Chapter 15: Giant Squid, and Fishing Americans

Author's Note: This is kind of a set up chapter. Everything will start coming together really soon, I promise!

It was an early January morning when Samuel donned his robes and made his way to the classroom. Excitement filled the air about the second term of the year. The muggle studies class had never seen enrolment like it had this year. A good portion of the student body signed up for the class. Samuel found himself with a nearly full day and each class period full to capacity with students. It was rumoured that to accommodate time and space demands the class was going to have to me moved into one of the larger auditoriums. He passed by a group of older students and waved to them.

"Samuel!" Maria called out from amongst the students. Samuel spun on his heel and smiled.

"What is it?" Samuel asked.

Maria pushed her way through the students and held up a wand and a roll of paper. "They said I have potential!" she said excitedly. "Look, I get to teach an after hours fencing class!"

"That's great!" Samuel said. "Want me to come?"

Maria shook her head. "You attract too much attention. I'd appreciate it if you'd send James though." She said.

Samuel frowned then nodded. "They might look to me, you're right. I need to get to class, I'll see you later. Which dormitory did they put you in?"

"Hufflepuff." Maria said. "I got sorted and everything."

Samuel grinned and waved, and headed off towards his classroom. He opened the door and to his surprise the room was completely packed with students. The students sat straight up in their seats when he put his briefcase on the table.

"Well, they weren't kidding about running out of room were they?" Samuel asked. "I'm Professor Green and this is Muggle Studies. Is everyone in the right class?"

Two students in the back started to stand up and leave. Samuel motioned for them to sit down.


"I'd rather you be absent then late." Samuel said. The two sat back down in their seats. "I'll get it cleared out with your professors after class. Mr. Filch is monitoring the halls very closely this semester; tardiness is more heavily frowned on. That brings me to the point of restricted objects. About two dozen items have been added to the lists, most of these come from the Wizard Wheezes catalogue that's been distributed but various shady characters around here. The other items include Incendiary Incense, Landfill Candles and the ever favourite Animate Slime. If anyone has some of these items please turn them over to me and I'll make sure they get to the proper authorities, anonymously." He continued. "I'm going to pass around the roll sheet. Please put a checkmark by your name and pass it around. When everyone has checked their name, please bring it up here." Samuel said as he handed a large piece of parchment to a girl on the front row.

"If any of you mistakenly bought one of the Muggle Studies Curriculum books, please don't hesitate to get your money back. We will not be using them this semester, or any other semester that I teach this class. Some of the students last semester were kind enough to compile their notes on each lesson. After a couple weeks last semester we produced a new Muggle Studies book based on these notes. While it's not been completely approved for use yet the governors have consented to let me use it. I've got about two hundred copies of it. It will greatly help you out in this class, and I'm selling them for two sickles each. Come by my office and pick one up."

A student in the middle raised his hand. "Yes?" Samuel asked, pointing to the student.

"Are they required?" the student asked.

"No, I'm not requiring them this semester. As I said they haven't been approved and while two sickles isn't much I hate to charge for a book you can't get at a store." Samuel said. "I'm highly encouraging them though, trust me this class will go a lot easier if everyone or most everyone has one. Alright, moving on."

Samuel discussed how the class would be organized and the requirements to complete the course. Finally the hour was over, and a new batch of students came in. The lunch hour tolled and Samuel made his way to the teacher's lounge.


"Professor Green!" one of the other professors said cheerfully. "I'm glad your back this semester."

"I am as well; I had a lot of fun last year." Samuel said.

"Could you give me some advice on how to make my class more enjoyable?" the professor asked. "The students find it boring."

"What do you teach?"

"Economics in the Wizard World." The professor said.

"They find that boring? I've always found economics fascinating." Samuel said. The professor looked at him incredulously. "I'm serious, it shows a lot about how people interact with each other, only on a much larger scale right?"

The professor hesitated then nodded slowly. "Yes, I guess it does."

"Show them how to apply it to their own lives, and show them how to use it to see what's going on around them." Samuel said. "You know one thing I've not seen here is a professor actually teaching these young wizards practical things like budgeting their money. Most of them have little idea how business works. In fact most of the magic classes don't show real practical ways of using magic. I think if you used your class to show them how to handle their own money as well as how their government uses it's money, they'll enjoy it better."

"You do bring up an interesting point. You know underage wizards can't use magic away from Hogwarts though right?" the professor asked.

"I know that, and I think that's wise." Samuel replied. "I'm just saying that a large portion of your curriculum involves a great deal of stuff that's never going to be used. While they should know how to do certain things, basics and such, I think more focus should be put on where and how they can use it in real life."

"I think that's an excellent idea." An old sounding voice from behind Samuel said.

"Professor Dumbledore, I didn't see you there. Have a seat. Did that stuff I brought you work?" Samuel said.

Dumbledore sat down at the table with Samuel and the other professor. "Yes, the headaches are gone, Mr. Green." Dumbledore said. "We had a duelling class one year. It didn't work out. I understand you're a fairly good dueller yourself, Mr. Longfellow."

The professor sat up in his chair and straightened his collar. "I don't mean to brag but I was a regional champion."

"Would you like to take it up?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'd love to!" Professor Longfellow exclaimed. "I'll need help though. I know you aren't a wizard but would you help?" he asked, peering at Samuel questioningly.

"Sounds fine to me, if the headmaster here will allow it. If you think I'd be good help I'll certainly try." Samuel said. "Maria is teaching a fencing class; maybe we can have a midterm duel with them or something."

"Excellent idea." Dumbledore said. "You can use the lot beside the Quidditch Field."

"Great, we can post notices tomorrow." Longfellow said. "When can we start?"

"Next week." Dumbledore said. "Now if you will excuse me I need to get to lunch."

Dumbledore stood up and went down the hall.

"Isn't this exciting?" Longfellow asked. "Do you know anything about wizard's duelling?"

"A bit, I've seen a few matches at the Ministry. Mostly just some wizards horsing around after lunch." Samuel said. "I've been fencing since I was five though; I'm sure a large number of the concepts are the same."

"I think so." Longfellow said. "I think you could provide some valuable input too. Muggle ways are different then ours, that might give our students a bit of an edge over others."

"You're probably right." Samuel said. "How do you keep the students from hurting each other?"

"That's just part of it. Really though that doesn't happen often, most of the students don't know ways to really cause bodily harm." Longfellow said.

"No safety measures?" Samuel asked. "There's got to be something."

"You start them out slow." Longfellow said. "Some will lean towards charms, some will use transfiguration, and some will conjure things and so forth. If they get out of hand, it's our job to stop them."


"I see." Samuel said. "Start them with a foil, and then move to a better weapon."

"Exactly." Longfellow said. "We really need to get to lunch."

The two professors walked to the Great Hall and Samuel pulled Longfellow to the Gryffindor table.

"Guys, this is Professor Longfellow, he teaches Economics." Samuel said. "He's starting a duelling class."

Harry and Ron groaned. "Not again."

"I promise I know what I'm doing, unlike Gilderoy Lockhart." Longfellow said. "I'm a regional champion, or I was a few years ago."

"You guys probably ought to join." Samuel said. "For various reasons." He said looking Ron, Hermione and Harry over.

"I joined Miss Maria's fencing class." Ginny said proudly. "I'm going to learn to defend myself."

Ron laughed. "Ginny with a sword. I'll have to see this."

"You will." Samuel said. "We're going to ask Maria if her fencers and our duellers want to have a match against each other. I wonder how wizarding students react to cold steel being jabbed at them."

Ron smirked and then looked very intent on eating his meal.

"When will this be held?" Harry asked. "I'd like to join, but I'm thinking about Maria's fencing class too."

"Probably at the same time as her class." Longfellow replied. "You need to decide one or another I think."

"If you want to join the duelling class, I can work with you when you're not practicing for Quidditch if you want." Samuel said. "Might even convince Maria to help once in a while."

Harry nodded. "I think I want to learn to use something larger then those fencing swords, but not a big sword. Like the one I used on the basilisk."

"Short sword maybe? We'll work on it." Samuel said. Harry grinned and finished his meal. Cho came over from the Ravenclaw table and smiled at Harry.

"Some friends and I are going to the lake this afternoon. Do you want to come?" she asked.

"Sure." Harry stammered.

"Be at the courtyard at seven o'clock. Ron you and Hermione can come to if you want." Cho said. She smiled at everyone again and walked off gracefully towards the door. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood up quickly and said goodbye to the few of their friends still sitting at the table.

"Well I've got a class, I better get going." Longfellow said as he slapped Samuel on the back. "I look forward to working with you."

Samuel reached up and shook Longfellow's hand. "I'll announce it in my class tomorrow."

Longfellow nodded and joined a few of his students as they walked out of the Great Hall. Samuel looked over and noticed Ginny still stirring her fork in what looked like mashed potatoes. Samuel slid over in front of her and looked at her for a moment.

"What's the matter?" asked Samuel.

"Nothing." She said, resting her head in the palm of her hand.

"Looks to me like you're a little depressed. What's wrong?" asked Samuel.

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know."

"Does it have anything to do with Harry and Cho?" asked Samuel.

Ginny nodded slowly and sighed. "I guess."

"I know you like him, Maria told me." Samuel said. "He hasn't noticed you?"

"I can't compete with Cho. She's so pretty." Ginny replied. "Of course he hasn't noticed me. He's staring at her all the time, even in his head. She's pretty, she plays Quidditch, and she's smart. I'm just Ginny Weasley, Ron's little sister. I'm always in my brother's shadow."

"I don't think I've ever heard you this outspoken." Samuel said. "It can be pretty intimidating having older siblings. Maria has several older brothers, all extremely successful men. She lived in their shadow all her life, still does in many ways."

"Maria is so strong though." Ginny said.

"Sure, she had all those brothers she learned to deal with them." Samuel said. "She also learned to deal with James and I. I'm sure you have to."

"What does that have to do with Harry?" asked Ginny.

"Well, Cho is older then he is by a year. Likely she'll want someone older then her. The other thing is and I'm no expert, you'll want to talk to Maria about this, but make him notice you. I don't mean flaunt yourself or anything like that, but be his friend. Ron is so absorbed with Hermione right now he's not got anyone to talk to but Fred, George and James. You know how those three are."

Ginny giggled. "The twins just ignore me or give really bad advice."

Samuel stood up. "Well you probably have a class, and I've got some rounds to make with Filch. Tell your professor you were in counselling."

Ginny nodded and ran around the table and hugged  Samuel before running off to her class. Samuel smiled and walked out of the Great Hall. As he walked down the corridor towards Filch's office he smiled at a couple of Slythern students straggling in the hall.

"Shouldn't you two be in class?" asked Samuel.

One of the students scoffed at him. "Is a muggle like you going to make us?"

"Hey, no reason to get an attitude with me. I was just asking." Samuel said. "You two need to run along."

One of the students drew his wand and pointed it at Samuel. "I wonder what a Green Skin curse will do to a muggle professor."

"Give it your best shot, I'm sure Dumbledore will be happy to know students are threatening professors in the halls." Samuel said.

The boy hesitated then put his wand in his cloak. The two ran off down the hall. When they were a good distance away they both suddenly tripped and received bloody noses.

"Careful guys! That floor was just mopped!" Samuel called out. The two students scrambled to their feet and ran off, cupping their hands over their noses. Samuel shook his head and walked off smiling. Upon arriving at Filch's office Samuel knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Filch called out.

Samuel opened the door and saw Filch sitting at his desk flipping through a book and frowning.

"That Quik-Spell book still giving you trouble?" asked Samuel.

Filch tossed the book at a small cabinet that was against the wall next to his desk. "Rubbish, I can't get a blasted spell to work even with the Squib course."

"You'll get it." Samuel said. "Try it all without a wand. I've heard some of the less talented students are able to learn it that way, then they pick up the wand and it works right. It takes a lot more effort, but sometimes it clicks. You ready to make our daily rounds?"

"Aye." Filch said. "Think we'll find anything?"

"I've got a good sized list from the Observers. I think we're up to five names now, three girls, two guys. I think we're getting close, besides they found where that snake was conjured." Samuel said. "Elanus put memory charms on all but one or two Gryffindor students, and of course the Weasleys, James, Hermione and Harry."

"How soon after?" asked Filch.

"He brought two or three Unspeakables here that night and they did it then." Samuel said. "All we need to do now is lay our own trap as close to the strike as possible. We know it's going to happen, we just can't let them know that. Peeves has been watching for me at night. He's reported very little."

"Peeves has been better behaved since you grabbed him, I'll grant him that." Filch said.

"He thinks he's a spy." Samuel chuckled. "You like fishing?"

"Of course." Filch replied. "Why?"

"Well, some of the students are going down to the lake today. Dad and I are going fishing want to come?" Samuel asked.

Filch nodded. "Sure." He said as he walked to his office door and opened it. "After you."

Samuel stepped out of the office and he and Filch made their way around the school discretely looking for clues and watching for the students on the list. Filch pointed out the rooms where the strange symbols had been found drawn in the dust, and hastily wiped away. When the rounds were over they found themselves relaxing in Samuel's office. Samuel was whittling down a wand and Filch was studying his Quik-Spell book.

"You know if you really want to use magic." Samuel said.

"I do." Filch said.

"Why don't you get one of the professors to make you a staff or a fake wand or something with spells already in it?" Samuel asked.

"That's hard to do I'm told." Filch replied.

"Elanus has several little rods with spells already in them in his pocket all the time." Samuel said. "He can make 'em, I bet if you asked him he'd do it for you. I've got some wands that haven't got components in 'em yet he could use."

Filch nodded. "That's a good idea. No one would ever know."

"Exactly. It might help you learn it on your own to. There's nothing better then hands on learning." Samuel said. "What time is it?"

"It's nearing six o'clock I reckon." Filch said, looking at the shadow cast by the window.

"Dad's probably already out at the lake." Samuel said. "We better go."

"Is this really a fishing trip?" Filch asked.

"Is anyone ever just what we say it is?" Samuel asked. "I've got a suspicion is all."

Filch nodded and the two headed for the main entrance of the school. Sure enough Gene was making his way to the lake with several fishing poles and a large tackle box in hand. Samuel and Filch caught up to him quickly. They found a likely spot on the shore and set up their poles. The fish were ravenous, taking the bait almost as soon as the hooks hit the water. Soon the fish quit biting as much and a small group of students made their way to the lake many yards down from the fishermen. Samuel took an Omnocular from the tackle box and watched the students through it, occasionally taking pictures with a new feature Elanus had installed.

"You aren't using your rat?" Gene asked.

"Can't take pictures with marbles, dad." Samuel said.

"What are you looking for anyway?" Gene asked.

"Well, two of the girls out there are on the list, I've seen them before." Samuel replied. "I doubt it's a coincidence."


"Are you saying this could be a set up?" asked Gene.

"Might be." Samuel said.

Samuel continued watching the students for a while. Gene and Filch continued fishing. The silence was broken only by the laughter of the students, and the occasional reeling in of a fish from the water. After darkness had fallen the students didn't show any sign of going back to the school.

"Shouldn't they be heading in soon?" asked Gene.

"No, not today." Filch said. "The third year students and above get to stay out an extra hour or two tonight."

Suddenly the silence was broken by a scream, and Samuel stood up quickly and started running towards the students. "Harry fell in!" he cried. Gene and Filch were immediately on their feet. Harry thrashed around in the water a moment and swam the several yards he had been pulled out, back to shore. A couple of sixth year boys pulled Harry from the water and pulled him to his feet.

"What happened?" asked Samuel. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." Harry said. "I'm fine, I slipped on that rock out there and fell in." he said pointing to a rock that stuck out of the water three or four feet from shore.

Samuel nodded. "Alright, as long as you aren't hurt. I think that's enough playing in the lake for tonight. Somebody dry him off before he gets a cold, it's freezing out here."

Hermione drew her wand and waved it at Harry. All the water in Harry's clothing seemed to run off and collect at his feet. Within moments he was completely dry. Cho ran up to him and hugged him.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "I was so scared."

"I'm fine, really." Harry said with a dazed look and a large grin on his face.

"Good." She said holding on to his arm. "I think we should go somewhere a little more private for a few moments. We need to talk. Is that alright Professor? We won't be long I promise."

Harry looked pleadingly at Samuel. Samuel turned to Gene and Filch for a few moments and the two older men nodded.

"You can but I need to borrow him for a quick second." Samuel said. "Man to man, that sort of thing."

Samuel turned his back to Cho and put Harry squarely in front of him. He gave Harry a small glass marble and said in a very loud voice. "This would normally have to be chaperoned, you know. I'm not up for making exceptions but I think we can just this once. You remember if anything inappropriate happens, this marble represents the size of your rear end after I'm done with you. You don't want to know it's other meaning. Be in the school in fifteen minutes."

Harry's faced flushed and he quickly shoved the marble in his pocket and nodded. "Good luck." Samuel whispered to Harry, and winked. Harry smiled and Samuel turned around. Harry and Cho walked down the lake a good distance and sat down behind a tree.

"Alright, the rest of you should probably make your way back to the school. There's nothing to see here." Samuel said.

Samuel chased the students off and Filch and Gene went back to the castle with them. Samuel himself stayed by lake well concealed in the small brush that grew on the lakeside. Finally Harry and Cho walked back to the courtyard hand in hand. Once they entered the castle Samuel turned around to see a large dog standing beside him.

"Hello, Sirius want a treat?" Samuel asked.

Sirius transformed into his human self and shook his head. "Very funny. No, something's wrong that girl still doesn't smell right."

"You think she's really hiding something?" Samuel asked.

"I think so, and it's not just normal teenage angst. There were lots of girls her age here tonight, none of them smelled like her." Sirius said. "I sure hope it some kind of perfume. I don't trust her either way, I just don't want to hurt Harry."

"Some of the students on our list were out here with them tonight. They didn't bring dates, you think it's a coincidence?"

Sirius shook his head. "No I don't someone is obviously trying to kill Harry. Did you hear that before he fell in?"

"I was way over there." Samuel said pointing down the shore. "We could barely hear them laughing, what was it?"

"It was a pop of some kind, coming from over there." Sirius said, indicating a few small trees several feet from the shoreline. "He fell in soon afterwards."

"Could it have been a branch snapping?" Samuel asked.

"No, nothing like that, it was quiet. I probably only heard it because I was in dog form at the time."

"Right." Samuel said. "We'll be watching young mister Potter"

"When is the plan going into action?" asked Sirius. "I'm a bit out of the loop."

"Soon, very soon. All we need are a few more names, and a few more bat interceptions." Samuel said. "Elanus is going to work with the Observers in a few days. We'll have our people within the month I guarantee it."

"I just hope we aren't too late." Sirius said.

With that Sirius changed back into his dog form and ran off. Samuel walked back to the castle. That night he played for the students before they retired for the evening. The next few weeks would be long, and anything but easy.