Ch 10: - Dangers and Duties

That afternoon, Harry finally got a chance to take both his brooms to the quidditch pitch for a try out.

'Can we come along too Harry?' begged Alison Linney. Harry nodded but sighed inwardly; he'd so hoped for a nice uninterrupted test session.

'Can I bring my broom as well please?' she added.

Harry perked up at this. 'What kind of broom is it?'

Alison shyly held out her broom for inspection. Harry took it and inspected it. A well maintained Nimbus 2000, it's balance still felt good, even after handling a Firebolt. Harry was quietly impressed.

'I had one of these once.' he said quietly. 'How long have you had it?'

'I've been asking for a better broom for ages, Harry. Mum finally bought it at the end of last term, for doing well in my exams!'

'What did you fly before that then?' Harry asked.

'A cleansweep. Stephanie has it now, but she couldn't bring it to school.'

Harry nodded. He remembered being given his Nimbus 2000 in his first year, and the envy that had caused in certain circles.

'Okay then, get your cloaks. It's a bit fresh out there.'

Down on the quidditch pitch, the wind was a bit gusty, with a hint of rain in the air. Clouds were thickening in the west, promising a stormy night. Harry gave Alison his Firebolt GTA to hold whilst he gave his old broom a quick workout.

Kicking off from the ground, Harry climbed a couple of hundred feet above the southern posts then dived towards the northern post bases. He pulled up and circled the posts tightly before a quick run back to the southern goals. He zigzagged through the goal posts before making a final low run down the pitch, feet almost touching the grass.

Next Harry swapped brooms and did the same set of manoeuvres with the new GTA model. WOW, the extra speed and sensitivity were so noticeable, and the rate of climb was fantastic! He looked round finding he'd climbed again and the quidditch pitch was tiny beneath him. He could just make out Alison and Stephanie on the boundary line. Now to surprise them! He thought, as he pointed the nose of the broom straight down.

The ground rushed up towards him, the pitch expanding in his view from a postcard to a book page to a sheet of paper to a newspaper to a – PULL UP FOR MERLINS SAKE!

Harry hauled desperately on the broom handle, cutting a screaming arc from vertical to horizontal and just avoiding digging his own grave in the centre of the pitch by about six inches! Sweating profusely,he circled round and landed beside the two girls. Both looked white as sheets and Stephanie was actually trembling. He got off the broom to find he was trembling almost as much as Stephanie. Taking several deep breaths, he tried to be nonchalant.

'W – well,' he stammered, 'That w-went pr-pretty w-w-well, didn't it?'

Alison was beginning to get some colour back into her face and air into her lungs. 'ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE, HARRY? THAT WAS THE MOST IDIOTIC THING I'VE EVER SE – ' She stopped and blushed beet red, 'Er – um – sorry Harry, I'm – er – '

Harry watched her discomfiture for a few seconds before deciding that she was absolutely right - he was an idiot.

'It's alright Alison,' he muttered, 'You're right, that wasn't very clever. I'm sorry I frightened you and Stephanie. Why don't you try your broom out, whilst I get some clean underwear?'

Alison looked even more embarrassed, 'You didn't! - did you?'

Harry smiled. 'No, - but it was a near thing! Now get up there and show me some sensible flying!'

Alison grinned at him before mounting her broom and waving her wand around herself. Harry looked perplexed.

'A safety harness spell, Harry.' she said as she took off.

To begin with, Harry wondered why on earth she would want such a thing as she seemed simply to be circling for height, north of the pitch. He was answered by her sudden dive towards the pitch to fly centrally down the length of it at about twice goal height. In the middle of the pitch she rolled right round the axis of her broom to sit upright again, before pulling up sharply up vertically beyond the southern goal posts. As her broom slowed, she waited until it stopped rising, then kicked it round the axis of her body until it pointed straight down.

Accelerating downwards, she pulled out at the same level as before, passing back down the pitch and completing a second full roll before pulling into a loop, beyond the northern end of the pitch. Instead of completing the loop, she flew diagonally downwards towards the base of the southern goals - upside down! - before rolling upright and pulling into a second loop.

At the top of the loop, she levelled off and flew upside down for a few seconds before rolling upright once more and circling to land beside Harry and Stephanie, smiling broadly.

Harry shut his mouth and coughed. 'Erm – Alison? – er – is that supposed to be sensible flying?' he said breathlessly.

Alison and Stephanie burst out laughing.

'Its called aerobatics, Harry' giggled Alison. 'Muggles perform them in small aeroplanes. My Dad's a muggle pilot and he flies aerobatics for fun!'

Stephanie smiled agreement. 'We tried doing them on broomsticks to see if we could. They're really fun!'

'They're quite easy really,' added Alison, 'but even with the safety harness spell, you need a good grip with your legs for the upside down bits!'

Harry had a sudden flashback to other legs gripping hard.

'You can both do them?' he asked, trying to pummel his attention back to the matter under discussion.

The girls nodded

'Where did you learn, though? It must be difficult to find somewhere well hidden!'

Alison nodded again. 'We live right out in the country. There's a small valley near our house that Mum manages to conceal occasionally, so we can practice together'

Harry was endlessly amazed at the ability of some of the magical fraternity to adapt muggle ideas. He thought for a second or so before addressing Stephanie, 'Have you flown your sister's Nimbus?' Stephanie smiled happily, which Harry took to mean yes. He took a deep breath and took the Nimbus from Alison, giving it to Stephanie. Then he gave Alison his Firebolt.

'Be very, very, careful, please!' he said. They looked back at him, faces glowing with anticipation. He waved them to take off, gripping his new broom tightly.

The extra power of the Firebolt more than compensated for Alison's extra weight as they climbed in perfect formation and began a routine that had Harry spellbound. Their flying wasn't dangerous but it included a dizzying pattern of manoeuvres which culminating in them climbing vertically side by side, rolling in opposite directions before halting in mid air, together. They circled in opposite directions to land either side of him, both grinning from ear to ear

Harry silently took his Firebolt back from Alison, sighed, and smiled gently. 'Amazing! – quite – amazing!' he said 'Time for tea, I think.'

He started back to the castle, the girls falling in behind him, giggling.

- o -

'POTTER!'

Harry and the girls had just reached the main entrance to the castle when Harry finally saw the one person he had been dreading meeting since he'd returned to school. He stood still, thinking about disapparating, quidditch, flying aerobatics, anything to maintain an air of calm.

Professor Snape seemed even more angry than usual, if that was possible.

'So Potter, showing off again?' he sneered. 'What's this then? Two brooms? One not good enough for you anymore? Now you're even more special to our dear headmaster?'

Harry remained silent, just.

Snape stood glaring at Harry and the two girls.

'Not taking potions at NEWT level either, I understand! I'm not surprised, Potter, - you were never as good as you thought you were - were you?'

Harry made a supreme effort to remain silent, even now. Alison and Stephanie were standing open mouthed at the insults being heaped upon him.

Snape studied Harry's angry visage for a few seconds more. 'Just like your father!' he spat.

'I AM NOT LIKE MY FATHER!' yelled Harry. Snape was momentarily taken aback

'Do you see me hexing people for the fun of it? Do you? Do you see me hanging other boys up by their legs? Hmmm? Well? – DO YOU?'

Snapes eyes narrowed even further as he turned to address the girls.

'You two Potter Groupies! If I see you hanging round this boy again, you'll get a month's detentions each! Get back to your common room NOW!'

The girls left at a dead run, Stephanie almost crying in fear.

'YOU BAG OF EXCREMENT!' screamed Harry, 'How dare you talk to Gryffindor girls like that!'

'HOW DARE YOU ADDRESS ME THAT WAY! I'LL HAVE YOU EXPELLED WITHIN THE HOUR! Insulting me! Breaking rules at every opportunity! Poking your nose into other peoples memories!'

'So that's your problem, is it?' yelled Harry, 'Your precious memories! The ones you so carefully save! To relive over and over again! To build your hatred and warp your mind! Why don't you get rid of them, if they're so painful? You're sick and twisted!'

'You'll die for that, Potter!' whispered Snape.

'Oh really? How? Poison? A bit obvious, isn't it?' said Harry scornfully. 'Or will the Dark Lord instruct you?'

Harry realised he might have gone too far. Snape was now purple, a vein throbbing in his forehead. Harry started to inch his hand towards his wand.

Snape took out his wand with almost glacial calm. 'You're going to regret that, Potter' he hissed, 'For the rest of your very short life! There's no one about now, no witnesses, no one to hear -'

'But there are witnesses, Severus.'

A voice from the stairs, calm and measured.

'I feel you could be making a grave mistake – and I do mean grave.'

Professor Dumbledore stood at the top of the stairs, watching.

Snape made a supreme effort to bring himself under control.

'Ah – Professor! – I – I was just trying to – to –'

'Yes, Severus, I'm sure you were. I suggest you return to your study and make further efforts.'

Snape looked at Harry, then at Dumbledore, then back to Harry. 'Yes, Professor' he grated, through gritted teeth, then turned and fled the entrance hall with as much gravitas as he could muster.

Professor Dumbledore slowly descended the staircase.

'Well Harry.' he asked quietly, 'And what would you have done if Professor Snape had pronounced the death curse upon you?'

Harry remained silent.

'I do not wish to hear you calling Professor Snape names again, Harry!'

'But you heard what he said to Alison and Stephanie, Professor!'

'Yes, Harry, and I am even more disappointed with Professor Snape! Perhaps you should keep out of his way for a few days, hmmm? I will speak to him immediately.'

'How much did you hear, Professor?' mumbled Harry.

'Enough to know you are not as like your father as most people think, and enough to wonder afresh at Professor Snape's desperate hatred for you and your family.' The Professor hesitated. 'Harry, I must ask you, did your scar hurt during that exchange?'

Harry thought back. 'No Professor, it – it didn't'

Dumbledore appeared to be thinking for several seconds. 'Very well, Harry, I am pleased to hear it. It does remind me that you need to start occlumancy lessons again,' Harry gasped in horror at the thought. 'but not today - and not with Professor Snape.' Harry let out a sigh of relief.

'Now Harry, I suggest you return to your common room to check on the well being of your charges.'

'My charges, Professor?'

'As senior pupil present in your house, what else could they be?' The Headmaster began to stride off down the corridor.

'Professor!' cried Harry, at his retreating back. Dumbledore turned. 'I need to reassure them, especially the younger girl. I'm afraid they will be victimised in their potions lessons – and – they were threatened with detentions if they talked to me –'

'I will ensure they do not suffer for their contact with you, Harry, either now, or in the future.'

'Thank you Professor' called Harry, as Dumbledore continued down the corridor.

As he walked off towards the Gryffindor tower, Harry pondered on the fact that the insult which had finally tipped Snape over the edge had been the reference to the Dark Lord.

- o -

As the days went by, Harry slowly became more proficient at disapparation, until he could flick backwards and forwards across the quidditch pitch whilst remaining in one piece. At last the Headmaster accompanied Harry down to the railway station for more advanced lessons, up and down the tracks and in and out of the station buildings. Harry found these fairly simple, now he fully understood the principle.

Harry's ability to conduct spells without his wand or using the words of the spell had also increased markedly. Unfortunately it was still unreliable, and whilst Harry could move large items or activate complex spells, he didn't trust himself to use the ability in the presence of others. More practice was the only answer, and Harry wasn't sure when he would be able to fit the practice in once term started.

Despite some misgivings, Harry had also tried out aerobatics during one of the flying session he had come to enjoy with Alison and Stephanie. Using both his brooms and Alison's Nimbus, they had actually worked out a short and simple routine for the three of them, once Alison had taught Harry the safety harness spell. His first attempt, without it, had seen him doing an impromptu starfish manoeuvre about two hundred feet in the air, and another near miss on the underwear front.

The only other relaxation Harry had permitted himself was regular visits to Hagrid and Buckbeak. The two girls usually accompanied him and both had received an early grounding in the approach and flying of hippogriffs. Even Stephanie had managed to impress the haughty Buckbeak and had spent considerable time reading up on hippogriffs. Professor Dumbledore even gave her permission to help at the stables Hagrid had built for Buckbeak and several other magical creatures. Harry could see her getting maximum marks in the practical part of her Care of Magical Creatures exams, even if she didn't go to a single class.

The preparations for Harry's teaching activity had peaked fairly early with the adaption of several spell by Professor McGonagall. Harry had learned the spells carefully, as well as the general spells for emergencies. The spell for dire emergencies had proved slightly tricky to learn. Professor Mcgonagall had offered herself as the victim, with Professor Dumbledore standing by. Fortunately his intervention was only required once, when Harry stuttered slightly, saying maximammaria, instead of maximalia.

The look on Professor McGonagall's face would give Harry hysterics for weeks.

The Headmaster had been as good as his word and provided several more defensive spells. Two of them worked continuously, although one required Harry to wear an amulet. That spell was proof against even the killing curse, but worked by pushing the amulet wearer sideways out of the line of the spell. Not a lot of use in a tight space.

The other spell magnified and made clear the words of any spell cast at the user. Whilst this wasn't active defence, it did ensure Harry couldn't be taken by surprise.

Harry also learned the spell to erect the silver shield protection that Lord Voldemort had used in the Ministry of Magic main hall. Considerable power was required for this but it was also proof against all but the killing curse.

Finally, on the day the Hogwarts Express was due, the Headmaster had informed Harry the he might use the Imperius or Cruciatus curses, if he felt his life was threatened within the vicinity of Hogwarts.

'I have informed the Ministry of my decision, Harry. Minister Fudge will have no choice but to accept it.' Harry nodded. 'Much as I dislike saying this, Harry, but a short burst of the cruciatus curse will stop most of your enemies in their tracks.'

Harry nodded again, 'Just enough to do the job Professor?'

'Exactly Harry, now, perhaps you could go down to the station and help Professor Moody supervise the house elves as they transfer the luggage from the train to the castle.'

'But Professor,' complained Harry, 'all my friends will be expecting to see me - and I'll miss the sorting.'

'I'm sorry Harry, duty comes first.' pronounced the headmaster, somewhat sanctimoniously in Harry's opinion. He gloomily returned to Gryffindor House to get his cloak and scarf.

Several other pupils had arrived at school early during the two weeks Harry had been there, including Pansy Parkinson of Slytherin and Justin Finch-Frenchly of Hufflepuff. Most of these were waiting in the entrance hall as Harry left for the station.

Turning to look back up at the castle, as he walked down the drive, Harry saw in an upper tower window, the only person he hadn't seen at all in the two weeks. Sybil Trelawney had finally made an appearance.

- o -

At the station, Harry found Professor Moody and at least twenty house elves waiting quietly in the shadows of the station building booking hall

'In here Harry!' growled Moody, 'this is where we usually wait.'

Several pairs of huge eyes blinked at Harry from the darkness, each eye casting a faint glow on the scene. Harry wondered how he had missed seeing the glow of eyes before, but stepping onto the platform and looking back, he saw no sign of the house elves at all. The night was cool and almost still, a faint breeze blowing from the south, beneath a starry sky. Standing still on the platform, looking down the track, Harry heard a faint whistle from down the valley.

The signal at the approach to the station moved to the All Clear position.

The whistle sounded again, nearer now, with the intermittent noise of a steam locomotive working against a gradient. After almost ten minutes, a pair of lights appeared in the distance, slowly getting brighter and further apart. Finally the locomotive passed Harry as he stood just inside the door of the waiting room, clanking to a standstill at the end of the platform in a cloud of steam.

Harry closed the waiting room door and looked through the window. Doors were opening and students were spilling out onto the platform in the dim light of the station gas lamps. Harry heard Hagrid calling for the First Years to follow him to the jetty at the lower end of the lake, just behind the station building. The rest of the students were slowly moving towards the waiting thestrals and their coaches in the station yard.

Harry saw Ron and Hermione pass, hand in hand, closely followed by Luna Lovegood with a much fitter looking Neville Longbottom. Draco Malfoy was obvious due to his almost white hair, with his two thuggish sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle, forcing a passage through the smaller students with a practiced brutality. Harry could only think they had returned to school to attempt their OWLs again, as it seemed unlikely they had achieved enough to allow them to study at NEWT level.

Near the back of the crowd, Harry finally saw Ginny, arm in arm with a very attentive looking Dean Thomas. Seamus Finnigan was following them, laughing with two Ravenclaw sixth year boys. Harry moved back away from the window, fully intent on not being seen. Ginny had looked as sweet as ever, and Harry was beginning to wish he could just get on the train and head beck to London to try to find Dora, rather than stay at Hogwarts to watch the progress of Ginny's relationships.

At last the final student had climbed aboard a coach and disappeared up the road to the school. Professor Moody led the house elves out onto the platform, split them into two groups and told them to get on with it.

'Harry,' he said, 'Please go through the train from the back, make sure the house elves don't miss anything.'

Already, elves were leaving the train with bags and trunks, disapparating from the platform straight to the school dormitories. At each end of the platform, elves were reappearing and entering the train to collect more trunks.

Harry started at the last coach and worked his way towards the centre of the train. The house elves were very thorough, though Harry did find a girl's purse down beside a seat. A second group of elves was removing litter, as fast as the first group removed the luggage. Reaching the centre of the train, Harry and Professor Moody waited on the platform until the cleaning elves left.

'All clear?' yelled the driver.

'All clear!' bellowed Moody, then he looked at Harry expectantly.

'Oh – er – all clear!' Harry shouted.

The driver waved at them, then took out his wand and gestured at the train. The entire train, including the track it sat on, steadily shrank to a length of about seven feet and a height of three inches. Harry watched stunned, as the driver jumped down onto the stone and picked up the engine and each coach, carefully placing them in a large box with "Hornby Model Railways" on the side.

The driver closed the box, returned to the platform, waved his wand again, so the track returned to normal size, then carried the box into the station building and closed the door.

Professor Moody looked at Harry with a ghost of a smile on his scarred face.

'Well Harry? What else is the school going to do with seven hundred tons of railway train when it isn't needed?'

Harry just shook his head sadly, gave the purse to Moody and sloped off to the final coach and thestral.