Chapter 15-The Muse
"What's up first today, Mia?" asked Ron yawning through his words.
"Double Defense Against the Dark Arts and then after lunch Double Potions."
"Who does it say the DADA professor is? They weren't at the Sorting Feast were they?"
"No. They weren't. I hadn't even noticed until now. All the schedule says is TBA." Hermione looked at the two baffled boys. She rolled her eyes, "To be announced. Honestly you two. How did you ever get accepted to learn anything?"
"Luck I guess," smirked Harry. "I wonder if Snape is going to be a little less traumatizing this year."
"I don't know. Do you think because we are a bit older that maybe he isn't as scary anymore? I mean I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I definitely think I respect him for all he has done."
"Listen to this Ron, she had to speak to him for more than a few questions and already she has moved her opinion of the dear potions master to respect," Harry teased.
"You have to admit Harry what he does is a dangerous job. Even you must have some respect for him." Harry didn't say anything, but he knew she was right. "Are you going to ask him about Occulmency lessons?"
"Maybe. It depends on how class goes. I'm not sure I can take one more snide comment about my fame or family. If he behaves, maybe."
"Have you found out if you are able to play Quidditch this year?"
"Well, no actually. It seems the Ministry has more important things to see to than my Quidditch season. I can't say I'm not disappointed, but really I've thought long and hard about it and if I'm suppose to be ready for Voldemort I need to learn everything I can. I'm not going to lose people I'm close to because I can't keep the images he sends me out of my head. I have to learn everything I can, even if that means asking Snape to help. I am going to be an auror after school no matter how much work I have to put in to stay in NEWT level potions and transfiguration. I don't have much of a choice in the matter, even if I don't get auror training, I will have to defeat Voldemort and any Death Eaters that come after me or you guys. I have to be ready. I won't have time for Quidditch."
Hermione's eye rose at the sudden maturity and passion her friend was expressing. Harry had been so quiet over the summer because of Sirius' death that it was even more surprising he was saying so much about his decisions. She was impressed, but also sad that her friend had to give up something he loved for the sake of the wizarding world. Sirius would not have liked this.
"You know Harry, I love you, and while I'm impressed that you are finally stepping up to your responsibilities, you need to have fun too. Maybe you could practice with the team once a week or something like that. They didn't forbid you to play the game for fun, just for games, right? So maybe you could still manage some fly time. I can help you study. I like studying; It's my fun. Leave the research to me. I'm in the library all the time anyhow. I'll be taking my NEWTS soon so I'll need more to do. You shouldn't have to give up everything you love so the wizarding world can survive. How will you remember what you're trying to save if you don't have fun sometimes?" Harry smiled at his wise friend.
"Coming from you, Hermione, that is quite unexpected. Thank you, Mia. You're right. You're always right. How ever do you manage it?"
"Practice. Lots of practice." The friends laughed as they headed to the Great Hall for a quick breakfast.
When the three friends reached their NEWT level DADA classroom, they were reminded of last year's less than tolerable teacher and hoped that no one would be worse than the Umbridge troll, or woman, whatever she was. Harry was still recovering from the morbid detentions he suffered through and, of course, his ban from Quidditch games. At least, the room wasn't decorated with pink lace and daisies again this year. If that was a hint of what was to come, maybe it could be a favorite class again.
They trio took their seats at the back of the room as usual and waited for the professor to show themselves. It wasn't long before a witch with silvery blue hair pulled up in a loose bun with purple teaching robes that brought out the violet of her eyes appeared. Harry and Hermione realizing who it was looked at each other shocked. Ron, sitting between them, looked from one to the other with a questioning face. Before the new professor could introduce herself, both Harry and Hermione mouthed, "The muse," to Ron. Ron's eyebrows rose and the three students looked to the front of the classroom attentive to every move the muse made.
"Hello, class. I am Professor Blanche Nouveau and I will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to you this year." Everyone in the class looked to the front now, wondering why she had blue hair and whether she would be a repeat of the last professor they suffered through. "I've been informed that due to Ministry constraints previous professors felt it unnecessary to teach you real practical applications of DADA. Unfortunately, the same constraints affect us even today. Because practicals are still of a somewhat illegal nature, I need you to sign a waiver, to participate in them. You all are old enough to do this according to the Ministry's requirements and so it is your choice. I do have to impress upon you that you can take your NEWT without the practicals, but you will have to perform the defense spells for the first time at the exam. I still have to give all of you the reading required by the Ministry, but I do not see how not practicing what you read will help you in any way. Especially, with the war that is upon us."
"Professor?"
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Will the Ministry know about the practicals?" The professor looked into Hermione's eyes and smiled. Hermione's face flinched as she was given an idea from the muse telling her that no the Ministry would not know about the practicals. They were in fact the Headmaster's idea and the contracts would prevent everyone present from telling the Ministry about them much like her hex on the Dumbledore's Army contract. However, the professor told the class otherwise.
"Yes, Miss Granger, of course the Ministry is already aware of the practicals and has guaranteed that the waivers will justify any student's right to participate. Any student who does not sign a waiver cannot be present for the practicals and must do extra research to fulfill those hours missed."
At that the Slytherins were suddenly even more attentive than earlier. Malfoy was the first to respond,
"So you mean extra work for not participating in the practicals. Gee, I wonder what we're going to do then." With that, he signed his contract, and following Malfoy's two thugs the rest of the Slytherins agreed to the contract. The Gryffindors had already followed Harry and Hermione with the task. It was unanimous. Every student in NEWT level DADA would be practicing what they learned. Professor Nouveau collected the contracts, or 'waivers,' and placed a preservation charm on them to keep them in tact and bound together. When finished, she put the contracts in her desk and looked back to the class.
"One last announcement before we look to the terms requirements." Her violet eyes twinkled with a mischief that rivaled the headmaster's. "A private club that began last year is going to reconvene this year. The difference is that it will be sponsored by myself and Professor Snape. It is the DADA club. It will be similar to the dueling club that didn't work out your second year. Those of you who were in the club last year are welcome to join again, and anyone interested who wasn't is also welcome. Mr. Potter would you please detail what was done at last year's DA club?" Harry looked stunned. Well, at least she didn't say what the letters actually stood for.
"Last years group worked on defense spells, curses, hexes, jinxes, and shielding spells that could possibly help one survive in a combat situation."
"Who taught you these skills last year without a professor to guide you?"
"I did, Professor. Hermione researched new spells toward the end when I began to run out of things to teach, but I guess I was the leader, in a way."
"In a way, Harry. Are you kidding? Professor, he could create a full-bodied Patronus in third year. I was there. I saw his charm become a stag. He taught us all how to do this last year. Even Neville is able to perform one now." The professor smiled, seeming to already know.
"I'm so sure. Longbottom can't even summon his broom properly. I highly doubt he can perform Expecto Patronus without having a heart attack," snickered Malfoy. The Slytherins laughed.
"Care to make a wager on that, Malfoy?" Ron Weasley asked.
"What could you possible have to wager, Weasley?"
"What would satisfy your terms, Malfoy?"
"If Neville can cast a full-fledged Patronus against any Slytherin you choose, I will give you a hundred galleons or your choice of a wizard's dare. If he can't you will be my slave for one month."
"Deal," and the boys shook on it.
"Okay, then class let's take this to the dueling room," the muse said.
When the class made its way to the dueling room Malfoy called out to Weasley,
"Choose your Slytherin and choose wisely." Ron knew that if he chose Crabbe or Goyle, the point of the duel would be mote, but he wasn't the one dueling so he called to Neville,
"Neville, choose the Slytherin you'll duel." Neville smiled. He had gained quite a lot of confidence because of the DA and he was not about to let them down. He smirked as he decided,
"I think Draco Malfoy will do." Malfoy, suddenly scared, seeing the confidence on the boy he thought was only capable of dunderhead tasks, stepped to the dueling stage. Professor Nouveau made her way to the center of the stage and had the boys follow dueling protocol by shaking hands and walking ten paces from each other on the stage. She refreshed the two on the rules,
"On the count of three you may cast your first charm." Then, she looked to Malfoy. "I have cast a spell on the stage so that offside spells cannot be cast. This means, Mr. Malfoy, that spells cast before three on the count will be dissipated." The boys nodded to her standing in their dueling positions. "Let us begin. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3."
"Expecto Patronum!"
"Abyss Noir!"
Malfoy's spell sent a dark jet of smoke that looked much like the trail of air between a dementor and the person it sucked memories from, toward Neville, but Neville was far quicker on the drawn. The dark smoky substance didn't even make it past center stage before Neville's lion pawed the substance and ate it like the smallest morsel of a seven-course meal. Malfoy infuriated with his humiliation, knowing his family's 'gray' arts spell should have been far too powerful for a Longbottom, sent a more powerful Dark Arts spell toward Neville. Neville was still ready for Malfoy even though he had relaxed his guard. Neville cast a simple but strong shielding charm before the black light could come close. The black light reflected off his shield and hit Malfoy in his shoulder as he tried to dodge it. Professor Nouveau called to students, "Mr. Potter, fetch Madame Pomfrey. Mr. Zabini, to your head of house. Ms. Granger, please get Professor McGonagall." The three students rushed off. Mr. Zabini and Professor Snape were the first on the scene.
"What is the meaning of this? I thought it was expressly said that your DADA professor had to supervise such events."
"And I am here, Snape. Mr. Malfoy's dark spell was reflected back on him and his hit needs attending to." Snape glared, not recognizing the voice, and to Junior's side. Snape finally looked toward where the voice came from. It was obvious he hadn't been told who the new professor was as his whole body tensed up even more than before, however impossible that may seem. His face became stone and his eyes threw ice at the women he faced, and apparently knew, as he, barely keeping his calm, asked,
"What was the spell?" Professor Nouveau answered quietly so as not to let the students hear her,
"I am not sure. He didn't annunciate it properly. He probably thought I wouldn't know it to be a dark hex. The spell sent a black beam of light toward Mr. Longbottom. My guess is another Malfoy family spell, because it sounded like it could be part French again and not Latin."
"He was dueling Longbottom? You honestly think I am that thick? There is no way Longbottom could stand a chance in hell against any Slytherin let alone a Malfoy. Of all the crazy pairings . . ." Snape whispered in an infuriated hush. "Out all of you! Wait in the regular classroom for Professor Nouveau!" Snape roared to the rest of the class.
"I assure you Professor Snape, Mr. Longbottom was obviously very up to the challenge. I'd even say overly prepared to say the truth. His Patronus was a full-fledged lion king," Miss Nouveau replied jovially holding in her laughter. Snape looked toward Longbottom his curiosity and surprise not showing through the scowl on his face. Miss Nouveau asked Snape, "Do you know the countercurse?"
"There isn't one. No Malfoy hex has one. Luckily he wasn't hit straight on so I'll have a potion for it."
Madame Pomfrey came in with bottles in hand with Professor McGonagall right behind her. Madame Pomfrey pulled out a blue glass bottle and an expensive looking dark crystal bottle. She handed the blue bottle to the potions master and said,
"Mr. Potter informs me that Malfoy cast a dark spell and had it reflected back on him."
"Serves him right the little . . ."
"Minerva, please save your righteous blather. This is the All Curse Cure-All, correct?"
"Of course. It looks like you will also need this." She handed the crystal bottle to him.
"Yes, white magic's finest mind remedy, unicorn milk. This should do it." Snape gave Malfoy the doses needed and placed him on the stretcher Minerva conjured to take him to the infirmary. Before they left, Poppy checked Malfoy's vitals and found that he was already recovering.
"You sure know how to start off with a bang, Professor Nouveau," Snape said coldly.
"If Mr. Malfoy would have played fair, this would not have happened," she replied with passion.
"Granted, but Longbottom was prepared, wasn't he?" Snape said not hiding his astonishment.
"Yes, yes he was. Just like his parents," she said in a far away voice. "Well, I'm sure you can manage from here." She spun away in a perfect billowing imitation of Snape. Professor Nouveau smirked to herself as she headed back to finish her class. Snape snorted and proceeded to exit with Malfoy's stretcher close behind him.
When Professor Nouveau entered her classroom the students were whispering to each other. The Gryffindors were congratulating Neville and the Slytherins were scowling at the lot of them.
"Now, of things to come. That was just a preview of what you would experience in the DADA club. I believe you all would find it most entertaining." She narrowed her eyes and looked over her students' faces trying to analyze their response to the duel. She was happy to see stunned Slytherins and impressed Gryffindors. 'Good,' she thought, 'I have their attention and curiosity now.'
"Over the course of first term we will be reading about the strongest shielding spells available. In order to respond properly to dark arts spells we will also be reading about some widely used dark curses and hexes. These will not be used in the practicals." She eyed the class strictly and they seemed to take in that she meant business. "In addition to this study and the practicals involved, we will be studying the arts of Legilimency and Occulmency. Can anyone tell me what each of these arts aims to accomplish?" Three Gryffindor hands rose up quickly. "Mr. Potter?" The professor smiled, knowingly.
"Legilimency allows a person to look around in a person's memories and Occulmency is the defense used to block someone from looking around in your mind."
"Yes, exactly, thank you Mr. Potter. Thirty points to Gryffindor. Oh, and Mr. Longbottom, fifty points to Gryffindor for the best shielding I've seen in quite sometime and a beautiful Patronus tribute to your house. Mr. Potter is correct. You all will learn to use Legilimency to look into each other's minds and also to block each other from looking in your minds simultaneously. While everyone can learn each of these skills, many of you will not be able to do much more than protect those memories most private to your soul. The more powerful witches and wizards can disallow any memories from being seen and some are even able to change their memories while someone is looking through them to become what the looker is wanting to see. Some witches and wizards are born with this gift. Still others are able to read thoughts and/or emotions in a person's mind in addition to being able to sort through their memories. Does anyone know what magical people who are capable of this are called?" Of course, only one hand shot up for this question.
"Miss Granger?"
"Those born with natural blocking, and memory and thought reading skills are called seers. They also are able to see into the future and send messages telepathically. The other kind of magical people that can do all of it, including reading thoughts and emotions, as well as, sending visual ideas to people are muses. Muses, unfortunately, are unable to block as well as seers without much practice."
"Yes, Miss Granger. Twenty points to Gryffindor. Do any of you know a seer or a muse? Miss Brown?"
"Professor Trelawney, mam."
"No actually, she is a prophetess. She is not able to will herself to do any of this naturally. The only genuine prophecies she gives, she cannot even remember after the trance is over. In a way, it makes her lot in life safer than that of a muse or a seer. No one would desire her capture to use her to create or find ideas to give themselves more power. They may only wish to hear her prophesize, which they can never know will even occur. This is different say to a seer, because they are always able to look into someone's mind and send messages to them, as can muses the ideas they are sent. It may sound very complicated, but really it is just a natural occurrence. Any other people you suspect as being a seer or muse?"
"Professor Snape," Hermione chuckled.
"Why would you say that, Miss Granger?"
"Well, he always manages to show up whenever his name is mentioned and he always knows what we are doing in potions class without even looking at us."
"In Professor Snape's case, part is a natural observation talent and extremely sensitive hearing, but mostly he is just sneaky. Have you ever noticed what he looks at while he corrects the papers on his desk? Gee, no foolish wand waving there. No? He charms his desktop to picture your lab tables like a muggle security camera. That puts a new spin on it doesn't it? Any others?"
"Professor Dumbledore."
"Yes, actually he is a real honest to goodness seer. That is probably why he makes such a fine headmaster, and why so many wizards fear him. Moving on, these natural skills can be used for good or evil. A good use might be for the skilled to look through your minds to see what you need to develop in your talents. In fact, that is what we will be working on first in this class. Any questions so far? No? Good. First things first. You all have just met your first muse." The class looked at her puzzled, and then the brighter of the bunch, along with the trio, realized what she meant.
"Yes, Mr. Finnigan. I am a muse. Over the course of this first two weeks I will be conferencing with each of you individually during our reading periods. I will look to see where your talents lie and give you ideas on how to pursue your deepest desires. I will not give any of you ideas on how to rule the world, even though that may be your ambition. Basically, think of it as specialized career counseling. We will start this during our next class. Thank you for your attentiveness. You are dismissed. Mr. Potter please stay behind." Harry approached Professor Nouveau with curiosity. "Harry, may I call you Harry?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Please call me Blanche outside of class. I know you were Sirius' godson. If everything had went as it should have I would probably be your godmother. But you know that now. Harry, this DADA club is going to be a lot of work now that the Slytherins are also able to join. I know you were very successful with the group last year and I was hoping you would still like to act as a student leader for the group this year. If you were to do this, I would allow you to continue with the private group in private and not tell anyone you were doing so. I would like you to do this because students like to have students to go to and your talent as a teacher is proven in Mr. Longbottom. Would you do this, Harry?"
"I actually already agreed to with Professor Dumbledore." Harry sighed, "I had no idea Professor Snape or yourself would be involved at the time."
"The headmaster has a way of getting his way by leaving things out by 'accident.' I wasn't aware Professor Snape had become a potions master and professor, and you know why that is somewhat uncomfortable for me."
"Yes, I know. But yes, I made a promise and I intend to keep it."
"Thank you. I think the first meeting should be Friday evening if that works for you."
"Yes, it does, Blanche."
"Okay, I'll have the prefects post notices in the common rooms announcing the meeting. That is all, Harry. Good-bye, dear one." Harry nodded at her and disappeared.
Professor Dumbledore looked in his two-way mirror checking up on the tower's inhabitants. He saw that the Lady of the Lake was settled well on Helga Hufflepuff's floor near the solarium and Remus Lupin was practicing in Godric's dueling room with Tonks. Perhaps the most surprising sight he saw was Molly Weasley on Slytherin's floor taking great care in cleaning the mahogany piano. Dumbledore watched her for a few minutes when she began to play a dark Russian tune. The headmaster was amazed at the way the music summoned magic visibly in the air around Molly. It was a wonder she wasn't Slytherin's heir herself. He doubted anyone else could bring that much power from the instrument. It seemed the piano knew her. He decided he needed to bring back some books from Slytherin's library on song magic. Perhaps the answers were right under his nose. While he was contemplating Molly's powers, a knock sounded on his office door.
"Come in, Miss Granger." Hermione came through the door and nodded to him,
"Good afternoon, Headmaster."
"Would you like some tea? It is rather close to lunchtime you know."
"Yes, sir. I thought I might skip lunch to start the researching assignment you asked me to do at the end of summer."
"Oh, yes. The founders. I actually just came across some additional books I hadn't known about that may help us discover more about Slytherin's masks, as well as, his tactics. They aren't here right now, however."
"Really. Where are they? I'd be happy to fetch them for you."
"I will have to retrieve them myself. The place in question still needs to be kept a secret, even from those with the best of intentions."
"Oh, alright, sir. Where would you suggest I start for now?"
"I think starting with Slytherin's journals wouldn't provide much input so I suggest starting with Godric's dark charms and curse breaking study journals. If my hunch is correct, Gryffindor kept very close tabs on his friend Salazar. I think they were both after Rowena at one time, so suspicions were heavy, I'm sure." He looked around his office trying to decide where the journals would be. "Ah, here they are." The headmaster handed the journals to Hermione. "Please stay in my office with them. I can't have them falling into someone else's hands."
"Yes, sir."
"Make sure you aren't late for potions. In fact, seeing as I know how you are with your books," he conjured an alarm clock, "I'll set an alarm for you to leave in plenty of time."
"Thank you, Headmaster."
"Oh, Miss Granger, one last thing. If you see anything about song magic, dark or otherwise, let me know."
"Of course, Professor."
"Thank you. You have been very helpful so far, Miss Granger. Your results with the Celtic myths are quite promising."
"Yes, I just wish I knew if there is a Lady of Avalon and if so who she is."
"All in good time my dear. I'll have the house elves send you some sandwiches," Dumbledore said with a smile and twinkle in his eyes.
Author Notes: Thank you all who actually read and review! I am enjoying writing this story even though my original plans have long since been lost in the wind. I think it started when I made Petunia the Lady of the Lake. She wasn't going to play such a large role, but no one has ever done anything with her before so . . . why not. Things to come in the future. . . Occulmency . . . a student becoming a werewolf . . . the discovery of the clearing with the Yew trees and so much more. . . Hermione taking the NEWTS a year early. Just you wait. It will at least be 38 chapters. Please let me know what you like. Thanks. Athena Snape.