color your potion is supposed to be?"

Maddy bit her lip and looked down at the purpley mess. "Mother-of-pearl…"

"And are you colorblind Miss Black?"

Maddy's hands began to tremble, "No, sir…"

"I didn't think so…"

Rizzy glared at Snape, who didn't return the gaze. When Maddy didn't answer, he moved on to the next table, scrawling what looked like a big "P" on his grade sheet. Rizzy glanced over at Maddy, who was busy shoving ingredients into her bag.

"Mad...he means-"

"No…just forget it. He hates me…"

"You're a Gryffindor, he has to hate you…" Rizzy tried to reason with her. "He doesn't really…"

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does"

'Doesn't"

The bell rang a few minutes later and they hurried out the front door. Maddy reluctantly placed a label vial of er potion on Snape's desk. Once they were out in the hall, Harry turned to them.

"Listen, Maddy don't listen to anything he says. He's like that to most of us."

Maddy didn't answer him. She had never been humiliated in front of an entire class before. Rizzy was avoiding her gaze and looked at the floor.

"He's just like Malfoy. I hate the whole lot of them." Ron said rudely. "Purebloods…" Maddy looked up. "Slytherins…" Rizzy glared at him. "All of'em…"

"Ron…" Hermione said slowly. "You're a pureblood."

Ron smiled knowingly, "Yeah, I know, but I don't count. I'm a blood traitor remember?"

"What's wrong with slytherins?" Rizzy finally asked, still glaring at Ron.

"They're evil and stupid and-" he broke off as Hermione glanced at him and jerked her head in Rizzy's direction.

"And there's nothing wrong with Purebloods either…" Maddy said slightly offended.

"That's exactly what a Pureblood would say!" Ron said, not thinking. Harry looked at him quickly as he noticed Maddy's eyes flash. Both girls looked like they were prepared to commit homicide.

As Ron continued to babble on, Rizzy and Maddy stormed off in the other direction, unsure of where they were going but determined to get away. Ron looked from Hermione to Harry, confused.

"What did I say?"

Harry shook his head and started to walk in front of him. "And you two think I'm tactless…"

When they reached the foyer, Harry, Ron and Hermione headed off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. Rizzy grabbed Maddy by the arm as she started after them.

"Let's go outside…"

Maddy turned, "But I want to-"

"Relax…you'll see him again. If not soon, you'll see him on Saturday…"

'Why?"

Rizzy smirked as she moved toward the great oak door, "You've got Quidditch Tryouts…"

I'm so sorry for the extremely long wait for the chapter…I know Rizzy's gonna have a few words with me about that….Maddy gave me the Chapter before the Holidays, but I still didn't get it up so I apologize to everyone, including Maddy because I know I stressed her out a bit.

On other news…we're starting writing the 6th chappie. Hopefully we'll be done quicker (I'll type faster…)

Anyways thanks for reading! Please review…we love reading them and you'll get enthusiastic responses.