HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS' TRUTH

THE THIRD FLOOR CORRIDOR

Chapter 5

By Lady Lestrange

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, and I don't make any money from this. All of it belongs to the wonderful JK Rowlings.

THANKS JK!

Hogwarts and all of the characters belong to JK Rowlings, except for:

Lorissa Cantsay

Samara Donnally

Beatrice Ellis

Llywelyn Styvesant

Joseph Foresman

Stuart Anton

Calvin Anthony

Gloria Snood

Lyle Applegate

Christi Prentice

Josie Perkins

and the Halston boy

so far...I still need a Chaser...

Since Rowlings mentions a few last names, I can't take credit for them.

They are JKR's; but I made up first names to go with them.

Edward

Ethan

Valerianna

Desmond

Marshall

Lauren

Laural

Alvin

Ming

Hey, It's a big school!

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My dear reviewers: thanks for your comments. I always appreciate them.

Thank you,

Lady Lestrange

As for McGonagall's reaction to Ginny's fainting in her class—I know you heard all that Tom stuff—but all the class heard was "no." If you fainted in school, you would be sent to the school nurse and the class wouldn't stop for you. In this respect, I think Hogwarts is like Muggle school. Perhaps that's the only way it's like Muggle school though.

In other respects, it is very different from Muggle schools. The professors have to sort out who are the powerful wizards and the ones who can't defend themselves. They can't spend a month on 'swish and flick' when war is breaking out. Dumbledore isn't looking for perfection. He's looking for competence first.

Numbers of students currently in the school: Harry has said 'less than half of the students' are here. They talked about how empty the Hall felt at the sorting. In JK's Third Book PoA, she says at the Quiddich final, there were 200 people wearing Green. I assume that since it was the Quiddich final, about 100 of those 200 were parents, friends, alumni, etc. The other 100 were Slytherin students. Meaning there are ususally about 400 students in the school. Which means about 14 people are sorted into each house each year. I know she only mentions 6-7 new Gryffindors, etc., but she drops names throughout the book that weren't mentioned at the sorting, like Ernie McMallkin and Eloise Midgin, so we know there are more than 6-7. This year, In my version, there REALLY are only 6-7 in each house. In Ginny's case there are only 2 in her year for Gryffindor, her and Colin Creevy. The rest are staying home because of the Dark Lord. Some to study in safety and some to join the Dark Lord.

One other comment. Most of the first years aren't 11. If you were a parent, would you send your 11 year old across the country to a boarding school during a war when last year a student was killed under the Headmaster's nose?

McGonagall and the other teachers will need to see what level the students are on and classes will be changed accordingly. However this class is all Gryffindors. There are only 15 children in the class. Some of them won't be separated neatly into Slytherin/Gryffindor anymore because of the talents, size of class, and sorting hat problems.

McGonagall and the other teachers know about the prediction. As for whether she believes in it, in JK's book, McGonagall said "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic." And "True seers are very rare." And refering to professor Trelawney, she says:--If it weren't for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues." So yes, we know that she doesn't think Trelawney is good at it, but she doesn't entirely discount it, she's just skeptical. Plus, she may not have only "read" the prediction. She may have "heard" it. We don't know exact ages of the teachers.

If you think McGonagall---well, wait till you see Snape--

THE THIRD FLOOR CORRIDOR

Ron stopped and Edward almost ran into him. "Harry," he said, "Do you know if Hagrid took Fluffy with him?"

"Fluffy?" Asked Edward.

"Oh, a three headed dog," said Hermione matter of factly. "He was in that corridor last time we were there."

Edward blanched.

"I don't know," said Harry. "Maybe we should see who has the best singing voice."

Ron laughed a little nervously.

"Oh, they wouldn't leave anything that dangerous there," said Hermione. "We're going to a class! What I don't understand is how we are going to have class in a corridor."

"Maybe we're just meeting there, to go somewhere else," suggested Lou to Neville.

Neville shrugged. "That sounds logical."

When they reached the door that looked so familiar, they all hesitated. Harry took out his wand and put his left hand up to try the door. It was unlocked.

"Wait," said Ron. He put his ear against the door to listen. He heard some whispering and then they all heard laughter coming from behind the door. Feeling a little silly, Harry put his wand away and they entered the corridor. It was filled with students, but no teacher.

Although they didn't have time to look carefully at the corridor the last time they were there, it was considerably brighter and more cheerful looking now. A large oriental carpet was over the trap door and students were milling around idly. After waiting for a few minutes, Hermione checked her watch. "Class should have started," she said.

"Leave it to Hermione to be disappointed we have a few minutes less class time," groaned Ron.

"It's not that," said Hermione. "I just wonder why class is here. Do you think we are the only ones who know about the trapdoor?"

"Probably," said Harry.

"There's a trapdoor?" said Edward. "Where?"

After Hermione, Ron and Harry moved the students off the middle of the corridor, they pulled up the oriental carpet. Sure enough, there was the large ring in the center of a well-polished wooden trap door. As soon as they pulled up the ring, a picture of Dumbledore's head appeared on the underside of the door

"Welcome to class, you enterprising students. Congratulations you have found the first clue and you are only 8 minutes behind schedule. As you know, this class is Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The first rule of Defense is to know your allies. There are five that you will need to find today. They are: myself, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, and Rowena Ravenclaw. By our successes and mistakes, you will learn. Speed is of paramount importance, so don't dally. Also, you will need judicious use of your powers of observation.

Begin by finding my picture."

When Dumbledore had finished speaking, he left with a pop.

For a few minutes, everyone just stood there in amazement, especially the first years. They began talking with one another about where the pictures were, as well as what a strange class this seemed to be.

"Well," explained Hermione in a superior tone. "You can't expect learning magic to be like muggle studies."

"This isn't like any class we've ever had," said Harry.

Dumbledore reappeared. "Are you still here?" he asked. "Go quickly! Time is running out. And don't forget to shut the trapdoor."

The class hurried out to the adjacent corridor. Ron turned to Harry. "Do you think the Slytherins know where the pictures of Dumbledore and Gryffindor are?"

"I don't know, but I'm not going to tell them," said Harry.

"Tell what?" drawled Malfoy.

"Where Dumbledore's picture is," said Hermione. "That would be cheating."

"Like I need to find Dumbledore. Ha!"

The class split up in different directions. Most of the Gryffindor's stuck together, but the Slytherins went off into different corridors on their own.

When they got to the picture of Dumbledore in battle with Grindelwald, the Gryffindors paused.

"Do you think he's supposed to tell us something about where the next picture is?" Asked Ron, "Or maybe it opens like the Fat Lady."

"I don't know." Harry moved closer to the picture and touched Dumbledore on the shoulder.

"I'm a little busy right now, Harry," said Dumbledore as he dodged an attack from Grindewald. Harry ran his hand around the frame, but nothing happened.

They stood watching Dumbledore erect a defensive shield around himself and then send a beam of crimson light from his wand. The soundless battle looked eerily real. Dumbledore's robes were scorched and torn. Blood was running from a cut on his cheek. Suddenly, Grindelwald was down. Harry watched as Dumbledore pressed his advantage. Another beam of light struck Grindelwald and he crumpled. Dumbledore spoke to him, but of course, they couldn't hear the words. For a moment, Grindelwald 's eyes implored his audience to help him.

Hermione stepped toward the picture. A small cry caught in her throat.

Then, Grindelwald turned all of his murderous power on the unsuspecting Dumbledore. The entire picture flashed green as Grindelwald put forth his final effort. Green and Red flashed in quick succession and when the picture cleared, Dumbledore was alone and lying still and quiet on the center of the picture. Blood and scorch marks covered the ground.

"Professor!" Harry called, but already other wizards were apparating into the picture beside him to take him to a hospital somewhere. Dumbledore would answer none of the their questions.

Hermione stepped forward. "The first picture did say use our powers of observation not our powers of speech."

"So does anyone know where the pictures of the founders are?" asked Neville.

"Well, Godric Gryffindor is near Gryffindor Tower," said Hermione.

"I know where Rowena Ravenclaw is," said Parvati. "I've seen it on my way to visit my sister."

"Why don't we just go to the library and find out about them," suggested Samara.

"That might be faster," agreed Hermione.

"Maybe, but then how will we find the class," said Ron.

"Marauder's Map?" suggested Harry.

"That's cheating," cried Hermione.

"OK," said Ron, "Where's Ravenna Ravenclaw's picture, Parvati?"

She told them and as they started off, Samara asked, "Doesn't anyone know where Salazar Slytherin's and Helga Hufflepuff's pictures are? If we don't have them all, we should just go to the library, shouldn't we?"

"Maybe someone will think of where they saw it," said Hermione, but after they looked at the pictures, they still couldn't think of where Helga Hufflepuff or Salazar Slytherin was.

"Wouldn't Salazar Slytherin be in the dungeon and Helga Hufflepuff near Hufflepuff?" suggested Edward.

"Perhaps," said Lou, "But I think it's time for the library. We could be looking around the hall forever, if we don't know where it is."

After that, everyone agreed that it was time to go to the library. "Should have went to the library in the first place," mumbled Samara.

"We've only used up a third of the class time," said Edward sarcastically. "Don't worry."

"Who's worried," Samara shot.

"How about if I go to my room and get the map," said Harry, "While you start in the library. It will save time."

"Good idea," said Ron. "Hurry."

By the time Harry got back to the library, the group had split into 2. The girls were looking for Helga Hufflepuff and the boys were looking for Salazar Slytherin.

"What does this little R mean?" asked Edward as he leafed through the card catalogue.

"Restricted Section," said Ron. "How many did you find on Salazar?"

"I don't know, about 20. Can we get the restricted books?"

"Only with a professor's note," said Harry.

"O- oh, We're in trouble then," said Edward.

"Let me see," said Lou. After a few minutes of searching, Lou said. "There are 2 books about Salazar Slytherin that are not in the restricted section."

He wrote the titles and catalogue numbers and Harry and Ron, who were more familiar with the library shelves, found them. They flipped them open on the table and all crowded around and began to read silently over each other's shoulders. The first part was just a history of Salazar's childhood.

An account of his lonely and turbulent studies of the Dark Arts and Old Magic followed. Always, he was alone except in the sections about the basillists and how to care for them. There were several pictures of Salazar cradling eggs and then the small snakes. There were no pictures of fully-grown basillists. Harry was glad. He had seen one of those, and one was enough.

Several pages were given over to the argument about whether or not muggle-born wizards should be in Hogwarts School and then the rest of the book was about Hogwarts itself, including several pages refuting the existence of a Chamber of Secrets.

"Well, that makes me trust this book," said Harry sarcastically. Harry and the others exchanged glances.

"It doesn't look like he killed any monsters," said Lou.

"He made a few though, didn't he," said Neville.

"Can we try to get to the restricted section?" asked Edward.

"No," said Harry. "Not now. Let's see how the girls are doing with Helga."

Hermione, Samara, Beatrice and Ginny had Hufflepuff books stacked up in front of them. They had at least six books each. Hermione had eight, but two of them were quite small.

"I don't know what this is," said Beatrice. She was pointing to a page in one of the obscure little books.

Hermione moved over to assist her.

"This might be important," Hermione read from the olde English text and mentally translated before saying: "Helga Hufflepuff was rumored to be the only wizard in over three centuries who was adept at the three part copulare."

"So what's that?" asked Harry.

"I don't know," said Hermione. "But Copulare is definitely some sort of bonding."

"Sounds obscene if you ask me," said Ron.

The boys, with the exception of Lou, started to snigger.

"Well the three parts," said Hermione taking notes as she read, "Are: purcurare copulare, validiere copulare and salium copulare.

"They all mean healing or healthy," said Lou. But I don't think they do the same thing. They have to each be different. Are they spells we could try?"

Hermione shrugged. "We could try them, but I doubt if they would work. It looks like they are talents of some kind. No one but Helga seems to be able to do them even among the four founders."

"Look at these potions!" exclaimed Samara. "This one is seven pages long."

"What's it supposed to do?" asked Harry.

"Cure the Black Death." Samara turned it over to look for a copyright on the book. 1440. "Oh well," she said flippantly, "Too late for most of England."

"Soap and water would cure the Black Death too," said Hermione. "We don't have time to waste on useless potions."

"Well, if we had come straight to the library instead of wondering around the halls," snapped Samara.

"Girls," said Beatrice softly. "We definitely don't have time to argue. I think I've found something--"

Looking at the book Beatrice showed them, they finally decided that healing, especially with potions was Helga's strong suit. She had dozens of recipes for minor remedies and some that looked strong enough to bring someone back from the brink of death. Few of the books had actual recipes although some had long lists of ingredients and were cross-referenced with some ancient potions books. One of the recipes, Samara noted, was a potion to be fed to a weasel before it attacked a basillist. It was supposed to enable the weasel to kill the basillist.

"I'll bet that pissed off Salad Bar Slytherin no end," Samara said.

"Salad!" Hermione, burst into laughter. She put both hand over her mouth as the librarian, Madam Pince glared at them, but she couldn't seem to stop laughing. Harry and Ginny started to chuckle too

"What's so funny?" Asked Ron.

"Muggle joke. Salad Bar," Hermione squeaked. "Let's go, before Madam Pince throws us out."

Madam Pince was heading their direction looking like she was planning to do just that. They hurried out of the library, but everytime Samara and Hermione looked at each other, they started laughing again.

"So where is Mrs. Figg?" whispered Ron as he looked over Harry's shoulder.

"Greenhouse," said Harry as he looked discreetly at the map, but I don't see any of our class. They seem to be spread out. Most of the Slytherins are in the dungeon."

"Who cares where the Slytherins are?" said Ron. "Let's go."

"Mischief managed," said Harry and stuffed the map in his pocket before any of his classmates could get a good look at it.

"Hey," said Samara. "I didn't see the map. And how do you know Mrs. Figg is in the greenhouse?"

"It's a charmed map," said Harry, not taking it out again.

"Can I see it?" asked Edward.

"We're late," said Hermione.

When they got to the greenhouse, Mrs. Figg looked surprised to see them. She was helping Professor Sprout grind asphodel root into a powder.

"I'm not your Defense teacher," she said, as she put down the mortar and pestle. A worried look was on her face. "Professor Snape is, but you've missed over half of your class. Doesn't the schedule tell you where the class is?"

"Snape," squeaked Ron. "We're dead."

"It does," said Hermione, "But we had sort of a scavenger hunt."

The group turned around. "We need to run," said Harry.

"He can't take points away from us," Samara argued. "We were doing what we were supposed to do. We were looking up the founders…"

"Save your breath for running," said Harry.

"He loves these little riddles, doesn't he?" said Hermione. "Remember the potions poem in the Third Floor Corridor?"

"That—corridor—is—cursed," panted Ron.

At least, it was all down hill and down stairs. Once they got to the dungeons, Harry had planned on opening the Marauder's Map again, but he didn't need it. The doorway diagonally across the hall from their old potion classroom was open and Snape was standing at it. The classroom was so silent, that Harry thought they must have finished before the Slytherins, but he was wrong. The Slytherins were all silently working, frowns furrowed most of their brows, which did not bode well. Snape handed a parchment to each of the Gryffindors as they entered. "I trust you took your time looking at the pictures. You have less than 15 minutes to finish this quiz."

"Quiz?" Ron breathed, holding the stitch in his side. It's the first day. We can't have a quiz."

Beatrice brought up the rear, holding her books in one arm and her puffer in the other. She stopped just a few feet from the door and took a deep breath of the puffer. Snape scowled. "Don't waste any more of my time," snapped Snape. "Get in this classroom."

"Yes, Sir," she said meekly. She took the parchment in her hand and tried to duck out of his sight in the back of the room. Harry could see that she failed to do that. Snape was looking at her with an expression of utter disgust, but at least he didn't take any points away for their lateness.

Harry applied himself to the work, which was impossibly hard. Questions like, what spells did Dumbledore use on Grindelwald and how do you know? Harry wracked his brain. How could you tell what spell was used, when you couldn't hear a picture; you could only see it? At least he thought he got some of the Slytherin questions right. He remembered quite well the strengths of the basillist, including their most dangerous feature, their eyes. The test asked: If you could choose one animal to be with you to fight the basillist what would you choose? Harry remembered reading something about a weasel, but he knew he wanted a phoenix with him. Even as he wrote it, he felt Snape would probably mark it wrong.

Questions about the weight and jewels and magics of Godric Gryffindors sword seemed trivial and yet, Harry knew if there was one thing about Snape, he never asked trivial questions. He was sure that Snape would have a lot to say about how little the Gryffindors knew about Godric Gryffindor's sword. He hoped at least Hermione got that right.

The first questions on Helga Hufflepuff, were in French, and the rest read like Snape's potions final. Harry remembered that he didn't have to take that final and therefore, didn't study for it, due to his being a champion in the Tri-wizard cup. To top it all off, he didn't have time to finish. He didn't answer a single question about Ravena Ravenclaw.

Snape collected the papers and glanced at them, no doubt noting the number of blank spaces. He shook his head at the class in general. "I had hoped that some of you would have learned something over the summer. If you continue to waste your time on pointless pursuits, you will be dead before next summer—or worse—" He paused.

His voice dropping to a brittle whisper. "I know some of you dislike me. Some of you perhaps hate me." His fathomless black eyes were on Harry. "And I promise you, that those of you who think you like me," his eyes glanced over at Malfoy. "Will hate me before the end of the week. Probably you will want to kill me. Definitely you will want to curse me. This will be your hardest class. Guaranteed. But when the day comes, and you are facing a werewolf, or a giant or…" he took a deep breath…"Some other monster, you may be glad of something you learned here."

"Read the next lesson on wards and protections before the next class—not that I expect any of you to be able to effect them." He paused and stared off into space for a moment, before continuing. " I'd assume that if you knew your life depended upon being prepared, you would make a little more effort at it. Class begins in this classroom tomorrow. Be on time. That is all."

Snape ignored the silent class as they filed out.

"I can't believe Gryffindor didn't lose a single point," Hermione crowed.

"My grade on that test was worse than a hundred points. I failed it miserably. I'll probably get a howler from Mom," Ron moaned.

"I didn't do very well either," said Ginny. "What was with the French questions? How can we be expected to answer if we don't even know the language?"

"Oh I knew that," said Hermione.

"Well, you went to France," interrupted Ron.

"No. I didn't learn them in France," said Hermione. "It was ballet terms."

"Did you take ballet?" asked Samara. "So did I—"

"When I was 6," said Hermione.

"Ballet," said Ron. "From Snape? What's wrong with him?"

"Snape looks really bad, doesn't he?" said Ginny

"I don't remember him ever looking anything but bad," said Harry.

"No, I mean he looks sick or cursed," said Ginny.

"I didn't do it," laughed Ron, and they all joined in.

They headed across the hall to potions.

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