the_debt_of_time

from everyone except the Slytherins, the professor was no longer allowed to show graphic
photographs of attacks, nor was he to refer to defence against any creature as "killing."
Despite the minor improvement, the class still felt like a preparatory course for
future Death Eaters. Mia would have bet good money that, had she not looked like a toad,
and they had both been capable of human emotions, Professor Higgs would have fallen
madly in love with Dolores Umbridge.
Professor Higgs met them in front of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom,
his teeth bared in a way that barely qualified as a smile. "Pair up! Separate Houses."
When the students refused to acknowledge one another, save for Lily, who out of
pure habit gravitated toward Snape only to have him shake his head at her, the room came
to a standstill.
"Abbott with Longbottom!" the professor hissed impatiently, pointing his long,
skinny finger as he paired everyone off. "Belby with Brown, Zabini with Macdonald. Lupin
and Evans with the Carrows. Potter with Snape, no... Miss Potter," he corrected when
James became visibly excited about the potential of duelling his nemesis.
"Mr Potter and Mr Black, I'd like you to pair with one another, and I
expect actual offensive and defensive measures to be taken this time." Professor Higgs
glared at the two before turning around and pairing up the rest of the students.
"What about me, Professor?" Peter called from the back, the odd Gryffindor out.
"Pettigrew? I didn't see you, boy. Wait on the sidelines until Longbottom inevitably
faints or becomes otherwise incapacitated."
"Lily, keep an eye on Remus for me," Mia whispered as both prefects took their
place opposite the Carrow twins.
Remus was barely holding himself together as it was the morning before the full
moon, and if it were not a danger to his fragile ego, Mia would have insisted that he leave
class immediately and go to the hospital wing instead of facing off in a duel.
Lily nodded to Mia, shooting her an understanding smile. But before she could even
face her own opponent, let alone keep an eye on Remus, a hot spark snapped her in the
leg. "Ow! You're supposed to bow first!"
"I don't bow to Mudbloods," Alecto Carrow said.
All of the Gryffindors turned to stare at their professor knowing it was impossible
that he did not hear the slur, but he looked perfectly content to ignore the word.