Chapter ten: The first day back
''No Susan!'' Harry exclaimed as he saw a dark purple coloured curse slice straight through the girl's arm.
His outcry drew the attention of enemy and ally alike and just for a second the battle halted. In that split second everything seemed to slow down for Harry. He saw Susan lying on the ground, her face extremely pale as she gripped the stump that had once been her arm while more blood escaped from it then could possibly be healthy. He saw his four other teammates all with varying degrees of injuries and then he saw his enemies, six were already down, but still over a dozen remained and If the fight did took much longer than reinforcements might come.
'Shit!' Harry cursed mentally, if he didn't do something soon one of his team was going to die. No! he would not let that happen again!
Still seemingly in slow motion Harry raised his wand toward the death eater that had fired the curse at Susan and let the anger and hate he felt fuel his next spell. With a snarl Harry spoke the incantation of a dark cutting curse and moments later a dark blue beam left his wand.
The death eater he had aimed at reacted fast enough and casted a shield, but Harry's curse ploughed through it like it wasn't even there and moments later another body part was cut off, but this time it hadn't been an arm, no Harry had aimed for the neck and his aim had been true.
''Fay! Help Susan, Seamus, Astoria protect them,'' Harry ordered before giving an order that clearly contradicted the order he had been given to take prisoners. ''Clara, kill them, kill them all!''
While he had been giving orders he hadn't stopped moving and kept attacking his opponents non-verbally. He fought like a man possessed as he mercilessly cut down his opponents. That was until he heard words that would be the cause of nightmares for a long time after that.
''Harry, I can't close a wound like this!'' Fay exclaimed and Harry chanced activating his magical eye for a moment. After overcoming the discomfort of seeing two different things at the same time Harry cringed when he saw the amount of blood and how deadly pale Susan had become.
''Astoria Portkey, now!'' He barked as he disobeyed yet another direct order. This time the order that you are absolutely not allowed to make a Portkey to Militia HQ when enemies are still close.
Moments later (too long in Harry's opinion) Astoria yelled, ''Done,'' She then grabbed the shoulder of Susan and they disappeared along with Fay who was still trying to stem the bleeding.
Harry allowed himself a moment to breath a slight sigh of relief before he forced himself to focus on the here and now. He did all he could to make sure Susan survived, it was out of his hands now and right now he had to make sure Seamus and Clara made it back home.
''Seamus, back to back,'' He ordered to his only other magic using ally. The Irish did as ordered and so they fought covering each other blind side while Clara fought at closer range.
Fifteen minutes later the immortal snapped the neck of the last death eater and Harry took a moment to survey his surroundings. When it became clear there were no more enemies nearby and both remaining team members hadn't any life threatening injuries, he allowed himself to relax slightly.
''Clean up,'' He ordered, while his heart shouted at him to go to HQ to see Susan his mind was telling him, that while he probably could get away with breaking the other two orders. Leaving evidence behind of a magical conflict for Muggles to find was something of a completely different scale.
As such he levelled his wand at the nearest death eater and muttered a transfiguration spell. Were once had laid the body of a death eater now laid a bone. He then picked it up and walked to his next target. As permanent transfiguration was a bit above his level, he couldn't let them lay there as they would revert back to their original state sooner than later and then there really would be no point in cleaning up.
After another ten minutes they were done, Harry surveyed his surrounding one last time to make sure nothing was left behind before muttering, ''Let's go.''
Seamus nodded and with a crack he was gone. Harry grabbed Clara's shoulder and with another crack they too left the now empty field.
Moments later they reappeared at the only place you could in HQ, a stone room with several guards in it that guarded the only door in the room.
Harry strode over to the door, but was stopped by one of the guards. A man in his mid-forties who looked slightly overweight. Harry knew the man as this was hardly the first time he had seen him and one thing was certain he absolutely despised the man.
His name was Robertson, a former ministry employee and a diehard supporter of the elder council. Harry was also positive the man hadn't set foot outside of the base since the wards went up.
''Halt, captain Potter.'' He ordered while puffing up his chest.
Harry mentally scoffed, this was yet another reason to dislike the guy; his need to address people by these meaningless ranks everyone had been assigned.
''Fuck off,'' Harry snarled as he strode past the man, not even sparing him a glance. The other guard didn't even attempt to stop him. They were like Harry, people who regularly went outside and they had been there when Fay, Susan and Astoria had arrived so they knew why Harry didn't stop and couldn't fault him for it.
Robertson however didn't like it that someone of 'lower rank' ignored him like this and yelled, ''I ordered you to stop, captain Potter.''
Harry didn't stop, but Clara who along with Seamus had been flanking their leader turned around slowly and gave the man a grin that was unlike her normal happy one, in fact it look quite blood thirsty, this along the way her fangs were shown plus with the blood which covered her, she made quite the intimidating figure. ''I believe Harry told you to fuck off. So why don't you go do what you are good in and go suck off… I mean suck up to those farts you call elder council?''
Harry meanwhile along with Seamus had broken out in a dead sprint as they made their way to the medical wing in no time at all. There sitting in a bench he found a sobbing Fay with Astoria next to her.
While the younger girl wasn't showing her emotions as openly as Harry's former housemate, her eyes betrayed her true feelings as the sadness was visible for anyone who took a moment to look.
Harry felt his hart sink as he mustered up the words he wasn't sure he wanted to know. ''How is she?'' The moment he opened his mouth, the two witches who until now hadn't noticed him focused on him and before he knew he was engulfed in a tight hug by a very distraught and sobbing witch.
''They- they said she might not make it.'' Fay said between sobs.
As Harry held the sobbing girl in his arms he never once noticed the intrigued and unique looking pair of eyes that were watching him from a distance
XxX
Harry woke up with a startle, he hadn't dreamt of that day in a long time. He briefly wondered what the hell had triggered that. Maybe him meeting the girl's counterpart hadn't left him as unaffected as he had originally thought?
Still regardless what had triggered it, he was awake now and it was doubtful he would be able to naturally fall in sleep again after that dream any time soon.
He mentally cursed the addictive properties of dreamless sleep potion. He had at one point after a week of constant nightmares considered just using the potion every night. Somehow (he still wasn't sure how) Mrs Dunbar had found out and well let's keep it at that he learned exactly why that was a bad idea after a literally three hour lecture.
Still if he was awake then there was no point in remaining in bed. After picking his wand up from its position next to his pillow, he used it to bring the protections around his bed down.
After opening the curtains he looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall and saw that it was only half past four – too early for breakfast to be served (trough there probably would be elves in the kitchen who would gladly make something for him) and too early for the library to be opened.
Still he was awake now and he really didn't want to waste his time doing nothing. Right now he also didn't practically feel like reading, his body might be awake, but that didn't mean his mind was all the way there.
Then again if the mind couldn't be trained then the body definitely could, he might have told Alex to do stamina training, but to be honest he pretty much has neglected his own training after the final battle.
Of course he probably still was in far better condition than most of his fellow students, but he really needed to restart his training and what place was better for stamina training than a castle full with staircases?
Having decided that, he stepped out of his bed and went through his trunk and after a moment he fished out a piece of clothing that could be used for exercising. James had looked at him strangely when he had wanted to go into Muggle London to for clothes shopping, but Harry was definitely glad he did. He really did not want to know what magical people considered exercise clothing (assuming they had any) considering what they normally worn.
His outfit was rather simple; underwear, sneakers, sweatpants, one of his wand holsters and a simple t-shirt was all what he had donned for his exercises. After putting on his shoes he started walking out of the dorm.
Once outside of the Hufflepuff dorm he started stretching and after he was good and warm he started running toward a random direction.
XxX
A hour later found a still slightly out of breath Harry Potter under the showers. His little run hadn't been fun. In the militia he and his team when they exercised usually ran circles in one of the larger rooms of HQ. Running up and down stairs like he just had been doing was definitely different. That and perhaps his stamina had slipped worse than he had thought. Of course running around in new shoes hadn't been the most pleasant experience either. Then again, it is as they say no pain no gain.
Harry at least knew one thing for sure, morning runs would definitely become a permanent thing for his schedule in the near future. After all the things he survived he refused to die a pathetic dead because he got tired in the middle of the duel.
The only thing he had to make certain was that his run routes wouldn't become predictable. At HQ surrounded by his team he had been relatively safe, but here he could easily be ambushed if he became predictable.
There was also no denying that this definitely helped him wake up. As good as a strong cup of coffee was to wake one up, nothing could beat physical exercises.
XxX
The Great Hall was empty when Harry entered just slightly over six o' clock, but Harry wasn't surprised at that as breakfast wouldn't be served for nearly half an hour and most students probably wouldn't come in until near the end of the breakfast .
Harry didn't mind however as he made his way over towards his house table and sat down in position as far away from the door and by extension closest to the head table.
If there was one thing he did not like about the house he had chosen, it was that their house table was in between two others. Luckily the Hufflepuff table was in between the Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw one. While he had nothing against Slytherins personally he had the feeling that they would be the most difficult to convince that he wasn't his counterpart. Well the Gryffindors probably would be just as hard, but at least they had been his old house and it was doubtful he had made much enemies within them.
Mentally shrugging and writing his current thoughts off as something of which he could do nothing about right now, Harry pulled his Curses and counter curses volume 4 he had begun reading at Potter from his bag and opened the book from its marked position.
He didn't get to read long however as after barely ten minutes had passed, Harry felt someone approach. Briefly glancing toward the entrance of the hall, he spotted none other than the head girl herself.
The girl dressed in her Slytherin uniform was looking rather impeccable, something which could probable be said about few students in this early hour. He himself could definitely not claim that, considering the way his tie was. At least his hair didn't look like a complete mess anymore. Ever since he was 'convinced' to cut it, it has become much easier to control it.
It quickly become clear to Harry that the girl wanted something from him as she instead of walking toward her table walked in between the Ravenclaw and the Hufflepuff table toward where he was sitting.
When she reached where Harry was sitting she took a seat opposite of Harry, seemingly unconcerned that this wasn't her house table.
Taking it all in stride, Harry greeted the blonde. ''Good morning Ms Fudge.''
Harry spotted a brief hint of irritation that crossed the girl's unnatural bright blue eyes before she managed to mask it, ''Zabini-Fudge,'' She said, speaking with a very distinct accent Harry couldn't immediately place as she emphasised the first part. ''But, you may call me Blaise, Harry – you don't mind I call you Harry right?''
Harry tilted his head slightly to the side and looked at the girl in a analysing manner before he shrugged, ''Sure Blaise, I don't mind.''
The girl beamed at him, seemingly pleased with his reply. ''Well then nice to meet you, Harry.'' She said before continuing. ''Anyway as I am sure you know I am this year's head girl and considering you are a new student I would like you to know that you can always come to me for help. I know Slytherin has a rather bad reputation, but believe I am always available if you need help.''
Harry nodded and smiled back at her, ''Thanks, I will remember that.''
If possible the girl's beaming smile got brighter and she near exclaimed, ''Great!'' before continuing on a more normal tone, ''Well then I guess I will leave you to you reading, I see you around, Harry''
''See you,'' Harry replied as the girl stood up and instead of moving toward her house table made her way out of the hall.
Harry followed the girl with his eyes as his smile slowly disappeared, 'that girl lacks subtlety,' He mused. Still her appearance here wasn't random she knew he was here and she probably also knew he was alone. And what was with those eyes? Those were definitely not normal on a full human. 'This girl is definably one I have to keep an eye on,' He thought before going back to his book.
He only got a couple of pages further before another person entered the hall, this time it was the headmaster itself that made a bee-line toward Harry.
''Headmaster,'' Harry greeted when the man came into hearing rage.
''Ah Mr Potter, you are up rather early.'' The older man said. ''It's not often I see students arrive at breakfast before it even starts.''
The younger of the two shrugged, ''I don't sleep much,'' He replied before asking, ''Do you have the notes.''
''Ah yes,'' Dumbledore replied, ''I have them right here,'' He said before taking out a stack of parchments from his robes.
Harry took it and briefly glanced through it before nodding toward the still waiting headmaster, ''Thank you,''
Dumbledore waved his thanks off, ''Just keeping my promises Mr Potter.'' He replied, ''So how are settling in your new dorm? I must admit it was a surprise to many that you went to that house.''
''I am settling in just fine, sir.'' Harry replied as she stuffed the stack of parchments in his bag. ''As for my house? Well if the hat sorted me there then I guess I belong there.''
Dumbledore nodded wisely, ''Indeed, if the sorting things so that I guess that is true.''
It was at this moment, the door of the hall opened and Alex followed by a number of first year Ravenclaws entered and Dumbledore seemed to take this as his cue to leave. Then suddenly just moments after Dumbledore had left, the elves began breakfast by sending up the food from the kitchen.
Harry put his book away and loaded his plate full. He then did his customary check for any potions and after he was satisfied nothing was in it started his morning meal while at the same time ignoring the bunch of first years who were not so subtly gawking at him.
XxX
Slowly but surely the hall started to fill as more and more people entered the hall, most were just as tactless as the first years Ravenclaws when it came to Harry as a good majority of the hall seemed to be find a eating Harry Potter the most fascinating thing in the world. Luckily for Harry no one had found the courage to approach him yet, unfortunately his luck couldn't hold for long.
Harry wasn't comfortable in his current position. It has been a long time since he had been surrounded by so many people and if it hadn't been a sign of weakness he had bolted out of the hall a long time ago.
He was currently surrounded by his fellow seventh years, who had joined him when they saw him sitting alone and had greeted him warmly. He did feel a bit better with them around. While he did not trust them outright, he did consider himself to be a pretty good judge of character and from what he had observed they would stand with him if necessary (unless it is against a housemate).
Then suddenly he saw someone approach his position from the corner of his eye and moments later said eye was blinded by a flash.
Mentally cursing for getting caught off guard like this he fired from his hand a wandless and wordless banishing charm in the general direction where the flash had come from while at the same time he activated his magical eye to see what the hell that was.
What he saw however was not what he was expecting, lying on the ground clearly knocked over by the weak banishing charm was none other than his former fanboy, Colin Creevey with his camera still clustered tightly in his hands.
Harry quickly lowered his hand and donned a surprised expression. He had barely raised his hand so it was doubtful anyone had seen it and even if they did very few students bothered learning to control their magic at such an early age so few would see his hand gesture as wandless magic.
He also mentally berated himself, he could not be seen attacking students left and right, but at the same time he berated himself for something worse. He was caught off guard. What if that hadn't been the flash of a camera, but instead the green light of the killing curse?
Unaware of the thoughts of the person next to him, Justin asked, ''Are you all right there, Creevey?''
The boy slowly stood up and after checking if his camera was undamaged, he said ''Yeah, yeah I am fine, must have tripped or something.'' He then turned toward Harry with a look of such adoration that it slightly unnerved Harry. ''Harry!'' He squeaked.
''Uh hi?'' Harry half asked, half questioned. Could it be possible was this Collin worse than the one he knew?
''I can't believe it is really you. Well not you, but it is still you, right? right?'' He rambled excitedly.
The sad thing was even after this outburst, Harry still wasn't sure which one was worse.
Harry briefly pondered how to semi-politely tell the kid to fuck off, there was already enough attention directed to him, there really was no need for a hyperactive fanboy to direct even more attention to his direction.
Fortunately for Harry however he didn't have to come up with anything as his head of house choose that moment to appear behind the younger boy. ''Mr Creevey, excuse me for a moment, I would like a word with my seventh years students.''
Said boy didn't seem to want to leave his idol, but knew better than to disobey a teacher, even if said teacher was Sprout, so he went and sat at his house table, of course he still sat as close to Harry as possible.
Spout seemed satisfied and pulled out a couple pieces of parchments out of her robes. She then handed a piece over to each of Harry's year mate and briefly exchanged words with them and then she finally reached Harry.
''Good morning, Mr Potter,'' She greeted as she handled over the last piece of parchment and when Harry looked over it he saw it was his schedule. "All you teachers have allowed you to enter their classes, but professor Babbling wants you to be a half hour early for you first lesson, she wants to test you.''
Harry nodded and thanked the professor before he looked over the rather empty schedule. Today, Monday he only had Ancient Runes which would start right after breakfast ended and would last two hours. Tomorrow he had two lessons; a double hour Charms starting at eleven and a double hour DADA, starting at three. On Wednesday his schedule was completely blank (nice!). On Thursday he only had a single lesson, This time it was a double hour Transfigurations that started at two o' clock. On Friday there was a surprise apparently he had from one to five something called cultural education.
All things considered Harry thought his schedule looked to be a lot more relaxing then his fifth year one had been. Then again he only took four courses opposed to what he took in his O.W.L. year … well apparently five, what the hell was cultural education? And a four hour class? Normally a double hour is the longest class.
Glancing at his watch he saw that he still had quite some time until breakfast would end, but he had eaten something and received what he came her for and to be honest he rather not stay here much longer. If he went now then he would have all the time in the world to get his books from the dorm. Not only that, but he also wouldn't have all those people who come late to breakfast staring at him.
He stood up and Justin seeing this asked, ''Going already, Harry?''
Harry just gave a nod, ''Professor Babbling wants to see me and I wish to familiarise myself a bit with the castle again,''
Justin frowned for a moment and his eyes first briefly glanced over the hall taking in all the people staring at his new housemate before glancing at his almost still full plate before offering, ''You want me to walk with you?''
Harry shook his head, ''No, that isn't necessary, thanks for the offer trough.'' He said with a slight smile. Having said that he walked out of the hall, eyes straight ahead and expertly ignoring that by now each and every eye was on him.
XxX
After collecting his stuff for the day Harry made his way over to where he knew Ancient Runes would be taught and knocked on the door.
''Enter,''
He opened the door and entered the room that looked like a pretty standard class room. The only real thing of note were the posters of several of the more commonly used runic alphabets that adorned the walls.
Already sitting behind her desk was the owner of the voice that had told him to enter, professor Bathsheda Babbling, Ancient Runes professor and member of the Order of the Phoenix.
''Professor,'' He greeted, ''Professor Sprout told me you wanted to speak with me before the lessons would start?''
''Yes Mr Potter that's correct.'' The professor replied. "As I have no record whatsoever regarding your skill level in my subject I would like to give you a small test before I let you in my class.''
Harry nodded, ''Understandable,''
Pointing at something already lying on her desk, the professor asked, ''Do you know what this is Mr Potter?''
Harry glanced at where the professor pointing and saw a flat black stone with engraving carved into it and recognized it easily enough. ''A ward stone with a runic array engraved on it, professor.''
''Correct again Mr Potter, now what can you tell me about what it does?''
Walking closer to the desk, Harry looked a bit more closer at the stone and then pointed at a Rune in the middle of the stone. ''This means identification and it is connected to this Rune, ''He said as he pointed at another Rune which was connected to the first one with a small line, ''And this one means friend or ally, I can't really remember the difference.''
''That one means friend Mr Potter,'' The professor cut in, before saying ''Please continue.''
''Mm all other Runes seemed to be connected to those two so it can be assumed that those two form the core of the array, the on/ off switch if you will. Most likely the wards will only activate if you don't qualify as friend, although there are no additional Runes to clarify what friend is, so something probably will have to be connected to that Rune to work.''
''So far so good Mr Potter, what else can you tell me about it?''
Harry studied the Runes a bit more closely and continued speaking. ''Well … although all Runes are connected to the two Runes in the middle they also seem to follow a distinct route,'' He said as he traced a line of Runes with his finger in a circle like move. ''Every 'stop' of the Runes seems to consist out of a set of two Runes. The left one seem to be what it is and the right one a affect. These,'' he said as pointed at three identical Runes, ''Mean warning,'' His finger then trailed over the three other Runes at the left, ''And those mean punishment.''
He then pointed at the first right one,'' The right Runes are a bit more harder for me to identify for me, but I can assume they are all effects. That one at least I know means misdirection, probably some kind of compulsion ward or a notice-me-not ward, I'm not sure. ''He then pointed at the second one,'' That one means sleep. It is doubtful it will actually put you to sleep, but considering it is the second stage of the line it is probably made to argument whatever the effect of the first Rune is. ''I haven't have the faintest idea what the third one is, but as it is still part of the warning line I can assume it is non-lethal.''
''The first one of the punishment line means pain, considering it is the first in the line it is probably not to severe, especially considering what langue this Rune came from. The second in the line I don't recognise and the third …'' Here he fell silent for a moment before he continued, saying the effect of a ward he had once seen the effect of, ''Means disintegrate.''
''Very good so far Mr Potter, those you had managed to identify were indeed correct and those you did not were not fifth year material anyway so you shouldn't feel bad if you couldn't. Now is there anything else you can tell me about the array?''
Harry looked closely at the stone again and after a moment he concluded that as far as he knew he hadn't missed anything other than the effect he didn't know about. "No,''
Babbling sighted, ''You seem to have a good grasp of the meaning of Runes, probably above that of a fifth year, but it is clear that you have no formal education in my subject considering I teach my third year students that under no circumstances are you allowed to mix Runes from different languages into a single array.''
Harry blinked in surprise, this was definitely new information to him. ''Uh what exactly happens if you do?''
''Well that depends on how much magic is poured in the array, but usually at the very least magical exhaustion for the one trying the power it up due to magical backslash or worst case scenery it blows up and depending how much magic is poured in it, the blast radius can be quite extensive.''
Harry resisted the urge to chuckle nervously, it seems lady luck hadn't left him entirely after all. After all during the war he had occasionally made a ward stone and it was honestly only due dumb luck that he never used different languages runes in his arrays.
The professor looked thoughtful for a moment before seemingly coming to a decision, ''I will allow you in my O.W.L. class for now Mr Potter, but however I want you I my office next Saturday so I can quiz you a bit more about the third and fourth year Curriculum and see where you stand. Now please take a seat as class will start in a couple minutes.
Harry nodded and took a seat in the back corner of the room, a place where he could see the entire class easily as the professor went and walked to the door to let the waiting students in.
As the students walked, Harry noticed three things. One was that the class was pretty small, the second was that all four houses seem to take this course at the same time and the third was that he saw three familiar persons walk in.
The first two were Alex and Rose, but the third gave him a moment pause, Astoria Greengrass strode in the classroom with a small smile on her face as she chatted with the person next to her. Like with Susan it was just plain strange to see her like this, but as he looked closer he noticed that the smile didn't completely reach her eyes and the pain of loss could be seen in her eyes. It was not as prominent as with the Astoria he knew, but this one definitely had it if you know where to look.
He briefly wondered what would have caused this. He had spotted Daphne Greengrass sitting at the Slytherin table so her family couldn't have been murdered. Then what was it? Then again did it really matter? Astoria was not his teammate anymore. He did not have to look after her, especially considering he knew she was more than capable to do that herself.
Harry was broken out of his thoughts when he heard someone call his name, ''Harry?''
''Hey Rose,'' He greeted, ''Do you want to sit here?'' He asked as he pointed to the three free seats next to him. If anyone had to sit next to him, then he rather have someone he knew. Trough he briefly wondered why Alex was glaring at him this time. The last time he had seen her was in the train and she didn't seem angry at him then … strange.
Rose glanced at the two witches at her side, Alex shrugged and Astoria looked surprised for a moment, but then nodded anyway. The girls quickly sat down as soon as they realised that they were one of the last ones standing.
XxX
As soon as everyone was seated Professor Bbabbling plopped downed at her desk and gave the entire class a grin, the likes that really shouldn't be on the face of a professor, before speaking up, ''Welcome back everyone to fifth year Ancient Runes! Now as this is you first lesson of your O.W.L year I probably should go on some long preach about the importance of the O.W.L exams, but seeing as I can still clearly remember how stressful it was when each and every teacher gave that preach I have decided against it. Instead I will leave it to the core teachers to stress you out, isn't that great? ''
Harry stared at the woman in bafflement and wondered what happened to the somewhat formal woman that he had been talking with just moments before. Glancing around he noticed that no one had bat an eye at her way of speaking and Harry could only conclude that this must be normal for them. Strange, here he thought he had a pretty good grasp of her personality after meeting her twice, but it seems he was wrong. Then again he knew that the professor was a former Slytherin who were notorious for showing the world the image they wanted to be seen in (something which Harry knew from experience was a lot harder to do than most people thought).
''Okay boys and girls listen up,'' The professor spoke up again. ''This year things will be a little different. For the last two years you had the questionable pleasure of going through book after book after book learning about the meaning of Runes and the various ways to use it.'' The way she said it made it obviously clear what she thought about theoretical lessons. ''But!'' She near exclaimed as her grin became a bit brighter. ''That changes this year as I finally am allowed to give you some practical lessons!''
She then muttered something that Harry couldn't completely hear, but it sounded suspiciously like 'Stupid meddlesome ministry, deciding what I am allowed to teach'
''Now I am sure you are all wondering what this mean right? Well basically for the rest of the year you all are going to do 'projects'. These projects will be the same thing you will have to do for your O.W.L. Runes practical. For your O.W.L practical you will basically get a parchments with a list of effects and then it will be expected of you to design a Rune array that causes those effects within the allotted time of course.''
When the professor saw a lot of apprehensive faces she tried to comfort her students, Harry thought she could have better kept her mouth shut. ''Don't worry this will only a O.W.L level array, very easy stuff really … in comparison to what you will be expected to design during your N.E.W.T. exam this will really be a cakewalk.''
''Now then unlike your O.W.L where you only will get two hours, I will give you four weeks to do each project. Each project will be slightly harder than the next and by the time of the O.W.L exams you should be at the level that you should easily score a Exceed expectations if not an outstanding. Now I understand this may be a plunge in the deep for many of you so for first two project I will allow you to work in groups consisting of no more than four people.''
This causes some exited chatter as some people exchanged glances, non-verbally asking if they wanted to team up.
''Now then …'' The professor said, immediately silencing the few still talking. ''I have a couple more things to announce before I will explain the project for the next month so listen up. First off this year I will only teach for one hour, the second is for the people who have questions regarding their projects. I will be there to answer any question you may have, but don't come here saying you don't understand anything, if you do that then I putt you back with the third years as it is clear you haven't learned anything for the last two years. Also don't come the last week with barely anything done. If you have a problem come immediately. These array should be able to be drawn in less than an hour you will get four weeks so don't come bullshitting to me that you had to little time, okay?''
''Secondly, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you people allowed to activate an array without my strict supervision. Anyone caught doing it will no longer be welcome in my class and can say bye-bye to ever obtaining their O.W.L and N.E.W.T. in this subject. Finally I expect a detailed report describing why you chose the Runes in you array and what their functions are. This will not be expected of you in your O. , but again now you have more than enough time and believe me this will definitely help you. Now then for you first project …''
She then began a twenty minute lecture on what she expected while giving some general tips on how to accomplish it.
XxX
Two and half hour later found four students sitting around a table in the library. ''So we are doing this project together?'' Alex asked, not sounding all that trilled.
''I don't really mind,'' Astoria replied, ''It's our first project so it probably will be easier to just do it with as many people as allowed and we always can ask my sister if we still can't do it. She takes the N.E.W.T. class after all. So this shouldn't be a problem for her.''
''We won't really learn anything if we let your sister help us.'' Rose commented.
Harry meanwhile was sketching some Runes on a spare piece of parchment as he listened with half a ear to the three girls. The task they had received was in his eyes simple enough; make an array that upon touch will colour either blue or pink depending on the gender. So while he was confident what he had just drawn was correct, he wasn't arrogant enough to not ask for a second opinion, especially not after he had just heard his earlier arrays could have blown up in his face.
''So what are you doing Potter?'' Astoria asked, she found it strange that Potter of all people had invited them to sit with him, but then again considering what he said before his sorting she shouldn't be that surprised, but still it was just weird. For now she would at least treat him cordially until she could get the full story from either Alex or Rose. Probably both considering how each of them often led their personality influence how they talk about things.
''Mm … oh this.'' He said as he showed the piece of parchment to the girl opposite of him. ''I think the identification part and the colouring part are correct, but I am not sure as I never had to make something like this.''
Astoria stared at the parchment for a moment, as did Alex who was sitting next to her and after several seconds of silence Astoria finally voiced her thoughts. ''Did you just drew something where we got a month for in ten minutes?''
Harry shrugged, ''We still need to make that rapport and like I said I am not completely positive that it is correct.''
''I don't see anything wrong with it … do you two?'' Astoria asked the other girls.
As they both gave a negative answer, Astoria said, ''We could always have my sister have a look at it before we start the report and before you object Rose, she will just look it over nothing more.''
The redhead girl sitting next to Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, but then relented. ''Okay … and Harry, next time you will not be the only one who will work on this.''
Harry nodded, he honestly didn't care considering how little time he had spent on it, but then again the was only the first one, the next one should be harder.
Shortly after that it was decided that Astoria would take the array with her and show it to Daphne and they would take it from there.
XxX
Shortly after that the group broke up and both Rose and Astoria left the library. Alex however had asked Harry to stay behind as she according to her had something to discuss with him.
''So…?'' Harry inquired as soon as they were alone.
''Are you still going to tutor me?''
Harry shrugged, ''I said I would didn't I?''
Alex hummed, ''You said you never had Umbridge right?''
Harry shook his head, ''I barely recognised the name. Why? Is she going to be a problem?''
''Well for one she really won't like it if someone else does her work and I don't think she want anyone to learn something useful to begin with.''
''What do you mean?''
''Everything she thought was purely theoretical and if she was questioned if we were going to do anything practical she would say we wouldn't need it.''
"Okay … so she won't like it, but there are no rules against it right?''
''Non that I know about it, but if she gets the ministry involved than that rule will be there sooner than later.''
''I see … so what else can you tell me about her? What is her view on the whole blood purity thing?''
Alex frowned for a moment wondering what that had to do with it, but answered regardless, ''From what I have heard she is a strong supporter of the pure blood movement.''
Harry frowned for a moment at hearing this information but then schooled his facial expression back to neutral. ''Then if she asks about why I am teaching you just tell her that your father, the head of a pureblood house is afraid someone might target his only daughter and has hired someone to teach her to defend herself. Make sure you emphasize that you think her teachings are more than enough and that you think your father is just being overprotective and that I am not trying to undermine her, but I considering I don't have any money in this world am just trying to earn some pocket money.''
Alex just stared at Harry for a moment wondering how he just came up with such a bullshit story that might be believable to those that weren't close to her in a matter of minutes.
''And you think she will believe this?''
Harry shrugged, ''I have only met her once so I can't asses her properly, but most supremacist are rather predictable. Lay the blame of your tutoring sessions with a pureblood, one point for you, stroke her ego thinking her lessons are better than that of the boy-who-lived, another point for you and if you manage to convince you father to actually pay me than you really will be believable.''
''So you just doing it for the money?'' Alex asked with a scowl.
Harry gave the girl a true genuine grin, ''Would my answer really matter? I do things for my own reasons. Maybe I want to make you stronger, maybe I want to earn money or maybe I want one and the other is just a nice additional benefit.'' He then stood up and gave her the parting words. ''I go on my morning runs around half past four. If you want to join me make sure you are in the entry hall around that time.''
Author notes:
Damn I really can't stick to my own plans can I? Oh well it's not like I ruined to many future plans with this.
Anyway I have a question for my readers; what do you think is the morally worst unforgivable? Personally I think the Imperius, but I am curious what you people think.
Next chapter we will finally have what a number of my readers have been waiting for the Harry/Ginny/Ron meeting and probably the first Harry/Daphne meeting (not sure on that according to my notes she should have made her first appearance in this chapter, but it just didn't work out).
Next chapter: Two Gingers and a Toad