Title: Legacy of the Father (9/?)
Spoilers: First four books; contains some elements introduced in the 5th book, but is set during Harry's 5th year.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Nine – Professor Figg and The First Clue
Defense Against the Dark Arts was considered a cursed position; each of the past four years had seen a new teacher for this class. Harry personally hoped that Sirius would turn up one day to lead the class, but he also knew the impossibility of it ever happening. Sirius couldn't be seen by anyone, anywhere. Such is the life of a fugitive wizard.
"Well, now it's time to see how Professor Figg is: strict, practical, or incomprehensible," Ron said, half-seriously.
"Or servant of Voldemort," Harry joked.
"I'll be happy if she's any better at teaching us than the others were," Hermione said.
"Lupin wasn't too bad."
"Well, you would know, Harry. You had one-on-one training," stated Hermione, bluntly.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped into the room, they instantly felt a change. The room was decorated like a Halloween party, with orange and black streamers lacing the roof braces.
"What's all this about?"
"A little surprise, for you all," whispered Professor Figg from over their shoulders.
"Oh, good afternoon, Professor," Hermione chimed cheerily.
"Hermione, right? And you must be Ron. And Harry Potter. You look just like James."
"You knew my parents too, Professor?"
"Of course, there weren't many good witches or wizards who didn't know them or know of them. Now, tell me, what did you do last?"
"I think that we were covering the ways to block unfriendly spells."
"Well, okay then. Everyone in their seats, please. Now, your other teachers are probably reminding you about the O.W.L.s at the end of this year."
The class groaned in response.
"Well, I'm not about to lecture you about it any more than to say this: study hard and try your best."
The class breathed a sigh of collective relief.
"Your previous professors have done some of the required coursework, so these first several weeks will be filling in the blanks in your knowledge."
Professor Figg waved her wand, and the chalk started to write on the chalkboard as she lectured on the various spells one could use to block spells of all sorts, the dangers of each and the ways to determine which spell was best suited to a situation.
"Now, a demonstration is in order. I would like a student from Gryffindor and a student from Slytherin to come to the front here."
Hermione was about to stand for Gryffindor, but Harry stood first. Millicent Bulstrode stood for Slytherin, but Malfoy stood too.
"I can handle it, Millicent."
Millicent sat. She didn't look to happy about it, though, Harry thought. Malfoy walked to the front of the room and stood facing Harry, a long glare passing between them.
"Alright, boys, stand at opposite ends of the platform here."
Harry and Draco followed the instructions, then turned around and faced each other again. Harry was getting the feeling that this would end up the same way the Dueling Club match had: both Harry and Draco being seriously worn down by the other. Professor Figg walked first to Draco and whispered something in his ear, to which Draco nodded and grinned. Then she walked to Harry.
"Harry, whatever Draco does, use the Expelliarmus Spell to repel it. It should be powerful enough."
"But what about Finite Incantatem?" Harry whispered back.
"Whichever you prefer, Harry."
Harry nodded, a small grin appearing on his face as well.
"Right then. Mr. Malfoy will be using a spell of his choice, to which Mr. Potter will block."
Hermione and Ron were immediately worried. There was no telling what Malfoy would do, and Harry would have to be ready for it.
"Look out, Harry," Hermione whispered, but Ron reassured her.
"Hermione, look. Harry knows just what to do."
"Draw your wands. Now, you may begin, Mr. Malfoy."
Already Harry was ready. The words were on the tip of his tongue. All he needed was to say them.
"Tarantallegra!"
"Finite Incantatem!"
A puff of smoke dissolved into the air between the two boys. Professor Figg motioned for them to return to their seats.
"Very good, Mr. Potter. The Finite Incantatem is a not an easy spell to control, but it is perhaps the best defense against spells. Which is why we will be learning it next time. Study the third chapter of your book also. See you all next time. Harry?"
As students filed out of the room, Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked up to the platform.
"I was very impressed, Harry. Your spell was very powerful and very efficient. Who taught you to do it?"
"Remus Lupin."
"Ah, Lupin. That explains a lot. He was always the one that trudged ahead in his studies. I suppose he had to in order to keep up with your father."
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"Well, James was something of a genius with magic, which is why Remus, Sirius and Peter all had to study very hard to keep up with him. Now, you three don't want to miss your next class on my account. Off you go."
"Go ahead," Harry said. "I'll be right there."
Hermione and Ron nodded then made their way to McGonagall's classroom.
"Harry, I know why you're staying behind."
"I'm sorry, Professor, but I just have to know some things."
"Like?"
"The photo in my photo album. You were in the picture pointing at something, but I can't make a heads or tails out of what it is."
"Well, Harry, on this matter, I can be of little help to you."
"Thanks anyway, Professor."
"Your father would have been very proud of you, Harry. Believe me. We all are. You continue to surprise us, just like James."
Harry mused a second on her words, then ran to catch up with Ron and Hermione.
"So, Harry, what did she say?" whispered Ron as they walked into McGonagall's room.
"Nothing really. She was just saying how much like my parents I am. The same as everyone else."
"What about the picture?" whispered Hermione.
"Nothing. She either didn't know or wouldn't tell me anything about it. But she knew that I had come to ask her about it."
"She didn't even know what it was she was pointing at? How strange," mused Hermione, almost to herself.
Professor McGonagall, like most the teachers before her, spent the first several minutes of class lecturing them on the importance of studying hard in order to do well on the O.W.L.s.
"It should be noted that no less than an 'E' on the O.W.L.s will be allowed into the N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration class. So you must study and do very well."
Hermione wasn't worried; she had the most consistant 'O' level in the class. Harry and Ron had more to worry about; they both had an 'A' level in the class, one step below the required 'E' and two steps below Hermione's 'O'.
Professor McGonagall rapped her wand upon her podium. Quietly and swiftly, she directed her class to obtain an animal from the side cabinets, then return to their seats.
"Now, we will be starting to prepare for the O.W.L. requirements very soon. First, let us be sure we have not forgotten everything from last year. Each student will turn their group's guinea pig into a guinea fowl and back again. Now, to it."
Hermione went first, succeeding without surprise. Ron was next, and though the guinea fowl had a bit more hair than Hermione's, Ron passed. Lastly was Harry, happy now that Hermione and he had studied during the summer, if only for a few hours. The bird still had a few hairs, but it too passed.
"Well, better than I had expected," was all McGonagall had to say on their efforts. She picked up her lecturing right where she had left off the previous year.
Harry wasn't too unhappy about this. He needed and wanted time to think about all the information he now had available to him. Class ended a bit late, though it wasn't until Hermione tapped him that Harry realized it.
"Daydreaming again?" Ron joked.
"Just thinking."
"You've been doing a lot of that today, Harry. Did you hear a word of what was taught in class?"
"Sure I did. But I'll need to look at your notes to be sure I got it right."
Hermione shook her head, sighing slightly.
"Honestly, Harry. Professor Fletcher should never have given that thing to you. Just look at what it has done to you."
"Hermione, leave him alone. Harry's got a right to think about all this stuff everyone's telling him, right? I mean, there must be a reason why everyone is doing what they're doing. Maybe Harry's supposed to be thinking more about this than about class material right now."
"Ron, it's okay. I do need to pay attention to everything that is coming at me right now, but Hermione is right about paying attention to class as well. Everyone is expecting good O.W.L. scores, and it wouldn't be much of a credit to my parents for me to do badly."
With classes through for the day, Hermione insisted that they all go to the library to study over the material they had received that day, but Harry was firm about going to somewhere more private. Searching through the rooms in the corridor across from the Great Hall, Harry entered the classroom marked number 9 and found it satisfactory.
Ron locked the door behind himself, but Harry was already busy setting up the mirror to try to access others' memories, as Professor Fletcher had taught him. Closing his eyes, Harry focused his mind on his parents and the discussion he had had with Remus and Sirius.
Just as before, the thoughts created the images that streamed into place. It was night, and there was a house all around him. There, through the doorway just to his left, was Lily, sitting and thinking. Harry moved instinctively towards her, when the Cloud Pin began to glow faintly.
"Welcome to my memories, Harry."
Behind him was James, as he had been before when he appeared from the Cloud Pin. He put his hand on Harry's shoulder and led him through the doorway.
"This was our home once. Look, Harry. That paper there on the table. Read it. It is your first clue."
With that, James left Harry within his memory. Harry moved slowly through the room to the table. The paper was small and withered from time, little more than a sliver of scratch paper. Harry noted that the handwriting didn't seem to match with the birthday note from his father, but, all the same, it required some focus to read it.
"Through the years and through the ages
Buried within these hallowed pages
Lies the key to a secret space
Within these walls, our ancestral place
The next hint lies with one who was made
Whose judgment is wise and always obeyed
He speaks no lies, only that which is true
Only through him shall I speak to you"
It wasn't much but it was start. The old Potter family house disappeared, replaced by the starkness of classroom 9's bare walls.
"Did it work? What did you see?" Hermione asked.
"Just the house my parents and I lived in. And I saw my parents. That's all."
Harry constantly reminded himself of Remus and Sirius' words; this was his family's secret. It was his duty alone to find it. Besides, Harry thought, I'm not sure what I'm searching for or what I will find.