Centaurs and House Elves
As Harry, Ron and Neville walked into Firenze's classroom after breakfast the next morning the centaur turned to watch their approach. "Good morning, Harry Potter," he said in the centaurs' manner of formal salutation. "I see you have survived yet another brush with death."
"Morning, Firenze," Harry said, ignoring the centaur's reference to his recent encounter with the squad of Death Eaters.
"Now that we are all here you can go ahead and close the door, Ronald Weasley," Firenze said.
Ron looked quickly around. "But there are only three of us ." he said hesitantly
"Yes," Firenze said. "There are just the three of you in this class."
Stunned, Ron closed the door and walked through the magically created forest in the first-floor classroom and sat next to Harry on the spongy turf in the small clearing near what would have been the front of the room. "Professor Dumbledore has asked me to teach the three of you the kind of everyday divination that is used by wizards and muggles alike, as well as centaurs and every other intelligent creatur." Turning to look intently into Ron's eyes he said, "Tell me, Ronald Weasley, how is it that you are able to win so many games of chess?"
Ron smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I'm just good, I guess."
Harry and Neville snorted and Ron looked at them incredulously. "What?" he asked.
"There is more to it than that, Ronald Weasley," Firenze said patiently. "There is much more to it than that.
"How is it that you are able to predict your opponents' moves five moves in advance?"
Ron cast around several seconds for an answer before looking over at Harry and Neville who shrugged their shoulders with looks of confusion on their faces. "I don't know," Ron finally confessed. "I don't know how I do it."
Firenze took a step back and paced back and forth across the front of the clearing several times before stopping and turning to look into Harry's eyes. "Alright," he said. "Let us take a different approach to solving this riddle. Harry Potter, how is it that you were able to craft that spell?"
Harry closed himself off from his surroundings for several seconds and thought back to the creation of the charm. He recalled all of the reading and research they had done and all of the experimenting they had done on parchment. "Erm ." he began hesitantly, "We studied and searched for the kinds of energy we were looking for and after we had found them we studied them to see what they might be capable of. After that we tried several theoretical combinations and arrangements until we felt certain that we had gotten it right."
"Precisely!" Firenze said. "You studied and you learned about the pieces of the puzzle you were trying to solve and then you worked with those pieces, trying several different combinations, until you solved the puzzle."
Harry looked over at Ron and grinned sheepishly.
"And now, Ronald Weasley," Firenze said, returning his gaze to Ron's face, "What are the pieces you are working with when playing a game of chess?"
Ron leaned back, resting on his elbows, and grinned. "Well," he said confidently, "there's the king, the queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks and eight pawns."
"And ." Firenze gently prodded.
Ron looked up at the centaur, uncertain as to what he should have included in his list. "And," he added hesitantly, "my understanding of the game."
"And ." Firenze prodded again.
Ron though feverishly, trying to think through the last game of chess he had played and how he had won it. Then it hit him. "And my opponent's understanding of the game and my understanding of how my opponent thinks!"
"Precisely!" Firenze said smiling. "Your understanding of how your opponent thinks, Ronald Weasley, is your most valuable tool in predicting which moves they will make in response to your own. This is why Professor Dumbledore has asked me to encourage the three of you to study the psychology of your opponents. We will start with Wizarding Psychology and then move on into an intensive study of the various dark wizards who have existed through the ages. After that we will Study the behavior patterns and abilities of the wide variety of magical creatures that have historically been used by these wizards. Next term we will be studying the Dark Arts and the charms that have thus far been used to defend against them. It is hoped that by the end of the year, Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom, that the three of you will have a thorough understanding of our opponents' capabilities and how they think so that you can predict their actions and play them to your victory."
Harry, Ron and Neville looked at each other as the light of understanding dawned upon them and simultaneously mouthed, "Oh."
"Wait a minute," Neville said as something occurred to him. "We don't teach the dark arts here, do we?"
"No, we do not, Neville Longbottom," Firenze admitted. "However, Professor Dumbledore has made arrangements for a former Durmstrang student to teach that portion of the class. It will not be important for you to learn to use all of the spells he will teach but it will be important for you to learn their structures and uses. This will give you a better understanding of what we are up against.
"I must stress, for all three of you, that none of what you are going to be learning in this class is to be taken lightly. We have the advantage in that the activities of many of this world's darkest wizards have been well documented and much can be learned from this documentation but you do need to pay attention in class and do your homework."
Harry set his jaw firmly and glancing over at his friends noticed that Ron, apparently remembering Ginny's scolding from the night before and Hermione's reaction upon hearing the news that they were going to study and learn everything they could to help her and to help her find a way to protect her parents, had set his jaw as well and Neville's eyes were blazing as fiercely as they had during the battle in Diagon Alley. They looked at each other and nodded their heads in unison. "We'll do it," they said with determined looks in their eyes.
"Very good," Firenze said then added, "Know this, Harry Potter. The people will unite behind your banner and they will take orders from your generals - Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom and others - but some may be harder to unite than others. I know for a fact that the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest are not pleased with the events of the past year and will be difficult to convince. Therefore I can only suggest that while making contact with Bane and the others you set your humility aside and exercise all of your authority as the Heir of Gryffindor."
Harry studied Firenze's eyes for several seconds, reading the anxiety within the centaur's soul, before breaking eye contact and nodding his head. "I will," he said.
For the rest of the morning they went over the books they would be reading, most of which were in the Restricted Section in the library, and the kinds of things they should be looking for while reading and studying these books.
When Firenze let them out five minutes early Harry, Ron and Neville walked out of the magically enhanced classroom and headed for the Great Hall. "This could be interesting," Ron mumbled darkly.
"Yeah," Harry said softly in the same dark tone. "This could get really interesting."
"What did he mean when he told you to set your humility aside and exercise all of your authority when confronting Bane?" Neville asked as they approached the Great Hall for lunch.
Harry sighed. "You don't want to know, Neville. You really don't want to know. But you are welcome to come along when the time comes if you want to find out."
Ron and Neville looked over at Harry and studied their friend for several seconds before responding. "We'll be there, Harry. We're your friends and we'll be there for you no matter what."
"Thanks, guys," Harry said as they entered the Great Hall, "that means a lot."
After lunch, since Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't have any afternoon classes, Ron and Hermione headed off to the library while Harry went up to the sixth year boys' dormitory and opened the seventh chamber of his trunk. What he saw when he looked down made his mouth fall open and his eyes bulge in stunned disbelief. Dobby and Winky were standing in the center of a large sitting room - a room at least three times as large as the original chamber - that was immaculately decorated in the Gryffindor colors with a polished mahogany ladder leading down from one end of the opened trunk. Harry looked at the anxious faces of the two house elves and, sensing their nervousness, smiled and mounted the ladder to begin his descent into his private study.
As Harry descended the ladder he looked through the rungs and saw that the room extended back beyond the edge of the trunk at least another seven meters and ended in a large panoramic view of the Hogwarts grounds looking west from the top of the Astronomy Tower. The walls to either side were lined with swords, bows, quivers of arrows, lances, spears, suits of armor and a variety of period costumes, mounted on mannequins, from ages past as well as a number of other artifacts. When he reached the bottom of the ladder he slowly turned around and saw that the room was enormous. More than enormous, it was huge! And it had been tastefully decorated and divided into five seperate regions, each dedicated to a different task. The main, central area was a large sitting room lined with a variety of couches and coffee tables. He recognized that much of the furniture was at least a hundred years old and some of it much, much older than that. He also noticed that one of the tables was a chess table with a full compliment of Wizard's Chess pieces standing at the ready. This central section was at least five meters wide by seven long.
The space behind the ladder - the one with the view of the grounds - was separated from the center section by a low wooden railing and the entry to this section was guarded by two matching suits of armor, each of which was holding a long, vicious looking spear. The center of this section was dominated by a large, circular conference table similar to the one in the Headmaster's Library with several chairs arrayed around it. Four more suits of armor stood in the corners of this section as though guarding the weapons on the walls. As Harry studied the view of the grounds he noticed that it had curtains and a windowsill and that natural light seemed to be pouring into the room from beyond. "Is that a window," he asked in utter amazement.
"Yes, Harry!" Dobby squeaked happily. "It is a Wizard's Window. It can be set to any view you want."
"Wow," Harry whispered. "I like what you've done to this place."
Turning to his left, towards the back of the trunk, Harry saw a large, fully furnished Wizard's Kitchen. It, too, was separated from the center section by a low set of wooden barriers. Instead of being guarded by twin sets of armor, however, it was effectively cut off from the rest of the trunk by a low, swinging gate. Another Wizard's Window, along the back wall of the kitchen, showed the view to the south from the top of the Astronomy Tower.
As Harry turned to face away from the ladder he saw a set of soft, chiffon curtains. "That is your sleeping chamber," Dobby said excitedly, in response to Harry's quizzical expression. "We is trying to make this as comfortable for Harry as possible. We know Harry may not be using it for a while but it will be ready when Harry decides to use it"
Brushing the curtains aside Harry walked into the sleeping chamber and discovered that it was a simple, yet elegantly decorated, bedroom. There was a four-poster queen size bed against the wall to his left with deep red velvet curtains tied back to the corner posts and a small dresser on either side at the head of the bed. Another large Wizard's Window dominated the far wall with an eastern view. Two large closets dominated the wall to his right with a door sized opening between. Stepping through the opening, closely followed by two very nervous house elves, Harry walked into a large bathroom. It wasn't as large or as fancy as the Prefect's Bath but it was more than he would ever need.
Turning to look down at the two expectant house elves Harry beamed at them and said, "This is brilliant! I love what you've done to the place!"
Dobby smiled brightly at the news that Harry liked what he was seeing but Winky let out a sigh of relief as though expecting Harry to be upset by their modifications but being thankful and relieved that he was not. "Come!" Dobby squeaked excitedly. "Harry must see what Dobby and Winky has done to the sixth chamber!"
Leading Harry and Winky out of the bathroom, through the bedroom and back out into the sitting room Dobby pushed open a low gait that separated the study area - an area roughly the same size as the kitchen with a large oak desk dominating the center of the space and a number of filing cabinets, counters and bookshelves dominating the walls - from the rest of the room. Along the back wall, towards what would be the front of the trunk, Harry saw two cabinets filled with potions ingredients and enough space for at least four cauldrons to be going at once. This, he thought, would be an ideal place for Hermione, Ron, Neville and himself to brew their Polyjuice Potions. In the center of the back wall was a large, intricately carved, wooden door. Opening the door Dobby led Harry into his private library.
The sixth chamber was at least as large as the seventh and three of the walls were lined from floor to ceiling with books. There were even several rows of bookshelves extending from the central, open section towards the walls at either end. There had to be thousands of books! The far wall was dominated by another Wizard's Window, this time with a view to the north and in the center of the room, directly in front of him, were a series of couches and tables that formed an effective reading room. Harry's mouth fell open in wonder and awe as he looked around. When he finally found his voice he said, "Where did you find all of this stuff?"
Dobby smiled broadly and said, "Professor Dumbledore is giving Dobby and Winky permission to move certain items from the Potter Family Vault to your trunk, Harry. We is hoping you isn't minding?"
Harry looked around the library again, in awe of what he was seeing, and then looked back down at Dobby. "The Potter Family Vault?" he asked.
Dobby nodded hesitantly. "Yes, Harry. The books, weapons and suits of armor is all family heirlooms. And some of the furniture is heirlooms. You isn't minding is you?" the house elf asked nervously.
Harry could see the nervous expression on Dobby's face and the almost satisfied look on Winky's, as if telling Dobby that he should not have brought so much of Harry's inheritance out of the vault. Getting down on his knees in front of the two house elves Harry smiled and shook his head. "I didn't even know the Potter's had a family vault; but, no, Dobby, I'm not upset. In fact I think it's brilliant. But why did Professor Dumbledore tell you to move all of this out of my family's vault?"
Dobby smiled - relieved that he had not overstepped his bounds too much - then said, "Professor Dumbledore is saying that the goblins is not taking a side in the war yet, Harry. So he is telling Dobby and Winky to get all of Harry's heirlooms out of Gringotts Wizarding Bank just in case."
"Is this all of it then?" Harry asked curiously.
"Yes. Except for the gold and the portraits hanging in your house in London this is all of it," Dobby said.
""Well thank you," Harry said, smiling as he stood up. "Now let's go out into the sitting room so we can discuss this diet."
As they left the library, passed through the study area and entered the sitting room Harry couldn't help but notice that Winky was fidgeting nervously. As he sat down on one of the corner couches and Dobby hopped up onto one of the nearby chairs Winky stood fidgeting, apparently uncertain as to what she should do or how she should behave. She did, however, glare over at Dobby as he made himself comfortable. "What's wrong, Winky?" Harry finally asked.
Winky looked hesitantly up into Harry's eyes and said, "Winky is not knowing what to do, Harry!" she cried. "Winky wants to please you but Winky is not knowing what to do!"
Harry got down on his knees in front of the frightened house elf and, reaching out, lifted her chin so that she was looking into his eyes. "Winky," he asked gently. "How does Ginny treat you?"
Winky smiled wistfully for brief moment then said, "Ginny treats Winky as her equal."
"Good," Harry said. " Then I will treat you as my equal as well."
"Does that mean Winky can sit on the furniture?" Winky asked.
Harry nodded. "Yes, Winky. That means you can sit on the furniture. In fact, I would prefer it if you did because it makes me nervous to have people standing around waiting on me."
Winky smiled apologetically and immediately hopped up to sit next to Dobby. When they were all settled and comfortable Harry said, "Now, tell me about this diet?"
For the next two hours Harry and the two house elves went over the diet that had been prepared for him. When all was said and done, and after breaking up several minor scuffles between the two elves, it was decided that they would manage the menus, offering him a variety of choices at each meal, and would alternate preparing his breakfasts and lunches and his dinners. It had taken some serious negotiating to get the timetable worked out but in the end everyone left happy.
After the meeting Harry climbed out of the trunk, physically exhausted and emotionally drained from the experience, and closed the lid. "Whew!" he said as he ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against his trunk.
Just then Ron and Neville walked in, Ron carrying a stack of library books and Neville returning from NEWT level Herbology. "How'd it go, mate?" Ron asked cheerfully.
Harry looked tiredly up at his friend and said, "You know, I think I need a nap."
"Sorry, mate. No can do. We've got books to read."
Harry groaned. "Since when did you start liking to read?"
Ron grinned mischievously. "Oh, I don't know. Probably about the same tome you two started dueling Death Eaters in Diagon Alley."
Harry looked at Neville as an evil grin spread across his face. "Neville?" he asked. "Shall we?"
Neville set his book bag down on his desk and started to draw his wand. When Ron saw this he threw most of the books on his bed and, taking the one book he had already started reading, ran out of the room screaming, "Nooo! You guys stay away from me with those wands!"
Harry and Neville just laughed and Harry went over to look at the books Ron had checked out from the library while Neville started on his Herbology homework.
Ten minutes later Harry was sitting across from Ron in the Gryffindor Common Room reading The Philosophy of Magic and its Many Manifestations while Ron read The Art of War and Hermione studied Most Potent Potions. All was quiet and the three friends were contentedly studying for their classes when, a few minutes later, Hermione broke the silence. "I don't know what's gotten into the two of you but whatever it is I am both pleased and frightened."
Harry and Ron both looked up from their reading. Ron spoke first, asking the question that had appeared in Harry's mind as well. "Why?"
"Well look at you," Hermione laughed nervously, "I've never seen either of you so interested in studying before and to be honest with you the looks of determination on your faces scare me. What's gotten into you?"
Harry looked up and with a wry smile said, "Divination."
"What?" Hermione asked, wrinkling her nose in confusion.
"Practical Divination," Ron said and proceeded to explain Firenze's approach to real-word divination to her in the same way Firenze had explained it to them that morning. When he was finished a light of understanding came on in her eyes and her face told both of them that she understood what they were doing far more effectively than any words ever could. "Oh!" she said happily. "Well I guess I'll leave you two to your reading then."
Harry smiled to himself and returned to his reading.
When Ginny came bouncing through the portrait hole several hours later Harry was in the middle of a chapter entitled "Thought is Energy"" and Ron was rubbing his eyes in a valiant attempt at staying awake while Hermione was in the process of completing her third foot of notes on the Polyjuice Potion. Ginny flounced over to their table and dropped her book bag on the table with a resounding thud. She had a smile on her face as she looked around at her three best friends but when none of them looked up she plopped down in her chair and stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "Well!" she huffed, "I can certainly tell you three have had an enjoyable afternoon. Doesn't anyone want to know how my afternoon went?"
Harry marked his page then closed his book and set it aside. "I'm sorry, Gin," he said as he rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes. "Firenze gave Ron, Neville and me a lot of reading assignments and Hermione has been researching the Polyjuice Potion for her essay. I didn't mean to ignore you but I wanted to get to a good stopping point." Turning his chair to face her he looked into her eyes and smiled. "So, please, tell me, how was your afternoon?" he said as he reached out for her hands.
Ginny turned to Harry, took hold of his hands, smiled so brightly that Harry felt certain she could light an entire auditorium if she wanted to and proceeded to tell him about her afternoon classes. In no time they were laughing and joking as Ginny told Harry about some of her fellow students' antics and about the dragon dung accident in Herbology and Harry told Ginny about some of the things he, Ron and Hermione had done in those classed the year before. Ron scowled a few times, at some of the more embarrassing stories, but pretty soon both he and Hermione had joined in the conversation and were taking a much needed study break.