Hey i'm back
As you all know there is no way i could ever own Harry Potter that is just way beyond my expertise it belongs to our idol J.K. Rowling... J.K we bow to you...
DonAmy: Thanx keep reading its finally here
The Counter: Yes i am well aware that first years are new to the school what i meant was a new girl in Harry's year. i Suggest you read the chapter and you might understand better. But thanx for the tip i'll amend the summary. :)
Dumbledore's Secret
Chapter three: Rebel
The school hadn't changed. It was just a pity that everything else had. People stared at him, or maybe more accurately his scar, more than they had in those first few weeks when he had first joined Hogwarts.
And to say it was annoying was a little of an understatement.
But it was okay to do that now because well he'd been telling the truth hadn't he? They all knew that now. A bit late now but he really didn't have the energy to care. If Voldemort wanted him he would have to come for him. And he wasn't ready for that yet.
Even the great Voldemort wasn't ready to invade Hogwarts even for him that would have been suicide. He had sent someone else instead and she had failed to do what she had been sent to do.
So let him come.
Harry couldn't have cared a less on that moment walking down from the hospital wing to his first morning in the great hall. Whispers and looks of astonishment followed him all the way there and he was only really able to block them out when he took his place between Ron and Herminone at the Gryffindor table.
The air in the Great Hall had changed. It was constantly tense as if they expected another Death Eater to appear in their midst but Harry knew that wouldn't happen. He didn't know how he just knew it was true.
He wasn't even sure Voldemort had meant for it to happen in the first place. He shook his head and tried to concentrate on something normal. Like eating.
Harry looked down and moved a piece of bacon round his plate suddenly feeling sick.
He wasn't hungry any more and the black hole where Sirius had been was gaping open again making it hard to breathe. He missed his godfather so much it was like a constant ache in his chest.
"Harry?…Harry? Earth to Harry?"
A hand was waved in front of his face and he was snapped out of his ravine of to many thoughts. He looked up and found Ron staring at him. "What?" He asked quietly.
Ron looked like he was going to say something and then thought better of it and then pointed discreetly down the table. There was a girl sat there studying her timetable. Harry had never seen her before yet she looked about his age. She had long straight hair that cascaded down her back like red waves and a pale complexion that only made her vivid violet coloured eyes all the more apparent.
Harry looked at the girl and back at Ron. Ron was looking at her with the expression he had only seen him wear when Fleur Delacour had floated past. Despite everything Harry grinned.
"Who do you think she is?" Ron demanded eagerly. Harry noticed for the first time that Ron was not the only one eyeing the red head up. Most of the boys on the table and, indeed on others, glanced her way as they made their way past. The red head was the subject of many hushed discussions up and down the Gryiffindor table and Harry was sure she must had heard them however she gave no indication of having done so.
"Beats me." Harry said at last.
"She's not been here before." Ron said with an odd look on his face.
"Oh please!" Herminone said at last. "Ron you sound like a love-sick puppy!" " I do not!" Ron denied hotly.
"Any ideas as to who she is?" Seamus asked. Harry and Ron shook their heads. "She's hot though right?" Dean said eyeing her up. Ginny punched him in the shoulder. "What?" He said smiling at her fondly. "She is."
Everyone knew though that Dean was smitten with Ginny and that Ginny was almost as bad as Dean was so she relented.
Herminone shook her head in disgust. "Herminone you can't tell me you don't want to know who she is." Ron said.
Everyone knew that between them Ron, Harry and Herminone where as bad as each other for wanting answers. "I didn't say that." She replied and then something else crossed her mind and she started digging around in her bag.
"Harry, Here's your time table I picked it up for you. We've only had one day's worth of lessons anyway you've missed nothing." She smiled "Thanks Herminone." He said returning her smile.
He looked down wondering what he had first and his smile grew bigger. Care of Magical creatures and Herboology as well as Astronomy at Midnight at the top of the west tower.
He couldn't believe he still had to do potions but he had scraped through with enough to make the grade. He was not looking forward to that but he didn't have to deal with Snape until Friday and then he could think of the weekend.
His behaviour towards Harry after the Penseive incident had been downright alarming. If Harry thought that Snape had hated him before there was no competition to now. Harry sighed. Snape would never give Harry a chance now. Potions was going to be a living hell he could see it.
But he put it out of his mind. He had to just accept it. But he didn't have to deal with that for another two days so First thing was first.
He was going to see Hagrid. He hadn't seen him all summer and at the thought of seeing him again Harry couldn't help but feel slightly more light-hearted.
They walked down to Hagrid's hut where they saw him having a heated argument with someone they couldn't see. "How can you do it?" Hagrid was yelling. "Money." The other said calmly. "Hagrid they've been known to kill people and as much as I like creatures that's something I can't comprehend." "Keep talkin' Leah. Some one might believe yea one day!" The guy called Leah smirked and walked away. And Harry felt a pang. He had been the guy who had fought with the Death Eater.
"What was that all about Hagrid?" Harry asked Hagrid grinned when he saw who was talking to him. "Ah nothing Harry. Nothing feh yea. How are ya?" Harry shrugged.
Hagrid nodded as if he understood perfectly. Yet again the Slytherins were joining them. Draco Malfoy among them. "This lesson is so pointless." He hissed. "If it was so bad why didn't you drop it?" Hermione asked, "I mean if you're as good as you make out Malfoy then you wouldn't have had a problem would you."
Malfoy looked at Herminone for a moment and then hissed "what do you know you little Mudblood." Ron and Harry made a lunge for him but stopped when a voice said "I'd rather be a true Mudblood than a traitor and a pureblood like you Malfoy. In fact I wouldn't even dream of being anywhere near you or your manor right now."
Malfoy spun round and came face to face with the red haired girl. Harry couldn't help but admit that she looked just as good close up as she did from afar.
"How dare you!" He hissed. Harry looked on amazed. In the background Hagrid was introducing the class to a baby Pegasus. The fact that these where easily one of the tamest things Hagrid had brought to class and the fact it was a beautiful shade of ebony blue like the Midnight sky kept the rest of the class and Hagrid occupied. He was busy answering questions and letting the class pet it that he didn't notice the commotion at the back.
He glanced at Ron and knew that he was thinking the same thing.
There were not many people who liked Malfoy but there was no one who spoke so openly about his father's crimes with the exception of Harry himself who thought it worthy that he should seen as Lucius had tried to kill him before now.
Then Malfoy made the mistake of trying to hex her.
Well she simply deflected it and the next second, Malfoy with a cry of surprise, was on the floor. On his back with her knee in his chest. No one in the group missed this and the Gryffindors howled with laughter.
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. This girl had some skills. Both magically and physically. "MYRA!" Hagrid yelled running over "Let him up."
The girl called Myra looked at Hagrid defiantly and then when he cocked an eyebrow she rolled her eyes and said "Fine. Whatever." And let him up. But the damage was done.
The Gryffindors would have the last laugh for at least a week. "But Hagrid he tried to hex her." Lavender said. Harry hadn't realised that more of the class had probably seen more than he thought. "He deserved it!" Neville spoke up. There was a fire in his eyes that Harry hadn't seen there before.
Hagrid looked down at them all and said "even so." He sighed "Ten points from Gryffindor." The Gryffindors groaned. "That's all she gets for attacking me?" Draco asked in disgust. "Ten points from Slytherin." Hagrid growled. "I was attacked!" Draco yelled. "And you tired to hex her." Hagrid said. "Did you think I wouldn't see?" Draco mumbled something under his breath.
"Another ten points from Slytherin." Draco's head snapped up. "Pupils cannot bad mouth or answer back a teacher Malfoy so unless you would like to lose more then I suggest you keep quiet. Or leave." With that Hagrid returned to the lesson like nothing had happened. Harry was giddy with laughter. Yeah Gryffindor had lost points but Slytherin had lost more and what's more Hagrid was finally standing up to Malfoy.
That lesson couldn't have been better.
By the end of the day the story of what had happened that morning had spread like wild fire and all of the sixth years now knew of Malfoy's humiliation.
There was also equal talk of Myra. Who was she? Where had she come from? Why was she here? But talk of her was also mixed in with news from the other Gryffindors of the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"He's absolutely brilliant! He had us dwelling! Like when Harry was teaching us." Ginny said excitedly. "He wouldn't let him call him Professor Leah we had to call him Beck." "Did you say Professor Leah?" Harry said "Yeah why?" "Because Hagrid was arguing with him this morning."
Ron said catching on. Ginny grinned. "Yeah well he would. Beck's a dragon slayer." That made sense to Harry. If there was one thing Hagrid adored it was dragons. "I thought dragons where a protected species." Herminone said joining in. "They are. But well, let's just say Beck's been around a bit."
They all looked perplexed. "You'll know when you have him." Ginny said knowingly. "He is brilliant. Harry dug around in his pack and found his time table. We don't have him until Friday. After potions." Harry groaned. "Harry Beck will totally make up for Snape." Ginny said.
Soon lessons where back in full swing and the Gryffindors were learning that the newest member to their class was into rebellion, in every sense of the word.
She would not take one answer if she thought it to be another. Hagird was not the only person who was subject to her laid back almost lazy tone. Professor Trelewney had become so agitated that she had dismissed the class early. The only two teachers in the school who seemed to escape it were Professor Magonagall and Professor Flitwick.
Flitwick had been left alone and Harry thought she had a certain amount of respect for the professor plus most of the time the classroom was too full of chaos for anything to be challenged. But she had tried in Magonagall's class but she had been shot down.
They had been trying to turn a rock into crow.
Harry had done quite well. The crow was a crow but it still had the colouring of…well a rock. There had only been two people to complete the task successfully.
One was Herminone and the other was Myra. Harry noticed that Herminone was slightly put out by this and thought she saw it as competition. Magonagall was asking questions at the end of class and Myra put up her hand. It was clear that Magonagall had been expected this and said "What is it Myra?"
"Turning a natural substance into an animal does not need the incantation to be correct but the force of mind." "Yes, Myra. That is correct but we already established that did we not?" Myra's eyes went wide. "Yes but…" "And for one to have the force of mind then the incantation and the wand movement must be correct would it not?" She seemed to think about it and then grudgingly said, "Yes." "Well then would you be kind enough to let me teach and keep your comments about my teaching until after class if you would be so kind."
She smiled Myra looked a little stunned and then shut up and stared sullenly at the board.
Friday dawned and Harry wished that it were lunchtime could be over all ready and then he would have endured potions all ready and he wouldn't be facing Snape again until the following week.
As it was he managed to get enough motivation to get out of bed and get ready. Ron was getting up as he was and they met Herminone and went down into the great hall. For the second time that week Harry didn't feel hungry but he was not going to let the thought of potions and the dungeons ruin his day.
All too soon that became a reality and they all trudged down to dungeons. To make Harry feel worse it was to be another lesson with the Slytherins and Malfoy had been looking for blood.
But Harry had soon realised that the girl Myra was in all of his sixth year classes and seeing her Malfoy fell into a sullen silence and turned beet red. This give Harry some satisfaction but then there was still Snape…
The dungeon door opened and the man himself walked out and said "Well hurry up! I haven't got all day!" "Yeah and we were the ones waiting for you." Myra said loudly enough for Snape to hear. Although he pretended he hadn't.
Harry turned and openly stared at Myra. Didn't she know not to get on Snape's bad side? But she just grinned and said "Come on it needed to be said Harry." He didn't even bother to ask how he knew his name. After all everyone knew his name.
The filed into the dungeon and Harry motioned for Myra to come and sit by them at the back. She smiled and her eyes twinkled. Harry openly grinned at Ron's mouth dropped open as she sat by him.
"Now we're going to be making a disguising potion this term and as it takes a month to mature I expect you to be working on for the first half of this term and then when it matures we'll test it."
He turned to the board and the instructions appeared on it. The class set to work. Harry went to add his Armadillo Bile and Myra stopped him "Harry you can't add that yet the rest needs to boil and turn purple." Sure enough seconds later his mixture startled to bubble and turned deep purple.
He looked at Myra and smiled "thanks." He said with feeling. The last thing he needed was to give Snape a reason to give him detention for a month. "No problem." She said and returned to her own potion.
The rest of the lesson went remarkably well and for the first time in his life Harry thought he managed to create a potion that Snape couldn't possibly fail him for. The end of the lesson came and the class cleared away their potions. Harry, remembering what had happened the previous year made two drafts of his potion and carried one to the front of the class.
Herminone, and Myra followed them with their own. Snape took one look at the potion which was now deep pink and knowing he couldn't fail Harry for it dropped it. "Whoops." He said grinning. "I am so sorry Mr Potter you'll have to start from scratch is that yet another zero for my note book?"
Harry was so angry he could have burst with anger ad Herminone's jaw had dropped to the floor. She knew Snape hated Harry but purposely failing him was going beyond anything he had ever done before. Myra was furious.
"You can't do that!" She yelled. The class that had been talking quietly went silent. No one had ever yelled at Snape. "Miss Heron," Snape said dangerously "If you do not wish to spend your remaining Hogwarts career in detention with me then I suggest you kindly shut your mouth." That threat would have stopped anyone else cold but Myra smiled.
"Is that the best you can do? Do it go on I dare you." Her eyes flashed with anger and her voice was filled with challenge and Harry felt power radiating off her.
Who the hell was this girl?
The bell went and Snape broke eye contact with Myra and barked "Get out bring me a summary of pages 13-16 next lesson." The Gyffindors clearly wanted to stay but they did as they were told. Ron motioned to Hermnone and she went to pull Harry with her but Snape snarled "Potter stay right there!"
He blinked and then shrugged and mouthed to Ron and Harry "I'll see you outside!" Herminone and Ron left fearing for their firend under Snape's wrath. Myra didn't move.
When the classroom was empty she said, "You may have hated James Snape, but as much as Harry looks like James Harry is not James. So I suggest you drop this vendetta before I tell Dumbledore that you take pleasure in harressing the students."
"Myra its fine." Harry said trying to defuse the situation. "No, its not." Myra said "He's failing you on purpose." she looked at him and said and its not the first time is it?" Harry's silence was enough answer and she turned to Snape. "I swear I'll go to Dumbledore if the vendetta doesn't stop."
Snape shot her a look of pure loathing but Myra didn't back down. He opened is mouth and her look was enough to stop anyone dead. "Get out." Snape said at last.
"Sir here's another bottle of the potion. Accidents happen after all." He shrugged and followed Myra out of the classroom. "Thanks." Harry said and realised that that seemed to be the only thing he was saying to her. Myra looked at him. "No need to thank me Harry what he was doing was wrong." And she turned and walked off.
Harry was confused by what had just happened by when he found Ron and Herminone he told them everything and they were just as confused. The big question was:
Who was Myra Heron?
The last lesson of the day was defence against the dark arts. And if they were truthful they didn't really expect much from this lesson. That was, until the teacher sauntered in.
Everyone stared at him. He did not look like a teacher at all. In fact if there was someone who could look anything but a teacher it was this guy. "OMG!" Herminone mouthed. She leaned over to them. "He's an elf!"
Ron blanched. "What's so good about that?" Harry whispered. "Elves are the ultimate warriors Harry!" Ron whispered back. " They're hardly ever seen by us. They're always fighting the darker side of the world. They're immortal and can wield weapons better than any other race on the planet. They are like paid mercenaries"
Harry now looked equally shocked. A warrior was their teacher? No way!
There was a sigh from the girls as they stared at him. He had long blond hair and it was tied back at the base of his neck with a leather throng. He didn't wear robes instead he was wearing dragon hide boots and black trousers and shirt. A small single dragon fang hung from a chain around his neck. He looked around the class. And raised his hand in greeting.
"Hi, I'm Beck."
There was astonishment as he had used his first name. "Now I know that it's policy around here for you to call me Professor Leah but I'm not a teacher so I don't deem it necessary."
He glanced round at the class and said, "Right so. Defence against the dark arts. Dumbledore tells me that you have quite advanced skills for a sixth year class. Well that's good but it's not good enough. You need to have the knowledge of how to use it in the situations that may cause it. He looked at Harry then. "There is a person in here that can tell you that."
Harry felt the room stare at him. "He will tell you that it can take a split second for your life to change. And a split second for you to make a difference. First of all we will go over some things I'm sure you already know and then I'm going to put your skills to the test. He took a wand from out of his sleeve and waved it. The desks flew against the wall with the chairs until the class was standing in the middle of the classroom, which was now cleared of everything.
At that moment Myra walked in and didn't even look up at Beck. She walked straight to the gap in the circle that Harry made for her.
Beck looked straight at her amused "Miss Heron would there be a reason you're late?" She looked at him for a moment and then said "Sorry beck, I was wanted by Professor Dumbledore." Harry heard a sarcastic note in her voice but it appeared none else had.
Beck grinned and then said "Ok guys who has got the guts to fight me?" The whole class blanched and then Seamus said "Harry you do it!" Then Dean said "Yeah Harry you taught all of us." And then the class laughed and said "Harry go for it!"
"Alright!" Harry said, "I'll do it." Beck grinned and said, "Well come here Harry." Harry went and stood the opposite Beck and drew out his wand. "I won't hurt you Harry." Beck said "But I can't promise that the next time you do this for real the other person wont want too." Harry nodded he knew this all too well and after everything that had happened he was ready to accept that he needed to be ready.
Then suddenly Beck yelled, "stufey!" Harry was ready and yelled "Progeo!" His shield charm deflected the stunning spell and Beck ducked. Harry yelled "Expellimus!" Beck deflected it and came at Harry.
Myra watched Beck and Harry duel and she knew that Harry took Defence Against the Dark Arts seriously because he was spitting out curses and blocking the ones Beck through at him. He was good and Myra knew that Voldemort would have a job getting to him this year.
The class watched in shock as Harry duelled the new DADA teacher their wands moving fast like swords. Herminone and Ron had known he was good but even they were shocked by the amount of spells Harry was able to curse and block with.
At the finish Beck managed to smash through a shield charm with a Unforgivable Curse which Harry dived to avoid. And Beck had him.
They were both breathing hard and Harry looked up at Beck and Beck pulled back his wand and said "You are a worthy adversary I hope I never fight on the wrong side of you." He held out his hand and Harry grasped it and pulled himself up.
"Well done Harry."
Harry turned to face his class mates and they all stared at him. They hadn't realised that he was that skilled and he shrugged. "It still needs work. Voldemort nearly killed me again at the beginning of term."
But the Gyffindors were triumphant. Harry could take on an elf and actually put up a fight. Harry left the room with Ron, Herminone and the other Gyffindors and Myra stayed behind.
"He was good." She said to Beck. "Better than we thought he'd be." Beck agreed. "That'll make our job harder. He's more aware of things around him." "But I already have a way in." Myra said grinning "Damn Phoenix you work quickly." "haven't I always?" She asked
