Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter
By: Alex Lyons3
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Disney owns Brooklyn, the gargoyle. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.
Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.
Chapter 8: Fighting Styles
Soon after they were back in the study, Snape noticed Brian sitting off in the corner on a stool. His long, sharp, nose in a very large book, one that Hermione would have been appreciative of. Brian glanced up as he felt Snape's icy glare fix upon him. He lowered his eyes as though Snape was of no concern and continued reading. Snape cleared his throat trying to get Brian's attention. However, he was apparently being ignored.
"Hello, Brian." Lupin called over to the younger man cheerfully.
Brian glanced back up and waved, not returning the greeting any other way, and retreated back to his book.
"Brooks." Snape sneered, "Do you mind if we teach?"
Brian glanced back up at the Potions Master. "Not at all Snivellus."
Snape's face contorted with rage, but Brian took no note of it and turned his attention to Lupin. "So, what will you be teaching these bright ha-young ones today?"
Lupin looked at Brian just as scathingly as Molly or Jess would have, of course this went right over his head.
"We'll be training them on how to use Prior Phobia today and then tomorrow we'll try another spell to see how the two react to one another." Lupin said when he didn't get a reaction out of Brian.
"Hmm. Sounds good. You've got what...about a month and a half, right?" Brian asked as he taped his chin.
Lupin nodded.
"Well, why don't you teach them some physical fighting styles. Death Eaters aren't going to be expecting a wizard or witch to fight back physically." Brian turned his attention to Snape, "Will they?"
Snape looked lost in thought for a moment and then shook his head. "No, it'll catch most of them off guard for a few moments. However, they are used to muggles using physical attacks. It'll work, but the effect will be short lived." Snape said as though he were talking to himself.
Brian shrugged, "As long as it works. Hmm. There are specific styles that muggles use that are good for fighters who are smaller and not nearly as strong as their opponents. The girls should probably learn those. Shoot! They might as well just learn as many as they can while they're here!"
The four students looked at each other and then at Lupin, Snape and Moody to see their reactions, since it seemed that Brian had just told the three Professors to teach them "hand-to-hand, no wands allowed" fighting techniques.
Snape looked like he was going to give the four of them a demonstration on how to break someone's neck with their barehands. Lupin looked increasingly annoyed and Moody looked like he was lost in thought.
"You want us to teach these students how to fight physically?" Snape said in a cold, quiet voice.
Brian looked to Snape and his brow furrowed. "I do not believe that was what I said, Snivellus. I said that they'd benefit by learning it and that you should teach them. However, I did not demand that these four be taught. I merely suggested it. I could teach them, however, I'd need help with it. I don't want to upset any of you by accidently putting one of your students out of commission. I'll gladly teach them, if I could have a volunteer to help me."
The three Professors got very quiet for a moment.
Lupin spoke up, "Would you be willing to fight with a werewolf?"
Brian shrugged, "No problem, Moo-Mr. Lupin." Brian coughs loudly trying to cover his slip.
Lupin looked at Brian a little uneasily. "Okay then. Let's finish this lesson up and then will see if your ready for some basic fighting techniques." Lupin said to the students.
"Very well, Lupin." Snape said clearly annoyed, "Let us begin. Wands Out! Weasley, you and Potter shall begin first." Snape said to Ron.
Ron and Harry walked into the middle of the room and got into the dueling stance.
Snape looked at them both and checked their dueling stances. Seeing nothing wrong he glared, but said nothing and gave a curt nod to Moody who walked over to the two of them.
"Now, the Fear Spell should be used in defense in this exercise. We don't need you scaring your opponent half to death right from the get go. BEGIN!" Moody growled.
Harry used The Full Body Bind on Ron, who sadly hadn't time to counter or even dodge the spell. He feel into a heap, his arms straight at his sides and his legs snapped together. His jaw clamped shut. Harry looked at Ron sheepishly.
Moody scratched the side of his head, "Well, that's one way to stop the Fear Spell. Well, done Potter. Finite Incantatem! Come on now, Weasley, up you get." He growled softly as he helped Ron to his feet.
"Sorry, Ron." Harry muttered.
"No problem, mate. I'm impressed. I kind of wasn't expecting you to use the Full Body Bind on me."
Harry just shrugged as they once again took up proper dueling stances. This time Ron used a tickling charm on Harry and Harry used the Fear Spell against Ron. The yellow light that errupted from Harry's wand took on the form of a giant spider. Ron began hurling charms at it.
"Ronald Gregory Weasley!" Ron yelled. The spider stayed put. Ron tryed again.
"Ronald Weasley!" Ron yelled, yet again the spider stayed put. The magical spider realized that it wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon so it started to move towards Ron as Harry giggled wildly while trying to tell Ron how to get rid of the spider.
Brian leaped up and grabbed his wand and shouted, "Finite Incantatem!"
Harry stopped laughing instantly as he got to his feet there were tears running down his cheeks fromm laughing so hard.
"Ron! Use the spell we learned to take care of boggarts!" Harry called.
Ron nodded his head and shouted, "Riddikulus!" The spider vanished.
"Clever." Lupin said smiling at Harry.
"Passable." Snape sneered looking at Harry and Ron.
"Not bad, but next time don't choose a spell that is so easily identified with something that can take on the shape of what is feared most. Most Death Eaters will immediately think that you've conjured a boggart and Riddikulus to counter. Remember that. Passable!" Moody growled.
"Interesting. Very interesting." Brian said as he sat back down on his stool and resumed his reading. He had gotten up because the spider had not noticed him and had made his way over to the teachers. Therefore, making it utterly impossible for them to get to Harry to remove the tickling spell. Since, he was laughing so hard and couldn't remove it from himself.
"What's interesting, sir?" Hermione asked.
Brian sighed at the formality, "Just that Mr. Moody's right. That's all." He shrugged and went back to his book.
"But..." Hermione started, but was cut off when Snape told her and Ginny to take their positions.
Ginny and Hermione stepped into the middle of the room. Both took the position. Snape came and looked the two up and down checking that they were in the proper dueling stance as he had done to Harry and Ron. He only had to correct Ginny's stance, but with a nod to Moody everything else was fine.
Ginny used the Leg Locker curse on Hermione and was subject to seeing a sixteen year old Tom Riddle when Hermione used the Fear Spell against her. The tables were turned after Ginny said the counter, which was 'cheese' and was allowed to use the Fear spell on Hermione. Hermione's worst fear, McGonagall telling her that she'd failed everything and that she'd be sent home immediately and never be allowed back to school was easily countered with Hermione saying the words 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure!'
"Where did you come up with that?" Hermione asked Ginny as Harry laughed silently and Ron locked amused.
"Luna Lovegood. She said that back when we were riding the train last year before you and Ron came into the compartment." Ginny said, "And besides, it was also part of the Sorting Hat's song when my year arrived. Remember?"
"Oh." Was all Hermione could say.
"Well, that was impressive. Now, let's see if we can teach you some "hand-to-hand"combat shall we." Lupin said cheerfully to the four. He turned his attention to Brian, "Are you ready Mr. Brooks?"
"Anytime." Brian said as he sat down his book after memorizing the page number. Getting up from his stool as he put his wand on the table.
Lupin also put his wand down and began to get himself ready to attack. He rushed Brian who neatly stepped out of the way at the last moment letting Lupin pass him. Lupin rushed again and again. Every time he missed by mere inches of space as Brian stepped out of the way.
"I have never seen why you like these tactics better that magic. They wear you out faster." Lupin said slowly as he panted.
"Obviously because most wizards don't know how to fight unless they use a wand. Even you don't." Brian said looking at Lupin with something akin to disgust. Moody moved over to Lupin.
"Easy there, Remus. Come on now, it definitely taught the kids something."
"Like what?" Lupin asked Moody curiously as he finally got his wind back.
"Simply put, what not to do if their attacked." Moody said as he helped Lupin stand up properly. Lupin had his head down trying to keep from fainting.
Lupin nodded at Moody's statement acknowledging it as truth.
Snape looked at Brian. "Brooks! Why don't we see some real fighting? Hmm?" He said as he raised a brow.
Brian raised a brow as well, but nodded.
Snape stood his arms up and his hands curled into fists. Quickly, the two men were fighting. Each were good enough to keep the other from hitting them. They circled around the perimeter of a large rug that was on the floor. Quite suddenly Snape rushed Brian. Brian had not been expecting it and went down under Snape's fist. Of course, that didn't mean that he wasn't going to fight back. Soon both men were shouting scathing remarks at each other as they rolled trying to make the other yield.
Molly came up the stairs to get the children and Professors for dinner. She was talking to Dumbledore, since Dumbledore had come to talk to Snape. The sight that met their eyes when they opened the door to the study was one of much talk at dinner later. Snape was still sitting on top of Brian's stomach attempting to strangle the younger man while Brian was trying to beat Snape's face into a bloody pulp. Which was made difficult by the fact that Snape kept moving his face away from the offending fists.
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?" Mrs. Weasley cried in anger.
Snape looked at Mrs. Weasley with a rather shocked expression on his face. Brian had merely seen Snape take his eyes off of him for a moment. He hadn't heard Mrs. Weasley since his ears were filled by an ever dull ringing. He took the opportunity to punch Snape right in the eye and then in the gut. Snape's breath was knocked from him and he let go of Brian's throat and rolled off of him. This made it easier for Brian to breath. As both men sucked in air like goldfish Molly berated them for fighting in front of the children. Of course all four of them protested.
"Mrs. Weasley, they weren't fighting..." Harry said.
"Yeah, mum. They were demonstrating..." Ron said.
"They're going to teach us how to defend ourselves, mum..." Ginny said.
"In case Death Eaters get a hold of our wands or something..." Hermione said.
"So, we're not completely helpless, in case such a thing happens." Harry finished.
Molly looked down her nose at the children. "Go down to dinner." She said quietly. Both Ron and Ginny gulped then nodded and headed down the stairs with Harry and Hermione following close behind.
* * * * *
"You two have made a spectacle of yourselves!" Molly snarled at Brian and Snape. Both who had now gotten their wind back and were now standing in front of her bruised and bloody. Since Snape had managed to cut Brian's lip with his knuckles before he'd wrapped his hands around Brian's neck. Brian also had gotten Snape in the mouth and had, of course, socked him in the eye which was now swelling.
"Go clean yourselves up and then come to dinner. Severus, you will join us for dinner." Molly said dangerously as she walked out the door.
Both men looked to Dumbledore who's eyes didn't hold their usual warmth.
"I would hope that, before the school term starts, you two will be able to put your differences aside." Dumbledore said, then turned to Snape, "We must speak Severus." With that he left the room.
Moody looked a little uneasily out the door. "Hmm. Wonder why they didn't berate us? Eh Lupin."
Remus nodded. "Indeed."
The two ex-Professors of the Defense Against the Dark Arts left to go down to dinner and let the Potions Master and one of the new Defense Professors clean themselves up.
Hey! Thanks to all my reviewers, you know who you are. Okay, I know that in this chapter Brian continually calls Snape, Snivellus. The two main reasons for this are: 1) It has only been about a month since the little scene in the kitchen, so Brian's still a little ticked at Snape. He's trying to irk Snape. 2) Brian's already let it slip, so there is really no point in turning back to the way things were before.
To LittleEar Big Ear's Sis: As always, I'm glad you're enjoying it.
To Mella deRanged: I'm glad you found it interesting. As for the possibility of Brian being Sirius, well, I won't give the plot away, but there is a possibility that he could be. He definitely acts like Sirius. Also, in my minds eye Brian does look kind of like a "bleached" version of Sirius. However, you're going to have to read and find out.