Lesson One (Second Years)

Alexis couldn't hear what the others were saying. There was a hollow ringing in her ears. I have to get out of here, she thought desperately.
'Professor, I'm not feeling very well. Can I be excused, please?' she said as calmly as she could.

There was only one word running through Iris' mind: concentrate. She was determined to get it right this time. He wanted anger, that's exactly what he was going to get. The guy shot her in the guts for crying out loud! She knew she could do it, she just needed to concentrate.

Iris pointed her wand at the gun and chanted in her head, 'victory' over and over again. She stared at the gun as though it was the only thing in the room. With all the power she could muster, she yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Cobalt glanced at Alexis and something in the back of his mind told him that she was acting strange, like a cornered animal. He nodded,

"Of course Miss Hope." he smiled thinly at her, "You run along."

Cobalt blinked a little, his attention still focused on Alexis. His reactions and reflexes flared up from years of being shot at with any number of spells. Before his mind had actually acknowledged that there was a red beam of a disarming spell flying his way, his body was already twisting at a seemingly impossibly angle to avoid it. He dodged the spell flawlessly and whipped around on impulse, his wand flying out of it's holster to point directly between Iris' eyes, the sickly green of the killing curse building up at it's tip. Cobalt paused and regained his senses, flicking his wand back into it's holster,

"Good attempt at surprise Miss Grayson. Five points to gryffindor." he told her with a smile, "Now do it again while I'm facing you."

'Thank you, Professor.' Alexis nodded to him gratefully.
She forced her feet into a calm walk. Where to go? She debated with herself. Forbidden forest? No she'll get caught in no time. Room of Requirement? Yes.
She opened her eyes when her back was turned to everyone. Her eyes glowing an eerie green. As soon as the classroom door was closed behind her back, she broke into a sprint.

Damn it, Iris thought as her Professor avoided the spell. She really thought she nailed it this time. It took a bit of willpower not to flinch when he pointed his wand at her. But she did fear for a second that he was going to do something really wrong. Shaking her head, she tried to focus on the good part: she received five points for Gryffindor at least.

This time, she would get it right, Iris thought with more force. She chanted the word 'disarm' in her head. As ridiculous as it sounds, chanting words like that helps her. Gathering as much as energy she could, she yelled out, "Expelliarmus!"

What's wrong Alex? Iris wondered. I really should talk to her.

Georgie looked at the people who had been shot, seeing they were in pain. She put her hand up anyways. "Sir, please may I have a go?" She asked confidently, even though her tummy was doing backflips.