𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗦

𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘜𝘕𝘍𝘖𝘙𝘎𝘐𝘝𝘈𝘉𝘓𝘌 𝘊𝘜𝘙𝘚𝘌𝘚

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Hogwarts was buzzing with gossip about Professor Moody. Fred and George, they were the ones Harry, Ron, Alina and Hermione ran into on the hallways, and they claimed that Mad-Eye Moody's class was mental. A whole experience, but mental nonetheless. And of course it made the four friends curious about it, but they had to wait a little for their Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Today was the day.

They were all seated. Alina was sitting next to Hermione, right behind Neville Longbottom. Ron and Harry were, naturally, sitting together, but at the front. And on the opposite side stood Draco Malfoy and his two friends that never left his side, Crabbe and Goyle. And they were strangely quiet today.

"Do you think they're up to something?" Hermione asked.

"I'm not sure." Alina shrugged, then leaned to whisper something in Hermione's ear, "I heard a skrewt bit Crabbe. Maybe he's sedated, or something."

Alina's joke made both of the girls laugh but when the class door opened, everybody went dead silent. They didn't even need to turn around to know that Mad-Eye Moody entered the classroom. The eerie feeling and the sound of his wooden leg were enough to make his presence felt. The teacher made his way to the front, commenting something about throwing away the books the students have purchased, before he finally reached his desk and took a seat.

He took out a register and analyzed it thoroughly, and began to call out names. His normal eyes was looking at the list, while his magical eye was moving all around the place, fixating upon each student that answered his call.

"Alright then," he said, when the last person declared themselves present, "Professor Lupin told me about this class. You've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas and werewolves, is that correct?" Professor Moody asked. However, he didn't wait for an answer before he spoke again, "But you're behind on dealing with curses, so I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark Arts."

One year. So Professor Moody didn't intend to stay longer than that. Well, none of the Defense Against the Dark Arts lasted too long. One year should be enough for Alina to learn from one of the most famous Aurors in the wizarding world. After all, that's what she wanted to do too, after graduating from Hogwarts.

"So—straight into it. Curses. They come in many strengths and forms. According to the Ministry of Magic, I'm supposed to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in the sixth year. You're not supposed to be old enough to deal with it until then. But Professor Dumbledore's got a higher opinion on your nerves, he reckons you can cope, and I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better," he said. "Do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?"

Several hands rose into the air, including Alina's, Hermione's and surprisingly, Ron's. Professor Moody pointed at Ron.

"My dad told me about this one... Is it called the Imperius Curse, or something?" Ron asked.

"Ah, yes. Your father would know that one," said Professor Moody, making Ron frown in confusion. He opened his desk drawer and took out a glass jar with a large, black spider inside it. At the sight of it, Ron tensed up and Alina furrowed her brows together.

Moody reached into the jar, caught the spider and held it in the palm of his hand, allowing everyone to take a good look at it. Then, he pointed his wand at it and yelled, "Imperio!"

When she heard the incantation, Alina's eyes widened and the entire class gasped. The spider started to behave in a funny manner, swinging backward and forward on a fine thread of silk, as if it was putting on a show. Soon enough, everybody was laughing and pointing at the cursed spider who did everything Moody commanded, including something that looked like a tap dance. Everybody but Alina, who had her lips pressed together and her forehead creased.

"You think it's funny, do you?" Professor Moody asked, still using his wand to control the spider. He started to throw it around the classroom, from one side to another. It landed on several students' heads, including Draco's face. Students were either laughing or screaming in fear when the spider reached them, but Alina looked pretty concerned. Of course she wanted to learn everything about the Defense Against the Dark Arts, the Unforgivable Curses included, but she wasn't sure that terrorizing an innocent spider would help anyone. "Total control. Years back, there were a lot of witches and wizards being controlled by the Imperius curse."

He didn't need to say it out loud, Alina knew what Moody was referring to, and so did Harry. He was talking about the days when Voldemort used the Imperius curse to control people. When asked about their crimes, they witches and wizards swore they were under this curse and that this was the reason why they committed such unforgivable crimes, and it was up to the Ministry of Magic to decide who was telling the truth and who was not.

"The Imperius Curse can be fought, but it requires real strength of character. Not everybody can resist it. Constant vigilance!" Moody suddenly yelled, and everybody jumped. "Does anyone else know one? Another illegal curse?"

This time, it was Neville Longbottom's turn to surprise everyone. His hand flew into the air, surprising everyone. Neville was usually quiet during all the classes, except for Herbology. Even Neville looked a little surprised by his courage to speak out.

"There's one—the Cruciatus Curse," said Neville.

"Your name is Longbottom, isn't it?" Professor Moody asked, his magical eye shifting back to the register on his desk to search for Neville's name. He muttered something under his breath after Neville nodded, then pointed his wand back at the spider. "For you to understand this curse, we need a bigger subject. Engorgio!"

He casted another spell, making the spider magically grow in size, much to Ron's terror, who pushed his chair back, as far away from Moody's desk as possible. Now, it was larger than a tarantula. When Alina saw Professor Moody lifting his wand again, she gulped. The Imperius Curse, even though unforgivable nonetheless, was used in a manner that wouldn't harm the spider too much, but Cruciatus? There was no way Professor Moody would demonstrate such an agonizing curse in front of the class, would he?

"Crucio!" Moody muttered, cursing the poor spider once again. Its legs bent in, the spider rolled over and began to twitch horribly, rocking from side to side. It was clearly in immense pain.

Alina's lips were now parted. She wanted to say something, but she froze in shock.

"Stop it!" said Hermione, suddenly standing up.

"Another curse! Tell me, Mr. Longbottom! What's the last Unforgivable Curse?" Professor Moody asked, ignoring Hermione's protest.

But that didn't stop the girl. In fact, it made her even louder.

"Professor, stop it!" Hermione insisted.

"And who might you be?" Moody asked, his magical eye turning to Hermione, while his normal one was still directed at the agonizing spider. "Perhaps you want to name the third curse?"

Hermione pressed her lips together and felt her heart sinking at the sight of the poor spider that was making a screeching noise. It didn't need to speak, everybody knew how much he was suffering.

Hermione's hands were shaking a little bit. She knew the third curse, but it was so horrible... she didn't want to say it out loud.

That's when Alina finally stood up.

"I think that's enough for today, Professor Moody," Alina said.

For a moment, Mad-Eye Moody only looked at the girl curiously. Then, a sly smirk formed on his lips.

"Miss van Blumenthal, is it?" Moody asked. "I expected you to say something about the Imperius Curse. I thought you'd know more about it, just like Weasley."

"Excuse me?" Alina raised both of her eyebrows. The class was once again in silence, the only noise that could be heard was the desperate cry of the spider. "I don't think I understand what you mean, Professor."

"What's the third curse, van Blumenthal?" asked Professor Moody. "Say it!"

"No," said Alina firmly.

"Weak, just like your brother," Professor Moody said, clicking his tongue in annoyance. Then, he finally decided to end the spider's suffering, but not in the way Alina thought he would. Moody roared, "Avada Kedavra!"

After his incantation, there was a flash of green light and the spider rolled over onto its back. It was no longer screeching and it was unmarked, but it was unmistakably dead. If most of the students were laughing at the beginning of this class, the things have changed. Some were trying to mask their muffled cries and the others were frozen by fear or shock.

And then, there was Alina, standing up for herself in front of Professor Moody, who didn't look like he was about to back down anytime soon.

Hermione had her eyes now glued to Alina, just like everyone else.

"Unforgivable Curses are punished by the wizarding law for a good reason," said Alina, curling her hands into fists. The mention of her brother made the blood that ran through her veins boil, but she couldn't let herself by blinded by her anger. Not before she made her point. "I don't think torturing a spider is considered educative."

"You might not consider it as such, but you're not the one teaching this class, are you?" Professor Moody asked. "Ten points from Gryffindor! Anything else, Mrs. van Blumenthal?"

He was laying a trap for her, provoking her to defy his authority so that he could make a fool out of her in front of the entire class. Nobody dared to speak a word. Harry and Ron were speechless, and so was Hermione. Crabbe and Goyle were nudging Draco with their elbows, but they didn't dare to say anything either.

"I will take that as a no. You may sit down," Mad-Eye Moody said, a satisfied smirk on his face. Then he went on with his lesson. "The Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, it needs a powerful bit of magic. Not everybody can do it, you could all get your wands out and try it on me, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed. There's no countercourse, there's no resisting it."

Even though she was still furious, Alina had no choice but to sit down, just as she was told. Hermione placed a hand over one of Alina's knees, a sign of gratefulness that the girl stood up for her when Professor Moody asked her to name the Killing Curse. But Alina didn't feel it, she was too busy trying to calm herself down. Her jaw was clenched and it was clear to see that she was trying her best not to explode and offer any more satisfaction to Professor Moody than she already had.

The lesson went on and the teacher explained some things about the Unforgivable Curses, but Alina couldn't pay too much attention to what he was saying. His words echoed in her mind over and over again.

I expected you to say something about the Imperius Curse.

Alina gulped.

I thought you'd know more about it.

Why? Why was she supposed to know more about the Imperius Curse? Why didn't Professor Moody explain this further? Was there something he knew and she didn't?

And the worse of them?

Weak, just like your brother.

As much as she tried to keep him out of her head, to prevent his words from hurting her, she couldn't. Moody's words repeated in her head and they got louder every single time, until she could no longer take it anymore.

She was about to get up and excuse herself, but she was pulled out of her head by a flying note that hit her shoulder and landed on her desk. Alina blinked twice and looked at the note, then put her hand on it to cover it, so that the teacher wouldn't see it.

She quickly took the note and placed it under her desk, then unfolded it so that she could read it.

Snap out of it. If you let him get to your head,
then you're letting him win.
— 𝔇𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔬

"Give me that," said Professor Moody right before reaching to grab the paper she was holding, snatching it out of her hands. It was pointless for anyone to try and hide something from him and his magical eye. He brought the note up and scanned its content, then announced, "Love letters are not accepted in class! Ten points from Slytherin. Another ten points from Gryffindor."

This was clearly not Alina's lucky day. She managed to resist the urge to roll her eyes at their new teacher and instead, she looked in Draco's direction, only to discover that he was already looking her way.

"Another ten points from Slytherin and ten points from Gryffindor!" said Moody.

"What for, Professor?" asked Draco, clearly offended.

"For the way you two look at each other instead of paying attention to my lesson! Ten more points from Slytherin, for asking me to explain myself!" said Professor Moody.

This class quickly turned into a nightmare. When she heard the bell, she waited for Professor Moody to dismiss the class. When he did so, Alina was the first to get up from her seat and she left the classroom in a hurry, after saying goodbye to Alastor Moody. Truth to be told, she didn't want to say anything—she had said plenty already—but she knew he was looking for another reason to take some more points from Gryffindor and get inside her head once again and she didn't want to let him win.

Although she heard both Harry and Hermione call out her name, she didn't stop, neither did she slow down her steps. All she wanted was a moment of silence, so she could put her thoughts back in order. That's it. A small break that would allow her to breathe.

She didn't have a particular destination in mind, but she knew everybody was going to head towards the courtyard, so she went in the opposite direction instead.

"Van Blumenthal!" A voice called from behind, approaching her with quick, rushed steps. When the boy finally caught up with her from behind, he panted, "You really are hard to catch, aren't you?"

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Alina asked, still walking forward.

"Will you stop for a minute?" said Draco, reaching out to grab her wrist and stop her, then pulled her to a side corridor.

"There, I stopped. Are you happy now?" Alina snapped, trying to get her wrist out of his grip.

"Breathe!" Draco urged her, grabbing her other wrist too and squeezing it.

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together, then inhaled slowly, deeply through her nose. And then one more time. And one more. And little by little, Alina started to loosen up. She was starting to regain her control.

"Good," said Draco, carefully watching her as she breathed in and out until she no longer looked like she was about to explode. "Now tell me what was that about."

"What was what about?" Alina asked.

"You know what I'm talking about, don't play stupid," he said, scoffing.

"I don't know, okay?" replied Alina honestly. "I don't know what he meant!"

"What?" Draco asked confusedly. "What are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?" said Alina.

"Stopping Moody in the middle of the lesson," he explained.

"Lesson?" Alina scoffed. "You call that a lesson?"

"Then how do you call it?" he asked.

"A public display of violence against spiders," she pointed out, lifting both of her eyebrows to strengthen her words.

"It was just a spider, don't be ridiculous. There are plenty of them outside." Draco clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"There are plenty of witches and wizards outside too. I assume it wouldn't have been a problem to you if he used all three of the Unforgivable Curses on one of them either?" She asked mockingly.

"You're exaggerating," said Draco.

"Maybe, but he's out of his mind," said Alina. "Tell me he didn't make cold shivers run down your spine when he casted Cruciatus on the spider. And don't lie, I saw how you stopped laughing right after he finished with Imperius. Do you really think he did the right thing?"

For a few moments, Draco was silent. Then, he ran his tongue against his bottom lip and bit it shortly before he replied to her.

"Yes, okay, it was pretty scary," he said.

"Pretty scary?" Alina repeated. "They're called unforgivable for a good reason."

"Okay, fine, but what good did it do to you?" Draco asked. "Let me tell you: it costed you—and me—house points. That's it. That's all you did with your bravery to stand up for the spider."

"Are you seriously blaming me for the thirty points he took from Slytherin?" said Alina. "It wasn't my idea to send a note! Or to ask him why did he take those points from us!"

"So you take the blame for the ten points we lost because we looked at each other?" he said.

"You were already looking at me when I turned around, shut up," muttered Alina. "I'm not responsible for that."

"Then whose fault is it?" asked Draco.

"Professor Moody's! For torturing that spider in front of us!" Alina exclaimed.

"What's going on here?" A voice asked.

From the main hallway, a silhouette appeared right next to them. It was the loud noise that drew him in and now that he saw this happening—Draco holding Alina's wrists on a side corridor—he was glad he came.

"Cedric," said Alina, finally whisking her hands out of Draco's grip and drawing them back.

"Alina," said Cedric, acknowledging her presence before his eyes shifted to Draco. "Malfoy."

"Of course you'd show up," Draco muttered under his breath.

"What's going on, Alina?" Cedric asked. "Is he bothering you again?"

"You should better ask her about the show she put up in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Draco commented, a sudden change in his attitude. "You shouldn't get so angry, van Blumenthal. You looked just like one of Hagrid's skrewts that's about to explode."

Now that sounded more like Draco Malfoy.

Not even bothering to reply to him, Cedric reached for Alina's hand and gently took it into his, then pulled her out of there.

"What happened?" Cedric asked, a concerned look on his face as he walked across the hallway with her.

"Long story," Alina confessed, letting out a sigh. "I'd rather not talk about it now."

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hi guys! thank you for reading! i can't believe both treacherous and love language are so close to 1k reads?? i'm eternally grateful!

this chapter is pretty similar to the one in the book, but as i have mentioned before, i will follow the canon for the first act and then start building a different arc in the second act!

don't be a stranger! 💜