Expected Students:

Keegan Kearney :: Gryffindor :: 2
Mairead ó Fearghail :: Gryffindor :: 2
Hannah Harper :: Gryffindor :: 1
Charles Harcroft :: Gryffindor
Oliver Ainsworth :: Gryffindor

Dahlia Collins :: Hufflepuff :: 1
Venora MacGregor :: Hufflepuff :: 2
Madeline Sinclair :: Hufflepuff
Pax Wintergreen :: Hufflepuff

Eirene Antonopoulos :: Ravenclaw :: 7 (-1)
Serenity Lee Thornton :: Ravenclaw :: 2

Euphemia Grissom-Dolohov :: Slytherin :: 1
Noriko Wakahisa :: Slytherin :: 6 (-1)
Aglaia Knight :: Slytherin :: 1
Elias Gates :: Slytherin



NB: Please write as if your character is already in the lesson by the time Ignan begins. If your character has a plot reason for being late, then by all means write their arrival as an interruption, with the house point loss accompaniment... Thanks.


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November was fast retreating, and the crisp autumn air had run with it. Winter replaced it, and December brought the festive season. The First Years would undoubtedly be rather excited by the prospect of Christmas, where they would either return to their families to conclude their first term at Hogwarts, or remain in the castle, to spend Christmas with some of the faculty, at this rate, including Ignan.

However, festivities were not what was on his mind. Instead, it was the matter in hand. Lunchtime was about to finish, and this meant the First Years would soon be pattering to his door, with a mixture of animosity, curiosity and a large dose of naivety.  Hopefully the latter two, though the first would undoubtedly come, having replaced the previous Professor so suddenly.

A lot of the curriculum set out for first year students were the very basics of defence, mostly in theory. Ignan had listened to the tales of his colleagues at mealtimes, capturing a glimpse of the variety of abilities the students possessed. Indeed, his predecessors notes were detailed, and it would be good to put a face to some of the names.

The students soon found their familiar desks, and a low chatter had broken out, which was just beginning to crescendo when he snapped shut the text book on the desk at the front, slightly raised on a dais, and drew himself to his full height.

"Good afternoon First Years," He began, his voice steady, level and low in pitch. "I cannot imagine that the fact your Defences lessons will be taught by a new Professor has gone unnoticed, so we shall just cut to the important issues." He drew his wand, and squared up to the class.

"As you progress through the years here at Hogwarts, you will learn many hundreds of incantations and wand expressions, but none so important for the preservation of your lives, as in this very room." His eyes moved steadily from face to face, willing attention to be eyes forward.
"Though, whereas you may be adept in charms relating to the tying of one's shoelaces, performing it without a moment's care, few would say they were able to respond as adequately when in mortal peril. Where, the natural, animal instinct in each and every one of us, takes over, while the rational, intelligent being within stares on, paralysed." The corner of his mouth curled just a fraction. "And don't think you'd be the hero, taking control of the situation, for I would guarantee every single one of you would rather cry for your mother, or worse when faced with certain death. Weakness is part of being human. Defence Against the Dark Arts is about ensuring that everything you need to know to keep yourselves and others alive, is right here, without you even having to think about it." He tapped the side of his temple.

"The most fundamental, is of course the disarming spell. One main advantage of disarming?" He raised his hands palms upwards in question to the students, looking for a quick answer.

"Swiftly, into pairs, face each other along the length of the room, about four feet apart." No sooner had he barked the order, but he gently swooped his wand arm, sending the desks and chairs clattering across to the edges of the classroom like the parting of a sea.
"Anyone too unpopular to have a partner will be assigned. Anyone, on the other hand," he cast a withering glance to three students in a dilemma over how to split "too popular, will be only happy to offer to pair with one of those unfortunate students."

Soon enough, the students were paired, and stood four foot apart roughly, shoulder to shoulder down the room. Satisfied, Ignan walked between the two lines wand still in hand.
"Firstly, before any incantation is cast, it is essential your standard stance is correct. Demonstrate to me that you at least can manage the most basic of fundamental magic…"

Wands raised either side of him.
"For Merlin's sake, not that high." He told one student, seizing their wand tip and lowering it, "and as for you, you're more likely to lose a toe. Sloppy, the lot of you. Clearly you need to return to the first chapters of your charms textbook. Too late now. This side of the room," he indicated, having reached the far end of the room and stepping out of the way "will begin. The incantation is expelliarmus and the wand movement is a simple forward thrust. The other side, will, for the moment, allow themselves to be disarmed…. if their partner manages it…. of course. Begin!"

In Noriko's opinion, Defense Against the Dark Arts was one of the most important subjects that was taught at Hogwarts.  Although the subject matter itself was absolutely terrifying (she had started leaving her DADA coursebook in the Slytherin common room because the thought of it anywhere near her bed once the lights were put out made her too frightened to sleep), at least it was preparing her to be better able to stay alive in a dangerous, foreboding world.

As usual, Noriko had arrived early for class, taking a seat on the side of the room close to the door (so that she could escape if anything dangerous happened) but not next to it (so she wouldn't be the first one to get eaten if something came in through the door and attacked).  She had sat there, hands folded, a crease forming in her forehead as she took in the new Professor at the front of the room.  Noriko wasn't quite sure what to make of him.  He looked old, which was good, because it meant he had stayed alive for a long time and could hopefully teach the first years how to accomplish the same.  But he looked just as scary as Professor Mainwaring had, which made Noriko absolutely terrified that she might give the wrong answer and make him angry.

Even though she'd been watching him intently, worry beginning to show on her face, Noriko still jumped when the new professor snapped his textbook shut.  She sat there, transfixed and wide-eyed, as he launched into his opening monologue, growing more and more nervous by the second. 

Certain death?  Crying for her mother?  Noriko didn't want to have anything to do with anything dangerous!  She was on the verge of bolting from her seat and escaping down the hallway, resigned to letting the other first years learn how to defend themselves so that they could protect her if something awful happened like it had at the dance, when Professor Storm made a statement that was even more terrifying than facing down an entire village's worth of hungry Muggles.

"Anyone too unpopular to have a partner will be assigned."

Noriko went dead white.

Was she too unpopular?  What would happen if she didn't get a partner?  She looked frantically around the room, wide-eyed, her panic growing more and more evident on her face.  She had to have a partner!  Everyone would know if she didn't! 

A horrible image formed in her mind of a gigantic Professor Storm, cold eyes glaring sternly down at Noriko as every student in the class turned away from her.  'We don't like her!' they chanted.  'No one wants to be her partner!  Feed her to the Muggles instead!'

Noriko swallowed, and then summoned up every ounce of courage she could muster and turned to the student sitting at the desk next to her.  "Will you...will you be my partner?" she asked meekly, so quietly that the question was barely audible.

Eirene sat in the front row, head bobbing in unconditional agreement as she took notes on Professor Storm's every word. There was almost a rhythm to it; the scratching of the quill against the parchment, the feather swaying back and forth with every letter, and her frequent head nods.

The man looked intimidating and stern - just the way a professor should! There was no dilly-dallying, no scooting about on pillows when they should be learning, no lessons set to awful gangster music to try to make it more interesting. Good old fashioned learning! That's what Eirene liked.

She would have really appreciated the chance to introduce herself, however. Eirene had a peach with Professor Storm's name on it in her backpack. She'd taken it from the Ravenclaw table this morning with the express intent to place it on his desk, tell him her full name, and inform him why she already loved his class. However, the moment she'd walked in, he was all business! She'd had to rush to her seat and listen to his introduction.

At least it was an impressive introduction, in her opinion! Her eyes went wide and her quill paused when he mentioned that they'd rather cry out for their mothers than face their enemies. Of course she would! That's what mothers were for!

Slightly confused, Eirene kept taking notes until he asked them to pick a partner. As if it were a race (and in her mind, it was), Eirene bolted out of her seat and looked frantically around the room. Partners! Oh, she hated group work. Her peers always messed everything up!

She glanced at the professor in horror at his 'too unpopular to have a partner' comment. Did he know?! Did Professor Mainwaring tell him that the other students hardly ever wanted to work with her?

Face looking panicked, she gripped her wand and scanned the room, finally looking down at Noriko, who she hadn't noticed sit beside her earlier. Noriko, whose mouth was moving, yet no sound was coming out.

"What?" Eirene exclaimed shrilly, then gave a firm shake of her head. She didn't have time for this! She needed a partner ten seconds ago!

"Let's pair up!" She announced at the Slytherin girl, choosing a spot to stand without waiting for an answer. Eirene watched her anxiously, hoping she'd agree. At least Noriko was nice and safe. Not like those nasty Gryffindors!

"Shall we start?" She continued, a note of hesitancy in her voice. Eirene checked her stance, the grip on her wand, her posture, and the distance she stood from Noriko. Everything had to be perfect before she even so much as raised her wand.

Dahlia sat next to her twin brother chatting idly waiting for the class to begin. She normally sat next to Erik since Venora and Serenity often sat with each other and Keegan usually sat with Mairead. She didn't mind it though. It gave her a chance to make sure that Erik was actually doing his work and his snide little comments were always good for a laugh.

Dahlia was determined to like the new Professor. She had decided that the fact that he was replacing not only their Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher but also her head of house wasn't going to keep her from liking him. After his in depth introduction she was sure she didn't have to do much convincing. Professor Storm was everything a Professor should be and when it was time to do practical wand work Dahlia was up and out of her seat almost as quickly as her brother was. Which was lucky considering only moments later their desks were whisked off to the side of the room.

Dahlia smiled at Erik as they stood four feet from each other and snickered lightly when Professor Storm said Erik was holding his wand wrong. She watched the Professor walk up and down the rest of the students and turned back to her twin. With a nod of the head she gave Erik the go ahead to try first.

"Expelliarmus!"

Dahlia let out a surprised yelp as her own wand jumped out of her wand. She stared at Erik wide eyed having never expected him to succeed. She then glanced around the classroom, "Did anyone see where my wand went?"

A motley group they were, Ignan thought as he watched the attempts at wand handling and then spell casting begin. However much it was claimed that Muggle borns had no disadvantage, Ignan disagreed, when at this level, even the basics could be gleaned from observing adults. Then again, so could their bad habits... Catching another first year unawares with a prod with the end of the Professor's wand in their shoulder.
"You are not attempting to jab an eye out!" He warned them, before his eyes turned to a pair of girls who looked rather mismatched. One seemingly trying to catch his eye proudly, and the other doing anything to do so.

He was about to deliver a comment on this when one of the pairs nearby managed to disarm their female partner with quite a surprise. The wand sailed through the air, and landed in the hood of a fellow student's robes.
"Did anyone see where my wand went?" its owner asked, having not seen its resting place. Nor, he suspected, was the person whom now had a wand in their hood. Rather than fish it out and hand it back, Ignan decided to see it play out a few moments longer at least.

"Expelliarmus is of course, easiest when your opponent is allowing you to take their wand. If you succeed in disarming, then ensure your partner executes resistance." Another wand sailed through the air, and he paused and took a step backwards rather than be hit on the head by it. Instead, he retrieved it with a twitch of his wand.
"And do try and catch them. Disarming is one thing, but its no good if they can get it back." He extended the wand back to its owner.

Wandwork was definitely not Keegan's forte here at Hogwarts. It required more concentration and patience then he really possessed at 11 years old (And more then he probably ever would). The only thing that kept him interested in it was its practical uses... you know, blowing stuff up and turning your enemies into toads. Fun stuff. And with a name that included "Dark Arts" in the title, this class was bound to be loaded with 'Fun Stuff". At least, that is what he had thought when he started. His lesson was learned on the first day of class when they didn't learn anything 'fun' at all. At this point, he attended on the tiny hope that they would learn some of the more disturbing jinx's and hex's he had read about in the library.

It didn't help that when he sauntered into class, barely a second before it started, that he noted that something seemed off. Having settled in the back, preparing to fall asleep in his text book, he chattered away with friends, unaware of the danger that was to befall him. It wasn't until the thin, balding man dressed in black, a stark contrast to the heavier and much more hairy Head of Hufflepuff, took his spot at the front of the class that Keegan realized a change had occurred. He hoped the sudden change in teachers was a joke or that the guy was substituting for Mainwaring, but his hopes were dashed when the man announced that he would be their new professor. "Bloody 'ell." Keegan muttered under his breath, exasperated. Just what he needed, another professor that looked like they were going to suck your soul out if you looked at them wrong. Wasn't the new History of Magic teacher enough for one month?

The lesson was explained and Keegan found a little rush of excitement go through him when he realized that this 'expelliarmus' spell might actually come in handy. He pictured Eirene running down the hall, crying of course, as her book was tossed farther and farther from her reach until she dashed out of the doors and followed it into the lake. Where, naturally, she would be eaten by the squid. Ah, it was a good thought, though he couldn't help but feel sorry for the squid.

With this in mind, he eagerly sought out his partner-in-crime and nudged her. "'ey Mai... You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" He grinned before whispering his idea in her ear. Time to have a little fun... at Spitz and Wakawaka's expense of course.

"What?" 

Mairead's expression had that post-daydream blankness to it when the Gryffindor pulled her attention away from the window and towards her fellow first year Gryffindor. They hadn't been in class that long - Mairead had joined Keegan in his just-under-the-bell entrance to the classroom.  But, the new Professor's droning Do-As-I-Do and Be-All-That-You-Can-Be-Before-You-Die-A-Miserable-Death was more than she could handle.  Within the first few syllables, her head had tilted to the side and her eyes had found a gray drifting cloud somewhere in the sky. 

Consequentially, Mairead had completely missed the entire assignment.  Leaning towards Keegan, she whispered, "what're we doin'?"  All around the classroom, students were lining up in two long rows.  Following their lead, she stepped along one of the rows. 

She fished in her pocket for her crooked, hand-painted wand, nudging a coil of two-headed serpent out of the way to get at the rough-edged length of wood.  It was good to know the baby Runespoor was still safely in her pocket; since her conversation with that Dazmond woman, Mairead had been careful to keep an even closer eye on the creature.  She knew, before, that she wasn't supposed to have the thing.  No snakes were on the 'approved pet list.'  But, then, her dog wasn't either - so that meant little as far as she was concerned.  But, now she knew just how excited people would get over the thing. 

She never left it unattended and had explained to the serpent, in depth, why it was so important to stay put.  You'll become a pair of boots she'd tried to explain.  Which, apparently, required explaining what boots were and how reptiles turned into them.  That, it seemed, had convinced the serpent.  She had had to leave her pilfered puffskein in her dorm room, though since the creature had taken to trying to escape her pockets whenever Macha moved. 

With slight smirk, Mairead shrugged her shoulders.  "Maybe?"  She might be thinking what he was thinking - but, probably not.  Since she wasn't thinking about much.  However, whatever was worthy of whispering was worthy of her full attention.  She listened as he whispered in her ear, the smirk growing on her face.

Relief had flooded through Noriko when Eirene had ordered her to be her partner.  The Ravenclaw girl was loud and a little scary, mostly because she always knew the answers and everyone knew she was friends with one of the prefects, but working with her was much safer than getting stuck with one of the Gryffindors or, worse yet, being banished from the class for not being popular enough to get a partner.

Noriko obediently nodded to Eirene as she climbed cautiously to her feet, taking her wand in her hand.  She cast a furtive glance across the room, hoping to see someone else who was less popular than she was.  At least then she'd know who not to partner up with the next time.

The Professor was lining them up into two rows.  Noriko realized she had completely missed whatever it was that they were supposed to be doing.  Anxiously, she looked down the line, trying to see what the other students were doing.  Across from her, Eirene was very intently adjusting her position, looking as if she were trying to pose herself just right like some kind of Muggle statue.

"Begin!"

Suddenly, there were wands being thrust and spells flying everywhere.  One of them hit the girl next to her, making her lose her grip on her wand, which tumbled through the air and nearly hit Noriko in the face.  The Slytherin was dumbfounded for a split second, then let out a terrified squeak and dove out of the way, clambering for safety behind the pile of abandoned desks.  The Professor was trying to get them killed!

Eirene and Noriko were behind. Behind! Sparks flew past her as students shot Expelliarmus at each other with poor aim, sloppy stances, and excitement on most of their faces. It was so chaotic! Eirene glanced around at her peers, annoyed that they were ahead of her because they didn't care how they did things, just that they got them done. Everything had to be perfect - there was dueling etiquette, as well, and no one seemed to care!

"You're messing up my stance!" she snapped at a kid who had bowled into her in his effort to catch another student's wand. Eirene let out a frustrated sigh and tried to adjust, watching Noriko, who had just dodged a wand from another classmate. Barbarians! All of them.

She opened her mouth and raised her wand, about to give Expelliarmus a try, when Noriko suddenly let out a shriek and dove behind a pile of desks.

"That's... that's cheating!" Eirene exclaimed, trying to catch the professor's eye so he could see how unfair this was. Eirene didn't much like Defence, but she knew she had to practice it to get an O, and she couldn't practice if Noriko was hiding and everyone around her was shooting spells willy nilly!

She marched over to the desks and put her hands on her hips, frowning down at the little Slytherin. "I know they're uncivilized, but I-we need to catch up! I need to get an Outstanding in this class, and..." Eirene paused. "If you won't be my partner, I'll have to find someone else!"

Eirene waited for a response, feeling very uncomfortable. What if Noriko told her to go ahead, and Eirene couldn't find anyone willing to be her partner? It would be so embarrassing!

Dahlia cut Erik a bit of a nasty look when he doubled over with laughter. She rolled her eyes at her twin before looking around for her wand. It took a couple of sweeps of the classroom before she found it nestled comfortably in Venora's hood. She sighed softly and crossed the room dodging jet of red here and there. When she got to Venora she quickly plucked her wand from her fellow Hufflepuff's hood gave her and Serenity a smile before making her way back to her brother.

With a determined look in her eye, one that caused Erik to stop laughing at her and straighten up with his wand at the ready, she took a step forward lashed out her wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Erik's wand flung from his fingers twisted in the air and with her left hand Dahlia reached up and caught it. A rather perfect display of how to do the charm if she said so herself. She noticed Erik blow a raspberry at her as she glanced around the room to gauge how others were doing and to see if the Professor had noticed how well she had done. She wasn't about to harp on about it like some people but she definitely felt that someone should give credit where credit's due.

History of Magic had been one class with a fuddy-duddy old (but new) professor that was fairly cut and dry for Venora. It was a chalk and talk type of class where the professor spoke and the class was expected to listen and take notes. She was used to that, even though it pained her. Most of her notebooks were filled with notes, but also endless doodling for the artistic girl.
 
The young Hufflepuff was looking forward to DADA, because generally they were allowed to do something--or at least move around. And while she could not claim to be very proficient in her wand usage, she did have her mother's genes. That had to count for something, right? But as soon as Venora stepped foot into the classroom, she nearly froze. This professor looked mean and scary, perhaps even moreso than Professor Austerlitz.

After swallowing hard and wondering if he was part demon, she scuttled to her usual place to sit near Dahlia, Serenity Lee and some of the other first years she was friendly with. While her classmates fell into chatting until class was called to order, Venora had her wide eyes glued to the professor. When he drew his wand, she felt like wincing, as if he might curse her with it.

But he didn't. Instead, he began to speak about the importance of the class in their day-to-day life.  Much of what he spoke of, she imagined her mother had to have mastered in order to be successful in her job as an auror. Of course, the fact that her mother was no longer alive was a testament to the importance of being able to protect oneself.

Thus, despite herself, Venora MacGregor sat up a little straighter in her chair and listened more intently than before. When Storm beckoned them to stand, Venora eagerly did so, just in time for the professor to move the desks and chairs out of the way.

Venora was about to ask Serenity to be her partner when Slytherin first year, Maxen Whitman, stepped over to her and declared that they were to be partners. While Maxen wasn't outright rude or mean to her, he was manipulative and he came from a pureblood family, which tended to give him a sense of entitlement among his peers. And Venora, being the agreeable Hufflepuff, didn't object.

She dutifully positioned herself the stipulated distance away from her partner and continued to listen to the professor for instructions. Maxen's side of the room was to go first. Looking over at him, she saw a ruthless glint in his eye. She was about to say something in protest to the the professor about it and possibly request that she be partnered with the more compassionate Serenity Lee, but then it was time to be disarmed.

The Whitman boy certainly did well with the task at hand and managed to not only disarm Venora on the first attempt, but send her sprawling to the ground. Venora landed with a thud lay immobilized and staring up at the ceiling. After a moment of taking note of how uneven the room was, Venora pushed herself up to a seated position and eeked out,  "Good Godric, Max. Was that necessary?"

This was not the way that a proper lesson should work!  Noriko wasn't sure what was worse, having spells fired at her head or getting dragged along to Diagon Alley on a field trip.  Both had nearly ended in Noriko's untimely demise, although at least on their Flying class trip, people had only tried to eat her instead of hexing her to death!

She would have stayed there behind the desks, curled up into a perfectly defendable ball shape, if Eirene hadn't stomped over and threatened to switch partners.  Grades didn't mean very much to Noriko.  While she certainly wanted to do well, she also wanted to survive to see her second year.  But dumping her as a partner?  Her eyes widened.  Could the other girl really be that cruel?

"No!" she squeaked, horrified.  "I mean, don't!  I mean --"  Noriko broke off, tears welling up in her eyes.  Was Eirene really going to abandon her?  That was almost worse than getting cursed!  She risked a frightened look up at the Ravenclaw.  "You -- you...can't we practice on someone else?" she asked anxiously.  "We could do it together!  I don't want to get hexed!"

Euphemia had sat silent as ever in class, she was as usual in the seemingly uncomfortable poker straight position and sneered as she listened. She wished not to be involved in this class with the likes of the other students, why couldn’t her parents just home school her? She hated the idea of being in class with these people, she was better than this, and she hated being around Turkey and that disgusting boy. She truly wished to vomit at the mere idea of having the work in partners with anyone. Euphemia was admittedly sick of having to work with Eriene each time, and Elias was getting on her nerves as well. Effie absolutely had to find people she could tolerate and someone who was capable of being some form of challenge to make her better at the magic she was supposed to be practicing.

Effie watched as her fellow housemate began to cower and then smirked in almost approval as Eirene marched on over to her classroom partner speaking rather sternly about being her partner and putting some form of effort forth. Euphemia shook her head, how was Noriko in her house, you had to have something a bit more to you to be in Slytherin didn’t you?

Brushing the blonde hair from her eyes, she still wasn’t used to the fact she had blonde hair. She still was very annoyed at the fact a potion had exploded all over her and gone very awry. After a few potions later it was found that her hair had been unfortunately changed enough that it was going to be staying this unsightly shade of blonde. Some how though it gave her a sense of sweet innocence, when she was anything but.

“Merlin you all are hopeless,” she spoke rather loudly as she stood up and walked over to Eirene. “You need some help more than this,” she looked down at Noriko with a bored and hurtful look. If Eirene wanted to be as good as she seemed to be she needed Effie’s help. She cast a quick glance over to the direction of Turkey and that disgusting mop headed boy, what she wouldn’t give to hit them with a spell or two.

"Oh, don't cry!" Eirene interrupted the girl in a whisper, looking horrified at the sudden onslaught of tears building in Noriko's eyes. She just wanted to get a good grade and practice the spell like she was supposed to! Eirene glanced guiltily at the professor, worried that he'd fail her for first making her partner hide behind the desks, and then causing the waterworks to flow.

When Noriko tearfully suggested her idea, Eirene's eyes brightened. Now that, that was brilliant!

Before she could respond, however, Effie accused them of being hopeless and told Eirene that she'd need more help than Noriko could give her. Eirene hesitated, feeling torn. She was used to Effie's criticism, which she felt only helped her be a better friend, but... she didn't want Noriko to cry again.

Eirene offered the cowering Slytherin a hand up and avoided Effie's gaze for a moment.

"Let's all practice the spell on Mairead," she whispered mischievously. If anything could bring the three girls together, it was their mutual hatred of one particular Gryffindor.

"Ready?" Eirene raised her wand and adjusted her stance until it was just 'perfect'. "Expelliarmus!" She took aim at the first-year standing by Keegan, hoping to catch her off guard.

When her housemate came over and offered her own criticism, Noriko's tears nearly started to flow.  She wasn't hopeless!  She just didn't want to get killed!  For a brief moment, she wondered if she could get kicked out of Hogwarts for being completely hopeless as a witch.  A mental image of herself being sent home for Christmas break in disgrace, dressed in bedraggled robes and with a useless wand drooping in her hand, was all too easy to call to mind.

She had been nearly ready to accept her fate, to cry out that maybe she was hopeless and just curl into a ball until Professor Storm kicked her out of the classroom, when Eirene reached down from above and extended a hand.  Noriko was so shocked that she just stared at it for a moment, forgetting that she was on the verge of tears.  She hesitated, and then falteringly accepted the aid to climb to her feet.

"All...all right," she agreed, wiping her tears (and nose) on her sleeve.  If there was anyone that Noriko was willing to try and hex, it was the cannibalistic Gryffindors, although the Irish boy might have been higher on her list.  She was a little worried that Mairead might go mad and bite her, but at least Eirene was standing right next to her.  If the Pavee girl turned on them, Noriko could always dive back out of the way behind the desk and leave the Ravenclaw to face their opponent's teeth.

Hesitantly, Noriko raised her wand.  She glanced shyly at Eirene to make sure she was holding it right, adjusting her grip as she took aim at Mairead, and then joined in the chorus with an "Expelliarmus!"