12 Ch. 12

Jacob Thompson excitedly made his way into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with the rest of his fellow Hufflepuffs. The new professor was rather famous for his adventures and should prove to be a higher quality teacher than what Jacob was used to.

The past six Defense Against the Dark Arts professors have ranged from atrocious to decent in terms of teaching ability. Regardless of which professor he thought of, Jacob couldn't confidently say he really learned a great deal from the professor. He credits the study groups arranged by his house-mates as the only reason he was able to scrape by with an Acceptable during his Ordinary Wizarding Level examination.

The only good thing about having a new professor each year was that all students with a passing O.W.L. grade were eligible to enter N.E.W.T. Defense Against the Dark Arts. Many considered that a double-edged sword, since the rotation of professors could be attributed as the cause for all the low scores.

With a famous wizard teaching Defense, Jacob strolled into the classroom with hopes for a better year. Especially since his father had to drop thirty-five Galleons on all of Lockhart's books. Jacob was still reading the first one, but he wasn't really sure how he was supposed to take the book as a learning source. Hopefully, Professor Lockhart will be able to clear that up.

The excited group of students nearly came to a halt as they entered Classroom 3C. Their once familiar classroom resembled a muggle museum with all the skeletons and stuffed beasts. There was even a ten-foot-tall stuffed mountain troll!

As the students were gazing at the various skeletons, the Ravenclaw group arrived. Without preamble, the 'Claws joined in on inspecting the new displays. Jacob wasn't really sure why some of the skeletons were still in cages. He hoped that wasn't strictly necessary.

"This is like a muggle hunting lodge," one of the 'Claws said in awe to the murmured agreement of several other voices.

"I've found that books, while greatly beneficial, are a poor substitute for hands-on experience," a cheerful baritone voice explained from the front of the class.

Jacob turned to the voice with the rest of the class. Posed beside a crowded desk, was a fairly tall and handsome wizard. Dressed in expensive robes of rich blue and coiffed blonde hair, Jacob couldn't help a tinge of jealousy at the man's looks. Especially when a seemingly perfect smile was cast over the group of students.

"Find a seat everyone," the presumed professor suddenly called out. "We have much to do and only two hours to get it down," the richly dressed wizard announced over the quickly shuffling seventh-years.

Much to Jacob's chagrin, the first few rows of seats were filled almost immediately. Most of those seats were taken by girls casting the new professor looks of adoration, and a few throwing less appropriate looks. Another well-deserved spike of jealously hit Jacob in the gut over the physical appearance of their new professor.

The moment everyone was seated, the blond-haired professor moved in front of the teacher's desk with enviable grace. "I, am Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, adventurer, author, and now your Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor!" The newly identified professor said in a way of introduction.

Jacob carefully watched Professor Lockhart scan the room with a smile on his face. Jacob wasn't sure if the professor was attempting to do a headcount, or bask in the looks some of his peers were giving the man. After a look of unease briefly flashed over Professor Lockhart's face at some of the suggestive gestures a few girls were giving him, Jacob was inclined to believe the professor was just trying to do a headcount.

"Now, please hold up your summer homework," Professor Lockhart said with a slight frown. Jacob couldn't help smiling at the thought of someone else being annoyed at the thought of homework over the holidays. Especially, a professor.

Once everyone was holding up their version of homework, Professor Lockhart casually waved a hand and every parchment was snatched from the owners' hands. Another wave and the homework folded into a neat stack and settled onto an open corner of his desk.

Jacob wasn't the only one to get excited at the display of wandless magic and murmuring broke out over the classroom. The students have seen such displays on numerous occasions during their time at Hogwarts, but never have they seen it wandlessly. Things were looking promising for this year's Defense Class.

Another wave of his hand and some of Jacob's enthusiasm died as a parchment flew to every student. He instantly knew what this new paper was, a test.

"Have no fear," Professor Lockhart merrily stated. "This is just a quick review of what each of you should have already mastered in your previous six years. It will not be used as part of your grade, but I highly encourage you to do your best. The more comfortable I am with everyone's current mastery, the more time we can dedicate to advance magic!"

Jacob glanced between the test resting on his desk and the professor making his way to his own chair. Professor Lockhart picked up a leather-bound book and opened it to a marked page before curiously looking back over the class.

"You only have thirty minutes to impress me. Chop Chop," Professor Lockhart said before returning to his own book.

Now given the go-ahead, Jacob dove into his bag and began gathering his quill and ink. Jacob didn't think he would be able to 'impress' the new professor, but he would still try his best. The promise of spells beyond N.E.W.T. level was too good to risk missing out on.

A relieved sigh echoed over the room as people began reading the first few questions. They were rather simple for a seventh-year and were more focused on practical application and understanding. Of course, the ease of the questions didn't last long and an air of frustration began to build in the air.

A quick glance around the room confirmed Jacob wasn't the only one having trouble with the review test. It wasn't just his fellow Hufflepuffs with looks of despair, but even many of the Ravenclaws' held looks of deep contemplation as they attempted to remember some crucial detail or another.

"Times up! Quills down," the enthusiastic voice of Professor Lockhart thundered around the room. Jacob could only disparagingly stare at his own test before it went flying off his desk towards the professor. He was barely able to answer half of the questions.

Before anyone could register what was happening, another parchment fell on everyone's desk. Despite his feelings towards his performance on the review test, Jacob looked over the new paper sitting before him.

"Take the next few moments to read over the notes I just gave you," Professor Lockhart cheerfully announced to the quiet class. "Once you feel comfortable with it, feel free to give it a shot!"

Jacob glanced up at the famous author as he took his seat and began looking over the review tests. Jacob couldn't help thinking about how it was too early in the day to feel so disappointed in school work.

Taking a peek at his fellow classmates, Jacob was taken aback by the varied reactions to the newest paper to fall on their desks. Picking up his own sheet, Jacob read the title listed at the top of the page, Occlumency. He's never heard of the word. With renewed curiosity, Jacob followed the professor's instructions and began reading. By the time he finished reading the second paragraph, Jacob was fully captivated by the parchment's content. If it is real, then Occlumency should be a must for every witch and wizard!

Jacob was on his second read-through when the insistent snapping of fingers echoed through the room. "Eyes on me, please," Professor Lockhart said as a means to gain everyone's attention.

Looking up from his reading, Jacob took in the sight of Lockhart leaning against the front of the professor's desk, with a slight frown marring his features. Another wave of disappointment washed over Jacob at the look on the new professor's face.

"Well," Professor Lockhart began, "we are not quite where I hoped to be, but never fear, this is nothing I can't handle!" With a new smile on his face, Lockhart pushed off his desk and stood heroically before everyone. "Now, first on the...," Professor Lockhart began before his attention was drawn to Meliny Thornsberry, a cute Ravenclaw in the front row, desperately waving her arm to his attention.

"Yes, my dear?" the professor tentatively asked.

"Professor Lockhart," Meliny began as she pushed her glasses further up her nose, "Why haven't I ever heard of Occlumency before?"

Professor Lockhart stared at the muggle-born witch for a brief moment with a blank look on his face. Suddenly, a smile began to fill the professor's face again as he moved to stand a bit closer to Meliny. "That is a rather broad question, with dozens of possible answers," Lockhart cordially stated with an undeniably charming smile.

Despite the reddening of her cheeks, Meliny swiftly rephrased her question. "I meant, why haven't we been taught Occlumency before, professor?"

"Well, I can only assume it hasn't been taught due to its difficulty to master and the fact the Ministry doesn't test for it," Professor Lockhart answered as he tapped a finger against his chin. "Or it could just be a result of previous professors not being up for the challenge. And I am not one to shy away from a challenge," Lockhart declared.

"But professor," Jacob couldn't help but speak up, "if the Ministry doesn't require us to learn Occlumency, why are we wasting precious time with it? We should be preparing for the N.E.W.T.," Jacob finished to the agreement of many of his peers.

Jacob watched as the professor placed his hands on his hips and gave the class a reassuring smile. "Never fear, my young students," Lockhart loudly proclaimed. "I have spent a great deal of time and effort in preparing a course that will ensure all of you are prepared for your N.E.W.T. come this May.

"But, as your Defense Professor, I would be remiss if I didn't include Occlumency into your repertoires. It is the most important thing one can do to defend their mind," Professor Lockhart finished with a heavy tone of importance.

"You see class, Occlumency has many benefits, and is even required for many wizarding professions, such as Auror and Curse-Breaker," Lockhart explained. "Not only does it prevent others from using Legilimency to read your mind, but once mastered, can even increase the ease of dealing with dementors, boggarts, and many types of curses.

"Once sufficiently practiced, it can even improve your control over your emotions and increase memory retention," the blond professor stated. "Why, with all the benefits, I would feel negligent in my duties if I didn't teach Occlumency," Lockhart said to the eager class.

Jacob had to admit, it did sound important. As the realization of the amount of work he's going to have to put in to prepare for this coming May, Jacob couldn't help releasing another sigh in defeat. As Jacob turned his attention back to Professor Lockhart beginning his lecture, he couldn't help the gloomy thoughts of not being able to pull Mya into a broom closet as much as he did last year.