Twenty One
"Mr. Potter will you please pay attention in my class," said McGonagall sharply as she noticed Harry drifting off to sleep at his desk.
"S-Sorry professor," stammered Harry as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes.
Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses at Harry before turning back to the chalkboard.
"Harry what's with you today? Are you still upset with us?" Whispered Hermione.
"Keep your voice down!" said Harry crossly. "No I am not mad, I've just been busy, all right?"
"What are you busy doing?" Asked Hermione curiously.
"Just forget it!" Harry hissed as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, abruptly ending their conversation.
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Later that day after all classes where over and dinner was going on, Harry sneaked back to the Gryffindor Common Room to study some more on the books he nicked from the Library yesterday. As Harry opened the first book on pain he saw a grotesque drawing of a man bleeding from hundreds of small holes in his body.
"Yuck," said Harry as he quickly flipped to the center of the book where he now saw a drawing of a woman who appeared to be screaming in pain.
"This one doesn't seem to bad," said Harry to himself as he began to read the text below the picture.
.The Discommode Curse, brother to the Cruciatus Curse, is one very rare and complex curse to inflict on another. To cast the curse on another, the caster must want nothing more then to see the recipient of the curse suffer. This curse was widely used for questioning in the fifteenth century after the Cruciatus Curse was deemed illegal. The only problem seemed to be that many of the ones in questioning died after several sessions of having the curse put on them.
"So it's not as powerful as the Cruciatus Curse. Well then what's the bloody point!" said Harry as he threw the book down in disgust. There is only two curses that I need to know to get the job done, and I already know them."
"Harry are you in here mate?" Asked Ron while Harry was still concealed behind his bed curtains.
"Yeah, what do you want?" Asked Harry as he stuffed the books under his pillow.
"Well actually, Hermione, Sarah, and I were just wanting to talk with you for a while," said Ron.
"I'm really not in the mood," said Harry.
"Well what else is new," said Ron under his breath.
"FINE, YOU WANT TO TALK!" Yelled Harry as he yanked back his bed curtains and stormed over to Ron. "THEN LEAD THE WAY. I HAVE A LOT THAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THREE ANYWAY!"
As Harry followed Ron down the boy's staircase he could see Sarah and Hermione sitting tensely on the couch by the fire.
"Hey Harry," said Sarah and Hermione in unison.
"Humph," grunted Harry.
"Mate, your being a real prat right about now, you know that?" Said Ron.
"Yeah well at least I don't go abandoning my friends when they need me the most," replied Harry coolly.
"Harry we didn't abandon you," said Hermione.
"Well the last time I checked you did," said Harry.
"Will you quit snapping at us, we are trying to say that we are sorry," said Ron.
"I think I have earned the right to be a little crabby with you guys," said Harry as he turned to stare into the fire.
"No you haven't Harry. Now you listen here, we didn't abandon you, we thought we were being rational. You almost died that night," said Hermione as Harry cut her off.
"That's right Hermione, me, not you, ME! "I almost died for you two and Ginny, and I would do it again in a heart beat!" Said Harry absolutely shaking with anger.
"I know, and I don't want to see that happen again," said Hermione in tears now.
"Well it's going to happen regardless of whether you're there or not," said Harry.
"What do you mean by that?" Asked Ron.
"Why do you care?" Muttered Harry.
"Harry just because you don't have your order any longer doesn't mean you don't still have us. Yes we did quit your order too, but we did not stop being your friends. I know in my heart that if it come down to it again we will be there with you, we would go to the end of the earth for you," said Hermione as tears streamed down her face.
Harry's heart sank with that last statement from Hermione because he knew what she said was true. "I know you guys would," said Harry as he walked over and gave Hermione a hug.
"We love you so much," cried Hermione.
"I love you three too," said Harry.
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"So let me get this straight, you have to kill him or he has to kill you to keep everything in balance?" Asked Ron. As the three of them were sitting by the fire late that night after Harry told them about the Prophecy and why he started the order in the first place.
"Honestly Ron, it's not that hard to comprehend," Hermione said shortly.
"Oh yeah, well what makes you an expert on this subject?" Said Ron angrily.
"I'm not and expert, I just listen better then you," said Hermione.
"Well, all I know is that Harry is going to win and that's all that matters," said Ron.
"Exactly!" said Sarah with a stiff nod.
Harry and the rest set in silence for a while so that everyone could absorb the information that they had just been given. In many ways they all felt like their friend had been given a death sentence, but they were not going to go down without helping him to the best of their ability.
"So it really comes down to this," said Hermione, rubbing her forehead. "Either you kill him, or he defeats you."
"That's the gist of it," said Harry.
"Okay. how's this for theory," said Ron excitedly. We make the Polyjuice Potion again and get some hair from a death eater. Harry sneaks into You-Know-Who's ranks and kills him behind his back. Then. Yeah. That's it. Then Harry pulls his Invisibility Cloak out from under his robe and walks out scotch free."
"It's a thought, but how about we make that a last resort," offered Harry.
"Okay, but if you use it, then we have to call it. The Ronald Special," said Ron with a big grin on his face.
"Fine by me as long as he is dead," said Harry.
"Well I think we should start preparing you for it then. You know, just like we did with the Tri-Wizard-Tournament. If my calculations are correct we have four months to get you ready," said Hermione.
"How did you come up with that?" Asked Ron dumbfounded.
"Well with Harry's research, he found that the next solstice will occur on June 22. That gives us roughly four months," said Hermione.
"Then we must make every day count," said Sarah.
"Well how do you propose we do that then. I mean I practice almost everyday, but I don't think I am making enough progress in my power. Voldemort has like a gazillion years on me," said Harry.
"I know, that is why I think it would be best if the three of us take up different angles of your training," said Hermione.
"That's a great idea," said Sarah.
"I don't follow," said Ron.
"Listen, I will focus on researching new shielding techniques, Sarah can work on more powerful charms, and you will have to work on his attacking spells," said Hermione.
"Brilliant, I get the best subject," said Ron as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Now Harry, I know you have already become an Animagus, but you know being able to Transfigure things around you while in a battle could be a real asset," said Hermione.
"No kidding, Voldemort did it during his duel with Dumbledore," said Harry. "I think I may see if McGonagall is still up for the extra help she offered me last year."
"Good idea," said Hermione. Harry could already see that Hermione was in her element, and that he had his work cut out for him during the next couple of months.
"I'm glad you guys are back," said Harry.
"We never left," said Hermione.
"Yeah, we've been here all along," said Ron with a mouthful of Berty Bott's Beans.
"And we never will leave," said Sarah. "If you can't trust the people that love you, then who can you trust?" ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````
D'you think it's too early to go and see Professor McGonagall?" Hermione said as they went down the spiral staircase towards the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Yeah," said Harry. "I'll go see her after our Potions class. I have a free period the same time she does after Potions, so let's just leave it till break."
Potions had rarely gone as slowly though. Harry kept checking his watch every few minutes, and he swore at one point that it had stopped working all together. When the bell finally rang, he told Hermione bye and hurried out into the corridors toward the Transfigurations classroom were he saw a group of flustered first years walking away from
"Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked as he made his way toward her desk where she still hadn't recognized his presence.
"Hello, Potter," smiled McGonagall. Is this a friendly visit or are you trying to see if I will get you out of a detention?"
"No, it's nothing like that professor, I was just wondering if your offer for extra help was still good?" Asked Harry.
"Well what kind of things do you want to know that I am not teaching you in class?" Asked McGonagall.
"Ah. How about how to Transfigure objects into animals," said Harry.
"But you already know how to Transfigure several objects into different animals," said McGonagall.
"Yeah," said Harry gloomily seeing as how things weren't going as well as he had hoped. "I was just wondering how to Transfigure things into larger animals."
"I see," said McGonagall as she stared hard at Harry.
"Don't worry about it professor, it was a stupid idea," said Harry trying to wave it off.
"No wait, I told you I will help you, and I will. So yes Mr. Potter, I would be happy to help you, but we must do it after class hours. Say around five in the evening every Tuesday and Thursday?" Asked McGonagall.
"That would be great," said Harry smiling from ear to ear.
"Yes, well is suppose it may be quite fun," said McGonagall.
"Thank you," said Harry.
"Your quite welcome Harry, as long as you work hard" said McGonagall.
"Don't worry about that professor," said Harry. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``
"So what did she say," asked Sarah as Harry met up with everyone in the library.
"It's a go with McGonagall. She said that she would help me out every Tuesday and Thursday at five in the evening," said Harry.
"Splendid because I thought we could work on you putting our research to use every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday," said Hermione.
"Great but what about all of your study time you normally spend on your classes?" Asked Harry.
"Don't worry about it," said Hermione. "This is more important."
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Well I hope you like it. I am sorry it was not posted on time, but I have been really hard pressed for time. I will try not to let it happen again, but if by chance it does, I will post an authors note. I hope you all enjoy, and if I could ask a favor. If any of you know how long the Hogwarts school year normally is I would appreciate your feedback. Well, until next Saturday, have fun and stay safe.
"Mr. Potter will you please pay attention in my class," said McGonagall sharply as she noticed Harry drifting off to sleep at his desk.
"S-Sorry professor," stammered Harry as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes.
Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses at Harry before turning back to the chalkboard.
"Harry what's with you today? Are you still upset with us?" Whispered Hermione.
"Keep your voice down!" said Harry crossly. "No I am not mad, I've just been busy, all right?"
"What are you busy doing?" Asked Hermione curiously.
"Just forget it!" Harry hissed as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, abruptly ending their conversation.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```
Later that day after all classes where over and dinner was going on, Harry sneaked back to the Gryffindor Common Room to study some more on the books he nicked from the Library yesterday. As Harry opened the first book on pain he saw a grotesque drawing of a man bleeding from hundreds of small holes in his body.
"Yuck," said Harry as he quickly flipped to the center of the book where he now saw a drawing of a woman who appeared to be screaming in pain.
"This one doesn't seem to bad," said Harry to himself as he began to read the text below the picture.
.The Discommode Curse, brother to the Cruciatus Curse, is one very rare and complex curse to inflict on another. To cast the curse on another, the caster must want nothing more then to see the recipient of the curse suffer. This curse was widely used for questioning in the fifteenth century after the Cruciatus Curse was deemed illegal. The only problem seemed to be that many of the ones in questioning died after several sessions of having the curse put on them.
"So it's not as powerful as the Cruciatus Curse. Well then what's the bloody point!" said Harry as he threw the book down in disgust. There is only two curses that I need to know to get the job done, and I already know them."
"Harry are you in here mate?" Asked Ron while Harry was still concealed behind his bed curtains.
"Yeah, what do you want?" Asked Harry as he stuffed the books under his pillow.
"Well actually, Hermione, Sarah, and I were just wanting to talk with you for a while," said Ron.
"I'm really not in the mood," said Harry.
"Well what else is new," said Ron under his breath.
"FINE, YOU WANT TO TALK!" Yelled Harry as he yanked back his bed curtains and stormed over to Ron. "THEN LEAD THE WAY. I HAVE A LOT THAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THREE ANYWAY!"
As Harry followed Ron down the boy's staircase he could see Sarah and Hermione sitting tensely on the couch by the fire.
"Hey Harry," said Sarah and Hermione in unison.
"Humph," grunted Harry.
"Mate, your being a real prat right about now, you know that?" Said Ron.
"Yeah well at least I don't go abandoning my friends when they need me the most," replied Harry coolly.
"Harry we didn't abandon you," said Hermione.
"Well the last time I checked you did," said Harry.
"Will you quit snapping at us, we are trying to say that we are sorry," said Ron.
"I think I have earned the right to be a little crabby with you guys," said Harry as he turned to stare into the fire.
"No you haven't Harry. Now you listen here, we didn't abandon you, we thought we were being rational. You almost died that night," said Hermione as Harry cut her off.
"That's right Hermione, me, not you, ME! "I almost died for you two and Ginny, and I would do it again in a heart beat!" Said Harry absolutely shaking with anger.
"I know, and I don't want to see that happen again," said Hermione in tears now.
"Well it's going to happen regardless of whether you're there or not," said Harry.
"What do you mean by that?" Asked Ron.
"Why do you care?" Muttered Harry.
"Harry just because you don't have your order any longer doesn't mean you don't still have us. Yes we did quit your order too, but we did not stop being your friends. I know in my heart that if it come down to it again we will be there with you, we would go to the end of the earth for you," said Hermione as tears streamed down her face.
Harry's heart sank with that last statement from Hermione because he knew what she said was true. "I know you guys would," said Harry as he walked over and gave Hermione a hug.
"We love you so much," cried Hermione.
"I love you three too," said Harry.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````
"So let me get this straight, you have to kill him or he has to kill you to keep everything in balance?" Asked Ron. As the three of them were sitting by the fire late that night after Harry told them about the Prophecy and why he started the order in the first place.
"Honestly Ron, it's not that hard to comprehend," Hermione said shortly.
"Oh yeah, well what makes you an expert on this subject?" Said Ron angrily.
"I'm not and expert, I just listen better then you," said Hermione.
"Well, all I know is that Harry is going to win and that's all that matters," said Ron.
"Exactly!" said Sarah with a stiff nod.
Harry and the rest set in silence for a while so that everyone could absorb the information that they had just been given. In many ways they all felt like their friend had been given a death sentence, but they were not going to go down without helping him to the best of their ability.
"So it really comes down to this," said Hermione, rubbing her forehead. "Either you kill him, or he defeats you."
"That's the gist of it," said Harry.
"Okay. how's this for theory," said Ron excitedly. We make the Polyjuice Potion again and get some hair from a death eater. Harry sneaks into You-Know-Who's ranks and kills him behind his back. Then. Yeah. That's it. Then Harry pulls his Invisibility Cloak out from under his robe and walks out scotch free."
"It's a thought, but how about we make that a last resort," offered Harry.
"Okay, but if you use it, then we have to call it. The Ronald Special," said Ron with a big grin on his face.
"Fine by me as long as he is dead," said Harry.
"Well I think we should start preparing you for it then. You know, just like we did with the Tri-Wizard-Tournament. If my calculations are correct we have four months to get you ready," said Hermione.
"How did you come up with that?" Asked Ron dumbfounded.
"Well with Harry's research, he found that the next solstice will occur on June 22. That gives us roughly four months," said Hermione.
"Then we must make every day count," said Sarah.
"Well how do you propose we do that then. I mean I practice almost everyday, but I don't think I am making enough progress in my power. Voldemort has like a gazillion years on me," said Harry.
"I know, that is why I think it would be best if the three of us take up different angles of your training," said Hermione.
"That's a great idea," said Sarah.
"I don't follow," said Ron.
"Listen, I will focus on researching new shielding techniques, Sarah can work on more powerful charms, and you will have to work on his attacking spells," said Hermione.
"Brilliant, I get the best subject," said Ron as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Now Harry, I know you have already become an Animagus, but you know being able to Transfigure things around you while in a battle could be a real asset," said Hermione.
"No kidding, Voldemort did it during his duel with Dumbledore," said Harry. "I think I may see if McGonagall is still up for the extra help she offered me last year."
"Good idea," said Hermione. Harry could already see that Hermione was in her element, and that he had his work cut out for him during the next couple of months.
"I'm glad you guys are back," said Harry.
"We never left," said Hermione.
"Yeah, we've been here all along," said Ron with a mouthful of Berty Bott's Beans.
"And we never will leave," said Sarah. "If you can't trust the people that love you, then who can you trust?" ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````
D'you think it's too early to go and see Professor McGonagall?" Hermione said as they went down the spiral staircase towards the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Yeah," said Harry. "I'll go see her after our Potions class. I have a free period the same time she does after Potions, so let's just leave it till break."
Potions had rarely gone as slowly though. Harry kept checking his watch every few minutes, and he swore at one point that it had stopped working all together. When the bell finally rang, he told Hermione bye and hurried out into the corridors toward the Transfigurations classroom were he saw a group of flustered first years walking away from
"Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked as he made his way toward her desk where she still hadn't recognized his presence.
"Hello, Potter," smiled McGonagall. Is this a friendly visit or are you trying to see if I will get you out of a detention?"
"No, it's nothing like that professor, I was just wondering if your offer for extra help was still good?" Asked Harry.
"Well what kind of things do you want to know that I am not teaching you in class?" Asked McGonagall.
"Ah. How about how to Transfigure objects into animals," said Harry.
"But you already know how to Transfigure several objects into different animals," said McGonagall.
"Yeah," said Harry gloomily seeing as how things weren't going as well as he had hoped. "I was just wondering how to Transfigure things into larger animals."
"I see," said McGonagall as she stared hard at Harry.
"Don't worry about it professor, it was a stupid idea," said Harry trying to wave it off.
"No wait, I told you I will help you, and I will. So yes Mr. Potter, I would be happy to help you, but we must do it after class hours. Say around five in the evening every Tuesday and Thursday?" Asked McGonagall.
"That would be great," said Harry smiling from ear to ear.
"Yes, well is suppose it may be quite fun," said McGonagall.
"Thank you," said Harry.
"Your quite welcome Harry, as long as you work hard" said McGonagall.
"Don't worry about that professor," said Harry. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``
"So what did she say," asked Sarah as Harry met up with everyone in the library.
"It's a go with McGonagall. She said that she would help me out every Tuesday and Thursday at five in the evening," said Harry.
"Splendid because I thought we could work on you putting our research to use every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday," said Hermione.
"Great but what about all of your study time you normally spend on your classes?" Asked Harry.
"Don't worry about it," said Hermione. "This is more important."
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Well I hope you like it. I am sorry it was not posted on time, but I have been really hard pressed for time. I will try not to let it happen again, but if by chance it does, I will post an authors note. I hope you all enjoy, and if I could ask a favor. If any of you know how long the Hogwarts school year normally is I would appreciate your feedback. Well, until next Saturday, have fun and stay safe.