Chapter 5: About forbidden stuff
Harry Potter didn't eat much that day at breakfast, still thinking about this little incident which he thought was supposed to be a students' prank. What should he do to deal with it? On the one hand he didn't want those Gryffindors to know they had succeeded in a way… which they had, Harry had to admit. They had not really threatened him like they had probably aimed to with that note, but those firecrackers had seriously hurt. But should he just ignore it? On the other hand that hadn't really only been a prank but really dangerous and they had to know that. Maybe they'd test their great abilities concerning little jokes in some other opportunity if they were not told how serious their pranks could become.
"What, not eating today, Evans? Fearing it might come up again when you see your little Gryffies being beaten into the ground by us today?"
Harry looked at Professor Draco Malfoy, who grinned at his own joke, which, Harry thought, had not really been that original at all. He had not seen any of the house-teams play yet and so had no clue who was how good, but he really had worse problems than Quidditch now. Again he wondered why Dumbledore had made him sit next to Malfoy at meals. Albus new how he felt about his former classmate and Harry was sure he was very well aware of what he was doing, since Albus Dumbledore always was, but he couldn't see how this could possibly do any good to anyone.
Luckily Malfoy didn't know his true identity – he might 'accidentally' let something slip if he did, Harry was sure – but he had seemed to dislike Henry Evans from the very first day as a teacher there. Harry didn't know whether this feeling had come from the fact that Albus had told all the staff that he was a former Gryffindor. Harry had been positively surprised when none of the staff had said a thing about not knowing this guy from his time as student. Did they all trust Albus blindly? Only Minerva, Hermione and Albus knew the truth after all, as far as he was informed.
"Not talking today either?"
"W… what?" Harry stammered. "Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought. You mentioned something about Quidditch, I believe?" Harry wouldn't let Malfoy get him with a simple insult like that anymore… he would have been angry back in his childhood, he was sure.
"Yeah, Evans. I told you my house would take yours down this afternoon." Malfoy sneered.
"Oh, yeah, I thought it was something like that. Well, I have not seen any of them play yet and I don't think I'd really mind if the Gryffindors lost a match. It's up to the better team to win." Harry answered coolly.
"And if you hadn't been new here, it would have been clear to you as well who that is, Evans."
"When did Albus bring up the rule to allow teachers to play on their houses' Quidditch team, Malfoy? I know it didn't exist when I was a student here."
"If you had a brain, my 'dear Professor', you would realise that Quidditch is only made for students to relax from work. Naturally teachers are not allowed on the teams." Malfoy sneered at the obvious lack of knowledge of his colleague. This git really was a complete fool.
"Oh. Than why don't you show off with something you've actually done instead of seen others do? And now excuse me, please, I've got to prepare for lessons."
With that, Harry Potter left the Great Hall, leaving a slightly annoyed looking Draco Malfoy behind.
Martin Whitby, Leon Creevey and Ronny Longbottom, along with several other Gryffindors, were sitting in the DADA classroom, curiously waiting for their teacher to arrive, wondering how he would act. Finally, five minutes too late, 'That git' arrived.
"Morning, class." Harry said casually.
"Morning…" a few muttered hesitantly, but most of the class just glared at him. They did not see a point in being polite towards that git and he could not punish them for not being, now could he?
"Now, before we start lesson today, I will test your knowledge on certain things."
The class gulped. Evans would write a test? Now? They were used to tests – even hard tests – from McGonagall and that Malfoy-prat, but they were sure a test from Evans would not be easy. They expected it to be hell.
Now Evans grinned at them. It wasn't the sort of grin Malfoy wore when he was about to take awfully lots of points off Gryffindor, but they weren't familiar enough with their new DADA teacher to know that.
'Bloody hell. Now here is the revenge for last night I feared. This will certainly make us loose the house-cup.' Leon thought.
Harry saw his face and laughed out loud. "No, folks, not that sort of test. What about this: I will ask you a question and if you know the answer you raise your hand. I will choose anyone of those who have their hands raised. If the answer is right, I will give you, say… two points. If the answer is wrong, I will take two off you. If nobody raises his hand after half a minute, I will pick anyone. And you will not be able to answer all questions with the right or the wrong term, I think I will want your opinion on some things. Agreed?"
Silence.
"Is there any other way than to agree?" Ronny asked.
"Well, I haven't thought about that yet… hmm… say… if you refuse to join me at this little game, I'll make sure you spend the night in the Forbidden Forest with Filch. Not a pleasant experience, I can tell you, and I know what I'm talking about. Now, how is this?"
Silence again. What were they supposed to answer to that?
"Fine then. My first question is… About how many known forbidden spells and potions are there?"
No one made an effort to show any knowledge.
"No one, really? It's your points, you know…"
They still just stared at him angrily. This git would take quite a few points off, they knew it.
"Come on, only ten more seconds!" Harry demanded.
"And why, Professor, would we do you the favour to play that little game, like you call it, with you?" Ronny asked cheekily.
The others silently agreed but didn't think it was a good idea to mess with the teacher.
"Well, Mr Longbottom… I thought detention with Mr Filch and all the points off would be enough to make you answer me. Was I wrong?"
Ronny didn't answer but took his gaze off Evans. After a while, he was sure, it would really be better to answer that git than to take the punishment, though that was exactly what Evans wanted them to do.
"Okay, class, that was 45 seconds now, it's my turn to pick. I pick… hmm… Miss Wood. Please answer my question."
"I… er… "
"Guess the number if you do not know, I advice."
"Er… there are the three unforgivable curses… but that can't be all. About fifty then, I guess."
Martin knew that couldn't be all. There must be at least about two hundred different forbidden spells, he didn't know about the potions, but there had to be some, too.
"Well… I'm really sorry, believe me, to tell you that your answer is not close enough to the right one. The current number is 597 spells and 364 potions. Two points off Gryffindor." Harry said with a huge grin.
'He really only does that to annoy us' Leon thought angrily. 'Git he is!'
"I'm really sorry, folks, but it would be better to help me, don't you see that? Now – my next question: Why would the Ministry forbid the magical community to use those potions and spells?"
Leon raised his hands, still glaring coldly. He hoped his answer wouldn't take points off Gryffindor, but he didn't see what he could do wrong at this point.
"Yes, Mr Creevey?"
"I assume they do so because the spells or potions or whatever they forbid are dangerous and can do some harm."
"I'll see this as a right answer, Mr Creevey. Two points to Gryffindor. So, the Ministry forbids a spell, a potion or any object, because it is considered especially dangerous and harmful. Now, are there any exceptions when people are allowed to use those forbidden whatsoever?"
Several people raised their hands this time. Harry chose a girl sitting at the back. "Yes, Miss Baker?"
"There are no circumstances, Professor, when anyone is allowed to use the forbidden things. There are no exceptions."
Harry raised an eyebrow. Did they not know? Those awful aurors had used the most awful curses they could think of on him whenever they wanted, and it was not even common knowledge they were allowed to use forbidden curses? Unbelievable.
But if the community did not know about the aurors'… activities… he would not be the one to change that. People soon would be wondering how he knew… how he had found out… and that would be dangerous. 'Hold it back!' Harry thought as several people raised their hands. Protest?
"Yes, Mr Longbottom?"
The boy was the son of a 'famous auror', as people said, so if anyone, he would know.
"Laura's answer was wrong, Professor. Aurors are allowed forbidden things – only in emergencies, of course. But sometimes there are no other ways to defend themselves than to use them, sir. It's not an easy job and the Ministry must be able to count on the aurors."
The boy really had a too high opinion of his father and his job, as far as Harry was concerned. What did those kids here think the aurors were doing? The great aurors, saving the world from evil – evil like him – on a daily basis, in order of the great Ministry? Harry hated both that institution and those people enjoying themselves while 'working' for it.
"That is right, Mr Longbottom. The great heroic aurors are allowed those curses and potions – only under special circumstances, naturally." Harry growled.
Martin wondered why this guy seemed to hate the aurors that much. They often risked their lives for the health of the population, after all, and normally people were thankful.
"Two points off Gryffindor, Miss Baker." Harry said, in his normal voice. "Now I will say the name of a curse or a potion, and you will tell me why you think it is forbidden."
Harry was running out of time, he had to get to the point.
"First something obvious. The Imperius curse. Mr Whitby mentioned it some day, if I remember correctly, and explained its effect."
A few people applied.
"Second chance, Miss Wood!"
"A person can control another person with that curse and can force him to do… anything."
"That's right. Two points to Gryffindor. Now… Polyjuice potion!"
All students but Martin Whitby, who raised his hand, looked confused. What on earth was a 'Polyjuice Potion'?
"Mr Whitby!"
"Now, it was forbidden five years ago because people used it to get information from the Ministry. Dark people. They changed into people working at the Ministry using that potion and so fooled them for a while." Martin informed.
"Exactly. Two points to you. Now, let me see… Crucatius potion."
Now no one looked like he had only the slightest idea what the Professor was talking about.
"You don't know Crucatius Potion?" Harry asked.
"No sir. I don't, so I don't assume anyone does." Martin Whitby stated after a while.
Harry grinned. "You're a know-it-all, aren't you, Whitby?"
"Huh?" Martin was totally off now. Had this teacher just… asked… if he was a know-it-all? Some Slytherins liked to say that as an insult, but a teacher? Huh???
"Yes, I see you are. Not that it's a bad thing, though. A great friend of mine is such a person as well, you know. She is aware of that as everyone else is, though, and she really is a nice person to be around."
Now they were only more confused. First of all: This git had friends? Then: Know-it-all's could be nice? They had only seen this word as an insult.
"Granger perhaps?" Leon mouthed to his friends.
"Yes, her." Harry said.
Just how had he heard that now?
"Now, as I was about to say before my thoughts got the better of me, the Crucatius Potion is a potion with exactly the same effect as the Crucatius Curse, and that is obviously the reason it is – and hopefully forever will be – forbidden. It's one of the meanest things you can do to a person in my opinion. You can dodge the curse, or even block it, if you're powerful and the performer is not, but you will not notice that potion in your food before it's already down your throat. That potion is, however, not punished with a life-sentence in Askaban. Do not ask me why, though, I do not understand some people's minds as well."
Laura Baker applied.
"Yes, Miss Baker?"
"What is the effect of the Crucatius Curse, Professor?"
Harry Potter looked and was startled. "You… you do not know?" he asked really quietly, but the whole class heard it. Harry was one of the few people you would listen to quietly and not interrupting without even trying. He had something that made people respect him.
"Whitby, do you know? Longbottom?" he asked the two boys quietly.
"My… my father told me and I told Martin and Leon, Professor." Ronny answered. "Anyway, Martin had already read about it in a book, of course, but my father explained it properly."
"Anyone else who knows?" Harry asked and nobody sad a thing. "Fine then. Creevey, Longbottom, Whitby, keep it to yourselves, please."
The three boys nodded.
"Fine then, class. We will come to that curse later, I promise. Now, something forbidden you are familiar with… Gilly-water."
The whole class was stunned. Gilly-water was forbidden by the Ministry? They hadn't known that. Gilly-water, so dangerous? Gilly-water? The stuff they had put into Evans' shower? Bloody hell.
"Hey, you're running out of time. I need that answer." Harry said casually. "Three… two… one… that was it. Now I choose… Creevey!"
Oh no.
"I… we… we didn't know Gilly-water was… forbidden… by the Ministry, Professor. I… we…"
"If you were the Minister of Magic, Creevey, would you forbid Gilly-water?"
'Think! He wants to trap you… the Ministry has forbidden it, after all…' Leon thought. "Yes, Professor, I would forbid it."
"You would? How very surprising. And why would you do so?"
"Er…" Leon thought again. 'The Ministry has done it and I suppose they must have had good reasons' would not be the top-answer, he thought.
"Think, Creevey." Harry interrupted his thoughts. "What happens if a person comes in touch with Gilly-water?"
"The… the person gets some of the typical distinctive marks of a fish, sir."
There the 'Sir' was again. The boy was probably frightened.
"Do you by any chance know what those are, Creevey?"
Leon did not, but Martin raised his hand.
"Yes, Whitby!"
"The person gets gills and the hands and feet become webbed. So the person can swim and breathe underwater like a fish."
"Precisely, Whitby, like a fish. A fish cannot live outside water though, it cannot breathe there." Harry said, still casual.
"But the person could summon water with a simple charm, Professor." Ronny stated.
"And what if the person couldn't? What if the person was a Muggle, or a squib? Or not old enough to know the curse, a first-year, for example, or not even at secondary school yet? Or if the person by chance didn't have a wand at hand, because he was doing something you usually don't take you wand to, say, having a shower? What then, Longbottom?" Harry responded. He had managed to keep his voice about as it usually was, but his eyes betrayed anger.
"I… I do not… know, sir." Ronny said, his face white. What had they done? It hadn't been a prank anymore, and he knew it. At the look of their faces, his two best friends knew as well.
The bell rang suddenly and the students hurriedly packed their bags, happy about the opportunity to escape, half expecting Evans to stop them and expel them all or at least take thousands of points off and give a week of detention, but the teacher didn't do anything when they ran out of the room, he just stood there, staring grimly.
"Good luck this afternoon." Harry Potter muttered when they had all left the class, but there was no chance for any of them to hear that anymore.
*Author's note:*
You want Harry to take revenge on them for that prank? Tell you what: He will. Just wait for chapters 8 and 9, you'll see.
I'm sorry there was very few actual action in this chapter, there'll be more in the next one.
Thank you for reviewing, by the way. When I started this all, I promised myself never to beg for reviews, since I myself do not always review. But I must say, it is really encouraging to get reviews. I had feared you might ignore it completely, you know…
I'll end this stuff out of story, you'll probably find it annoying anyway.
Bye! Ottilchen
Harry Potter didn't eat much that day at breakfast, still thinking about this little incident which he thought was supposed to be a students' prank. What should he do to deal with it? On the one hand he didn't want those Gryffindors to know they had succeeded in a way… which they had, Harry had to admit. They had not really threatened him like they had probably aimed to with that note, but those firecrackers had seriously hurt. But should he just ignore it? On the other hand that hadn't really only been a prank but really dangerous and they had to know that. Maybe they'd test their great abilities concerning little jokes in some other opportunity if they were not told how serious their pranks could become.
"What, not eating today, Evans? Fearing it might come up again when you see your little Gryffies being beaten into the ground by us today?"
Harry looked at Professor Draco Malfoy, who grinned at his own joke, which, Harry thought, had not really been that original at all. He had not seen any of the house-teams play yet and so had no clue who was how good, but he really had worse problems than Quidditch now. Again he wondered why Dumbledore had made him sit next to Malfoy at meals. Albus new how he felt about his former classmate and Harry was sure he was very well aware of what he was doing, since Albus Dumbledore always was, but he couldn't see how this could possibly do any good to anyone.
Luckily Malfoy didn't know his true identity – he might 'accidentally' let something slip if he did, Harry was sure – but he had seemed to dislike Henry Evans from the very first day as a teacher there. Harry didn't know whether this feeling had come from the fact that Albus had told all the staff that he was a former Gryffindor. Harry had been positively surprised when none of the staff had said a thing about not knowing this guy from his time as student. Did they all trust Albus blindly? Only Minerva, Hermione and Albus knew the truth after all, as far as he was informed.
"Not talking today either?"
"W… what?" Harry stammered. "Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought. You mentioned something about Quidditch, I believe?" Harry wouldn't let Malfoy get him with a simple insult like that anymore… he would have been angry back in his childhood, he was sure.
"Yeah, Evans. I told you my house would take yours down this afternoon." Malfoy sneered.
"Oh, yeah, I thought it was something like that. Well, I have not seen any of them play yet and I don't think I'd really mind if the Gryffindors lost a match. It's up to the better team to win." Harry answered coolly.
"And if you hadn't been new here, it would have been clear to you as well who that is, Evans."
"When did Albus bring up the rule to allow teachers to play on their houses' Quidditch team, Malfoy? I know it didn't exist when I was a student here."
"If you had a brain, my 'dear Professor', you would realise that Quidditch is only made for students to relax from work. Naturally teachers are not allowed on the teams." Malfoy sneered at the obvious lack of knowledge of his colleague. This git really was a complete fool.
"Oh. Than why don't you show off with something you've actually done instead of seen others do? And now excuse me, please, I've got to prepare for lessons."
With that, Harry Potter left the Great Hall, leaving a slightly annoyed looking Draco Malfoy behind.
Martin Whitby, Leon Creevey and Ronny Longbottom, along with several other Gryffindors, were sitting in the DADA classroom, curiously waiting for their teacher to arrive, wondering how he would act. Finally, five minutes too late, 'That git' arrived.
"Morning, class." Harry said casually.
"Morning…" a few muttered hesitantly, but most of the class just glared at him. They did not see a point in being polite towards that git and he could not punish them for not being, now could he?
"Now, before we start lesson today, I will test your knowledge on certain things."
The class gulped. Evans would write a test? Now? They were used to tests – even hard tests – from McGonagall and that Malfoy-prat, but they were sure a test from Evans would not be easy. They expected it to be hell.
Now Evans grinned at them. It wasn't the sort of grin Malfoy wore when he was about to take awfully lots of points off Gryffindor, but they weren't familiar enough with their new DADA teacher to know that.
'Bloody hell. Now here is the revenge for last night I feared. This will certainly make us loose the house-cup.' Leon thought.
Harry saw his face and laughed out loud. "No, folks, not that sort of test. What about this: I will ask you a question and if you know the answer you raise your hand. I will choose anyone of those who have their hands raised. If the answer is right, I will give you, say… two points. If the answer is wrong, I will take two off you. If nobody raises his hand after half a minute, I will pick anyone. And you will not be able to answer all questions with the right or the wrong term, I think I will want your opinion on some things. Agreed?"
Silence.
"Is there any other way than to agree?" Ronny asked.
"Well, I haven't thought about that yet… hmm… say… if you refuse to join me at this little game, I'll make sure you spend the night in the Forbidden Forest with Filch. Not a pleasant experience, I can tell you, and I know what I'm talking about. Now, how is this?"
Silence again. What were they supposed to answer to that?
"Fine then. My first question is… About how many known forbidden spells and potions are there?"
No one made an effort to show any knowledge.
"No one, really? It's your points, you know…"
They still just stared at him angrily. This git would take quite a few points off, they knew it.
"Come on, only ten more seconds!" Harry demanded.
"And why, Professor, would we do you the favour to play that little game, like you call it, with you?" Ronny asked cheekily.
The others silently agreed but didn't think it was a good idea to mess with the teacher.
"Well, Mr Longbottom… I thought detention with Mr Filch and all the points off would be enough to make you answer me. Was I wrong?"
Ronny didn't answer but took his gaze off Evans. After a while, he was sure, it would really be better to answer that git than to take the punishment, though that was exactly what Evans wanted them to do.
"Okay, class, that was 45 seconds now, it's my turn to pick. I pick… hmm… Miss Wood. Please answer my question."
"I… er… "
"Guess the number if you do not know, I advice."
"Er… there are the three unforgivable curses… but that can't be all. About fifty then, I guess."
Martin knew that couldn't be all. There must be at least about two hundred different forbidden spells, he didn't know about the potions, but there had to be some, too.
"Well… I'm really sorry, believe me, to tell you that your answer is not close enough to the right one. The current number is 597 spells and 364 potions. Two points off Gryffindor." Harry said with a huge grin.
'He really only does that to annoy us' Leon thought angrily. 'Git he is!'
"I'm really sorry, folks, but it would be better to help me, don't you see that? Now – my next question: Why would the Ministry forbid the magical community to use those potions and spells?"
Leon raised his hands, still glaring coldly. He hoped his answer wouldn't take points off Gryffindor, but he didn't see what he could do wrong at this point.
"Yes, Mr Creevey?"
"I assume they do so because the spells or potions or whatever they forbid are dangerous and can do some harm."
"I'll see this as a right answer, Mr Creevey. Two points to Gryffindor. So, the Ministry forbids a spell, a potion or any object, because it is considered especially dangerous and harmful. Now, are there any exceptions when people are allowed to use those forbidden whatsoever?"
Several people raised their hands this time. Harry chose a girl sitting at the back. "Yes, Miss Baker?"
"There are no circumstances, Professor, when anyone is allowed to use the forbidden things. There are no exceptions."
Harry raised an eyebrow. Did they not know? Those awful aurors had used the most awful curses they could think of on him whenever they wanted, and it was not even common knowledge they were allowed to use forbidden curses? Unbelievable.
But if the community did not know about the aurors'… activities… he would not be the one to change that. People soon would be wondering how he knew… how he had found out… and that would be dangerous. 'Hold it back!' Harry thought as several people raised their hands. Protest?
"Yes, Mr Longbottom?"
The boy was the son of a 'famous auror', as people said, so if anyone, he would know.
"Laura's answer was wrong, Professor. Aurors are allowed forbidden things – only in emergencies, of course. But sometimes there are no other ways to defend themselves than to use them, sir. It's not an easy job and the Ministry must be able to count on the aurors."
The boy really had a too high opinion of his father and his job, as far as Harry was concerned. What did those kids here think the aurors were doing? The great aurors, saving the world from evil – evil like him – on a daily basis, in order of the great Ministry? Harry hated both that institution and those people enjoying themselves while 'working' for it.
"That is right, Mr Longbottom. The great heroic aurors are allowed those curses and potions – only under special circumstances, naturally." Harry growled.
Martin wondered why this guy seemed to hate the aurors that much. They often risked their lives for the health of the population, after all, and normally people were thankful.
"Two points off Gryffindor, Miss Baker." Harry said, in his normal voice. "Now I will say the name of a curse or a potion, and you will tell me why you think it is forbidden."
Harry was running out of time, he had to get to the point.
"First something obvious. The Imperius curse. Mr Whitby mentioned it some day, if I remember correctly, and explained its effect."
A few people applied.
"Second chance, Miss Wood!"
"A person can control another person with that curse and can force him to do… anything."
"That's right. Two points to Gryffindor. Now… Polyjuice potion!"
All students but Martin Whitby, who raised his hand, looked confused. What on earth was a 'Polyjuice Potion'?
"Mr Whitby!"
"Now, it was forbidden five years ago because people used it to get information from the Ministry. Dark people. They changed into people working at the Ministry using that potion and so fooled them for a while." Martin informed.
"Exactly. Two points to you. Now, let me see… Crucatius potion."
Now no one looked like he had only the slightest idea what the Professor was talking about.
"You don't know Crucatius Potion?" Harry asked.
"No sir. I don't, so I don't assume anyone does." Martin Whitby stated after a while.
Harry grinned. "You're a know-it-all, aren't you, Whitby?"
"Huh?" Martin was totally off now. Had this teacher just… asked… if he was a know-it-all? Some Slytherins liked to say that as an insult, but a teacher? Huh???
"Yes, I see you are. Not that it's a bad thing, though. A great friend of mine is such a person as well, you know. She is aware of that as everyone else is, though, and she really is a nice person to be around."
Now they were only more confused. First of all: This git had friends? Then: Know-it-all's could be nice? They had only seen this word as an insult.
"Granger perhaps?" Leon mouthed to his friends.
"Yes, her." Harry said.
Just how had he heard that now?
"Now, as I was about to say before my thoughts got the better of me, the Crucatius Potion is a potion with exactly the same effect as the Crucatius Curse, and that is obviously the reason it is – and hopefully forever will be – forbidden. It's one of the meanest things you can do to a person in my opinion. You can dodge the curse, or even block it, if you're powerful and the performer is not, but you will not notice that potion in your food before it's already down your throat. That potion is, however, not punished with a life-sentence in Askaban. Do not ask me why, though, I do not understand some people's minds as well."
Laura Baker applied.
"Yes, Miss Baker?"
"What is the effect of the Crucatius Curse, Professor?"
Harry Potter looked and was startled. "You… you do not know?" he asked really quietly, but the whole class heard it. Harry was one of the few people you would listen to quietly and not interrupting without even trying. He had something that made people respect him.
"Whitby, do you know? Longbottom?" he asked the two boys quietly.
"My… my father told me and I told Martin and Leon, Professor." Ronny answered. "Anyway, Martin had already read about it in a book, of course, but my father explained it properly."
"Anyone else who knows?" Harry asked and nobody sad a thing. "Fine then. Creevey, Longbottom, Whitby, keep it to yourselves, please."
The three boys nodded.
"Fine then, class. We will come to that curse later, I promise. Now, something forbidden you are familiar with… Gilly-water."
The whole class was stunned. Gilly-water was forbidden by the Ministry? They hadn't known that. Gilly-water, so dangerous? Gilly-water? The stuff they had put into Evans' shower? Bloody hell.
"Hey, you're running out of time. I need that answer." Harry said casually. "Three… two… one… that was it. Now I choose… Creevey!"
Oh no.
"I… we… we didn't know Gilly-water was… forbidden… by the Ministry, Professor. I… we…"
"If you were the Minister of Magic, Creevey, would you forbid Gilly-water?"
'Think! He wants to trap you… the Ministry has forbidden it, after all…' Leon thought. "Yes, Professor, I would forbid it."
"You would? How very surprising. And why would you do so?"
"Er…" Leon thought again. 'The Ministry has done it and I suppose they must have had good reasons' would not be the top-answer, he thought.
"Think, Creevey." Harry interrupted his thoughts. "What happens if a person comes in touch with Gilly-water?"
"The… the person gets some of the typical distinctive marks of a fish, sir."
There the 'Sir' was again. The boy was probably frightened.
"Do you by any chance know what those are, Creevey?"
Leon did not, but Martin raised his hand.
"Yes, Whitby!"
"The person gets gills and the hands and feet become webbed. So the person can swim and breathe underwater like a fish."
"Precisely, Whitby, like a fish. A fish cannot live outside water though, it cannot breathe there." Harry said, still casual.
"But the person could summon water with a simple charm, Professor." Ronny stated.
"And what if the person couldn't? What if the person was a Muggle, or a squib? Or not old enough to know the curse, a first-year, for example, or not even at secondary school yet? Or if the person by chance didn't have a wand at hand, because he was doing something you usually don't take you wand to, say, having a shower? What then, Longbottom?" Harry responded. He had managed to keep his voice about as it usually was, but his eyes betrayed anger.
"I… I do not… know, sir." Ronny said, his face white. What had they done? It hadn't been a prank anymore, and he knew it. At the look of their faces, his two best friends knew as well.
The bell rang suddenly and the students hurriedly packed their bags, happy about the opportunity to escape, half expecting Evans to stop them and expel them all or at least take thousands of points off and give a week of detention, but the teacher didn't do anything when they ran out of the room, he just stood there, staring grimly.
"Good luck this afternoon." Harry Potter muttered when they had all left the class, but there was no chance for any of them to hear that anymore.
*Author's note:*
You want Harry to take revenge on them for that prank? Tell you what: He will. Just wait for chapters 8 and 9, you'll see.
I'm sorry there was very few actual action in this chapter, there'll be more in the next one.
Thank you for reviewing, by the way. When I started this all, I promised myself never to beg for reviews, since I myself do not always review. But I must say, it is really encouraging to get reviews. I had feared you might ignore it completely, you know…
I'll end this stuff out of story, you'll probably find it annoying anyway.
Bye! Ottilchen