920 Lesson Resume Ⅱ

After being permitted to self-study in Ancient Runes, the class had been excused with plenty of homework for the next class period. Rowan was a bit disgruntled, before making her way to Defense Against the Dark Art with Gryffindor. Rowan was not surprised to see Severus already sitting next to Lily. As usual, Sirius had already saved a seat for her, and she went to sit next to the rest of the marauders.

Peter looked rather grumpy, and Rowan glanced pointedly at Remus for more information. Remus merely shook his head at her and mouthed, "Don't even ask." It must have been pretty bad if Remus wasn't even willing to say anything.

Tactfully accepting the offered advice, Rowan glances at James, who is intently staring at the door. She unpacks her things and listens to Sirius prattle on her about some random thing. He really was a dog at times constantly yipping and yapping. He really needed a muzzle on his trap to keep it shut.

The sound of footsteps caused the entire classroom to fall silent. They all glance expectantly at the door as a short, plumb wizard appears in the doorway. For being the former Head of Law enforcement, Bob Ogden did not appear to be any form terrifying. He wore a warm pullover sweater under his open robes and had a pair of enormous thick spectacles. He looked more like a quill pusher than having ever been an Auror. Then again, appearances are largely deceiving.

Bog Ogden was one of the few Aurors to retire from active duty still alive with all of his facilities intact. He wasn't visibly scarred nor with missing limbs like many Aurors are which meant he had outfought all his opponents and won. It spoke volumes in his favor.

Professor Ogden comes to stand to a halt before the classroom with his hands in his trousers. "I've been informed that Professor Prince just finished teaching on Dugbog's."

(Dubog's a marsh-dwelling magical beast that resembles deadwood with finned paws and sharp teeth. The magical creature feeds on small animals and attacks the occasional human ankle that ventures into its habitat. Its favorite food is Mandrakes and is the natural nemesis of mandrake-growers, who often only find bloody remnants of their plants.)

The students nod their heads in agreement, before Professor Ogden says, "Good in that case, we will move on to a more powerful spell. We'll be heading to a secure classroom to cast Lacarnum Inflamari. Can anyone tell me what the spell does?"

Several hands go up into the air, but Professor Ogden points at Remus Lupin. "Proceed, Prefect Lupin."

Remus straightens up and says, "Lacarnum Inflamari can ignite cloaks or other items of clothing or more with the creation and release of fireballs."

"That is correct, Prefect Lupin, ten points to Gryffindor," Professor Ogden said, before gesturing at everyone to pack up and follow him. The students hurriedly pack up much to Rowan's chagrin. If she had known, she wouldn't have bothered to unpack her things in the first place!

The class is led to another classroom on the third floor near the classroom used for the D.A. classroom. The classroom is bare and empty except for painted yellow target circles against the wall. "Alright, please put your belongings against the wall," Professor Ogden instructed them. "And then I want you to gather and listen."

The students quickly do as they are told and gather around Professor Ogden. Professor Ogden had studied them over as they gathered, and he already had with interest jotted a few students down in his mind. He signals at them to be silent.

"When casting the incantation ensure that your wand is always pointed at the target even a single straying move will cast the spell to hit astray. Carefully watch my wand movement and to the pronunciation," Ogden said, before slowly emphasizing the pronunciation of the spell, "la-KAR-num in-flah-MAR-ee!" A burst of orange light bursts out of the tip of his wand and hits the inner portion of the target, before fuzzing out due to the spells cast on the stone to put-out fires.

"Five of you will go up at a time," Ogden firmly instructed. "Potter, Pettigrew, Black, MacDonald, Sands are up first."

Ogden carefully studies all five student's demeanors, before saying, "Commence." By their postures, he could tell that Professor Prince had done an excellent job in laying a good foundation to them. Naturally not everything could be attributed to her, but he could still see that old habits had been corrected by her since the student in question would quickly correct themselves.

Ogden is a bit impressed by Potter, who got the spell right the first time. He could feel the power oozing off the lad, and he still wasn't fully grown. He'd make an excellent Auror that's for sure. Neither were those two friends of Potter's, Black and Pettigrew. Black came as no surprise since the pureblood family was rather strict on their heirs when it came to handling dark and powerful magic. Though he must admit though less powerful, Pettigrew had excellent spell control a valuable team member to have in an Auror squad.

Not that the two witches weren't powerful, but Mary MacDonald or Willa Sands did not stand out in his mind compared to the three boys. Willa Sands was rather powerful, but she lacked finesse. And Mary MacDonald was far weaker and at times seemed purposefully clumsy. Maybe, it was to garner attention or hide her strength, but Ogden didn't like such theatrics.

Finally, Ogden claps his hands and says, "Enough," and proceeds to call the next group of students until everyone had gone up.

By the end of the class, the classroom felt rather warm, and they were all loosening their collars. Still, Professor Ogden wasn't any easier than Professor Prince as he assigned an essay on the basic points of the spell due the following day when they had the class first thing in the morning. They all let out a bunch of groans, but they do as they are told.

Although by dinner, the rumor mill had begun churning again at Hogwarts. More than half of the student body had seen Professor Sybill Trelawney and Ronan, the two Divination teachers walking hand in hand through Hogwarts and to the staff table in the Great Hall. It was practically the romance of the century! Following dinner, the Hogwarts owlery was practically overrun with boys and girls sending gossip to their nosey families. And they say that purebloods are not meddlesome bodies, when in fact they are as meddlesome as they come!

Though Rowan was certainly just as shocked as everyone else. Who would have thought that Sybill Trelawney could still carry a flaming torch? But then again, Sybill was passionate about Divination and a two-legged female human ordinarily was not attractive at all to centaurs under certain qualifications were meant.

However, when it came to Divination, that was an entirely different matter. It certainly did not help that Sybill Trelawney was the actual descendant of a renowned seer and was still a weak seer herself. These two attributes were practically irresistible to Ronan and Sybill Trelawney did not exactly protest at the prospect of a courtship. In her mind, it didn't matter if he was a centaur, but rather that they shared the same passion for Divination and more importantly he treated her as if she was the most precious of treasures.

Despite it being cold, the couple was seen departing through the front entrance and out into the grounds. Rumor had it that Ronan, the centaur was presenting his mate to the centaur tribe. Others said they were going for a night walk under the stars, (never mind that the sky was cloudy and there was not a single star in sight). Regardless, whether Sybill Trelawney was accepted by the centaur tribe was one thing, but rather the more pertinent question was if the two professors would remain together by the end of the year.