-Chapter Three, A Threat: Part One-
Everyone silently filed into the DADA classroom and took their seats as the bell rang. No one knew what to expect from this teacher, but the Slytherins seemed highly amused someone so young was teaching a class. It was written all over their faces.
The Gryffindors, on the other hand, decided to play it smart and wait till they found out what made this teacher tick. They also weren't all that happy about having to take these classes with the Slytherins.
Harry, Ron and Hermione, however, weren't apprehensive at all. Professor Minamino had seemed very nice on the train, but they missed his little lecture to the Slytherin the night before. They didn't think he'd be very stern, but all of them sensed something very odd around him...something almost...like power. They somehow knew this guy had skill, and had several plans ready in case the unruly Slytherins tried to turn the class into chaos.
They needn't have worried, of course.
Kurama swept into the room, his black robes billowing out behind him. He had nothing but his wand, and everyone noticed the odd, reddish hue to it that came from the beautiful cherry wood it was made of.
Hermione rolled her eyes as several girls tried – and failed miserably – to stifle longing sighs. Luckily, she'd learned her lesson with Lockhart. But this guy had her trust – he had a genuine, down-to-earth "aura", while still remaining somewhat detached and elegant.
Ok, so she had a crush, but wasn't showing it.
Hey, at least he was her age!
Kurama smiled mildly at them all, and raised his wand. "Take out your wands. I'll be giving a practical lesson today, to see how far you are in the area of dueling."
Everyone's – even the Slytherins' – expressions brightened considerably. They'd only ever gotten real practical lessons with Lupin. Lockhart's failed attempt at a dueling club was still fresh in their minds, but after Umbridge, they'd take that chance. They all stuffed their books in bags and whipped out their wands.
Kurama waved his wand, and all the desks and chairs piled neatly against the walls.
"Now. You will all engage in a short duel with me. Who would like to go first?"
"Please," someone drawled, "You shouldn't even be out of school, let alone teaching."
"I believe we have a volunteer," said Kurama, still sounding his usual cheerful but calm self.
Malfoy stepped forward into the bare middle of the classroom and raised his wand, looking quite confident.
They faced off; wands raised, and bowed stiffly, Kurama never taking his eyes off the boy. His instincts wouldn't let him, despite the very un- fatal situation.
Malfoy made the first move, "Expelliarmus!"
"Rebandio!" Kurama said, and a bright golden light shot at Malfoy's disarming charm. It sent the spell right back at him.
The pale boy was flung against the wall with a loud thud, and his wand went soaring into the air in a high arc. Kurama snatched it out of the air and tossed it back to the boy, who was rubbing his head and scowling.
The Gryffindors tried – and failed miserably – to hide their snickers. Several were clutching their stomachs and covering their mouths to keep from laughing.
"Next."
Ten minutes later, Kurama had successfully kicked the butts of all the students except Harry.
Said boy stepped forward and faced off with the fox. They bowed quickly, and, like all the other students, Harry made the first move.
"Falure!"
The colorless spell made the room look warped when it passed, and several students yelped. Kurama's face was totally blank, and Harry double- blinked. His emotions were 100% under his control...you could never tell what he was thinking...someone so young like this, with such obvious skill, it was hard to believe, really. As if he was experienced in the area of fighting.
It was unnerving just looking at him.
Kurama knew the Rebounding Spell wasn't powerful enough to deflect this Pinning Curse. It was reasonably advanced, more advanced than the other students' spells, at least.
Kurama waved his wand and conjured a shining silver shield. The Pinning Curse hit the shield with a bang (most of the students winced and covered their ears), and Kurama could hear it cracking under the strain. No matter. He hadn't intended to stave off the attack entirely...
"Impendimenta!" he pointed his wand at Harry's robe, and it burst into bright orange flame.
The boy yelped and fell to the floor. His curse immediately died, and Kurama's shield evaporated into thin air.
Kurama muttered a few choice words and the fire on Harry's robes immediately went out.
"Reparo," the fox pointed his wand at the charred corner of Harry's robe, and as if in fast-forward, the fabric repaired itself from nothing. He did the same to the slightly burnt classroom floor.
Harry was slightly surprised at the professor's skill, power and ability to think through hard situations. He totally flipped out when his robes caught on fire...he suddenly realized that's what Professor Minamino had been counting on! To mess with his emotions to win the battle. Though, he was sure if he hadn't fallen, the professor would've beaten him anyway.
"Are you alright?" Kurama asked, "Any burns?"
"No."
He smiled, "Good. Everyone, line up."
They did as they were told, filing into straight lines across the classroom floor.
"I demonstrated the Rebounding Curse three times today, and you'll all be learning it. It will send a foe's spell back at them, if it's not too powerful. Now, div-"
But Kurama was cut off by a magnified voice ringing through the entire castle, 'All students, return to your dormitories immediately. All teachers, escort your classes to their dorms and return to the teacher's lounge.'
"Quickly!" Kurama ushered them all out of the classroom, cutting off any yelps or screams from his students.
"Malfoy, the Slytherins' dorm is very close, am I correct?"
"Yeah."
"Take your classmates. I'll escort the Gryffindors."
Malfoy scowled at being bossed around by someone his own age, but did as he was told anyway. The Slytherins broke apart from the Gryffindors and followed the blonde.
--
Kurama took up the rear of the Gryffindors, making sure there were no stragglers. Hermione and Ron took the lead, and they all swiftly made it to the dorm. Kurama left them at the portrait of the Fat Lady and rushed down to the teachers' lounge.
--
"Oh good, Shuichi, you're here," Professor McGonagall said briskly as the redhead entered the room, "I'm told you know the Patronus charm?"
"Yes."
"Good. Several have been spotted on the grounds. You and Severus will each take half the grounds and get rid of them. They're You-know-who's supporters, so chances are he may have other spies around the castle."
Kurama nodded silently and swept out of the room, his wand raised. Snape was close behind him.
-End Chapter-
Everyone silently filed into the DADA classroom and took their seats as the bell rang. No one knew what to expect from this teacher, but the Slytherins seemed highly amused someone so young was teaching a class. It was written all over their faces.
The Gryffindors, on the other hand, decided to play it smart and wait till they found out what made this teacher tick. They also weren't all that happy about having to take these classes with the Slytherins.
Harry, Ron and Hermione, however, weren't apprehensive at all. Professor Minamino had seemed very nice on the train, but they missed his little lecture to the Slytherin the night before. They didn't think he'd be very stern, but all of them sensed something very odd around him...something almost...like power. They somehow knew this guy had skill, and had several plans ready in case the unruly Slytherins tried to turn the class into chaos.
They needn't have worried, of course.
Kurama swept into the room, his black robes billowing out behind him. He had nothing but his wand, and everyone noticed the odd, reddish hue to it that came from the beautiful cherry wood it was made of.
Hermione rolled her eyes as several girls tried – and failed miserably – to stifle longing sighs. Luckily, she'd learned her lesson with Lockhart. But this guy had her trust – he had a genuine, down-to-earth "aura", while still remaining somewhat detached and elegant.
Ok, so she had a crush, but wasn't showing it.
Hey, at least he was her age!
Kurama smiled mildly at them all, and raised his wand. "Take out your wands. I'll be giving a practical lesson today, to see how far you are in the area of dueling."
Everyone's – even the Slytherins' – expressions brightened considerably. They'd only ever gotten real practical lessons with Lupin. Lockhart's failed attempt at a dueling club was still fresh in their minds, but after Umbridge, they'd take that chance. They all stuffed their books in bags and whipped out their wands.
Kurama waved his wand, and all the desks and chairs piled neatly against the walls.
"Now. You will all engage in a short duel with me. Who would like to go first?"
"Please," someone drawled, "You shouldn't even be out of school, let alone teaching."
"I believe we have a volunteer," said Kurama, still sounding his usual cheerful but calm self.
Malfoy stepped forward into the bare middle of the classroom and raised his wand, looking quite confident.
They faced off; wands raised, and bowed stiffly, Kurama never taking his eyes off the boy. His instincts wouldn't let him, despite the very un- fatal situation.
Malfoy made the first move, "Expelliarmus!"
"Rebandio!" Kurama said, and a bright golden light shot at Malfoy's disarming charm. It sent the spell right back at him.
The pale boy was flung against the wall with a loud thud, and his wand went soaring into the air in a high arc. Kurama snatched it out of the air and tossed it back to the boy, who was rubbing his head and scowling.
The Gryffindors tried – and failed miserably – to hide their snickers. Several were clutching their stomachs and covering their mouths to keep from laughing.
"Next."
Ten minutes later, Kurama had successfully kicked the butts of all the students except Harry.
Said boy stepped forward and faced off with the fox. They bowed quickly, and, like all the other students, Harry made the first move.
"Falure!"
The colorless spell made the room look warped when it passed, and several students yelped. Kurama's face was totally blank, and Harry double- blinked. His emotions were 100% under his control...you could never tell what he was thinking...someone so young like this, with such obvious skill, it was hard to believe, really. As if he was experienced in the area of fighting.
It was unnerving just looking at him.
Kurama knew the Rebounding Spell wasn't powerful enough to deflect this Pinning Curse. It was reasonably advanced, more advanced than the other students' spells, at least.
Kurama waved his wand and conjured a shining silver shield. The Pinning Curse hit the shield with a bang (most of the students winced and covered their ears), and Kurama could hear it cracking under the strain. No matter. He hadn't intended to stave off the attack entirely...
"Impendimenta!" he pointed his wand at Harry's robe, and it burst into bright orange flame.
The boy yelped and fell to the floor. His curse immediately died, and Kurama's shield evaporated into thin air.
Kurama muttered a few choice words and the fire on Harry's robes immediately went out.
"Reparo," the fox pointed his wand at the charred corner of Harry's robe, and as if in fast-forward, the fabric repaired itself from nothing. He did the same to the slightly burnt classroom floor.
Harry was slightly surprised at the professor's skill, power and ability to think through hard situations. He totally flipped out when his robes caught on fire...he suddenly realized that's what Professor Minamino had been counting on! To mess with his emotions to win the battle. Though, he was sure if he hadn't fallen, the professor would've beaten him anyway.
"Are you alright?" Kurama asked, "Any burns?"
"No."
He smiled, "Good. Everyone, line up."
They did as they were told, filing into straight lines across the classroom floor.
"I demonstrated the Rebounding Curse three times today, and you'll all be learning it. It will send a foe's spell back at them, if it's not too powerful. Now, div-"
But Kurama was cut off by a magnified voice ringing through the entire castle, 'All students, return to your dormitories immediately. All teachers, escort your classes to their dorms and return to the teacher's lounge.'
"Quickly!" Kurama ushered them all out of the classroom, cutting off any yelps or screams from his students.
"Malfoy, the Slytherins' dorm is very close, am I correct?"
"Yeah."
"Take your classmates. I'll escort the Gryffindors."
Malfoy scowled at being bossed around by someone his own age, but did as he was told anyway. The Slytherins broke apart from the Gryffindors and followed the blonde.
--
Kurama took up the rear of the Gryffindors, making sure there were no stragglers. Hermione and Ron took the lead, and they all swiftly made it to the dorm. Kurama left them at the portrait of the Fat Lady and rushed down to the teachers' lounge.
--
"Oh good, Shuichi, you're here," Professor McGonagall said briskly as the redhead entered the room, "I'm told you know the Patronus charm?"
"Yes."
"Good. Several have been spotted on the grounds. You and Severus will each take half the grounds and get rid of them. They're You-know-who's supporters, so chances are he may have other spies around the castle."
Kurama nodded silently and swept out of the room, his wand raised. Snape was close behind him.
-End Chapter-