Fifth Years, Lesson One

James was thrilled that his wife was now a permanent fixture in the office across from him, she had expressed her desire to stay at the school in whatever role she could, it was lucky that the role she had been subbing in became available and she got it. James stood at the front of his classroom and waited for his students to arrive.

Professor James Cade
Defence Against the Dark Arts, Year Five

The babbling curse

As had become his custom, James underlined the words he had written on the blackboard channelling every professor and teacher he had ever watched and admired on screen. It was just a shame so many of his own teachers hadn’t been that cool or inspiring, but then not everyone could be Monty Pendleton.

“Welcome to Defence against the dark arts fifth years, for those that haven’t had the pleasure yet my name is Professor James Cade but please, call me James, I’m not old enough for professor to suit me just yet,” Out the corner of his eye he could see Bailey trying to make herself very small in her seat. "This will be a difficult year for you all and I suspect I don't need to tell you why, we will be going through curses in detail this year starting with the babbling curse," James motioned his hand towards the blackboard for effect. "Who here can tell me what the babbling curse does?" James waited for a student to volunteer the answer, he would point to someone if he had to but he wanted to avoid being that kind of professor if he could. "Excellent, five points to your house," Giving and taking points would be a new experience for James, he'd be generous with points but he'd be equally harsh the other way. "Moving on, can anyone tell me the name of the counter curse?" Again he waited and again a student came up with the answer. "And five points to you," He grinned at the student. "The problem with the counter curse of course is that it is impossible for anyone under the effects of the babbling curse to cast it, what with all the babbling and all," James laughed. "Next year you'll be trained to lift the curse by using non-verbal magic, but that isn't relevant right now, the good thing is the counter curse can be cast by anyone who happens to come across you babbling away, so if you do get hit with this curse try to do it somewhere public," James paused to allow anyone taking notes time to catch up.

"Vigilance is key to avoid curses such as this and as you get older and start to turn your gaze away from this place, you need to think about the potential dangers that await, constant vigilance, as a once famous British auror might have said but I think I've babbled on quite enough," James gave two near simultaneous flicks of his wand and the classroom door opened and a second sheet of parchment appeared on each students desk. Even smoother than when he'd practiced. "On your desks you will find a sheet of parchment outlining the coursework for this semester just to give you an idea of what to expect, and a second sheet with your homework, it's nothing too traumatic just something I can use to get to know you all a little better, feel free to fill them out quickly now or bring them next week but otherwise, class dismissed,"

Name:
House:
Three things about yourself that you want to share:
One activity that you can suggest that we can do in class:

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Assignment: Roleplay the lesson. Complete the homework for extra credit. Students who answer the questions will also receive extra credit.

 

[Winnie Calida]

Winnie walked into the defence against the dark arts classroom and took her usual spot in the room. She glanced at the man and then to what was on the board behind him. She nodded and then raised her hand at the question. "It causes the victim to speak non-stop, to babble uncontrollably," she replied and smiled as the professor spoke again. She took a few notes from what the professor was saying about what they'd cover in the semester. She was pretty eager for the year ofthe class. Winnie packed up when she was able to and headed out of the room, she did the homework quickly before leaving.

Name: Winnie Calida
House: Slytherin
Three things about yourself that you want to share: I'm a slytherin, I'm 15, I'm from New Zealand.
One activity that you can suggest that we can do in class: Spellwork?

 

[Daiki Saito]

Daiki walked into the defence against the dark arts classroom and took his usual spot in the room. His gaze moved towards the professor at the front of the room as the professor got started. Daiki had his quill in hand and was taking the odd note from what the professor and others in the class were saying. It wasn't a very long lecture but it was interesting. He didn't think he'd like to be cursed with the babbling curse. The lesson wrapped up and he filled out the homework sheeet before heading out of the room.

 

[Felix Layton]

DADA was another of those subjects Felix was feeling confident in. Unlike others, he had taken this in previous years so wasn't going into it completely blinded. The prefect raised his hand as the professor asked a question, "Finite?" It was a stab in the dark but he thought there were only so many spells that would counter a curse, and if he was in a tournament that would be the one he was most likely to use. Felix was very excited at the prospect of non-verbal magic, and was sure he could find some ways to utilise it. Despite the class being taught by his Head of House and former father-in-law, Felix was feeling quite confident about what was to come.

Name: Felix Layton
House: The best one obviously
Three things about yourself that you want to share: I'm sorry about Esme. I want to work in Law. One day I hope I get to be Captain of the Quidditch Team.
One activity that you can suggest that we can do in class: Group nap sesh?

 

[Eoghan Blyth]

Eoghan was a little apprehensive meeting new professors, as though he'd gotten to know the previous ones well enough at all. Truth be told it had been a hard learning curve as it was to trust them and start asking questions and now the prefect was having to do that all over again. He took a seat in his first upper DADA class, noting it was another he shared with Felix, and paid attention to Professor Cade. Perhaps this year they would learn some new spells they could put to work in the SDA, or learn more about the spells the ministry didn't want them to know about. After making some notes, Eoghan headed back out the room quietly, hoping the professor didn't mind the minimal homework he'd submitted.

Name: Eoghan Blyth
House: Ravenclaw
Three things about yourself that you want to share: No thank you
One activity that you can suggest that we can do in class: I'm not a professor

 

[Lilith Ilves]

Lilith walked into DADA not sure what to expect. Last year had gone in a blur and the prefect was a little sad she hadn't made the most of the time she'd had with Professor Adler. While Lilith didn't doubt Professor Cade would be just as capable in his job Lili still would miss the former Professor. As she made her way to sit with Eoghan she decided she'd go and see Professor Adler in her office soon. Maybe she could disguise the meeting as wanting to ask a few things in preparation for her O.W.L's or who knows, she'd avoided the woman the best she could last year and it was bugging her. As the lesson flew by quite fast Lilith made sure to take note on all the important bits and even tried to answer questions but it was in vain, her peers were quicker than her. Filling in the little questionnaire Lilith made sure to drop it on the Professor's desk on her way out. The quicker she did the homework given, the easier her year would be.

Name: Lilith Ilves House: Ravenclaw Three things about yourself that you want to share: Uh well I won the dueling tournament for my year in my 3rd year. I have a little brother in your house (Leo Ilves, good luck with him!) and I want to become an animagus so I am currently training towards that along with my studies. One activity that you can suggest that we can do in class: Practice useful spells.