Chapter 16 – The Cursed Dark Arts Job


Harry walked to his morning class in a state of dreaminess. Though incredibly tired, he had woken up bright and early that morning, energized by the memory of the night before. He had been with Cho until the late hours of the night, exchanging affection and plans for the summer, and for the first time since coming to Hogwarts he wasn't completely dreading the end of school. They would finally be able to spend time with each other without exams or prying friends, and he would also be of age, able to perform magic outside of school.

Even the thought of a double potions class with Snape couldn't dampen his enthusiasm, and he walked in the class and sat down at his usual seat humming a tune to himself.

'What are you so cheerful about?' Hermione asked with a look of disbelief, 'don't tell me you're actually happy to be in potions?'

'Oh yes, that's it' he grinned, 'Old snivelly is really growing on me, it's my favorite class now.'

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him before continuing.

'I take it the letter worked? That's twice now you owe me.'

'Worked like a charm Hermione' he said cheerfully, 'don't know what I'd do without you.'

'Well I hope you can bring your head down from the clouds and focus, we have to make a really complex potion today.'

At that moment their professor stormed in the room and surveyed them all with an especially nasty expression.

'Today we will be making the pepperup potion; the instructions are on page fifteen and you will be required to work on your own. There will be no further need to talk. Begin.'

Harry opened his book and began skimming his instructions, taking note of the important things. He took out his wand and was about to light a fire under his cauldron when Snape's voice called out to him.

'Potter, bring your things here. You will be working in front of me where I can keep my eyes on you.

He glared at Snape but he had no choice except to do as he was told. Reluctantly he grabbed his things and moved them right in front of the potions master.

'So… Mr. Potter is once again the hero of the wizarding world, and all the attention has gone to his head. I almost thought you had improved Potter when you started school this year, but it seems you are back to your usual disregard for school rules.

'Which school rules would those be sir' He said defiantly.

Snape simply smiled malevolently at him though before continuing his provocations.

'You might be able to impress others with your quidditch moves, but I'm not going to be fooled. To me you'll always be a dishonest little boy with no regard for other people's property.'

'You seem so sure it was me, but as usual you have no proof' He snapped back, the insults breaking his resolve to ignore Snape.

'You're right. If I had proof you would be expelled! But mark my words, I will find out why you took ingredients out of my private stores again' Snape snarled at him before getting up and making his rounds of the classroom.

Harry felt angry but forced himself to concentrate on his potions. Why had someone stolen ingredients out of Snape's private store? It was true that they had done it before to make the polyjuice potion in their second year, but this time it had been someone else.

Nevertheless Snape couldn't dampen his mood, and he continued brewing his potion. Snape on the other hand was taking his bad mood out on all the non-Slytherin students too.

'Are you not able to read boy?' Snape snarled at the Ravenclaw boy, 'The fourth line clearly says to use only a dash of ginger, your potion has been rendered useless.'

He was glad when the class was finally over and rushed to the great hall for a quick lunch before his next class.

When they arrived at their DADA class their professor wasn't there yet. He sat down next to Neville who was desperately trying to finish his homework before the teacher arrived.

'Hey Neville, want to copy mine?'

'Yes! Thanks Harry, I was so busy practicing the stuff from your DA class that I forgot to finish my essay. I've almost managed the patronus you know, it's starting to take a shape though I still can't make out what it is.'

'That's great Neville. I really think you're going to be a great wizard someday, you've got power locked away in you somewhere' he said nicely.

Neville seemed delighted at this praise and desperately tried to finish his essay.

He wondered where their professor was, class started five minutes ago but he still hadn't arrived. He turned around and looked at Ron and Hermione who were sitting behind him, but they shrugged their shoulders.

'Maybe he's sick' Hermione suggested.

'I hope we don't get Snape as a substitute again' Ron groaned.

But Ron needn't have worried, at that moment professor Vladislav walked in and sat down at his desk.

'Today's class will be used for revision. Please study from your books quietly and read chapter fifteen.'

Everyone looked at each other and exchanged curious classes. Professor Vladislav may have been creepy as hell but he had been a great teacher so far. Unlike last year with Umbridge, all their lessons had been of a practical nature. He was a hands-on teacher and was vastly experienced in fighting the dark arts in real life, not a bookworm, and everyone respected him because of it. They opened their books and began reading but Harry kept staring at the professor. He seemed preoccupied, as if he was worried about something or in deep thought.

He was glad to eventually get out of the class and walked back to the common room to drop off his bag.

'Well that was certainly strange' Hermione said

'Yeah, I wonder what was troubling him' Harry replied

'By the way Harry, I still have your map. I'm heading to the library right now but I'll give it back later tonight.'

'Oh right, well I should be back around nine o' clock. I have to, uh, go somewhere.'

Hermione raised her eyebrows but didn't inquire. He still hadn't told them about his private lessons with Dumbledore even though he suspected she knew. She always seemed so perceptive about things, often to the point of looking down on others.

When he arrived back at the common room someone ran up to him

'Hey Harry!'

'Oh Hi Colin, what's up?'

'I finally got my pictures from the quidditch game developed, and I wanted to give you a copy of this one as a souvenir.

He looked at the picture and nearly fell over laughing. Colin had snapped a shot of him flattening Malfoy right before catching the snitch. It was a moving picture that played the same scene over and over; probably not Malfoy's proudest moment.

'Maybe you should send this to the daily prophet Colin' he grinned evilly, 'It was a superb game after all.'

'Wow you think Harry? I want to become a photographer for them when I graduate, so maybe I should…'

'Definitely' he agreed, 'I hope they publish it.'

Somehow, if they did publish it, it would really make his day. Actually having a picture of Malfoy getting flattened delivered to every wizarding home in Britain would make his month. With a memory like that, Neville should have no more problems making a patronus.

A part of him felt a certain sense of foreboding as he walked to the Headmasters office. He really hoped they would learn something other than wandless magic or using his emotions in spells today, since he had made no visible progress in either one. It was getting ridiculous, he considered the last few months of private lessons a waste of time; having accomplished virtually nothing. What also annoyed him was that Dumbledore didn't seem the least surprised that he had failed completely. It was almost as if he expected him to fail, but wanted him to try anyways. A part of him realized that Dumbledore knew what he was doing, but at the same time he felt he deserved some answers.

'Ah Harry, right on time.'

'Hello Sir' he said politely.

'Now I sense that you are a little tired of learning wandless magic? I understand completely, why don't we learn something new today?'

'I'd like that sir, but why did you make me try to learn when you knew I couldn't do it?'

Something twinkled in Dumbledore's eyes, and a smile escaped his lips.

'I think perhaps you are not ready to … unlock certain abilities in you, but when the time comes I believe you will find that the effort was not wasted. Now today I would like to –'

But at that moment Fawkes flew in and dropped a letter at Dumbledore's side, who quickly opened it. His expression went from puzzled to worried, before decisively standing up and pulling out his wand.

'Harry I must ask you to go back to your common room and stay there with your friends immediately.'

'What's wrong? Has something happened?'

'The order has been attacked, that is all I know. I must leave immediately! Please do not dally and be careful; I will explain when I return. And please summon your friends to keep you company while I am away from the school. Do you understand?'

'Right, be careful sir.'

He fumbled for the silver sickle in his pocket as he quickly ran down the spiral staircase. After locating it he tapped it with his wand which would summon his friends to his side. What could have happened? Surely Voldemort couldn't attack Grimmauld place? It was hidden after all, and only Dumbledore could show people where it was. They must have been on a mission when they were attacked, and a sense of worry started to envelop him. What if some of them were injured? Or killed? Lupin … The Weasleys … his stomach started to churn. He was reminded of the risk all of them took, and he understood why Mrs.Weasley was so worried all the time. He hurried round the corner and continued on his way to the common room when he saw Dean and Ginny lying on the ground. They looked unconscious and professor Vladislav was standing over them, examining their bodies with his wand drawn out.

'Professor? What's going on?'

'Harry! The school is being attacked, I must get you to safety; follow me.'

The professor stood up and walked over to him, and instinctively his hand fumbled for his wand in his pocket. Constant Vigilance a voice in his head reminded him.

'What about them sir? We can't just leave them …'

'You are the target Harry; I'll come back for the others later.'

'Harry!' a voice shouted. Lupin had just emerged from the hallway leading to the Gryffindor common room, his wand drawn out and pointed at Vladislav.

'Who are you' Vladislav growled. They were both pointing their wands at each other, ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.

'I was sent here by Dumbledore to fetch Harry, he must come with me' Lupin said slowly

'The boy isn't going anywhere with you.'

'Sir, this is professor Lupin. He was our DADA teacher three years ago.'

'The werewolf? Harry, do not trust this man' he snarled.

Lupin's eyes narrowed and he looked ready to attack at any moment, but when he spoke he remained completely calm.

'I've heard about you Vladislav, heard you delved deep into the dark arts. Spent a lot of time in Albania too I hear, coincidentally the place where Voldemort was hiding. Harry step away from him.'

Harry stepped away from his DADA teacher and drew out his wand, but he didn't walk over to Lupin either.

'I won't let you take the boy!'

'Stop - Both of you! Remus – what is the form of my patronus?'

Lupin took his eyes of Vladislav and looked at Harry with curiosity, and then he smiled.

'It's a stag Harry. You used it to save Sirius and myself from the dementors in your third year.'

'No!'

Vladislav waved his wand and sent a red streak at Lupin, who instantly cast a shield charm to protect himself. Lupin then countered with a stunner which missed by a few inches, while Vladislav sent a green streak right after his first spell. Lupin wasn't fast enough for the second spell and it hit him squarely in the chest, knocking him unconscious to the ground. Harry didn't hesitate anymore; he pointed his wand at his DADA teacher and yelled petrifucus totalus. Vladislav's eyes were opened wide in horror, but he managed to block it at the last moment.

'Harry! Lower your wand' he snarled

'No, I can't trust you.'

He waved his wand again and sent a stunner at Vladislav, who blocked it and immediately recovered. He was about to send a spell at Harry when his eyes suddenly opened wide in fear and he collapsed on the ground. Cho was standing further behind, her wand pointed at Vladislav's body and her hand trembling at what she had done.

'Harry … I didn't know what to do. I got your warning from the sickle and I saw you dueling with the professor so I stunned him.'

'It's ok, you did the right thing. I think he attacked Ginny and Dean, and then Lupin too.'

He checked their pulses and saw that they were just stunned, and then he walked up to Lupin.

'enervate'

Lupin's eyes opened and after a moment of disorientation he sat up and grabbed his wand.

'Harry … what happened? No nevermind, there's no time. We have to get out of here.'

'But what about Dean and Ginny?'

'They'll be fine, they're just stunned. I'm under orders to bring only you to Grimmauld place.'

'Well he's not going without me!' Cho said fiercely.

Lupin looked up and gave her an appraising stare before breaking out in a smile.

'I suppose that's only fair. Head down the hallway behind me and go round the corner, the portkey is through the second door on your right. I'm going to wake Dean and Ginny and bind your professor before I meet you. Don't trust anyone, now go!

'Right.'

He grabbed Cho's hand and led her round the corner and through the doorway, where they nervously waited for Lupin with their wands drawn.

'I'm scared Harry' she said with a shaky voice.

He looked at her and squeezed her hand.

'Don't be, I won't let anything happen to you.'

At that moment Lupin came running through the door, his wand pulled out as he walked over to the desk.

'This bowl is the portkey, we'll grab it together on three ok? One - two - three.

He felt his navel jerk as he was pulled forward, the familiar bright light flashing before his eyes and disorienting him. Then it stopped and he was in a large room he didn't recognize, not Grimmauld place. A feeling of cold and emptiness overwhelmed his senses, and he saw a dementor heading straight for him; it's clammy and slimy hand extended. Instinctively he stepped in front of Cho and lifted his wand to cast a patronus, but before he could finish the incantation he heard Lupin's voice croak expelliarmus. His wand flew out of his hand and he was thrown on the ground, scrambling to get up. Cho had already collapsed, and he reached for her wand but it was too late; there was nowhere left to go.

He had been wrong; that wasn't Lupin. It had been a trap.

The last thing that went through his mind before he fainted was total fear.