Chapter 05
It took nearly three weeks for them to get a new Defence teacher. In that time Dumbledore himself taught the class. It was refreshing having a teacher that could actually teach. Harry just hoped that whoever Lockhart's permanent replacement ended up being was someone who knew how to do the job.
A lot happened in the days after Lockhart's arrest. The Saturday after the event, Harry was awakened at 5am by Oliver Wood, who was talking about Quidditch practice. Looking around, he saw the twins leaning against the door frame still half asleep. Harry pulled his wand out from under his pillow, and immediately stunned Oliver.
"Put that Mad bastard back in his bed, then go back to sleep." With that, he rolled over and tried to sleep himself. The twins looked at him like he had done something worship- worthy, before grabbing Oliver's arms, and dragging him out. Three and a half hours later, Harry woke up his stunned captain, and went ahead with the Quidditch practice. On the way, they were met by Colin Creevy who made his first ever sale, when Harry bought a copy of a photograph of Lockhart getting let out in cuffs, swearing that picture was going up on his fridge. On his recommendation, Creevy wrote a letter to the Daily Prophet offering to sell the picture to them. He made a killing, as they were climbing over themselves to get it, and a professional photographer was borne.
They ended up having an in-depth conversation on the way to the field where Harry explained the rules of Quidditch to the muggle-born first-year.
"There you are, Harry, what kept you?" said Wood briskly. "Now, I wanted a quick talk with you all before we actually get onto the field, because I spent the summer devising a whole new training program, which I really think will make all the difference. …"
Harry mostly zoned out, leaving his subconscious mind to record everything Oliver was saying into a memory block that could be reviewed later.
"So," said Wood, at long last, jerking Harry from a fantasy about the woman that was currently an owl on his shoulder. "Is that clear? Any questions?"
"I've got a question, Oliver," George spoke up. "How awesome is Harry-"
"For getting us the extra sleep." Fred finished.
Wood wasn't pleased. "Now listen here you lot. We did good getting the Quidditch cup last year, but this year, we train harder than ever before.
"Actually, I have a real question. Are there try-outs this year, or are we just sticking with the same team, because I have a friend who is dying to be a chaser. She bought a broom and everything, just so she could try out."
"I dunno, we have a solid team and-"
"Oh, let her try our, Wood." Said Alicia Spinnet. "Sides, I've been thinking that I could use more time to get my grades up. If she's good she can have my spot."
Oliver seemed to think hard before he capitulated. "Fine, now let's go and put our new theories into practice!" He seized his broomstick and led the way out of the locker rooms.
As they exited, Harry's friends were waiting. "Are you finished yet?" Hermione asked.
"Haven't even started." He answered, making her sigh heavily.
"Which one of you were wanting to try out for chaser?" Oliver questioned.
"Oh, that's me!" Bella announced, running over to the stands, where she had set down her broom. She was quickly in the air, and ready to play. Oliver had her flying laps and playing catch with a Quaffle, showing how good she was in the air. The girl may be clumsy on the ground, but in the air she can fly like a bird. She was soon being congratulated by her friends for making the team, and being trained by her now fellow chasers, while Colin was in the stands taking pictures the whole time. All together, the training went beautifully. Harry later heard through the Hogwarts grapevine, that Draco Malfoy had his father buy a set of brooms so he could buy his way onto the team, but they turned him down, because they already had 2001's, so now Draco was stuck with seven brooms.
After the practice, they went to visit Hagrid, and he was happy to show off his growth of the biggest pumpkins any of them had ever seen.
"Gettin' on well, aren't they?" said Hagrid happily. "Fer the Halloween feast… should be big enough by then."
"What are you feeding those things?" Hermione asked.
He looked around, as if expecting someone to jump out of the bushes. "Well, I've bin givin' them — you know — a bit o' help."
"Nice." Harry said. "What, an engorgement charm?"
"Actually yea'."
"Well they are looking good." Neville said.
"You know, Hagrid," Harry commented. "I have a friend who invented this technique of drawing the very essence out of plants, then by mixing the essence with the water you feed them, makes them grow amazingly fast and lush. If you have a pumpkin, or at this size, a piece of one, I can have her make some for you."
He noticed Hermione eyebrows raise at the reference to 'her' but didn't say anything. He instead listened to Hagrid who seemed thrilled at the idea of pumpkin essence.
The one other event of note that happened in those three weeks was the first potions class of the year. It seemed that the adjudication ended when the year ended, and Professor Snape was able to give punishments again. It didn't matter, though, he had apparently learned his lesson, knowing that Harry could call for another, and he'd be toothless for the whole year. He gave the class directions, then stood behind his desk and watched his students work, only punishing one before squinting like he expected Harry to adjudicate him again, and spent the rest of the class standing silently.
Three weeks after the arrest, Harry and his friends walked into the Defence against the Dark Arts class to find their new teacher waiting for them. Harry recognised the man from his days as Nicolas Flamel. He had wanted the chance to know his relatives, so he had struck up a friendship with his grandfather, William Potter, and had met his father and their friends. Unfortunately, he couldn't stay in their lives for long, as he didn't want to risk being tempted to prevent their deaths, but was there long enough to recognize Remus Lupin. The man was definitely younger then he looked, he hadn't aged well. His hair was greying, and his cheek bones stuck out of his paled skin. The man almost looked sickly. Harry started to worry if he was sick, and hoped he could find a way to help his fathers friend.
"Hello, second years, and welcome. My name is Remus Lupin. Now, despite his stellar reputation," Lupin said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "We will not be using Mister Lockhart's books. I would recommend writing your families, seeing if you can get your money back. It is my understanding that your lessons in this field have been disturbingly... uneven. It's my job to fix that. So with that, let me ask you all a question. What is the best form of defence against an evil wizard who wants to curse you?"
Multiple hands went up, and Lupin picked one at random. "Yes, mister..."
"Malfoy sir."
"Aright mister Malfoy, what's the best form of defence?"
"Shield charm." He said smugly, thinking himself absolutely right. Lupin flicked his wand at the blackboard, and a piece of chalk floated up and wrote shield charm on the board.
"Who else has an answer? Mister..." He said, pointing.
"Zabini. And I think that you can try to talk your way out of a fight."
"Aright, good answer." He flicked his wand again, and the word 'Debate' wrote itself.
"Anyone else? Miss..."
"Granger sir, And I read that the best defence is a good offence."
"Very good." One more wand flick, and this time appeared the word 'attack'.
"Anyone else?"
This time, only one hand went up. "Mister Potter?"
Harry was pretty sure he knew what the man was looking for. "Don't be there."
One more wand flick, followed by one more word later, The professor spoke again. "Let's put these to the test, shall we?" His wand moved lightening fast, followed by a shout of 'OW!' from Malfoy. "Where's your shield Mister Malfoy?"
"I um... I don't know how to cast one." He admitted, looking like he was sucking lemons.
"I don't blame you, as I said before, your past defence teachers haven't exactly been the best. So... you can't cast a shield if you don't know any." His wand flicked to the board, and the floating chalk marked through the work shield.
"Mister Zabini, try to talk me out of cursing you."
"Well I- OW!" He shouted as he got hit with a low power stinging hex.
"There are some people you simple can't talk out of being evil." Then another flick, and another work marked through. Another wand flick and another 'ow' later, the word 'attack' was marked through.
"Now for Mister Potter." Lupin flicked his wand, but his stinging hex hit Harry's empty chair, as the boy in question, had dove out of the way, rolling across Hermione's desk.
"Very good Mister Potter." His wand flicked to the board again, but this time the chalk circled the word 'Dodge'.
"Now listen carefully everyone because this is probably the most important thing you will ever learn. It doesn't matter if it's a stunner, or the killing curse, it can't hit you if you aren't there. So for this class and the next few, we are going to work on dodging. To start, everyone take off their robes."
Harry flung off his robes, showing he was wearing comfortable black jeans and a tight black t-shirt under his robe, clothing that wouldn't impede his movement in combat. Everyone else was a bit slower to comply.
"Come on, as long as no one's naked under their robes, it shouldn't be a problem." Once everyone's robes were off, leaving a number of people still in their pyjamas under their robes, Lupin led the students through a door in the back of the class into the neighbouring room, which had been magically expanded to fit a running track and spell casting range. "Everyone start jogging. Run as far as you can. Then every class I expect you to go a bit farther." There were multiple groans and complaints as the students started running, but Harry was off like a shot circling the track before most had even gotten started. He was so used to running in the cityscape room in his trunk, while working his shape-shifting at the same time, that it took extra mental focus to not change his body as he ran. As the running started, Hedwig fluttered over, landing on Lupin's shoulder, which startled him, but he seemed pleased by the acceptance all the same.
The other students had stopped running, stretched, and started on the dodging practice, allowing animated dummies to cast low power stinging hexes at them while they worked on dodging, while Harry was still running. Near the end of the class, Lupin called him over. "I can tell that you run regularly."
"Yes sir," Harry said, not even sweating or breathing heavy. "Every morning. I average fifteen miles a day."
"Well very good then. In class I'd like you to stop running when everyone else does, and take part in the dodging exercises. I can tell you probably are already plenty good at that, based on how you dodged in class earlier, but all the same, I'd like you to participate, maybe help the other students.
"Yes sir."
"Aright class," He called, "that's it for the day. Why don't you all go grab a shower before dinner, and next class come dressed more appropriately for exercise.
That night, the group invited Luna Lovegood to hang out with them. They all descended into Harry's trunk where they all sat around doing homework, drinking butterbeer, and just generally spending time together. Near the end of the night, Luna made a comment about how it was almost like having friends, and Harry had to correct her, that yes indeed, they were her friends.