"I've heard he's mad"

♢ ♢

"Right, so... Cedric wants to put his name in, but you don't want him to do it, all because you have a bad feeling?" Seamus recited, his brows furrowing as he focused on his words. I nodded quickly as we strolled through the long and ancient corridors of Hogwarts, heading towards our lesson in no hurry.

"Why? What do you thinks gonna happen?" He glanced at me for a few seconds before looking back ahead.

Letting out a long breath, I began to explain. "I don't know, that's what I'm afraid of. I know I shouldn't have this bad feeling yet, I do. I couldn't sleep last night because of it"

"Have you thought about the fact that its not Cedric entering that your afraid of, and you're more afraid of the unknown?" He explained, looking up at me with a raised brow.

Smirking, I too, raised my brow and answered, "Philosophical today are we" to which he shrugged.

"Well, what can I say?" We both broke out into fits of uncontrollable laughter as we entered the classroom and took our places.

Seamus took a seat next to Dean and I took a seat on the table next to him, sitting by an empty seat. Reaching down, I began pulling out my books, slamming them down on the table.

As I adjusted myself, Harry and Ron walked in, smiling and giggling like two school girls.

"Hey" I smiled politely, grabbing their attention.

Chorusing back a "Hey" As they sat down in front of me.

"Wait. Haven't we got that mad head, Moody?" I asked.

"Yeah. Proper tosspot apparently. Totally nuts of course." Ron turned around to face me, his eyes showing amusement.

A few minutes later, Luna came and sat next to me, dreamily smiling at me as she floated down, grabbing her books gently.

"Lovely day isn't it?" She hummed kindly, trying to make conversation.

I nodded and smiled back politely "Isn't it" We made small talk for a few minutes, which became awkward very quickly.

As a loud slam of a door sounded, people began whispering:

"Wasn't he in Azkaban?"

"I've heard he's mad"

"Why is he here?" Another person asked skeptically until Moody spoke.

"Alastor Moody, ex-auror, Ministry malcontent and your new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher" He took a minute to pause.

"I'm here because Professor Dumbledore asked, end of story, the end, goodbye the end! Any questions? " He snapped.

Everyone sat up straight and no one said a word.

Moody cleared his throat, his authority was very clear.

"When it comes to the Dark Arts, I believe in a practical approach" His voice was thick with seriousness and his face showed a faint smirk. Harry and Ron glanced at each other.

Moody paced back and forth a bit. "So, who can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?"

No one spoke or put their hand up until Hermione dared to answer him. "3 Sir.." She spoke, her voice shaking slightly.

"And they are so named?" He growled as he turned to he black board. Smacking the chalk down with every stroke he made.

Hermione took a deep breath. "Because they are unforgivable...The use of anyone of them will-"

"Earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban" He snarled, cutting Hermione off as he continued to bang the chalk against the board. "Correct" He snapped as he turned to face us all once more.

He paced bath and forth. "Now, the Ministry says you're too young to know what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you're up against, you need to be prepared!" Moody snapped.

"You need to find somewhere else to put you gum other than the underside of you desk Mr Finnigan!" He yelled as he turned to face the black board once more.

Seamus looked around. "Aw no way! The old Codger can see out the back of his head" Seamus grumbled.

Without warning, Moody threw the chalk he had in his hand in anger, aiming it at Seamus. Everyone ducked, me included as the small piece of chalk flew to the back of the room, everyone's eyes following it as it collided with the floor. Bits of dust floating down last.

"I can hear across classrooms!" He snapped again, this time moving forwards before I slowly raised my hand.

"Maybe you should learn to whisper, Finnigan!" Pansy whispered which caused me to roll my eyes and Seamus to shoot her a glare to which she giggled.

Moody's eye looked at me first before he turned his head towards me. "Miss Wales?"

"Why would we need to know what we're up against? It's not as if anyone just attacks school kids" I asked, my voice gradually got louder as I spoke.

Moody moved forward, walking to the front of my desk before he leant down to look at me. His fake eye rolling around, looking me up and down.

"Because, Miss Wales, there are people who would gladly hurt you, school child or not..." He paused before continuing, "As I'm sure you're already aware" He muttered before he stomped back over to the front of the classroom. My brows furrowed themselves together as I wondered whether he knew about Silus. Surely he couldn't, right?

He stomped over to Ron. "Now then, which curse shall we see first?" He asked, looking at everyone until he yelled, "Weasley!"

Ron whimpered slightly before he spoke, "Yes?"

"Stand"

Ron slowly rose from his chair, his knees wobbling slightly as Moody towered over him, staring Ron down. "Give us a curse" Moody said, his voice was lower now, as if he didn't want people to hear.

Ron stuttered and looked down before he began speaking. "Well, my Dad did tell me about one: The Imperious curse..." Ron trailed off.

Moody nodded vigorously, his eye looking round. "Ahh yes, your father would know all about that. Gave the Ministry quite a bit of grief a few years back." He muttered.

I remembered Silus coming home a few years ago, he was exhausted, he said he'd been dealing with a few problems at work, that day, at dinner, he told me a little about it, though I never really remembered much.

"I'll show you why" Moody said with a hint of mischief in his voice.He began walking over to some murky glass jars that homed lots of insects and pulled out a spider. All the while, Moody was talking to himself and the spider.

"Engrocio...Imperio" Moody chanted before the spider floated in the air, following Moody's wand, presumably under his control.

The spider landed on Crabbe's head. He cried and placed his head on his hands whilst everyone laughed. "Don't worry, she's completely harmless" Mood taunted when he moved the spider to another desk causing the girl to shriek. Moody cackled and his face showed utter enjoyment.

"But if she bites, she's lethal" He laughed as he dangled the spider above Ron's head. Ron cried and watched the spider as it dangled over his head. Draco's laugh could be heard from te other side of the classroom. Moody must've heard it too because he swiftly threw the spider towards Draco's nose.

"What're you laughing at?" He growled slightly.

Draco's face became one of horror as the spider crawled on his nose. Draco was yelling at Goyle to get it off while Moody laughed more. Harry was clapping with delight, grinning as he watched Draco squirm.

Moody grinned. "Talented isn't she? What should I have her do next? Jump out the window?" He asked, sending the spider flying into some glass as everyone quietened down.

Moody allowed the spider to fall until he stopped it, just before it fell into a bucket of water. "Drown herself?" He asked as everyone watched the spider dangle helplessly over the water.

"Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the imperious curse. But here's the rub, how do we sort out the liars?" He glanced around.

"Another..another. Come on, come on. Longbottom is it? Up" Moody commanded.

He stood up very slowly, nervous as Moody peered down at him.

"Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for Herbology" Neville nodded slowly, not saying a word.

"There's..um..The Cruciatus curse" He admitted quietly.

Mad-Eyes face lit up. "Correct, correct. Come, come" He said, leading Neville to the front of the classroom.

"Particularly nasty" He muttered, putting the spider down. "The torture curse" Moody whispered.

"Crucio!"

The spider let off a high pitched squeal and squirmed under Mad-Eyes wand. Neville stood at the front in discomfort as the spider screamed. Moody continued, his face showed enjoyment which scared me and soon, Neville began to squirm as well as the spider.

Hermione screamed, "Stop it! Stop it! Can't you see? It's bothering him!"

Mad Eye looked at her, stopped torturing the spider and instead, picked it up. Neville was still stood at the front of the classroom with his eyes closed. Moody, clearing his throat and glancing back at Neville, placed the spider on Hermione's desk.

"Perhaps you could give us the last unforgivable curse, Miss Granger?"

Hermione shook her head. "Perhaps you, Miss Wales? You should be familiar with this one." He asked, walking over to me with the spider in hand, referring to my past of course. The suspicion. Voldemort. My parents.

With a deep intake of breath, I spoke. "The killing curse..."

Moody nodded at me, grumbling.

"Avada Kedavra"

And with that, the spider dropped dead, it's suffering finally ending when it went limp and lifeless.

"There are only two people known to have survived it. Though only one is known for certain, and they're sitting in this very room." He eyed both me and Harry, as did everyone else. He pulled out a flask and quickly took a drink, maintaining eye contact.

He glared at me for a few seconds before he dismissed class. He seemed to have taken a dislike to me.

[RE-EDITED]

Completely changed this chapter, let me know how you like it!