The Nature Of A Man
Disclaimer: The usual. The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling and this work represents a poor fumbling attempt at a Harry Potter story. I really wasn't sure where the story was going but it's rated PG-13 just in case. Read and review. You like it or you don't, just drop me a line at jadewing@hotmail.com if you want to rant or praise longer. Well, I guess I should ask for more reviews. I would really like to know what you think. Wow, thanks for all the reviews. I'm going to refrain from mentioning names because if I do, I'd mention names every time I got a review. Really, I was ready to give up since no one seemed interested but thanks to your support, I'll keep on going. Hopefully my stories won't make you cringe or wince quite that much any more.
The next day was the start of their first Defence Against Dark Arts lesson. When the Gryffindors filed into the classroom, they were startled to find the remaining Slytherin fifth-years with them. Professor Grey, clad in dark blood-red robes, was quick to provide them with an explanation.
"Professor Dumbledore has decided that most of the Slytherins' classes will be combined with those of other Houses since so few of them remain." He raised grave eyes to the students. "Please, all of you, consider this nothing more than another lesson. Nothing else has changed." He took up a roll of parchment where he took a roll call. Whenever a student answered, a gleaming golden quill would scratch a mark on the parchment by itself as Professor Grey studied the student who had answered. When he reached Malfoy's name, he eyed the Slytherin with a strange look and the blonde boy turned red under his scrutiny. Looking around, Harry realized that no one else had noticed this strange reaction and he decided to mention it to Hermione and Ron later. Once the roll call was done, Grey turned an expectant eye on to the class.
"Would anyone care to brief me in on what you covered last year?" He glanced at the parchment in his hand. "This only covers up to Professor Lupin's term and his work."
Hermione volunteered, "Professor Moody – er, well, his imposter – taught us a little about the Unforgivable Curses, sir, and some hex deflection."
Grey frowned. "Hmm, something I would have thought should have been covered this year instead. But, what's done is done. A little on hex deflection, hmm? All right then. Does anyone know anything about shielding and blocking curses?"
Again, Hermione's hand shot up. Next to her and beside Harry, Ron rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"A Shield Charm can deflect most minor curses and the Barrier Charm can block most curses."
Grey nodded. "Excellent. Five points to Gryffindor. Does anyone else know of any other ways to block curses?"
Hermione looked a little put out that she hadn't gotten it all correct but she seemed as mystified as the rest. A pale hand reached up.
"Mr. Malfoy?" Was it Harry's imagination or did Grey's voice quiver a little when he called Malfoy's name? Odd.
Malfoy answered in a drawl, "You could always use a reversed charm … if you knew how to reverse it."
Grey nodded. "Quite true, Mr. Malfoy. Five points to Slytherin. Reversed charms basically involve using the charm or curse in reverse to counteract the attack. Or perhaps using a charm with an opposite effect. For example, if a Stunning Spell was headed your way, you would use a Revive Spell to counteract it." He paused. "Or, you could say the Stunning Spell backwards. But I would like to impress on you that reversing spells is most dangerous and not attempted much these days. No one uses these methods anymore. Of more use are the Shield Charm and the Barrier Charm. All right, everyone. Pair up and use the Shield Charm. Get your partner to attack with a weak curse, Jelly-Legs or something similar. I'll come around and see how everyone is doing."
Ron and Harry teamed up leaving Hermione to deal with a nervous Neville.
"Who goes first?" Ron asked.
"You, I think. You put up the Shield and I'll try to break it. All right?"
Ron nodded. "Ok."
He waved his wand in a circular motion before him and uttered, "Sanctus". Harry could see a slight glimmer in the air before Ron, a sure sign that a Shield had been set up. Harry attacked immediately with the Jelly-Legs jinx and he must have hit Ron just below the Shield because his legs began wobbling.
"Bother," Ron said crossly. "How did you manage to get through?" He had to brace himself on a desk as his legs wobbled even more.
"Your Shield didn't cover your legs properly," Harry remarked. "My turn." He raised a Shield before him and Ron attacked with a Twitchy Ears jinx but the Shield deflected the attack against Ron and his own ears began twitching instead. A very cross Ron had to wait for his legs to stop wobbling and his ears to stop twitching. While waiting, they watched as Hermione's Tickling spell completely shattered Neville's Shield, causing him to lapse into a fit of giggles so bad that he couldn't counter attack against Hermione until she lifted the spell. Neville's own attacks were totally ineffective and Hermione walked over to Ron and Harry.
"Why are your ears twitching and your legs wobbling?" Hermione asked Ron.
"Ask him." Ron jabbed a finger at Harry.
"Why don't you just lift the spell?" She raised an eyebrow.
Harry shrugged. "Don't know how."
Hermione grunted in exasperation. "Dispellus," she cried out, and Ron's ears ceased their twitching and his legs their wobbling. "Hey, thanks, Hermione." Ron tried to stand up but his legs were a little weakened by all their wobbling and he had to sink back into his seat.
Harry's eyes were wandering over to the other students. Professor Grey was helping Seamus set up his Shield. Even after a few scorched eyebrows and a lot of smoke, Seamus's shield didn't last long, fizzling away within a few seconds. But Malfoy … Malfoy was standing by himself. All the other Slytherins had paired up as had all the Gryffindors. He leaned against the wall, watching the other pairs with a strange burning look in his eyes. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione who were busy arguing about something else. Quietly, he made his way to Malfoy who lifted up silver eyes to stare at him.
"What do you want, Potter?" Malfoy asked him with a look of disdain on his face. "Trying to pick a fight with me here?"
"No," he said in a quiet voice. "I was just wondering if you needed someone to practice with."
Malfoy's face flushed with anger. "I'm not a charity case, Potter! I don't need your pity."
"I don't pity you," Harry replied in that same quiet voice. "I just thought you might like to try out the Shield Charm. Everyone else is busy."
The look of anger on the Slytherin's face faded but his eyes held that same burning look. "Fine."
He didn't even wait for Harry to put a Shield before hitting him with a Full Body-Bind Curse. It was a curse that the Shield couldn't have blocked or deflected. Harry stood frozen before Malfoy who was raking him up and down with his eyes. "That was fun, Potter. Maybe a Conflagration spell should be next?" His smile wasn't pleasant. He stared into Harry's eyes for a moment and then, with a wave of his wand, he dismissed the spell. Harry let out a sigh of relief as his body came under his control again.
"Thank you, Potter." Harry whirled to look at Malfoy who seemed a little embarrassed with his words. He turned his back on the Gryffindor and wouldn't say another word. Somewhat shaken, Harry returned to Ron and Hermione who were still arguing. He sat down next to the both of them and ventured a look at Malfoy. Their gazes touched and both jumped, quickly turning away from each other. The lesson ended with Grey giving out loads of homework over the groans and complaints of the class. "If you don't do your homework, how will you learn?" was Grey's cool, calm answer. "Next week, we'll be learning how to use the Barrier Charm. Everyone, please read up on that in your textbook, pages 270 to 275. I'll see you next week then."
As Malfoy walked past him, Grey murmured something to the Slytherin who froze in his steps, turning slowly to stare at the Professor. Harry was tempted to stay behind to eavesdrop (when had he become such a chronic eavesdropper?) but the press of bodies pushed him onwards and he lost sight of both of them.