Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and characters related to it. Harry Potter and its characters are the intellectual property of the talented J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Scholastic, Raincoast, and Bloomsbury books. Storyline and plot have been developed partially based on the plots, characters and storylines of the first 5 installments of Harry Potter, The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix.
Author's Note: I know some of you might think that the classes I have set for Harry and Co. in the story might seem pretty much less than their normal school years. Again, I will explain by saying that I am working on the assumption that during their N.E.W.Ts years, the extent of which they will cover each subject will be in much greater detail, thus having longer classes and less of them during the week. Sort of like how University life is like. Then again, I am very sure that J.K. Rowling would have thought of something more creative. I just hope that the idea I have used is satisfactory. I also didn't go too in depth into their timetables but even Miss Rowling doesn't do that too extensively and so I'm just taking a cue from her =).
Chapter 11
Later that night, Harry found himself walking towards Professor McGonogall's classroom with curiosity running through his mind. It was already quite late, being almost an hour after dinner, and the dark night skies were filled with the sounds of the various night creatures that had come out to enjoy the solace of the dark. Harry approached the familiar classroom and knocked on the door lightly.
"Come in," said a voice from behind the door.
Harry obliged and opened the door to see Professor McGonogall sitting down at her desk, a pile of papers in front of her.
"Good evening Mr. Potter. I am glad to see that you are punctual. Let us hope this punctuality is frequently practiced," she said as she cleared the desk in front of her with a flick of her wand. "Now, you must be curious as to which part of Transfiguration will play into your combat training. Well Mr. Potter, although I will say that I would be more than able to train you in combat, Professor Dumbledore and I have decided that your lessons with me will constitute something else."
Harry was curious about what Professor McGonogall was going on about and was about to voice his thoughts when she spoke again.
"In light of the recent events, we are all in agreement that it is important that your knowledge of magic should be as extensive as possible. Normally, I would not even consider teaching my students this level of magic until they are well into their 7th year, but for you, I am making an exception," she said seriously. "I will be training you into attempting transformations as an animagus, Mr. Potter."
Harry was surprised at this new revelation, if not excited about it. His father and godfather had been animagi and now he was about to learn to become on.
"Professor McGonogall, not to sound unappreciative of what you're offering to teach me, I'm very interested in the prospect of become an animagus but I'm curious as to how this would help me in becoming………..," he stopped to think about this before changing his mind as to what he was going to say, "how this would help me face the task I must do," he said.
"Well Mr. Potter, being an animagus has many great uses and if you are to be capable of facing the task ahead of you, you will find that extensive knowledge of the various branches of magic will help you greatly in future events," she explained. "Your late godfather I believe had put his abilities to the greatest extent, when he was on the run from the Ministry of Magic. The fact that you are training as an animagus will not be revealed to anyone outside this room. You may choose to tell Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger as I know you can trust them, but it would be better if you could avoid telling them. Rest assured Harry, that what Professor Dumbledore decides you should learn is for the best," she said in a final tone.
Harry had nothing to say after that. He was quite surprised that Professor McGonogall had referred to him by his first name, something which she did not normally do, but he decided not to make too much of an issue about it and proceeded to pay attention to what Professor McGonogall had to teach him. She went on for the next one hour, telling him about various transfiguration techniques that he had never been taught before. Professor McGonogall had explained to him, that before a wizard can attempt at being an animagus, he must have a very strong grasp of the basic transfiguration techniques. They proceeded with most of the lesson with Harry practicing and honing his skills with the basic aspects of transfiguration.
"Very good Mr.Potter," praised Professor McGonogall at the end of the lesson (which progressed much longer than the intended hour) as Harry was starting to feel the effects of the long practice weigh down on his concentration. "It seems that in only your first class you have managed to meet my expectations of basic transfiguration capability, and to say that you have met my expectations is saying a lot," she commended him. "In our next class together we will proceed with the more advanced aspects of transfiguration that I have told you about at the beginning of this lesson. After what I have seen today, I have no doubt that you will be able to grasp the techniques well enough. Please bear in mind that your father and godfather took the better part of their school life to get the animagus transformation correct. Although I admit, that attempting to become an animagus without proper instruction can be very dangerous and difficult, it was not entirely impossible for them, especially with their talent. I can see some of your father's talent in you and I am sure that you will be able to master the transformation in less time than he did. Now, due to the fact that you are doing extra transfiguration lessons with me, I will not be too particular with the quality of the homework that I assign to you, but please make an effort in doing it as it will help you in this class as well," she said finally as the lesson ended and she beckoned for him to return to the Gryffindor tower.
"By the way Harry, your next class will be with Professor Flitwick on Wednesday," she said to him as he thanked his Professor and bade her good night.
As Harry was walking back to the Gryffindor tower, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be an animagus. He had not found the lesson with Professor McGonogall as dull as he thought it would be, although it was extremely tiring and required great amounts of his concentration. He wondered what animal form he would take should he succeed in becoming an animagus as he reached the portrait of the fat lady and muttered the password to step into the Gryffindor common room.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny were still sitting in the common room. There were parchments spread out in front of them as he joined them at the table.
"Oh god, I never thought I'd be able to finish all that work! Thanks Hermione, you're really one in a million," said Ron victoriously as he dropped his quill and stretched his arms in the air.
"Well, it would help if you paid a little more attention in class Ron, then I wouldn't have to correct your work as often as I am now," said Hermione as she started to put away her own homework.
"How was your "lesson" with Professor McGonogall Harry?" asked Ginny without taking her eyes off her Divination homework.
"It was………interesting. I see you're doing your divination homework Ginny," said Harry as he tried to avoid the subject on what he was learning with Professor McGonogall.
"Oh well, Professor Trelawny wanted us to write about our prediction for the coming week based on the star charts again," she moaned. "I can't seem to figure out what's going to happen on Thursday, I've already been bitten by a flobberworm on Wednesday, fallen off my broom on Saturday, I can't seem to think of anything else," she said as she flipped her star charts back and forth.
"Well, Ron and I happen to be experts in Divination," said Harry with a grin. "Just predict that you'll foresee the gruesome death of a particular student with green eyes, glasses and a lightning shaped scar on his forehead and you'll do fine," he said jokingly.
They all broke out into a fit of laughter as Harry said that (except for Hermione of course) before Hermione noticed the time and said that they should be getting to bed. Harry didn't argue with this as he was feeling quite tired himself, deciding to leave his homework for later, hoping that it doesn't weigh down too much on him.
The next class that Harry had to attend during that week was potions with Professor Snape. Harry had not been looking forward to classes with Professor Snape at all. He felt like he would rather take on three Hungarian Horntails rather than enter into Snape's classroom again. Hermione seemed to have sensed Harry's discomfort on that particular morning and was hard pressed to try and cheer him up.
"It won't be that bad Harry, I'll make sure that I help you in every way I can in Snape's class," she said to him. "I can't guarantee that he won't take points away from Gryffindor or if he'll be any nicer, but we'll try and make sure he doesn't have reasons to be mean to you."
"Since when does Snape need an excuse to be mean to me? I don't know Hermione. I'm not looking forward to this and I don't want you to have to put up with another Neville in potions class," he said as he saw Neville's head look up from a few places from where he was sitting, "No offense Neville," he apologized to his fellow Gryffindor from where he was sitting.
"Don't worry about it Harry. Actually, I should be the one feeling sorry for you," said Neville half-jokingly.
"Very funny Neville," said Harry.
During the potions class on that day, Harry had to exercise a lot of self control not to shout or displease his potions master in any way. They were still having potions classes with the Slytherins, which did not help to contain Harry's emotions in that particular class. The feelings he had for Snape were still as strong as they were at the end of the previous year, and he was not about to put aside his feelings any time soon. Professor Snape seemed to start his 6th year classes along the same lines as every other professor at Hogwarts, by emphasizing on the importance of their 6th year work for their N.E.W.Ts.
"I expect nothing but the best from my N.E.W.Ts students every year," he said in his oily voice. "You are no longer the bumbling morons that I have to teach year in, year out. You have been accepted in my class because you are the very best, well, at least some of you," he said as his eyes shot a nasty look at Harry, which Harry returned.
Professor Snape then flicked his wand at the blackboard, and instructions for a potion appeared on the board. "These are instructions on how to brew the potion of everlasting sleep. Bear in mind that the potions you will brew in this class from this moment onwards will be increasingly difficult and dangerous. You are taking this class at your own risk, and if some of you find what I am saying trivial and of little importance, then do so at your own demise," he said as he continued to lecture them for nearly an hour on the aspects of the potion, its uses as well as its remedies. "You will now have an hour to brew the potion. The effectiveness of this potion will not be present after a mere hour, as it requires a week for the ingredients to come into effect. You will however, be testing your own potion in your next class. I will have the remedy for the potion available. Be warned, I will only have the remedy to the effects of everlasting sleep in class next week. If you commit any mistakes in brewing your potion, you had better be prepared to face the consequences of them yourself," he said in an oily sternness.
Harry made sure to read every line on the blackboard as clearly and carefully as he could as he started to brew his own potion. He had been warned by Hermione when he had cut his piece of dragon liver in slightly too big pieces, and again when she noticed his essence of burlap was slightly off the measuring scale. Harry was ever thankful that Hermione was there with him in that class as he carefully stirred the concoction and allowed it to simmer for the remainder of the class. Professor Snape merely looked at his potion, not commenting on any aspect of it, nor even looking at Harry. He simply kept his gaze away from his student, which Harry felt he did on purpose.
"Thanks for helping me out in there Hermione," said Harry as he left the potions class, grateful that it was finally over. "I would have had it if you didn't tell me about the dragon liver and the essence of burlap."
"No problem Harry, just try to be very careful in the next class," she said. "Your potion looked okay, I doubt there was any problem with it," she told him reassuringly.
"Well, it went well this time, let's just hope that I can keep it up. Did you notice that aside from his announcement at the beginning of the class Snape didn't even look at me? He didn't even say anything about me or even commented on my potion. Not that I'm complaining, but it wasn't like Snape not to look for some reason to blame me for something," he said.
"Well I did notice that myself. I don't know Harry, maybe he's actually feeling sorry for what happened last year," shrugged Hermione.
"Yeah, and next thing you know they'll tell me I'm related to Buckbeak," said Harry as they went to meet up with Ron and Ginny for lunch.
"I see you guys made it out of the dungeon alive. How was Snape, Harry?" asked Ron as Harry sat down next to him, and started grabbing his lunch. He had been feeling particularly famished after the potions class, must be his nerves he thought.
"The usual, except this time Snape didn't say anything to me, or even look at me," said Harry as he started on his beef goulash.
"He didn't say a single thing Harry? Weird," said Ron in disbelief.
"Yeah I know," said Harry as he swallowed, "You would have thought he'd be hard pressed to kick the habit of picking on me by now, or maybe he was just happy that Neville was no longer a student of his."
"I'm as happy as he is," said Neville as he joined them at the table. "Just came back from Herbology, just had to stay back and ask Professor Sprout some questions about the ether-root that we're going to be learning about."
Harry was not surprised that Neville did not remotely care for doing potions in N.E.W.Ts, after all, Harry felt that Snape's dislike for Neville could only be rivaled by Neville's dislike for Snape. Neville had mentioned that he didn't do well for his potions O.W.L earlier, and Harry did not pursue the matter with him.
"So what about those Defense classes tomorrow?" asked Neville. "I'm really wondering what Professor Abe will be teaching." Neville had also opted to take Defense Against the Dark Arts for his N.E.W.Ts. It was one of the classes where Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville would be attending together. This was also true for all of Harry's dorm mates. Dean and Seamus also chose to take Defense Against the Dark Arts for their N.E.W.Ts.
"Don't know what to expect Neville. We'll just have to see if Professor Abe teaches as weird as he looks," said Ron as they all nodded in agreement.
After dinner that night, Harry excused himself again from the Gryffindor common room, after spending as much time as he could on the homework that he had gotten for the week thus far. He had not really managed to finish a lot of the work, and still had a gaping amount of homework to be completed. Still, his classes were with Professor Flitwick tonight and he wondered what the little professor would be responsible for teaching him. He reached Professor Flitwick's classroom to find him standing at the door, waiting for him.
"Hello Harry. You're right on time," squeaked the tiny Professor. "Shall we get started then?" he said as he ushered Harry into the classroom.
In his usual squeaky voice, Professor Flitwick told Harry that he was to learn dueling with him. "Size is not necessarily a measure of strength Harry, I'm sure you've heard that before," said Professor Flitwick in an excited voice. "I was a dueling champion once, and dueling is not just about throwing spells at your opponent. It's about knowing effective charms and counter charms that can be used against your opponent. Dueling is the most basic and some believe the essence of learning combat."
Harry had heard that Professor Flitwick had once been a dueling champion, and was not about to take his professor lightly when it came to dueling. Deep down inside though, Harry wondered if Professor Flitwick was really as good at dueling as people had said he was.
"Now shall we take our positions?" asked Professor Flitwick as he walked across the empty classroom. "We will cast our spells when this bell sounds," as he waved his wand and a little bell that looked like the ones they had at hotel receptions appeared on the desk in front of the class. "I have cast a spell to make it sound automatically, now if you are ready Harry," he said as Harry obliged his Professor and took his position on the opposite side of the class.
*Ding*
"Expelliarmus!" shouted Harry, aiming the disarming spell at his professor.
"Reversicus Incantatem," squeaked Professor Flitwick, and suddenly, Harry saw the red beam of light coming back towards himself, and all of a sudden, his wand had flown into Professor Flitwick's hand.
Harry was quite shocked. He did not know what spell Professor Flitwick had used, but it had most certainly been effective. Harry had begun to see his Charms teacher in an entirely new light.
"Reversicus Incantatem, is the incantation for the rebound spell effect," explained Professor Flitwick. "I had guessed that you would use the disarming spell and I decided to show you the rebound spell. It is actually a rather recent spell that I had helped to develop," he said. Noticing that Harry was going to ask a question Professor Flitwick voiced his thoughts first, "I guess that you are going to ask, what difference is this spell from the shield spell?"
Harry nodded in response and Professor Flitwick continued, "You see Harry, the shield spell deflects unfriendly curses from you and keeps you safe, to an extent. The rebound spell allows you to counter the spell being sent at you by blocking it and sending it back against the caster. However, the spell is only effective based on a wizard's strength and abilities. It has limited effect against powerful spells. Unfortunately, it doesn't work against the killing curse, and some other more powerful spells. It is a useful spell nevertheless, and like I said, the extent to which the spell will work is based on a wizard's strength. You may only be able to rebound the most basic of spells at first, but if you master the spell, and if you are strong enough, physically, mentally and magically, you will be able to rebound spells of greater power as you go along."
Harry marveled at the knowledge of his Charms professor and could not wait to get started on learning a new spell that would prove very useful in combat. They proceeded to train for the next hour or so, as he had done with Professor McGonogall. By the end of their training session, Harry had successfully been able to rebound all the minor curses being sent at him (none of them hit Professor Flitwick though, who was at all times quick enough to cast the shield spell). Harry was quite happy with his achievement and Professor Flitwick had looked pleased with Harry.
"Well that should do it for today," squeaked Professor Flitwick. "We shall resume our lessons next week. You did well today Harry," he praised.
"Thank you Professor Flitwick, I must admit though, I had only heard from people that you were a champion dueler once. Now I understand why you had been," said Harry voicing his opinion.
"Why thank you Harry, but like I said, size is no measure of strength," winked Professor Flitwick. "Now go on, it's getting late. You still have Charms homework to finish I presume."
Harry groaned slightly before Professor Flitwick said, "I know that Professor McGonogall has given you leniency for your homework Harry. I will do the same, although I will tell you the same thing, try not to let the quality of your homework deteriorate. What you learn in class will help you a lot in these extra "lessons".
Harry sighed and nodded his head again as he bade his professor goodnight.
"Whew, these extra classes are really taking the strength out of me," he thought, feeling tired, yet strangely satisfied. He was walking towards the Gryffindor Tower when he was stopped by Ernie MacMillan.
"Harry, what are you doing out of the Gryffindor Tower at this hour?" he asked.
"Er….I had to see Professor Flitwick about something, here's a note from him," he said as he showed the note that Professor Flitwick had written for him just before he left the class.
"Hmmmm," said Ernie as he examined the note. "Seems alright I guess, you should be going back to the tower now," he said as Harry nodded and walked on.
"Hey Harry," Ernie called just as he took a few steps. "Just wondering, er, are the DA meetings going to continue," he asked in a secretive tone, not sure if was alright for him to be asking.
Harry hadn't thought about the DA since he got back to Hogwarts. He had been too busy from the extra classes to give it much thought. "Err..I haven't decided on the first meeting yet," he lied. "You know, it's been busy and I'm quidditch captain now. I'll inform the members as soon as I work it out. Don't worry, I've got the green light from Dumbledore. Do you still have your fake galleons though?" he asked as he reassured Ernie that it was all right to continue with the DA.
"Oh yeah, most of us still have the galleons. Some of us have been wondering when you were going to start the meetings again. Lucky I ran into you tonight," said Ernie. "So the usual will happen when you decide on a date?" he said, the usual referring to the galleons showing the date of their next meeting, a neat charm which Hermione had done for the members, charming fake galleons to mimic Harry's one so that the date of the next meeting would burn on the galleon whenever Harry decided on the date for the next meeting.
"Yeah. I'll look into the timetable of the other members and try and set a date," said Harry. Ernie nodded and bade him goodnight. Harry then continued back to the Gryffindor Tower, thinking that it was going to get really busy this year. "Well, at least I'll be able to teach them some new stuff with all the lessons I'm getting," he thought as he reached the portrait of the fat lady. "Wonder what Professor Abe will be teaching me though," were his final thoughts as he walked into the common room and retired to his dormitory.