Daniel found himself in the dungeons, in the dim light coming from a fire-place just behind his desk. This was his first ever lesson at Hogwarts, and he wanted it to be fun, but taken maturely, without people messing around.

He finaly finished with the papers he was arenging in order and looked over to see who would come first, thing that would gain the pupil many points from his point of view.

he folded neatly his black cloak and examined his wand carefully. He would need it a lot for that lesson.

Valentina walked in unsteadily. She was fealing shyer than ever, especially with a new teacher, apart from a completley new subject.

The room was practicly dark, if it wasn't for the fire. There was only a blackboard in the far corner, where it was dim, with no desks.
She dropped her bag in a corner and kneeled down, trying not to make too much noise.

She got her wand out and started turning it, trying to decide what would happen in that lesson.
A sudden shifting noise behing her made her jump and grab tightly her cloak, near the heart area, trying to regulate her heatbeat.

"oh, I hadn't noticed you there, Professor!" She gasped, noticing her teacher for the first time.

OOC: i hope i got the classroom apearence right... I just guessed!

Fawne had been ordered to take this class by quite a few of her friends and her brother. She had never been the most offensive of spell casters, she was a charms master in all honesty and she had some skill in medicinal magic too. However this meant that whenever she ended up in trouble, which was often, she was pretty much defenceless. Since she wasn’t keen on learning how to duel this class had been the compromise. However like during her OWL years she was still taking far to many subjects at NEWT levels and so she was here purely on a trail basis, it was this or runes.

As she walked into the classroom she was a little surprised, it seemed a little dark for a defensive classroom but the room perked her interest and already the lesson was looking more promising than runes. She never much liked that lesson anyway; it was her mother’s instruction to take it. With a thoughtful half smile on her lips her grey eyes scanned over the area, her foot steps barely heard as she lightly walked further into the room. Her movements stopped however when her eyes set on the professor, He seemed young and neat but that was hardly a proper judgment; after all she looked older than her 17 years and wistfully messy. Despite the fact she was a brave Gryffindor with a sharp, yet alternative, mind.

Her smile grew at him, almost as if she was being empathetic since it was her first class. She waved lightly in his direction, her voice light and twinkling when she spoke; an obviously natural tone.

“Oh hello Professor, I do find I am looking forward to your first class, I rather believe it will be delightful.”

Daniel looked up to see a young, but good-looking girl. He nodded, wondering how many points a student could gain by being in class in time.
His smile widened, however, when he saw that she was a Slytherin student. Pride floated inside him.

He ignored her sentence and spoke, in a loud, clear voice: "Good morning, miss! 5 points to Slytherin for being on time. You are obviously taking this lessons seriously!" He winked, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Hey! you must be Valentina Greysoul, am i right? The Vice-Minister's daughter? Such an honor!"

Another student arrived. A griffindor this time.She had a dreamy look.
"It's nice to see such a happy face! What's your name, miss?" He asked, his voice smooth like silk.

He turned to look at the still-empty classroom.
"any idea when the other ones are arriving?"He asked, thoughtful.

Emily was not looking forwards to this class. It was the same as DADA and she still had to take it. Stupid O.W.L.S. Emily walked through the door and said cheerfully "Hello professor." Emily put her back down and sat on the floor.

Daniel looked up to see a new person come it. She was from Hufflepuff.
"'Morning miss!" He said calmly. He could easily see she was looking grumpy.
He decided to read her mind. They would study Occlumency in a few lessons time so there was no loss.

"We will use Defensive Classes for NEWTs,, but I can assure you there will be no reason to worry, I can assure you... or being angry, clearly said." He watched her puzzled face with great enjoyment.

"you must come from the noble clan of the Fall, I assume?" he asked her, while he pointed her a cloak hanger., "how come the sorting hat have put you in Hufflepuff, I wonder?" He wondered aloud, thoughtful.

Fawne was instantly charmed by his voice, smooth and almost like velvet. She always did appreciate peoples voices, especially unique ones like the professors. With a smile still on her lips she quickly choose a seat, near the front of the classroom to help her concentrate.

Her cloak was haphazardly dumped into her bag and her hands returned moments later with a scarlet ribbon which she swiftly used to tie her long hair up with; into a lose bun. She had a feeling this lesson would be rather practical. By the time she'd done this he had already moved onto to talk to Emily, but she didn't hesitate to answer anyway.

"Oh my name is Fawne Sugarmoon. And its delightful to meet such a nice professor." She returned his compliment with the ease of someone brought up in polite society.

Her mind briefly wondered if he'd recognise the last name, it was a old pure blood family after all, though their history had a few grey spots and she was personally known, on a smalls scale, as a blood traitor. Only her mothers remarriage into the Blackwood purebloods saved her from it being public knowledge.

Emily laughed. "Reading others minds is rude sir. How would you like it if I looking into your past or future" Emily said as she sat down at a desk. "I don't know. Why don't you ask the sorting hat? Maybe then it can tell you" Emily told the Professor. She wasn't one to talk back but she wanted to spend more time with him. So she would work him out. "Yes I am a Fall. So was my brother and so is my sister" Emily said. Making sure she didn't say her brother was. Since his whole death. "Oh I'm a seer if you didn't guess. I would move your desk. You never know what that fire could do. And yes I am one of the first Fall's not to be but in Slytherin. Be amazed."

Davina eagerly walked into the class room. She was smiling widely as usual and looked up at the professor. "Hello Professor." She said cherfully as she made her way over to a chair. She was thinking about how in shock she was that she didn't fall or trip on anything on her way into class. Of course she spoke too soon and tripped walking towards the empty seat.

"Darn." She she mumbled picking herself up from the floor. She was the clumsiest person in this school, she was sure of it. There was no way anyone could possibly beaat her in a clumsy competetion.

Daniel turned his head back to the Gryffindor girl. he nodded his head, in an appriciative gesture. Even if he did not like the Gryffindor House, he couldn't deny polite gestures like this.

" Thank you, miss Sugarmoon! And well done, you girls should copy her!" he said, obviously pointing out Fawne's ponytail.

His head snapped back towards Emily, when she spoke.
Annoyance washed over him.
"miss Fall, insulting your family would be a big mistake, seeing it's power among the Pureblood families, but you're maners disturb me! 10 points from Hufflepuff." he said dryly, "and let's just say that we are even. You reading the future and so on." He mumbled quietly.

A sudden stumbling noise caught his attention. He got up and walked over to the new arrival.
"are you okay, miss?" He asked, concerned. He helped her up to her feet.
"Miss Ashford, I presume?" He had obviously heard her name in the staff room.

Davina brushed herself off from all the dst from the floor. "Thank you so much for helping me. I'm such a klutz." She said with a sigh not looking up yet to see who helped her. She lifted her head and realized it was the professor. "I'm sorry I fell Professor." She said with a slight laugh. Darn her clumsiness. Was this going to occur in ever class she attended.

She was much appreaciative that Professor Blanckspine helped her up. She wasn't really expecting it. Professor Raynes pretty much had her iffy about every Professor now.

"Sir I think that is quite unfair. Just because I said rude words about MY family is no reason to take points off my house. If I said rude words about your family I would understand but its my family. It is my birth right to say anything and everything I think of them" Emily said. She was offended my the Professor. Also she bet if the sorting hat had put her in Slytherin the points would still be there. "Also sir I don't see what is so great if you are pure blooded. If you have magic you have magic."

"Don't make it 20 points, miss Fall." Daniel said dryly, turning away from her.

"So this is my class for today..." He said, examining every face.
"Now, I want you all to go in pairs and take your wands out.
"We will be concentrating on reflexes, that's one important key point in duelling!"

He took out his wand, and tapped it on the blackboard.
The words shined a pure white, contrasting with the darkness and very easy to read.
Concentrate on defending yourselfes, attacks come come after! You will gain points very easily.

Valentina walked up to Davina. she was hping to make some new friends.

"Hi!" she said warmly, "I'm Valentina Greysoul, you must be Davina, am I right?" She said with a smile.
"Shall we work together?"

She took out her ebony wand and waited for Davina to accept.

Davina smiled at her. "Oh hello Valentina." She said with nod. "Of course." She added still smiling. She had seen Valentina around the school a couple of times, and she seemed very nice.

She reached into her pocket and took out her wand and then looked back up. "My reflexes aren't that good." She warned with a slight giggle. Her clumsiness ma get in the way of a lot of things, but she had to admit it was amusing.

Valentina smiled again.
"Nah, I'm not that good eather... Let's give it a go, though, right?"

She waited for Davina to position herself in a defensive way before actually attacking in any way.
"I'll start with expelliarmus, if it's okay with you." She said, preparing herself. She would never attack anyone without much of a warning.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" She half-yelled. Her voice was firm, which was normally a good sign.
She watched the red spell shoot out of her wand and waited to see what would happen.

Emmy ran into the classroom, knowing that she was already late.
Just then, she heard someone yell "expelliarmus", so she stopped quickly just infront of the door, rethinking if it was a good idea.

She finally decided to go in, calling herself a coward if she didn't go.
She stopped just infront of the professor and said quietly, tapping his shoulder:
"sorry I'm late, professor! I kinda forgot the time... so yeah..."

Daniel walked around the classroom, correcting his students.

"hold that wand more upwards, miss Greysoul. And don't shot the jinx, you want to surprise your oponent, not give away your position!"

He turned to see a young girl standing next to him. He nearly chocked.
"Emmy Hambleton, am I correct?" He said, shaking her hand, "I'm professor Blackspine, your father probably knows me!" he said grinning. (OOC: I read about your family in the friendship section.)

"don't worry, I'll let it pass this time. Go in a three-some with miss Greysoul and miss Ashford! We'll see if someone alse will turn up!"

Fawne was the type of girl just to approach someone for a class partner, however she was a little at a loss for this lesson. She only knew Valentina, despite the fact some of the girls were form her class, and Valentina had a partner already. Normally she would have just grabbed someone else but they all seemed to have paired up. Lucky enough for her a Ravenclaw girl arrived late but before Fawne could ask the Professor had paired her into the three.

With a fluid movement she walked over to the small group, wand clasped in her left hand and her demeanour perfectly calm; hiding the slight nerves she felt. Her voice soft and clam when she spoke, her eyes on Emmy but her question directed to Professor Blackspine. .

“Professor I rather find I do not have a partner, I am sorry to be of a trouble but perhaps I could practise with Miss Emmy?”

Daniel looked a bit surprised by Fawne's sudden behaviour.
He smiled. This type of students were the ones he liked most.
And, in life, this was the winning behaviour.

"Of course, miss Sugarmoon! And five points to Gryffindor!" he said, an incoroging smile on his lips.
He didn't exactly say why the sudden point behaviour. But it was obvious. To him.

"I'm sure miss Hambleton won't mind!" he added.

OOC: wow! Five points for that? I'll try my hardest! ;)

Emmy smiled at Fawne. Her charecter seemed very confident, and she admired it.
She walked over to an empty space, where she and Fawne could practice.

"Hi," she said shyly (all the interviews hadn't changed this part of her charecter), "shall I attack or defend?" she asked her.

She got her wand out, not really sure what should happen next.

Emily looked around the classroom. Everyone was partnered and she was left alone. Typical Emily thought to herself. She got out some paper and started drawing no it.he had always been good at art. Her parents had forced that and many other things down her throat. Emily kept drawing on the paper. If this was what Emily would be doing in future classes then Emily couldn't wait.

Cedric entered the classroom in a rush. His cheeks had reddened from the run.
He looked around, noticing immediately the professor, than other girls paired up, he recognised his friends: Valentina and Emmy.
There was only one girl unpaired.

He brushed his hair back and walked over to the professor.
"professor," he called. "I am most sorry about my lateness. Please forgive me." he said, clearly ashamed.

Daniel looked over his shoulder, startled.
"Ah! Mr Goldragon, am I right?" he asked, pleased to see a male face. He had also heard good voices about Cedric.
He nodded, relaxed.

"you may pair up with..." he looked around the classroom.
Finally he spoted Emily Fall.
He frowned.

"...with Emily, that Hufflepuff girl." he said, desapointed about both Emily's behaviour and Cedric's wasted talent.
"ah, and Emily. Detention." He said, losing his patience.

"meanwhile, girls, your all doing a good job!" he commented, correcting Emmy's starting pose.

Emily looked at the teacher. A huge grin on her face. "That sounds oh so wonderful sir. I can't wait" Emily said as she got up. She walked over to the boy. "Hi I'm Emily"Emily said as she got her wand out. "You want to start or shall I?" Emily asked him.

Daniel bit his anger back, trying to count to ten. His anger didn't cool down thought.

"You might know, Emily"-his tone was icy when he said her name-"that there are many Dark Forces out there, who are prepared to do anything foolish, just to express their...power..." he said throught greeted teeth.
"but, of course, you might think yourself superior, being a Pureblood. But, as I sopose you know, They will not stop from torturing and even killing. Take these classes seriously." He paused, "especially you."
He glanced at her with a knowing look.

"anyway, miss Ashford, head up and don't stumble about."

Emily turned to the Professor. "Sir my I let you know I don't think that I am better than anyone because I am of Pureblood. Like I said before if you have magic you have magic. I don't care if you are halfbood, muggle born, even if you have a one fifth blooded. So never say I think I am better than anyone. Got that" Emily said. She was angry.

"If you don't want me in this class sir then goodbye." Emily put her wand away. Walked over to where she was sitting. Got her bag and walked out of the class.

OOC: ouch! lol, she got style!

Cedric listened in pure shock and disbelief how the conversation was going.
He fiddled with his wand, embarassed.

" If you don't want me in this class sir then goodbye". He looked up in shock as Emily collected her things and was about to leave.
He didn't seam to understand at first, but as she touched the handle, everything sank in.

"no, Emily, don't!" he gasped, running after her.
She seemed to be walking pretty fast, but she wouldn't turn around.
"Please, Emily!" he begged, getting her wrist and turning her around to face him.

"he'll kill you! He was trying to say something!" he lowered his voice while he said this. "and what were you muttering?" It sounded like french, or maybe italian?

Emily turned around. She stopped muttering. "I don't give a rats what he does" Emily said. "I was muttering how he is a jack ass. It's a French. I'm from Southern France if you didn't notice the accent" Emily said simply. She was still walking down the hallway. "You should go back to class. You will get in trouble too if you don't" Emily told him. "The Professor is just another stupid NDE."

Cedric was still holding her wrist, showing no sign of giving up.
"Em, don't give up! Emily!" he begged. He was surprised she stopped to look at him.
"Take it like a battle...like a war! don't - no, never - give up!" he was fierce now. He hardly knew her, but he still considered her a friend.

"and I wont return to class untill you do!" he said confidently. He pretended to bow her back to the class room's door.
"after you, mylady!" he said smugly.

"The Professor is just another stupid NDE.".
This was the last thing he had thought.
He gasped, and his hand stretched automaticly towards his heart.
"Emily," he said, in between deep breaths to calm his heart beat down, "don't joke about some things!"

He took another few sharp,deep breaths.

"Thank you Professor, and you Miss Emmy."

Fawne smiled brightly when he gave out points to gryffindor, she always tried to her best for her house. Even if her courage was slightly different to the normal gryffindor kind.

Without waiting she followed Emmy over to the empty space, wand held at her side ready but not in an offensive manor. More a whimsical one.

"Hello, I am Fawne, It is delightful to meet you..." she pondered Emmy's question for a moment before replying in her usual soft melodic tones.

"I do not know many offensive spells, perhaps you should attack first?"

Kath ran up the stairs, her bag dangling loosely on her shoulder. She ran until she reached the Defense Classroom, where she saw a boy trying to hold Emily from leaving. She rolled her eyes.
"What, exactly, are you trying to do?" she asked the boy, raising her eyebrows.
Then, remembered that she was late for class and hurried off to slip in the door quietly, hoping that she won't be noticed in the chaosness of the classroom.

Cedric stiffened when he saw a new girl arrive.
"And may I ask you at what time you arrive for classes?" he asked dryly, letting go of Emily.

The girl had already ran into the classroom, so he sighed and followed her, waving casually at Emily.

"hi," he told the girl casually, "I think we have to be partners... would you like to attack or defend, may I ask?" he asked her, his voice still casual, but with a curtesy somewhere.
Yep, he was a natural gentleman.

Emily watched as Cedric walked back into class. Emily ran off to the Hufflepuff common room. Emily wondered what went wrong with the the day to make it turn out like this.

She turned to the Gryffindor boy as he spoke to her.
"I'm not always late, but mostly." she said, shrugging.
Kath walked back to class, leaving the boy, but then he approached her again.
"I'll attack." she said, reaching for her wand. "I know quite a wide range of attack spells. Very few defense. That's why I'm taking this class."
Kath threw her bag aside and turned to him.
"I'm Katherine. Call me Kath, though. Katherine's too long and the name absolutely does not suit me." she said. "And yours?"

Cedric smiled politely.

"Katherine does suit you, may I say." he said, getting his wand out too.
"I'm Cedric, 4th year, Gryffindor." he said proudly.
"and I'm glad you'll attack, I'm not so good at it myself..." he said.

"please do start when you're ready, my reflexes are quite good." He wasn't boasting. It was true.

"Well, thank you, Cedric." she said, smiling, twirling her wand in her hand. "Expilliarmus!"
She watched him.

OOC: sorry its short, I just need to go to bed quickly! It's ten and if I don't sleep early I'll be late for school tomorrow!! :)

Cedric smiled.
"Why, you are very welcome, Kath!" he grinned.

He watched as the red light flashed from her wand.
Expelliarmus , he thought,that's an easy spell.
He flicked his wand, almost lazily.
"Difindo!"
The silver flashed from his, and her spell vanished, without a result.

He grinned. "that was fun... What's next?"

Kath looked at his reaction, and was quite impressed.
"Impressive." she remarked. "What about this one?"
With a flick of her wand, she sent a red flash. It was one of her trick, no-word spells.
She looked forward to what he would do.

OOC: It's tarantellegra, by the way.

Cedric grinned as she complimeted him.
"Thanks" he said brightly, smiling.

He got ready for the spell. It was hard because it was non-verbal, and he could not read minds.
He watched as the red sparks flew towards him, but was too busy immagining what the spell might be to actually recognise what Defending charm to use.

Before he knew it, his feet were dancing madly.
"Crap!" he gulped, thinking of a possible charm to use.
" Diffindo...? No, that's not it! Damn it!" he said impatiently, racking his brain for an answer.
"Aha! Finite Incantem!" The spell missed his left foot by inches, as it continued dancing.
It took him three tries before freeing himself.

"Nice one, Kath!" he panted, straightening himself, "that was a good one!"