Sorry people but I have been fighting with pneumonia! Here is the next chapter!
HGPOV
It was the first day of classes and everyone was buzzy with gossip on how the new DADA teacher would turn out. He was our first class of the day and as usual we had it with the Slytherins. Harry and I told Ron last night we would be trying to get into contact with Draco about the Slytherin joining our training. While still bitter about the whole thing he just said he would be there if he did anything.
After breakfast I went to DADA class early to try to catch Fintan before class as well as to see if Draco has the same idea. Harry choose to stay behind to not raise any questions.
I walk into the DADA classroom to see that Draco did arrive early and that he and Fintan looked like they were wrestling?
"Is that all you got old man!" Draco shouted while holding Fintan in a headlock. Then Fintan quickly reversed the move and was now holding Draco's head.
"Still so much to learn little Swifty," Fintan said while laughing in his hearty Irish accent.
"Boys! You should probably stop this before the rest of class gets here. Draco I need to talk to you. Good morning Professor," I said with small smirk.
"Ah Miss. Sparks I agree. Swifty we will pick this up again soon obviously you still need physical training. Remember today you start your two a day trainings again. Do both of you have your time turners?" He asked and we both nodded while taking out or time turners from under our shirts.
"Good, you should have a few minutes to talk before anyone gets here," Fintan said while walking up to his office.
"What's up?" Draco asked.
"We told the DA about inviting Slytherins into the training. Do you think any of the snakes would be up for it?"
"Honestly I think some of them would be," Draco said.
"Wait really?" I asked.
"Yea, I never wanted this and some others are just like me. Theo hates his father probably more than I do. I got hit with a belt he got hit with unforgivables. Did you know Pansy has a sibling? A squib brother born when she was about four I think and sent off who knows where. She has been looking for him since and won't ever forgive her parents for sending him off. Daphne would probably do anything to save her sister," Draco finished.
"What about the others?"
"Crabbe and Goyle are embracing it actually. They are particularly gifted in dark art it seems and are even talking about dropping out of school to get their real marks. Marcus and Adrian have real dark marks already because they are of age and trust me we don't want to ask them. Millicent and Blaise are the tricky ones neither is from a dark or light family and also neither have said anything good nor bad about the war," Draco said.
"So 3 is better than I thought. Do you think there is any chance for them to be future allies? What about bringing in Millicent and Blaise?" I asked.
"Already thinking strategy? Ernmas would be so proud. Millicent and Blaise are cut from similar cloths. They will not choose a side until they have a particular interest in that side. As for Theo, Daphne and Pansy I think they definitely could be future allies. They are from powerful rich families and when Voldemort falls they will inherit it all."
"I see well inform Theo, Daphne and Pansy about a meeting this week they might be interested in. Keep an eye out for the younger years unfortunately everyone needs to be prepared," I said.
"As you wish my Queen," He said with a bow.
"Oh stop that," I said while hitting him.
"What? I am just joking. I miss you guys already. I miss hanging out, fooling around and being a teenager. Ugh, why did it have to get so hard again? Sometimes wearing this mask isn't all it's cracked up to be. Merlin when I saw my father yesterday before the train ride I just wanted to hit the smirk off his face. Telling me he is so proud of me for following in the family footsteps. He literally just got out of Azkaban and literally doesn't give a shit about anything then but his precious dark lord," Draco said.
"I'm sorry. How is your mother doing? "I wonder how Bella is.
"She is handling herself. Aunt Bella told me she is already bringing back the Malfoy name into the good gracious of Voldemort. He is pleased with her more so then he ever really was with my father. She has only been a deatheater a couple months though and I can already see the negative effects. She isn't sleeping very well, the dark circles under eyes and she snaps easier then she used to. She is letting the façade fall a little bit probably because of all the pressure she is under and isn't letting my father push her around anymore which I think is good. I don't understand how Aunt Bella did this for decades and my mother is barely holding on after 3 months," Draco said while looking at his feet. He worries a lot about his family.
"Bella told me she is able to harden her heart enough. I think she kind of separates the two personalities to be honest. One side is Lestrange the deatheater we all come to fear and then you have Black the brilliant brave woman who just loves her family," At least that is what I do in my head anyway.
"I don't think she will have a harden heart for long. The minute we face in the ultimate battle and someone tries to kill she will cut their head off," Draco said while grinning at me.
"Oh shut up. Is weird for you? You know I am basically soul mates with your Aunt?" I never actually asked him before.
"Honestly not really. Aunt Bella was in Azkaban most of my life and recently she looks more like my sister then my aunt anyway," He said.
"We noticed that! Why didn't anyone tell Bella she was deaging?"
"Well Harry, Luna and I didn't really notice at first we were all training to hard. The first one to notice was my mum and she didn't mention anything about it. I have feeling Ernmas has something to do with that. Anyway I think I hear people coming and sadly Malfoy face must come back," Draco said while looking sad.
"It's okay Swift we will talk again soon," I said while giving him a quick hug and sat at a desk in the front of the class.
Quickly all the Gryffindors and Slytherins walked into the room. I was delighted when Harry choose to sit with me up front. Ron quickly joined behind us sitting next to Pavarti. As usual the Slytherins sat on one side and the Gryffindors on the other.
"What do you think this new Professor is like?" Ron whispered.
"I don't know but anything is better than Umbridge," Harry said back.
"Ha! You got that right," I snorted.
Slam
I look up to see Fintan exiting his office. Dressed in similar muggle clothes as the feast in jeans and a grey V-neck and dragon hide boots he doesn't look like any professor we have ever had. His red auburn hair is pulled back and on his arms you can see the scars from his many battles. I look behind me real quick and see many girls swooning already and maybe a boy or two.
"Hello class, welcome to Defense against the Dark Arts. My name is Fintan McCrery and I will be your professor for this class. You may call me Professor Fintan or Professor McCrery it's up to you. Before the rumor mill starts I will stat this fact once and only once I am Professor McGonagall's nephew. Now to begin this class it will not be easy and I will not give out extra credit. I am here to teach you how to defend yourselves and I won't sugar cot anything there is a war coming and people are going to die. You slack off in my class it could mean the difference between life and death. Now that you kids are older I have been granted permission to do things a little differently. First thing you will be required to wear workout clothes to this class as your uniforms are impractical. Second you will entry level Auror training guide as your textbook the professors and I agree it's the most useful. Third all test will have a written and practical section meaning you will have to perform spells for me. Finally at the end of the year your final exam will be a dueling tournament. The winner of this tournament will get 150 points toward their house and an automatic O on their NEWT exams meaning if they choose they will not have to take the class the following year. Any questions?" Fintan finished and looked at the class.
The first person to raise their hand was Pavarti. Fintan gestured for her to speak.
"On the final exam does our grade depend how far we get? Are all the years dueling?" She asked.
"The exam does not depend on how far you get but on the skills you use. Yes all the years will be dueling in the tournament but the tournament is only amongst your year across all the houses. Now since I did not go to Hogwarts don't expect any favoritism towards any of houses. I know a lot of you were expecting an easy syllabus reading day but that is not the case in this class. We will be hosting an opening day duel so that I can see yours skills. So everyone up! Move the desk back!" Fintan shouted.
Then everyone stood up and pushed the desk aside. Fintan summoned a dueling stage.
"I have talked with all your professors and I have made a list of the dueling partners. First up Weasley vs Goyle!"
Ron and Goyle quickly step onto the stage. Goyle seems to have lost a lot of weight this summer and has a new arrogance air around him. Both went to the middle where Professor Fintan was standing.
"No Unforgivables and nothing that can kill you. These duels will show me what areas I need to teach more and what areas less. Also I am going to individualize your classwork and homework. There is no reason why everyone should be tested on the same things when some might be more advance then others. With that being said both of you bow and get into your positions," Fintan said then walking off the stage.
Goyle and Ron bowed to each other and then proceeded to their sides of the stage.
"Diffindo!" Goyle was the first to fire.
"Protego," Ron quickly cast a shield to cover himself. Ron seems to plan on holding the shield.
"Confundo! Diffindo! Reducto!" Goyle trained his wand on Ron and casted in rapid fire.
Ron used his shield to hold them all back. He seemed to be planning something having not fired anything offensive yet.
"Is that all you can do Weasel! You good for nothing Blood Traitor! Expelliarmus!" You can tell Goyle has improved greatly over the summer and that scares me. Someone who up until now was at the bottom of class casting spells quickly and easily. You can see the bloodlust in his eyes as if he wants to actually kill Ron.
"Protego Totalum!" Ron shouted and let the Protego completely cover his body in a layer of a shield.
"You see Goyle I am just getting started. Obscuro!" Quickly Ron spell hit and Goyles eyes were covered in a blind fold. His eyes now covered you can see Ron was going to do his final move.
"Expelliarmus!" Goyle wand quickly flew into Ron's hand. I was definitely impressed it seems Ron was not be lazy all summer like I thought. He duels much like he plays chess he calculates then fires.
"Winner Weasley! I'm impressed with both of your work you may now step down," Fintan shouted from the sidelines.
Ron cast a counter spell at Goyle and his blindfold was released. Goyle was about to run at Ron when I notice curiously enough Blaise Zabini stop him and pull him back into Slytherin's side of the dueling stage. Ron quickly walked over to us with a huge smile on his face.
"Good job mate!" Harry spoke with a grin then clapping Ron on his shoulder.
"I'm impressed Ron," I told him with a smile.
"Did you hear that Harry? A compliment from Hermione well oh my! I must have done something right," He said while laughing.
"Well don't get used to it. I can see you didn't spend all summer sleeping," I said.
"Yea well Bill came home from Egypt and after about two weeks of begging he agreed to help train Ginny and me. Of course our parents had no idea they would have never let us. Ginny and I decided we needed to step up our game this year like Professor Fintan said this isn't fun and games anymore. I don't want to rely on you guys all the time anymore," Ron spoke.
"Wow Ron that was actually very mature of you," I said.
"I was bound to grow up a little at some point," Ron said while smirking.
Maybe just maybe Ron could be trusted with my secrets.
"Next up! Patil and Parkinson!" Fintan shouted.
Pansy actually won the duel but you can see it was only just barely. This continued for a while. Neville defeated Crabbe, Dean surprisingly beat Zabini, Lavender lost to Nott, and Seamus and Millicent's actually ended in a tie. Harry was currently fighting Draco right now. To most people it would seem like a hate filled match but to me I just see the competitiveness that happened all summer. Harry and Draco were actually surprisingly even when it came to a lot of their skills and they were typical boys so they always liked beating each other.
"Fulgari!" Harry shouted a binding spell at Draco.
"Protego! Reducto!" Draco blocked Harry's spell and cast one quickly back. I can see they were both holding back a little to not show the school the full extent of the spells we learned this summer but their duel was still by far the longest. Harry quickly dodge Draco's spell jumping to his left landing on his knees.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted from knees and was able to get Draco's wand.
"Potter winner! Well boys that was definitely entertaining I can't wait to see how your duel goes at the end of the year," Fintan said with a hidden smirk. He was proud of how far along they have come. Harry got up off his knees and handed Draco back his wand with a smile on his face. I can see Draco resist his urge to smack him for his cheek. They both stepped off stage quickly. There was only one duel left.
"Our final duel! After speaking to both of your Professor's they all agreed Ms. Granger the best student in the year but followed closely by Ms. Greengrass so I expect a fine duel," Fintan said while stepping off stage. I was a little shocked I thought for sure Draco was the 2nd in the class except it was actually the Ice Queen of Slytherin this should be interesting.
I quickly made my way to the center of the stage where Daphne waited for me. She looked at me with that familiar icy stare but there was something about her that told me it was mask not meant for harm just as a form of protection. We both bowed and headed back to our sides of the stage.
"Reducto!" I shouted first wanting to see how she would react. She quickly jumped to the right of it.
"Stupefy," She spoke I could see the red flying near me and I quickly cast a silent Protego to defect the spell from me and sending it flying into the wall.
She then noticing my cast of nonverbal started firing none verbal spells as well. Quickly our duel really began. Seas of red, yellow, purple and blue lights flash towards each other each being blocked or sent into the sky or wall. She dueled like a dancer I notice she gently swayed side to side in fluid motion. I sent towards her a Bat Bogey Hex she quickly dodge it again. Then she sent over a silent Stupify I easily blocked it. If I didn't know any better I would say she was trying to assess my skills as much as I was trying to assess hers. Knowing this duel was going longer than expected I decided to cast a Patronus to try to throw her off. Surprisingly though instead of my normal otter a giant dragon appeared out of my wand and it went flying towards her. Seeing her momentarily distracted by the beast I quickly summoned her wand to me catching it midair.
"Winner Granger! Girls I am very impressed by your use of nonverbals. Students you should all learn from this duel nonverbals are not easily cast and to have an entire duel in silence at such a young age put's these two into a class of their own. Well it seems that would be all for today you may go. Ms. Granger and Ms. Greengrass if you both could please stay behind," Fintan said.
Quickly most of the class left room. Draco and Harry both seemed to stay behind though patiently waiting for us as it seemed.
"Boys I did not ask you to stay. Seem as you did I think after your duel I offer you both the same thing," Fintan said.
"What is that sir?" I spoke.
"I am offering you all a chance to skip a year of Defense and go directly into the 7th year class. After today's duels while most of the students are further ahead than I thought they would be you four would not do any good staying in a 6th year class. You guys are to advance for that and probably easily defeat some 7th years as well. So if you accept that means you will be taking a NEWT level course a year early meaning more work load then you expected. If you pass the NEWT which I expect you all will, you will be given a chance to start an independent defense study your 7th year that could go towards a mastery in the subject. What do you say?" Fintan finished.
I look over and see Daphne calculating in her head about the offer. I can already tell by Draco and Harry's faces they are going to accept. I was going to accept as well seeing as I want to take NEWT early to get it over with and having something less to worry about.
"I accept your offer," Daphne was the first one to speak.
"I accept as well," I said while looking over at Daphne. There was something about her I couldn't put my finger on it but I wanted to get to know her more.
"I'm in!" Harry said with a smile.
"I accept," Draco with a smirk.
"Excellent I will inform the Headmaster as this is for sure going to change your schedule. Now that being said you are dismissed," Fintan said.
I was about to leave the class when Harry tugged on my arm.
"Malfoy and Greengrass wait a second," Harry said.
"What is it Potter?" It's scary how easily he slips into his other personality.
"With everything that is happening on the outside we want to extend an olive branch to the Slytherins for a dueling club we host with the other houses," He said.
"Dumbledore's Army? We heard about your little club last year and you never offered membership before what has changed?" Daphne questioned.
"Everything has changed. With Voldemort being back we think it would be best we all learn to defend ourselves. You can only learn so much in a class room and Hogwarts should stand united. We shouldn't let petty rivalries affect as us much as it did the older generations," Harry said.
Draco and Daphne quickly looked at each other as if having a silent conversation. I knew Draco and I talked about asking the Slytherins earlier today but it looks like Harry wants to happen sooner than we thought.
"We will like to talk further about your offer after classes today. Meet 8pm Astronomy Tower?" Daphne spoke.
"Sounds fine," Harry said.
"Good see you soon Potter," Malfoy said and quickly exited the class with Daphne following.
"I wonder what she wants to talk about. I guess we will have to see," I said.
Harry nodded in agreement and we quickly left the Defense class.
Before anyone flips out! Hermione is not going to get with Daphne she just finds her interesting. I have another plan for her. Until next time (*&