𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 | √

⎡41⎦

He's so cute when he does that.

No, he isn't Hazel! Stop it!

Isaac threw his head back and groaned. I laughed.

"Well, I gotta go to DADA. See you boys later!" I said picking up my books. I left the Great Hall and made it to the DADA classroom. Once everyone was seated Moody started the class. He stood in the front of the room with his hands behind his back. His walking stick was standing in the air without support.

"Alastor Moody." He said. Moody turned around and picked up a piece of chalk, then wrote his name on the board. "Ex-auror, Ministry malcontent." He threw away the chalk. "And your new defense against the dark arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me, end of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions?" Nobody rose their hand. His fake eye darted around.

"When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many Unforgivable Curses there are?"

What? We're learning about the Unforgivable Curses? WHAT?!

"Three, sir." Hermione answered in a shaky voice.

"And they are so named?" He asked turning to the board.

"Because they are unforgivable. Use of any one of them will-"

"Will earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. Now the ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you're up against, you need to be prepared!" He turned to the board again. "You need to find somewhere else to put your chewing gum other than the underside of your desk Mr Finnigan!" We all turned towards Seamus.

"Aw no way, the old codger can see out the back of his head." he whispered. Moody whipped around and threw the chalk in anger.

"And hear across classrooms! So, which curse shall we see first?" He asked.

Wait, he's seriously is going to do this?!

"WEASLEY!" he yelled.

"Yes?" Ron whimpered.

"Stand"

Ron rose from his seat shaking vigorously.

"Give us a curse."

"Well, m-my dad did tell me about one. The Imperius Curse." He said as scared as hell.

"Your father would know all about that. Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why." He turned back to the desk and opened a jar with a spider in it. "Hello. What a little beauty." He said scooping up the spider. He pulled out his wand and pointed it to the spider "Engorgio" The spider enlarged. "Imperio!" Moody said. He was now in control of the spider.

Moody made it jump onto Dean and Neville's desk, then onto Crabbe's face. Everyone started laughing. I for sure wasn't.

"Don't worry. Completely harmless."

He brought it over to me and it landed on my head. I was emotionless and rested my head on my fist. Getting bored, Moody moved the spider over Ron's head. He started to have a panic attack.

"But if she bites... she's lethal!" Moody was having the time of his life. Draco started laughing hysterically. "What are you laughing at?" he asked before sending the spider onto Draco's face. He started flapping his hands like a little girl. "Talented isn't she? What shall I have her do next? Jump out the window?" Everyone went silent as Moody made the spider go to the window. "Drown herself?" He held the spider right over some water but brought it back instead.

"Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only do you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the imperious curse. But here's the rub, how do we sort out the liars? Another... another... Come on, come on."

People started to raise their hands. Including Neville.

"Longbottom is it? Up." Moody instructed. Neville stood up slowly. "Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for herbology." He said.

Neville nodded. "T-There's the um... The Cruciatus Curse." he said.

"Correct! Correct! Come, come. Particularly nasty. The torture curse." They walked over to the desk and Moody set down the desk and pointed his wand. "Crucio!" he shouted. The spider started to squeal in pain.

I watched Neville's face, the spider being tortured and Moody casting the spell. I couldn't take it longer.

"Stop it! Can't you see it's bothering him, stop it!" I shouted standing up. Moody looked up at me, startled, then back at the spider. He lowered his wand and glanced at Neville. Mad-Eye picked up the spider and brought it to my desk.

"Perhaps you could give us the last Unforgivable Curse Miss. Rosewood."

I glanced up at him and I shook my head. I knew what was coming. My eyes started to water slightly.

"No?" He took a second to make sure I wasn't going to say anything.

"Avada Kedavra!" A flash of green light sprouted from his wand. I glanced down at the spider now dead on my desk. "The Killing Curse. Only one person is known to have survived it. And he's sitting in this room." He said walking over to Harry. He took out his flask and had a sip.

. . .

When class was over the trio and I walked out silently until we reached the steps.

"Brilliant isn't he! Completely demented of course. Terrifying to be in the same room with, he's really been there you know." Ron said.

"There's a reason those curses are unforgivable, and to perform them in a classroom. I mean did you see Neville's face?" Hermione asked. I nudged Hermione. Neville was leaning against the wall looking out the window. I went up to him.

"Neville?" I asked gently placing my hand on his shoulder.

Mad-Eye pushed through us and approached Neville. He pat him on the shoulder. "Son. You alright?"

Neville nodded solemnly.

"Come on, we'll have a cup of tea. I want to show you something."

They left back upstairs without a word. I rummaged through my bag for my The Standard Book of Spells book. I couldn't find it. Then I remembered that they were surprisingly out of stock in Flourish and Blotts so I asked them to deliver it to me. Snape said he would pick it up.

"I have to go to the dungeons guys. See you later!" I exclaimed running down the stairs. I raced down to the dungeons and opened the door. Snape was teaching a sixth-year class. Cedric and Isaac noticed me at once. They were all standing in front of a potion.

"Pity." Snape said to the class. "Ms. Rosewood, while you are here could you help these sixth years figure out what potion this is?"

I nodded and stepped towards the potion. Easy.

"Oh, this is the Amortentia, the strongest love potion in the world. It doesn't create actual love, of course. That's impossible. But it does cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it is probably the one of the most dangerous potions in the world. You can recognize it by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen and the steam rising in spirals. It's supposed to smell different to each one of us, according to what attracts us. For example, I can smell," I leaned inwards and breathed in through my nose.

"Cinnamon, pine, vanilla, and..." I bit my lip. I know this last smell. Peppermint? No... peppermint... Cedric.... I blushed and looked up at Snape who seemed to be paying no attention whatsoever.

"A fourth year can identify an advance potion and you can't? What a shame." He whirled around and picked up the parcel that contained my book in it. He handed it to me and I took it, leaving without a word. Once I got outside I put my head against the stone wall and sighed

There is no way you can possibly be falling for Diggory.

I signed and stood up straight. This is not going to affect me. I am an independent girl... With a hopeless crush.