DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created
and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited
to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner
Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark
infringement is intended.
Author notes: Hmmm still not doing well on updating often am i? However in my defence I'm sure someone is probably to blame… erm, lets say Communists. Anyway hope you enjoy, more to come:
As the Gryffindor headed towards the catacombs the same nervous excitement was etched on every face. When they reached the huge brass doors they found them already wide open and the classroom fully lit. Tentatively the class entered, though this time Harry hung back instead of leading the way.
After looking around the room Hermione turned to Harry and whispered "He's not here."
"No, maybe he's planning on making another grand entrance." Harry replied. "And why are you whispering?"
Before she could reply Dean caught everyone's attention by exclaiming. "Ewww! Is that blood!?"
Harry and the rest of the class turned to see what Dean was pointing at and saw there had been an addition to the room since yesterday. Along the wall opposite the blue fire was a long counter with crystal decanters lined up along the top, with matching crystal goblets surrounding each one. All of them without exception were filled with a deep red liquid.
"Whose blood do you think it is? Where did he get it all?" Lavender whispered, sounding on the edge of hysterics. Parvati who just shook her head in response.
Just then the smaller door behind the divan open and Innadrue casually sauntered in. Like before he was dressed in black. This time tight fitting black trousers were tucked into soft black leather boots that came up just passed mid-calf and a black shirt with a high stiff collared and large cuffs finished it. Harry noticed uncomfortably that the shirt was only buttoned from half way down leaving an expanse of white flesh on display.
"Please take your seats so that we may begin." Innadrue said seating himself on the divan behind him. Once everyone else was sitting he scanned the room and smiled.
"Before you all start worrying over whether or not I decided to drain some poor little first year class you may like to know that what you are all gawping at is a rather excellent Merlot." Innadrue said with a smile. Seeing the blank looks his was getting from a few in the class he continued. "It's red wine – dear God, do they teach you nothing of importance? Anyway you may help yourselves, you are all old enough, and I'm of the opinion that wine lubricates the brain."
At this Ron turned to Harry and grinned before heading towards the wine, joined by several of the rest of class. Harry however remained starring at Innadrue who in turn was starring into the fire. Hermione just scowled.
"There are of course rules." Innadrue continued with out turning his attention from the fire. "You may drink, but you may not get drunk. I have no intension of monitoring how much wine you consume – you shall all have to regulate yourselves, and I shall be…displeased with anyone who fails to do so. Now go get your wine and take your seats."
As most the class helped themselves to wine Harry continued to sit beside an equally immobile Hermione as he stared at Innadrue.
"Well I'm pleased at least your being sensible Harry." Hermione said pointedly as Ron returned with a very full glass.
"You heard the man Hermione, lubricates the brain." Ron grinned in reply. "You not getting any Harry?"
"What? Oh… yeah I was just about to." Harry replied finally turning to his friends. "Sorry sort of drifted off." With this he quickly went over and poured himself a glass.
Once everyone was seated and looking expectantly at Innadrue he stood and faced them. "Yesterday I gave you a brief overview, today we shall being for real. Your teaching over the last few years has been somewhat hit and miss but sadly your teacher last year completely failed you – the entire years worth of classes were sadly close to pointless. Thankfully however some of you were wise enough to look elsewhere for education." As he said this his eyes flicked briefly to Harry and he shot a quick smile. "But those of you who did not the DA last year do not need to despair. You will however need to take extra classes."
At this a storm of protest broke out from those who had not been members of the DA. Those who had just smiled, and as a rule looked rather pleased with themselves.
"There is absolutely no point protesting, it will change nothing. However it might make you feel a little better to know that those of you who were members are going to help me give the extra classes." At this news the majority of the former DA members looked distinctly less pleased. "These classes will only be for 5th, 6th and 7th year students and will take place in the evenings. The exact date will be arranged later, but don't worry I shall ensure it does not clash with Quidditch." As he spoke Innadrue walked down from the platform and poured himself some wine. "Now then…" He said before pausing, taking a sip and smiling in pleasure. "Shall we begin?"
"This year I shall be attempting to teach you how to recognise and overcome, or at least survive, some of the more serious threats you could face in the future. This will include dark curses and hexes, dark artefacts and also dark creatures. These fall roughly into two groups; firstly the fully sentient," He grinned showing his fangs. "such as myself, lesser vampires, some of the greater demons etc. Secondly, the more bestial creatures that can be trained and used as weapons."
As the rest of the class listened intently Harry found himself paying far more attention to the opening of the vampire's shirt. His eyes, seemingly against his will, moved over the pale pectoral muscles and the small hard nipples only a shade or so darker than the rest of the skin. As Harry travelled upwards he was startled to meet Innadrue's eyes, a half smile playing on the edge of his full lips. Harry felt the heat rushing to his face and quickly looked away, knowing he had already been caught.
"Great, just great.' He muttered to himself. Looking around to see if anyone had been watching Harry was relieved to see everyone else busy putting their book back into their bags. Apparently he had missed that instruction while his mind was on other things. As he started to follow suit he realised that putting books away almost certainly meant a practical lesson. If I can just stop starring and pay attentions this could be good he thought.
Innadrue rose swiftly in one fluid motion and began to pace back and forth across the raised platform where his divan sat. As he addressed them his face and voice dropped the playful note they had before and he was suddenly serious.
"You all know of the Impertius Curse, you all felt it from the impostor Moody in your fourth years. Mr. Potter has even felt the power of the Dark Lord's curse." At this the eyes of the class turned to Harry and he felt his face warming again. Innadrue's eyes however remained fixed on some distant point as he continued. "While this is a very serious threat it is far from the only method of mind control. There are others that can be far harder to detect and therefore to resist. The Imperitous Curse is a battering ram against the fortress of your will. If you are strong enough you can hold it back for a time. The truly strong of will cannot be controlled in this way, the most you cope hope to do would be to shatter their minds into madness."
Harry shuddered as he remembered both the searing pain of refusing Voldemort's commands that night in the grave yard and also at the thought of Barty Crouch Senior. When Harry had seen him for the last time Crouch had managed to shake off the hold of the Impertious curse but it had left his mind broken.
"But why assault what you can enter freely?" Innadrue continued his voice intense. "There are ways of tricking your way into any fortress, even the mind. But I shall teach you to recognise the wooden horses you would otherwise willing accept through the gates of your consciousness... All these things are simple. The greatest threat, the true threat, is insidious. You will not see it. You will hear it. You will not sense it… The greatest control over another occurs when they do not know it exists. The reason? Because you will never fight it, never resist. It will whisper in your ear, with your own voice and you will think it part of you… It is quite possible to become the slave to another's will and never know a thing about it." Innadrue stood silently for a moment, his eyes far away. He turned towards them. "Most of you will probably never be able to detect this kind of control, not fully, but some of you may be capable of being taught. I can teach you what mental defences there are, but one of your greatest protections will be you friends and those close to you. Watch for sudden changes of previously held opinions, of tastes and mood. Any or all of these things of course do not have to mean anything. But if a being capable of this control is near by it should be considered. The list of beings, by the way, is very short."
"Your one of the things aren't you? Your one of the things on the list?" Harry asked suddenly, surprising himself. He didn't know how he knew but he felt certain he was right. Innadrue did not reply immediately but looked at Harry thoughtfully as if carefully considering his answer.
"I believe I can say without arrogance that there are none, living or dead who match my skills in this art. It is among the greatest of my powers," his face became less serious as he spoke and a sparkle came to his eyes. "which to be honest with you kiddies is really saying something because quite frankly I'm really rather spectacular. But fear not, your headmaster has forbidden me to use this ability outside of a teaching context. Your minds are your own, although I might sneak the odd peak at the now and again." He finished with a grin.
Harry and Ron shared nervous glances, both unsure if he was joking or not. Harry didn't know what Ron didn't want Innadrue seeing but he knew exactly what he wanted to keep hidden in his own mind.
"Now then, that having been said, on to art appreciation and the trap of beauty." Innadrue said airily.
As he spoke the door through which they had entered opened again and a short man entered dressed all in tattered black. Worn heavy looking boots were visible beneath the dusty black coat but only barely. The collar was upturned and high, casting most of the face in a shadow that light did not seem to penetrate. A black hat, the kind Harry had seen gangsters in old movies wear, covered the rest. The only flesh visible was the clawed and scabrous grey hands that held a large tray covered with a sheet of blood red silk.
"Your, ssssll, ssstatuess my Masster.." The thing hissed in a strange hesitant voice, as though speech were something unfamiliar to it.
"Very good Titus, place them on the table please." Innadrue replied, alone in the room in seeming unperturbed by the newcomer.
As the thing, Titus, crossed the room Harry realised that he wasn't short at all as he had first thought but rather hunched over. Once the tray was deposited on a table on the left of the room Titus bowed low to Innadrue and shuffled quickly from the room.
"My servant." Innadrue said by way of explanation to the questioning looks around the room.
"What was he?" Seamus whispered to Dean who was sitting with him. However in the silence it carried across the room for everyone to hear.
"That is not your concern Mr. Finnigan." Innadrue snapped coldly. "You need only know that he is mine."
Seeing that this was clearly not a subject Innadrue was willing to talk further about no one said any more. Harry guessed however that he wasn't the only one wondering what the answer to Seamus question was.
"Now, as I was saying, art appreciation." Innadrue continued, his voice once again light. "Who can tell me what a Siren Statue is?"
To no ones great surprise Hermione's hand was the first in the air. Innadrue acknowledged her with a smile and a smile nod of his head.
"It's the common name for a statue that has been bespelled to prevent you being able to look away. It can be done with all kinds of art but works best of statues."
"Very good Miss. Granger, take ten … no wait… make it five points. Ten points for a correct answer shall hence forth be reserved for people have made the effort to make their hair look nice before coming into my classroom. Now then, one of the main reasons that statues are…" He paused looking out at the incredulous faces starring back at him.
Hermione seemed stuck somewhere between outrage and embarrassment while Ron, just starred in open mouthed disbelief.
"What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Innadrue demanded looking genuinely puzzled.
For a moment no one answered till finally Ron burst out. "You can't give out points based on people's hair!"
Innadrue looked carefully at Ron for a moment taking in his shock of red hair with one raised eye brow.
"Well you would say that, wouldn't you? But I think you'll find that I can. I can (and indeed shall) also give them out based on whether or not you're wearing good shoes, your clothing, personal hygiene, and of course general attractiveness. The chronically ugly will actually lose points by answering questions unless willing to wear some kind of mask when talking… and well, just whenever they are in public really." Holding up his hands to halt the protests that were beginning from all around the class he continued "Enough! My classroom is a dictatorship not a democracy and my word is law. Plus we really should be getting on with today's lesson."
After the muttering dies away Innadrue had each of them come to table with the waiting tray upon it and take a small statue from under the silk with strict instructions not to look at it till instructed. After everyone was back in their seats, the statues hidden in their hands he spoke.
"Your task for today is simple. When I give the word you will look at your statue, then at my command you will look away. All clear? Good, then begin."
Opening his hands Harry looked down at his figurine. It was a rather uninspiring statue of an elderly looking witch with a black cat weaving between her legs. Harry wasn't sure what exactly he had been expecting but he knew it was something a little more… impressive. It was certainly well made but not really all that interesting. And the detail was impressive; there were even small laughter lines around the witch's eyes. Looking closer Harry noticed just how impressive the cat was as well. It almost seemed to be moving…
"That is enough. I would like all of you to look away now." Innadrue's voice said from far away.
I'll look away in a moment, Harry thought. The eyes of that cat are amazing! So real looking. It almost like they're looking back.
"All of you listen to my voice. Look away now." Innadrue's voice intruded, closer seeming than before, more insistent.
This time Harry went to look up but suddenly noticed a small ring on the hand of the witch, the light seemed to glinting on an impossibly small stone. So what?! I don't care about this stupid statue! Harry railed at himself. However every time he went to look away some new detail would capture his attention. After a few minuets of trying Harry found himself forgetting why it was he shouldn't be looking at the figure in his hands. It was after all very pretty.
Distantly Harry was aware of noises and movement from around the room but he was found that he couldn't focus on it. Eventually Harry felt a cool hand gently touching his shoulder. His skin tingled at the contact and for a second his eyes flicked to the slender fingers contrasted against the black of his robe.
"Harry… look at me Harry." Said a soft sweet voice in his head. "Ignore its spell, and look at me. Wouldn't you rather look at me Harry?" The voice laughed, a rich dark sound. "Look at me Harry" The voice asked again, even softer than before and hearing the words felt like being wrapped in silk. Harry shivered and felt his skin tingling. All thought of the statue lost Harry looked up and found himself starring into ageless violet pools. For a moment he was lost again, but this time in the depths of the vampire's eyes. A strangely gentle smile was on Innadrue's face as he looked down at Harry. He gave Harry's shoulder a brief squeeze before leaning in.
"Well done Harry." He whispered, this time aloud. As he leaned forward to speak strands of golden hair fell forward, almost touching Harry's face. Before he realised what he was doing Harry found his hand reaching up to touch the golden strands. Catching himself just in time he blushed furiously and lowered his hand. Innadrue only watched making no comment, the same warm smile on his face.
Not daring to continue looking at his teacher Harry glanced about the room. Every one was looking slightly dazed and talking to one another. Hermione however seemed to have been watching Harry a quizzical expression on her face. Harry looked away quickly and decided the safest place to look was probably his desk.