The fourth years' first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson was on Thursday. The young wizards could hardly wait.
Students who had already attended Moody's Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons all said that, although Professor Moody was not as gentle as Professor Lupin, what he taught was very solid.
More than one student had described his teaching as solid, which aroused intense curiosity among the fourth years.
At last, the day of the lesson arrived.
The third-year curriculum involved becoming familiar with Dark creatures and learning simple strategies for dealing with them. The fourth- and fifth-year lessons focused more on countering various kinds of Dark Magic.
Dark Magic was much harder to deal with than Dark creatures. After all, it came in more variations, as well as different combinations.
In the sixth- and seventh-year Advanced Classes, students would learn about several extremely dangerous, powerful forms of Dark Magic, along with ways of dealing with some more troublesome kinds of sorcery and curses.
Harry and the others were all curious about what Dark Magic Moody would teach them to counter in their first lesson. So many professors disliked teaching straight from the textbook, and Moody clearly did not look like someone who played by the rules.
The young wizards arrived in the classroom early, idly leafing through their textbooks. Everyone was excited.
With about a minute to go before the lesson, a heavy thumping came from outside the door. That was the sound Moody's artificial leg made as it struck the floor.
Moody wore a leather robe and leaned on a walking stick. His movements looked somewhat labored; clearly, walking was still quite difficult for him in his condition.
Harry had arrived early and found a seat fairly near the front with Ron. From that distance, he could clearly see