Title: Revealing Ink
Chapter Fourteen: Lesson, Shopping and More Lessons
Ships: HP/DG/(HG?) NL/TD
Rating: M (For later chapters)
Warnings: Language
Key: "Speech" 'Thoughts' {Foreign Language} ~Parseltongue~ SPELLS
A/N: Format for above comes from Paladeus
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Thanks Guys! It means a lot to see those numbers rising. Especially seeing the Views finally break 100k and Follows break 1k. Didn't think i would ever have these kinda numbers when I first started writing this.
Usual disclaimer: I own none of the characters in the Harry Potter Universe, Just my own OCs
Harry leaned down and gave Daphne a kiss before trudging down to the dungeon for his control lesson. Chances were that Snape was not going to be testing his control, more than likely he would be trying to get Harry to over step his bounds so he could earn even more punishment. 'Well this is going to be a fun night. Maybe I'll at least get to hex the slimy arsehole.' Harry chuckled to himself as he made his way down the stairs.
As Harry walked up to the door of Snape's office, he was running over his game plan for tonight. While temped to overpower his spells and possibly injure the Professor, Harry decided to be a little more subtle. 'Why show off what I can do? He already thinks I'm an attention seeking brat, why not underpower all my spells just to piss him off before I accidently fire an overpowered hex. I bet that with him provoking me that I could fight a detention with Professor McGonagall and she would back me up.'
Harry decided to start the night off with a bang and preceded to loudly slam on the door with his fast after he morphed it into the density of dragonhide. It goes without saying that the resulting sound echoed up and down the corridor quite loudly. Harry quickly morphed his hand back to normal before Snape had a chance to open the door.
Harry smirked inwardly as Snape threw the door open and glared at Harry, "POTTER! Why did you feel the need to kick my door with such force? That will be another night of detention! Now get in here, you are wasting my time!"
Harry calmly walked into the office, "Sir I didn't kick your door, I merely knocked. I didn't realize that it would be so loud. I'm sorry that it bothered you so." Harry hung his head in mock shame, mostly to hide the glee in his eyes.
Snape looked at Harry with undisguised hatred, "Enough of your foolishness. We are here for a reason. The Headmaster deemed it needed to observe your control of power. While I feel that he is highly overestimating your abilities, I must still observe your pathetic attempts at spell work. Now for the next hour you will be preforming the spells as I call them out to you. Do the spell at Normal power and I want you to Overpower the spell" The emphasis on normal and overpower showed Harry that Snape doubted that he would be proficient at normal spellwork, much less being able to overpower his spells.
Harry settled in for the next forty five minutes as Snape ran him through every spell on the syllabus from first year through fourth year. The first sign of Snape's frustration came when he ordered the levitation of a cauldron. Harry underpowered the charm causing the cauldron to rise only about a few centimeters before dropping and raising again. Harry was having fun making the cauldron do its impression of a baby bird trying to take off before he caused the cauldron to fall over the edge of the desk on fall to the ground where it cracked into three pieces.
Harry hurriedly apologized before casting a REPARO that held the cauldron together long enough for Snape to lift it, before he had a chance to place it back on the table it fell apart again as the REPARO dispelled causing the large part, approximately half, of the cast iron cauldron to fall onto his right foot. This caused Snape to hop up and down on his left leg before he lost his balance and fell to the ground. Harry's apologies could barely be heard over the stream of expletives that spewed from the potion master's mouth.
The detention continued alone much the same lines until Snape had Harry cast a shield charm while he was supposed to cast stinging hexes at Harry. Harry prepared to underpower his shield till he saw the unmistakable red beam of a STUPIFY headed his way instead of the off-white thin beam of the stinging hex. Harry immediately cast a spell from the Potter Spell Book, the Reflective Amplifier Shield.
The last thing Snape saw for the night was his stunner striking a shield that had an uncommon silver sheen before said stunner tripled in size while on its way back at, at least quadruple the speed. Snape had been too busy thinking about Harry unconscious that he was caught completely unprepared. As he was struck the last thing he saw was Potter's smirk as he flew across the room. He was unconscious before he struck the opposite wall.
Harry's smirk stayed in place as he left the office. 'Well I guess detention's over.' Harry chuckled as he made his way to the Hangout to let his friends know how his evening had went, leaving the childish grease ball alone in his office where he would remain until he awoke the next day around mid-morning with a girlish scream of "POTTER!"
While mostly everyone in the Hangout had a laugh over the fate of Snape. Daphne and Hermione were not so lighthearted over the affair. Both glared at him while lecturing about the repercussions that could come about from attacking a Professor. The lecture was halted only when he pointed out that he had merely cast a shield as ordered, it wasn't his fault that said Professor had used the wrong spell and had been unable to defend himself from same said spell.
After a couple hours of hanging out the group went their separate ways with Hermione, Astoria and Luna staying behind for an impromptu slumber party seeing as the next day was a Saturday with nothing planned except for a Hogsmeade trip.
Saturday November 26, 1994
After a leisurely breakfast with Neville, they went to meet the girls in the Hangout. Once outside the room they had Dobby and Saka, Neville's house elf, bring them several breakfast items in a basket, with several plates of eggs and bowls of porridge on two trays. They then entered the Hangout and placed everything onto a table that was pushed off to the side of the room. Dobby quickly brought two pots of coffee while Saka dropped of several carafes of Orange, Pumpkin and Apple juice as well as milk.
The smell soon roused all the girls that were sleeping on the cushions around the room. All the girls were dressed similarly, shorts and tank tops as Daphne and Hermione quickly brought up that they were much more comfortable and less restrictive than pajamas. Harry quickly pulled several napkins off the tray and started transfiguring them into dressing gowns for the girls that matched their house colors.
After all the girls were covered up in their dressing gowns they eagerly dug into the provided food. Harry pulled a scone from the basket and settled back on the couch with Daphne while nursing another mug of coffee. Everyone enjoyed a quiet breakfast before changing back into their robes. Astoria and Luna said goodbye and left back to their common room while the remaining five climbed down into the trunk so Hermione, Tracy and Daphne could shower and change before leaving for Hogsmeade.
After everyone was done getting ready they climbed out of the trunk before Harry shrunk it and placed it in his pocket. They took off to the front gate so they could catch a carriage to the village. Harry and Daphne sat on one side while Neville sat next to Tracy. Hermione was sitting on Tracy's other side while subtly pushing Tracy closer and closer to Neville as the trip continued. Once in the village a red faced Neville climbed out of the carriage followed by an equally red faced Tracy. Hermione climbed out smirking at the unusually quiet Tracy while Harry and Daphne chuckled at the scene they had been privy to. Tracy was normally one to throw innuendo around all willy nilly and had no trouble in continually trying to fluster Neville. But being pushed over until she was practically molded into his side caused the normally outgoing sprite of a girl to clam up and she proceeded to showcase an impressive blush to match Neville.
They set off into the village to take care of various errands with an agreement to meet at the Hog's Head in two hours for a quick lunch. Harry followed Daphne and Hermione to the book shop while Tracy dragged Neville to Zonko's and Honeyduke's. After an hour in the book shop, where the girls purchased a dozen new tomes while Harry picked up a couple of books on advanced Transfiguration and Charms, they made their way to the stationary shop to refill their supply of parchment, quills and ink. They eventually headed into the Hog's Head half an hour early where Daphne and Hermione found a table while Harry made his way to the bar.
Harry conversed with Abe for several minutes before they headed out to a back room. After a few minutes they returned both sporting grins. Abe levitated a new cask behind the bar and handed over three tankards to Harry. The girls waited patiently for Harry, while Hermione filled her in on Harry's new business of aging Butterbeer for Abe. After he handed over the tankards the girls enjoyed their drinks before Daphne asked Harry if she could sample his. Harry passed over his tankard while he watched for her reaction to the drink. As she took a pull from the tankard, Harry observed her eyes widening while a flush infused her cheeks. He quickly pulled the tankard away when he saw her about to take another large pull.
Daphne glared at Harry, "Hey, I wasn't done with that. That's really good, I think I'm going to go order one myself."
Harry stopped her as she was starting to get up, "Oh no you don't. For one thing he won't sell you any as you are underage." Harry saw her look at him with an angry expression, "Calm down, he only sells to me cause I'm going to make him a lot of money and I'm supplying it to him. I'll get you one but you need to sip it. You are not used to the alcohol and it will hit you rather hard. This isn't Butterbeer that you can just guzzle down, one tankard of this and we will be carrying you back to the castle. Then no shopping trip, ok? I'll get you a half tankard with the meal, and don't worry I will have my own supply so you can have some while we are at the castle."
Daphne seemed mollified by his statements and slowly sat back down. Tracy and Neville entered the pub and sat with them. Harry waved at Abe signaling him to send over the food and drinks. He held up two fingers followed by a fist, then two fingers followed by splaying out his fingers to signal two Butterbeer and two Butterale. After getting a nod from Abe, his attention returned to the table.
The group chatted for a couple minutes before Abe brought out a platter of roast covered in gravy along with a large loaf hard crusted bread. Behind the barkeep floated four tankards of foaming fluid. Harry quickly grabbed the tankards and passed them around. Harry passed the tankards around, Tracy and Hermione got the tankards of Butterbeer while he passed one tankard of Butterale to Neville while he refilled his tankard and passed the remaining half to Daphne while she scowled at him.
After Abe retreated back to the bar everyone dug into their lunch while sipping on their respective drinks. Daphne leaned over to inquire why Neville got a full tankard while she only received a half. Harry's reply was a simple "Body mass". Everyone continued the meal, Neville genuinely enjoyed his Butterale, even offering the occasional sip to Tracy. After the meal the group headed out the pub with Harry dropping a few gold coins on the bar as he made his way out.
The group made their way into the alley behind Zonko's before Harry set up the same wards that he had previously used during their last shopping trip. Harry and Neville made their way down followed by the three girls. The friends all sat around as they let their lunch settle before venturing out for the latest shopping trip.
After about fifteen minutes of sitting and joking around the group climbed out of the trunk into the Alley Flat. Harry set up the glamour's on everyone while he just grew out the goatee from last time without the blonde color, they girls liked the girls liked the goatee in black much better. They then left and headed for Gabriel's wand crafter shop. After Daphne had gathered the blank and core, Harry proceeded to massage Daphne's shoulders and neck after she was done. Soon Daphne, Tracy and Neville had all picked out their blanks and cores. Gabriel told them that he should be done hopefully in approximately an hour and a half.
Harry let Gabriel know that they would be back after a while and the group left with the wand crafter waving them off. The group headed to the jewelry shop where Daphne and Hermione went to pick out charms and necklaces for Astoria and Luna, while Tracy took Neville to pick out a more masculine one for himself.
While Harry went to the counter and spoke to Marcus about another ring blank, Hermione and Daphne were choosing the charms for Astoria and Luna. They had settled on a Four Pointed Star for Astoria as her favorite class was Astronomy and a Crescent Moon for Luna in honor of her name. The stone setting for the Star was in the middle while the setting for the Moon was on the clasp that connected to the chain. Daphne decided to use Emeralds as they were both born in May. Tracy and Neville had chosen a Tree of Life charm with the stone setting on the clasp where they agreed on a Ruby as it was his birthstone.
Harry added the same defensive and portkey enchantments to all three new charms and had the girls pick out the extra charms for Luna and Astoria. They chose to have them twinkle when they were near each other as they were best friends and rarely without the other's company unless in class as well as the perfume enchantment. Neville chose a time enchantment that was customized for his charm. Starting at 0100 his charm would grow a tiny leaf on the hour every hour till midnight when all the leaves would wilt back into the charm.
Once all the orders were placed they went back to Gabriel's shop to wait for the wands to be completed. When they returned Gabriel said that Daphne and Tracy's wands were ready and he should be done with Neville's in about ten minutes. Daphne and Tracy took their new wands and marveled at how great they felt. Daphne's wand was Weeping Willow with the feather of a Griffin. Tracy's wand was Bloodgood, a variety of Japanese Maple, with the tail hair from a particularly mischievous Kitsune. Neville was waiting for his wand, Golden Oak with hair from the head of a Forest Nymph.
Once all the wands were done Harry signed a Gringotts Bank Draft before stamping it with his ring while the others fawned over their new wands. They headed back to the Alley Flat and descended into the trunk only to reemerge behind Zonko's and head back to the castle with all the new wands left in the trunk.
The rest of the weekend passed in relaxation for the group aside from Harry who activated the rings for Daphne and Tracy. They agreed to wait for Neville to join them so they could advance as a group. Harry went right into carving the runes for Neville ring and was able to finish it by late Sunday. He added the camouflaging as a vine of Ivy that twined around the ring in a rich brown. He activated the ring before heading to bed on Sunday. Daphne, Tracy and Neville were going to start learning from Hermione while Harry had his Detentions this week. They would continue with Hermione until they caught up with her as she had dropped the lessons when he had been chosen as a champion.
Monday brought a new day of lessons and being confronted by Snape during breakfast. Harry was simply enjoying his breakfast when Snape made his way into the Great Hall. Harry saw Snape's flushed face and bloodshot eyes zero in on him as soon as Snape had cleared the doors. Hermione quickly fled the table and headed for Professor McGonagall as Snape descended upon Harry.
Snape came around the table and stood over Harry with his nostrils flared and hair looking extra greasy. "Potter! You will be joining me for detention starting next week for a month, weekends included, for that stunt you pulled!" Harry merely continued to chew his toast before taking another bite while he watched Snape glare at him. Snape became increasingly hostile at the fact that Harry didn't seem to care.
Harry saw Hermione and Professor McGonagall approaching as Snape leaned over Harry. Snape pulled Harry by the collar closer to his face. Harry felt spittle land on his face while the man's fetid breath washed over him, "You are going to suffer for attacking me you bloody tally wacker. You will regret that you ever crossed paths with me. You should have just di…"
"SEVERUS! YOU WILL UNHAND MR. POTTER THIS INSTANT!" Professor McGonagall barked at Snape. Snape dropped his hands as if Harry's collar was on fire and stood ram rod straight. Harry could see a flicker of fear flash in Snape's eyes before his customary sneer found its way back onto his face.
"I don't know what you think you are doing but we do not manhandle our students! You will be coming with me to my office, NOW! Mr. Potter if you would kindly accompany us we will get this sorted out momentarily. I will write you an excuse if you are late to Herbology." Stated Professor McGonagall in a warmer tone to Harry than the crisp sold tone she used for Snape.
Snape looked as if he had been made to swallow Bubotuber Pus as he followed his Head of House to her office. While bringing up the rear he turned and waved cheekily to Neville and Hermione before throwing a wink at the worried looking Daphne and Tracy.
Harry was of course late to Herbology and couldn't fill in Hermione and Neville, but the next class was Care of Magical Creatures and he found plenty of time to fill them in as well as Daphne and Tracy. They were all anxious to hear about what had happened in the Deputy's office.
Harry filled them in on how Snape accused Harry of attacking him unprovoked and how he would be serving detention with him for a month following his control lessons. Snape seemed to have regained his composure because he had a self-satisfied grin on his face during his announcement.
When Professor McGonagall raised a severe eyebrow at Harry, he responded by telling her that all he had done was raise a shield when Professor Snape mistakenly fired a stunner at him instead of the stinging hex that was supposed to be used. Harry saw Snape's face begin to redden as he explained that the stunner had reflected back on Professor Snape. He was asked why he had not casted an ENNERVATE on Professor Snape, he responded that since he was being tested for control that he felt that he should not be casting spells on anybody until he was cleared. He stated that he had left to find Madam Pomfery but was side tracked en route to the Hospital Wing and simply forgot after the distraction was dealt with.
Harry then repeated what Professor Snape had told him this morning, verbatim. Needless to say Harry was given his excuse, dismissed to class and told that he needn't worry about the detentions. The last thing he heard was Snape getting yelled at as he made his way down the hall and out to Herbology.
They all had a laugh at how Harry had turned the tables on Snape and continued to chuckle during the rest of their lesson.
Harry continued to attend his control lessons with the rest of the core staff,
Monday – Flitwick
Tuesday – Moody
Wednesday – McGonagall
Thursday – The Headmaster
Everything went perfect with him displaying how to underpower his spells, use normal power and then how to overpower his spells, including how much power to push into his spells. Flitwick spent most of the lesson hopping around clapping his hands in delight. Moody sat surly as ever while stating that he was proficient. McGonagall was displaying a smile that was not normally shown on her stoic face. Dumbledore had his twinkle turned up to 11, as he chuckled and simply enjoyed the display that he was witnessing. The only complaint of inadequacy came from Snape but was quickly brushed aside after his outburst on Monday morning.
Friday after class Harry was brought into Professor McGonagall's office to be told that he was cleared and that almost all of the teachers felt that he had excellent control over the power level of his spells. He was warned to keep his overpowered spells to a minimum. She also told him that as a Champion he would be requiring a date for the Yule Ball that would be taking place on the night of Saturday December 17th. The Express would then take students home on Monday December 19th, giving them Sunday to recuperate from the late night of the ball. She told him that she would be announcing the Yule Ball on Monday so he had a weekend head start to find a date. She had already pulled Angelina aside earlier to inform her.
Harry left her office worrying about the fact the fact that he would need to dance but had no idea where he was to learn such a skill in the next two weeks. He made his way to the Hangout to inform the group about everything that was said. Hopefully the Tracy and Hermione would be able to help him out with the dancing, he wanted to surprise Daphne on the night of the ball.
A/N: OK Fourteenth chapter done, you can expect my next chapter sometime next weekend.
Several previous chapters are being reposted as I have went back to fix the issues that many people have expressed. Namely the weird use of italics. While this will not effect readers that are caught up at the time of this posting (7-22-13), it will hopefully mitigate further reviews about the format of the first several chapters.
Thanks for reading