Dumbledore Left School to Seek a Worthy Successor, Cordelia Searched Her Heart by the Lake

On the first Thursday after Lockhart left school, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was missing quite a few things.

All the portraits had been taken off the walls, the pale purple curtains had been replaced with dark gray ones, and the full-length mirror beside the lectern, which automatically adjusted its angle so Lockhart could admire himself at any moment, had disappeared.

Ministry of Magic investigators had taken most of the personal belongings from his office. Even the seven sets of dueling robes hanging behind the door had been packed into evidence boxes.

Only one line remained on the blackboard:

[Identifying and Countering Basic Hexes]

Snape stood at the front of the classroom, still wearing the same black robes. There were no new textbooks beside him, but behind the lectern stood six wooden dummies half a person's height, each holding a short wand pointed at the center of the classroom.

The Hufflepuff and Slytherin students walked in, their voices quickly dropping.

In a rare move, Draco Malfoy sat in the front row. He arranged his textbook, quill, and ink bottle neatly, barely concealing the anticipation on his face.

Justin sat down beside Gavin and stared at the six short wands.

"I'm suddenly thinking Lockhart's quizzes weren't so bad."

Ernie opened his notebook. "At least this time the questions have something to do with the subject."

"They look like they're up to no good."

"Trust me," Ernie said, keeping his eyes straight ahead. "Nothing at Hogwarts could be more malicious than Snape."

Justin glanced at Snape, who was coldly surveying the young wizards from the front, and ducked his head.

Clearly, that reassurance had only helped so much.

When class began, the classroom door closed automatically behind the last student.

Snape's gaze swept across every face.

"Professor Lockhart has temporarily