Thomas grabbed his bag, glancing at Sybill with a confused expression. "How is it that after an entire week, this is our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"
Sybill shrugged as she walked beside him. "Weird, right? You'd think Ravenclaw would've had at least one lesson by now. But it was only Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff all week."
Thomas glanced at Sybill as they walked through the castle corridors. "So, who are we paired with for Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Slytherin," Sybill replied.
Thomas just shrugged. "Figures."
They joined the rest of the first-years outside the classroom. Behind them, Chang called out, "Hey Thomas, what do you think the professor's like?"
"A good guy, we have all year to know him". Thomas muttered in his head, "Well, considering Voldemort's curse, this is probably the first and last year we'll see him..."
When they entered the classroom, the students quickly took their seats. Thomas spotted Snape sitting near the front and slid into the seat next to him.
"Hey, Snape," Thomas said casually. "You met the professor before, right? What's he like?"
Snape didn't look up from his notes. "He's... a character."
Thomas raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Before he could ask more, a strange sound filled the room—music. Everyone turned their attention to the teacher's desk, where a mysterious box sat. It was an ornate music box, playing a whimsical tune. When the music stopped, the lid popped open.
A gloved hand burst out, followed by a puff of colourful confetti. The figure inside vaulted out with a flourish, landing on the desk in a dramatic pose.
The man was dressed in a sharp, stylish suit. Fingerless gloves, a long coat, and, most striking of all—he wore a blindfold with golden patterns shaped like stylized eyes. His smirk was wide, confident, and borderline insane.
He spread his arms as if he'd just taken a bow on stage.
"Good morning, students. I... am your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
The man stepped down from the desk with theatrical flair, boots tapping with purpose as he slowly walked in front of the class. Every eye followed him—some wide with confusion, others barely suppressing laughter or awe.
"I am Professor Ashford Duskbane," he said with a dramatic hand flourish, "Master of Magical Combat, Connoisseur of Cursed Artifacts, and… former stunt double for a traveling dueling circus."
Thomas blinked. That explains absolutely nothing and somehow everything.
Professor Duskbane twirled his wand like a baton. "Now, before we begin, a few ground rules. One: No cursing each other... without supervision. Two: If something bites you during this class, odds are it's part of the lesson. And three: If you feel like you're about to explode, scream first, then explode."
Sybill whispered to Thomas, "Is he serious?"
Thomas just nodded slowly. "I think he's always like this."
Snape muttered under his breath, "Told you. Character."
Duskbane continued. "Now, for our first lesson—we won't be sitting and writing boring theory. Oh no! Today, we'll be starting with a classic: The Boggart. But with a twist. You see, I like to add flair to things."
He clapped his hands and a large, beat-up wardrobe rolled itself from the corner of the room. It rattled slightly.
"You'll face your fears," he said with a grin, "but you'll have to add your own flare—style it, laugh at it, dance with it—defeat it with creativity. Defense isn't just a spell—it's a mindset."
He pointed toward the front row.
"Let's start with… Mr. Snape. Step right up."
Snape looked absolutely unamused.
Thomas leaned over and smirked. "Good luck, Snape."
Snape shot him a look that said shut up in about ten different languages.
Snape walked up to that The Boggart, as then door open, everyone was ready to see what Snape as coming out from the wardrobe opened as coming out it was snake, as it hisses and looked at Snape
Thomas Spoke in his mind. "That looks like it is the same species as Nagini from the Harry Potter Movies".
The snake slithered forward with an unnatural grace, its scales glistening as it raised its head and stared directly into Snape's eyes. Its tongue flicked in and out, tasting the fear in the air. The whole class had gone silent, watching.
Professor Duskbane tilted his head. "Ah… a serpent. Classic, but elegant. What shall you do with it, Mr. Snape?"
Snape narrowed his eyes, raising his wand with a sharp motion. "Riddikulus!"
There was a crack—and suddenly, the snake was wearing an oversized pink sunhat and a matching scarf, blinking dumbly as it tried to slither forward with heels taped to its tail.
Laughter erupted through the classroom. Even Sybill giggled behind her hand.
Thomas chuckled in his mind. Okay, respect. That was good.
Snape, stoic as ever, simply turned and walked back to his seat, ignoring the laughter and the few impressed looks from Slytherin.
Professor Duskbane clapped enthusiastically. "Well done, Mr. Snape! Stylish and ruthless! Who's next?"
He pointed his wand and it spun like a bottle, finally stopping on… Thomas.
The class turned to look at him.
Thomas stood up slowly, muttering, "Of course."
Lucius looked at Snape as he spoke. " A Slytherin scared of snake, how interstate".
Snape gave Lucius a cold glance, his voice low and sharp. "It wasn't the snake, Malfoy. It was what it reminded me of."
Lucius arched an eyebrow. "Still, it's not a good look for someone from a house built on serpent pride."
Before Snape could answer, Professor Duskbane interrupted, lounging back on his desk. "Ah, ah, boys, save the sniping for the dueling club. Emotions fuel magic—especially fear. But mockery dulls the lesson."
He then turned toward Thomas, gesturing grandly to the wardrobe. "Now then, Mr. Lazarus… impress us."
Thomas stepped forward calmly, though his mind raced. Okay, if it turns into what I think it will, I'm going to have to play this very carefully...
Duskbane looked at Thomas he spoke. "So, Mr Lazarus, let's see what it is".
Thomas walked, as then he saw Boggart body first started to changes, as it was having a hard time from changing into, at first it was covered in smoke, sharp teeth, with multiple arms, bur then it stopped.
It's body snipped and twisted as to took a new look. This new physique was incredibly handsome with youthful traits that made him appear almost otherworldly.
He usually wears simple white robes with wide sleeves. Initially shorter, his midnight black hair reaches all the way to his waist. Fang Yuan's most noticeable trait are his jet black eyes which seem to almost contain the dark abyss itself.
Thomas took a few stepped back as instead of his want he pulled out his sword, no one form this world knew him, but if to people like Thomas who have Read Ri he already knew who this guy.
The one guy who will sacrifice anything to reach Immorality, he will feed a whole Alive Woman to a bear, and many more.
The classroom fell into stunned silence.
The figure of Fang Yuan, towering with that cold, calculating gaze and the aura of sheer indifference to morality, slowly took a step forward. The air around him seemed to thicken. Even those unfamiliar with the figure felt an instinctive chill down their spines—something about this man was wrong on a primal level.
Professor Duskbane raised an eyebrow, his smirk slightly faltering. "Well now… that's not something I've seen before."
Thomas held his sword steady, his knuckles white on the hilt. He spoke calmly, but there was a tension behind his voice. "This man… this isn't fear like spiders or monsters. He's a person—someone who exists to climb over everyone else to get what he wants. Nothing is sacred to him. Not love, not family, not even life."
Sybill whispered to Lily, "He's scared of that guy? Who even is he?"
Chang just watched quietly, seeing how shaken Thomas looked—not in terror, but something more personal. It's not just fear, she thought. It's like seeing your worst nightmare wearing a human face.
Fang Yuan took another step, raising one pale hand as if to strike or unleash something unspeakable—
"Riddikulus!"
Thomas shouted the spell with a firm voice, not even using a wand—just his will and sword together. For a moment, nothing happened—until suddenly, Fang Yuan's robes changed into a bright pink tutu, and his long black hair turned into springy curls of rainbow cotton candy. A squeaky clown horn popped out of his mouth with every step.
The tension broke as the class burst into a mix of confused laughter and shock.
Duskbane clapped once. "Brilliant! Terrifying and absurd. That's how you take power away from fear, Mr. Lazarus. Well done."
Thomas sheathed his sword slowly and walked back, his expression unreadable.
Chang leaned in. "You okay?"
Thomas nodded. "Yeah… just had to remind myself. No one like him exists here."
At least, not yet, he thought grimly.
Chang looked at Thomas. "So, when you faces the Bogger"
Thomas looked at Chang. "I don't wanna talk what my fear".
Chang looked as he spoke. "No, why did you cast magic with you sword, I didn't even know that was possible, or even the fact that someone can do Magic with out a wand".
Thomas paused, his expression unreadable for a moment.
He glanced down at the sword strapped to his waist, fingers brushing the hilt.
"Let's just say," he said carefully, "where I'm from, there are different ways to channel power. A wand is a focus, sure—but not the only one. Magic is about intent, control, and understanding. The sword just... fits me better."
Chang blinked. "So it's like a... personal wand?"
Thomas gave a faint smirk. "More like a partner. Besides, casting with a sword looks cooler."
Sybill, who had been eavesdropping, leaned in. "You're gonna get so much attention if the professors catch on. You're basically rewriting half of what's considered 'proper' spellcasting."
Thomas chuckled under his breath. "Let them try to figure me out."
In the distance, Duskbane was writing notes in a strange, rune-covered notebook. Occasionally, he glanced up—right at Thomas—with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Thomas then spoke. "Oh, looks it so Sybill turn, I wonder what her fear".
Chang joker looking at him. "Disappointing you".
Thomas scooped as be spoke. "I don't think so, we just meet 1 weeks ago, I don't our Friendship is that strong that hee fear will be... Or could be provided wrong mid sentence".
Sybill was comedically crying, as Boggart Thomas was looking down at hee with Disappointed look
Thomas froze mid-sentence as he saw the Boggart take on his own form—arms crossed, expression cold, and eyes filled with disappointment.
Sybill stood in front of it, tears comically pouring from her eyes as she whimpered, "I-I tried my best…"
The class fell silent, a few students blinking in shock while others awkwardly glanced at Thomas.
Thomas's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? Sybill!"
Sybill wailed louder, and Boggart-Thomas sighed heavily, shaking his head like a disapproving parent.
Thomas quickly stepped forward and flicked his wand with a groan. "Riddikulus!"
In a flash, the Boggart-Thomas turned into a tiny, bobble-headed version of himself with a squeaky voice and an oversized sword he could barely lift. It tried to frown, but its head kept wobbling too much.
The class burst out laughing, even Sybill snorted through her fake sobs.
Thomas sighed, looking at Sybill. "I'm flattered… but also slightly emotionally damaged."
Sybill wiped her fake tears with a sniff. "You're a very intense friend, Thomas."
Thomas muttered, "A weeks. Just one."
Duskbane looked at Lucius. "Will Mr Malfoy, let's see how you do it".
Lucius walked up, as people in the Slytherin and Ravenclaw house Wonder how was it gonna look, what it was gonna be.
The Boggart looked at Lucius, as it was not sure what form to take, it then went back into the wardrobe.
Chang sorneted as he spoke. "Would you look at that, looks like the Boggart was more scared of you then you were of it Malfoy".
Then the door cracked open, as everyone took a step back, as Duskbane took a step forward, as the door open, as black smoke came out from the wardrobe, as hand came out as it claws the outside, as they see spiky like teeth, with red eyes, as the whole body was slowly, coming out, it's eyas glow red as it spoke.
"Lucius".
Lucius took a step back, as then Professor Duskbane stepped forward and casted a spell, not with his wants but his Glove. "Closes"
As the door closed as everyone looked at Duskbane as he was checking up on Lucius.
As everyone was quit not knowing what it say, as one of the Slytherin spoke. "W-what was that".
Duskbane then spoke. "When Bogget doesn't know what fear to pick for someone, ot a particular person, it then takes the form of something anyone fear, one of the primordial Fear, Darkness, Death, Fire, Falling, Unknow, Sea Etc".
The room remained dead silent after Professor Duskbane spoke, the echo of his calm explanation lingering in the charged air. Even the bravest students looked pale, especially those who'd seen the claws and glowing red eyes emerging from the wardrobe.
Lucius stood stiffly, eyes wide but trying to mask the fear with a nobleman's pride. Thomas, meanwhile, quietly muttered under his breath, "That… wasn't just fear. That was something else."
Duskbane dusted off his gloves, eyes hidden beneath his blindfold but voice steady. "Mr. Malfoy, you don't need to be ashamed. Some of the most complex minds don't fear any one thing… which makes their fears more abstract, more... ancient. The Boggart pulled something from deep within you. A fear not yet understood, or perhaps never will be."
Lucius didn't reply. He returned to his seat slowly, brushing invisible dust off his robes with trembling fingers.
Sybill leaned toward Thomas and whispered, "Do you think Lucius even knows what that thing was?"
Thomas frowned. "Maybe not. But I doubt this is the last time we'll see it."
Duskbane clapped once, returning everyone's attention. "Fear is nothing to be ashamed of, students. It's our mind's alarm system. The key is not removing fear—but mastering it."
He smiled. "And on that note, class dismissed. Next time: defensive casting drills. Bring energy."
As students began packing up, murmurs filled the room.
Duskbane then magical appear infornt the Ravenclaw student as they step back. "Right I Almost Forgot".
As then form his Pocket he brought a deck of cards, as with Magical For Finesse., he started to shuffle the cards. As he spread his two arms, the cards themselves started to fold into each other, almost like a finish tricks. He didn't clap his hands, and made the cards disappear. As then, he made one of them come into his finger. He then slided it down, before showing his hands were empty. Before he snapped his fingers, as the students felt something in their own hands
Thomas saw it was Tarot card, it was the Hanging Man, as he saw Sybill who the Light seer.
Duskbane looked at them. "I give all my first year student these cards".
The Ravenclaw students stared at the tarot cards now in their hands, their eyes wide with curiosity and confusion. Each card was different—unique in its art and symbolism—etched with subtle glowing ink that shimmered faintly in the candlelight.
Thomas studied his: The Hanged Man. A figure suspended upside down, serene in expression despite his position, radiating a sense of sacrifice, perspective, and unsettling calm. It gave him chills. It didn't feel random.
Sybill, meanwhile, looked down at hers—The Light Seer. Her eyes widened slightly, but not in surprise. Almost like… recognition.
Duskbane, standing with his hands now folded behind his back, smiled faintly beneath his blindfold. "They are more than mere cards. Think of them as reflections of potential… or perhaps, truths waiting to be realized."
He walked past the rows of Ravenclaws, his voice cool and composed. "Some of you will throw them away. Some will forget them. But those who pay attention may find that fate has left its fingerprint early."
He stopped just beside Thomas and added, "Yours is especially interesting. Hanging between two worlds. Still and silent, yet brimming with potential chaos."
Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he turned and strode away, his coat flicking behind him like a stage curtain closing on an act.
The students stood in stunned silence.
Thomas glanced at Sybill. "You… know something, don't you?"
Sybill didn't look up from her card. "Maybe. Or maybe he just made a few things clearer."
Thomas looked at Snape as he spoke. "So snape did you".
Snape looked as he pulled out his card. "Tower, I got this last Week when the Slytherin had our first class with him".
Thomas stared at the card Snape held out—The Tower. A jagged spire struck by lightning, figures falling from its heights, fire licking at the stone. It radiated chaos, upheaval, sudden destruction... and maybe, hidden beneath it all, rebirth.
He raised an eyebrow. "That… feels a bit on the nose for you."
Snape scowled slightly. "You think I enjoy that implication?"
"I mean," Thomas said, smirking, "you do walk around like you're one lightning strike away from blowing up the castle."
Sybill glanced between them, amused. "You think the Professor tailors the cards to us, or do they appear on their own?"
Snape pocketed the Tower. "He said he doesn't control it. Only channels the draw. And that the cards find their bearer."
Thomas looked down at The Hanged Man again, turning it in his hand. "Still weird he gave out tarot cards in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Snape responded dryly, "With Duskbane, I'm not sure it's Defense Against anything. It's more like Defense Through Chaos."
Sybill added, "He is the most dramatic teacher we've met so far."
Thomas smirked. "I'm not sure if I like him, or if I need to keep my sword near him at all times."
To be continued
Hope people like this ch and give me power stones and enjoy