Breaking Point
Chapter 9
WARNING: This chapter may annoy and even piss a few people off so just be warned a few of you may get triggered by this chapter. If you are one of those people please read my answer to the review left by Iskander Hero. If you're not, then thank you for reading this anyway.
"Normal Speech."
'Normal Thought.'
"Spells/Translations."
Books/Letters.
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There was many things Harry expected when looking around at the students of the Great Hall. For one, he expected a somber mood at the knowledge that the most power powerful Dark Lord in British history was back alive. He expected, to see seats empty as parents withdrew their children from Hogwarts as they fled to different countries in fear of that very same Dark Lord.
Instead, the students around the hall were laughing and talking as if nothing was going on, as if it was just an ordinary year and that there wasn't a Dark Lord on the loss.
It was shocking to say the least.
As he moved towards the Gryffindor table, he ignored the few glances he received and even ignored the chattering of Ron. It was safe to say that he wasn't pleased with his former best friend. Despite coming close to death last year in the Department of Mysteries, Ron had not matured in the slightest. In fact, he barely seemed to care that Voldemort was out there, if the many times he talked about how he wanted to get into Lavender Browns pants was anything to go by.
Now Harry would be perfectly fine with that, he couldn't count the number of times he had thought of Fluer and to his guilt, Tonks in the same way before. However, Ron just kept on talking about Quidditch and every time Hermione had brought up Voldemort, the ginger had shut her down.
To be completely honest, Harry had no time to deal with trying to get Ron to mature and see just how precarious their situation was. He didn't hate the ginger at all, he just disliked his inability to grasp just how dangerous their situation was.
Seeing an open seat by Neville, Harry sat down beside the Longbottom heir. "Neville." He greeted with a nod and taller boy gave a nervous smile in return.
"Hey, Harry." He greeted back as Ron and Hermione took a seat across from them both. "How was your summer?" He asked and by the look in his eyes, Harry could see the true question in his eyes.
"I'm good." He replied with a smile and a nod. "Don't worry, it will take more than that to take me down, all it did was make me stronger." Neville looked at him for a few moments before a smile came across his features. "What about you?"
"It was alright, I…I struggled with feeling useless." Neville said after a few moments of consideration. "Watching you fight side by side with your godfather, it made me feel completely useless, like I'd never be capable of doing anything to help." Harry watched with a keen eye as Neville clenched his fists tightly, while slightly thankful of the loud chattering of other students masking their conversation.
"Neville, all of us felt useless." Hermione spoke up attracting attention to her from the three boys. "I know all these spells, I spent hours of my time reading book after book, only to come face to face with the real thing and be completely outmatched. Unlike you, I had a wand that is actually my own and I could do nothing, if anyone was useless, it was me." Hermione admitted quietly and Harry reached forward placing one hand on her shoulder.
"Neither of you, should feel useless." Harry said flashing Hermione a short smile. "I barely knew what I was doing and when V-Tom, appeared, I could do nothing but watch as he and Dumbledore fought." He quickly used Voldemort's, real name as to not attract any attention to their little group, by the looks on their face they knew who he was on about.
He knew that he had all three of their attentions and he hoped that saying this would at least snap Ron out of his little bubble of immaturity.
"They were so powerful, using magic in ways I never though possible or heard of." Harry said and he could see the fear in all three of their eyes. "Dumbledore could do nothing but defend because I was in the way, every time he tried to attack, Tom would fire spells at me, forcing Dumbledore to defend. If I wasn't there, then it's highly likely that Tom would have been beaten, but I was there."
There was silence as they swallowed that feeling.
"So whether you were or weren't hopeless, all of us failed that night. Including me." Harry bluntly pointed out that the real aim of that mission was to save Sirius and at the end of it all, Sirius had died. "But we can't do anything to change that, but we can change what we do from now on. I've spent all summer training and I can teach you, if you want."
All three of them looked at Harry in shock and he could see instantly what all of them were going to say or do.
"Mate, we've still got two years at Hogwarts." Ron said. "We don't need to worry just yet."
Shaking his head, he looked between Neville and Hermione to see what their answer would be. "I-I, I can't." Hermione stuttered, the fear shining in her eyes and he needed no explanation. The brunette had come so close to death that it had stuck with her and she feared it, with good reason. "I can't fight like that again, I-I don't, wa…"
Harry reached forward and placed one hand on her trembling one and gave her a gentle, comforting smile. "Don't worry about it, Hermione, you don't have to fight." Despite saying that though, Harry knew that eventually she would be forced into a situation where she would have to. "But I can still teach you to defend yourself."
"I-I…" She took a few moments of consideration before nodding her head mutely.
With a smile, Harry turned to Neville and saw the determination in his eyes, a look he had not seen in Neville in the nearly six years of knowing the Longbottom heir. However, before he could receive and answer, the doors to the Great Hall opened and in came a flood of First Years, led by Professor McGonagall.
"Later." Harry said to Neville who gave a nod, but the emerald eyed wizard could already tell what the boy was going to say.
One by one, the First Years were sorted, including a new transfer students named Niamh White who had been sorted into Gryffindor as a Sixth Year. She was a pretty young woman, with long flowing black hair and eyes, a heart shaped face and a petite figure. He was almost reminded of Tonks in a way.
Then Dumbledore stepped up to the podium and the chatter that had once again begun quietened down instantly, that was the effect Dumbledore had upon the students and Harry could respect that, even if he didn't like the old man very much right now.
With a light cough, to clear his throat, Dumbledore looked out over the students of Hogwarts with a twinkle in his eyes. "Welcome, all to a new year at Hogwarts." He began, his voice resonating all over the hall. "As usual I have a number of announcements to make. The first, I would like to announce, Professor Snape as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor here at Hogwarts."
There was a few groans from the students around the hall, mainly the Gryffindor table and big surprise, Snape looked completely unperturbed by this. That was if you ignore the scowl on his face, but that was always on his face so it made no difference.
Dumbledore continued on as if he had never heard them though. "As for the opening in Potions, I have asked my old friend and former Potions Professor, Horace Slughorn to take up the mantle once more." Much like they had done with Snape, the students clapped politely as Professor Slughorn looked at them all with a smile on his face.
"However, as we all know, Voldemort has returned." The vast majority of the student population flinched at the mention of the Dark Lords name. "As a result, I have seen fit to include a new course into Hogwarts that all of you are required to attend at least twice a week." Many students looked on interest. "It is a course focusing around self-defence and what to do in certain situations that would require you to fight and it shall be taught by Professor Flitwick, Snape and myself. Once again I would like to stress that this class must be attended by all of you at least twice a week otherwise, punishment shall be given to those guilty parties, unless you have proper reason."
Harry took a moment to look around and was disappointed to see that despite a few anomalies, the vast majority once again completely ignored the fact that Voldemort was around and continued to act like children. It annoyed him, couldn't they see that their lives and the lives of their families are threatened by Voldemort's very existence?
"Also, I have put rules 43 and 44 in effect that dictates that in a extreme situations, Emergency Prefects are called in to assist with the teachers and already existing Prefects. As well as giving Prefects the right to hand out punishment that will later be reviewed by the Head of House for both that Prefect and the student in question." There was few looks of shock and uneasiness from some of the students.
"However, with all that said and done, let us feast." And then the food appeared much to happiness of all the students.
"Can you believe it, mate?" Ron said after stuffing his face with food for a few minutes. "Dumbledore's gone mad if he's letting Prefects hand out punishments as they see fit." Harry looked away in disgust as he saw the food Ron was chewing in his mouth. "It's bad enough with Snape after us handing out detentions constantly and docking points, but Malfoy as well?"
"Ronald, don't speak with your mouth full!" Hermione snapped and Harry smiled at the sight of Hermione acting like her old self, it was pleasing to see. Even more so when Ron actually closed his mouth and stopped showing off his chewed food still in his mouth. "And honestly, it's not that bad."
"She's right." Harry interrupted before Ron could retort. "Malfoy is far too scared to attract attention to him like he used to."
The confused looks he received told him that no one understand what he meant. "I'm lost." Neville said. "You're telling me that Draco Malfoy, isn't going to abuse this to give you and every Gryffindor ridiculous punishments. We are on about the same Draco Malfoy here, right?"
"Yep." Harry popped his 'p' for extra effect with a grin on his face as he looked across the hall at Draco who had kept his head down and poked at his food. "Look at him." They did so and while Ron didn't see anything different, the other two did. "He's terrified, he's a DE in Hogwarts under Dumbledore's nose. He won't do anything that will attract unnecessary attention to himself."
"He's a what?!" Neville whisper loudly, with narrowed eyes. "How do you know?"
Hermione looked at Harry with a frown. "Harry, I know your personal feelings on Malfoy, but you can't go around accusing people of being Death Eaters like that."
"I'm not accusing if I know it to be the truth." Harry shot back and Hermione looked at him with a raised brow. "You remember the raid on Diagon Alley that happened this summer?" They all nodded their heads. "Well it turns out that mere moments before that happened, Draco was seen walking into Knockturn Alley accompanied by hooded figures."
"That still doesn't prove anything." Hermione replied stubbornly and Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe." Harry leaned back with an easy smile on his face. "But would it make you change your mind if both Mad Eye and Dumbledore think it to be the truth." They looked at Harry in shock before they looked to Draco.
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Knocking on the wooden door leading to the Headmasters office, Harry heard the elderly wizard telling him to come in before pushing it open. He looked around and noticed that the office despite being completely destroyed by Harry himself last year in a fit of rage, was completely repaired and looked exactly the same.
"Ah, Harry." Dumbledore indicated towards the chair across from him and Harry took it politely. "Lemon Drop?"
Curious at what the sweets that Dumbledore had a huge bowl of tasted like, Harry took one. "Thank you." And Dumbledore gave the emerald eyed wizard a smile while also taking one of the sweets himself. "Why did you ask to speak to me, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and Harry felt a small brush upon his mental defences. He had been brushing up on them this summer with Remus who had some basic skills in Legillmency, but nothing great. If it was Passive Legillmency then Harry doubted he would have been able to notice it, and he knew for sure that if Dumbledore tried to read his mind then Harry wouldn't know until it was too late.
Masterfully, Harry cleared his mind and stared at Dumbledore blankly until the Legillmency probe withdrew. "Very well done, Harry." Dumbledore praised with a smile upon his face. "I'm glad to see that you have improved upon your Occlumency skills."
"Yes, well I doubt that if you really tried that I would be able to stop you." The older wizard neither denied or agreed with that statement and instead changed subjects.
"Well, onto why I called you here." Harry sat up straighter in his seat. "As you know, young mister Malfoy is a Death Eater and no doubt sent to spy upon you. I would like you keep most of your skills upon the down low. You can show your prodigious talents if you wish, but keep your Wandless magic and your other skills secret."
"You wish for me to show no more skill than I did in my fight against Fenrir." Harry deduced it instantly and Dumbledore nodded his head. "Alright, I'm not really bothered by that, but I'm curious. You know that, Draco is a Death Eater spy or at least suspect it, then why are you letting him stay in Hogwarts."
"Ah." Dumbledore smiled. "That, Harry is something you must figure out yourself. However, bare in mind that all leaders must make decisions that seem stupid to those that follow them. Something I imagine, that you will learn in time."
While not completely happy with the answer, Harry simply filed it away for later.
"Alright, but that can't be the only reason you called me here." Dumbledore nodded his head.
"You're right, how much sleep do you require? As I'm no doubt you're aware of, magic is very useful in allowing us to function for long periods of time without food, sleep or water and also recovering much quicker." Dumbledore informed.
"Four hours, give or take an hour." Harry replied. "It all depends on how much I have done, but four hours is the average."
"Impressive." Dumbledore noted, he himself could go a few days without sleep, but that is only because he had more magic and greater control than Harry himself did. Yet at his age, he required far more sleep to function properly. "Very well, then in that case come down to the Room of Requirement after curfew. It will draw less attention to what we are doing than if you disappear for hours on end."
Harry said nothing, knowing very well that sneaking out after curfew was not exactly a new thing for him, having done it numerous times throughout his time at Hogwarts.
"Also, I'm well aware that you have prior plans in Hogsmeade, correct?"
"Yea, why?" Dumbledore looked at Harry with a hard look, reminding Harry that this was a man who had fought in two wars and had come out the victor in both.
"I would like for you to keep an eye on the students there."
"What about Auror's? Surely there are some stationed in Hogsmeade already?" Dumbledore nodded his head.
"Correct, there are Auror's stationed at Hogsmeade, yet most of their forces are focused on combatting Tom's forces and from what I have concluded from the reports, they are being led on a wild goose chase by Tom." Dumbledore sighed tiredly. "My Order have their own lives and jobs and so I cannot spare to station any at Hogsmeade incase of an attack."
"What about teachers?"
"They will of course be also stationed in Hogsmeade, as many as can be spared. However, Hogwarts is the most secure place in Britain and Magical Europe. If this falls to Tom then he will have a impenetrable stronghold from which he can stage all of his attacks from." The elderly wizard leaned back into his chair. "Should an attack come, then it needs to be defended."
"So you want me looking over the students, while you sit here defending the castle?" Harry asked rhetorically. "Sounds to me like you're in the safest place out of all of us."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed and his magic buzzed in the air, pressing down upon Harry's shoulders. "Do not doubt for a second that should Hogsmeade come under attack that I will be there, because I will. However, a leader does not bring all his forces and resources to bare on a minor skirmish. Remember that."
While still not happy, Harry stiffly nodded his head. "Can I leave, Headmaster?" With a nod, Dumbledore watched Harry storm out of his office with a thunderous expression on his face.
Fawkes trilled sadly, landing on the desk and Dumbledore reached round to stroke his Phoenixes head. "It seems that Harry still has a long way to go, he is not yet ready to take on the mantle of leader. He's too rash and too stuck in the belief that a war can be won without casualties on both sides. That will need to change if he is to fight in this war as a key player."
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Entering the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry could see that most of the First and Second Years were already in their dorms and those of upper years were either out around the castle or also in their dorms.
Hermione was nowhere to be seen and was no doubt either in the library reading or in her dorm, reading. He always fondly remembered Hermione's love for books and the stories and information they held. Ron, was sat playing a game of Wizards Chess with Seamus, with Dean Thomas watching. He was glad to see that his friend actually had friends other than him because Harry doubted that he could stand to be around the Weasley if he wasn't willing to change.
His eyes then panned over to see Neville sat staring at the burning fire in concentration.
Curious, Harry moved forwards and sat down in the armchair next to him. "You know, you never gave me your answer." Harry spoke up, breaking Neville from his trance who turned to stare at the emerald eyed wizard in confusion. "Earlier, at the feast, I asked you if you wanted me to teach you, what was your answer?"
Neville's eyes lit up in understanding, before hardening in determination. "I want to learn to fight." Harry smirked. "Do you hate Bellatrix Lestrange?"
"Yes." The confusion in his tone was obvious as Harry looked at Neville with a raised brow. "Why?"
Neville turned to look at the fire once more. "When you were a baby, V-Voldemort came and killed your parents. When I was a baby, Bellatrix Lestrange, the Lestrange brother and Barty Crouch Jr. broke our Wards and placed my mother and father under the Cruciatus Curse. Well, they forced my father to watch as they raped my mother repeatedly while using the Unforgiveables."
"Neville." Harry whispered in shock and sympathy, never having know the full story behind what happened behind his parents. "I'm sorry." He couldn't imagine what it must feel like to know what his parents through. Harry at least knew that his parents death was painless and quick, Neville's parents were still alive and suffering.
"It's alright." Neville shrugged his shoulders and his mouth twisted into a frown. "At the Department of Mysteries I was close, so close to the people that tortured my parents to the point their minds broke and I couldn't do anything."
Neville clenched his fists tightly as his body trembled in rage.
"I was powerless and incapable of avenging my parents. I know you hate Bellatrix and what to get revenge for Sirius's death, but," Neville turned to look at Harry with narrowed eyes. "Bellatrix is mine to kill."
The two had a stare down for a few moments before Harry snorted, resting one cheek on his fist. "Alright. As long as the bitch is killed I'm not bothered who does the deed." Neville looked at Harry in confusion. "Even if I did care, you have far more reason to kill Bellatrix than I do, though I have to ask, what about the other four? Why just Bellatrix?"
"Because unlike the other three, I can still remember Bellatrix laughing as she tortured my parents. That's my earlier memory, her cackling laughter as my parents screamed." Harry said nothing and just stared at him in silence.
"Fair enough." Shrugging his shoulders, Harry leaned further back into his seat. "You're going to need to be much stronger than you are."
Neville nodded his head. "I'm prepared to do what ever I need to, to get stronger."
"Then you best get ready to go running early tomorrow."
"What?"
Harry smirked at the taller boy in amusement. "Did you think it would all be magic practise?" The silence he received was all the answer he needed. "Your magic will be easier to control and you'll be able to last longer in a fight if your body is in better shape."
"Alright, what time?"
"Five." The wide eyed look on Neville's face made Harry laugh and eventually Neville joined him.
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"Ah, Harry, I'm glad you made it." Dumbledore greeted kindly as Harry entered the Room of Requirement. The room itself took on an appearance similar to that of a large expanse of open fields. It was a beautiful sight, especially with the clear blue skies and the shining sun.
"Headmaster, Professor." Harry bowed his head towards Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick who were stood side by side.
"Mister Potter." Professor Flitwick returned the head bow with one of his own.
"So what are we doing?" Harry asked Dumbledore, taking note of the change in Dumbledore's clothing. It was no longer that brightly coloured robes that he usually wore, but instead what looked to be battle robes.
"We, Harry will first be improving your style." Harry looked between the two, not quite understanding why they needed to improve his style. Sure in his fight with Fenrir it had been sloppy despite the fact that he knew all the stances as a result of the Grimoires however, by sparring with Remus he had managed to improve his style.
"I don't get it."
"Filius." Dumbledore indicated for the half-Goblin to take over, who did so with an eager smile.
"You, mister Potter have two very distinct styles that on paper are completely different. The fact that you are attempting to combine the two together is nothing short of astounding and very ambitious of you." The diminutive professor shook his head to stop himself from going on a tangent. "Anyway, the first style you use is very reminiscent to your fathers in which, you use Transfiguration to put your opponents off-balance or lure them into traps."
Dumbledore hummed in agreement. "A very gifted duellist your father was. Always setting up runic based traps and then luring them into said traps. Or luring them into ambushes or tight alleyways that had the effect of not only negating their numbers, but making his Transfiguration much more devastating."
Harry nodded his head, while internally filled with a sense of pride for his father. In tight spaces, his father would be able to transfigure the walls into whatever he wanted, vines, spikes, etc. Should the Death Eaters follow him then they would be walking into a trap.
"Yes." Professor Flitwick continued as if he had never been interrupted. "Then there is your grandfathers style, a style that is very similar to your own I believe, Albus."
"It is." Dumbledore nodded his head. "The style I use is something most are incapable of using simply due to them needing vast amounts of magic and a great deal of control to limit the excess magic used in a spell."
"So, what does this style do?" Harry asked.
"It's very simple, using long and powerful spell-chains, powerful and complex pieces of Transfiguration and just basically, overwhelming your opponent with brute force. This is a style that Tom himself uses as you no doubt remember." Harry nodded his head because he did. He remembered watching the magic that they used and was incapable of imaging anyone capable of using what must be extremely taxing spells and pieces of magic.
Filius cleared his throat gaining Harry's attention. "These two styles individually can be very dangerous, together however, well I think that you'll become one of the most dangerous duellists in the world." That fact was something that made Harry smirk. "However, it is a matter of making this style instinctual."
"Instinctual?"
"Yes." Dumbledore spoke up. "I have watched your duels with Remus and while you are very skilled, you take a second or two to think over which route to go down. Do you lure them into a trap or do you overwhelm them?" Harry clicked his teeth in annoyance as he realised what Dumbledore was getting at.
In a normal fight, every second one fighter took to think over a possible attack, was an opening that an experienced opponent could use to finish the fight. Openings that Remus had not taken and allowed Harry time to think.
"Now, normally a wizard or witch when fighting must train their body to be able to instinctively fight while their mind studies their opponents and their weaknesses. Occlumency is extremely helpful in this regard." Filius added. "So, you will be duelling with Dumbledore and myself, making you not only get used to two very different styles, but also forcing you to make your body instinctively avoid spells and fire your own back while your mind studies our weaknesses."
Harry nodded his head and moved back a few spaces, while Filius moved to the side, all the while Dumbledore stared at Harry with his wand held loosely in one hand.
'So Dumbledore is my first opponent.' Harry thought as his mind went other what he knew of Dumbledore's style. 'I'm fucked.' He came to the conclusion almost instantly as he remembered the magic that Dumbledore had thrown around in the Ministry of Magic. He didn't have nearly enough magic or experience to combat spells of that magnitude.
"You need not worry, Harry." Dumbledore said in his grandfatherly tone. "I will not do you any serious harm however, you will feel pain. I have found in my many years that it is a great motivator."
Narrowing his eyes, Harry watched Filius fire red sparks into the air and then fired off a small, yet powerful spell-chain just to test the waters, all the while running to the left as to not stay in one place.
Dumbledore masterfully conjured numerous rocks into the path of the spells all the while his eyes tracked Harry. The young man in question only saw a broad swish of Dumbledore's wand before he was flung backwards, his body erupting with pain as his vision went black.
Dumbledore watched as Filius moved to enervate Harry with a frown. 'It seems that Harry has a very long way to go before he is ready.' He was pleased to note that while frowning Harry got to his feet and prepared himself once more. 'Yet, he is not shying away from the pain or the experience of losing. That is good.'
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Neville was sore, plain and simple.
It had only been a week since he had started his Sixth Year at Hogwarts and already this year was shaping up to be completely different to any other. Then again, none of his five years at Hogwarts had been normal, so why would the sixth be any different?
Well, there was one upside to this year and that was he actually had a proper friend. It was no secret that Neville had never really socialised with many people outside of Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones and the plants at the Greenhouses. Even then, most of interaction was with plants or plant based and so he didn't have many friends.
Then fifth year came around.
He had joined the DA alongside most of the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs in his year and few from other years and had actually made friends. Yet once again, they weren't real friends, more like friendly acquaintances.
However, he had none the less mustered his Gryffindor courage and helped Harry to infiltrate the Department of Mysteries. Fought against Death Eaters, met one of his parents torturers and came out alive. His grandmother had been torn between proud and terrified.
Proud that her grandson had fought against the Death Eaters and started acting like a true Longbottom and terrified that she might have lost her grandson. None the less, when he had told her about his wand and the problems he was facing with it, she had told him that they would get him a new one.
Ever since then, he realised that while magic was still difficult to cast, it was far easier than before. It was like trying to grow a plant without sunlight. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't and it was far more likely that it would die.
Then came the start of his sixth year and already things were looking up. He had a friend, a true one in Harry Potter and that same friend was helping him get ready to face Bellatrix Lestrange.
And he could already notice a difference.
The daily running helped to start getting him into shape and just like Harry had said, his magic did start to respond much easier than before. Not only that he was starting to notice that the chubbiness that had always been a permanent feature of his was changing more to muscle.
It was slow, yet it was starting and it did wonders for his confidence.
However, his training did not just involve running.
It also involved spending time reading in the library about different spells. He and Harry would often spend an hour or two of their free time finding useful spells that they would then practise in the Room of Requirement.
Speaking of which, that was where they trained.
For the most part, it would involve him and Harry practising spells. Well, more Harry teaching Neville how to properly cast the spell and on a few occasions the two would duel. It was difficult for the Longbottom as Harry was a very skilled duellist and easily beat him. However, Harry would often allow Neville to use everything he knew before ending the fight.
Training wasn't the only time Harry and Neville interacted however, much to his happiness. The two would meet up at breakfast and sit together talking about life, it had been a shook to Neville to discover that Harry was actually dating the French Veela from the Triwizard Champion and much to his embarrassment, Harry would tease him about his crush on Hannah. It was honestly a shame that know Neville actually had the confidence to tease other people, he so happened to be friends with someone who had next to no shame.
Seriously, Neville could write a long list about the number of times that girls had come up to Harry and done embarrassing things to get his attention. And instead of getting embarrassed, Harry would just laugh it off or even join in to make them feel better.
It was honestly amazing to Neville to see how Harry had changed.
Before, Harry had been popular because of his fame. Now, Harry was popular because of who he was, his looks and of course, his fame still. But it wasn't all due to being the Boy-Who-Lived like it had been before.
Harry had proven time and time again that he was a prodigy in Runes, Arithmancy, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration and DADA. That alone spoke volumes and then add on his friendliness and charisma and it was no wonder Harry was the most popular student and Prefect in Hogwarts.
Speaking of which, it had been a shock to Neville when he had been given a Prefect badge from Professor McGonagall as a result of the Emergency Prefect rule. A shock, but not unwanted and it was safe to say that Neville had never felt this confident in himself for a long time.
"She's looking at you again." Neville said to Harry as they watched the fifth year students pour into the Great Hall for the Self-Defence course.
Harry looked to Neville before turning to look at Niamh White who quickly turned away and started talking to Padma animatedly. "She could at least try to be subtle." Harry sighed and Neville chuckled lowly. It was no secret to anyone that much like most girls in Hogwarts that were single, Niamh White had a crush on Harry.
The fact that she couldn't stop staring at him was proof of that.
Harry on the other hand, looked at Niamh with narrowed eyes. There was something extremely familiar and strange about her and it was bugging him.
"Welcome everyone." Dumbledore strode forwards, instantly catching the attention of everyone. "Today we will be working on the different defensive measures one must take when being attacked."
Harry ignored the rest and out of the corner took a look at Niamh. There was something strangely familiar about her and he was dead set on figuring out why that was.
A/N: So another chapter done and I'm quite proud of this one. It shows that while Harry is willing to work with Dumbledore things are still tense between them, also Harry is beginning to step into more of a leadership role by socialising with others. Though of course certain tasks and responsibilities of leadership still elude Harry like Dumbledore pointed out. Neville has been introduce with a few embellishments on his past to really drive home his motivation in becoming strong like Harry and a very quick duel between Dumbledore and Harry to show how far he has to go.
This isn't going to be an easy ride and Harry has a steep mountain to climb before he's ready to face Voldemort.
kogentasprimo: Defnitely a possibility, but whether I'll go down that route just yet is up in the air. I might do later on, but for now it won't be the case, especially considering Werewolves will be invaluable resources to both the Dark and Light sides in the war to come. Also if you want a base for what Harrys transformation is like, think of something similar to Teen Wolf, except it's only on the Full Moon.
Boomshanka: In terms of pure physical power, Fenrir is right up there as one of the strongest characters. But magically, he's not the strong. Sure he has a large amount of magic, but he doesn't have the necessary training, skill, knowledge or experience in magical combat in this FanFic. However, he will learn and grown stronger. As for Remus, he has far more knowledge and experience when it comes to magical combat that shay Remus is more dangerous than Fenrir when in human form. As a werewolf, if Remus was to fight Fenrir he would get tossed around like a rag doll.
Remus Fenrir in terms of magical combat. Fenrir Remus in terms of Werewolf combat. And believe me, Fenrir's lost at Harrys hand will drive him to become a more dangerous magical combatant.
Addictorator: Yea, I get what you mean, but in war people do things that they wouldn't normally do. Like say have a three way relationship which kind of spoils what I'm going to do, but that's the overall idea of the Harry x Fleur x Tonks relationship. But don't worry, I'll try to make it as realistic as possible in the contents of this story.
As for the whole Animagus thing, Harry could have learned it from Remus yes, but Remus is doing other things for the Order. Plus, he didn't think of it up until that point, it was more of an opening point in a bargain that you put out there expecting to be either accepted or tossed away and if the latter happens it's no real loss. Pretty much, Harry thought of it on the spot and Harrys Animagus form for now is still up in the air.
Also, don't worry there will be more rituals later on. However, Harry won't be using them just yet training his body and magic as much as he can now before using them. Think of it like this, 1x7 = 7, but 10x7 = 70. Where 7 is the increase in power provided by the ritual and the 1 is Harry. It's more effective and gains more out of the ritual if he improves himself first before using the rituals. So believe me, rituals will come more into play later on.
Smith221: It's true yes, no ordinary hormonal teenager would say no. But Harry is A, not normal, B, a very broken individual and C, they had only just gotten together. I didn't want to have Fluer and Harry get together one chapter and have sex the next.
Iskander Hero: But I like Neville's character and developing him into something more confident and capable. Thought don't worry, Neville won't be instantly OP just like Harry isn't. Harry is to Neville what Dumbeldore is to Harry as you saw in the duel in this chapter. It's laughably easy for Harry to beat Neville just like it is for Dumbledore to beat Harry. So while it won't be instant it will be gradual.
If it's any consolidation, Neville isn't Harrys equal, he will be one of his stronger warriors but definitely not his most powerful. The Order power scaling to me goes with Dumbeldore at the top with a large gap between him and Moody who is in second place. Then the likes of Remus, Kinglsey and a few others. When Harry takes control and leads the Light he will take the place of Dumbledore, but it won't be Neville who takes the place of Moody if it makes any sense. No, I have someone else in mind to be the second most powerful member in Harrys Order and it's not one of his ladies.
But once again, I'm sorry but I like Neville's character and how he acted when facing Voldemort. Sure he didn't fight him in cannon, but he stood up to him and had the will to actually talk back to him and I imagine if Harry hadn't revealed himself would have possibly attacked Voldemort. He wouldn't have succeeded mind you and would have surely being killed, but it was that courage he showed which to be honest really struck a chord with me and I want to give him some measure of justice.
Guest: Very true on all accounts, but Harry doesn't fully trust Dumbledore. He's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt simply because he's one of the few individuals that has been taking a vested interest in leading the charge to combat Voldemort. But he doesn't trust him and hopefully I showed that this chapter with their conversation between them.
As for Hogwarts. Yea, I agree with what you're saying, but believe when I say that Dumbledore has certainly made it far more secure with a number of spells and wards that should give anyone attempting to sneak into Hogwarts the welcoming they weren't expecting.
So while it wasn't secure, it now is.
As for the racism, yes. But Harry already has established relationships with those people having spent a long time getting friendly with them. Sure, Ron abandoned him in Fourth Year but they were kids. However, you're underestimating Dumbledore's influence on the Order Members and those like Kingsley, Moody and others who don't take everything Dumbledore at face value aren't the racist type.
So yes, there could be a possible problem with people being racist, but no one knows besides a select few people. Voldemort himself is keeping this secret close to his chest as to not reveal his hand. After all, a surprise like this would be best to be unveiled when it would produce the most panic and shock.
