Harry and Tonks: a love story chapter 12
Day one of learning regime:
I sit in the common room after my detention with Umbridge, my hand has stopped bleeding now, and I open a book filled with spells that I could use to fight them off – I pick the spell 'Leruf' which incapacitates the opponent for a short time – I practise on the fly that lives near where I am sat – it seems to be working but I'll double check it on Ron tomorrow. How about page 56, which has a spell for making hair grow out of their eyeballs but that's not really helpful, honestly.
This isn't working: I'm too tired and it is 2am so I should give up, I can have a proper look at break and lunch tomorrow, as well as before school, so I walk upstairs to bed and clamber in wondering what I can do to sort these psychos out.
"Harry, wake up!" I hear Ron shouting in my ear, "You're going to be late – there's only half an hour before lessons start!"
Damn! There goes my learning: never thought that I would want to learn extra spells than I have to but if it helps me?
"Oh, and you have a letter," Ron says to me, interrupting my reprieve. This makes me get up instantly and, oh, I don't have to dress as I went to bed last night IN my school clothes. I don't bother changing them because its not like they smell or anything because I didn't dream last night. This means I can instantly grab the letter of the top of my drawers but I don't want to look too eager to open it, so I put it in my bag.
"Who's it from Harry?"
"Just Flourish and Blotts because I asked about the price of this book about counter curses and so they've sent me the price – I'll open it later, its not very interesting. Come on, lets go," I say, thinking on the spot, amazed with the lies that come out so fluently.
"Ok," Ron replies, and I grab my bag before walking out of the door, down the stairs, to meet Hermione in the Common Room.
"Come on, I'm starving!" Hermione says and with that, we almost sprint out of the portrait hole and down the seven floors to reach the Great Hall. I walk in, followed by Hermione and Ron, and we take the first 3 seats together we see, which just happens to be near Seamus who instantly moves away from me – how rude!
I take a plate of eggs and bacon, and look at my timetable for today – double Transfiguration, Double Charms, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Not a bit of Umbridge thank GOD! In fact, I don't have her again until… Thursday so I've got another 2 days – can't wait! Well, obviously I can wait because I don't want a lesson.
I eat slowly, chatting to my friends, when Ginny comes up behind me and says:
"There's a letter addressed to you from Portu Snuffles owl inside the envelope for me – here it is," she says.
I take the letter, that feels quite thick, and mutter thanks to Ginny before slipping it into my bag for later – I need to make a forgery at break to show them – damn there goes my break!
"what does it say Harry?" Hermione asks.
"I'll tell you later – people + ears = listening," I say, indicating the people on my left.
They get my message and we continue eating, before leaving to go to the 1st floor for our Transfiguration lesson, and, as I guessed, we receive a lecture about OWLs as soon as we enter the room.
"This is an extremely important year for you 5th years; you sit your first examinations that determine the path you take for the rest of your life – they are very important and I want all of you to achieve an Acceptable or more, I know you can all do it," Professor McGonagall says to us all as we sit down. "Now, everybody, change this button on your desk into a beetle as a recap for last year, and Mr Potter, please note you have an examination to sit during lunch – come here and I will direct you. Oh and come here, don't go and eat, I will provide food."
Oh this just keeps getting better – now I have no time to learn. On second thoughts, this could be to my advantage. Because, if they know I have had time to learn new spells, they could prepare for this by using higher level spells that I couldn't deal with: if I stick to spells I know and have confidence in, I have a higher chance of winning. Now I just need to remember the spells I know!
"Mr Potter, that beetle is quite remarkable – very impressive, well done!" Professor McGonagall says to me, I'm amazed, but here's my practise – as many spells as possible in all lessons!
This is ok, I've got a shot, I'm thinking whilst I watch Hermione and Ron standing together, waiting for charms, laughing their heads off, when I hear something behind me – it's the blackmailers. Therefore, I know it cannot be Hermione because she's right in front of me!
"Times ticking Harry, tick tock, tick, tock," the boy says whilst the girl laughs. "Going to be the laughing stock of the school soon, aren't you!"
"So, give me an idea of who you are: what house are you in?"
"Do you really think that we would tell you that, we aren't stupid Harry," the girl says, sneering at me through her tone.
So my simple plan has failed: now I just need to practise every related spell I know, and I have a chance.
Breaks upon us, and I rush to the library, to firstly read Sirius' letter.
Don't contact me again, unless you have something decent to say. Or it has something important to alert the Order about.
It's written on thicker parchment, that's why it felt like there were many pages inside. Great. So I've now lost my godfather, until I can tell him something that involves saving people, I can't write to him. Or if I write something decent – is not asking for his help decent?
Sirius,
I really need your help, it's something that I can't tell Hermione nor Ron, only you.
I'm being blackmailed and its serious. I'm going to be humiliated if I don't beat them at a duel on Saturday so yeah, this is decent.
Harry
I roll this letter up, and place it in my pocket to send later, before writing the forged note
Harry
That's really awful and I'm sorry that this is happening this year. Tonks was worried that Umbridge was going to be there, and that she was awful.
I'm sorry and if there is anything I can do to help, tell me.
Snuffles
That's acceptable – they wont know anything different as he's never written to them before. Ok, now time to read Dora's letter – how hard it is to have called her Tonks.
Love Letter Number 4:
Dear Harry,
I have spoken to him, and he sent you response moments before I replied to you. I hope it contained the information you needed!
That is appalling, but Harry, you need to control your temper around her: she's dangerous and too close, I'm going to say it again, to Fudge – please be careful, she'll do anything to get you out of the school.
I love you all the world
Dora
Xx
Sweet – no wonder I love her, she's giving me some advice that I know I should follow – she will throw me out the school at any chance!
The bell rang, so I ran back to charms for lesson 2 of the double.
"Potter, you need to be extremely careful around Dolores Umbridge – she has extreme power and she wants you out this school. I think that she will be gaining further power – watch out ok?" Professor McGonagall tells me during my 'exam'. I stare at her, astonished she cares so much, with a sandwich halfway to my mouth – cheese and ham – and I think that this is the best exam that I've ever sat.
"Now, you must stay here for the rest of lunch because I said you were sitting the exam from last year, and I will say that you gained Exceeds Expectations – that is your current average. Now, you can complete your homework I gave you, and if you need any help, I will be at my desk."
Ok, I don't get a lunch break, but I get to do homework – whoo!
It is time. I walk out of the double doors to the grounds, hidden under my invisibility cloak, and head over towards the Forbidden Forest. It's nearly time and I expect them to be here soon, and – here – what's that noise? Oh wait, its them, they are here.
I needed advice on how to fight from Sirius but he didn't reply – neither did Dora to her letter, I hope they're ok. But I hear someone clearing their throat, and I revert my attention to the fight.
"Hello Harry Potter," says the girl, both of the blackmailers are wearing black cloaks and masks, so I still cannot figure out who they are.
"Harry Potter, we begin our duel momentarily – these are the last minutes that you will not be humiliated – enjoy them. We agreed, if you win you get the copy and this is never spoken of again and we reveal our identities. If we win, we can do whatever we want with the photos and we remain cloaked – are we agreed?"
I nod back furiously, bile in my throat – this is the last chance I have to keep this secret.
We walk apart, 10 strides, turn and bow to each other.
"3,2,1, go!" the girl yells, and I immediately send a stunning spell at them, before having to cast a strong shield charm because of the strength of their spells.
I duck and weave around them and their jets of light, sending wave after wave of my own attack, gaining then loosing 'ground' the pattern repeating for a good 5 minutes.
"Stupefy!"
"Frestriuc"
"Expelliarmus"
It keeps going on and on – I doubt myself before I remember, if you doubt yourself, then you definitely lose, so I push all negative thoughts out of my mind, and keep on the offensive rather than the defensive, and I begin winning. I'm gaining and they're barely keeping on top of my flow of constant spells. Then, suddenly, I shoot a stunning spell at the male body, and he doesn't respond fast enough: its now me versus mystery girl.
I keep up the pressure, aiming to make her give in, but she doesn't. I'm fighting for my life, I have a chance to win, and she seems shaken about the speed of which her partner fell.
I remember the spell I learnt the other day – 'Leruf' and shoot that at her – she has no idea what it does so she stops, and I then bind both of them in ropes, then wake the boy.
"So, I win – firstly I'd like to know who you are, then I want the photos – understand?" I say forcefully and also breathlessly – this has taken a lot of strength to do.
I move my hand to remove the mask of the girl and grasp the top. I pull of relatively gently and freeze in shock at her identity….
Hi hope this was good – please review!
Who do you think it all is?
Vicky xx