Harry Potter

The Fight for Survival

By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you dont recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Rating: K

Pairing: Marcus/OC - Fred/OC - Harry/Ginny

Genre: Adventure/Friendship/Romance

Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.

Summary: In order to deal with the future, one must understand the past. As the final battle approches the safety of Hogwarts is called into question. But as danger looms, the fight for magic...may come with a price.

Author's Note: Chapter dedicated too: Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967, BamaRose, Matt-hardy-lover-101, Krasni, Aileen Autarkeia, NewFanFictionFan and DJScales. Thanks for your lovely words of encouragement. I appreciate it.

Author's Note Two: In response too Aileen Autarkeia; hey sweetie, you review when you can. Im glad you enjoyed the Marcus/Charlie moment, im hoping to add some more into the story this year; im trying to show a side of Charlie/Marcus that shows their not considered 'kids' anymore. But I don't want to take it over the top, and have Charlie lose that innocent nature she seems to have. If that makes sense...

Anyway, enjoy this next chapter.

DADA: Severus Snape Style

Lunch had ended two hours ago, and the friends of both Gryffindor and Slytherin had headed off in different directions. Harry and Ron headed up seven floors to the Gryffindor for their free period, as Draco, Nathan and Blaise followed their example and disppeared down into the dungeons for theirs. Hermione, bid goodbye in the Entrance Hall and disappeared off to History of Magic, leaving Pansy and Millicent to head off to Transfigurations together. This left Daphne, Charlie and Riley in the Entrance Hall, before the three turned and headed out onto the grounds for their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson of the year.

Jenn was -as always- happy to see those returning to her class. She knew better than anyone that not alot of people enjoyed Care of Magical Creatures, but there were the selected few who were brave enough to stick through it. She nodded in acknowledgement as Charlie shed her backpack, and dropped it under a nearby tree before turning to the class. Riley and Daphne followed their friends example, and Jenn began her lesson. Today, was just a recap of what they had learned over the past year and any homework in which they had completed over the summer she was collecting in. The summer homework in which she had distributed was only to be completed if you had planned to return to Care of Magical Creatures in sixth year; if you were planning on not returning then you didnt have to do it. "You will get these back next lesson," she told the students, waving their essays in the air "With my comments and a grade." she dropped them onto the table beside Hagrid's hut. "Okay, today, I just want to brush over a few creatures that we will be covering this year, so do not panic, we are not starting anything new this lesson"

The class relaxed a little, although Charlie looked slightly disappointed. She was hoping to jump straight into a new lesson rather than recap what they had already done, Oh well, she thought maybe I'll get lucky and Jenn will explain what creatures we will be dealing with this year? and she returned her attention to Jenn who was answering another students question, on some of the creatures they had learned years previously.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

Care of Magical Creatures was only an hour long, and by the end of the lesson Charlie was one step closer to finding out what hey would be starting next lesson. Jenn had presented them with a list of creatures they would possibly be covering that year and she wanted a 2 foot essay on one or more of the creatures "Do not attempt to write about two or more creatures," she warned her class "I do not want you to overpower yourselves, understand?"

"Yes, Professor" the Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's choursed

Jenn glanced back at Riley, Daphne and Charlie who nodded in understandment before the class headed off to their next class of the day. The two snakes and Riley returned to the castle and headed off towards Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"We have Free Period next," Riley told Charlie "Do you want to start Jenn's essay then?"

"Sure," Charlie nodded "Got nothing better to do"

Riley smiled "Cool. What creatures you planning on writing about?" she asked "I might do the Black Dwarfs and Minoboars"

"I don't know yet," Charlie answered "I might do Minotaurs and Gryphons. Such a shame Jenn didnt mention Phoenixes..." she pouted

"Isnt a Gryphon close to a Phoenix?" Adrian asked

The Muggleborn Slytherin shook her head "Nope. Gryphons are part eagle and part lion," she explained "Phoenixes are regenerative birds. Its a mythical bird that is a fire spirit"

Adrian nodded, as the five of them turned onto the corridor which lead to the Defence classroom. The other Slytherins and Gryffindors -those who had managed to pass- where waiting outside. As they grew closer, they just caught the end of the conversation between Ron and Hermione.

"...I bet Snape gives us loads" the bookworm huffed, hoisting her backpack further up onto her shoulders.

But before Charlie or Riley could ask what they had been talking about, before they turned up, the door opened and Snape loomed over them "Inside," he ordered.

Taking in the room as they entered, Charlie noticed that the room had been changed around once more. Each year, every new professor that had come to teach DADA had imposed on the room with their own personality; Lockhart had hung pictures of himself all around the room, Lupin had hung up pictures, posters and diagrams that related back to the topic on which they were studying. As for Snape, it seemed he was thinking along the same lines as Lupin had been during third year. The curtains had been drawn over the window's, and the room was lit by candlelight. New pictures adorned the walls, many o fthem showing people who appeared to be in pain -Charlie cringed, and edged closer to Marcus- others were sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts

I have got to talk to Professor Snape about his personality Charlie thought as she glanced around, the room this year made her feel terribly sick.

"I have not asked you to take out your books," Snape's voice cut through the uneasy silence that seemed to have fallen. He closed the door behind him and swept to the front of the room, as Nikki appeared at the front of the class, to the left of Daphne and Nathan's table, Hermione dropped her book back into her bag and stashed it under her chair. "I wish to speak to you and I want your fullest attention"

His black eyes roved over his students, lingering on Harry and Charlie a little longer than the rest. He offered his Slytherin a small nod, as she turned her attention away from the picture that protrayed an individual in extreme pain.

"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe?" he asked "Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an OWL in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the NEWT work, which will be much more advanced"

He moved off around the room, slipping into the shadows every once in a while, but his voice remained low and calm. Many students craned their necks to keep him in their line of sight, but others -mostly Slytherins and the odd Gryffindor- just stared at their desks, taking in their Professors words.

"The Dark Arts," Snape continued "are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than the last. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible"

Nothing is indestructible Charlie thought everything has a weakness...

Riley glanced up from her seat and over her shoulder at Charlie, who met her gaze and offered half a smile, along with a small shrug of her shoulders.

"Your defences," Snape continued "must be as flexible and inventive as the Arts you seek to undo. These pictures," he motioned to the pictures on the walls "represent those who suffer..." he went on to explain what each picture included, but up to this moment Charlie had been listening with a keen interest but found that she didnt need to listen to understand the suffering an individual had to go through when under a curse of the Dark Arts, she had been subjected to the Cruciatus Curse in her first year at Hogwarts and she therefore could identify with others who had been through the same curse.

Although some cases had resulted in worse conditions than she.

Having blocked out most of Professor Snape's speech, Charlie was startled when movement around ehr alerted her to a progression of the lesson "What's going on?" she asked, turning to Marcus

"Just get up," he instructed her, grabbing her arm and pulling her from her seat.

Charlie did as told and allowed Marcus to pull her towards the back of the room, "What are we doing?" she asked again, as the rest of the class paired up, and Riley and Adrian joined them "Rils?"

"We're practising non-verbal spells," Riley answered "It gives you a split-second chance at gaining the upperhand in a battle, because your opponent doesnt know which spell you are going to use, because you didnt actually speak the spell or charm..." she explained

"Oh," Charlie nodded, before smirking.

Adrian frowned "What are you smirking at?" he asked

"There is going to be a whole lot of cheating in here," Charlie answered "Half of the students here, where in the DA last year. They may not be able to peform non-verbal spells, but they can whisper the spell or charm, to pass it off as a non-verbal incantation" she explained, looking back out onto the class "But then again, you've got students like Riley and Hermione who can get it done the first time..." she pointed at the Gryffindor Bookworm, who had partnered up with Brandon and had just blocked his Jelly-Legs jinx without muttering a single world.

Hermione grinned happily, before a hushed silence fell as Harry's voice broke it.

"Pretego!"

There was a whirl of energy and Snape was thrown into a desk. Silence fell as the Head of Slytherin righted himself and glared heavily at Harry "Do you remember me telling you we are practising non-verbal spells, Potter?" he snarled

"Yes," Harry responded

"Yes, sir!" Snape retorted

"There is no need to call me 'sir', Professor" Harry responded, without thinking

Charlie felt her jaw hit the floor, as Riley slapped her hand over her mouth in shock and gasps echoed around the room from other students. Ron, on the other hand, actually looked pleased.

"Detention!" Snape growled "My office. Friday night." he towered over Harry, his eyes narrowing dangerously "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter...not even the Chosen One" he swept away, as the lesson commenced.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

As the rest of the students filed out of the room at the end of the lesson; Snape instructed Charlie to remain behind as the rest of the class filed out of the room. But despite asking for only Charlie to remain, he wasnt at all surprised to find the whole of the 6th year Slytherins and Riley perched on desks around the room waiting for their friend, Snape shook his head at his students loyalties and proceeded to speak with Charlie about Dumbledore's requests.

"I must ask," Snape addressed his student "Did you not wonder why I gave Mr. Potter detention on Saturday night?"

Charlie frowned "Actually Professor, I sort of just go with the flow of things now. I don't worry over the little things anymore. Regardless of what they are"

Snape nodded "It is because Dumbledore wishes both you and Mr. Potter to be in his office at 8:00pm Saturday evening for your first lesson with him"

"Lesson?" Charlie frowned "What lesson?"

"Dumbledore, will be providing you and Mr. Potter with private lessons, so that he can assure himself tha you are both ready for the upcoming war" Snape explained

"Ah, cool," Charlie nodded "I'll kill Harry for not telling me!" she added

Her friends smirked in response.

Snape nodded, as brief amusement slithered across his face, but within seconds it had gone "After your lesson, come back to my office, I wish to speak with you! Understand?"

"Yes, Professor" Charlie agreed, although she was confused on what he wanted, and why he couldnt speak with her now or before Saturday? But she knew better than to question his authority and logic, even though he was considerably nicer to her that he was to other students...sometimes even other Slytherins.

"Good," he drawled "You may leave!" he nodded towards the door

Grabbing their things Charlie and the others filed out onto the corridor, before each heading off for their free period. Charlie and Riley, bid goodbye to the Slytherins at the Marble staircase before hurrying up to the library to start and hopefully finish their Care of Magical Creatures essay, before they attempted the Defence Against the Dark Arts they had recieved no more than a few moments ago.

"Its only the first day," Charlie groaned, after a few minutes "and im already swamped..."

Riley, Adrian and Marcus watched with great interest as the Muggleborn opposite and beside them dropped her head onto the table in frustration.

Yep, NEWT year was starting out...brilliantly.

A/N: Don't really know what to make of the ending, but I wanted an alternative ending to that of the book. Instead of Charlie being approached by a student outside of the classrooms, I decided to have Snape tell her about the lessons.

Anyway, you be the judge on how things turned out.

Review (please)

Off to bed now, because I am dropping. Goodnight.

~*Kara*~

All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs too xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated 25/03/2011 at 01:49 AM