Getting Ready for Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

It was to Madeline's disappointment that when she read her syllabus for the Defense Against the Darks Arts class that she was not going to learn how to use defensive magic the first day - but the more she thought, it made sense. The teachers would not want to teach First Year's how to do too much damage when they first arrived at school. In her usual manner she began to read the text book, and syllabus to make sure she knows everything the book teaches (or at the least is familiar with it prior to going to the class). She saw that the first lesson was going to be on Imps and creating red and green sparks using her wand. She carefully read the text and recited the incantation - without her wand so that she did not accidentally cast the spell and get in trouble. She was determined that by the time she got to the class she would be completely prepared for whatever the Professor taught, and would be the best student she could possibly be.

Madeline was excited for the next class of the day - Defense Against the Dark Arts. Since she was a child she had been subjected to bullies in her home town, and some of them were not just mean, but actually enjoyed hurting some of the younger children. None of them ever used any of the Unforgiveable curses, but they would definitely hex and jinx people. Madeline figured, if she was going to learn to defend herself from these bullies, and maybe help her younger brothers and sisters do the same, she would need to learn how to defend against all of these things. She knew that she was not going to learn how to do the big magic yet, but understanding the basics would help her to build upon what she knew, and to use the knowledge that she got from her other classes to increase her dueling and protecting abilities.

When she finally got to the classroom - early as usual - she found a seat at the front of the class. Taking out her quill, ink, parchment, textbook and wand she arranged her desk so that she would be able to take notes while the Professor taught, and would also be able to practice the want movements when the time came. If she was going to be a top tier duelist she knew that she needed not only to do well at Charms, but also to do well with Defense. Her personal motto of "Speak softly and carry a powerful wand" would not be much if she did not back it up with a good defense. With excitement she sat there as the class filled with the other students as they filed into their seats. Finally, the Professor entered the classroom, walked up to the front of the class and began what would be her introduction into this most important class - and she did everything she could to hang onto every word spoken.

WC506