Defense Against the Dark Arts, Class One

[Rori Logan]

"I haven't been called Ror in forever." she said smiling.

[marie]

"Nope just a minute ago."Anna said grinning.

[potter]

James walked in, never early for class. What's the point of coming early? He spotted his friends and walked over to join them. "What's up with the teacher," James asked them. "She looks a bit...constipated."

[marie]

"Constipapted?I think you mean ugly."Anna said

[Remus Lupin]

"I don't know," Remus said thoughtfully. "She wouldn't be bad-looking if she could crack a smile or something."

[Isabella Rothschild]

Isabella cleared her throat loudly. "If you are all finished discussing my appearance, we can begin," she said . "Now then, Mr. Potter, I can assure you that I am not--as you so eloquently put it--constipated, and Miss Heart, if you call me ugly one more time, it wll be detention for a week. Five points from Ravenclaw."

She stood up and walked to the front of her desk, so that she towered over them. "As I told Mr. Black, we will be discussing the Imperius Curse today. Can anyone tell me what the Imperius Curse does?"

[Rori Logan]

Rori raised her hand. "Well the Imperius Curse is used to control a person's actions. Basically the spell leaves the person at the mercy of the caster."

[Isabella Rothschild]

"Good, Miss Logan," said Isabella. "Five points to Ravenclaw." It was clear by her expression that she did not like giving back the points she had taken for Anna's comment. "Yes, the Imperius Curse is used to control the actions of another person. The Ministry has deemed it to be Unforgivable, because of the powerful control it allows the one who casts it over the victim. Some witches and wizards have used this to force innocent victims to do terrible things while under the curse. The trick is to recognize it. Can anyone tell me how you might be able to spot someone who has been Imperiused?"

[marie]

"I have."Anna said raisin her hand.

[Severus Snape]

Severus sat back in his chair, the old tomes his mother kept hinden in the floor boards now didn't seem like just an demented old man's ramblings, but something he could do, something accomplishable. That was a terrifying thought.

[Isabella Rothschild]

Isabella gave an icy smile at Anna Marie. "Go ahead, Miss Heart," she replied.

[marie]

"If you know the person they will be ide-eyed and or not acting llike there self but mosty wide-eyed."Anna said not knowin another way to put it.

[siriusblack]

Peter opened the door as quietly as possible, trying to sneak into the class. He crouched down low to the floor almost as if he were merging with it. He'd over slept and hoped the teacher wasn't very aware, but one glance at her and he knew that we was so very wrong.

[Isabella Rothschild]

Isabella heard sounds and turned to see the small Gryffindor boy trying to slip in unnoticed. She narrowed her eyes at him. "I do not tolerate lateness to my class," she said loudly. "That will be 5 points from Gryffindor. The next time it will be ten." She looked back at Anna. "Yes, that is correct. Often the Imperius Curse can be difficult to spot, but if you look carefully, you may be able to notice erratic behavior and a blank, wide-eyed expression." She walked over to a cage in the corner and took out a large rat. "I am going to put the curse on this common, household rat, so you may observe its behavior." She set the rat on the top of her desk, pointed her wand at it, and said, "Imperio!" Immediately, the rat stiffened. "Let's make it dance, shall we?" She waved her wand, and the rat stood up on its hind legs and began to dance a jig.

[siriusblack]

Peter gave an awkward twist through his body, letting it be known that he failed miserably at being secretive. He found an empty chair, sat down, pulled out some parchment and a quill and began taking notes. The imperius curse seemed interesting, he had to surpress a laugh when the rat began to dance.

[Isabella Rothschild]

"It might seem amusing to you to watch the rat dance," Isabella continued, "but just think of the powerlessness it is feeling right now. Just imagine being forced, against your will, to do whatever you are told. Jump!" she said abruptly, and the mouse jumped off the edge of the desk and fell to the floor.

[siriusblack]

Peter twitched slightly. The dance was fun, but making the helpless animal jump from the desk was a bit disturbing. He looked away, but his hand continued to take notes. He didn't like this class very much, the teacher and the subject had just taken a turn for the worst.

[Severus Snape]

Severus Had only ever read of wizards doing that to one another, it made him sick to his stomache thinking someone could easily make HIM do something like toss himself or his Mother off a cliff. Then it occured to him he should try and find away to make that impossible, if he could. So he raised his hand. waited to be accknowledged.

"Could one do anything to prevent falling under this curse?"

[Isabella Rothschild]

Isabella nodded at the Slytherin boy. "Yes, Mr. Snape. There are ways to fight the Imperius Curse. You can either use defensive magic--spells to prevent your attacker from hitting you with the spell in the first place--or, if you are hit with it, you can resist it. But it requires great strength of mind, and many people are unable to do it. I'm going to work on teaching you the defensive spells, and to help you strengthen your minds, so that you can learn to fight the Curse."

[Severus Snape]

Severus smiled at the thought. "I think i like her alot more than my dad" he thought to himself.