“We have another new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?” Dazai muttered as Ron opened the not-so-welcoming wooden door. Ron’s freckled face contorted to pure confusion, as he looked over to the one-eyed professor. Professor Moody.
What were they thinking hiring this guy anyway? Just by the looks of him, he looks like someone who would shank you if you looked at him wrong.
Dazai let out a small snort before going to take a seat next to Ron, who had foolishly decided to sit right at the front. A chalky ‘Moody’ was written on the board, and a furious-looking professor glared down at them.
“Now that you are all seated,” Moody’s gruff voice startled a few of his classmates, but Dazai knew that there was more than just his voice scaring them. The ‘eyepatch’ that covered one of his eyes was replaced with a repulsive eyeball that seemed to be able to move freely in any direction. Just another magic thing, he supposed.
“When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach.”
Ron glanced nervously at Dazai, almost trembling, as their new professor's rough voice seemed to tear throughout the room. Dazai could only snicker at this as he kicked the other's leg from under their desk. It made the ginger boy jump a bit, but it seemed to also calm him down as he took his eyes off their teacher in favour of glaring at the innocently smiling bandaged boy.
The small moment was quickly lost as the professor's voice recurred with more power, landing a small squeak from Ron.
“But first, which of you can tell me,” Moody scoured the classroom, before settling his eyes on Dazai, the so-called Demon Student, “How many unforgivable curses there are?”
Dazai had only heard of these ‘unforgivable’ curses through his friends, a mention here, a whisper there. He was intrigued, looking around to see if anyone was going to volunteer.
Hermione’s pale hand rose, she was clearly uncomfortable.
“Granger?” The ginger man’s deep voice tumbled towards her,
“Three, sir.”
“And they are so named?”
“Because they are unforgivable, the use of any one of them will—”
“---Earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban.” He cut her off, scribbling something illegible on the chalkboard. Azkaban, wizard prison.
“Now the ministry says you are too young to see what these curses do,” a stern look crossed his face.
Well, this was getting interesting.
“I say different.”
Very interesting.
Dazai had no words for the terrified expressions of his fellow classmates, they seemed petrified.
“You need to know what you're up against,” He was scribbling again, “You need to be prepared,”
His ‘eye’ flickered for a moment, doing a full circle in its socket, “And you need to find a better place for your chewing gum than the underside of your desk, Mr. Finnigan.”
A few heads turned to Seamus, some giggling, some trembling.
“The old codder can see out the back of his head—”
A pen flew across the classroom, barely missing Seamus’ loose tie. It wasn't meant to hit him, though it definitely scared him. Beads of sweat formed on his face as the now terrified student quickly shut up.
“So, which curse shall we see first?” He growled, eyeing up Ron, who looked like he had never been more shaken in his life,
“Weasley. Stand.”
A murmur of ‘yes’ could be heard coming from Ron, though he didn't blame him for being scared. If Dazai was in his position… No, he wouldn't be scared.
“Give us a curse.”
“Well…” An audible gulp, “M-my dad did tell me about one…”
“Hm?”
“The i-imperius curse?”
“Oh yes, your father would know all about that one.” The ginger flinched as Moody swivelled back to his board, the repetitive scratching of chalk itching Dazai’s ears.
“Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief a few years back,” He pulled out his wand, “Perhaps this will show you why.”
A quivering Ron returned to his seat, his eyes following every movement of this new teacher.
Dazai couldn’t help but notice that Hermione was getting unusually agitated.
“Hello!” Professor Moody cooed to a— Spider..? He reached into a mysterious jar, muttering about some ‘beautiful spider’.
“Engorgio.”
The spider enlarged.
“Imperio!” He roared, the spider twitching as it was lifted into the air, following the wand’s every movement just as Dazai and Ron’s gazes did.
The professor seemed to— play with it for a while, before hovering her above a small bucket.
“What should I have her do next? Drown herself?”
Now that did sound ideal, at least to Dazai. He wouldn't even have to put in the effort of finding a suitable bridge if he was controlled!
The silence was louder than ever as the Professor continued.
“Now, scores of wizards have claimed that they only did You-Know-Who's bidding under the Imperius curse. But here’s the problem. How do we sort out the liars?”
The spider returned to its resting place, the mysterious jar that it had scrawled out of in the first place, though Moody did not stay still for long. He rushed over to Neville, who’s expression was almost unreadable. Fear? Confusion? No… Understanding.
“The c-cruciatus curse?”
Moody gestured for him to follow as he returned to the spider.
“This one is particularly nasty. The torture curse.”
Dazai’s ears pricked up at that. Torture curse? That would make his job ten— no, a hundred times easier! He felt as the air tingled again, he’d have to memorise this one instantly, as he might never hear it again—
“Crucio.”
A harsh stabbing in the air. He could sense the poison behind the word. This wasn’t just for demonstration, Moody was getting a kick out of this.
Just like he would've.
The spider's exasperated screams echoed through the silent classroom as it twitched, writhing in agony, just like the Port Mafia hostages.
Dazai's eyes widened with interest as he brought a hand to muffle what might or might have not been a giggle. Of all his time at Hogwarts, to think watching the torture session of a spider would make him feel most at home.
Neville looked away, almost as if he was about to be sick. He recognised this curse— No, not only that, he knew something about this curse. Dazai took a mental note to gather information on it later.
“Stop it!” Hermione’s determined voice pierced through the spider’s cries, “Can't you see it's bothering him! Stop it!” Hermione was on the edge of her seat, as if she was about to interfere, though Dazai was on the edge of his seat because he wanted a better look at the agonised spider. He held back a small grin as he craned his neck and quickly composed himself. Moody glanced over to Hermione, who was wailing about Neville being uncomfortable.
“Ah. Perhaps you could give us the last unforgivable curse, Miss Granger?”
Hermione shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
Dazai had a pretty good idea of what this curse was.
“Avada Kedavra.”
It felt like a gunshot piercing through the tingly air, like a real gun, he supposed.
Dazai raised his hand,to a mutter of “are you mad?” from Ron.
“Yes, Mr. Dazai?”
“That was the killing curse, correct?”
He was met with a nod from the Professor.
“It’s similar to a muggle gun.”
The statement only seemed relevant to the other ‘Muggle borns,’ as they called it, in the room as most stopped to ponder over the comparison if they weren't still reeling over the prior events.
And to nobody else would a gun be more relevant to than the mafioso sitting in the room himself.
Said mafioso kept a straight face up as amusement seemed to dance in his eyes. The gruff teacher only raised a singular brow high as he seemed to see straight through the stony facade as he sent the bandaged boy a look.
A ‘what are you up to’ look.
One Dazai knew all too well as he finally let a small grin slip.
—
“It’s similar to a muggle gun.”
The statement from this student, while true, was concerning. Though he was intrigued.
“I suppose.” He agreed easily, pushing aside any suspicion for the moment to see the resemblance between the two things.
“Well, for ah— educational purposes— Am I permitted to use it on another insect?”
The class erupted in whispers, anxious glances following Dazai as he looked up hopefully. This ‘child’ was not normal.
“I… suppose.” He agreed again, but reluctance stirred in Alastor’s voice, yet intrigued nonetheless.
He did, however, want to see this student’s attempt at the curse despite it being more than likely something he would fail.
“Be aware, most are never able to use this curse. It requires the user to feel genuine enjoyment and pleasure in the victim’s pain and suffering. Something a child shouldnt be capable of.”
Something he hoped no child would be capable of.
“Avada Kedavra.”
A flash of green shrouded the small slug the professor had picked out. It was dead.
The class once again erupted, in not whispers, but shouts.
“He’s a demon!”
“Expel him!”
Even some of Dazai’s slytherin friends were whispering. Mr. Zabini and Mr. Malfoy.
“Oh. That was easy.”
Dazai returned to his seat, a dull expression on his face, next to Ron’s horrified one as the ginger subtly scooted away.
It didn't go unnoticed if the small glance and snicker sent towards the Weasley meant anything.
Dazai could only exhale through his nose as he rested his chin on his hand.
‘Oh well,’ he thought.
‘It'll be good for my image.’ A small smirk grew on his face.