The class of Fifth years stood outside near the lake waiting for Professor Yardley who crossed the grounds wearing the traditional wizarding robes with her hair tightly tied back into two braided sections. A dense fog covered the area setting a less than cheerful atmostphere. It was apparent even the bravest of the Slytherins was a bit nervous, as Harry spotted Draco and his gang hiding in the back of the group. Though smaller than some of the tallest fifth years, Yardley exuded confidence with her booming voice.
�Welcome to Defense Against Dark Arts V. I am Professor Yardley and rumor in the hallways of Hogwarts is it that I won�t last a semester�We�ll see about that.� Prof. Yardley glanced in the direction of Draco Malfoy who cowered behind his cronies. �I also hear that some of you have had hands on experience in the past and I applaud you. For fighting the Dark Arts seems to be a never-ending battle as you will learn as you venture into the real world. I trust that you all have read the syllabus given to you prior to the start of school and that you have read the first two chapters of one of the two books we will cover this semester � �Elementals in their Element�.� The students nodded. �Can anyone give me the four types of elementals?�
As usual Hermione�s hand shot up before the rest.
�Do you always have to know everything?� Ron whispered. Hermione ignored his comment, seeing that they had been at odds for the past few days.
�Yes, Miss Granger.�
�Earth, Air, Water and Fire.�
�That is correct. Now, can anyone tell me what they look like?� No one responded.
�Well, there were no pictures in the books�� Someone from Hufflepuff interjected. Professor Yardley smiled, �Well, you will see what a water elemental looks like in a few moments�Does anyone know how to combat these elementals?� Although Hermione�s hand went up� �Ron Weasley? How does one fight a water elemental?� Ron was digging in the back of his mind for a clue, until he realized that he hadn�t the chance to review the book on Elementals.
�Take a guess,� Prof Yardley offered.
�You fight a water elemental with it�s opposing force?� Ron stammered. Prof Yardley gave a broad smile.
�Very good�now, before Christmas break you will be learning all about elementals � how look, what they do and how to fight them�Mr. Longbottom, if you would be so kind as to step forward and the rest of you, if you please�a big step back.�
�Don�t worry Neville, you�ll be just fine.� Hermione said in support.
�Go get �em.� Ron said for a lack of something better to say.
�Harry, say something supportive.� Hermione whispered.
�It will be over soon, don�t worry.� Harry said.
Neville Longbottom approached the professor, his wand steadied in his hand, yet he was shaking as a leaf. He stood at her side, glanced back at Harry, Ron and Hermione and gulped.
�Neville, just don�t drop your wand,� laughed Draco Malfoy.
�Brave words, Mr. Malfoy, are you volunteering to take Mr. Longbottom�s place?� Draco said nothing in response. �I didn�t think so, but next time think before you speak. Alright, Aquas Demonus Apportus!� She waved her wand, but not a spark flew nor a ripple did form on the water�s surface.
Draco began to laugh, �You may want to try again.�
In a split second a tower of water grew 10 feet tall from the lake and took the shape of a transparent humanoid monster. The water elemental let out a roar that had the students jump back ten feet and had Neville hiding behind Prof. Yardley. The water elemental began to rise out of the lake and double in size before tripling in size and stepping out of the crater that once held the lake.
�Come, Neville, it will only grow larger the longer you wait�it�s time. Wave your wand then say �Envoyus Inflammio� to drive it back then Aquas Demonus Partiro to send it away�Ready?� Neville�s hand was shaking, but Prof. Yardley took hold of his hand��Envoyus Inflammio�� she whispered.
�Envoyus Inflammio!� he cried as a clawlike arm emerged from the water figure and swiped at them. �Envoyus inflammio!� The creature began to diminish in size with each fiery strike.
�Envoyus inflammio!� Neville shouted once again, this time without the aid of Professor Yardley. This time multiple fireballs shot forth tearing holes within the creature, sending the demon back to his watery home. Although the creature was no longer visible, the rippling in the water proved that something stirred. The column of water began to grow once again.
�Now finish it�Aqua��
�Aquas Demonus partiro!� Neville shouted. The water elemental was gone. The students cheered for Neville and patted him on the back.
�Mr. Malfoy, next time�air elementals. Okay, class�when the words Envoyus Inflammio are spoken, you saw as fire was emitted from my wand�this was necessary to get control over the creature�control over its movements and placing limits on it�s size. Aquas Demonus partiro will get rid of the creature�Any questions?�
�Is that what you call effective teaching? Putting your students in danger?� Professor Snape emerged from path from the school that was shrouded in fog. On his lips was smile as strong as the humiliation Professor Yardley felt in front of her students.
�This is an advanced class, Professor Snape. You�ve just missed out on the fun, but lovely that you could join us. Oh, yes, it seems we have an announcement to make�Professor Snape and I will running the Dueling Club this year. The first meeting will be�on the first of October in the courtyard�bring your wands and your alert minds�and remember no playing dirty � meaning no implementing irreversible itching boil hexes and by no means are you to be practicing in the corridors or classrooms. You are dismissed.� The students headed towards the castle. Harry and Ron inundated Neville with questions about facing the Water Elemental.
�Wow, Neville. We�re you scared?�
�Of course, weren�t you?�
�But it was right there. It could have killed you!� Neville fainted.
Continued in Chapter Five...