Dark Arts .

"Diconstructo, Evapronto!"

She took a breath and closed her eyes. "Diconstructo, evapronto!"

With a small scream heard from the chinchilla, it's fur fell off. It technically was ripped out of his skin. It began whimpering and such.

"Ah, wonderful, for the first try! As a reward, you get to keep it. Maybe even PRACTICE more on it!"



Kelsi dug her nails into her face. She winched and sighed out. She glanced at Libby.

Suddenly, the bell rang. Professor turned to the class. "Hopefully you can learn some from this student. Alright, no homework. I hope you can toughen up next class. Good day."

Kelsi grabbed her stuff and ran out. Once she was out, she was breathing heavily. "The poor thing!" She cried out.

Libby followed close behind her. "That was terrible!" she gasped. "Can you believe that?! We have to deal with a whole year of that!"

Olivia exhaled, stuck her wand back in her pocket, scooped the chinchilla into her arms, and ran out of the room.

Kelsi looked up at Libby. Then she grabbed her arm and pulled. "Common Room. Now."

"But--I have class--" Libby walked with Kelsi, but slowly, putting most of her weight against moving. "Herbology--it's down in the gardens, you know..."

"I don't care!"

"I do! I have to do well this year! Can't we talk later?"

Amanda sat in the back of the room, waiting for class to start. She had been unable to drop the class, and was stuck here. She felt as if someone was breathing down her neck in this classrom, as if she had to look over her shoulder every two seconds. Damn. Dark Arts, plus Death Eater, plus Potter. No wonder I feel so uneasy. Amanda sighed staring at the frosted over window. Why does Christmas Break seem so far away?

Amanda leaned over her desk, trying to avoid eye contact with the Death Eater, trying as hard as possible not be picked to perform the illegal curse. Four more minutes... I may be fine...

Eric was sitting in here with Jake. He was nervous. They were going to learn one of the curses today. Cruciatus. That, and they were going to be quizzed on the Imperius curse.

Jessica was sitting in her normal seat, talking to her friends. She looked pretty calm about this.

Holly, on the other hand, sat down next to Eric and Jake, looking terribly worried. "I don't want to do this! It's cruel!"

Selia was turned around in the row in front of Jake and Eric, looking horribly depressed, as well as worried. She didn't say a word, just looked at all of them in terror.

Eric nodded. "Apparently we're first going to do it on the rats lurking around the kitchens, but I don't want to do that either!"

Jake shook his head. "It's just... it's so wrong." he said.

"This is inhuman. I'm feel like I'm going to throw up." Selia said. "These spells give us the power that nobody should have- people not having any free will is just morally sickening." She bit her lip, and for once put her own personal problems behind the bigger problems.

Jake stood up. He stretched. "Well, the bell hasn't rung yet." He picked up his bag. "Tell me how everything goes, I'm going to go do something useful, bye!" He waved, and left the class.

"That sounds like a great idea. Holly, you should come too. This is going to be horrible." Selia said, grabbing her bag and leaving as well. She was headed towards the Common Room, though, to meet Malcom, who had a free period.

Eric shook his head. "I'm not leaving.."

Holly didn't say anything, but got her supplies out. She wouldn't dare leave, in fear that she'd be tardy and get in trouble.

Eric felt sick to his stomach. He saw the rats being brought in, along with the kids who were going to get detention. He recognized a few, and sighed. They were going to have to do the Imperius curse on them. And he was terrified.

Holly lowered her eyes, staring at a spot on the table. "I can't believe this," she mumbled to Eric.

And the class started.

"I know." Eric whispered back. "I hate to say this, but I'm so nervous. I didn't practice once. I couldn't dare."

The teacher, whomever it was, was holding up a rat by the tail and explaining what to do.

"I couldn't either!" Holly looked worried. "What are we going to do?"

Eric turned to Holly. He tried to avoid watching the teacher. "I don't know. I just hope he lets some of us go and not do this." he whispered back.