'Little did Harry know that Ron and Hermione had been secretly practising the Leg-Locker curse. They'd got the idea from Malfoy using it on Neville, and were ready to use it on Snape if he showed any signs of wanting to hurt Harry'
18th February 1992
"Come on, we'll be fine in here!"
"Oh Ron I don't know, couldn't we just stay in the common room or the library?"
"How on earth are we meant to practise anything useful in there, they're too busy!"
Hermione and Ron entered the empty classroom, Ron confidently shutting the door behind them and Hermione looking nervous and awkward.
"Are you sure this okay, aren't we breaking some rules?" Asked Hermione, warily eying the desks that had already been pushed against a wall by someone.
"Don't know, it's before curfew and I've never be told we can't use empty classrooms, have you?
"I suppose not" Hermione sighed and took a few steps "why do you think someone's already cleared the desks?"
"Does it matter?" Said Ron exasperatedly
There was silence for a moment as they both looked around, neither one totally sure that what they were doing was okay.
"So have you had any ideas then?" asked Hermione.
They had come to the classroom to try to practise someway of keeping Harry safe during his next Quidditch match. Ever since they'd found out Snape would be refereeing Harry had been growing more and more worried and after his near miss coming off his broom in the last game, Ron and Hermione had decided something needed to be done to help him. Harry was at Quidditch practise tonight, so they had come here to try to figure out and practise a spell that could help them.
"Yeah I have actually!" Said Ron excitedly.
Hermione was slightly surprised but tried not to show it, it was often her who thought of ideas.
"Go on"
"The leg-locker curse, the one that Malfoy used on Neville. I'm not sure how it will work on a broomstick but it'll definitely make him break eye contact with Harry and it would probably make him fall off his broom!"
Hermione raised her eyebrows and said slowly.
"Do you know, that could actually work really well!"
"Yeah well, there's no need to sound so surprised!" said Ron grumpily.
Hermione ignored him and started to rifle through her bag which she had brought with her, pulling out The Standard Book of Spells Grade I. She quickly turned to the index and, upon locating the correct page number, flicked quickly to the page containing the leg-locker curse.
"Okay so the charm is Locomotor Mortis and the wand movement is a sharp jab" Hermione read, reaching for her wand in the pocket of her robes and practising the movement.
Ron nodded "sounds simple enough, you go first then"
Hermione put the book back down and turned to face Ron.
"Locomotor Mortis" she cried, jabbing her wand in his direction.
The effect was immediate. Ron's legs sprang together and he promptly lost his balance and fell flat on his back. Hermione hurried over to him and quickly performed the counter curse, already knowing it from performing it a few days previously on Neville.
"yeah, that would definitely work" said Ron, rubbing his elbow where it had hit the floor and getting clumsily to his feet.
"Your turn now" said Hermione, standing up and positioning herself so she was quite balanced, hoping to not fall over.
Ron waved his wand to towards her "Locomotor Mortis!"
Nothing happened.
"It's much more of a sharp jab movement" Hermione began, shaking her head "try thrusting your…"
Her words were cut off as once more Ron cried "Locomotor Mortis"
This time it worked. Hermione's legs jumped together and she swayed dangerously before grabbing onto the wall nearest to make sure she didn't topple.
"That was great Ron!" She said happily, and performed the counter curse on herself so she could move again.
"Yeah, it's pretty easy actually!" Ron smiled.
"well it won't be if we have to get Snape with it" Hermione answered slowly "He's going to be much further away on the pitch, and moving quite fast on his broomstick"
"Why don't we try aiming at each other whilst the other person runs then, to practise?" Ron suggested.
Hermione looked skeptical but Ron continued.
"No go on, it'll be good, look, get me with it!"
and he began to run around the room, changing direction suddenly and swerving before he careered into walls. Hermione laughed at the sight of him.
"Come on!" called Ron, running faster still.
Hermione took aim and tried the curse again but missed by inches, Ron laughed as he ran around. It was a lot harder with a moving target, twice more she tried before she succeeded in sending Ron clattering to the floor with a loud "Oeuf!"
Hermione tried not to giggle. What proceeded was twenty minutes of Ron and Hermione jumping around the room in quite high spirits until each of them could catch the moving target and hit them with the curse on the first try.
"That's enough" said Hermione, as Ron freed her legs and she staggered to her feet, clutching at a stitch in her side "I think we've got it!"
She felt bruised all over but happy at what they'd achieved.
"I just hope it will be enough to help Harry" Said Ron worriedly as they poked their heads out of the classroom and began walking down the corridor back towards Gryffindor tower.
Another short one but this bit always intrigued me in the books, that they went off to practise this spell to help Harry. Do you guys think I'm getting the conversation and chemistry right between them? Obviously they've got no feelings for each other at this point so I'm going for banter/bickery/slightly awkward at time friendship. Leave a review at let me know! xxx
Note: Re-uploaded due to story not updating
