DADA

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25217

Hi everyone, 

Here (only a few days late) is DADA.  

Unfortunately, not that much is written about the DADA classes, just 
snippets (mostly) here and there.  If I've left anything out, please 
call it to my attention. 

The teacher for the first year is Professor Quirrell.  Hagrid says 
(paraphrasing) that he was alright until he took a year off to get 
some practical learning.  The classroom smells strongly of garlic, 
said to be protection against a vampire he'd met in Romania and 
feared was coming back to get him.  The turban was supposedly given 
to him by an African prince because he'd gotten rid of a zombie.  
When Seamus asks him to tell them how he fought off the zombie, he 
changes the subject.  There's a funny smell hanging around the 
turban, too.  It's said to be garlic, but... 

The Curse of the Bogies, which he supposedly teaches them has an 
effect that's unknown.  

Lockhart is the 'teacher' in Harry's second year.  He brings Cornish 
Pixies to class, but can't handle them (the spell 'Peskipiksi 
Pesternomi' is not really a spell).  He talks (and writes!) a lot 
about the things he's done, but when it comes right down to it, he's 
just a sham.  They do cover the Homorphous Charm, which turns a 
werewolf back into a person, and the Babbling Curse (effects are not 
given), but how much they learn is dubious, since he really didn't do 
anything he claims to have done. 

Remus Lupin teaches them Harry's third year, and from the beginning, 
he proves himself to be a different breed. They study Dark Creatures 
their third year.  The first class is hands-on as they battle a 
boggart.  He also brings a grindylow to class so that they can 
observe it.  They cover hinkypunks, kappas, red caps, vampires and 
werewolves in the year. Their final exam is a practical one, an 
obstacle course with some of the creatures they'd studied. 

The fourth year brings yet another teacher, Alastor Moody (ok--Barty 
Crouch, jr. polyjuiced).  Although they are only supposed to be 
learning  counter curses (per MoM regulations), Moody covers the 
Unforgivable Curses, demonstrating with spiders.  This is not taught 
until 6th year, but he says that Dumbledore wants them to learn what 
they're like.  He puts the Imperious Curse on each of them in turn 
until they can fight it off.  

Questions:  

1.  Do you think Quirrell was a good teacher until he took a year 
    off?  

2.  Did Dumbledore *really* agree to the 4th years being taught about
    the Unforgivable Curses? 

3.  I know we've discussed this before, but there are some newcomers, 
    so...why would Crouch-as-Moody teach them how to fight Imperious?