Reese had heard rumors that Professor Truebridge was back, but she wasn't going to believe them until she saw it for herself. She hurried into the room, and quickly stopped by the door when she saw Professor McHottie standing in front of the desks. HE WAS BACK! Heck yeah.

"Hello Professor Truebridge!" She greeted him with a smile. "It's sooooo good to see you again!" After greeting him, she took a seat near the front of the class.

Raiden hadn't checked for class announcements in days. So it had come as a surprise when he'd walked past a younger student and heard that there was a Defence class scheduled, and in the Dueling arena. With a sigh, still vaguely unsettled because of their last defence class, Raiden had gotten his things together and gone to class.

As he stepped into the Arena, his bright green eyes swept the area, and fell on the Professor.

If he'd been holding anything, he probably would've dropped it.

"Professor... Truebridge..."

Either someone had slipped him something that was making him hallucinate, or something amazingly good had happened. The prefect with the kneazle ears stood just inside the door, blinking as he tried to decide if what he was seeing was real or not.

Alright! This class sounded like a lot of fun.

Torin walked into the room and took a seat beside Reese. "I bet you're glad Professor Truebridge is back, huh?" He spoke loud enough so that other people could hear and gave her a knowing wink.

Lina wandered into the room, humming to herself. Unlike the others, she was completely oblivious that anything had previously happened, so only waved to the professor as she came in. Then, she noticed the reactions of the other three who were in the room. Particularly Raiden, who looked like he'd been stunned. The only thing she could think was, Oh great, what did I miss this time?

Ivory steped into the arena her wide eyes trying to take in everything. The last time she'd been in here had been to duel, and now...well there was the man who had kissed the Bunz in her office. Although she had to admit, he looked a lot more...ummm less on edge then he'd been then.

Keeping to her decision that she liked the man simply because he'd made the Bunz smile so much, she made her way to the front of the seating area and took a seat, looking back curiously at Raiden who was standing still in the doorway.

Turning to the mysterious Professor, she smiled hesitantly. "Hello..." Hmm that's when she realized that she had no idea whatsoever what his name was. She could very well call him 'He=who-kisses-the-Bunz' now could she.Deciding to be as general as possible, she decided for the formal male pronoun."...sir?"

Brant noticed Torin and Resse over at a table, and One seat was left open beside Reese, so Brant quickly Made it through the classroom and sat down, and throwing his bag on the table. "Hey Resse, Torin.. Fancy meeting you here" he said while giving Reese and Wink and laughing. "Man, I hope this class isn't boring." Gah, the last thing he wanted to do right now was to be stuck in a boring class, he was ready for some sleep.

"Oh, Hello Professor How are you this fine day" said Brant trying to be nice to the Professor for He was eager to learn aswell.

Jack was really not in the mood for dueling, but he went to the lesson anyways, especially considering the recent...events in the school. His mouth dropped open in shock, however, when he saw who was seated in the front. "Professor Truebridge?" he said in awe. "You're...it's...welcome back!" he said finally with a grin.

YAYYYY! Truebridge was SOOOO much cooler than Duskurk. Did that mean that Mr. Creeper was gone for good? HE HOPED SO!

With a set face, Miranda entered the previous dueling area and wandered over to sit down on one of the chairs. Her wand was ready to be used, in her holster, and the Huffie was curious about what the Professor would be teaching them all.

She had asked the Headmaster for something like this, and had been told about this...class. She just hoped they would actually be dealing with the serious stuff - not any kindergarten spells everyone was already using.

And so she waited.
The corner of her lip curled upwards for a second. And she waited.

Kay walked into the room and wonder if she truely wanted to be here. Looking around she saw someone she never thought she would see again. "Professor Truebridge?" Kay said looking at him. He was back? Really. This was so great. "Professor are you really back for good?" She asked now can't waitting for the class to start. This was so great. "Sorry sir It's really good to see you." Kay said getting over the shock of seeing him.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!


"Mr. Naughty Professor," Neptune arrived as such with her whispered awe. Since she'd met Raiden and he'd told her ALL ABOUT the professor that MURDERED some Puffs (allegedly?) or flew out a window or whatever he'd done - Neptune Bott had be fascinated.

GIGGLING, she went to stand in front of him like she was BOLD or something and he was a dangerous dragon. Neptune TOUCHED the CRIMINAL, then RAN AWAY to her seat.


Maybe they'd be doing the jailhouse rock? Giggle.

Arya walked into the room not really wanting to be there considering who the professor was, but with all the crazy things happening at the school she draged herself to the classroom anyway. She wasn't surprised when she saw the new professor considering how they had so many of them teaching other classed but she did perk up at the thought of it not being creepy Duskurk. Taking a seat beside Ivory she smiled at the man."Hey professor!"

Sidney cautiously walks into the dueling area. She's not too sure of this Professor Truebridge. He is the person that was arrested for the murder of the Hufflepuff students last term. Headmaster Tate said she shouldn't believe everything written in the Daily Prophet, but why would Professor Truebridge allow himself to be imprisoned without a trial if he wasn't guilty? Sidney will refrain from passing judgement on him until she has heard his side of the story. She finds a place for her bag and takes out her wand. Sidney may not be able to do many spells, but she feels safe having it at the ready.

Violet arrived in the room. She noticed a different Professor. Hmm what is it again? Oh yeah Professor Truebridge! thought Violet. "Hi Professor Truebridge." said Violet. Murderer! she thought. She went and sat down next to a group of people.

"Hello Professor Truebridge." Carter said happily as he entered the theory class. They was well needed and the Headmaster seemed to support it very much.

"Hello Proffessor Truebridge," Jacklyn Caroline says brightly as she sits down. Duel Theory, fun.

Confused, especially at Neptune's reaction, Lina made her way over to Raiden, getting up on her toes to whisper into his ear. "What's going on?"

Marie walked into the classroom happy that it wasn't Professor Duskdork Duskurk teching this class. She was ready to learn whatever it was she could to help protect herself. With all that had been going on at school she wanted to know as much as possible about dueling and self defense.

"Hello Professor Truebridge, welcome back," she said as she went to sit next to Carter.

"And you, Reese." Truebridge responded quietly, nodding at the prefect.

Ah. Both of his prefects were here. Well, not his but... his.

"Raiden." Truebridge said the boy's name by way of greeting and eyed the ears without an ounce of curiousity. He did start humming 'The Rum Tum Tugger' under his breath though.

"Hello Torin." Another who Truebridge was glad to see as prefect, not that he commented on it of course. "I believe Reese has already informed me she is glad of my return." He commented, completely oblivious to any subtext.

"Greetings, Lina." You couldn't say that Truebridge was bad with remembering names, just with giving them in the first place.

Ah. A first year. So small. Truebridge looked down at her gravely, vaguely recognising her from... ah yes. He cleared his throat apologetically. That was an awkward... he didn't much like providing such displays. He did not tolerate it in students so in himself he found it even more deplorable.

He attempted a smile and....

... failed. Smiles were hard.

Truebridge appeared to consider the question with utmost gravity.

"I am as well as can be expected, thank you Brant. I can inform you now that this class will be at least marginally boring. I have been told it is not in my nature to make things rather droll." Ethan informed the Quidditch captain with all seriousness and went right back to humming 'The Rum Tum Tugger.'

"Thank you Jack." Ethan inclined his head. "I am glad to be back."

"Miranda, welcome." He greeted the girl as she sat down and hummed some more.

"Indeed." He agreed. It was him. The one and the same. "I'd like to hope so." But you know, that depended on a lot of things. "It is also good to see you Kay."

"The Rum Tum Tugger doesn't care for a cuddle." Truebridge murmured under his breath after freezing when the little... why were they always Ravenclaws? With the touching? And the... touching?

"Hello and welcome." Another first year. Well, Truebridge supposed replacement students were needed. After all, the majority of his personal favourites had graduated the term before.

"Greetings. You will not need your wand for the first part of the lesson." Though as Ethan still had his own in his hand and hadn't actually let go of it since Annie had returned it to him he added, "though you are more than welcome to keep hold of it if you are able to take notes at the same time."

"Violet. Welcome." Truebridge greeted the Slytherin girl with a nod.

Now that was a cheerful young Gryffindor. Ethan almost smiled... but didn't.

"Hello Carter."

"Welcome." Truebridge eyed the girl. Another first year. A Slytherin. Excellent.

"Thank you Marie."

He looked around the room and then at the door which he closed with a flick of his wand.

"I am Professor Ethan Truebridge. For those of you who do not know me, I taught History of Magic here for the past three terms and I was a student here for a time myself." He paused, wondering if he should say more and deciding against it.

"This lesson is a double lesson. The first half will be theory based and the second, practical. There will be two homework assignments and you may choose which you wish to do, or do both." He began.

"So. to start with, what do you know about dueling? Anything you can think of but please do not go into too much detail, I would like for us to keep it simple to begin with."

Brant Raised his hand "Sir, One thing that I know is that the other wizard won't know what spell your going to cast unless you yell it out before casting it, but if your using a non-verbal spell, it would be hard for the other person to defend themselves" as Brant would well remember the time... Oh never mind that was for another time..

He lowered his hand.

Raiden's mouth twitched. It couldn't decide if it wanted to smile or not for a moment, so... it just twitched.

But then Professor Truebridge was starting class, and Raiden was still standing near the doorway. Face slightly red, he joined the rest of the students, tugging Lina along with him. And he finally smiled. For what really felt like the first time all term. At least one good thing had happened this year, between all the... fighting and potions accidents.

"Dueling, sir... is combat between two people. For us, it's with wands. For muggles, it's... well with a few other things."

Neptune's little nose scrunched up at this tummy tickling tugger mumbo jumbo. Hmmm. All that time in pen obviously had worn on him both mentally and physically to leave him so skinny and mumbley.


She giggled. And giggled. And covered her face with both her hands and giggled some more.


Who knew criminals were SO entertaining??!!!? Neptune got up and moved to a seat closer. One of those seats where if she stretched her toes out she could maybe TOUCH him when he walked past. While she moved, Neptune raised her hand, "Did you duel in jail? Did you learn all sorts of shady moves? I hope so. I want to learn from you." You being the ex-convict.

Jack raised his hand. "Well, in a professional duel, things can get pretty technical. Like, you have to bow to your opponent and everything before starting. But if you were in combat with a foe, it would probably be a bit different," he said with a smile.

Lina raised a brow. She hadn't gotten an answer. Then Neptune said something about jail. What?! Now she was really confused. Either way, she joined in the class in answering the question, raising her hand. "I believe that dueling is the act of competition, usually between two people, which involves some sort of combat. This is usually done in response to a question of someone else's honor, or in another form of challenge from one person to the other. With wizards, common starting spells would be shielding spells and disarming spells."

Putting her hand up. "Sir, Isn't dueling very old and was used as a very formal way to end a fight between to persons?" Kay stated and added. "It's hard to know whats coming at you if not said out loud, so you have to stay on your toes."