Chapter 4 Classes

September first was a Friday, which meant they had two days to relax before classes started. For the upper year Gryffindors this meant a chance to party and celebrate being back at school. The weekend went by in a blur as Harry got a chance to really get to know most of his fellow year-mates in the house of the lion, minus the two anti-social females. Despite going to school with them for four years he had never really had a meaningful conversation with any of the five of them.

With bleary eyes Harry and Ron sat at the breakfast table, groggily shoving forkfuls of egg into their mouths. They had stayed up late, at Seamus' insistence, to rate all the girls in Hogwarts, fourth year and up. Seamus had ended up making their ratings into a list, "for future reference" he had insisted.

"McGonagall is coming around with time tables," Hermione said, noticing the stern-looking professor making her way down to them.

Harry attempted to sit up straighter but couldn't find the energy to. He yawned loudly, stretching his muscles. He had wanted to start running every morning at Hogwarts like he did during the summer, however, since he's been back he hadn't been able to wake up early enough in the morning to go.

"Good morning Professor," Hermione greeted her favorite teacher.

"Miss Granger, I hope you are well this morning," McGonagall greeted in turn.

"Of course Professor. I can't wait to start the year."

McGonagall gave a small smile at that, something that was rare for her. She then turned her eyes to Harry and Ron, both of who looked ready to pass out in their plates. The smile slipped from her face and she frowned in disapproval.

"I see these two aren't near as ready as you are Miss Granger."

"No ma'am," Hermione replied, grinning at the two males.

"Here's their time tables. Mr. Weasley doesn't seem aware that I've been holding his out for him the pass minute, let alone the fact that I'm talking about him. Make sure they get them won't you?"

"Of course Professor," Hermione replied, taking the three time tables.

The head of Gryffindor walked off to hand out more schedules. Hermione elbowed Harry sharply and kicked Ron underneath the table. They both jumped awake with moans of pain.

"Professor McGonagall wanted me to give these to you," Hermione stated, handing the two boys their schedules.

Harry glanced over his.

'Monday:

9:00am-10:00am History

10:15am-11:15am Charms

11:30pm-12:30pm Charms

Lunch

1:45pm-2:45pm Break

3:00pm-4:00pm Potions

4:15pm-5:15pm Potions

5:30pm-6:30pm Care of Magical Creatures

Tuesday:

9:00am-10:00am Defense Against the Dark Arts

10:15am-11:15am Defense Against the Dark Arts

11:30pm-12:30pm Dueling

Lunch

1:45pm-2:45pm Care of Magical Creatures

3:00pm-4:00pm Herbology

4:15pm-5:15pm Transfiguration

5:30pm-6:30pm Transfiguration

11:30pm-1:00am Astronomy

Wednesday:

9:00am-10:00am Break

10:15am-11:15am Charms

11:30pm-12:30pm Charms

Lunch

1:45pm-2:45pm Divination

3:00pm-4:00pm Divination

4:15pm-5:15pm Potions

5:30pm-6:30pm History

Thursday:

9:00am-10:00am Transfiguration

10:15am-11:15am Transfiguration

11:30pm-12:30pm Break

Lunch

1:45pm-2:45pm Herbology

3:00pm-4:00pm Defense Against the Dark Arts

4:15pm-5:15pm Defense Against the Dark Arts

5:30pm-6:30pm Dueling

Friday:

9:00am-10:00am History

10:15am-11:15am Potions

11:30pm-12:30pm Divination

Lunch

1:45pm-2:45pm Herbology

3:00pm-4:00pm Herbology

4:15pm-5:15pm Care of Magical Creatures

5:30pm-6:30pm Break'

Harry compared his to Ron's and saw that they had the same exact thing. He then looked at Hermione's. She had Arithmancy when he had Divination and her only break was Wednesday morning, the other three being taken up by Ancient Runes.

"History on Monday mornings will allow us to get some more sleep in."

Harry nodded at that, having noticed it too. "Only one double Potions with Snape, though I don't know if thats a good thing or not."

"Kind of sucks we only have DADA and Charms twice a week. Those are my favorite classes," Ron stated.

Hermione stood up, lifting her bag with her. "You two can discuss schedules on the way to class. We have ten minutes to get to History."

Harry and Ron stood as well, lifting their bags. The first day of classes you weren't expected to know your classes so you didn't have to worry about bringing any text books. Probably the only day you could say that for all your classes.

"Binns wouldn't notice if the entire class arrived late," Ron muttered as they exited the Hall.

Hermione shot him a look and Harry bit his tongue, agreeing with Ron but not wanting to voice his opinion. When they arrived in class it was mostly empty. They shared the class with Ravenclaw but they were similar to the lions in their inability to stay awake during the lecture.

Hermione took a seat right in the front, Ron took the seat behind her and Harry took the seat to his left. The minute he sat down Ron put his bag on his desk and laid his head down on it, using it as a pillow. Hermione had taken out a quill and roll of parchment, ready to take notes. Harry knew he'd probably be joining Ron soon but he at least wanted to see what Binns would be talking about. After all the book they had to buy for the class seemed interesting.

Binns floated through the blackboard as soon as the bell rang, usually the only remotely interesting thing in class. The entire class had arrived with most of them already preparing themselves for a nice nap, or in the case of Ron, already in the midst of that nap.

"Welcome to your OWL year in History, which will also be your last year. Since its the last year you will be learning this subject I thought it best to end with the history that has most affected your lives. In fact, one of the biggest figures in modern history, if not the biggest, is in this very classroom."

Harry looked up and saw that Binns was staring at him. This was the first time the ghost had even acknowledged his presence, let alone know who he was.

"Mr. Potter, you wouldn't happen to have remembered anything from that night, would you?"

The teen blinked at the ghost's questioned. "Er, no. Just a flash of green light and high, cruel laughter." That wasn't the entire truth. Thanks to Dementors he remembered the entirety of that night. From the time his parents knew Voldemort has shown up on their doorstep to the minute the Dark Lord had been destroyed and his house fell down on top of him. Not that he was going to tell his history class that.

"Such a shame. It would have been truly remarkable to hear from one of the two people who survived that night. One of the biggest nights in wizarding history and one had no memory while the other is too terrifying to ask."

Binns turned his gaze from Harry and started to ramble about a giant rampage in London sometime in the late 1800's. That was everyone's cue to go to sleep, since nothing interesting was going to happen during class, like usual. Though, as he lay his head down, Harry realized that Binns believed Voldemort was back.


Bleary green eyes blinked awake as a finger poked into his leg.

"Harry!" Hermione hissed. "Class ends in a minute. Get up!"

Harry lifted his head and looked at Hermione, who had turned in her seat to wake the two of them. It was the usual routine, probably the reason why he and Ron were doing terrible in the class.

"I'm up, keep your finger to yourself," Harry muttered, massaging his neck to try to get out a crick.

The bell rang and everyone quickly got up and left the classroom, eager to get out of the boring class. Harry and Ron had to move at a slower pace, since Hermione was never one to shoot out the door as soon as the bell rang. When she had finally placed her notes neatly into her bag, the trio moved out of the classroom.

"Isn't it faster to get to Charms that way?" Hermione indicated the opposite direction they were heading.

"Yeah if you walk the corridors but the secret passageway that leads right to the Charms corridor is down this way," Ron jerked his thumb to the direction they were walking.

Harry nodded his head in agreement. He and Ron had memorized almost every secret passageway in Hogwarts in their third year. "Its a winding staircase that goes straight up to the fourth floor (A/N- third floor if you consider it ground floor, first floor and second floor before it, which as an American, I don't) and ends around the corner from the Charms classroom. Cuts about two minutes off the walk."

"I hope Binns doesn't ask me about that night again. Its not something I like to remember, or even want to share," Harry muttered, pushing open a door that looked like part of the wall.

Hermione made an agreeing noise. "I can't believe he would just ask you like that!"

"Being a ghost obviously killed his tact!" Hermione and Harry looked at Ron with raised eyebrows, causing the redhead to get defensive. "I thought it was funny."

"It really wasn't."

"I'm going with Hermione on this one. That was terrible."

The redhead sulked as they exited the secret passageway and came out in the Charms corridor. They were the first ones to arrive at the class, even though they were the last ones to leave History. Charms was another class they shared with the Ravenclaws.

"Hello Professor!" Harry greeted as they walked in the classroom.

"Mr. Potter! Always a pleasure to see you. How was your summer?"

"Good professor, though I can't wait to start class. I've really studied a lot this summer. I think I can bring my grade up into the O range."

The tiny professor seemed delighted at such news. "That's wonderful Mr. Potter! You know your mother was one of the greatest Charms students I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. If she wasn't so into Potions and spent more time in Charms, she may have been the best."

"My mother was good at potions?" He had never heard that before. Sure he had heard about his father in Transfiguration and Quidditch but no one had really talked about his mother.

"Of course. She was the best Hogwarts has seen in ages. Professor Slughorn, the old Potions' teacher, would rave about her all the time. Better then Professor Snape even, who I'm sure you know was in the same grade as her. She had actually gotten her masters in potions a few months after you were born, one of the youngest to ever get it. Probably would have gotten it sooner if she wasn't pregnant with you."

Harry soaked the information in, never knowing much about his parents, especially his mom. "Thank you Professor. Its nice to hear about them."

"No problem," Flitwick said, turning to the rest of the class that had gathered while he and Harry talked, as Harry took his seat. "Welcome to your fifth year in Charms! This is your OWL year which means I expect you all to work extra hard. Like every other class the average grade should rise at least four points from what it previously was at the end of last year to what it will be on your OWL. If you want to continue to NEWT-level Charms than you must get a t least an EE- on your OWL grade, anything lower will not be accepted. I usually have a 92% EE- or higher passing rate and I'd like to keep it that way."

Professor Flitwick, standing on top of his stack of books to be at their eye level, looked at them all with a hard look in his eyes. Hogwarts hadn't been known for its Charms class until the tiny professor had taken over the subject. Ever since Flitwick's third year teaching, 1963, OWL levels from around Europe usually had Hogwarts ranking in the Top 2 in Charms, always behind Beauxbatons, out of the fifty schools in Europe.

"To start the year we'll be learning charms that affect your senses; whether its to dampen them or heighten them. If you've ever used Omnioculars, one of the spells on them is a vision enhancing enchantment, which allows them to see a great distance. The earmuffs you use in Herbology have hearing dampening enchantments placed on them, to muffle the sounds you hear around you.

"Of course it isn't just enchantments. There are also charms one can place on themselves or someone else that will have the same effects. These can be quite useful in duels or if you ever find yourself in a fight against a magical creature like a vampire, who can be so quiet you don't know its there until its behind you."


The door slammed open, making only Neville jump in surprise. Every first day of class Snape did this. He probably did it to try to instill fear within the students, to let them know he's one scary dude. Honestly, it was a little pathetic in Harry's opinion.

"Most of you won't be making it into NEWT level potions," Snape gave Harry a pointed look, a sneer on his face. "Potions is extremely dangerous. Next year we will be working on some extremely sensitive potions that, if mixed wrongly, could possibly kill you and everyone in the room. Luckily, the OWLs will whittle the class down to the students who actually deserve to learn such a delicate art."

Malfoy smirked at everyone in the room, ranking number two in the class. Harry was sure though, that it irked the pureblood being second in the rankings to Justin, a muggle-born Hufflepuff.

"Today we'll start with the Strengthening Draught, one of the easier potions on the OWLs. If you can't do this one then there is no hope for you. Open to page thirteen in your books and begin."

The students all opened their books, shuffling around as they started to pull out the ingredients needed. Soon the sound of bubbling water and ingredients being chopped to correct size filled the classroom.

Twenty minutes later and Harry was pretty sure he was doing pretty good. He glanced around and saw that his potion was a shade lighter then Malfoy's and Hermione's. Which, while not perfect, was still pretty damn good.

"Potter what is this?"

The Boy-Who-Lived looked up to see Snape standing behind him, glaring into his cauldron.

"Correct me if I'm wrong sir but I do believe thats my potion."

Snape snarled at Harry's remark. "Five points for your cheek! This potion is terrible, did you even read the instructions?"

Rolling his eyes, Harry prepared himself to try to save his potion. Maybe if he was quick enough he could block Snape's vanishing potion.

"Yeah. And judging from the quality of it compared to most others in the class, I'd say its rather good."

"You aren't the potions expert here, I am!" Snape snarled down at him.

"That is true sir, you do have so much more experience in this subject then I do. Too bad my mother isn't alive, since she was such a better Potions Master then you, I'm sure she could have made me good at this subject."

Harry smirked at his veiled insult, watching as Snape's jaw clenched even tighter then usual. It was rather easy to tick Snape off. If he did it subtle enough, he could even get away without a detention or house points being taken off.

"Yes, such a shame she got herself killed," Snape said, turning on his heel and stalking off from Harry.

'And the point goes to Potter,' Harry thought.


"I'm going to hate Defense this year," Harry muttered as they walked toward the classroom.

"It hasn't even started yet. How can you be so sure?" Hermione asked.

Harry looked at her as is she was barmy. "Didn't you see the way the new professor was glaring at me during the welcoming feast? It's like I killed his dog or something!"

"It can't be that bad," Hermione tried placating.

"Every year the DADA professor has had a fixation on me. Quirrel because Voldemort was sticking out the back of his head. Lockhart because he was an egotistical fraud trying to get more fame off of mine. Remus because he was one of my father's best friend and after avoiding me my entire life decided he wanted to get to know me. And last year, Moody because he was really Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise and he wanted to deliver me to Voldemort." Harry ticked them all off his finger as he went. "Now this French guy who was glaring at me throughout dinner."

"Maybe he won't be too bad."

The green-eyed teen didn't answer as they entered the classroom door. They were the last ones to arrive and saw that there were no three seats open. There was a seat in the front, near the teachers desk, a seat in the row behind that, at the end of the row and next to Neville, with the last seat being in the back row between Seamus and Blaise Zabini. Hermione had already started off toward the front row seat. Looking at Ron, Harry quickly moved off to the seat next to Neville. With a shrug, Ron moved to take the last seat.

"Welcome to your first defense class of the year."

Professor Bedeau stepped out of his office, walking down the steps and into the classroom. The man stood in front of the class, his eyes scanning all their faces. They finally settled on Harry and the teen could see the hatred in the professor's eyes.

"This year I'll teach you several dozen new spells that will be useful if you ever find yourself in danger from another wizard. I will also teach you how best to fight several dark creatures, including trolls and vampires. Today, I'm going to give you a demonstration of some of the curses you will be learning about this year. Mr. Potter if you could please step up to the front."

Harry slowly got out of his seat and walked to the front of the room. As he passed Hermione he gave her an 'I told you so' look. She shot him back a sympathetic one in return. Standing in front of the class, Harry turned toward the teacher, ready to draw his wand if need be.

"I've heard a lot about you Mr. Potter. Many have. Your victory in the Tri-Wizard Tournament last year was...surprising. Many are hailing you as the next Albus Dumbledore or even the next Merlin!" Bedeau laughed at the last part, as if the idea of Harry being the next Merlin was preposterous.

"I don't think you should judge people based on what you hear about them, only on what you from see," Harry stated, sounding similar to the Headmaster.

"I'm going to practice some curses on you, to show the class what they are up against. Lets get started shall we. Terebro!"

Harry ducked underneath the spell, not knowing what it was but refusing to be hit by it. The professor looked at him with contempt.

"You aren't suppose to dodge the spell Potter," the man all but snarled. "How are people suppose to know what the spell does otherwise?"

"No offense professor but I'd rather not get hit by a spell I don't know."

"Afraid Mr. Potter? Not as tough as some make you out to be? I wonder if there is anything else about you people are lying about. If you want to dodge spells then we'll duel."

Harry wanted to protest but before he could a spell was launched at him. He flicked his wrist, drawing his wand into his hand, side-stepped the spell and blocked another with a simple shield.

"Stupefy!"

His spell was battered away as the professor launched another curse, his mouth not even making a sound. Harry had seen Sirius and Remus do that in their prank duels. Silent casting was something he would be learning next year, unless he practiced on his own time this year. Either way he was at a disadvantage.

Twirling around the spell, Harry launched a powerful bludgeoner. His attack was side-stepped, where it punched a hole into the stone wall. Bedeau returned fire with a barrage of orange beams of light, forcing Harry to roll out of the way. Coming out of his roll Harry launched a powerful Reducter. The professor went to shield himself but the spell wasn't aimed at him, it was aimed at the ground. The stone exploded, sending a cloud of dust through the air as stone fragments shot in all directions. Screams came from the students as they shielded themselves from the stone projectiles.

The teen moved to his right and launched a series of stunners before shifting back to his left. The professor returned fire, aiming at the spot Harry's spells originated from. Harry banished the dust in front of him toward the professor and then launched a trio of Stinging Hexes.

The hexes didn't appear to hit anything and soon the cloud of dust was banished entirely from the room. The professor hadn't been hit by anything and Harry was a little nervous. He had never dueled before, unless you counted that farce of a duel against Voldemort.

Dodging one curse, Harry stepped right into the path of another. It was a bludgeoner that slammed into his ribs, causing Harry to spin in the air before falling to the ground. Gasping in pain, Harry rolled in his spot and launched a Piercing Hex at the professor.

It caught the man unaware, since he thought he had won the duel, catching him in the shoulder and opening up a hole the size of a snitch in his shoulder. Angrily, the man launched a spell at Harry, who blocked it with a hastily raised shield. The man launched spell after spell at Harry, giving the teen no chance to get off the ground. Eventually Harry couldn't shield himself from everything and a cutter caught him in the cheek, opening up a large gash. Next thing Harry knew he was unable to move, his entire body below his neck was numb and he wondered if he had been paralyzed.

"Looks like the great Boy-Who-Lived isn't as great as everyone seems to think he is," Bedeau sneered, healing the wound on his shoulder.

"Congratulations professor. You managed to beat up on a fifteen year old. Must be a proud day for you," Harry snarled out between gasp of breath.

The smirk was wiped of the French man's face. The professor looked at all of the students faces, most of which showed shock at what they had just witnessed. This was the first time all of them have seen a teacher attack a student (except Ron and Hermione). This was also the first time any of them had seen an actual duel.

"Get to your seat Potter." The man waved his wand and suddenly Harry could feel his body again.

Harry gingerly picked himself off the floor, wincing as his ribs throbbed in pain. He felt like hell, and judging from the looks his fellow Gryffindors were giving him he probably looked like it as well. Wiping away the blood that stained his cheek he made for his seat.

"Professor, don't you think he should..." Hermione started to ask, as Harry hobbled pass her.

"Leave it," Harry whispered as he went by her, interrupting her question.

His breath caught in his throat as he lowered himself into his seat. It felt like someone had stabbed him with a knife from his inside. That probably meant a broken bone or something else jabbing into him. Glancing at the clock showed they still had sixty-five minutes left of class. He could make it, at least he was pretty sure he could. Then again he could just pass out in his seat from the pain.

"Some say that Voldemort has returned, that the war is going to start again. The Ministry is denying these reports. I won't try to force my view on you. All I can say is keep an open-mind, think for yourself and don't let yourself be guided like sheep."

He looked most of them in the eyes as he spoke, skipping over Harry.

"If Voldemort really is back then you guys have a hell of a time ahead of you. Some of you will be receiving recruitment letters before your time in Hogwarts is up. Some of you have probably already been recruited. Attacks on muggles will rise by the hundreds. People will start being killed, attacked in their homes while they sleep. Important people in the fight against the Dark Lord will start to be assassinated, whether at their homes, office or just walking the street. Death Eaters are rarely brave enough to fight their opponents face to face.

"Pitched battles will take place between Aurors and Death Eaters. Dark creatures like Dementors, giants and vampires will pour into the country. You-Know-Who will whisper false promises of equality, freedom and power into their ears, drawing them like flies to honey. He will use them to bolster his forces and to spread fear.

"Many will join him because they believe in his cause. Many will join him out of fear for their lives and that of their family. Many will run and hide, their tail between their legs. Some will find the courage to stand up to him. To not run under his gaze but to pick up their wands and fight with every fiber of their beings. I look at this class and I wonder which of you will choose which path. I just ask you to choose wisely.

"When Grindewald came to power, the United Kingdom wasn't affected like the continent was. There was still a faction of his followers here though. See Grindewald had believed that the governments in the world had come corrupt after years of rule and needed to be cleansed. His target was the members of the various Ministries, no matter if you were a lowly clerk or the head of department, you were all fair game. A lot of the public here wanted to turn a blind eye to what Grindewald was doing, even though a member of our Ministry would disappear occasionally. The continent was in chaos as their governments were to scared to step out of their houses. It wasn't until the death of Katherine Dumbledore, the wife of your headmaster and a Ministry official the entire country adored, did people finally decide enough was enough. Not even a year later and Dumbledore had defeated Grindewald and scattered his forces.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on the other hand just wanted everyone who opposed him dead. He used the whole pureblood propaganda to draw the purebloods to his side. However, he has killed off more pureblood families then the Grindewald war, every goblin rebellion in United Kingdom history and the witch burnings in the Middle Ages combined. So its obvious he doesn't believe in any of that. With You-Know-Who know one is safe, no matter your blood. Not even his own supporters are guaranteed their lives because if they mess up big time they'll be killed to prove a point to the rest."

By the end of class Harry had to admit the man was a decent teacher, despite the whole kicking the crap out of him part. When the bell rang and they were dismissed, Harry had trouble getting out of his seat. Neville had to help him get out of the seat because it hurt to much for him to lean in any direction.

He hobbled out into the hallway followed by Ron, Hermione and Neville. As they started to make their way down the corridor and to the Hospital Wing, a voice shouted out behind him.

"Oh is Potty hurt? What's a matter scarhead aren't as good as your adoring public makes you out to be?"

The four Gryffindors turned around to see Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson and Nott all standing their. The Slytherins all had their wands drawn, causing Ron and Neville to quickly draw theirs.

"Shut up Malfoy. Harry almost out-dueled our defense teacher. You couldn't duel your way out of a money bag. You're pathetic." It wasn't Ron who had said it but Neville, which surprised everyone.

"Who asked you squib? Trying to hang on the coattails of scarhead, poorboy and the mudblood to hide your own failings in magic?" Malfoy sneered.

Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly like they always did. Ron went to attack at the word mudblood but Hermione put her hand out to stop him.

"Listen Malfoy," Harry started, struggling to speak, "the truth of the matter is you aren't important. I have bigger things to worry about then your petty attempts to prove your better me. Come back when you can actually back up your speech because until then you just aren't worth my time or my energy."

Harry turned his back on the group of Slytherins, limping off. His friends followed him, warily keeping their eyes on the Slytherins in case they tried anything.

"Don't turn your back on me Potter!" Malfoy's angry shout followed him down the hallway. "You coward! Come back here! Face me like a man!"

Harry ignored it all, continuing on his way. They walked in silence, mostly because Ron and Neville were in awe that without even throwing an actual insult Harry had infuriated Malfoy beyond anything they'd ever seen.

"Malfoy has always been more bark then bite. He uses Crabbe and Goyle to bully the other students. Harry hit Malfoy where it hurts the most, by telling and proving to him that despite what he says or who is father is, Draco Malfoy is nothing but an annoyance at best," Hermione explained to Ron and Neville.

Harry hummed his agreement as they walked into the hospital wing. It was just as he remembered it. Way too white to be healthy.

"Mr. Potter, I wasn't expecting to see you yet. Merlin! What happened to you?"

"The new defense professor decided to use Harry as a test dummy," Ron muttered darkly.

"What? Did you consent to that Mr. Potter?"

Before Harry could answer, Neville was already telling the matron everything. "He didn't get to say anything! The professor shot a spell at him to show its affects but Harry dodged it. Said he didn't want to get hit by a spell he didn't know the affects of. The professor got real angry, told Harry they were going to duel and just started hurling hexes at him!"

"That's against school rules! No professor is allowed to cast a spell or give a potion to a student without the students consent. Unless its an emergency and the student is not in the right state to give their consent. Up on a bed Mr. Potter lets get a look at you."


Harry walked into the dueling classroom fifteen minutes late. He had been insistent that he not miss his first day of classes, so after healing his gash, mending his ribs and giving him a pain potion, Madam Pomfrey had allowed him to leave. The classroom was located on the fifth floor, in the west wing. The professor, a tall black man with a bald head, regarding him with cool eyes.

"I was just telling the rest of the class that the first half of the year we'll be learning the rules for traditional dueling, like you follow in the dueling circuit and tournaments. The second half of the year you'll be learning about duels that don't follow the rules. Or as I like to call them firefights."

Harry nodded, finding that Ron had saved him a seat next to him. It was just Gryffindors in the class, which was odd because they usually shared with one of the other houses. The classroom was three times larger then the Defense classroom. It consisted of a small section of desk and a chalkboard and then half a dozen small dueling platforms. He took his seat, taking out the two books required for the class.

"First I feel it only right that I mention the following. From December 5th to December 23rd the European Dueling Championship will be held. As all of you are fifteen years old you are eligible to enter in the junior's division, which ranges from age fifteen to twenty-one. Registration ends on Halloween night. Enter at your own risk. Fifteen year olds rarely win the competition, same thing with sixteen year olds. If you do enter you can come to me to help you train."

None of the Gryffindors looked interested in joining, though they all shot Harry looks. As the Tri-Wizard champion and most powerful in their grade he would be the only one with a shot of winning it, at least in their opinions.

"Now, let's continue with the lesson. What's the biggest difference between a duel in a tournament and a duel outside a tournament? Besides the rules that is."

Dean and Hermione raised their hands.

"Mr. Thomas."

"You know that in a traditional duel there are contracts and oaths that prevent anything truly bad from happening to you. Outside of traditional duels you can die, you can die and there isn't anything that can stop that from happening."

Kingsley nodded at Dean's words. "Good, five points to Gryffindor. As an Auror I know more about firefights then I do duels, though I use to be a young dueler during my final years at Hogwarts. While you may think the duels you take part in are intense and really get your heart racing, there is nothing and I mean nothing like the feeling that overcomes you when you know that one wrong move and your dead. Its the scariest feeling in the world and for some people, those true adrenaline junkies, its the most exhilarating."

The dark man looked at them all with an almost haunted gaze. "Firefights rarely end well. Someone always gets injured and I've known many friends and comrades who haven't made it out of one alive. Hopefully, if I'm as good of a teacher as I hope, I can prevent you from being just another casualty."


"Rankings from the end of last year have this year's grades ranked third in the art of Transfiguration," McGonagall started, as soon as they sat down. "This is unacceptable! Ever since Professor Dumbledore took over the position in 1913 Hogwarts has always been ranked number one in the subject. By the time the OWLs come around I expect everyone in here to have improve dramatically. Otherwise, you'll be the first class of Hogwarts in over eighty years to not rank number one in Transfiguration on their OWLs."

Hermione it seemed had taken such a thing as a personal affront. She was glaring at everyone in the class, Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors alike. She saw that Harry was looking at her and turned to glare at him as well.

"Don't look at me! I got a 90 in this class!" he mouthed to her, his hands up in surrender.

She turned her glare to Ron, who had only gotten in the mid 70's. The redhead tried to meet her glare but turned away, his face burning with embarrassment and anger.

"Today you'll be reviewing what you learned last year. Once I'm sure you know all of it well enough, we'll start on the new material. On the board you will see exactly what I want you to do."

With a wave of her wand Professor McGonagall floated a small box to each student's desk. Looking inside the box Harry could see a white rat looking up at him. He glanced at the board, saw what he had to do and got to work.

By the end of the lesson Harry was one of a few students who were able to do everything properly so far. McGonagall had complimented on his improved skills. Yet there was still one more transfiguration to make.

Harry looked at the bird staring at him. It has once been a rat but that was several spells ago. Now it was a toucan but that was about to change as well. He walked with the toucan to the front of the room, where several others had already been. The last piece of magic they were to perform in front of the whole class. So far Wayne Hopkins and Hermione had been the only two to get this piece of magic done the first time around.

Placing the toucan on the floor, he closed his eyes and imagined what the toucan was going to look like after his spell. With a deep breath he waved his wand. He could feel the air in front of him shift and opening his eyes, he found himself staring at a perfect replica of the chair Dumbledore sat at during meal times.

"Well done Mr. Potter! That is the most elaborate chair I've seen so far. I can tell you've been studying the subject over the summer." Professor McGonagall beamed at Harry, as she walked around the chair and thoroughly examined it. She even sat down in it, and finding everything satisfactory turned toward Harry.

"Mr. Potter your father was the greatest student I have ever had the pleasure of teaching. By the time he graduated here he was already up to the level of most masters in the subject. It was one of the proudest days of my teaching career when he got a mastery in Transfiguration only six months after graduation, fastest in history. If he was alive right now I have no doubt that he would be far better at it then I am and even as good as the Headmaster.

"You have his practical skill down pat. It seems to come as effortlessly to you as it did to him. If you would only spend more time focusing on the theory part I have no doubt you could be his equal."

Harry blushed at her praise, shuffling his feet. "Thank you."

He sat back down in his seat and saw Hermione was giving him a weird look.

"What?"

"McGonagall just said your the best Transfiguration student," Hermione whispered, as if offended.

"No she didn't! My ranking can prove that," Harry muttered, defensively.

"She said your as good in the practical aspect as your dad, and your father could rival Professor Dumbledore if he was still alive. He got a Masters at the age of eighteen for Merlin's sake! Thats all but impossible. All she said was if you'd just study the theory more you could be as good as your father was in the entire subject. James Potter was a Transfiguration prodigy!"