A terrible idea
1995- First day of teaching
Seeing Harry again, even if it is from across the room, is an excellent distraction from my nerves.
After the sorting and a delicious feast, Dumbledore stands to speak and I remember why I was nervous all day.
“And it is my honor to introduce Professor Connie Fawley who will be teaching all of you Defense Against the Dark Arts this year,” he sweeps a hand out to point towards me and I stand, trying not to seem too eager, but still pleased.
The Weasley twins scream the loudest and I know I didn’t escape the moment without a bright blush appearing across my nose.
I wore my old Slytherin scarf and try to look at their table for an extra beat. They clap as well, but it is more subdued. Still the same as always.
After the meal, I make my way to my room, knowing that all of the students are settling in.
My plans are all set for tomorrow. In a stroke of luck, my first class is with the fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors.
When I emerge from my office after breakfast, I am surprised to see that most of my students are already in the classroom. Time had gotten away from me and it was already one minute to the start of the lesson.
“Good morning class,” I say from the top of the stairs.
“Good morning,” many of them parrot back.
I take a look at the tables and try not to laugh out loud. Not only is each table filled with students from the same house, they have separated the classroom in half, red to the left and green to the right.
Gryffindor and Slytherin have once again been forced together. I just wish they were a bit more… integrated.
A terrible idea blooms in my mind.
“Everyone stand and line up against the wall please,” I smirk.
Apart from a couple mumbled questions, the students stand quickly, red ties to the left and green to the right.
Harry and Ron are whispering to one another. I rethink my idea for a half a second before deciding it will be worth it.
Lifting my wand, I enchant the class list in front of me, sending the names of my students forward until they each glow silver above a seat.
“Find the seat below your name,” I announce to shocked faces.
“But professor-,” Ron objects until our eyes meet and he backs down.
“There will be no changing my mind. I may be younger than most of your professors, but do not get confused. In my classroom, I have the authority. Quickly now,” I grin.
There is a pregnant pause and a large number of eyes shift towards Hermione, but she is the first to step forward, finding her seat in the fourth row. Farther back than I assume she has ever sat before.
People start moving and I relax, confident in my decision.
Once they are all settled I take note of what the pairing spell seems to have accomplished.
Harry is seated next to a dark haired Slytherin girl. They have both sat as far apart as possible while still seated at the table.
Ron sits beside a very handsome black boy with a smug look on his face.
Hermione has been seated beside a platinum blond, who I can only assume is the spawn of Lucius Malfoy.
“I am sure many of you would change your table mate. However, a spot of good news. We will practice dueling with both defensive and offensive spells this year. You’ll all be able to get a few licks in.”
A couple of uncomfortable laughs and I sense the room has accepted that which they definitely cannot change.
“Before I let you all try to maim each other, we will practice defensive spells. Mr. Finnegan, what is an example of a defensive spell?” I look at an angry looking lion. He is turned basically completely away from his table mate, a wide shouldered boy with a round face.
“Salvio hexia?” he responds.
“Very good. Mr. Crabbe, can you give another example?”
Silence. The poor Slytherin goes pale. I turn towards the board behind me and write Mr. Finnegan’s answer.
A short whisper behind me makes me smile. If I didn’t know any better, I would think the voice had a slight irish accent.
“Expelliarmus,” Mr. Crabbe repeats the whispered answer.
I genuinely didn’t expect my pairings to pay off so quickly.
“The disarming charm. Often a wizard’s first instinct when coming against an opponent. Great choice.”
I turn back around and smile when I see Mr. Finnegan has turned slightly towards Mr. Crabbe.
“This year, I will have my own version of the House Cup. While in my classroom, each of you will be paired with the person seated beside you. Tables will be awarded points which will be kept track of,” I glance around the classroom trying to think of a way to keep track. “At the end of the year, the table with the most points will be rewarded. The prize? To be honest, I’m not sure yet. However, I will let you know as soon as I have decided. This is not optional and if you end September without any points, you and your partner will receive detention. Questions?”
I watch as it all sinks in. Then, unsurprisingly, Hermione’s hand raises.
“Yes, Ms. Granger?”
“Can we lose points?”
I think about it for a moment.
“Yes. If you fail to work with your partner, I will have discretion to take points away. However, incorrect answers will not be penalized. If there are no more questions,” I look around but no one else raises their hand. “Two points to Mr. Finnegan and Mr. Crabbe.”
I wave my wand and two dots, one red and one green float into the air.
They float over to the table of the two boys and remain in the air.
“Now, can anyone else tell me a defensive spell?”
A dozen hands lift into the air.
“Ms. Parkinson,” I call on Harry’s partner.
“Reparo,” she says smugly.
I nod and wave my wand, the chalk writing the spell, and a green dot floating towards the table. While reparo is more of a healing spell, it would help defend someone hit by an offensive spell. Plus, my plan is working so well so far.
She grins and glances at Harry.
He raises his hand.
I can’t help but be pleased with myself. I’ve managed to pit them all against each other while relying on their house rivals at the same moment.
“Mr. Thomas,” I call on a black boy seated near the back of the classroom with his hand in the air.
“Reducto,” he offers.
“While the reductor curse is often used as a tool against the dark arts, it is by nature an offensive spell. Mr. Nott, can you help your partner with an example of a defensive spell that could protect you from a cast reducto?”
A spindly dark haired boy who had yet to raise his head swallows and looks up at me.
“Um, maybe Protego?” he asks, his voice low and quiet. He lets his hair fall across his brow, his fingers fiddling with the quill in his hand.
“Excellent!”
Two green dots float towards their table. A few students seem like they might object to me giving his response two points, but he came to his partner's aid and that should be rewarded. I think they understand that.
“Alright, I must apologize. I know that you have learned these spells already. I don’t want any of you to think that I am doubting your knowledge. However, it is my understanding that some students may be more equipped than others to face the dark arts. You are nearing adulthood. As witches and wizards, you will discover that the world is not black and white. Red or green. We will spend the rest of today’s class reviewing past lessons, extending into the next class. Your homework will be compiling a list of gaps you may have in your knowledge. Or spells you would like to practice again. All homework will be handed in as a table. This may require you to meet outside of class, but it will also reduce your individual workload.”
A few groans and glares exchanged remind me I haven’t exactly solved house tensions.
“My goal for this year is to prepare you for the dangers you may face. To give you all a physical goal, I expect each of you to produce a corporeal Patronus by year's end.”
A couple students turn towards their partners excitedly, only to bite their tongue at the realization that their partner is not their friend. Yet.
“Please work together to come up with five defensive, five offensive, and five healing spells you have already covered in the past,” I say, distributing a single piece of paper to each table.
They are quiet for a few seconds before accepting they won’t be able to avoid talking to each other.
I walk over to my desk and sit down, remembering how much I had resented being partnered with James in potions. This could be good for some people. I hope.
After ten minutes, some of the pairs have broken into snippy arguments, while others have finished and gone silent.
Happily, Mr. Nott and Mr. Thomas are no longer looking at their parchment, but are still talking to each other.
A couple other pairs are doing the same.
Even though I know everyone has finished their assignments, I let them keep talking. I’ll step in if any of them start yelling.
I look at my other class lists and decide I will try the same thing in all of my classes. While Slytherin house gifted me with some of my best friends, I was lucky to be friends with Lily. And the marauders… I guess.
It is strange to imagine Remus in this classroom.
“Professor Fawley?” A voice drags me from my reminiscing.
“Yes, Mr. Weasley?”
“Um, we’ve all finished.”
I stand up and walk around my desk.
“Any questions?” I ask.
Nobody raises their hands.
So I launch into the lecture I had prepared and the class carries on as I expected. Although there are more raised hands than I had been anticipating. After we have run through most of the previously covered material, I smile, relieved.
“That is all for today’s class. As a reminder, please meet with your partner to complete your homework. No length requirement. Just your best efforts. Dismissed,” I sit on the edge of my desk, levitating their spell lists into a pile beside me.
Almost immediately, the houses split once more, the Gryffindor’s loudly complaining to each other, and the Slytherins whispering in equal contempt.
Harry and his two best friends hang back.
“Yes, Mr. Potter?” I ask, lightly grinning.
“It’s an interesting way to start the year,” Harry says.
“I take it you have some objections?” I ask the trio.
Ron nods and Harry shrugs.
Surprisingly, Hermione doesn’t seem to object.
“What are you hoping to achieve?” Harry asks.
“Actually, I am just doing it to entertain myself.”
Ron balks and throws his hands up.
I laugh.
“Don’t you all have another lesson to get to?”
They nod and collect their books.
The boys exit, heads together, but Hermione stays behind.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. Although I do wish I had been paired with someone more accepting of me,” Hermione says.
Mr. Malfoy. It seems the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
“I used a gemelle spell,” I explain. “It matches each student with the person they are most likely to successfully learn with. However, if after this month, it doesn’t seem to be working, I will allow you all to choose your own partners. Just, please don’t tell that to your classmates. I want everyone to give it a chance at least.
She nods.
“I suppose I can give it a chance. He is probably the smartest boy in my year. Thank you, Professor,” she says.
“Go on. I’d hate for you to be late to your next lesson.”
She leaves and I give myself a pat on the back.