Spellbound
Author Notes:
Chapter 10: Learning Curves
The weather wasn't an improvement as the rain came pouring down like a hail storm. This didn't the teachers from giving huge amount of homework.
However tonight was a special night for Harry and a real test knowing he would be tested as a teacher.
Harry ate his dinner ignoring Umbridge looks of suspicion as she gives him a hard stare. He got up and grabbed his bag before leaving the Great Hall. Instead of going towards the dorm, Harry quickly took a shortcut towards the dungeons. Pulling out the Marauder's Map, Harry could see that Filch was trying to follow him. However he was two corridors away and moving fast. Harry pulls out his invisibility cloak and quickly hides beside the wall just in time as Flich appeared in the corridor. He eyes the area before disappearing down the hall way. Harry quickly uses that time to go the right corridor and enters the secret passage.
It didn't take Harry long to enter the Secret Tower. When he enters he could see Dobby, Kreacher and Winky all preparing for the dueling class.
Harry went to the book shelf and pulled out 'Art of Defense' and began to read.
Harry said nothing as students began to pour in and examine the room.
When the last student came in Harry shuts his book shut and stood up in front of everyone.
"I'm glad you all could make it. I know many of you are curious what this place is. In short, it's called the Secret Tower. A hidden tower that was created during the founder's time at Hogwarts. This is where we'll be holding our meetings."
"It's brilliant." Cho said as many students nodded in agreement.
"Right, what Hermione?" Harry said annoyed that he was interrupted when Hermione raised her hands like they were class."
"I think we ought to elect a leader." Hermione said breathlessly.
"Harry's leader." Cho said looking at Hermione like she was mad.
"Yes, but I think we ought to give it a vote so it's official and it gives him the authority as well." Hermione said.
"Very well," Harry said.
"So, all those who think Harry ought to be leader." Hermione said. Everyone raised their hands, even Marietta and Zacharias Smith. Thought they did so half heartily.
"Right, now… what Hermione?" Harry said in annoyance as Hermione once again raised her hand.
"I think we ought to elect a name. It will show a unity front and unity for those within the group." Hermione said breathlessly.
"Can it be Anti-Umbridge League?" Angelina Johnson said quickly.
"The Minister of Magic are Maroons Group?" Fred said in a joking matter. Several people laugh.
"I was thinking…more of a name that didn't tell people what we were up to. So we can talk about our meetings safely outside of meetings." Hermione said frowning at the names people were suggesting?"
"The Defense Association?" Cho said. "D.A. for short, so nobody can understand what we're talking about?"
"D.A.'s good, only let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army, cause that's the Minister's worst fear isn't it?" Ginny said.
Harry however shook his head.
"Those are good ideas; however… we need a name that can't be tied back to us. Even if people hear it, they won't know who we are. Those names will eventually be link back to people who are attending. We need a name that exists already, but remains hidden in plain view of words." Harry said in a calm tone.
"I agree." Helena said. Everyone turns to look at her. "If we make a name, it has to be about what we stand for, not what our intentions are."
"Like what?"
Harry turns and faces the mirror. He had given it some thought, but the question now was would it work? Taking a deep breath Harry speaks.
"There was in ancient times, a legendary battle of Thessaly, Greece. Between two factions. On one side were the barbaric and violent Titans. The other between their children, who called themselves Olympians. The Olympians were outnumbered and outmatch. Yet still they fought, in the end, when the Titan's summon their worse weapon upon them, the Olympians triumph over the Titans. If anything I saw we are the new Olympians, and our fight will be very similar. I think we should call ourselves Olympians." Harry said.
No one said anything.
"I like it." Helena said. "It's like a symbol of hope when we speak of it." Helena said.
Everyone began to nod in agreement as the name Olympians was agreed upon.
"Right, now if there is no more interruptions, we can begin. I know a lot of you are new at dueling so we're going to start with the basics before we jump into more advance stuff. So we're going to be practicing the disarming charm. Some of you will remember it three years ago when Snape…" Harry paused as if to let the words out of his mouth. "Used it against Lockhart."
"Oh please, I doubt the disarming charm will do us any good against You-Know-Who." Zacharias said.
"Then disarm me." Harry said in a annoyed tone of voice.
Everyone parted ways, giving a clear path between Harry and Zacharias.
"What?" Zacharias said clearly not expecting this.
"Disarm me." Harry said in a matter of fact tone of voice.
Zacharias held up his wand and with a shaky hand, he cries out "Expelliarmus"
The spell flew towards Harry who didn't move. The spell hit him dead on, but to everyone's surprise, Harry's wand did not fly out of his hand nor did he move an inch.
"Try it like this: Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted as a bright scarlet light appeared from his wand. It moved much faster than Smith's own spell and his him in the chest, causing his wand to fly out of his hand towards Harry's outreach hand. Smith was also launch in the air and thrown across the room.
"As you can see, if you put power behind the spell, it almost works like a banishing charm and sometimes if you really put power behind it, then you can temporary put your opponent out of the competition. Now then," Harry said as he throws Smith's wand at his feet. "Can anyone tell me what Smith did wrong?" Harry asks as he turns to the rest of the students that gathered around him.
"He was shaking." Susan Bones replied.
"He was anything else?" Harry said. No one said anything.
"He wasn't confident. He didn't mean to cast the spell. When you are dueling, even as a practice duel… you must mean the spells you are casting. Otherwise they will not work and you'll get what Smith said. You also don't want to take your time… you have to be quick. However, being quick won't matter for now. For now, just do the best you can. Split up into pairs of two and try to disarm the other." Harry says.
It felt strange giving instructions, but everyone broke off into pairs and quickly began to cast the spell. Harry wasted no time stopping pairs and giving them pointers.
After thirty minutes, Harry called for a stop.
"Drink up and rest." Harry said as everyone was being served drinks and potions from Dobby and Winky. Kreacher, was watching the map carefully in the corner.
"You all did well the first round. I think it's safe we call it a night before everyone gets magically exhaustion." Harry said.
"Let's continue." Several students said in a eager tone of voice. Many nodded their heads in agreement. Harry however shook his head.
"If we continue then the risk for us to go to Madam Pomfrey for magical exhaustion will alert Umbridge. It's better that we call it a night and continue next week before we get in trouble. In the meantime we'll be learning tactics and strategy in our next session." Harry replies.
Despite being told it was unwise to continue, several student look disappointed but nod their heads in agreement.
Harry showed them the way out which was different than the way they came in.
Harry had a smile on his face as he stares at his book. Instead of reading the stupid defense book like Umbridge wanted, Harry instead focus on memory of how each one of his 'students' was performing.
Neville finally learn how to perform the Disarming Charm after two sessions. They began to learn tactics in dueling and the muggle books of military tactics and strategy was dead useful when Harry read them. It could be because of the Ritual of Enlightment, but Harry could feel his brain was processing information at a much faster rate.
This caused him to think of the Patil twins. Despite being in different houses Padma proved to be the brains and Parvati proved to have the power behind her teamwork.
A scowl enter Harry's mind when he remembers Ron and Hermoine lack of ability to work as a team with well, anyone. Ron wanted to charge in head first, while Hermione was being her usual self and being bossy with anyone who would work with her. In the end, Harry had Ron and Hermione paired up and things weren't looking good for the duo. Harry remembered the last Strategic and Tactics meeting, or better known as S.a.T. to the members of the Olympians. Ron went down in matter of seconds before the Weasley Twins combo's. Hermione apparently lacked in power and didn't last long either.
This made Harry worry for his former friends as they were proving to have a lot of difficulties working as a team.
Harry broke out of his train of thought as the bell rang. He grabs his stuff but stop when Umbridge spoke.
"Mr. Potter, stay behind for a moment."
Harry stood there as everyone left.
"What did the toad want?" Neville asks.
"She gave me detention for not participating with the class." Harry said in annoyance.
"What participation? All we are doing is just reading her stupid book." Neville said in annoyance.
"I'll talk to Professor McGonagall. She'll be able to overrule Professor Umbridge." Harry said.
Harry knew why Umbridge was punishing him. No doubt all the teachers have notice a change in Harry and his improvement. In fact it was most common among the Sytherin's. They were even starting to be concern for their head of house health over the simple fact that he was no longer speaking to Harry, only giving him slight glares as if questioning why Harry had gotten so good.
Harry himself was surprise how easy learning magic was for him. Other than Defense Against the Dark Arts, the other teachers found nothing but good things about Harry.
However the school did notice one difference about Harry. Where they were once inseparable, the Golden Trio seemed to be falling apart. Harry no longer walk the corridors with Ron and Hermione. Instead he could be seen instead walking the halls with Neville. Ron and Hermione were, well different and they seemed to be falling apart as they kept yelling at each other for no reason. It seemed without Harry in the middle, there was nothing to stop them from expressing themselves so all of Hogwarts could hear them.
Harry was slipping past Filch again as he walks into the Secret Tower for another session. Tonight they would be learning about teamwork. This is where Harry was stump because he was so use to do things alone. He didn't know the first thing about teamwork other than Quidditch. Apparently the Order knew this and gave him some books on teamwork and dueling as tag teams. Harry quickly formed a plan to mix up the houses so they would be unfamiliar with each other's spell work.
When the room filled up Harry took to the front and turn to see everyone.
"I'm glad you all come. Instead of working on new spells I think we should work on something else. Teamwork."
"Oh please, I doubt teamwork will help us against You-Know-Who." Zacharias Smith said.
Justin smacks Zacharias upside the head while his housemates was giving him a cold look.
"Learning to work together is very important. You have to get the timing of your spells right and learn how to work together in silence without tipping your enemy off. There will be times, when you cannot overcome a Death Eater on your own and will need assistance. Should that happen, you need to work with someone who you can work with to overcome your opponent. For now, we are going to something basic and simple. None of you are ready for advance teamwork abilities. Find someone you work well with, then wait as I assign your opponents. The goal is too corporate with the person next to you. Since most of you don't know nonverbal, I want you to plan together before the duel. Begin." Harry said.
Everyone got into pairs. Allowing Harry to face them with people they didn't know. It was easily the most fun they've had as they were pairing up and fighting two people at the same time. It was much different than fighting one on one.
Harry smiled as everyone finish. However, that smile turn to a frown. Experience has taught him, things will become chaotic soon and he feared as soon as the winter holidays were over, the wizarding world would face something terrible.
Author Notes: i know it's short but I couldn't find what to add. Sorry it took so long, but I've been without a computer for some time. Hope you guys enjoy. Christmas is up next.