(OOC: I am glad to say, that I, now going into the second term as DADA professor, have officially broken the curse of the one year DADA professor! However, my last term here, I was extremely busy, and didn't accomplish much, but this year I hope to do a lot more. Thus, let us begin.)

Prof. Aaron Lunaran stood in his classroom, looking at the still empty seats. Class had not yet begun, but he was ready to go. After getting his first year over and done with, Aaron was now psyched up for this year. Granted, the summer had been tough, especially his stay in Azkaban, but he was hoping for a good school year. He walked to the back of the classroom and leaned against the wall, waiting for his students to arrive. Everything was in readiness, he only needed students now.

Hopefully I'll get the intelligent students this year. Last year's class was excellent, so I hope they've continued on in the Defense Against the Dark Arts path. He thought to himself, remembering the previous year.

Defence Against the Dark Arts. It was certainly an interesting class, to be sure -- highly useful, very practical, even enjoyable. Seychelle mentally recalled the material she'd taken in from her new schoolbooks the night before. It was definitely going to be a different year.

Manoeuvring around the chairs to find an appropriate place to seat herself, she glanced up. Professor Lunaran still held the position. Well, good for him, she thought, with genuine appreciation. He knew what he was talking about. And his class was never dull.

Finally, Seychelle placed her bag on the desktop, sitting down promptly to remove her text from the depths of the canvas. She opened the book, and within ten seconds she was rereading the introductory chapter in preparation.

Eavend walked into the Defense Against Dark Arts classroom, feeling fresh and ready for the new term. Indeed, she was humming a tune as she laid down her bookbag on the nearest desk... though her incessant replaying of enjoyable songs was hardly a rare occurance. This particular music was from a "movie soundtrack" her Muggle cousin had let her listen to over the summer.

The Hufflepuff hadn't really been able to attend many of Prof. Lunaran's classes last term, but it was definitely a good idea for her to make room in her schedule for it... after all, she was the leader of the Defense Association. Her stomach gave a slight lurch of nervousness... there had been one or two idle rumors about tighter Ministry restrictions on the school, but then again, rumors were rumors, and (in Eavend's view) worth less than the effort used to tell them. 'Tisn't a good idea to go bandying it about, though.

Taking out her DADA book and her wand, Eavend sat down and continued humming, waiting for class to begin.

A red head poked into the classroom, a smile on her face. "Oh good! I'm not late. Hello Professor Lunaran." She said cheerfully as she made her way towards the only one in class so far that she knew. With a friendly nod to the Hufflepuff she placed her things on the floor and sat in the desk next to Seychelle.

"Hey there. How was your summer Seychelle? Do anything interesting over the break?" As she spoke she began rummaging through her backpack to find her book and wand, in a wishful hope that it would be a practical lesson instead of note taking and reading.

Seychelle looked up sharply from her book when addressed; she was always completely engrossed in her reading so any sudden noise or movement would have startled her. Cassandra. she reassured herself. I see.

"How was your summer, Seychelle?" the girl asked. "Do anything interesting over the break?"

The prefect contemplated this silently. Interesting. Which part of her break would she define as interesting? All of it was distinctly out of place. How could she completely describe everything that had happened in just a few sentences?

She couldn't.

"It was all right," she replied quietly. "And no, not really. ... What about yours?"

She jumped a bit her self, then realized she had startled the prefect. "Sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you or anything." She appologized. "Well, I learned how to fly." She answered proudly.

"My mom and dad got me this totaly awesome broom while I was gone, and they gave it to me as a 'Welcome Home' present. So I taught myself to fly. I was thinking I would try out for the Quidditch team, but I really don't think I'm that good yet."

With a sigh sshe sat back in her chair. "It feels sort of good to be back. But I sort of want to go home again."

Seychelle nodded as she listened to the girl's apology, though her mind tugged her toward the textbook. "That's fine," she reassured her. "Go on."

Apparently, Cassandra'd had a full holiday as well. Even though Seychelle knew better than to compare. The younger Slytherin went on about getting a new broom, teaching herself to fly (a feat in itself), and wanting to try out for the Quidditch team.

Leaning her elbow on the desk, Seychelle studied the girl for a moment. "Well, you certainly have the proper build for any position, really. Except maybe Beater. But I'm not quite sure ... so don't quote me on it." She tilted her chin up so she was looking directly at Cassandra. "In any case, I'd give it a shot, if I were you."

Seychelle tactfully avoided the subject of "home."

She shook her head. "Nah. I know there are people better than me here. I mean I don't wanna go out there and look a fool. Cause some of you guys have been flying since you were what 5 or so?"

Flicking open her book she skims over the contents, tryign to see what they could be doing today. "I guess that's one of the advantages that those born into widarding families have. Those of us with muggle families, well, I didn't find out until a week before I was comming here and that I was different from practicly everyone my families history." She muttered, not nessicaraly ashamed of her family, but she knew there were some that thought she should be.

Aaron walked over to the two girls and nodded at them.

"How are you all this fine first day? Good summers for all I hope?" He asked. "Oh, and you can put those books away. We've got a more practical lesson today. Keep the wands out though. You'll be using them a lot today."

Everyone was bored last year, I could tell. But that was my first year. This year it'll be better I hope. Aaron thought to himself. More student interaction and more practical stuff.

"Actually, why don't you two come up here for a second. You can be the first two examples." He said.

It was hard for Seychelle to keep her urges in check on that one. "I guess that's one of the advantages that those born into Wizarding families have," Cassandra began.

Seychelle bit her tongue. Hard.

"Those of us with Muggle families, well, I didn't find out until a week before I was coming here -- and that I was different from practically everyone with my family's history ... " she continued, and that's when the limit of Seychelle's patience was reached.

Seychelle regarded the girl amiably, yet sternly, as she was wont to do. "We try not to focus on ... heritage ... here. Everyone has magical abilities, regardless." She paused momentarily, taking a small breath through her teeth. "Back to the original subject," she said, returning to her textbook, "I've seen people try out who haven't seen a broom in their lives. It's a learning experience, really."

Suddenly, she heard Professor Lunaran speak out over the students' rumbling conversations. "Actually, why don't you two come up here for a second. You can be the first two examples."

The prefect let her jaw slack a bit. "Me?"


(( OOC: Edited because I posted too late. :bleh: ))

She cringed slightly, holding her breath as she not only heard what Seychelle was saying, but felt it as well. It was almost like an anoyance the prefect seemed to radiate. Cassie was sure that she had said somethign she shouldn't have. She nods. "Yes.. I understand... Sorry."

She fought away the slight twinge in her stomach as the professors voice becconed them up to the front of the room. All of a suddon the feelignt came back, but for the first time in a while, this was caused by her own emotions. "Yes Sir." She says respectfully as she quickly, albeit reluctantly, made her way up to the front, her wand clenched tightly in her hand.

Aaron laughed at the two students nervousness.

"Calm down you two! This isn't anything bad or painful. I just figured that since you two are here a bit early, I could just let you in on the lesson early, and I also needed two assistants for the lesson today." He motioned them to the front and positioned them one behind the other, forming a sort of line.

"Alright, so here is the plan for today. We'll be focusing on the Shield Charm today. In case you don't know, the incantation is "Protego". A simple spell. Anyway, what I will be doing is shooting a harmless stream of light at you, and your task is to block it, using the Shield Charm. Nothing difficult, but if you don't succeed right away, don't worry about it." Aaron said, stepping back from them.

Eavend looked up suddenly as she heard Professor Lunaran's voice call two Slytherin girls up to the front of the room. Oh dear... you haven't been paying attention, have you, Eavend? ...Psh. You know I never pay attention to social stuff, she thought to herself.

Well pay attention now! Look, he's teaching the Shield Charm! Putting her DADA book back in her pack, the Hufflepuff watched intently as Professor Lunaran detailed the incantation. Hey, I was early too... oh well. Not that I matter... She quickly dissmissed the useless, cynical though. There was no need for it... the professor must have simply not noticed her... like most people. Shaking her head and trying to banish her social pessemisim, she muttered the word quietly. "Protego." Protego, protego, protego. I should remember this one.

Seychelle was very relieved. At first, she thought he was making them examples because they were talking rather than reading ... however, then she remembered that Lunaran wasn't as strict as other professors she'd had in her past. She nodded, standing up from her seat and following Cassandra to the front of the room.

She had a feeling that she'd unnerved the girl. And for a moment she felt bad. After all, the concern regarding parentage was one that was unfortunately ingrained into the skulls of every student at Hogwarts.

Hypocrite, her brain seethed.

Silently, she stood in front of Professor Lunaran, at attention, waiting for the demonstration to commence.

"Eavend! Would you care to join them in line?" Aaron asked, not wanting to make her feel left out. "The more practice the better. And this could be a useful spell."

He held his wand up and aimed at the floor. He shot out a bolt of blue light, turning the ceiling blue. However, when the light faded, the color remained.

"Oh yes. I forgot to warn you all. The light I'm shooting, it stains. So make sure you block it." Aaron said, smirking slightly. "But don't worry, I can remove it after class... if you all behave." He enjoyed joking with his class, but wasn't sure if they always enjoyed his jokes.

No matter. He thought. I enjoy them, so it is alright if they don't.

See, Eavend? I told you so. The Hufflepuff grinned and jumped up, picking up her wand and joining the others at the front of the classroom. She watched as Professor Lunaran shot a beam of bluish light out of his wand at the ceiling, noting the distinct mark it left on the stone. Aren't you glad? You get to get shot at with a staining spell! she thought with wry amusement.

Protego. Protego. I got it, I think. She began tapping her wand on the back of her hand, before she remembered that that would probably be a bad idea... funny things could happen when you were playing with a wand. Instead, she waited patiently for her turn while twisting a bracelet made of a thin, red-and-white piece of rope around her wrist.

Seychelle followed the bolt of blue light as it hit the ceiling, then stained. Protego, protego, she chanted in her mind like a mantra. Even if Professor Lunaran knew the countercharm, she didn't want to stain her robes in any way. It was the first set she'd actually been able to purchase new.

She watched as Eavend Lunarius was called on as well, and provided room for the fellow Prefect accordingly. She had no doubt the Hufflepuff would block the spell. The girl was uncanny with Defence.

Setting her gaze on Professor Lunaran, she nodded.

"Alright, so let's begin with... Seychelle. At first we'll start off nice and slowly, but I'll start picking up speed after a few cycles through the line. I do hope the rest of the class arrives soon, or they'll miss the examples. Ah well, such is life." Aaron said, pointing his wand at Seychelle. "Ready? Let's begin."

He shot a slow moving ball of the blue light at Seychelle. It would be relatively easy to shield one's self from.

Let's see how she does. Aaron thought as the ball sailed through the air.

"Ready? Let's begin," Professor Lunaran stated simply, casting a slow-moving blue ball of something toward her.

Seychelle focused, for once, on acting rather than thinking. She had her wand at her side, and within a moment, it was brought out quickly as she slipped into defensive stance. "Protego!" she said firmly.

The ball of something slowed even more, then ricocheted and dissolved as a translucent dome flickered for a moment in front of her. She guessed that the shield worked.

"Excellent work!" Aaron said as the blue ball hit the wall and stained it. "A very effective shield. And excellent timing on it as well. 5 points to Slytherin!"

I thought she'd do well. If she took my advice from our talk, I hope she'll be even stronger this year. Aaron thought proudly.

He motioned for the next person, Cassandra, to step forward.

"Are you ready? Ok, here you go." Aaron said, looking Cassandra in the eyes attempting to give her confidence. The ball shot out, this time a bright green color.

Ally walked into the classroom just then and was suprised at what she saw. She'd been contemplating not coming back to this class but had then decided that it would probably come in handy.
She stopped in the door way not sure what to make of what she was seeing. What was there of the class so far was lined up at the front of the room, and Professor Lunaran looked to be attcking them.
She said as much as well, "Resorted to attacking the class have we?" she asked as she watched to see how Cassandra would go. Well it beats reading a book anyday she thought with a slight grin.

Cassie nodded with an approving smile as Seychelle deflected the light.

She held her wand out as the green light came towards her, threating to die her black robes the now Slytherin green color of the light. Not too bad, She thought. But all the same... "PROTEGO!" She yelled rather forcfully. The light hit the sheild making it glow green befor bouncing much quicker off at an angle. An angle that would put the newest commer to the class, Ally, right in it's path.

"Ah! Look out!" She shouted as she dropped her shield.

Ally had been watching Cassandra and thought that when she yelled the sheild charm that the spell would disappear. This did not happen, instead it redirected the spells course and Ally heard someone yell 'Look out'. Wonderful, she thought as she realised that she was now in the line of fire. Not bothering to fumble about for her wand, she did the first thing that came to mind. At the last second she stepped back out into the hall and let the spell pass her by.
Once she was out of harms way, she came back into the room. "That wouldn't have been pretty," she said to no one in particular.

Aaron watched happily as Cassandra blocked the spell very well. She'd come a long way from the meek first year he'd had to help last year. When the green ball shot off towards Ally, Aaron had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. He hoped that Ally would pick up on the lesson and use the Shield Charm, but instead she let the ball shoot out the door and stain the hallway green.

"Miss Larson, would you care to join us? Just fall in line there." Aaron said, motioning towards the line. He also flicked his wand at the door, closing it for the time being. "Eavend, you're next. Ready?"

He shot a ball of light at her, red this time.

Eavend grinned as she came up next. A sphere of scarlet light came out of Professor Lunaran's wand as he flicked it. The Hufflepuff gripped her wand firmly and tried to recall the word before the spell reached her. Damn my short-term memory! Protego, that's it!

"Protego!" The glowing ball of light hit Eavend's shield and seemed to squish for a second before rebounding. That was weird, the prefect thought, raising her eyebrows. Oh... and I know why. Looking down at the front of her robes, she noticed a few flecks of crimson on them. "Oops... they got me!" she said, grinning sheepishly. Eh... eheh...

(Edit: spelling!)

"Good job Eavend. Had that been any real curse or charm, it would've been deflected totally. This light however, tends to... splatter." Aaron said, as the red light rebounded off into the corner of the classroom, splattering it red.

Eavend, Eavend, do pay attention. And try to remember the spell. Aaron scolded in his head.

"Alright, Ally you're next. Ready? Here you go." Aaron said, shooting a purple ball of light at her. This one moved very slowly, but seemed slightly different than the previous ones.

Dracona watched for a few seconds outside, before limping inside. She didn't try to hide or anything, she had learned that that made everyone notice you. Still, she wished she hadn't been late. But that's what you get when you trip down the stairs, go three flights lower than you went to, and twisting your ankle bad enough to make you limp for a week. She knew that they ewre obviously doing the protego charm, something that she never could get to work properly.

She fell into the line, then leaned against the wall and prodded her swollen ankle gingerly. It sent a jolt of pain up her, and she grimaced as she put it down. She resolved to stop at the infirmiry once she remembered. SHe knew she wouldn't.

She watched as Eavend performed the spell, and managed to mess it up. 'You can tell she knows how to do it properly,' she thought. 'And Lunaran knows. God knows I'm going to completely mess up. Now... protego... protego... protego... pretogo... pretogo... protogo... pretego... pre- no... pra... no... protego... protego... protego...' she thought, desperatly, trying to memorize the spell and managing to twist it up in her mind completely.

Ally watched as Eavend deflected the spell and prepared herself in case that one came her way as well. But when it didn't she silently sighed with relief. She wasn't prepared however when the Professor decided to shoot the spell her way. She hurriedly tried to pull her wand out of her pocket. Ooh, I should've had my wand out ages ago, she berated herself. She finally managed to get her wand out, then noticed that the ball of light was moving a bit slower than the others. Hmm wonder what that means, she thought to herself.
She then said "Protego," and her shield came up. But because the ball of light was moving slower, it seemed to bounce off her sheild and then splattered everywhere. Ally jumped and tried to move but she wasn't quick enough, and her robes were splattered with purple. "Livens up the uniform a bit," she said with a small grin. How am I gonna get that off, she thought to herself.

Fianaly greatful for her small form she had jumped behind Seychelle, using the older prefect as a makeshift shield. "Heh heh. Sorry Seychelle." She said with a grin. "Use the things and prople around you tot he best of yoru ability. That's always sorta been my motto."

Steping back out she tilts her head quizzicly. "Professor?" She asked. "Why was that ball of light different that the others? It sort of felt different."

She shook her head slightly, the barrier she had put in her mind was beginning to collaps. If it did right now, she could tell she would be overwhemled by the emotions of her peers.She focused ehr eyes once more. "And it was goign a bit slower than the others. Was there any reason for that?"

"Well, nice try Ally. Not quite a complete block, but I changed that one a bit." Aaron said. "That one was different, Cassandra, because I was trying to simulate the variants in different spells, curses, and hexes you might encounter. The shield charm will block them all, but it requires different levels of concentration for each one. For example, the Unforgivable curses can even be blocked to some extent using the Shield Charm. Not the Killing Curse, but the other two yes. But those spells are extremely powerful, and as such, take an extraordinary amount of concentration and willpower to deflect."

Aaron turned to Dracona.

"You ready for one? Here it comes."

He shot a bright orange blob at her.

'Protogo... pretego... what was it? um... um...'

"You ready for one, Dracona? Here it comes."

Dracona blinked once, emerging from her thoughts. 'Oh... um... um...what was it again?' she thought, before she remembered she had been repeating it over and over in her head. 'Or was I? NO, I was confusing myself... um..'

"It was..." she muttered, "um... PROTEGO!" she suddenly shouted, knowing that pretego and protogo wouldn't work.

How ever, she still wasn't all that great at the protego charm, and she knew that. She had about 15 milliseconds before the blob hit, and in that time, she tried particuraly hard to strengthen it. It wasn't enough time, though, and as soom as the blob hit, her shield disappeared with a pop.

With a loud splatter, Dracona was bright red. Everything ion her front, even her face was coated. The girl behind her managed to get covered in the red as well, as did a few other people. Dracona grinned sheepishly.

"Dracona, nice try. Next time however, try to remember the incantation just a bit earlier perhaps?" Aaron said, after shielding himself from the light splatter. "Now, you've all had the chance to block one spell right? So now we'll move on to more difficult ones. I'll be making random... changes to the spells, and your task is to adjust your shields accordingly. I would suggest you all practice, because next week, we will be combining with the Charms class, and having a minature Dueling competition, with a prize for the two winners. With that, Seychelle, here's another one for you."

Aaron shot a ball of light at her. This one was blue and green, swirling around inside a invisible shell. It shot at her a little faster, but at the last second curved around, to end up coming at her from the side.

Seychelle's raised a single eyebrow when Professor Lunaran mentioned he was going to make small changes to the spells. Um ... all right ... she thought, somewhat concerned yet trying not to show it visibly.

The coloured light shot at her once more, this time, faster. She was all set to block it -- "Prote --" when all of a sudden, it switched directions, coming at her from the side. A small murmur of protest escaped her lips, but she snapped out of it -- hopefully -- just in time.

"Protego!"

The shield went up, and the light was mostly deflected. However, small flecks had managed to escape, and Seychelle now looked as if she had rather interesting teal freckles. She frowned.

Eavend perked up at the mention of dueling. Oh, fun! We get to fight! she thought, grinning. She did admit to enjoying a good scrap, though she had little experience. That'll be cool! What a great way to test out our skills! If they messed up, they would feel the effects of the spell... which, of course, would be what happened in a real fight. You know, I bet that would be a good idea for the DA, too, the prefect mused as she waited in line.

The Hufflepuff watched as Professor Lunaran sent a turquoise blob of light at Seychelle, and raised her eyebrows as it took an unexpected turn. Okay... be on watch for that, Eavend. Protego. Got it. Protego.

"Ahah, a bit overconfident are we Seychelle? No, just kidding, I would've been extremely impressed had you managed to block that one fully. As it is, I'm still very impressed that you managed to change your focus so quickly. Reminds me of... well, of me." Aaron said, laughing slightly. "Good show though."

He turned to the next person in line, Eavend.

"Ready for this one Eavend? Bombs away." He fired a blob at her. A swirling mess of rainbow colors. It shot forward till it nearly reached where her shield would appear, stopped, and then flew upwards, dropping from above.

"Protego!" Eavend shouted, holding her wand out as the multi-colored glowing glob zoomed towards her. The messy orb flew towards her shield, but much to her surprise, it veered upwards. What the?! The Hufflepuff's head snapped up to follow its flight course, and her eyes widened as it suddenly stopped.

"Holy crap!" she exclaimed, jumping back instinctively as the spell came hurtling down. She did manage to avoid its downward plunge, but she also managed to collide with the person behind her in line as the rainbow colors splattered on the ground, splashing the bottom of her robes and her shoes with multi-colored splotches.

"Oh, oops, sorry. Erm..." Eavend quickly hurried to the back of the line. Dammit dammit dammit! she chanted to herself, chiding her lack of thought at not casting the charm above her head, which was most likely what she had been supposed to do instead of crashing into the person behind her and letting the blob make a messy puddle all over the floor.

"A good try Eavend! However, we are testing your skill with the Shield Charm rather than your reflexes. Next time, try not to move. But it matters little, moving on. Next!" Aaron said, chuckling at the spotted students. "Cassandra, one for you."

He shot a small ball of light at her. It started small, then seemed to grow and then suddenly shrank again. It continued to pulse like this all the way to her shield.

Block this one! Come on, you can do it! Aaron thought, sending positive thoughts her way.

She had been trying to calm her nerves, which were being put off by the others around her as well. Suddenly she felt a slight warm feeling at the edge of her mind, a reassurance almost.

Looking up she saw a pulsating ball of light heading her way. Ah! I should hav ebeen paying attention! "Uhm uhh...." She stammered her wand at the ready, the charm had sliped her mind. "Protego!" She remebered at the last second, hurtalign the ball of pink light right back at the Professor. "AH! Professor watch out!" She yelled out of instinctual obligation, but there was no way that he could have missed it heading his way.

((I have bad aim, what can I say :angelnot: ))

Aaron watched as the ball shot back towards him. He muttered "Protego" and a shield appeared, completely encircling him. The ball reflected off and shot into the corner of the classroom.

"Hm... well, nice deflection Cassandra. And good aim bouncing it back. That technique is especially useful when dueling with someone who is much more powerful than you. Using their own strength against them is a good idea. For example, if I attempted to hex one of you right now, the smartest thing for you to do... well, besides run, would be to reflect my spells, which are more powerful than yours, back at me, in hopes that I would hit myself." Aaron explained, as his shield slowly faded away.

"Ally! Another one, coming your way." He shot another ball at her.

Hm, at least I'm ready for it this time, Ally thought when the Professor said he was sending another one her way. She watched the ball of light come fast, and aimed her wand at it. "Protego," she said loudly, and her shield came up. She could feel that the shield was stronger than her last and that increased her confidence. That was until the ball of light hit it and splattered all over it like it had hit a solid wall.
She quickly looked down to see if her robes had been stained again but they hadn't. Phew, she thought with relief, I don't wanna leave here looking like I just had a game of paintball, she added. Then she looked at the Professor, "Was that right?" she asked.