Chapter 39: DADA classes - part 2

Hogwarts Castle, Somewhere in the Scottish Highlands

November 24th, 1992, 1:25 PM

Erik was now back to 'his' classroom and was sipping from a cup of black coffee that the house-elves had prepared. He had just arrived from the Great Hall. He had had lunch with his wives and had spoken to Selena about the two letters that they had received. The girls had also asked about how his classes had gone during the morning and he updated them.

Erik had just taken a sip from his cup, when he heard hasty footsteps. He looked at the door and saw a brown bush-haired girl with Gryffindor colors entering the room and freezing as soon as she entered. She looked around the 'new' classroom with wide and curious eyes, and then she saw Erik sitting behind the Professor's desk sipping his coffee. While she was staring at him with wide eyes, two other males students, a black haired one and a red haired one, entered the classroom. Erik recognized the black haired one, it was Harry Potter. Both male students stopped behind the female one and were panting.

"Bloody hell, Hermione, We had plenty of time to…"

The red haired student started speaking, just to freeze mid sentence when he saw the classroom. He just stood there looking around with wide eyes and an open mouth. Mr. Potter was not faring better, his reaction was pretty much the same.

"If you are finished gawking at the classroom, I suggest that you take your seats."

Erik spoke from behind his desk after a sip of his coffee. His voice woke up the female student, who he now identified as 'Hermione'. The male students were woken up too and were soon dragged to the first row of desks by their friend.

"What in Merlin's name happened to the classroom?"

The red haired student said, asking no one in particular, while dropping his backpack on the top of the desk. Hermione, who was already organizing her desk for class and at the same time looking around the classroom, gave her friend an eye roll and replied to his question.

"Honestly, Ron. The classroom is in the shape of a Greek Auditorium."

Erik, who was hearing them, immediately linked the name to the second year Gryffindor that 'owned' the rat, Ronald Weasley. Hermione then continued speaking.

"This same shape was used by the Ancient Greeks for their theatre plays. The shape of it facilitates that everyone has a good view of the central platform and it helps the sound to reach everyone. Lord Ravenclaw must have changed the classroom to imitate them."

She explained using a 'I know it all' tone of voice.

"Okay, but, why?"

Mr. Weasley asked her. Hermione gave another eye roll after hearing the question. She had just explained what the room shape could be used for, but she replied the same way, seeming already used to her friend's 'challenges'.

"I just said why, Ron. To facilitate that everyone can see the central platform and hear everything from any seat in the classroom."

As she was explaining, the other students started arriving for the class. Their reactions were pretty much the same as the first three students, but a lot more silent.

Soon, the school's bell rang, signaling the start of the class period. Erik put down his coffee and got up from his chair. He then walked down to the central platform while the students went quiet.

"Good afternoon."

Erik greeted all the students. What followed was an almost identical introduction, from Erik to the students, that he had done in his past two classes. He introduced himself, explained about their past 'Professor', explained about their next 'Professor', and finished talking about the books that they would use for class. He then went on explaining what kind of behaviour they expected from them inside the classroom. When he finished with the 'rules', he asked if anyone had any questions about the class, and when no student raised their hands, Erik started the class for real. Since it was a second year class, he decided to test the students just how he had tested the first years.

"Since you are all second-years, let's start with a quick test."

As Erik mentioned the word 'test', most students straightened up in the chairs.

"All students, put your wands on top of your desks."

Erik ordered and the result that he got was better than the first years, but just barely. A pair of female students from house Slytherin just flicked their wrists and their wands popped in their hands, being the fastest ones to complete the test. The second ones were those who retrieved their wands from chest wand holsters. But the lowest ones were those who had to search in their backpacks to retrieve their wands. As everyone had their wands on top of their desks, Erik addressed the class.

"Can anyone tell me what just happened here that was wrong?"

He asked the class, and a black haired female student from house Slytherin raised her hand first, followed by another male student of the same house. She was one of the two who 'placed' first in the test.

"Your name and answer, Miss."

Erik said while pointing to the female student who had raised her hand first.

"Daphne Greengrass. Most of the class took too long to retrieve their wands."

Miss Greengrass said clearly. Erik gave the girl a smile.

"Bravo! You are totally correct, Miss Greengrass."

Erik spoke. He then started the same explanation that he had given the first year students in the class before lunch, going through the entire lesson on wand handling, care and storage.

Seeing that his 'message' was heard by the students, Erik waved his hand and created an illusion of a twenty centimeters high electric blue creature that had pointed ears and face, two antennae.

"Now, who can tell me this creature's name?"

Erik asked the class. Some students raised their hands, and Erik pointed to a female one that had a chocolate brown skin.

"Your name and answer, ."

"Parvati Patil. That is a Cornish Pixie."

Miss Patil answered clearly.

"Correct. And what can you tell me about it?"

Erik continued asking Miss Patil.

"Hmm… It is a mischief-making creature that likes to steal and lift people up by their ears, depositing them in high places. It also can fly, but has no wings… Ah, and it is classified as a XXX magical creature."

Miss Patil answered to Erik, who nodded.

"Good description. It seems easy to handle, right? A simple knockback charm can keep it away from you, and a strong one can even kill it. But if so, why is it considered a XXX creature?"

Erik spoke while pointing to the cornish pixie illusion.

"The answer to that classification is in their numbers."

Erik said, answering his own question. He then waved his hand again and the illusion of the single cornish pixie multiplied in fifty of them. Erik waved his hand again and the swarm of fifty cornish pixies started to fly around the classroom, above the students' heads, and scaring some of them.

"Don't worry, they are only illusions."

Erik said, reassuring the students safety.

"Cornish pixies are classified as XXX magical creatures because they are never alone. They tend to live in colonies of more than twenty individuals. The biggest swarm ever registered had more than three hundred pixies."

"If you want to capture them, a Freezing Charm is enough. If casted with enough power, it can freeze several individuals at the same time. The incantation for it is…"

Erik started his explanation about the pixies and how to fight them, speaking about the best ways to capture and get rid of them, the last one in a permanent character. As he talked about it, a piece of chalk was writing by itself on the black board the points about the charms explained, like their names, short descriptions, pronunciations, wand movements. After finishing talking about cornish pixies and answering very few questions that were more about the charms than the creatures, he waved his hand again and created a new illusion of a creature.

Erik's class continued in this rhythm. He would create an illusion of a creature, explaining its characteristics and ways of defending against it, going through the various spells that could be used against it and asking suggestions from the students about other effective defenses against it. Each spell would have its characteristics written on the black board. Erik managed to talk in depth about other three creatures before the school's bell signaled the class end: zombies, ghouls and gnomes. And when it ended, the students had a repertoire of fifteen new spells, with all of its important characteristics having been written on the black board.

After the school's bell rang, signaling the end of the double period, Erik spoke.

"And that's the end of this lesson. Homework!"

Erik said loudly, claiming the attention of the students who had started to store their things. Some of them had even sighed at his call, not expecting homework.

"Practice the spells that we talked about. There are two big classrooms dedicated to defense practice on this same floor. They are rooms '3D' and '3E'."

Erik spoke to the students.

"Mr. Weasley and Mr. Longbottom, please, stay behind, I need a word with both of you."

Erik added, surprising the two Gryffindors. Both of the mentioned students stored their stuff and walked down to the central platform where Erik was, while the rest of the students were vacating the classroom.

"Mr. Weasley first."

He made a signal to the red haired boy and both moved to the side. Erik waved his hand and erected a privacy ward.

"There, now we can talk in private. Mr. Longbottom will not hear us."

Erik said to the boy, who nodded his head.

"Mr. Weasley, I noted, during class, that your wand is not in the better of conditions. Can you show it to me?"

Erik asked the boy, whose face went as red as his hair. But he retrieved his wand from a side pocket and presented it to Erik. The poor thing had seen better days, of that Erik was sure off. It was twenty nine centimeters long, made of ash wood with a core of unicorn hair. Erik could identify the wand's core because he could see it. The wand's tip was chipped and the point of the unicorn hair could be seen in it. It was broken in the middle too, but it had been stuck together with the use of an adhesive tape.

"That wand would not do, Mr. Weasley. Continuing to use it will only damage your magical potential. You will need to get a new one."

Erik said to the boy. A damaged wand was a security risk for him and for those around him. The part about damaging his magical potential was in part true, because without a good wand he would not practice magic in a desired amount. Magic is like a muscle, the more you use it, the more it grows. Mr. Weasley went redder, if that was even possible, after hearing Erik's words. He mumbled something in a low voice, but Erik managed to understand.

"So your family can't afford a new wand?"

Erik asked, and the boy nodded his head in confirmation. Erik nodded his head too and thought a little.

"This is what we're going to do. Tomorrow morning, Hagrid will escort you to the Diagon Alley to get a new wand. The wand will be paid by the school."

Erik said to Mr. Weasley, who was going to say something but was cut by Erik.

"The school has a fund to help students who can't afford the school' material. If you are concerned about owing something to someone, don't be. Every student in need is entitled to this help. Even so, if you can't accept it, take it as a no interest long loan. You can repay the school at any point that you wish the same value that was used to buy your wand. Even after graduating and getting a job."

Erik explained and the boy went quiet.

"Understood?"

He asked and the boy nodded his head weakly.

"Good. Talk with Hagrid in the Great Hall tomorrow morning after breakfast. He will escort you, through floo, to Diagon Alley. Ok?"

Erik said and Mr. Weasley nodded his head weakly again.

"There's no shame in not having money, Mr. Weasley. The shame is in not accepting help when one clearly needs it. Now go, I believe that your friends are waiting for you outside the classroom."

Erik 'sagely' said to the boy, who nodded his head with a little more strength.

"Thank you, Professor Ravenclaw."

Mr. Wealey said before turning and walking to the classroom's exit. On the way he stopped for a moment to rub his eyes with his uniform. Erik then turned to Mr. Longbottom and signaled him to come near.

"Mr. Longbottom, please, draw your wand and cast a Wand-Lighting charm for me."

Erik spoke to the chubby blond boy. Mr. Longbottom slowly retrieved his wand from his side pocket and casted the requested charm.

"Lumos."

He intoned and the tip of his wand illuminated with a weak ball of white light. Erik started to observe the wand-caster duo.

"Keep the spell up, Mr. Longbottom, and channel some more power to it."

Erik ordered the boy, who nodded weakly and concentrated, showing a face that looked like he had some stomachache.

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