Title: Holding Court
Rating: PG-13
Summary: WARNING: this story is an unabashed celebration of Harry Potter's uniqueness and powers. Anyone who would prefer to see another character glorified, turn away please!
Hogwarts is divided amongst the four Houses. As physical violence increases, a Hufflepuff fourth year watches as her hero fulfills his destiny. Set in Harry's seventh year, doom approaches. But where is the real war; between the Houses or against the Dark Lord?
It could have been worse. Minnie had managed not to tell about having seen Harry in the Dueling chamber and having the whole name conversation, she'd only said she'd gone to find books to research with and been caught by Malfoy in the hall. At least Susan and Hannah hadn't been angry with her, in fact they thought what she'd done to Malfoy quite funny. But they were worried for her, and with reason. They'd explained what was going to happen.
This would be a private duel, meaning that the whole of the Dueling club would not attend. Of course, since they wouldn't be allowed to enter the Chamber for a time that evening, someone would have to explain to them why, and it wouldn't take long before every one knew that she was dueling against the King of Slytherin.
So, the only people inside the chamber would be the House rulers, Conroy, the seconds and Minnie. The four rulers were supposed to stand equidistantly apart off the dais, while the seconds stood on the circle edge. The four rulers would be there as official witnesses, the seconds the seconds were there as support. Usually, the seconds would take over the duel when the one they stood for would fall. But for some reason or another, that wouldn't happen… As Malfoy would be dueling himself, the Slytherin spot might stand empty, or else the next ranking Slytherin would stand in his place.
And so the rules were simple. Minnie had to stay inside the dueling surface (flashback of Harry calling her a back-stabber). She could use just about any curse she chose as long as it wasn't lethal or Unforgivable. The first person to take the other person's wand won.
It sounded rather simple. Except she was going up against the darkest wizard Hogwarts had to offer. Maybe she should have gotten Conroy to ask for help for her. But it was too late now.
Breakfast passed fairly quickly. Minnie was beginning to grow used to waiting for a member of the court to walk her down from Hufflepuff chambers. She was aware of the dark looks emanating from the Slytherin table, but Hannah had decreed that Minnie wasn't to walk the halls alone, and so at least two seventh years would turn up at the end of class to act as escorts. Owen found this particularly amusing, as did Kevin. As they were trying to keep up the pretence that they were in love with each other, Minnie and Owen held hands whenever they could. Before Minnie had to leave him to go off to Arithmancy while Owen left for Divinations, he'd pressed his lips to hers in a clumsy kiss, which the two benevolent seventh years accompanying her did their best to ignore. Minnie held no real opinion of this kiss, not like she had of their first one, which she believed to be an utter and complete disaster. It was only that… were your partners lips supposed to feel so cold and clammy? Whatever was so exciting about that?
Later on in the afternoon, Minnie was privy to a minor skirmish between several Ravenclaws and Gryffindors that were in her Muggle Studies class. She and Owen had been leaving the classroom after the teacher had dismissed them (holding hand, of course) and were patiently waiting for Minnie's escort to turn up when Ravenclaw's Stewart Ackerly and Charles Moore began speaking in rather loud voices.
"Say, it seems so extremely odd to have Gryffindors in this class, doesn't it Charles?"
"Why would that be?"
"Well, Gryffindors aren't capable of individual thought, are they?"
"Every one knows that! They follow one person's advice and opinion and go from there!"
"Sad, isn't it? And to think they've chosen to follow that murdering son-of-a-bitch Potter's insane cover-ups of his murders! Rather pathetic if you ask me."
Gryffindors were notoriously easy to bait. Natalie McDonald and Dennis Creevey had heard everything and smoke was practically coming out of their ears. They exchanged one glance with the third member of the Gryffindor fourth-years taking Muggle Studies, a tall girl named Kendra, and the three of them launched themselves at the two offending Ravenclaws.
Minnie saw no reason to do so. She and the rest of the class had seen something neither the two foolish Ravenclaws nor the three infuriated Gryffindors had spotted. Natalie, Colin and Kendra found their attack stopped in mid-air by a whispered charm and were themselves deposited softly on the stone floor several paces back. That allowed Stewart and Charles a very clear view of all five of the Gryffindor seventh year boys. Ron Weasley still held his wand aloft, he having been the one to stop the younger student's attack. Neville was holding Colin Creevey back, as he was determined to severely hurt those who had insulted his idol. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were taking in the scene, keeping a close eye on Harry Potter, who stood slightly in front of the rest.
Harry's calm stance was what was worrying Minnie. The last line the Ravenclaws had uttered was a compendium of everything that could infuriate Harry. Accusing Gryffindors of blindly following anyone insulted Gryffindore. In addition, Minnie knew that Harry didn't like the idea that people trusted his opinion (well, those who weren't convinced by the press accusing him of being on the same level as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named). Then they had repeated the accusations that Harry had committed murders in cold blood and lied to cover them up, something which was sure to rile his temper. But worst of all, the Ravenclaws had touched upon that oh-so-sensitive topic of Harry's parents.
Minnie had been present when last year, a furious Cornelius Fudge had sneered at Harry and called him a disgrace to wizard kind. He had then invoked the quasi-sacred names of Lily and James Potter and told Harry that he was an insult to their memory. All the glass in Diagon Alley had shattered that day.
And Stewart had just slandered Lily Potter. People began edging out of the way. Stewart, finally realizing what he'd just said and who be'd been so abysmally stupid to say it in front of, couldn't move, completely hypnotized by the emerald eyes that were boring into his body. Susan and Daphne had finally arrived and began ushering the Hufflepuffs away, out of the danger zone, which consisted of any space surrounding the petrified Stewart or space lying between the said idiotic boy and Harry.
Slowly, Harry walked forwards, his pace measured and his eyes never breaking contact with those of Stewart. He made no sound as he covered the distance. He stopped when he was only three feet away, lifting his hand where his wand had somehow appeared, no one had seen him take it out. He waved it in front of Stewart once.
Stewart cringed and closed his eyes. When he opened them, it was as if he'd gone blind. He stared around him wildly, seemingly to make eye contact with anyone of the people standing around. But it was as though he could not see them. Had Harry caused him to go blind?
Stewart raised his hands and tried to take a step forwards but crashed into an invisible wall. For a moment, he seemed to be a silent comedian, miming a wall in front of him. But it soon became evident that what Harry had done was enclosed him in a space where he had no light to see where he was or what he was doing. It must have seemed to him that he had been locked into an uncomfortable, dark cupboard. The kind that one would find in Muggle homes, under the stairs.
"Is it dark in there, Stewart?" Harry asked silkily. "It must be quite uncomfortable, isn't it?" Then, with false concern, "What's that? You seem to be clausterphobic, don't you? I was too, once. I got over it. You know what the best way is to get over a phobia is? You have to confront it. Consider this a favor then. After all, when this was all I had, because my mother had been ripped from me, no one had my best interests in mind."
Harry turned from the trembling boy and continued on his way down the corridor, the other Gryffindors following him silently, but without having broken the spell surrounding Stewart. Charles attempted to speak to him, but only the caster's voice could penetrate the spell.
For a moment, it seemed as though Susan was going to cancel the curse around the Ravenclaw, but her arm fell before she could pronounce the words. She looked unsure for a moment, then shrugged and led the Hufflepuffs away. The last Minnie saw of Stewart was a huddled ball at the foot of the wall, shaking with fear.
Finally, it was time.
Susan again walked her up to the Dueling Chamber, alternating nervous bits of advice with heavy silences. None of her advice was very helpful as Minnie didn't know half the spells she was talking about nor did she understand most of the strategy. She supposed she'd just rely on her spells and charms that would confuse Malfoy. And she didn't intend to stand very still once inside the surface.
The statues in the corridor outside of the chamber seemed to look at her, weighing and evaluating her. Another movie quote, "you have been weighed… you have been measured… and you have been found wanting." Not a happy thought. And no, it just wouldn't do to invoke Peter Pan while fighting either.
They were the first to arrive, only Conroy was there, slowly circling above their heads. Hannah arrived a short time later, resplendent in long dark robes and her curly hair loose, cascading down her back. Terry Boot walking in a few minutes later, also in dark robes. Minnie wondered if Luna was going to show. Unlikely, she wasn't an official ruler, the title still belonged to Terry. However, she realized that this duel would be somewhat ceremonial. Those robes that Hannah and Terry were wearing weren't the usual school robes that ended at your ankles. They were long, trailing on the floor, and were cut in a way that any movement that the wearers made was amplified. The collars were slightly different, Hannah's was folded so that her hair and neck showed proudly. Terry's was a Mao-ish collar, short and stiff that gave him a considerable air of authority. Neither ruler spoke.
Malfoy arrived with an entourage. Actually, it was only two people, but next to the other rulers who had arrived alone, it seemed like a lot. He was going to use a stand in. Blaise Zabini was wearing the same kind of dark cloak as the other two rulers though it seemed to have been quickly tucked in at several places. Probably it was fitted for Draco and they hadn't wanted to or hadn't had the time to do the job properly, thought Minnie snidely. Blaise also had her hair up in a beautifully complicated and sophisticated chignon, her collar like a vampire's high and stiff; she was the personification of the dark, dangerous beauty. Theodore Nott was going to be Malfoy's second and he looked the part, wily and scary, Minnie supposed that the theory was that; if magic can't kill her, just use stealth - A very Slytherin way to think, Minnie thought.
The rulers were in place, Hannah and Susan had turned to her and were updating her on spells and pointing out some of Malfoy's weaknesses. Malfoy himself was standing near Blaise and Nott in an open huddle, and they were all jeering openly at her. They seemed confident. Minnie supposed she didn't give a very striking picture, small and mousy confronted with the Nordic beauty, she fully expected to be squashed to a grease spot.
They were still waiting for the fourth ruler… who finally arrived, stepping into the chamber with an unconcerned look on his face.
Minnie had thought Draco looked striking? Whatever. Harry was a tall, handsome mass of darkness and mystery, his long cloak shrouding him in shadow and his dark hair only serving to reinforce the feeling of the tantalizing unknown. His face was angled downwards as though deep in thought, so that his face and eyes seemed to float surrealistically between the darkness of his clothes and his hair.
Minnie realized that what made these rulers look so mystic right now was the simplicity; the complete absence of jewlery, ornaments, or large spots of color. There was color under Blaise and Hannah's cloaks, where their robes showed their dresses underneath, but not much of it. And Terry also wore all black, but his brown hair lightened the effect. It was Harry who fully pulled off the dark look, his green eyes the only sign of life or light he allowed himself.
He stood in his place, the outside circle was complete. For a moment his eyes settled on Minnie and his lips curled slightly upwards, though in a smile or a sneer she couldn't say. She was far too nervous. For the seconds had also taken their places and Malfoy was advancing to the center of the circle. Minnie supposed there would be no point in running for it, she advanced as well. Conroy alighted on the white star, just between the both of them.
"I want a nice clean duel from the both of you," he warned, looking at Malfoy. He took flight and hovered over their heads. "Allez-y."
Malfoy and Minnie bowed their heads, then turned… it was five steps… one… two… three… four… five. She turned quickly to see that Malfoy already had his wand out.
"Inverso!" he said lazily.
"Protego!" she countered before adding, "Rictusempra!"
He dodged that one and aiming his wand once again, said, "Expelliarmus!"
He wouldn't get her that easily, "Protego! Inverso!"
Once again, he dodged. He raised his wand, uttered a spell that Minnie didn't know and a large red snake slipped out of the end. He pointed at her and the snake started to slither rapidly towards her, tongue flickering out menacingly. A Shield Charm wouldn't stop a solid of magical type and, being in fourth year, Minnie didn't know how to Conjure. She managed a fairly good Reductor curse as the snake neared and, acting on pure instinct, stepped on it. Blood gushed out from beneath her heel
He looked angry that the duel wasn't over yet, so he began pulling out the heavy artillery, "Expelliarmus! Inverso! Sangrify!"
She managed to dodge the Upside-down spell, as well as the Disarming spell, but was hit by the Bloody one. She felt a gash across her chest and felt herself beginning to bleed… well if that's what he wanted…
"Tiago!" he only just got out of the way, but looked confused. "Mushmurtonia!" That one hit him. Now he looked a bit scared, and well he should, for now he wouldn't be able to articulate spells. "Gifle!" and a hand imprinted itself on his cheek, where the spell had slapped him. "Cauldronatus!" her personal favorite, he was now drenched in a foul smelling greenish slime. "Entornum Silencio!" Well, now, not only couldn't he understand what she was saying, but he couldn't hear or speak anything at all. She intended to enjoy this. She shot sparks of light at him, while moving her mouth. He, thinking that these were spells or curses dodged them quite dramatically, and she heard a snort of laughter from behind her, where either Susan or Hannah was standing. Finally, not really having had enough, but not wanting to drag this out to long in case Malfoy took back the advantage, she cried, "Locomotor mortis!" which caused him to fall over, and then, "Expelliarmus!" which sent him flying into Blaise and Nott and his wand into her hand.
She had won.
Take that Slytherin.
She could hear suppressed squeals from behind her as she watched Conroy land again on the white star and turn to Malfoy's prostate form. "Finite Incatatem," he intoned, and Malfoy sat up, glaring at Minnie furiously. "Well done, both of you. I declare Minnie of Hufflepuff to be the victor." The lion face seemed to smile, "Again, well done."
Minnie felt two pairs of arms encircle her, hugging her and jumping around as Susan and Hannah celebrated. It felt good to know that the two elder girls had been worried for her and yet believed in her. Their relief was obvious, though it was rapidly fading as they got into jubilation mode. Hannah grabbed her again and squashed her against herself, still jumping up and down. Over her shoulder, Minnie caught a glimpse of the others. Terry was turning and walking off the marble surface. Harry was still in his position, looking at Malfoy and looking pensive. Malfoy was refusing Theodore's hand to help him to rise.
Hannah and Susan had smiles that went from ear to ear as they pulled her towards the Hufflepuff staircase. Once above, looking off from the balcony, Minnie saw Terry head off for his own staircase, looking amusedly at the Slytherin group, and Blaise and Nott hauling a protesting Malfoy towards the Slytherin one. They did not look amused.
Her gaze turned to her hero. Harry hadn't moved during the entirety of the duel, not so much as shifting to balance his weight on his feet. Now he only turned his head to follow the Slytherins up their steps. Once they'd disappeared, he walked towards where the entrance to the chamber was and raised his wand, emitting a green light and Minnie heard a 'clicking' noise. He'd unlocked the doors.
People came pouring in. At the head of the flood were the Hufflepuffs, who dashed over to the staircase and quickly climbed it.
"Who won?" asked Paige breathlessly, bursting out from the top.
"Is Minnie all right?" asked Holly, hot on her heels.
"Don't worry, we'll get Malfoy for you!" growled out Joseph, already clutching his wand and looking out over the balcony.
"Quiet!" Hannah ordered severely. People began to settle and looked at the three of them expectantly, though some seemed to have guessed and were beginning to smile.
"It was a fascinating duel," began Susan, looking as though she wanted to draw it out as far as she could. "We've seen spells we've never seen before!" She turned and smiled at Minnie, who grinned sheepishly back. "She won!" A great bout of cheering burst out as Minnie was hugged, kissed, and had her hand shaken extensively.
"Show us the crystal!" called a voice from the back. Minnie recognized to belonging to a sixth year, but she couldn't recall the name.
"Here it is." A large crystal, in the shape of a satellite dish (Minnie remembered seeing one of those at her cousin's house) was passed up from the back of the group and was promptly placed on the table in the center of the room. Hannah held her wand to her head and drawing it away, pulled what looked like a long white hair away from her. She placed it in the hollow part of the crystal, and immediately, everyone went quiet.
Large, almost life size images began to take shape in the air and then began to move, exactly in the way that Malfoy and Minnie had done a bare ten minutes ago. Cheers rang out when Minnie again squished the conjured snake. Minnie again saw him dodge her spells, but when she heard him cry the Bloody Spell again, she remembered the gash on her chest. But apparently Susan remembered it at the same time too, because she turned a murmured a healing spell over it and Minnie felt herself sealing up.
The pictures stopped moving and flickered out, it was the end of the duel. Everyone started talking excitedly and happily.
"That was bloody fantastic!"
"We've got a rising star in our midst!"
"Well, I've always believed in her, never doubted for a moment!"
"Sure you didn't Ernie, you know everything about everyone don't you?"
"Look out Slytherin and Ravenclaw! Hufflepuff's coming for you!"
Joseph pushed his way over to her and addressed her, "Say, that was a brilliant duel for a first timer! Would you come down and practice with me?" He held out his hand and smiled at her.
"Sure," she smiled back happily, content to see that she was being accepted into the Dueling Club.
She and Joseph made their way down the steps and towards the dais. She spotted one Ravenclaw pair dueling near their steps, but their duel was drawing to a close and they soon went up. That left one Gryffindor pair, Harry with a fourth year Minnie knew from her classes, Martina, and seven or eight Slytherin pairs. Probably still smarting from earlier, the Slytherins looked particularly focused, most likely practicing hard now in order to wipe the floor with her at the meet. Minnie all of a sudden didn't feel extremely safe anymore, but she wanted to feel like part of the in-crowd, so she followed Joseph up onto the dais.
He turned to her and they bowed. They faced away and walked five steps before turning again and beginning to exchange spells. Minnie found herself getting the hang of this. She kept the Shield Charm on the tip of her tongue, just in case she couldn't dodge. But she wasn't only passive, she shot mirror charms and hallucinating spells at Joseph, who would deflect them quite deftly. They weren't intending to cause damage, this was more an exercise in spell vocabulary and dodging, not aim.
They settled into a rhythm, deflect and shoot, deflect and shoot. Gradually, they began to move in circles, sometimes going so far as to exchanging places, both moving closer and closer to the center of the circle. Minnie noticed that they were soon dueling close to Harry, but for the first time in weeks, she felt too involved in what she was doing to look around at her surroundings. Her mistake.
She didn't notice when the Slytherin's dueling decreased in activity, and when they turned on her, she barely saw the spells coming.
The same blue light that had been fired at Hermione a week earlier came shooting towards her.
One of the beams had been shot before the others, probably to give the signal. It hit her in the side, as if someone had punched her hard. But the punch must have continued into her body, continuing through to her navel. She didn't have time to fully realize what was going on, but she could see more beams of light approaching, in slow motion.
But just before they hit her, she felt a body slam into her and push her to the ground, that person covering her with his body. She felt some sort of shield charm go up, and felt, rather than heard, a deep voice urgently say the Disarming spell twice. Out of the corners of her eyes she saw Martina fly towards the Gryffindor staircase and Joseph soar backward towards the Hufflepuff one, landing hard on the bottom step.
The person pulled her up, but kept her back pressed against him and an arm around her chest as he turned to face their attackers. But she was hardly thinking of the Slytherins anymore. She thought back to when she'd wondered what it would feel like to be in his arms… She didn't have to wonder anymore. He was strong, muscular- she could feel the muscles moving as he turned and fired off spells, still holding her tightly. He was taller than she was, by at least a good foot, and the way his voice traveled over her and emanated from behind her back, felt soothing. He even smelled good, though she couldn't place the scent.
I'm in Harry's arms, she thought. He's holding me… just like in my wildest dreams! Dreams really do come true! … I guess I'll have to dream up something wilder then – oh that's naughty!
Slytherins were falling or flying back against pillars or walls. Spells that came at Minnie and Harry were deflected and countered. She saw the Hufflepuffs were mounting a counter offensive from the bottom of the Hufflepuff stairs. The stair wasn't wide and so not too many people could take aim and shoot without wounding the person in front, but they looked furious. They were up against five Slytherins who were being hard pressed into both defending themselves and keeping the Hufflepuffs on the stairs. Minnie had never seen Hannah look so angry.
Finally, the last Slytherin on the floor went down for the count. Susan was finishing off the last one in front of the staircase. Minnie noticed that not a single seventh year Slytherin had fought… they'd simply sent the others to do their work for them… but they'd failed… thanks to Harry… who was slowly releasing her. The pain in her side returned and she gave a gasp, and almost crumpled back to the floor. His arm stopped and tightened around her waist, keeping her upright. She was turned in such a way that she rested against his shoulder and felt, rather than saw, his other arm, the one that held the wand, move to her side. She felt the tip of the wand against the wound and flinched. He made a soothing noise, he was bent over and his mouth was behind her ear. She shivered. Another word she didn't quite catch and she felt a warm and soothing sensation spread from the tip of his wand into her side. Soon, she could hardly feel where the beam of light had hit her.
He took his arm from her waist and stepped away. Turning from her, he moved his wand in a large, sweeping gesture, gathering up all the bodies and sending them flying towards the Slytherin staircase where they lay, piled up on one another. Someone must have been standing at the top and Summoning them because, one by one, they floated up and disappeared from sight.
Minnie was enveloped in a group hug as the Hufflepuffs once again surrounded her. Joseph was gasping out, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" and Hannah and Susan were patting her down, to check if anything had been damaged. When they had assured themselves, and the others, that she was all right, the crowd parted, allowing Hannah to leave her side and walk away. She headed for the bottom of the Gryffindor staircase, the rest of the House slowly trailing along, Paige and Holly still clucking maternally over Minnie.
"Oi Potter?" Hannah called. "Potter!" No noise came from above. "… Ummm… Harry? Harry, please!"
He slowly came down. He still hadn't taken off his cloak and Minnie once again thought of the feeling of being wrapped up in it, so close to him...
"Yes, Hannah?" he said, stopping on the bottom step and leaning against the rail. Minnie noticed that Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were coming down as well, though they stopped discretely halfway down.
"I… We… I wanted to thank you for saving Minnie. We wanted to thank you and…" she took a deep breath, "and offer to give you something, or do something to show our gratitude."
"Yes, and not be in my debt either, I'd wager," he answered with a slight smile. Hannah just scowled up at him. "Well then…," he looked mock pensive, "What should I ask for…" He turned and looked up at the other two- thirds of the Dynamic Trio and raised an eyebrow. Weasley shrugged but Granger merely crossed her arms and tapped her foot, looking at him expectantly. "I suppose asking for peace between Houses wouldn't float, right?" he asked Hannah, who shook her head. "Very well then," and with another look towards Hermione, who was now glaring at him, "I want to give her private lessons in dueling." And he pointed to Minnie.
"What?!" cried Hannah and Susan together as the rest of the House looked on incredulously.
"Will you refuse me that too?" he sighed with a long suffering air.
"Well, we…" they turned to Minnie and asked, "What say you?"
"Ummm…" she answered, trying not to laugh nervously, "If it's the only thing he wants… He did save me…"
"If you say so," Hannah said cautiously before turning back to Harry. "Deal, though we ask that you return her whole, unhurt, and alive." She stressed the last word and Harry's brow darkened.
"I did what I could by bringing him back whole…" be began angrily but Granger had already dashed down and gripped his arm. She gave him a warning look and he quieted.
Hermione stepped in front of him, looking more graceful than any Seventh Year girl had a right to be, and spoke to Hannah. "He accepts and thanks you for your solicitude." She shifted her gaze to Minnie, "He will see you tomorrow. You will meet here, in the circle for your first lesson."
"All right, but no funny business," warned Hannah, as the Hufflepuffs headed back to their tower.
Granger merely raised an eyebrow as she turned back to Harry.
That night, as Minnie lay listening to the snores surrounding her, she realized how lucky she was. Owen really did have a point. She was known to the Court, which had a vested interest in her and which also seemed to genuinely care for her. She was now known outside of her House and the celebrity that would come with having defeated a Ruler would be enjoyable. And she would be getting lessons from the expert on Dueling himself. Things were looking up. To say that only a few nights ago, Minnie had thought herself on the verge of exclusion from Hufflepuff House.
After making sure that she was okay, the Hufflepuffs had escorted her back to the Chambers, some of the girls going so far as to tucking her in, to the amazement of the other girls in her dormitory. However, she'd been fortunate enough that Eleanor and Laura still weren't talking to her and Tyler had been to sleepy to want to start up a conversation.
What a day. What a night! She could very well be the envy of half the school! Oh sure, no one said it out loud, for fear of not appearing House patriotic, but who wouldn't give up their soul for the chance to be held as she had. Well, maybe not exactly as she had… If it had just been a bit slower, more sensual…
A/N: Sorry that this took so long, I added on the whole Stewart part as I had a request for more House altercations. For any Draco lovers out there- I know he's been looking bad for the past two chapters, but I swear that there's a reason. He is a powerful bastard and everything, he's just not showing yet.
He who cant write- lot's of Harry here for you!
Saitan- thank you!
Innocent-Elphie- Ummmmm, Minnie's not gonna kick ass. She's just my tool so that I can show you how the other (and brighter) students are trying to kick each other's asses!
Yellowpages- Back again! As long as I get your approval, I know I'm doing all right. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Fang Three-Claw- I agree, what I'm doing to Draco is harsh- and it's hard for me to write because I love him as a fanfic character. Oh well, I'll have to write another story and be nice to him then… I've made him to be a pure Slytherin, he has a reason for everything he does. He had a reason for provoking Minnie, and he had a reason for the everything he did in this chapter as well. On another note, I couldn't find Blood Price, what's the author's pen name? As for the Honeychurch fics, I love 'em and I hate them. I like the way Harry handles his teaching duties, but I loathe Vesta. I absolutely abhor any character that remotely resembles a Mary-Sue and she seems to be a perfect example of one of those. I do everything I can to make sure Minnie doesn't become one of those- I'd be devastated if someone told me that she was one!
Oasis- well, Minnie's now go the possibility to learn how to duel… but things aren't going to go the way she wants them to. Glad you liked Conroy, but I think I'm going to keep him low key anyway (look for him at the beginning of the next chapter!)
Joshval124- Thank you so much! That was exactly the effect I was trying to achieve! And if you really like that aspect of the story, just try to imagine what was going on in Harry's head as he cursed Stewart!
Nightwing509- All your questions are answered. (Sorry for having taken so long to update)