chapter 5

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First Year – First Lesson: Defense Against the Dark Arts

The first-year students sat in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, buzzing with excitement. Learning jinxes, hexes, and countercurses—it was everything they had dreamed of. Everyone was seated, waiting for their professor to arrive.

Without warning, the classroom door slammed open with a loud bang, making several students jump in their seats. A woman strode into the room, her black hair gleaming under the candlelight. She wore a deep ruby-colored cloak that swayed as she moved, her presence commanding the room effortlessly. She reached the front of the class and turned to face them, her sharp gaze scanning each student.

"She moves like lightning," Teddy thought, already intrigued.

"Good morning," she greeted, her voice smooth yet firm. "My name is Professor Lilith Lennox, and I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

A few students exchanged looks. She was younger than they had expected, but her aura was intimidating.

"I will not only teach you what the curriculum expects of a first-year," she continued, "but I will also prepare you for what's to come. If a lesson is meant to be taught in the future, why not learn about it in the present?"

A murmur of confusion spread through the room. Future lessons? What did she mean by that?

"Now, let's begin," she said, folding her hands behind her back. "Who here knows about the Three Unforgivable Curses?"

The room fell silent.

Teddy's stomach twisted. Unforgivable Curses? That wasn't supposed to be taught until at least third or fourth year.

Oliver hesitated before standing. "Excuse me, Professor, but… aren't the Three Unforgivable Curses meant to be covered in later years?"

Professor Lennox's sharp gaze landed on him. "Mr. Collins, who is the professor here?"

Oliver blinked, looking slightly embarrassed. "...You, Professor Lennox."

"Then I don't see why you're still standing and wasting my time. Sit down."

Oliver quickly dropped into his seat, looking away as a few students held back nervous laughter.

"Now," she said again, sweeping her eyes across the room, "does anyone know what these curses are?"

A Ravenclaw girl hesitantly raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Grace?"

"I read about them in a book, Professor," she said quietly.

"Then do share your knowledge with the class."

"The Three Unforgivable Curses are the Imperius Curse, the Cruciatus Curse… and…" she hesitated, swallowing nervously before continuing, "...the Killing Curse."

"Correct. Ten points to Ravenclaw."

Miss Grace sighed in relief and quickly took her seat.

Professor Lennox clasped her hands behind her back. "The third curse, Avada Kedavra—the Killing Curse—delivers instant death. No pain, no warning. It is one of the darkest spells in existence."

The room tensed. No one talked about the Unforgivable Curses much after the war, and hearing those words spoken aloud was… unsettling.

Professor Lennox continued, her voice steady. "The Imperius Curse, or Imperio, places the victim under the complete control of the caster. They will do whatever they are commanded—no matter how horrific the act."

A few students shuddered.

"The Cruciatus Curse, or Crucio, is a torture curse. It inflicts excruciating pain—like thousands of white-hot knives piercing the skin all at once." She paused, her expression unreadable. "These curses are unforgivable because they strip away free will, dignity, and life itself."

The classroom was dead silent.

"Remember this lesson well," she said, her gaze sweeping over them. "Because if you ever encounter these curses in real life—you will not have the luxury of innocence."

Lunch at the Great Hall

The group sat at the Gryffindor table, plates filled with food, but the conversation wasn't about the usual excitement of the first day. Instead, it revolved around one particular professor.

"I seriously don't like Professor Lennox," Oliver grumbled, stabbing his bread with unnecessary force. "Who teaches Unforgivable Curses to first-years?!"

"It's not that big of a deal," Victorie shrugged.

"It is a big deal," William said, lowering his voice. "She gives off… a weird vibe. Like she's hiding something."

As the others debated, Vanessa sat quietly, pushing food around on her plate, lost in thought.

Brian suddenly clapped his hands loudly in front of her face. "Back to Earth, Nessa!"

Vanessa blinked, startled. "Huh? What?"

"We were talking about Professor Lennox. She seems creepy," William repeated.

"Yeah, she does," Vanessa murmured.

Teddy frowned. "Actually…?" he prompted, sensing that Vanessa was holding something back.

She hesitated.

"Vanessa, complete your sentence," Teddy urged, his curiosity growing.

"Ah—it's nothing," she said quickly, throwing a glance at Victorie, who looked equally nervous.

But Teddy wasn't convinced. "You're hiding something."

Now all of their friends were looking at them with curiosity.

Victorie sighed, giving Vanessa an encouraging nod. "Maybe we should tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Oliver asked, leaning in.

Vanessa's heart pounded. What if they think I'm weird? What if I lose my only friends?

Teddy, noticing her hesitation, smiled warmly. "Vanessa, you can tell us. We're friends, right?"

Vanessa exhaled and nodded. Yeah… they were friends. And she was lucky to have them.

"Okay," she said, glancing at Victorie once more before speaking. "Before I came to Hogwarts… Professor Lennox visited the place where I live. She came to see my guardian."

Their expressions shifted from curiosity to surprise.

"For what?" Brian asked.

"I don't know," Vanessa admitted. "I was… locked in my room at the time, so I couldn't hear their conversation. But I do know that they were planning to meet someone… after I arrived at Hogwarts."

The table fell silent.

Teddy leaned forward. "Do you know who they were meeting?"

Vanessa shook her head. "No. But when she was about to leave, she looked at me and said…"

She hesitated.

"Said what?" Oliver asked, his brows furrowing.

Vanessa swallowed hard before repeating the words that had haunted her ever since.

"You were made for great things."

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