Hermione's POV:

As we walk into Defense Against the Dark Arts I can't help but be worried about how the year will go. Will Professor Jackson be a good teacher or will we learn nothing? Or, god forbid, will she be like that pink toad? Sighing, I look around the classroom as we take our seats. It looks like any other classroom, though there are seemingly locked cabinets along the side walls. In the front of the room is a chalkboard with a list of spells on it and a desk, presumably for the teacher. While slightly dusty, the room was filled with the unmistakable scent of the sea, mixed with the smell of a campfire and another scent which, though familiar, I can't quite name. Finally, my gaze comes to rest upon the strange professor in charge of our education for the rest of the year. Her robes have been disregarded and strewn across the back of the desk chair. Hanging upside down from a bar in the corner of the room, Professor Jackson is facing the room but oblivious to our presence, instead being engrossed in the book she is reading.

By this time the whole of the class have taken our seats and are staring at the odd sight before us. As the whispers begin, I hear a sigh come from the back of the large room. Looking over I see Neville standing up, then walking over to the still reading professor. Leaning down, he carefully pokes her in the forehead, startling her and causing her to fall on the ground on her head. As she sits up, her bewildered expression causes everyone to burst out into fits of laughter.

"When did you all get here?" Still chuckling, Neville responds over his shoulder to the professor while walking back to his seat.

"A good five minutes ago, Professor Jackson."

"Oh, no no no. Don't you start with that 'Professor Jackson' stuff. It's just Percy. I mean I'm not that much older than you all anyways, so calling me professor would be ridiculous."

"But miss," I can't help but to interject, "you are a professor."

"I'm aware of that Miss Granger, but I'd like to ignore that fact if at all possible. I'm not exactly what you would call the teacher type." At this we all start laughing again from the disgusted look on her face. "Well, I guess we should get started. We've wasted enough time already. I'm sure that you all have noticed the list of spells on the board behind me?" At that we all nod, "I've been looking into the recent history of this class, and it seems to me like you haven't exactly gotten a consistent education. Therefore, I did a little research, which was awful by the way, and compiled a list of all the spells you should have learned to do by the time you graduate, along with a few that I found that I thought were cool. (AN: I put a pic with a few of the spells at the top, just ignore the unforgivable curses)

Therefore, I am going to make a deal with all of you. You have two options on how this year will go. You can either do the usual boring school year and just spend the entire year learning the spells, or you can take the fun option. If you can learn all of these spells by the end of the first half of the year, I will give you all a surprise, a new way to defend yourselves alongside your magic, that I will teach you for the rest of the year." This caused the room to break out into confused whispers, and I couldn't help but agree with what I was hearing. What did she mean by that? "No matter which you choose, the spell part of the year will be the same.

To learn the spells, you will follow this procedure. We will go through each spell, starting at the easiest and ending with the hardest. I am perfectly aware that many of you have had to fight using your magic in the war that has just ended. Therefore, I know that some of you are better at these spells than others. You will be working as a team to learn everything. For example, if you already know how to produce a patronus, then you will be helping those that don't know how to create one, and so on and so forth. Once you can do a spell, you will come up to me and perform that spell for me. If you can do it properly, I will mark you off on my amazing little chart that I will hopefully find sometime in the next few days because I'm afraid I've already lost it." Once again, we all burst out into laughter. I can already tell that I will enjoy her class, but I am curious as to how she will grade.

"Your grade will reflect your attitude in this class, the number of spells you complete, and how much effort you put forth. As long as you try your best and either offer or accept offered help, you will get a good grade. I am afraid that there will not be many written assignments in my class, because I am dyslexic which would make it extremely difficult for me to accurately grade anything you turn in. Plus, I'm more do it yourself teacher, because I believe the best way to learn is to do." Chuckling, the professor pauses to let us ask questions, and immediately, my hand goes up. "Yes, Miss Granger, oh and if I don't know your name yet I apologies now and hopefully I should learn it soon."

"Prof-Percy, if you are dyslexic how were you reading earlier?"

"Well, for some reason there are a few languages that don't affect my dyslexia, mainly Greek, preferably Ancient Greek, and Latin. While those languages aren't effected, I don't think that you are all fluent enough in them to write out assignments. Because of that, I am just going to avoid written assignments to avoid putting some of you at an unfair disadvantage. Now, how about we get started at those spells and you can begin deciding among yourselves which option you want to do for the year and I can keep looking for that dang chart. At least one person from each house per group please."

Laughing we all start to stand up and get into small groups, making sure that there is at least one Gryffindor, one Slytherin, one Hufflepuff, and one Ravenclaw. As we begin to practice, Professor Jackson can be seen ruffling through her desk and muttering to herself, something about 'stupid disappearing charts' and 'idiotic bottomless desk drawers.' Turning back to my group, I can't help but to think that this is going to be a good year.

(AN: 1141 words)

AN: What's your favorite holiday?