First Lessons and Hidden Dangers
"It's really sad that we have to end our competition," said Daphne, dropping onto the marble table that stood in a corner of the garden, as if it were an improvised breakfast bar.
"Well, actually it's better to end it before we cause some kind of chaos. Supposedly, according to Senior Luciel, the Discipline Club isn't very kind," Hermione commented while writing seriously in her notebook, completely absorbed in her task.
"I don't think you're the best one to say that," muttered Draco, shooting Hermione a fixed look, still remembering the scratches he had gotten when he tried to get past the matagots.
Harry watched Hermione for a moment before snatching the notebook out of her hands.
"Ah, give it back, Harry!" she exclaimed immediately, reaching for it quickly.
But Harry was already flipping through its pages and, with a mocking smile, lifted his eyes to her. Draco and Daphne leaned closer, and when they saw the contents, they turned to Hermione with an expression that clearly said: seriously?
"I… I just wanted to know who the culprit was," Hermione justified herself, a bit embarrassed at having been caught still investigating.
"Just drop it. There hasn't been a new theft these past days. The culprit probably realized the school is seriously hunting him down," Harry said, tossing the notebook back to her casually. "Besides, now that classes have officially started, we won't have time. Today we've got our first Defense class in a foreign school. I hope it's better than last year's at Hogwarts."
"Right… with that handsome professor," Daphne added at once, full of enthusiasm.
"I really think you two come to school with worse thoughts than the other Hogwarts students," said Draco, looking first at Daphne and then at Hermione.
"What do I have to do with it!?" protested Hermione at once, annoyed to be included.
"I just remember your face when you saw that handsome student," Draco replied with a slight smirk. "I still haven't forgotten how you fell for that guy's trap from the Theater Club."
"Alright, it's better if we head to class," Harry cut in quickly, before the two of them started bickering.
The four of them stood and walked through the wide corridors of Beauxbatons castle, crossing paths with some students on their way to class. Along the way they found Neville, who seemed a bit lost, but luckily ran into them and was guided to the same classroom.
As soon as they entered, several students were already there waiting: Terry, Michael, Ronald, Seamus, Anthony, Padma, Parvati, Lavender, Pansy, Blaise, Millicent, Hanna, Susan, Wayne, and Sue. It was really a mix of all the Hogwarts houses gathered in the same room. Of course, there were also Beauxbatons students, still strangers to most. Naturally, everyone sought out the familiar faces of those who had traveled with them from Hogwarts.
Fortunately, although there were some Slytherins like Pansy, Blaise, and Millicent, the most annoying ones weren't there: the trio of idiots, Crabbe, Goyle, and worst of all, Luis Carrow. He had been boasting everywhere that he would be transferred to Durmstrang, thrilled because they only accepted pure-bloods and taught dark magic freely. Even when he spoke of dark magic, he would glance at Harry and his group, as if to make it clear that when he returned, he'd be different and ready for revenge. Unlikely, of course, but he would surely come back more insufferable than ever.
Pansy, upon seeing Draco enter, gave him a complicated look—something between annoyed and conflicted.
Terry, on the other hand, greeted them cheerfully, clearly pleased that with them arriving, most of the Ravenclaws were now present. Even though Beauxbatons didn't have house divisions, it was hard not to feel a certain closeness to one's usual classmates.
"Glad you made it. I'm excited, finally we'll have a real Defense class," said Terry enthusiastically. The others sat at double desks: Harry with Draco, Daphne with Hermione, right in front of Terry and Anthony. Neville, for his part, found an empty seat next to Michael and sat down there.
"Honestly, our first year of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts left a bad taste. We didn't even learn a single spell, and the professor suddenly disappeared. It was good because everyone passed, but it's still annoying," Anthony commented.
"Does anyone know why the Defense professor changed this year here too?" asked Daphne with interest, wondering if the supposed curse of Hogwarts on that subject might also apply to Beauxbatons.
Of course, the most gossipy of all, Terry, already had information to share.
"Actually, I did some digging. The professor from last year was an excellent wizard, even an auror who had worked on international cases. But they found him badly injured in his home… it seemed he had been attacked by a werewolf. Many say it was revenge from someone he had arrested, and apparently he was infected with lycanthropy. The very next day the news had spread. Although Beauxbatons always tries to show acceptance of half-breeds and part-humans, the students' parents demanded his dismissal so their children wouldn't be at risk. In the end, he was displaced. Then this new professor appeared: Dominic Grey, an American. A few years ago, he went through England and pointed out that some of Lockhart's books had suspicious passages, which earned him expulsion thanks to Lockhart's connections. Since then, he came to France and has been working on capturing wanted criminals."
"Lockhart?" asked Harry, frowning.
"Yes. Apparently they ran into each other a few times. It's even said that Mr. Dominic challenged him to several duels so Lockhart could prove if he was really as strong as he claimed. But they never happened, because Lockhart's fans would always defend him by attacking Dominic. Eventually, he got tired of it and left, saying that anyone who believed in Lockhart was an idiot. That earned him the contempt of many English wizards," Terry explained in detail. "Now that I think about it, it's been a while since anyone's heard from Lockhart. I wonder what he's doing."
While Harry and the others exchanged glances, all of them recalled that public bathhouse with a mirror placed for men to look at themselves after their baths.
"Maybe he's just getting inspiration for his next book," Daphne said, holding back a laugh.
The others, upon hearing her, also covered their mouths to keep from bursting into laughter.
Terry, on the other hand, didn't understand what was going on.
"Well… if he's Lockhart's enemy, maybe he's not that bad," Draco remarked calmly, pondering in silence.
Before they could continue talking, the professor appeared, stepping through the door.
Immediately everyone shut their mouths and sat up straight in their seats.
The man looked far too young to be a professor. He stood before the blackboard with an elegant, distinguished air, exuding nobility and confidence. His dark hair was slightly tousled, which only emphasized the brightness of his intense blue eyes. His posture radiated calm and self-assurance, with a relaxed stance and his hands tucked in his pockets.
He was dressed with refined sobriety: a white shirt beneath a light brown classic-cut vest, fastened with a wide ornamental belt decorated with geometric patterns. Over it he wore a dark blue cloak embroidered with golden details —symbols of a phoenix and a circular motif— befitting someone with academic, magical, or aristocratic training.
He was handsome enough to draw discreet squeals of excitement from some of the girls.
"Nice to meet you. I know we were introduced during the welcome dinner, but just in case—my name is Dominic Grey. I'll be your professor this year and, if I'm lucky, perhaps in the years to come as well," he said with a charming smile.
"Now, let's make this first class interesting."
He slowly drew his hands from his pockets and clapped softly. Instantly, the lights of the classroom dimmed and the curtains closed on their own, plunging the room into shadows.
It was a display of magical control without even drawing his wand. Quite extravagant, Harry thought, though he was the least suited to criticize something like that.
"Today I've brought something special to show you the dangers of the magical world. It wasn't easy convincing the headmistress and the other professors to allow it, but they accepted on the condition that another teacher be present to guarantee your safety."
At that moment, the door opened once more and Wanda entered the classroom, walking in calmly. Clearly, she had been chosen to supervise the lesson.
"Professor maximoff volunteered, and the headmistress even gave her a little test, which turned out to be… remarkable," Dominic said, smiling at her. For a moment, his eyes seemed to glimmer.
Wanda simply nodded and, glancing at the students, offered them a light smile.
Daphne returned the gesture with an enthusiastic wave. Hermione, however, grew uneasy, wondering what kind of creature could be so dangerous as to require Wanda's presence. Draco also raised an eyebrow with suspicion. Harry, for his part, just thought his mother was there for fun, as always. Even if the professor had brought nothing more than some strange rabbit, lately Wanda seemed to enjoy herself by constantly snapping photos of them.
"Alright. This creature was first recorded in 1782, when the only wizard to ever survive its attacks made it known. The worst part is that, although it was seen again in later years, like in 1973, he remains the sole survivor. It is said that only a Patronus can drive it away, making it as dangerous as a dementor, with which many believe it is connected.
"Its way of attacking is particularly cruel: it waits until the victim falls asleep, then leaps upon them, smothering their breathing until they suffocate. It is an extremely aggressive creature, classified as XXXXX by the renowned Newt Scamander."
Finishing his explanation, Dominic drew his wand and placed a suitcase on the floor, which, with a flick, expanded considerably. Once opened, a cage rose out of it.
"The Lethifold."
Inside, all that could be seen was what looked like a black cloak hanging from a hook, its edges shifting ever so slightly.
The students stared at the cloak in confusion, then at the professor, as if wondering if he was playing a trick on them.
But before anyone could make a comment, the "cloak" stirred violently, letting out a muffled growl before hurling itself against the bars. The entire cage rattled with a metallic crash that echoed through the classroom, making everyone jump in shock. The students seated nearest instinctively recoiled, eyes wide with alarm.
"Don't let its cloak-like form fool you. Many wizards did, and never lived to tell the tale," Dominic warned with a half-smile, though he already held his wand at the ready just in case. "This is to show you that the magical world is not as friendly as people believe. There are creatures, hidden dangers, and even wizards who can inflict great harm on those unprepared.
"No matter what work you end up doing after your studies, the least you should know is how to defend yourselves. And I, as your professor, will take it upon myself to guide you down that path. Because in the end, what every teacher wants is for their students to live a peaceful life, free of danger."
His charming smile immediately won the favor of many.
Afterwards, he cast a quick glance at Wanda. She, however, didn't look back; her eyes remained fixed seriously on the creature. Still, when she felt his gaze, she raised her head. Dominic gave her a gentle smile, but Wanda turned her eyes away, disinterested.
As Harry noticed this, the slight sympathy the professor had earned from him vanished instantly. Draco, quick to sense his friend's shift in mood, followed his gaze first to the professor, then to Wanda, immediately understanding what was happening.
He shook his head silently. He wasn't the one to say anything: after all, the two of them were birds of a feather, fiercely protective of their mothers. Perhaps that was why they had grown so close.