AN: I am sorry to say, that I still haven't heard of my beta so here you go again with my not so perfect English ;-) Maybe I should look for another beta. But now enjoy some Snape-Bashing...
Chapter 9 – Classes
As they ate their breakfast they got their schedules and Harry groaned.
Ron looked at Harry's schedule and laughed.
"I told you, you are a seer. What a shame, that you dropped divination."
"Stop it! It is only my bad luck!" Harry growled.
"Look at the bright side!" Hermione helped, "It is over then until Friday."
"Well, you are right. Let's hurry, so that he don't have a reason to bite my head off." Harry replied.
"You know, for you he doesn't need a reason." Ron joked.
"Thanks. You are certainly helping." Harry groaned.
As he got up, he sent Tonks a secret loving smile and got one in return.
Snape was his usual nasty self as he entered the classroom shortly after them.
"I will not tolerate any laziness nor incompetence. You have to keep up good marks or you will have to leave. I doubt that all of you make it through the year. Now, the receipt is at the panel. Start!"
Snape tried to distract Harry with nasty comments and glares through the lesson as usual but for once Harry didn't care. His Occlumency helped to ignore him and not one of his comments got to him. He memorized them well though. His improved knowledge helped him to avoid his usual errors. It was still not his favorite class, but he was now able to manage it now.
He completed his potion at the same time as Hermione and it looked and smelled perfect.
"I doubt that a Potter would ever get a potion right." Snape sneered.
Now that Harry was finished he replied coldly: "You know, Professor Snape, you offended during this lesson my father, my godfather and my mother who all sacrificed their lives to defeat Voldemort and his mindless cronies. Now you offended me and my whole family too and I have nothing done to you nor was I disrespectful. I believe that justifies a petition to the board of governors. Wouldn't you agree, Professor? I have my doubts that your boss will be very pleased if you got sacked because of unimportant means such like personal grudge or an unprofessional attitude at your job."
"You wouldn't dare!" Snape spat.
"I told you, that I do respect you but I also told you, that I demand the respect I deserve. You chose to ignore my warning. Do you honestly believe, that I would put up with all the offends you made against me? I am not a child anymore that you can intimidate with a simple sneer, Professor. And do not think for one second, that I let me tell me from anyone what I will do and what not. I will do as I think fit within my possibilities of course. Unfortunately for you, that includes a petition as I mentioned before. And I also do believe, that the heir of the Potters, Blacks and Gryffindor will be respected there at least. By the way, I have the right of three seats there too." Now Harry's eyes had a devious glint in them.
Snape sat down shocked and beaten to his seat.
"Would you consider that petition if I would apologize to you?" Snape asked beaten.
"IF you apologize, I will consider it." Harry said seriously and Snape glared at him. Harry had seen through his choice of words.
"Alright. I apologize for my actions against you and your family, Mr. Potter."
"Apology accepted. I will be watching how you are treating me in the future before I make my final decision though."
Snape nodded and continued his lesson.
The Slytherins had laughed about him during the lesson but now most of them stared at him astonished. Only some of them, including Malfoy, stared with hate at him. Hermione however looked proudly at him and smiled.
"The lesson is over, now leave. Mr. Potter, I would like a word with you!" Snape asked politely for once.
He granted his wish and stayed behind. After all others left, Snape closed the door and putted a silencing ward up.
"I have to admit, that I am impressed with you, Mr. Potter. You grew a backbone. Of course you stood already up to the headmaster, a feat that only few accomplish ever. I can do nothing against your petition and you would certainly achieve whatever your goals are. I only want to tell you, that such an action is not in the interest of the Order."
"Maybe, but I may also add, that the headmaster himself asked you to give up your grudge against me. So it would not be my action that is against the Order, it would be yours. Further you have to consider, that I am no part of the Order and so that is not really my concern. I surely would like it more, to keep your services as spy for them though and maybe the headmaster will give me some information, but I have my doubts about that. But as I said, I will not put up with your behavior anymore. I may be not the best potions maker but I deserve at least some respect, something you denied me from my first day here and that without reason. I am tired of it and I will do what I have to, professor."
"How about a truce then?"
"I offered you the truce already back at Grimmauld Place professor."
"Very well then. As I understood you gave me a last chance and I will use it wisely. I believe you have classes now? You may go."
"Thanks, professor."
With that he left and countered by the way Snape's locking charm with a simple flick of his wand.
They had DADA next and he was already late. To avoid further lateness he changed into his tiger form and popped over to the door of the classroom. There he changed back and entered the room.
"I am sorry for my tardiness, Professor Tonks, but Professor Snape kept me back."
"That is alright. He called already by floo and explained it to me. Find a seat!" Tonks replied.
"He did that?" Harry muttered amused, "I must have impressed him then."
Tonks smiled at this but got her stern look back fast.
"We were talking about the Unforgivables. What can you tell me about the Cruciatus? Mr. Potter!"
"It hurts like hell!" he replied earnestly but with twinkling eyes.
"Mr. Potter, while that may be right, I will not tolerate joking in this class. Do you have to add something relevant or should I deduct some points?"
"Well if you put it this way. As I said the curse was developed to cause the victim unbelievable pain and if I say unbelievable, I mean that. It feels like someone is ripping your flesh apart, while turning your bones into molten lava and stabbing you with thousands of knives all at the same time. If you are too long admitted to the curse it may drive you insane or kill you in the most painful way. It is also not only dark or black magic it is one of the few really evil curses and it is not without reason an Unforgivable. The using of that curse grants you a life sentence in Askaban at least. The incantation for that nasty curse is 'crucio' and it comes usually with a red beam. It also lasts as long as the caster is pointing his wand at you and don't cast another curse or spell."
The class was absolute silent and Tonks looked astonished at him.
"You sound, as you were hit by one." she stated stunned.
"Yeah, Voldemort himself cast one at me. It was not very nice of him, I would say."
She blanched then she frowned.
"Very well, that was a thorough explanation and I am sure, nobody would want to share this experience. 10 points to Gryffindor. Now I have a question. You made a difference between dark and evil magic. Why?" she asked curiously.
"Because there is one. Dark magic is just that dark. It is not inevitable evil. It could be good magic in spite of the darkness." he stated as a matter of fact.
"Explain, Please!"
"Well let me start this a bit different. A levitation charm is light magic and therefore good magic, isn't it?"
"Class?" Tonks asked.
"Yes." answered one of the students.
"So, if you levitate something, say a feather for fun, that may be. But what if you would levitate a person up to fifty foot in the air and release the spell? It would stay light magic, but would it be good magic or evil magic?"
"Definitely evil." stated Tonks seriously with a frown, guessing where this was leading to.
"So we could say, the intention of the spellcaster decides over good or evil in this case. It may be the same with so called dark magic. Let's take the skull-crushing spell, 'calva lacero'. It is basically a killing curse but a bit more messier than the avada kedavra."
Tonks gasped at this "Where did you learn this?"
"That's beside the point and I never said I learned it. I only know what it does." Harry replied politely but determined, "If I would use it to save a fair maiden from an acrumantula or a troll or something like that, it would stay dark magic. But would it be good or evil?"
"Good... I think." Tonks answered hesitantly.
"I think that too. Again the intention of the caster decides if it is good or evil. So there is a difference between dark and evil magic. The Cruciatus is evil because it could never be used for good intentions. But while all this may sound good, we should never forget, that dark magic is called dark for a reason and therefore usually not allowed." Harry finished his explanation.
"Usually not allowed?" Tonks asked, "Anyone except Harry who may be able to explain that?"
Nobody raised a hand, not even Hermione. She may have known that, but was to shocked to react.
"Harry?" Tonks sighed.
"Well, with the exception of a small number of spells, dark magic is forbidden. But sometimes dark wizards can only be fought by their own weapons. That is the reason why there are some Wizards who are allowed to use dark magic for defense purposes and protection. There are some of the Unspeakables who are generally allowed to do that and in dire times aurors are given the permission to use the killing curse as happened during the war against Grindelwald and the climax of the first war against Voldemort. This permission has to be given by the minister of magic and has to be approved by a majority of the Wizardgamot."
"That... that is correct. Another five points to Gryffindor. Now to the other Unforgivables. Mr. Potter mentioned the killing curse, the avada kedavra. Anyone who can tell me something about it... except the fact, that it kills." She added with a glare to Harry who grinned.
"It kills not every one!" Malfoy yelled laughing from the back.
Tonks shot him a glare but then smiled deviously, "Well then. Would you explain that please?"
"I.. uhm..." Malfoy stammered, but then he regained his composure, "Potter is living as you can see. He was hit by the killing curse as infant. So there, it kills not every one."
"Anything relevant about the curse to add, without this exception that we are all aware of?"
Malfoy was able do explain all facts about the curse down to the correct wand movements.
All were sure he had performed it already. Despite this, Tonks had to award him some points, which she did.
They went then over some forms of protections for the blockable curses and then the lesson was over.
Tonks asked Harry to stay behind. His friends stayed as well.
"What was that about Snape?" she asked grinning, "As far as I know, he never apologized for the lateness of a student of his class before."
"You should have seen him!" Hermione chuckled, "Harry sat there quietly through the whole lesson, concentrating on his potion, which he completed at the same time as me, I might add, as the first ones of the class as well and it seemed to be flawless to me. He endured the whole time the offends and nasty comments of him without any sign of annoyance, only working. After Harry was finished, Snape made another offend to his family. I thought honestly, he would explode then."
"And did he?" Tonks asked intrigued.
"No. He stated really cool, that 'Professor' Snape had offended him, his parents and Sirius through the whole lesson and calmly stated, that would surely be enough to make a petition to the board of governors."
"He did what?" Ron asked and broke out laughing.
Harry chuckled slightly.
"Yes he did. And Snape said: 'You wouldn't dare'. Harry replied coolly again, that he had treated him with the proper respect and done nothing wrong. Then he said, that he had warned him and that he would not longer tolerate his behavior. He added coolly that his boss, and I am sure he didn't mean the headmaster, would not be pleased, if Snape would get sacked. And then... he added casually, that he is holding three votes at the board himself as heir of Black, Potter and Gryffindor and Snape was done."
"Yeah, and as he held me back. He threatened me, that such an action would be against the Order. Well, I reminded him, that I declined to join the order and that this would not really concern me. I told him, that I valued his role for it though, but I made clear, that would not held me back to fulfill my threat, if he wouldn't change his attitude. I also made clear, by the way, that it was his action not mine, that was against the order, because he acted against Dumbledores orders... of giving up his childish grudge and such." Harry added grinning.
Ron was holding his stomach and tears rolled over his cheeks while Tonks had a hard time to suppress her laughter at a fellow professor and order member.
After they were calmed down she said, "Hurry up you two. I have to talk to Harry alone."
They shrugged and went to their next classes. Harry had now free time for the rest of the day and he intended to continue his studies.
Tonks locked the door and put some silencing charms on it.
Harry added an imperturbable charm too, "Not to forget the extendable ears." He said grinning, "Now what do you want to talk about?"
She looked unsure at him, "I am sorry... that I didn't tell you. I thought it would be a nice surprise, but.. now I feel I betrayed your trust in me." She said quietly.
He looked seriously and said, "You know, that was exactly, what I felt. At first surprise and then I was hurt."
"I have seen that." she said sadly.
"I know. But as I looked in your eyes later, I could feel your love and your uncertainty and I felt foolish. I am happy that you are here now, Tonks and it was a surprise, a great one, I might add. So lets not dwell on it." He said and kissed her.
She hugged him and kissed him back.
After she released him she looked sternly at him, "What is the deal with your new knowledge about the dark arts? Is that another one?"
"Partly. I studied some of it to learn what I am up against. I said the truth, that I only read about them. I didn't learn them or practiced them." 'at least until now' he added in his mind.
"I hope so, Harry. And if you ever do, I hope, you have a good reason for it and no evil intentions."
"Never. I will never become an evil wizard as long as I live, that I swear."
She hugged him again, "Thanks."
"But I may have one day to resort to dark magic to beat him. There is nothing, we can do about that."
She nodded sadly.
"Was there anything else to talk about? Lessons maybe?" Harry asked grinning.
"Yes, that was another sneaky one." she said chuckling.
"It was Dumbledore himself who suggested it, after I declined Animagus-Training and Apparition. He didn't seem to happy though as I pointed out, you would be a first class choice for that. But McGonagall was happy, that they found something, they could help me with and so he had no choice."
"Sneaky... as I said."
"Yeah, and you love it." He said and kissed her.
"Where do we held this lessons?" she asked.
"Give me a time and then pick me up at my quarters. I will show you then."
"Hey.. are you here the teacher or I? And what quarters?"
"Ok, lets meet then at the fat lady and I will show you my quarters and the password."
"You better do! Tonight at seven sharp!"
"As you wish, Professor." he replied and bowed mockingly.
She punched him.
"Did you know, that Dumbledore stopped calling me Nymphadora? He is calling me Miss Tonks now." she asked happily.
"In fact, I did. I convinced him, that you didn't like that and kind of berated him for that in front of McGonagall." he said sheepishly.
She looked at him with wide eyes then she smiled and hugged him fiercely.
"I love you, you know? What would I do without you?" she asked.
"Well, you would still be called Nymphadora." He said shrugging.
"Argh! You... you... lovingly, sexy, sneaky young man."
"Well, that we could discuss at my quarters later." he said seductively and kissed her a last time before he went out of the room, this time dispelling the charms without a wand, only with a flick of his hand... and again he left a stunned Tonks behind.
Harry met her after a hard day of studying and a short explanation to his friends.
He only told them, that he would get special dueling lessons from her, nothing more.
He could see in their eyes, that they wanted to join him, but he pointed out, that they would also have the DA and with that, the homework and Quidditch... there would be no time for that and they agreed reluctantly.
"I believe, you wanted to show me, where your quarters are, Mr. Potter." asked Tonks as they met in front of the Fat Lady.
"If you would follow me, Professor."
Harry led her to his rooms and set a password for her: 'Eternal Love' and she smiled at him.
She gasped as she entered and her eyes lit up, as she saw the big tube in the bathroom where easily would fit in four persons.
"Well, did you tell this password to anyone?" she asked.
"No, I just set it up for you. I wanted to give access to my friends too."
"As long as you do not, we could use this nice tube together, couldn't we?" she asked seductively and licked her lips.
"Well... I think, the password for my friends will have to wait then." he smiled.
"Fine. What now?"
He showed her the other rooms and she jumped on his bed in joy.
He had set up one of his guest rooms as his gym and she shook her head.
She admired his potions lab where some potions were simmering already from this afternoon.
"And now, we will train. Would you follow me, Professor?" he asked mockingly and ran away out of the room. He regained his composure though before he stepped out and Tonks too and that was good.
Because they ran nearly into Dumbledore.
"Ah, I wondered where you both are and wanted to ask, when you will begin your training and where."
"We were on our way to the Room of Requirement, Professor. I only showed Professor Tonks my new rooms." Harry explained.
"Yes that is right. I didn't know what Harry had in mind, he only told me to pick him up at his quarters and would show me a room to duel. I have never heard of this room before."
"Well, I also learned that it existed only last year. Harry found it and used it for his DA training. I have yet to examine it too." Dumbledore said amused with his twinkling eyes.
"Why don't you join us then and I will explain, what I know?" Harry suggested and lead the way.
The reached it fifteen minutes later.
"So you say, that this room provides you with whatever you need?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, but you can't take anything out of there. Why don't you give it a go, Professor Tonks? Imagine a room suiting for our dueling lesson and go three times up and down before the statue."
She did as told and a door appeared.
They entered and found a plain room with padded walls that no one would get hurt if they were flung against the walls.
"It is perfect for dueling but nothing special." Tonks said.
"Now... let me show you something. Let's duel with swords!" he said.
Promptly a rack with ten swords appeared along with some armor to avoid wounds.
"Wow." Tonks gasped.
"Therefore it is called the Room of Requirement. If you need something, you will get it. But we won't use weapons." He stated and the swords disappeared.
"That is a nice choice for a room, Harry. I will leave you then. When will you train again?"
"I thought Monday, Wednesday and Friday but we didn't talk about it yet." Tonks explained.
"Well, then we have Tuesday, Thursday and the weekend for DA but I would recommend one day at first. If we have a large number, we can then split the group after knowledge and make it two days." Harry said.
"Is that not too much?" Dumbledore asked concerned, "You would be busy every evening."
"It is the reason why I dropped Quidditch and most of my classes except the important ones. Better busy than dead."
Dumbledore nodded sadly and left.
"Now back to business!" Harry stated and was again beaten by Tonks and both left the room after one and a half hour exhausted but this time both were bruised and went to Madam Pomfrey first.
She gave them a scolding and as they explained that would happen again, she kicked them out with a bag of potions to treat themselves.
AN: Thanks for all your reviews my friends and keep it up! Same as last time, if I get no mail from my beta or find another beta, the next chap will be up on the next Saturday. Till then!
HaliOmani: I'm sorry to say, that Harry is the main character here and while Tonks is his love, she isn't the main role. I tried to explain a bit of her personality as I see her though. In my opinon she is outwardly funny... too funny and extroverted that it can be real so I guess she is inwardly a little bit insecure. I also don't believe in her clumsiness... she is an auror for gods sake and I think it is an act to let the people underestimate her. I let her go through some of the same experiences as Harry did, e.g. nobody sees her as her true self. With that, Harry and she have something important in common and found each other through it. I can't really promise that you will learn much more about her in the future chapters and I am sorry for that, but I try.
Maxennce: Yeah, that is a particular scene I like too, when Harry is telling him about the NEWT's but I tell you now that it will be not as important as the other thing that is happening then ;-)