Something Wicked…

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy had been so engrossed in reaching the main point that she entirely overlooked her dessert. Sensing her veiled impatience, the teacher proceeded to elaborate in a manner reminiscent of a seasoned educator, obviously due to his extensive experience in teaching the subject for many years, possibly even predating her time.

She furrowed her brow noticeably upon hearing that it was a dangerous enemy, her grim expression deepening further as he pragmatically noted that such challenges were par for the course in her profession. While she appreciated his wayward attempt to console her, she found herself no nearer to a straightforward answer.

Halfheartedly prodding at her cake with a little spoon, she rested her cheek in her palm, slouching sullenly. Even as an adult, glimpses of her inner child would occasionally peek through, as she seemed to have forgotten her manners.

"Perhaps it could," she agreed with less enthusiasm, avoiding eye contact with him. She absentmindedly played with her food, showing a clear lack of appetite. Sensing her solemn mood, he politely interrupted with an apology and steered the conversation back to her earlier question about his class. This action snapped her out of her thoughts, prompting her to look up with apologetic eyes.

She shook her head.

"You have nothing to apologize for. It's not your fault I'm in such a pickle," she replied soothingly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just as you said, it comes with the job.”

When he confessed his reluctance to substitute teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, a flicker of mild surprise crossed her face as she smiled. "I understand," she said, feeling intrigued by this new aspect of him. It wasn't unwelcome; she had assumed he held the opposite view, given that it was the most coveted position at Ilvermorny. “Well, if there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

The spoon she had just held slipped from her grasp in perfect synchrony with his deft change of his own fortune reading, the clatter shattering the silence of the room. Oblivious to his actions but not to his words, she extended her arm to retrieve the fallen utensil. Although she could have effortlessly employed the Wingardium Leviosa spell, she dismissed it as excessive for such a mundane mishap. "I’m not usually so clumsy," she remarked, but brushed it off with a pinch of grace.

Her voluminous side-swept curls bounced as she shifted her focus back to him, accepting his invitation without hesitation. "You can count on me for anything. I’ll see you first thing in the morning…" she affirmed, rising from her seat and circling the table to give his shoulders a gentle squeeze.

"I don’t want to set the world on fire," crooned the radio, the static slightly warping the sound, "I just want to start a flame in your heart..”

Leaning over his seated form, she sneakily peered into his cup. A prolonged silence followed, enough to unsettle even the most innocent, as her cool hands rested still on his shoulders, her only sound being gentle breathing. She smelled faintly of perfume.

Strange. There was nothing discernible about this tea omen.



Nancy sensed that she had lingered long enough, her expression bordering on relief as she reached a conclusion. "At least one of us is going to be ok," she exhaled warmly, visibly comforted by the good tidings. Though the tea leaves remained indistinct, she took the shapeless lump as a sign that he would be fine, and that was good enough for her.

A nice end to a lovely evening.

[Freddy Krueger]

The next day, around late morning, Professor Fred Krueger could be found in his classroom, mindfully peering into his least favorite crystal ball that he held in his hand. Pacing casually across the room, the teacher spoke audibly through the otherwise empty room, one hand draped in the pocket of his slacks while the other carefully spun the intricately adorned golden base on the crystal ball between his nimble fingers.

"The act of magically navigating through the many layers of one's mind, and correctly interpreting any findings,...is called Legilimency..." He mused aloud as the scroll floating across the room was inked by the enchanted quill that quickly jotted his words into the parchment. Having been especially skilled at the art, the coming lecture to his class would be an undemanding challenge. He knew the subject well and had given similar lessons year after year at the school.

"The word 'Legilimency' is derived from the Latin 'legere', which means "to read" and 'mens', meaning "mind." Krueger continued, expertly simplifying the complex subject in the opening lines of his lesson.

He could hear the clacking of footsteps echoing down the hall outside of his classroom door, approaching with intent. He knew it to be his former student, Ms. Thompson. A smile crept across the man's features when she turned the corner and stepped into his classroom.

"Ah, Nancy. Welcome." Freddy greeted her warmly, setting the crystal ball back onto its rightful place on the shelf from which it had came. Raising his eyebrows, he cut right to the chase. "Ready to teach some Defense Against The Dark Arts? I hope you brought your wand."

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy could render the entire school blind with her pristine white long-sleeved shirt and matching white pants, accented only by a hint of color from her navy blue sweater vest. It hinted at a nautical vibe, but it was very pretty. And, for once, topped it all off with a dark navy robe. She rarely donned cloaks, preferring to evade them whenever possible as she deemed them less than ideal for any demonstration due to their tendency to swirl too much with sudden movements and get caught with something awful.

She yawned while opening the door.

"I guess so," Nancy said, subtly revealing her nerves while maintaining a facade of confidence for their benefit. Standing a bit taller to underscore her determination, she approached her former teacher with deliberate steps, offering a warm smile as she embraced him firmly. She silently pledged her support and assistance, making it clear that she was prepared to give whatever he needed from her.

“Good morning,” she greeted him ever so warmly yet quite tiredly, pulling away to look around the empty classroom in an admittedly distracted manner, and while she looked so well put together it was hard to hide the heavy-looking eyelids that implied her terrible sleeping pattern. “Of course I did. You’ll go easy on me, right?”

Nancy produced her wand seemingly out of thin air, taking a moment to inspect it closely. It was made from elm wood and a phoenix feather core, measured 11 inches in length and possessed a rigid flexibility. She handled it carefully, avoiding pointing it towards him, while moving to the window.

She stifled a second small yawn behind her hand and then discreetly excused herself. "We shouldn't keep them waiting any longer," she said, turning towards him. As she moved back to his side, she graciously extended her arm for him to take. She was certain the duel would be demonstrated elsewhere and not here?

It was evident that she had a restless night's sleep, and she was making an effort to appear alert and engaged. "I can't help but feel like I should be on the defensive," she commented, showing concern for him. "And you, on the offense."

[Freddy Krueger]

“Early owl gets the flobberworm, kiddo.” The lively professor teased, recognizing his former student had been having a groggy go at it since she entered into his classroom. “Up and at ‘em, Ms. Thompson.” The wizard chuckled, though he didn’t intend to be too hard on her, given her situation. He had a good idea already as to why she hadn’t gotten a solid night’s sleep. Those pesky nightmares, for starters. Fred wouldn’t dare mention her struggles, not until the two were in a position to discuss it again at length.

“I should be the one on defense, if I’m being honest.” The teacher confessed, knowing that he was way out of practice. “I teach these kids how to see their futures, not ensure that they’ll have one.” The morbid humor rolled off his tongue perhaps too casually, and though it may have just been a goof, the truth it was.

As he understood, Nancy knew more offensive spells than he himself had probably ever learned. He hardly ever even used his wand. Being reminded of it, he gave his front a quick pat down to assure himself that his length of silver lime wood was indeed safely tucked in his front pocket. “Aah, there you are.” He mused almost silently as he strode toward his classroom door to drape his old black trench coat over his torso, flipping his usual fedora on top of his head, expertly but almost comically executed.

“The Defense class is right down the hall, just where you remember it, I’m sure.”

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy responded with a mixture of a sigh and a solemn expression, mustering a faint half-smile to convey that she wasn't all doom and gloom and could appreciate dark humor. “But it is my job to make sure they do — have a future that is,” she asserted. Despite the jest, the underlying truth stung deeply. The unresolved mysteries of missing children and inexplicable deaths weighed heavily on her mind, but she masked it well.

She playfully let the arm she had extended for him to take drop in silence, then raised her head with a fresh smile as he nonchalantly shrugged on a dark trench coat and casually placed his signature fedora on his head. He was a nostalgic glimpse into the past, embodying both a timeless fashion sense and memories of days gone by.

"I believe I can handle it from here," Nancy teased, sensing that he was subtly deferring to her to lead the way. With a graceful step, she entered the tranquil hall. The nearby pictures seemed to come alive in their presence, warmly greeting and showering them with affectionate words and gestures. Some gallantly bowed, others curtsied, and a few even paused mid-action to wave. However, two figures caught Nancy's attention as they conspicuously dropped everything and hurriedly left the portrait frame, avoiding being seen as they disappeared offscreen.

The petite woman had been acknowledging the friendly gestures with waves until she noticed a strange reluctance in the two figures' demeanor. With silent curiosity, she observed them before resuming her intended path. Nevertheless, a brief moment of temptation led Nancy to steal a glance back at the paintings, hoping to catch another glimpse of the enigmatic figures, yet they remained elusive.

She remembered how the two figures, usually talkative, had expressed their concern upon her return to school after her hospitalization, showing care for the 15-year-old witchling. "You seem changed somehow," they had observed. "Less troublesome, less curious! Something feels amiss! Such a complacent little girl! Hurt deeply by the horned serpent, you were!" Their current silence left her feeling uneasy, their absence creating a mysterious void that lingered in the air. They had spoken to her back then with such openness; why were they now shrouded in silence?

She concealed how much it bothered her, though her abrupt shift to seriousness made it unmistakably clear as she held the door ajar for him. Should he step inside, she would willingly join him and reacquaint herself with the expansive room hosting a dueling stage, where students would later congregate for practice matches. This room had seen its share of amusing mishaps, albeit nothing serious enough to warrant medical attention – just the occasional fumbled aim and other minor blunders.

Silently waving her wand, she executed a swift flick, causing the curtains to dramatically part and unveil the vibrant morning light streaming in through the windows. Nancy, unfazed by the display of magic, paid little attention as such occurrences were routine in their world. The illumination hardly banished the dimness that enveloped the room, the sense of dreariness lingered in the atmosphere. Moving past the billowing curtains, she meticulously hung her cloak on a nearby rack before making her way towards the stage, her footsteps echoing throughout the space.


The auror badge on her chest gleamed proudly in the cascading silver light that bathed her upright form. Not one for ostentation, she maintained a composed stance, chin lifted with a clear understanding that she would initiate a friendly duel upon command. With no students present yet, she wanted to confirm his readiness to take on the defensive role against her offense. "Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to switch roles?" she hinted at worry, her tone measured and intent.

[Freddy Krueger]

"I appreciate your concern." He smiled, hearing the classes letting out, the ruckus of second years tearing through the halls. "I want you to give me your best shot. God knows I need the practice." Professor Krueger confessed, giving his new co-teacher's shoulder a fair clap of encouragement.

As the children began filing in, the sounds of clattering and ruffling filled the room along with them. Professor Krueger stood upon the stage, the hem of his trench coat swaying at his ankles. The sounds of feet upon stone floor, the rummaging of chairs and desks, parchment and books, all filled the teachers ears. Across from him was the woman that would be his 'opponent' for the lesson. Krueger didn't have to be a mind reading to recognize that what those imbeciles in the paintings had said to her had really affected the girl. The professor grimaced beneath the rim of his fedora.

"Alright, class." He raised his voice above the rustling of the classroom before him and gave the students a respectful nod as the noise began to simmer down. "Most of you know me. I'm Krueger and I'll be filling in today." He shouldn't have been as nervous as he was. "This morning, we're going to be joined by a special friend of mine. Nancy Thompson." The bespectacled man turned his attention to the humble graduate next to him. "She was once sitting just there, where you all are, not many years ago. Now she is an Auror." He teased, chuckling, waving out an arm to motion across the floor of the classroom from which many great witches and wizards had learned it all. Some of the students began to rumble indistinctively when he mentioned her job title. "This is what happens when you study and get good grades." 

He never intended to embarrass Nancy, though he was sure she would be less than enthusiastic of all of his praise. Which tickled him a bit, admittedly. 

"The first thing ya do before you duel is- does anyone know?" The teacher peered around the class and it seemed no one knew. "You bow." He said, after a few brief moments of silence had fallen upon the rows of desks before them. 

Standing upright, facing Ms. Thompson, Professor Krueger drew his wand from his coat pocket, slender fingers creeping over the engraved wood of the now antique artifact. His own Silver Lime wand that had chosen him the moment he had taken his first step into wizardry. He took a few steps toward his partner and when he approached her, the two duelists both gave a nearly identical bow. With their heads leaned in to one another, the professor took this time to whisper to his former student words of encouragement about what had happened on their way to the classroom.

"You know I don't think you're different. What happened to you was a tragedy. I'm proud of you for what you've overcome." He assured her quietly before standing up straight again, brandishing his wand and giving her a smile, walking backwards across the stage to find his starting point.

"Why don't you take it from here, Professor Thompson?"

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy's modest smile was accompanied by a faint, embarrassed chuckle that slipped past her lips as the professor semi-praised her to the class. She acknowledged the children with a polite nod before redirecting her focus back to the kind professor. Despite her reserved disposition, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind.

While she seemed to be waiting for a cue, her thoughts wandered elsewhere as her body gracefully performed an almost rehearsed bow. However, the professor swiftly drew her attention back, prompting her to respond in kind by mimicking his movement and taking a few steps back.

The delay in her response was almost too noticeable, a fact that Nancy was acutely aware of. With an awkward sigh, she quickly regained her composure, though it was evident to onlookers that she was not quite well. Children were perceptive in ways that adults weren’t, at times.

"We will begin by covering the basics this morning. It is essential for you to grasp these spells and their purposes. Do not only memorize them for a test, but be prepared to apply them when faced with real physical danger," Nancy explained earnestly, stressing this with great importance.

Her gentle tone conveyed that she was not issuing a threat but offering valuable guidance. "Through my own journey, I have learned that people are capable of extraordinary things under specific circumstances, both for the better and the worse."


"Unfortunately," she repressed a yawn and carried on, her voice laced with an unkind truth, "help won’t always arrive when you need it. It is imperative that you prepare yourself…"

She paused, a well of confusion poured over her features. Her gaze drifted upward to the window where the light dimmed, projecting eerie shadows around her, sweeping the room in absolute darkness. Nancy's eyes then fell to her white sleeve, now stained red, the color seeping into her skin, the room itself morphing into a surreal palette of black and red, a stark contrast that sent a chill down her spine, numbing her senses.

As she shifted her attention to the class, she found herself staring, a sort of sickness creeping over her as the class seemed to contort and twist, morphing before her eyes. The once-beaming students were now replaced by the fallen bodies of dead children, their horrible silence bringing tears to her eyes.

Whirling to the side, she locked her gaze on the dark silhouette that had replaced her former teacher, a knot of dread tightening in her stomach. Acting on pure instinct, she raised her wand without a moment's hesitation and bellowed, "Expelliarmus!"

Not waiting to see if her spell had hit the mark, she launched into another attack, her voice resolute as she cried out, "Everte Statum!"

For a fleeting instant, the oppressive darkness lifted, the haunting visions fading away to unveil the familiar reality of her surroundings. The once lifeless children now breathed with vitality, bathed in the gentle glow of sunlight streaming through the windows. The ominous silhouette resolved back into the reassuring form of her teacher, bringing a semblance of normalcy back to the room.

However, any semblance of peace shattered as the children's fearful gazes pierced her, their voices pleading for her to cease. Before her stood not the malevolent figure she had fled from in her nightmares. The toll of sleep deprivation weighed heavily upon her, and with a final gasp, she succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed.