Disclaimer: I do not own most of the characters or settings in this story. The honour belongs solely to JK Rowling. I suspect that I do not even own half of the plot, as this has been influenced by the numerous fanfics I've read.
Chapter 4: Snape: Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
Harry stayed in bed for longer than it was probably prudent the next morning. He was dreading going to his Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Even last year, when he had Umbridge, he at least he found some redeeming features of the class, like when he had been rebelling against her by running an illegal Defense Club. But this year he had his least favourite teacher for his favourite class and he was afraid that Snape would destroy all the enjoyment he felt for the subject with all his glares and sneers and condescending words. Not to mention that he and Ron were the only non-Slytherins in the group. It was going to be pure hell.
Harry turned to his side and saw that Ron must have been feeling the same way, as he was rigidly lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling himself. Dean, Seamus and Neville had already left for breakfast.
"What do you reckon?" Harry eventually asked, breaking the silence.
"I think I want to go back to sleep for the next two years. Wake me up then," Ron said, closing his eyes and pulling his blankets up over his head.
"We should really get up," said Harry, not moving.
"No."
Harry laughed. "Come on, it won't be that bad. We've had Snape for the last five years and managed to survive."
Ron pulled the blankets off and sat up. "That was for Potions, and we had the rest of the Gryffindors for support. This is Defense Against the Dark Arts. With just Snape and the Slytherins!" Ron laid down again and hid back under the blankets.
"Well, I'm getting up," Harry declared, finally getting out of bed. "Besides, breakfast will be over soon."
With those words, Ron quickly got up and dressed, ready for breakfast. Harry knew how much Ron loved his stomach.
Half an hour later, Harry and Ron, completely breakfasted on cereals and toast (the bacon, eggs and sausages were already gone), were sitting in their first class of the day, which was Transfiguration. This wasn't as bad because they knew that Malfoy couldn't get away with anything in McGonagall's class. Besides, it delayed the inevitable.
"This year we will be concentrating on making inanimate object move," said McGonagall from the front of the room. "We will begin by practising with the toy spiders you have on the desk in front of you."
Ron looked at his spider with extreme distaste. "We have to actually make its legs move?" Ron mumbled incredulously to Harry.
Smiling, Harry shrugged and tried the spell that McGonagall had described on the board. The spider shuddered a little before collapsing on the table.
"We need Hermione," Harry said, poking his lifeless spider with his wand.
"Are spiders some kind of theme at Hogwarts this year? First Hagrid, now McGonagall," Ron complained, picking up his wand.
Just then, a spider raced across Ron's desk. Ron jumped back, screaming. Vexten came walking up to them with a malicious grin on her face.
"I'm so sorry, Weasley. My spider got away from me," she said, grabbing her spider and returning to her seat at the front of the class. The Slytherins laughed.
"That's enough, class. Return to your work at once," McGonagall said curtly, though she too was trying very hard not to smile.
"Are we going back to the library tonight, to find anything on the Carvins?" Ron asked when McGonagall had returned to the front of the class.
Harry nodded. "Hermione's going to see if she can get a pass to the restricted section. There might be a reference there."
"How does she intend to get a pass?" Ron asked.
"Well, she's Professor Vector's favourite student. She's going to say she wants to know how Arithmency has been used to stop or start ancient wars for her major project. She says she's exhausted all the sources in the main library and apparently there are some good resources in the restricted section."
"When did she tell you this and how come she never told me?" Ron asked, sulking.
"She told me last night. You were on the Quidditch field, again," Harry replied.
"Well, I have to keep in practise. We've kept the Slytherins from the cup for three years. We have a reputation to maintain," Ron said, and Harry nodded in agreement.
The class did not last long enough. All too soon, McGonagall was walking around the room, checking everybody's progress. Harry had managed to make his spider walk in a very robotic fashion across his desk, but Ron couldn't get his to move at all.
"Homework, Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall said. "I want to see some improvement by next lesson."
"You don't want it to move, that's the problem," Harry explained later as they were walking down to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class which had now changed and was in the dungeons. Harry presumed that this was because the dungeons were Snape's sanctuary, and he could more easily intimidate his students there.
"I know," Ron said. "If she'd let me try it with something else I might be able to do it. But deliberately making all those legs move, it's just not natural."
Before long, Harry found himself sitting in the back seat of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, with Snape looking perfectly at home at the front of the class behind his desk, glaring at Harry with all the loathing that he usually reserved just for him.
"Your education in Defense Against the Dark Arts has been sporadic and incomplete. You have studied dark creatures, the unforgivable curses and theoretical exercises last year, but you are not nearly as advanced as you should be."
Harry glanced at Ron as Snape said this, and rolled his eyes. Both Harry and Ron had received 'O's' for their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L, so they couldn't be that far behind.
Snape continued. "As part of your grade, I will expect each of you to choose a unique year long topic, to be approved by me. You may look at the suggestions I have on this list at the end of the lesson, or choose your own," he said, holding up a short piece of parchment. "No two people can choose the same topic."
As Snape said this, he glared at Harry malevolently. Harry knew immediately by Snape's look that it would be very difficult for him to find a topic that Snape would deem appropriate, even if it was on that list.
"We will also concentrate a large portion of this year in defending oneself against dark wizards or witches. That means duelling."
Almost as one, the class brightened at this news. Apart from a very brief exercise in duelling with the incompetent Lockhart in their second year, they had not formally learnt any duelling.
"Today, I will give a demonstration on duelling. I will need a volunteer. Mr Potter?" Snape said, smirking at Harry, eyes full of mirth.
All eyes were on Harry, and they were not friendly eyes. They were eyes full of anticipation, wondering what Snape was going to do to Harry this time and hoping it was something horrible.
Ron shook his head. "Don't do it, Harry," he mumbled urgently under his breath.
Taking a large breath, Harry replied quietly, "It'll be alright. He can't hurt me, he'd be in trouble with Dumbledore if he did."
Harry knew there was no point in refusing, so he slowly got to his feet and approached the front of the room, trying to ignore the sniggering Slytherins. He stood face to face with Snape.
Snape inclined his head towards Harry and Harry did the same, not taking his eyes off Snape.
"On the count of three, Potter. Mr Malfoy, if you will do the honours?" Snape said.
"Yes, sir," Malfoy replied.
Malfoy was almost laughing as he counted to three. Harry was determined not to be humiliated in front of the Slytherins, so he mentally recalled every hex he knew of and had his wand at the ready, prepared to strike as soon as Malfoy reached three.
"Three," Malfoy said, and immediately Harry shouted 'Impedimenta!' as soon as he saw Snape reach out his wand arm.
Snape staggered back a few paces, clearly surprised at the quick attack. He rapidly let loose a quick succession of hexes. Harry managed to block and dodge the first couple, (one of which smashed a statue of a gargoyle behind him) but then staggered with the force of a displacement hex. Harry was on his knees, but still managed to cast a 'Recolitus' hex, so that Snape's 'Soaritam' rebounded and caused him to fly backwards about six feet in the air. Harry stood up, wand out, and was ready to continue. The Slytherins gasped and Ron cheered. The expression on Snape's face as he rose was deadly. Even the Slytherins cringed back in fear. Snape's next onslaught was impenetrable. Harry fought back as well as he could, and managed to get in a 'Stupify' which Snape easily deflected, hitting a cheering Malfoy, but pretty soon, Harry was on the ground, covered in boils, rashes, and with a putrid thick brown ooze leaking out of him in strange places.
Snape ignored Harry momentarily to tend to Malfoy who was lying comatose on the ground due to Harry's deflected 'Stupify', with a distressed Pansy Parkinson clutching onto him. He cast the counter spell and helped Malfoy into his chair.
Next, Snape strolled up to Harry who was on the ground struggling to breath, and patronizingly said, "That was pathetic, Potter. Had you been facing a dark wizard, you would have been killed after the second hex."
Snape had an expression on his face that said he had finally accomplished something he had longed to do. He went to his desk and retrieved several potions. He returned to Harry, performed a few counter spells, gave Harry the potions, and eventually all the boils and rashes were gone, although occasionally some of the ooze would still leak out of his ears, something Harry was pretty sure Snape deliberately forgot to fix.
Harry angrily returned to his seat feeling sore all over. No student could have come close to fighting back that assault. He was sure he would be black and blue all over by that night, despite (or because of) Snape's potions. He gingerly sat down holding his head and waited for Snape to continue.
"Everyone get into pairs. I want you all to practise shielding and disarming spells. Mr. Malfoy, you're with me," Snape said, and with a flick of his wand, he forced all the tables and chairs to the side of the room, giving everyone plenty of space to practise. Ron and Harry rushed to the back of the class to practise, even though they were already very advanced at these spells due to their work in the DA. Since Harry was still reeling from Snape's onslaught, Ron took it easy on him.
From this position of the room, Harry could see everyone. The first thing he noticed was that Snape was not pressing Malfoy at all and even allowed a 'Stupefy' to force him to the ground.
"Very good, Mr Malfoy, five points to Slytherin. Continue with Crabbe and Goyle while I go around the room."
Snape studied the pairs of Slytherins and managed to find reasons to award points to them all, even when Goyle failed to produce a proper disarming spell. "Five points, Mr Goyle, you are improving." Although Harry was sure he detected a brief disapproving sigh and a shake of the head from Snape when he had turned his back on Goyle.
Eventually, Snape reached Ron and Harry, and Ron produced a perfect stunning hex, leaving Harry paralysed on the ground. The only thing moving on Harry's body was a small amount of brown ooze which was still coming out of his right ear. Not finding anything condescending to say, Snape sneered and continued on complementing his Slytherins.
After about an hour, Snape called a halt, returned the tables and chairs to their original position, and told everyone to return to their seats.
"For homework I want a three foot essay containing every hex you can find, a description of the hex and the counter hex. This will be handed in next lesson, where we will continue practising them in pairs."
It was a subdued Ron and Harry who left the class an hour later.
"What are we going to do about this?" Ron asked. "It's going to be like this all year."
"I know," Harry said, wiping some more ooze out of his ears, although it seemed to be slowing down. "We're going to start up the DA as soon as possible."
Determined to do something about Snape's lessons, Harry marched straight to McGonagall's office. Full of boldness, he knocked roughly on McGonagall's door; at least, that was his intention. Before his hand reached the door however, it swung open, and Professor Morgan stood in its place.
"Ow! She cried, clutching her eye.
"Professor!" Harry exclaimed. "I'm sorry!"
"It's quite alright, Harry," she said, rubbing her eye. "Bruises heal. You're here to see Professor McGonagall?"
Harry nodded, and she opened the door wider for him to pass. She left the office and strolled along the corridor and down the stairs in the direction of the dungeons.
"If you're quite finished assaulting the staff members, Mr Potter," McGonagall said, sitting behind her desk.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean …" Harry started, still standing in the doorway.
McGonagall chortled. "I know. What did you want to see me about?"
Harry entered the office properly and closed the door behind him. "I was wondering if it would be alright to start up the DA?" Harry asked.
McGonagall looked thoughtful. "That might be a good idea. I would have to clear it with Professor Dumbledore first, but I don't see a problem with that. I will try to get you the History of Magic classroom on weekends. That should be big enough."
Harry smiled. "Thanks, Professor."
McGonagall inclined her head briefly in response. Just as Harry was about to leave, she said, "There is something I need to see you about too, Mr Potter."
"Yes, Professor," Harry said quizzically.
"Professor Dumbledore wants you to resume your Occlumency lessons."
Harry looked horrified. Defense Against the Darks Arts with Snape was enough. He did not want to continue Occlumency with Snape too.
"Is there a problem, Mr Potter?"
Thinking quickly, Harry tried to find a way to get out of it. "Why do I have to do Occlumency again? Voldemort can't possess me, he's already tried."
McGonagall hid the flinch very well. "True, but that link still exists between you, and he is still able to penetrate your mind. Professor Dumbledore thinks it would be best if you can block out You-Know-Who's intrusion altogether."
Harry closed his eyes in resignation and nodded. He might as well face the facts; this is going to be one nightmare of a year.
"You will go to Professor Dumbledore's office at 8 o'clock sharp every Tuesday and Thursday, starting next week," McGonagall said.
Harry snapped open his eyes again and gazed at McGonagall intently. "Dumbledore's office?" he asked.
McGonagall nodded, smiling. "Yes. You will be studying Occlumency with the headmaster," she said. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he left McGonagall's office.
Harry arrived back at Gryffindor tower feeling light-hearted. He was doing something to counter Snape's abuse in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and doing it by the rules, which Harry had to admit was a strange sensation to him. He was so used to getting his way by breaking the rules.
"We can do it?" Ron asked as Harry entered the room. He and Hermione were sitting at a table, Ron playing Exploding Snap and getting disapproving glances from Hermione who was, of course, studying.
"Yep," Harry replied.
"Cool," Ron said.
"When does it start?" Hermione asked.
"Next weekend. McGonagall is going to get us the History of Magic Classroom," Harry replied.
Harry sat down at the table with Ron and Hermione and moved some books to the side of the table with a mighty heave; they were all so big and heavy.
"Can I have some parchment, Hermione? I need to write the notice."
Hermione handed him some parchment with an inkpot and quill, and Harry immediately started preparing the notice for the DA.
"Dumbledore wants me to do Occlumency again," Harry said suddenly.
"Why?" Ron asked, while Hermione nodded her head approvingly.
"Why do you think, Ron? Harry has to stop – Voldemort – from getting inside his head," Hermione said. Although Hermione had said Voldemort's name for the first time last year, she still had difficulty with it.
"But Snape - "
"It's alright, Dumbledore's teaching me this time," Harry said.
"Thank, Merlin," Ron said, sighing with relief.
When Harry had finished the notice for the DA, he cast a duplicating spell on it so he had three copies, and he put one of them up on the message board, next to the notice about Quidditch tryouts. As he was doing this, he spotted that some people had already signed their name for the Quidditch tryouts. Ginny was one of them.
"You're trying out for chaser, Ginny?" Harry called out to Ginny, who was sitting at a table as far away from the main gathering of people as she could. She had been sitting with her elbows on the table, her head leaning down on her hands with several books piled around her. She looked up, nodded her head, and immediately went back to her book.
Harry went back to Ron and Hermione. "What's up with Ginny?"
"O.W.Ls," Ron said, just as his cards exploded in front of him, several of them landing in Hermione's bushy hair.
"Ahh," Harry said, understanding. They really piled on the homework during fifth year. "We have to get these out to the other houses," he said, indicating the other two notices.
"How come there are only two other notices?" Hermione asked, picking out the last of the cards from her hair.
"We don't want the Slytherins in the DA, do we?" Ron said, rolling his eyes, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yeah, imagine Malfoy showing up," Harry said.
"He wouldn't!" Hermione exclaimed, aghast at the prospect. "Or Vexten," she added.
They all shuddered.
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Please R&R
