DADA (Covering for Prof. Shacklebolt)[8]

[Dinah Manning]

*During all of her undistinguished years at Hogwarts Dinah had never heard Snape apologize about anything. She was used to him acting as a self-important and stern old tyrant. His unexpected humbleness made her relax a bit, and she leaned back in her chair with a cheerful sloppiness. She whispered back to Jennessa*

He IS that bad, he’s always behaving just like the bee’s whiskers.

*She started giggling. Once her mum had asked her about her professors, and Dinah had told her about Snape and how he was acting like a bee’s whiskers. Her mum turned the story into a humorous anecdote. It was humorous because everybody knew that bees didn’t have any whiskers*

[Severus Snape]

::Nonverbal spells. He was a little surprised that they had progressed so far what with the troubles. This was preferable though. It should mean he would not have to put up with a class of students reciting incantations incorrectly.::

So, you have begun to learn nonverbal spells. As I am sure that you are all aware, this requires greater skill than using a spell normally. In most cases, even in those practiced in the art the nonverbal spell will be less potent than a vocalised counterpart.

The skill involved requires one to focus mentally on the spell that they wish to cast. They must feel it within and have a true understanding of it.

Let us begin with a simple one. One that you should all be familiar with. One of the first charms that you would have been taught here.

Wingardium Leviosa. I would like all of you to place your textbook before you on your desk and levitate them without speaking.

::He sat in his seat so that he may have a good view of the entire classroom and watch the progress.::

[Tina Griffin]

*Tina had looked forward to casting nonverbal spells; without doubt it would be a new challenge which hopefully wouldn't be all too hard. Embarrassing herself in front of Headmaster Snape and the class, even though they were quite few, would surely be a pain. Yet it was a reminder of how far all of them had come.*

*Already holding her quill she listened. Writing important or particularly interesting information down helped her to internalise what was taught. That really turned out to be useful at times.*

*Following his instructions the girl put away the quill to grab her wand instead. Before Tina began, she closed her eyes to prepare herself for the spell.*

*A couple of seconds later her eyelids parted, her glance now focused and determined while pointing her wand. Wingardium Leviosa.*

[Severus Snape]

::He spoke to the class as they prepared themselves, giving further advice so that they may understand sooner.::

Your wand is your conduit for your thoughts. Until now, when you have wished to use your magic you have vocalised your thoughts. When spoken your thoughts become clear. In your mind, they can be clouded and mingled with others... unfocused.

You must focus the thought you wish to express and channel it into your wand. It is a part of you and must be used as such.

[Deleted]

Jennessa couldn't help but let a little giggle escape at Dinah's words. Bee's whiskers? Bee's didn't have whiskers... That was just silly! Though she did wonder what Dinah could mean by that. Nessa didn't say anything to this, merely grinned at her housemate before looking back up to the Headmaster. She winced a little inwardly, giving a frightened deer-in-the-headlights look. He had already started talking. She listened intently to his words after that.

Nonverbal spells... Nonverbal spells... Yes! She had been looking forward to trying this! Nessa hadn't bothered taking any notes on this. But merely hung on her teacher's every word for the time being. But once he told them to take up their wands and try and levitate their textbook, a giddy grin flashed across the girl's face. She wasted no time scooping up her wand in her hand and placing her book neatly centered upon her desk. She held her wand gently aloft and stared at the book intently for a moment.

Thinking about what she wanted... What she really wanted, she would close her eyes and envision the book floating, her wand still held at the ready. She wanted it to float. She wanted it to float... That was the only thought she could have in her mind. With her eyes closed, she performed the swish and flick motion that they had been taught in Charms. Now Nessa was thrilled that this was the spell Professor Snape decided to use. If there was a class the Hufflepuff excelled in, it was Charms.

Now as the young Hufflepuff girl concentrated, and performed the needed motion, a corner of her book began to lift off the desk, drawing with it the rest of that side of the book until the book was slowly on it's way to standing on it's end. Not quite what was intended, but at least the book was moving. However, this victory was not to be. As Nessa tried to keep her concentration, a thought floated to her conciousness. One that seemed to plague her during classes lately... And this was a thought of a certain snake she so missed lately. And as her concentration was split, the book, which was nearly all the way stood up, slammed back onto the desk with a loud BANG! When the sound was heard, Jennessa jumped in her seat, A soft squeak of fear was heard as her eyes flying wide open. She looked around, feeling a red heat crawl up her neck to color her cheeks. "Sorry..." She mumbled softly.

[Severus Snape]

Good... Good.

::It was a start anyway.::

Remember, while focusing on the spell, you must still think the incantation in your mind. By combining your understanding of the charm and its execution you will be able to perform it.

[Dinah Manning]

*With her brows furrowed she tried to concentrate while ‘feeling the spell within’. To focus wasn’t one of Dinah’s natural talents, usually she would either have a swirling welter of thoughts in her head or none at all, but she tried her hardest to conjure the mental image of a hovering book. She found it easier to concentrate on a subject that actually interested her, but was constantly let down by her lack of ambition and self-improvement. She would occasionally spend time in the library to practice her d.a.d.a. and charms skills, but was easily distracted by anything which could possibly serve as a distraction*

*Just as she started to get the hang of it she was distracted by Jennessa’s loud attempts to master the same spell. She gave out a little scream and rolled her eyes at Jennessa, but was unable to keep the amusement from her face. Two heart attacks later she tried once again to clear her mind and repeat the chant over and over again in mute concentration*

[Zelda Harkain]

Zelda looked over at Jennessa and smiled as she saw her succeeding, even for a bit. She began to really like the Hufflepuff girl, wondering why she had never really talked to her before. Zelda made a mental note to herself that next time she saw her in the Great Hall, Zelda would go over and actually talk to her. Now she had to focus on the task at hand. Her fear of failure starting creeping up again, but Zelda suppressed it while she tried to focus her mind.

She focused on seeing the book float on her desk, like she had done previously in Charms classes. She kept focusing on the book as she thought Wingardium Leviosa . The book moved slightly, but never left the desk. She must not be concentrating hard enough. She knew the spell, the Levitation charm, causes objects to levitate as long as the spell caster kept focus.

Like many other spells, Zelda knew the theory, but knowing seemed not to be enough for nonverbal spells.

"Come on, come on! Wingardium Leviosa!" She thought as she stared at the book, her mind repeating back to her the definition of the Levitation charm and what it was supposed to do. This time the book's front raised about a centimeter off the desk. It was hardly a success. The book's front fell back down as Zelda tried once again to focus.

[Tina Griffin]

*Staring at the book she had to notice that it hadn't moved, not even a tiny bit. It still lay in front of her as it had been since she had placed it there. She would have to try once or one hundred times more.*

*Waiting until Professor Snape paused his further instruction, she attempted to do what he told them, sending all distracting thoughts away. Insecurity was nothing else than a hindrance anyway, still that was often hard to come by.*

*Slowly forgetting her surroundings she focused on nothing but her DADA book and what she wanted to happen.*

*Several moments later it rose up in the air.*

[Wyman McCalman]

He listened to Headmaster Snape attentively. He had few thought running in his mind. Thoughts like what will he do if he fails in potion this year, how will Ravenclaw play in this year's Quidditch cup and many more. He had to get rid of these thoughts so as to empty his mind foro the non-verbal spell.*

*He got prepared. The book was at its place, he had gripped his wand in his hands. All he had to do now was chant "Wingardium Leviosa" in his mind aand concentrate on the book.*

*He stared at the book, chanting in his mind, forgetting each and every thing that is happening around him, trying to levitate the book. He failed first few times he tried to do it. He knew he had to concentrate more.*

*He got ready for his next try. Eyes fixed on his textbook,chanting "Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa" in his mind and his hand doing the swish and flick movement.*

*The next thing he saw his book was levitating in the air. He was relieved and happy that he had done his task*

[Michael Billows]

*This was lame. In DADA class he wanted to be blasting spells and hexing the other students for a laugh, not mucking about levitating books. This was stuff for Flitwicks class. He grumpily laid the book in front of him and began going through the motions for the spell.*

*Nothing. Unfortunately his preoccupation with wanting to be doing other things was making the charm not work.*

[Genevieve Stark]

"Wingardium Leviosa? Is he serious? This isn't charms class!" she thought as she grumpily flicked and swished her wand, the book in front of her floating jerkily off the desk and hovering above it as if waiting for further instructions. Gen looked over at Michael and sniggered. As far as charm-work was concerned Gen had absolutely no problems, be they verbal or not. But considering that he outdid her by a long shot in potions class, the fact that he couldn't get his book to levitate even a little made her feel quite a bit better about herself.

[Deleted]

Nessa smiled warmly to Snape as he praised her efforts. Though she was mildly shocked at this. She didn't know Snape was capable of giving out praise to anyone but the snakes. But she quickly shrugged it off, focusing on her task. Her half fail had made her giggle, but made her more determined to complete the task. Around the room a few of the people were getting the hang of it and she returned her gaze to stare at the book.

Quickly performing the swish and flick motion, she thought very hard at the book, seeing it float in her mind and saying the words along with it, but all in her mind, and all silently. The quiet of the class was a nice break. She swished and flicked. 'Wingardium Leviosa... Wingardium Leviosa... Wingardium Leviosa!' And with the final thought the large book now lifted all four corners smoothly from the desk to hover there in front of Nessa.

The girl's eyes lit up with joy and she gleefully clapped her hands, breaking her concentration and dropping the book heavily with an even louder thump onto the desk. This caused the girl to squeak again. Apperently today was a noisy lesson for Nessa, even if she couldn't talk. Her face turned scarlet and she quickly swish and flicked her wand, concentrating on the words again to lift the book and keep it up this time. She found it got easier as she practiced doing it, which was certainly good. She sighed and just focused on the book for the time being, now determined to see how long she could keep it aloft.

[Severus Snape]

::It was going well, most of the students had successfully managed to levitate their books at least to some extent. This would be a case of 'practice makes perfect' no doubt.::

It is important class that you understand the importance of non-verbal magic in dueling. Especially if you are to find yourself in a life threatening position.

In battle, you must take any advantage. Speaking your hexes out loud will allow your opponent to know exactly what they are defending themselves against. Silence makes their job somewhat more difficult. They will be forced to recognise your magic by your wand movements, yet in the heat of battle, this is not always easy. Unfortunately doing so will cost you some amount of spell effectiveness, but that is your choice to make.

Continue to practice for a while longer. Try to perfect your technique.

[Genevieve Stark]

"Yes, but in battle I would not be casting a Wingardium Leviosa charm, would I? Why couldn't we be practicing non-verbal Reductos? Or using Rictusempra on each other at the very least!"

Her thoughts ended with a sigh as she proceeded to levitate all objects on her desk with very little effort and a lot of boredom....or was it disappointment? She wanted to express her thoughts but she knew as well as anyone that Snape was not one to cross, even if he did favour Slytherins.