Note: I believe the pensive memory is set in the spring in OoTP, but Harry's presence has changed a few things...
Chapter ten: Vivid Memory
A few days later Harry was walking the grounds during break, trying to be a little sneaky and take in the students surreptitiously so he could spot anything they tried to hide. Nothing interesting was happening, eh- he meant nothing was happening that he would have to take points for. The sun was behind a thick layer of clouds, so it was a bit cold, but Harry had on a nice cloak. He was surprised all his clothes were of normal colours, considering it had been Dumbledore who ordered them. Not a single golden snitch, crescent moon or happy sun in sight. He strolled contently across the grass, smiling and nodded to the students who waved at him. He was saying hello to a couple of Hufflepuff sixth-years when something caught his eye right above the pair, higher up towards the castle.
A somewhat large group of students were gathered close together and Harry could hear snickering and laughing. He couldn't see what they were gathered around, but a familiar voice reached him and made his stomach drop with dread.
"Who wants to see me take off Snivellus' pants?" A wave of laughter came from the crowd and Harry's face turned grim. He hurried past the Hufflepuffs and made his way up the hill. He heard the scene unfolding even as he walked and sped up when he heard Lily's voice. History was, though not repeating itself, then taking its course, but Harry couldn't bear to have it end the same way. It wasn't the same, he realised, because they weren't in the same spot from the pensive memory, nor did the Marauders have on the same clothes.
"I don't need your help, mudblood," Severus muttered just as Harry was prying his way through the crowd, which was much bigger than in the memory. He saw Lily stiffen and mutter, "fine", before turning on her heel and storming off. The crowd drew back when Harry stepped forward, all of them wanting to be sure Harry didn't suspect them. Harry glared sternly at the two Marauders. He noted Remus and Peter trying to blend into the crowd. Severus was still kneeling on the ground where he had fallen.
"Potter, Black, this behaviour is unacceptable," Harry told them. He thought about how he was going to get through to them, and though he didn't think detentions or points taken would work, he knew he had to do something.
"It was Sni-ape who started it!" Sirius protested.
"Yeah, look at my cheek!" James exclaimed, pointing to the scratch on his face. Honestly, he could hardly have felt it, Harry thought.
"Twenty points from Slytherin for putting a scratch on Mr. Potter's very important face," Harry ground out. James clamped his mouth shut and flushed, while Sirius gaped. A few in the crowd snickered quietly. "Now, as for you two, twenty points from each and detention with me. Potter on Saturday and Black on Sunday. Eight o'clock."
"What? That's unfair," Sirius whined. "We didn't hurt him! He cut James!"
"What if you had lost your concentration and dropped Mr. Snape right on his head, perhaps even broken his neck?" Harry asked, raising in eyebrow. James paled while Sirius only grumbled and looked away sulkily. "Attacking another student, for whatever reason, is not acceptable behaviour," Harry declared as seriously as he could. He looked over the crowd. "Get back inside, your classes are starting!" The students scattered away like quick little insects and Harry jerked his head at the Marauders to show they should get a move on too. They did, passing right by Snape, who was dusting himself off.
"I didn't need your help," Snape mumbled, brushing the sleeves of his robes. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I am a teacher, Mr. Snape, that's my job. If it's any consolation I probably wouldn't have done anything had I happened upon the scene on the street," he lied. Snape looked up sharply and nodded, actually seeming pleased to hear it.
"I could have taken Potter," he said suddenly. "They ganged up on me." Harry snorted before he could stop himself. Snape stiffened and glared up at Harry.
"Not that I'm condoning students duelling, but considering your efforts in class I highly doubt you would be able to defeat even Pettigrew if the boy had a stick for a wand." Snape's eyes widened in shock at the insult and Harry saw he was ready to retaliate, but he spoke first. "The only thing you do in my classroom is contradict me and present completely ridiculous theories."
"Just because you don't believe-"
"I don't believe in them because I've studied their arguments and rejected them," Harry interrupted. Snape fell silent, looking at the ground. Harry almost fancied the boy was pouting. He sighed. It had been on his mind increasingly often. The Snape he knew was a Master Duellist. Harry himself would have been nervous if fighting the man. But this boy was... not good. Not good at all.
"I have class," Snape said, starting to move away. He paused and glanced back. "Are you really taking twenty points?"
"You did cut him," Harry pointed out. "I can't be biased towards one house. Be glad you don't have detention." Snape sighed, but to Harry's slight surprise the boy nodded and walked inside. Harry followed, thinking hard on how to make Snape a good dueller.
xxx
Harry surveyed the class, taking in each and every student. Ravenclaws and Slytherins. Snape sat in the back, as usual, and Harry frowned pensively. Everyone was staring at him, waiting for the lecture to start, except Snape. He was staring moodily at the desk, nothing new there either. Harry cleared his throat and was both surprised and pleased when Snape looked up with slightly wide eyes, as though actually ready to listen.
"Today I am doing to be teaching you something that I should have started the year with," he said slowly. A few curious glances were exchanged and Snape's brow furrowed. "It was very remiss of me, but I wasn't aware you had not learnt it in your early years." Harry smiled a little self-consciously. "This is despite the fact that I myself did not learn it until my sixth year. I hope some day this will be taught at the very beginning of your DADA education." He paused and started to pace slightly, having not prepared the speech before hand because he preferred it that way. He stopped abruptly and took in the students, all eager for his word. It always gave him a slight thrill to know they liked him and listened to him.
"In this class you learn spells to defend and attack with, as well as knowledge to help you deal with dangerous situations and creatures. There is, however, little emphasis on the details that will help you win in a duel. Specifically… wand-movement." Harry watched Snape carefully, but only a slight frown appeared on his face. Good, so he wasn't scoffing at the idea, yet. A Ravenclaw girl raised her hand. "Yes?"
"But we all learn the wand-movement for each spell, sir," she pointed out. "Or else we would never manage a spell at all."
"Quite correct, Miss Richardson," Harry said, nodding. "But I want you to have that little bit extra that will turn the odds in your favour. The importance certain details has been neglected in this class, and perhaps in your schooling in general." He glanced at Snape again, wondering if this would work at all. He turned sideways, drawing his wand. "Now, you shouldn't be afraid of a little wand-waving in my class. The movements can be subtle or extensive, depending on the spell." He waved his arm in a small arch and sparks flew out, all the colours of the rainbow. He added a slight jab at the end and all the sparks turned immediately to sand and sprinkled the floor. Slowly, he let his wrist move in a circular motion and then let the movement roll up his arm. The sand rose, moving as if it was in a whirlwind, and became denser. Harry held out his other hand, continuing the wand-movement with his other. The sand became almost a solid ball. Harry flicked his wand upwards, ending with a little twirl. The ball glowed and suddenly it was a perfect glass sphere, not strictly transfiguration magic. Harry took the ball and held it up for the class. They were all slightly wide-eyed and there was complete silence, as there had been throughout his demonstration. Harry smiled.
"This was just a trick of course," he said as he placed the sphere on his desk. "If a wizard or witch is to become skilled in duelling he or she must learn the movements not in the mind, but in the body. It is very much like a… potions master." Harry's eyes did not look directly at Snape, but he saw out of the corner of his eye how the boy sat up straighter, brow furrowed more noticeably. "If any of your ever have the… pleasure of watching a true Potions Master at work, then you will see how he or she moves. Everything is done with ease and without hesitation. The hand does not shake when adding even the smallest of drops. The hand practically counts the number of stirs by itself." Harry remembered seeing Professor Snape bent over a cauldron more than once during the war. When the man did not let Harry's presence get to him, or even acknowledge him, Harry could almost enjoy the man's company. Almost.
"Let us see the difference learning the movements more carefully can have on an easy spell. The disarming spell." Harry looked at the young Ravenclaw sitting on the first row. "Miss Richardson, perhaps you will assist me?" Slightly red in the face, the girl nodded and rose. She stood to the side as directed and raised her wand. "On three." Harry said. "We will both try and disarm each other." She looked terrified, so Harry tried to smile reassuringly. He counted down and they both shouted at the same time.
"Expelliarmus!" Predictably, Miss Richardson's wand flew out of her hand and Harry caught it. He smiled and handed back the way, allowing the girl to take her seat. "Thank you. Now, what did we do different?" He was met with a lot of blank looks. After a moment a few hands went up. Harry picked a Slytherin boy.
"You're more powerful, obviously," the boy half-sneered. Harry only smiled back.
"Magical prowess is obviously a decisive factor, but think about this." Harry started walking, which he almost always did when he was speaking. "One wizard holds his wand as he always has, since school. He flourishes his wand, using his wrist, like Miss Richardson did. The spell works perfectly, as it should. His opponent, however, allows the flourish to come from the shoulder and out, having then a firm grip and almost a jab at the end of the flourish, which will be tighter as well. Now…" Harry said, standing again at the front. "Who do you think will lose his grip and thereby the duel?" He raised an eyebrow and several students looked at each other. "Learning the subtle ways to improve a spell and allowing it to become natural movement with practice, is crucial if you ever want to become a Master Duellist." Harry finally let his eyes fix on Snape again and he saw something there that made him smile. Snape was intrigued and Harry had no doubt that he would be reading up on duelling techniques all night."
"Of course I don't expect you all to become Masters, and you'll get through your OWLs easily without this, but I hope you all put some thought and effort into this, especially considering the times we live in." The students' eyes held surprise and a little apprehension. Harry wished he didn't have to tell them to be prepared, but he knew Voldemort was growing in power even as he spoke. It was ironic, though Harry didn't know it and thereby the irony was lost on him, that the only one in that class to become a fierce dueller was the one student who joined with Voldemort.
xxx
On a Friday evening a few days later Harry was standing behind his desk and organising his papers, getting ready to put them away and go down to dinner. Just then someone knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a response. Lucius Malfoy poked his head in. Harry looked up and tried to remain neutral.
"Professor, may I come in?" Harry wouldn't refuse a student asking that, so he couldn't very well deny Malfoy, even if Harry couldn't feel at ease around him.
"Come on in," he said. "Have a seat," he added as he sat down. Lucius stepped in, but didn't take a seat.
"I won't take up much of your time," he said smoothly. "I was just in here to tell you how impressed the students are with your new duelling lessons." Harry raised an eyebrow, not letting it show how pleased he was to hear that.
"You came all the way to my office just to tell me that?" Lucius smiled slyly and moved forward. Something told Harry he wanted to go round the desk to him. Harry swallowed at the look in Lucius' eyes.
"Actually, I wanted to challenge you to a duel." Harry stiffened slightly. His mind immediately conjuring up old images of Lucius Malfoy on the battlefield. The determination and skill shining in the blond man's eyes had made shivers run down Harry's spine. He remembered being glad that Malfoy had switched sides. Now, there was determination in those eyes again, but they were also filled with lust even Harry could read.
"Mr. Malfoy, I told you how I felt about your-… advances," Harry stumbled over the last words. Lucius smirked.
"I assure you, Professor, that I have no… wicked intentions towards you." Harry blushed at the way Lucius the word wicked, but composed himself quickly. Just as he was about to put on his stern professor face Lucius spoke again. "Please," he said, sounding sincere. "I didn't mean to-" his gaze shifted to the floor and suddenly he looked vulnerable and young and for the briefest of moments Harry considered the possibility that Lucius was just a young man with a crush on his professor. The thought was quickly gone, though, for he told himself that Malfoy was a Slytherin. Even this was surely an act. "I do only want to duel you and test my skills. I promise." Lucius raised his head and Harry saw no deception in those eyes, but that told him nothing.
"Very well," he said slowly. "We can duel. You can come to the classroom tomorrow at twelve o'clock. I'll test you." He didn't know why exactly he was giving Lucius Malfoy special treatment, but a part of him wanted to see how good the young man was.
"I look forward to it. Thank you." Lucius did his little bow Harry was growing increasingly fond of. "I'll leave you to your work, unless you are going to dinner?" Harry couldn't help but smile at the courteous tone and open expression. It was refreshing to see Lucius without smirk.
"Yes, I was just on my way down."
"I hope you won't think it… sneaky of me if I walk down with you?" Harry rolled his eyes, though on the inside he suspected Lucius had been genuinely hurt by Harry's accusation on Halloween… or maybe the blond was only angry because Harry had guessed right. Yes, probably the latter.
"I think I'll survive. Come on." Harry waved his wand over the desk and the last of the papers gathered into a stack. They left together and Lucius started up a conversation about famous duellists Harry was happy to participate in.
After dinner Dumbledore summoned Harry to his office. Harry hadn't been there since the Headmaster had preformed tests on him, so he thought the old wizard might have made a breakthrough. The thought didn't fill him with hope or longing, strangely enough. In fact, as he entered the office with a polite greeting, he didn't feel anything at all.
"Please have a seat," Dumbledore said and Harry sat down. The man looked at him from over his half-moon spectacles. "I have news, but I am afraid it is not what you would have hoped for."
"Really?" Harry said. "You haven't been able to find a way for me to go back?"
"No, I'm afraid not," Dumbledore said.
"I can't say I'm surprised," Harry said thoughtfully. Why wasn't he despairing at the fact that he wouldn't be going back? What about Draco and his friends? There: Harry felt a pang of regret. All his friends would think he was gone, possibly kidnapped or murdered.
"I can't figure out how this Time-Turner actually works," Dumbledore said, taking the slightly melted device out of his pocket and laying it on the desk between them. "The Department of Mysteries has probably been working on it for some time. They may be working on a way to go forward as well, but I simply haven't the resources to conduct a more thorough investigation… For all we know they haven't started researching it yet in this time." Harry nodded, wondering how long those Time-Turners had been sitting in the Time Room.
"There's no way to find out?" he asked.
"I have a few contacts in the Department, a few Unspeakables, but it would be difficult to get them to speak about what they are working on, hence their name."
"But you could? If you got one of them to help you, you might find a way?"
"I could," Dumbledore said, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "But like I said, they might not have begun the research yet. And it would mean I would be owing one of them quite a big favour." Harry could well imagine that Dumbledore didn't like being indebted to anyone. He liked having other people in his debt. "But then again, having you in this time could cause complications."
"Yes, I might create a paradox," Harry murmured, thinking hard on what to do. He really liked teaching, and seeing his parents every day. It was like every day he got to see them was a gift, because he knew that in only a few years they wouldn't be here anymore.
"If we can't find a way for you to return," Dumbledore said solemnly, as if he knew what Harry was thinking. "You will need to go someplace where you will not affect things here." Harry looked up, unaware of how sad he really looked.
"I was enjoying my time here, but I always knew that one way or another I would be leaving." Suddenly, Lucius popped into his head. The young Malfoy had promised once to help him return to his time. Harry had not thought of their first meeting for ages, and now all he could see was Lucius' determined gaze and the almost laughable promise that a seventh year student would be able to help him.
"Harry?" He looked up and found Dumbledore staring at him worriedly. "I asked you if you want me to contact an Unspeakable."
"Oh, no, I don't think there's much point in that," Harry said.
"Very well… I would like you to stay on until the spring at least. It will be difficult to find a replacement in the middle of the year." Harry smiled sadly, feeling like this was a sort of charity, but he reminded himself how much the students liked him. Hell, even Snape was coming around.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Harry said.
"Perhaps you would even consider taking on the full job, so to speak? After Christmas?" Dumbledore asked. "I know for a fact that all the lower years are terribly jealous of the students that have you as their teacher." Harry blushed at the compliment and Dumbledore twinkled at him. He coughed uncomfortably.
"I'm sure you would like to focus on your own job, Headmaster, so I will gladly take over the lower years at any time." Dumbledore's eyes lit up and Harry realised that the man probably was very busy.
"Splendid. I'll arrange for you to have them after the break." Harry nodded and after a bit of small talk about teaching techniques Harry left to correct a few essays before bed. His workload wasn't that much, and he was confident that he could handle a life as a full-time professor. Even if it was only for a few months.
-:-
Note: Things are beginning to happen. Comments? Next time: We find out what was in the letter Lucius' received on Halloween. Harry and Lucius both learn new things about each other.