Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Ans to reviews- 1) angry fan- I'm sorry, but I don't have a computer anymore. I am using the school computers to write this story, and they have set time limits on how often you can use them.
2) Chris- Yes I admit that it is tacky. But the reason I started with the Riddle how was because a) I wanted to establish a scary atmosphere. The reason I chose the riddle house is because it is familiar to everyone, I could've chosen any other place, but that would require that I describe it completely, and then the chapter would be like 5000-6000 words (and I really don't like making chapters that exceed 5000 words).B) because I wanted to show you all how cruel and merciless Voldemort is in my story, by having him kill children without thinking twice. C) I wanted to show my readers why Voldemort hasn't done anything since his rebirth, esp. after discussing all those plans in the goblet of fire. D) sorry can't give you this reason, it's a spoiler. And to answer your second question, I just really like that line, that's why I used it. That's it no other reason, I just really liked it.
The Wizards Duel Announcement
Harry barely made it to his arithmancy class that day. Although the pain in his leg was already starting to ease up a little, his emotions were still able to slow him down greatly. Throughout the entire time his thoughts were completely focused on his friends and himself.
There was no doubt in his mind that things had changed this year. And along with that change came a huge burden as well. He was keeping so many secrets from his friends; telling them so many lies. Even though he already told Hermione part of the truth there was still so much he kept hidden from her. He wished that he could just tell them the truth about everything. He wished that he could be honest about himself. He wished that things could once again be like they were before. Were the circumstances different, Ron and Hermione would be the first people he would talk to. They'd be the first people with whom he would share everything.
But he knew that everything wasn't the same this year. And because of that, he couldn't share anything with his friends. Not this year. Not about this. And on that very night he would have to tell Sirius the exact same things as he told his friends: lies. He would have to lie to his godfather; to his father's best friend; to the man who actually wanted Harry to live with him, and have a better life.
Once he actually got to his arithmancy class, he had wished that he were still wandering the halls. Professor Vector, an old and stern looking witch who always wore a violet robe and a scowl on her face, did not take it easy on Harry just because he was new to the course.
When the class started she took roll call just like every other teacher in the school, and when she got to Harry's name she stopped for a second and gave Harry a very sharp look. "Since when are you in this class?" she questioned him.
"Uh, since this year?" Harry said. He knew that it wasn't exactly the smartest thing in the world to say, but it was very hard for him to concentrate at that exact moment. Aside from dealing with his conflicting emotions, he was very nervous about the class itself.
Professor Vector looked at him for a second, and then she looked back at the parchment that had all of the names on and continued with the roll call.
Harry always knew that the class would be hard, but it was only once the class actually started that he realized that it was going to be complete torture.
First professor Vector wrote an extremely complicated formula on the board, and told all her students to define it. Harry, who had only a very small idea of what the class was about tried his best to define it, but found out that he was truly lacking in a lot, for almost none of his numbers matched the numbers that professor Vector wrote on the blackboard afterwards.
Then professor Vector told them to use the formula to compose a chart of equations using several different numbers that she had put on the board. And to make matters worse, she said that she would collect the parchments in the middle of class and grade them-in order to make sure her students haven't forgotten anything over the summer. Harry struggled to write the correct answers, and the fact that he saw that most of the other students (especially Olivea) seemed to be having a very easy time doing the problems, only made it more difficult for Harry to concentrate on his own work.
After about half of the lesson was finished professor Vector told all of her students to hand in their parchments, and take out their arithmancy book and start reading their next chapter. It was obvious that she planned on grading the parchments right then and there. Harry handed in his parchment last, and hoped that she wouldn't have enough time in the class to grade it. However time didn't matter, since he saw that she took his parchment out first and started working on it. Harry noticed that she was writing a lot of notes on his parchment, and he felt that the class was not going to end well for him. He was of course right. When she handed all the parchments back, he saw a note that read: "see me after class", among all of the corrections that she made.
"You have a lot of work to do if you want to catch up to the rest of the class," was the first thing she said to him when he walked up to her.
"I know," he started. "Professor McGonagall assigned Hermione to help me catch up in this class."
Professor Vector raised one of her eyebrows when she heard Harry say this. "Well I guess if anyone can do it, Miss Granger can. She was one the best students, when she was in the intermediate class, and she's on her way in the advanced class as well."
Harry nodded, and rolled his eyes a bit. He had obviously heard this before.
"Anyway," professor Vector said, getting back to the subject. "I know you're new to all of this, however I'm afraid I cannot give you any special treatment." Then she handed Harry a parchment filled with charts, graphs, and formulas. "I wanted all of the answers by Monday."
Harry nodded, took the parchment and left. All in all, this had not been a good day so far. 'At least I have care of magical creatures to look forward to now,' He thought to himself as he slowly limped towards the exit of the castle. 'Even if it is with the Slytherins, at least I get to see Hagrid.'
Care of magical creatures had definitely been more fun than arithmancy that day. At first Hagrid came in with four small crates, placed them down by his side, smiled at all of the students in there and started the class.
"I know that las' time things didn' go so well with our little project," he started. A few students started to get worried looks on their faces when he said this. Last year Hagrid had crossbred a new species of monsters called Blast-Ended Skrewts. These monsters looked like lobsters except they were silvery in color, and had stingers, and leeches to suck blood. And the worst thing about them was that they would explode from their backs and burn the students. All in all this was not an experience that any of the students wanted to go through again.
"However," Hagrid continued. "This year yeh all know more abou' them, and I trust that this year yeh all will succeed in raisin' 'em." A few of the students turned white, while a few others started to groan. "Tha's righ', Blast-Ended Skrewts!" The entire class groaned when he said this.
"I'm just' kiddin," Hagrid quicky said with a chuckle. Those made some of the student's cheer, while it made most of them wipe their brow. "Today yeh all are goin' ter learn about billywigs."
Hagrid opened up one of the crates and took out one of the billywig to present to the entire class. Some students were impressed; others were trembling with fear at the sight of the large stinger on the billywig's end. Most students however, were so glad that they weren't going to learn about Blast-Ended Skrewts that they just ignored the stinger.
Most of the lesson went by pretty smoothly. Hagrid explained all of the features of a billywig, from its wing-like arms, to its stinger. He explained that the billywigs' wings are too short for it to fly like a bird, so it has to spin its body really fast in order to become airborne. "Luckily, the billywig's body is perfect for spinning 'round and 'round," he was saying. "An its stinger here, has the power to make anyone it stings levita' for a certain amount of time." The entire class "ooh'd" and "ahh'd", when Hagrid told them this.
By the middle of the class, Hagrid had divided the class into four groups, one group per billywig. "Now," he was saying. "I know this will sound a bit harsh, but I wan' yeh ter let the billywig sting yeh." The entire class (except Harry, Ron, and Hermione) started giving Hagrid dirty looks. "Trus' me. Many great wizards catch these lil buggers jus' ter let 'em sting 'em." The entire class looked confused that moment. "A lot of people says that they likes the feeling of levita'ing. And trus' me, yeh all will like it too. Don' worry, I have the antidote for the sting. I promise that yeh will all be on the ground once this lesson is done."
So all of the groups reluctantly went up to Hagrid and collected a billywig.
When Harry's group came up to him, Hagrid called Harry out of the group to speak with him in private.
"So how are yeh doing?" Hagrid asked, looking very concerned.
'I have to lie again,' thought Harry.
"I'm doing great," Harry answered, trying not to sound too obvious.
"I heard that today was yer firs' arithmancy class, how did that go?"
'I guess there's no need to lie about that.'
"It didn't go so good actually."
"Well, wha' did yeh expect, the class is ahead of yeh."
Harry sighed a little when he heard this.
"But don't yeh go givin up," Hagrid said sternly. "I remember yer parents. And I tell yeh, that they wouldn' have given up."
"I never said I was giving up. I'm just going to have to try my best," Harry said, with determination in his voice.
"That's good, that's the spirit Harry."
Hagrid fixed his black beetle eyes closer to Harry's as if he was probing him, and slowly said, "Is there anything going on that yeh'd like ter tell me?"
Harry just shook his head and said, "no."
"I've been meaning ter talk ter yeh about what happened that day when yeh and I firs' caught them billywigs. I was goin' talk talk ter yeh then, but as yeh remember, we had a bit of trouble then."
Harry swallowed.
"As yeh know, unicorns don' jus' walk up ter people and stare at them. And for some reason yeh and him were staring at each other for a while there."
Harry just nodded.
"What was goin on there?"
Harry knew that he couldn't tell him about the unicorn's gift, nor could he tell them about Memoritia. He tried to think of something to tell Hagrid, but it was very hard. Hagrid's eyes were looking straight into his, completely distracting him from his thoughts.
"Well, er, you see I…"
But before he could come up with an answer, both of them heard a scream. They looked back and saw Neville flying out of control. Both of them ran to the sight as quick as possible, which was difficult for Harry because of his leg. When they got there it was too late. Neville was too high up to reach normally.
"Oh, no," Hagrid gasped. "This all my fault, I shouldn' have left the students all alone, 'specially Longbottom!"
Neville was floating higher and higher with every second. "Hold on boy!" Hagrid yelled to Neville, who by now was so frightened that he closed his eyes.
"Hermione," Ron said looking at her. "Do you know any spells that could get him down?"
Hermione just shook her head. "I can't use the levitating charm on him because the billywig's sting is more powerful, and I can't think of any spells to use that won't hurt him."
"Oh, great," Ron groaned. "Now what are we going to do?"
"Move over Weasley," A cold voice sneered from behind Hagrid and the trio. They turned around and saw Malfoy. "Let a real wizard show you how it's done!" He pushed Ron out of the way, took out his wand, pointed it at a Billywig and said, "Racco", and then he pointed up in the air at Neville and yelled out, "Swasso!" Immediately both Neville and the billywig switched places. The billywig was high in the air, and Neville was floating right next to them.
"Grab him!" Malfoy commanded.
Hagrid immediately started running towards Neville, and this time he was able to grab him before he flew too high up. "Alrigh'!" Hagrid yelled. "I believe that's enough!" Some of the students groaned when they heard this. Most of them were having fun floating around, even if they couldn't control it.
"Come to my cabin and I'll give yeh all the antidote," with that he walked off towards his cabin dragging Neville behind him. As soon as he got there he took the antidote and gave it to Neville. Then one by one, the students who let the billywigs sting them hovered up to Hagrid (most had to be dragged by students who didn't get stung), and took the antidote from him.
Afterwards, when Hagrid turned to thank Malfoy, he saw that he wasn't there anymore. "Where'd he run off ter?" Hagrid asked the trio.
They all looked at each other, and turned to Hagrid and shook their heads, signifying that they didn't have a clue as to where Malfoy might be. Normally, if Malfoy did anything that deserved recognition, he would stay and wait for praise for what he did, but for some reason, this time he didn't.
"Why do you guys think Malfoy left like that all of a sudden?" Ron asked, as he Harry, and Hermione headed back to the castle for their next class.
Hermione just shook her head. She then opened her mouth to say something, but was immediately interrupted by Harry.
"He didn't care about Neville, or Hagrid," Harry said in a low voice, which caused both Ron and Hermione to turn their attention to Harry. "The reason he saved Neville was to show us his power. To scare us," Harry paused for a moment. "Especially me."
"Why would he want to do that?" Ron said, looking a bit confused. "I mean, I remember him threatening us on the train about the wizards duel, and all, but why would he want to intimidate you if you're not even entering?"
Harry just shook his head and said, "I don't know."
"He has been acting very weird lately," Hermione interjected, causing Harry and Ron to turn their attention to her. "I think we'll be in for a lot of surprises from him this year." She turned to Harry and said, "He seems to be very concentrated with you this year. Be careful around him!"
Harry nodded.
"Don't forget, his father is a death eater, who happens to be in you-know-who's inner circle."
"Don't worry," Harry assured. "I'll be careful around him."
Hermione just smiled, and turned her attention back to their classes. "Do you guys know who our defense against the dark arts teacher is this year?" She asked.
"I already told you that I don't," Ron said.
"Its your friend," Harry said.
Ron just turned to him completely confused. "What do you mean 'my friend'?"
"Form last year," Harry said nonchalantly.
"Wait," Hermione interrupted. "You don't mean it's?"
Harry just nodded.
"Oh, no," Hermione groaned. "How did she ever get a job teaching here?"
"Who are you guys talking about?" Ron asked.
His answer came to him before either Harry or Hermione opened their mouths to tell him.
"Harry!" A very familiar voice yelled from behind them. Whomever the voice belonged to obviously had a French accent. Ron quickly turned around and saw that it was Fluer Delacour from the previous year. His jaw dropped, as he looked back at Harry and Hermione, who both just nodded. Fluer had not changed at all from the previous year. She still had her silvery blond hair, her hypnotizing blue eyes, and her adorable smile.
"How have you been doing?" Fluer asked as she came closer to the trio.
"Good," Harry responded. "What about you?"
"I've been doing fine too. As you can see I haf this new job here."
"Your English seems to have improved a bit."
"I have spent a lot of time practicing it. I mostly concentrated on the h's and t's. Madame Maxime, and professor Dumbledore said that was the part that needs the most work. Although I still haf a bit of trouble with my accent."
"It's perfect!" Ron said ecstatically. "It's wonderful, it's beautiful, it's…"
"It's okay," Hermione interrupted, giving both Harry and Ron dirty looks. "But I think we should get to class, so we could have good seats." She turned to Fluer and gave her a fake smile. "We'll see you in class." She turned around and left, with Harry and Ron following her (Ron giving Fluer one last look).
Much to Ron's disappointment, Hermione forced both him and Harry to sit in the back row with her.
As soon as Fluer walked into the class, every single male student, except Harry, stopped talking and started gawking at her. None of girls in the class looked pleased to see her though.
"Hello students," Fluer said, as she curtsied politely. "My name is Fluer Delacour, and I will be your new defense against the dark arts teacher this year."
Immediately, all the boys in the class (except Harry) started clapping and cheering, while all the girls in the class started groaning.
"Now I would like to get to know each and every one you personally," all the boys (except Harry) just melted, while the girls rolled their eyes. "So I shall start with the roll call." She took out a piece of parchment and started to read off all the names on it. Whenever she called on a boy, he would give an enthusiastic response while most of the girls just gave a cold, bitter response. When she called on Harry and Ron she waived to both of them-Ron almost melted; when she called Hermione's name, she got it completely wrong and caused some of the students to laugh a bit.
"Now, I know that some of you may think that I am a little too young to be teaching a class," She said a little nervously, while taking out her wand. "But I can assure you that I am more than capable of teaching you all you need to defend yourselfs against all sorts of dark powers. After all I was a school champion in the triwizards tournament, so you can assume that I know a few things about the dark arts." At this statement, almost all the eyes in the room turned towards Harry. Harry ducked his head behind his hands a little.
"Now I have seen that you haf learned how to defend yourselfs against all sorts of monsters, and you haf learned many counter curses for many curses. However, you haf not yet learned how to actually block unfriendly spells." She took out a book called: The Dark Arts, A Guide to self Defense advances level and put it on her desk. "All of these curses you see in this book, as well as all the counter curses you see are completely useless if you get hit by a curse like the full body bind, or the stunning spell. That is why you must learn how to stop these spells from actually hitting you. Because once they do, all the knowledge in the world wont help you."
She picked up the parchment that she used for roll call and said, "I would like one volunteer from the class." She looked down at the parchment. "How about Hermeeohneh Grangher."
A few of the students began to snicker as Hermione stood up and walked down towards Fluer. "It is pronounced Her-Mai-Oh-Nee and the second 'g' in my last name is pronounced like a 'j', Grain-Jer" Hermione said hotly.
"Oh, please forgive," Fluer said apologetically. "My English is still not so good."
Hermione just rolled her eyes and said it was ok.
"Now Hermione, when I tell you to, I would like you to cast a light curse on me. Is that alright with you?"
Hermione nodded.
"Now I will show you all the simplest and weakest way to defend yourself against unfriendly spells." She turned to Hermione and said, "anytime you are ready!"
Hermione raised her wand aimed it at Fluer and yelled out, "Locomotor Mortis!"
Fluer quickly raised her wand and yelled, "Reflecto!" And immediately an invisible wall appeared around her, which easily blocked Hermione's leg locker curse.
"Do you see class?" Fluer said, as she turned back towards the rest of the students. "Her leg locker curse could not get through my wall."
She turned back to Hermione and said, "Now I would like you to try a more powerful curse."
Hermione pointed her wand towards Fluer and yelled, "Stupefy!"
"Protecto!" Immediately a light blue circular shield the length of Fluer's body, and around three times its width appeared in front of her and blocked Hermione's spell.
"That was very impressive Hermione!" Fluer exclaimed. "I am very impressed about how you learned to do the stunning spell so early. Five points to Gryffindor. Now you may take your seat." Hermione headed back up towards Harry and Ron feeling self-satisfied.
"Do not worry if you do not know how to use the stunning spell," Fluer added to the rest of class. "I will teach it to you later this year.
"Now getting back to protection. As you saw, Hermione used the stunning spell on me. If I were to use the 'reflecto' charm to protect myself, then chances are, that her spell would break through my wall. So I was forced to block it using a more powerful spell called the 'protecto' spell. This spell puts a more powerful wall in front of you, which protects you from many more powerful spells and curses. That is the reason why you all were actually able to see the wall when I used the protecto spell, but you couldn't when I used the reflecto spell. Because the protecto uses more magical energy than the reflecto, therefore it gives off more magical energy as well. This spell will protect you from almost all usual magical spells and curses. However it will not protect you from spells that haf a lot of power behind them."
A few of the students started looking confused at this point.
"Well for example, if I were to use a spell you, and if professor Dumbledore used the exact same spell you, you would haf a much harder time protecting yourselfs against his spell than you would haf mine, because his spell has so much more power backing it up. So you must not always rely on these protecting spells. You should still practice dodging curses as well.
"You must learn when it is beneficial to dodge, and when it is beneficial to block. Especially those of you who are planning on entering the school wide wizards duel."
Fluer walked around her desk and sat behind it and faced the class one more time. She picked up her book turned to a certain page and addressed the class once more. "Now I do not expect many of you to master these spells right away. They require a lot of concentration to actually perform and even more to actually withstand an attack.
"But do not worry, we haf some time before the wizards duel starts. I'm sure that by that time all of you will master the reflecto spell at least.
"Now open your books to page four hundred and twenty seven, and start reading up on these spells. I want you all to make a chart containing the types of magical levels each defense spell will protect you against. And for all those of you who want extra credit, I want you to describe a way to use protection spells as an offence. All this due Monday."
All the boys immediately took out their books and started reading, while most of the girls just took their time.
That night at dinner all the students noticed a cauldron sitting on a stool in front of the teachers table. Everyone wondered what it was going to be used for but almost no one had a clue.
As soon as everyone was seated professor Dumbledore stood up in front of everyone, waived his hands around asking for quiet, and as soon as all the students quieted down, Dumbledore began making his speech.
"I suppose all of you are wondering what a cauldron is doing standing in the middle of the dining hall.
A few students murmured something like "yes".
"Well, this cauldron is going to used in the wizards duel."
Immediately the whole room burst with whispering.
Dumbledore once again had to wait for the students to calm down before continuing. "All students fourth year and above will have, from after dinner till tomorrow night to deposit their names in the cauldron. At dinner tomorrow night, the details of the duel will be explained more clearly."
A few of the students grumbled about the fact that Dumbledore was not going to tell them about the duel right then and there, but most of the students were so excited about entering, that they didn't really care.
"Two more things before we start," Dumbledore continued once the hall quieted down again. "Unlike last year, being in the tournament is not mandatory, so I must warn all those that are below the fourth year. If you enter your names inside the cauldron, we will just end up throwing them away, and you will end up getting in trouble.
"The second thing that I would like to announce is that because the teachers will be so busy with the duel, quidditch matches will be on a different, more accelerated schedule this year. So if anyone wants to play for his or her house team, I suggest that you talk to madam Hooch as soon as possible. Because the quidditch tryouts will be much quicker this year than before.
"Well, I believe that I have said all I had to say, let's begin the meal." As soon as Dumbledore sat down, the food appeared on all the plates, and all the students starting eating.
This dinner was without a doubt one of the most talkative ones that Hogwarts ever had. The only topic that people were talking about at dinner was the wizard's duel.
Everyone was asking each other if they would enter, what kind of chances they believed they would have in the duel. And most of all, what the duel would actually be like. That night was obviously very enjoyable for everyone.
After dinner was over, everyone raced back to their common rooms in order to get a piece of parchment to write their names on and place in the cauldron. Even Ron and Hermione were racing back to their common rooms with the others.
The only person who didn't make too much of a deal about the duel was Harry. He just ate quietly, the entire dinner listening intently as everyone around him was discussing the duel. And after dinner was over, he quietly limped back to his room. He obviously still had other issues on his mind.
A/n-Sorry if this chapter wasn't very good, I was sick when I wrote it (the virus came back). Anyway please R/r.
