Author's Notes - I've been trying to get this chapter done for ages! I
really want to have it done before Christmas day, but you know what that
time of year is like and my social life seems to have gone very hectic
lately. Plus I've had a houseguest living on my computer, so I couldn't
have finished this chapter even if I'd had time! This chapter was meant to
be longer, but I haven't gotten around to typing in out!
By the way the three levels of magic thing isn't mine, see below, I read it some where but I can't remember where! Anyway it fitted in with what I had planned so I kind of used it, author smiles guiltily, I hope who ever came up with it doesn't mind, but the names of the levels are mine. But that is only because I couldn't remember what they were called!
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*
-Chapter Thirteen-
In Motion
"What are you going to do but Percy's letter?" Hermione asked a few days later. No one had mentioned Percy's letter since the day it had arrived, until now. Ron's reaction on receiving it had been enough even to stop Hermione's pestering. They were waiting for Professor Dumbledore to appear for their lesson; he was late again.
Ron moved uncomfortably, but he did not answer.
"Why?" Hermione said impatiently, "what are you doing to do?" Again, Ron did not answer.
"Shh, Hermione," Harry said, it felt odd not to be the one Hermione was trying to get answers out of.
"What?" Hermione said, "I was just trying to find out."
"Well, let him make his own mind up," Harry said, he did not know what to think. Harry was still cross with Percy, the way he had behaved at Harry's hearing only was enough to make him think Ron should not forgive him. But then a horrid image came into Harry's head, an image of Mrs Weasley's Bogart pretending to be Percy's dead body, and he was not so sure any more.
"Nah, it's ok Harry," Ron said at least, "I'm not forgiving him."
Hermione started tutting, but before she could start scolding him again, Ron continued. "I know you think I'm being a horrid brother, but I can't forgive him. You saw what he put my mum through last year! The only reason he is even apologizing now is because he was found out, he's not sorry for what he did he's sorry that the reason was found out not to be true!" Ron paused for breath. "He should have trusted mum and dad shouldn't he, not gone and got on his hobby horse."
"But Ron he's sorry and he's your brother," pleaded Hermione, "you have to forgive him."
"No I don't," said Ron stubbornly, "I'm not forgiving him after that."
"But Ron-"
"No Hermione I'm not," Ron said firmly, "and that's final. Where Professor Dumbledore?"
"I dunno," said Harry relieved to talk about something other than Percy. "Do you think him being late is going to be an everyday thing?"
"From what we've seen of him, I'd say yes." Ron said smilingly, "he's madder than Dumbledore, the headmaster I mean." Ron finished in confusion.
"Yeah it hard to keep track of who people are talking about with two Dumbledores!" said Harry, "but I know what you meant."
Ron looked relieved, but Hermione looked as if she was going to start telling Ron off again, but she was prevented by the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher walking through the door. The ribbons in his hair and beard were yellow today!
"Right let's get started," he said closing the door behind him, the handle fell off. "From what my dear younger brother tells me, this class is particularly interesting. Yes, Mr Thompson?"
"It's Thomas sir," said Dean, "did you say your younger brother?"
"Yes Mr Thompson, I said my younger brother." Professor Dumbledore said pleasantly.
Most of the class was staring at him in amazement. "Is there something wrong with that statement? Is this class not interesting at all but deadly dull instead?"
No one said anything for a moment until, "Please sir, we didn't realize that the Headmaster was your younger brother," said Hermione.
"No I s'pose not, I do look much younger than him." Professor Dumbledore mused (A/N I've gone some interesting stuff planned for them, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it, this story keeps getting new twists and turns! So, I don't know if I'm going to be able to include it, but I'll see!)
"Anyway, on with the lesson," Professor Dumbledore said to himself, and then more loudly, "today we are going to be doing a shield spell Protego. Now this spell can deflect minor curses and hexes back at the caster, it can't of course defend against any of the unforgivable curses, although in the case of the Imperius it can lessen the effect very slightly, making the curse easier to throw off.. Protego has the same effect for the Cruciatus Curse. It's better not to be hit in the first place, but if you don't have time to dodge then the shield spell can be very useful."
After explaining more about the shield he divided them into pairs to practice, Harry had no trouble as he had be able to use the shield for the last two years already. So he entertained himself by watching the rest of the class working. He could feel his heart swelling with pride as he saw the people who were made been part of the DA last year doing much better than those who were not. He also watch the Defence teacher, unable to believe that he had felt he was thought he was the Headmaster, they were so different but yet the same. After about ten minute Harry began to notice something strange about Professor Dumbledore, other than the muttering under his breath, he could not get the students names right. It was more than new teacher syndrome, he would simple give a student a number and they would just be called by it whether it was their name or not.
(A/N He's not like most people, I know the most teachers have trouble with one or two people's names but this is more than that! As I have already said I have based Professor Dumbledore on my science teacher, and he does that. He's strange, don't get me wrong he's a great teacher, just a bit odd. He didn't know I was in one of his class for two terms, he only takes classes, and it's not as if I'm quiet and sit in the back! No I'm very loud and we often have disagreements about flies hitting trains and the like!)
Neville in particular was doing very well. His new wand had done wonders for his magic, which in turn had boosted his confidence. He was still prone to being clumsy, and his aim was still bad but his progress was amazing. By the end of the class, his shield could stand almost all the jinxes and curses that were thrown at him.
* Harry was becoming increasingly aware that there were not just the three of them any more. They had become a group of six. Neville had always been lurking somewhere in the background, and Ginny too had always been about, but now the two of them and Luna Lovegood seemed to have become a part of their circle. They were starting to spend more time in the library so Luna could join them, being a Ravenclaw he was not permitted in the Gryffindor common room.
When Harry had told them about his plans for the DA, they had all been enthusiastic and charged of to the library to start looking for ideas. Ron had been working through a huge pile of books, but he had to leave to do his prefect duty before he was half way through and had not returned to the library once it was over. Ginny and Luna had sat down with a huge pile of books each, but they too had to stop. As they were in the fifth year and had their O.W.Ls coming up, they just had too much work, and had to give up in order to finish their homework. Hermione too had disappeared behind a great stack of books, when she had come out, after about three hours, she would not answer when asked if she had found anything useful. She had just smiled, and said something about going to work in the common room, and had not been seen much since. That left Neville and Harry to carry on with the search, and as Neville had so much trouble with his normal work Harry had told him to give up and consentacte on his schoolwork.
That is why Harry could be found alone in the library late the next Saturday afternoon paging through book after book. He was not having much luck, he could find plenty of things, which could be very useful, but he was not sure that all the people in the DA could cope with them. He paused in his paging to read from a book called Amazing Powers You Don't Know You Had,
When wizards became a where that they had magical power the only form of spell was emotional outbursts of power in the form of wandless magic. In time, some wizards learnt to control this, but most could not. They were not happy with this and started looking for other ways of controlling their power. They discovered that there are three levels of wizardry incantation magic, hand magic and true magic. They soon learnt have to control different levels. The first and simplest level of wizardry requires uses of an incantation. This was similar to the way in which we perform magic today. The caster says an incantation, which directs their magical power into the required form. Incantation magic became even simpler in 382 BC when Catriona Impaired invented a wand. Today most wizards and witches are unaware of the process that they magic under goes in order to cast a spell. The second level is called hand magic; this level is much harder to master than incantation magic. Hand magic involves the caster using their hands to mimic the action the magic is to perform, although it maybe vague, a gesture will service. Some wizards have a certain power which they have control over, in 1456 a witch. The third and most difficult level of magic requires no movement, no wand and no word. All that is needed is the thought. Although when it is first being learnt the subject of the 'spell' is need to be in the sight of the caster, however when the caster is more experienced this is not necessary. Both the second and the third levels of wizardry fell out of use, since they are much hard to learn to control, and the use of either level is today refereed to as wandless magic.
"Harry are listening to me?"
Harry jumped and looked around in alarm, he spotted Ginny standing next to him.
"Oh hi Ginny! Sorry what were you saying?" said Harry.
"I said when is the meeting going to be? And why haven't you used to coins Hermione gave us?" said Ginny.
"Err- Wednesday, and I didn't want to use the coins becomes I'm not sure all the old members would want to come back!" Harry said darkly.
"Good point, I can't see Cho or Marietta coming back after the thing with the curse." Ginny said happily, "or Michael Corner", she added as an after thought.
"Would you please tell Dean about the meeting for me? I'm not sure if I'll see him to speak to before then," said Harry.
"Sure, if you want me to," Ginny said uncertainly. "But why can't you do it yourself, I mean you share a dormitory right?"
"Yeah, we do," Harry said feeling out of his depth. "I just thought that as you are together that you would see more of him than me."
Ginny looked at him as if he had gone mad and then boast into laughter, but Harry for the life of him failed to see what was funny. When Ginny finally stopped laughing she said, "Sorry Harry, It's just-," but it was too much for her and she started laughing again. Harry looked at her feeling thoroughly stupid, when her laughter had subsided she said rather breathlessly, "It's just, just I've never been with Dean, I just said it to irritate Ron." She smiled at him, "I couldn't work out what you were talking about and then it hit me."
Harry smiled too, "well Ron hasn't forgotten, I think he must have mentioned it in every letter he wrote to me over the summer."
Ginny started laughing again, she was still a little giggle five minutes later when she and Harry were making their way back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Potter," both Harry and Ginny turned to see who was calling him, it was Professor McGonagall coming up the stairs behind them.
"Yes Professor?" said Harry.
"Potter I've just been looking for you in the Library," she said.
"We just left there," Harry told her.
"How's the team going?" McGonagall asked.
Harry grinned before answering, "Great Professor, I think our chances are very good. We'll be well up to speed by the match against Slytherin."
McGonagall beamed at him, "oh yes, Potter I've been meaning to give you this."
Harry looked down to see what this was. This was a badge, with 'QC' superimposed on the Gryffindor Lion. Harry had completely forgotten about the badge, this mouth was dry as he stretched out his right hand to take the badge from McGonagall.
"Thank you Professor," he said trying to take the badge from her, but she wouldn't let go.
"Potter," she said suddenly sternly.
"Yes Professor?"
"What is that?" she said pointing down at the back of his right hand. The white scars, as clear as ever still forming the words 'I must not tell lies', were the only testament to Umbridge forcing him to cut his own hand night after night. Harry hesitated, "well Potter?"
Harry looked at Ginny, she was staring at his hand in amazement, anger engraved on her face. All the laughter had gone from her eyes, and Harry would have swain that there was a flame burning within them.
"It's-well it's where-"
"Spit it out Potter!"
Harry took a deep breathe and told McGonagall about Umbridge.
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* Sorry it's short, I'm later for English! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I don't have time to put up personal bits but I will next time!
By the way the three levels of magic thing isn't mine, see below, I read it some where but I can't remember where! Anyway it fitted in with what I had planned so I kind of used it, author smiles guiltily, I hope who ever came up with it doesn't mind, but the names of the levels are mine. But that is only because I couldn't remember what they were called!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*
-Chapter Thirteen-
In Motion
"What are you going to do but Percy's letter?" Hermione asked a few days later. No one had mentioned Percy's letter since the day it had arrived, until now. Ron's reaction on receiving it had been enough even to stop Hermione's pestering. They were waiting for Professor Dumbledore to appear for their lesson; he was late again.
Ron moved uncomfortably, but he did not answer.
"Why?" Hermione said impatiently, "what are you doing to do?" Again, Ron did not answer.
"Shh, Hermione," Harry said, it felt odd not to be the one Hermione was trying to get answers out of.
"What?" Hermione said, "I was just trying to find out."
"Well, let him make his own mind up," Harry said, he did not know what to think. Harry was still cross with Percy, the way he had behaved at Harry's hearing only was enough to make him think Ron should not forgive him. But then a horrid image came into Harry's head, an image of Mrs Weasley's Bogart pretending to be Percy's dead body, and he was not so sure any more.
"Nah, it's ok Harry," Ron said at least, "I'm not forgiving him."
Hermione started tutting, but before she could start scolding him again, Ron continued. "I know you think I'm being a horrid brother, but I can't forgive him. You saw what he put my mum through last year! The only reason he is even apologizing now is because he was found out, he's not sorry for what he did he's sorry that the reason was found out not to be true!" Ron paused for breath. "He should have trusted mum and dad shouldn't he, not gone and got on his hobby horse."
"But Ron he's sorry and he's your brother," pleaded Hermione, "you have to forgive him."
"No I don't," said Ron stubbornly, "I'm not forgiving him after that."
"But Ron-"
"No Hermione I'm not," Ron said firmly, "and that's final. Where Professor Dumbledore?"
"I dunno," said Harry relieved to talk about something other than Percy. "Do you think him being late is going to be an everyday thing?"
"From what we've seen of him, I'd say yes." Ron said smilingly, "he's madder than Dumbledore, the headmaster I mean." Ron finished in confusion.
"Yeah it hard to keep track of who people are talking about with two Dumbledores!" said Harry, "but I know what you meant."
Ron looked relieved, but Hermione looked as if she was going to start telling Ron off again, but she was prevented by the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher walking through the door. The ribbons in his hair and beard were yellow today!
"Right let's get started," he said closing the door behind him, the handle fell off. "From what my dear younger brother tells me, this class is particularly interesting. Yes, Mr Thompson?"
"It's Thomas sir," said Dean, "did you say your younger brother?"
"Yes Mr Thompson, I said my younger brother." Professor Dumbledore said pleasantly.
Most of the class was staring at him in amazement. "Is there something wrong with that statement? Is this class not interesting at all but deadly dull instead?"
No one said anything for a moment until, "Please sir, we didn't realize that the Headmaster was your younger brother," said Hermione.
"No I s'pose not, I do look much younger than him." Professor Dumbledore mused (A/N I've gone some interesting stuff planned for them, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it, this story keeps getting new twists and turns! So, I don't know if I'm going to be able to include it, but I'll see!)
"Anyway, on with the lesson," Professor Dumbledore said to himself, and then more loudly, "today we are going to be doing a shield spell Protego. Now this spell can deflect minor curses and hexes back at the caster, it can't of course defend against any of the unforgivable curses, although in the case of the Imperius it can lessen the effect very slightly, making the curse easier to throw off.. Protego has the same effect for the Cruciatus Curse. It's better not to be hit in the first place, but if you don't have time to dodge then the shield spell can be very useful."
After explaining more about the shield he divided them into pairs to practice, Harry had no trouble as he had be able to use the shield for the last two years already. So he entertained himself by watching the rest of the class working. He could feel his heart swelling with pride as he saw the people who were made been part of the DA last year doing much better than those who were not. He also watch the Defence teacher, unable to believe that he had felt he was thought he was the Headmaster, they were so different but yet the same. After about ten minute Harry began to notice something strange about Professor Dumbledore, other than the muttering under his breath, he could not get the students names right. It was more than new teacher syndrome, he would simple give a student a number and they would just be called by it whether it was their name or not.
(A/N He's not like most people, I know the most teachers have trouble with one or two people's names but this is more than that! As I have already said I have based Professor Dumbledore on my science teacher, and he does that. He's strange, don't get me wrong he's a great teacher, just a bit odd. He didn't know I was in one of his class for two terms, he only takes classes, and it's not as if I'm quiet and sit in the back! No I'm very loud and we often have disagreements about flies hitting trains and the like!)
Neville in particular was doing very well. His new wand had done wonders for his magic, which in turn had boosted his confidence. He was still prone to being clumsy, and his aim was still bad but his progress was amazing. By the end of the class, his shield could stand almost all the jinxes and curses that were thrown at him.
* Harry was becoming increasingly aware that there were not just the three of them any more. They had become a group of six. Neville had always been lurking somewhere in the background, and Ginny too had always been about, but now the two of them and Luna Lovegood seemed to have become a part of their circle. They were starting to spend more time in the library so Luna could join them, being a Ravenclaw he was not permitted in the Gryffindor common room.
When Harry had told them about his plans for the DA, they had all been enthusiastic and charged of to the library to start looking for ideas. Ron had been working through a huge pile of books, but he had to leave to do his prefect duty before he was half way through and had not returned to the library once it was over. Ginny and Luna had sat down with a huge pile of books each, but they too had to stop. As they were in the fifth year and had their O.W.Ls coming up, they just had too much work, and had to give up in order to finish their homework. Hermione too had disappeared behind a great stack of books, when she had come out, after about three hours, she would not answer when asked if she had found anything useful. She had just smiled, and said something about going to work in the common room, and had not been seen much since. That left Neville and Harry to carry on with the search, and as Neville had so much trouble with his normal work Harry had told him to give up and consentacte on his schoolwork.
That is why Harry could be found alone in the library late the next Saturday afternoon paging through book after book. He was not having much luck, he could find plenty of things, which could be very useful, but he was not sure that all the people in the DA could cope with them. He paused in his paging to read from a book called Amazing Powers You Don't Know You Had,
When wizards became a where that they had magical power the only form of spell was emotional outbursts of power in the form of wandless magic. In time, some wizards learnt to control this, but most could not. They were not happy with this and started looking for other ways of controlling their power. They discovered that there are three levels of wizardry incantation magic, hand magic and true magic. They soon learnt have to control different levels. The first and simplest level of wizardry requires uses of an incantation. This was similar to the way in which we perform magic today. The caster says an incantation, which directs their magical power into the required form. Incantation magic became even simpler in 382 BC when Catriona Impaired invented a wand. Today most wizards and witches are unaware of the process that they magic under goes in order to cast a spell. The second level is called hand magic; this level is much harder to master than incantation magic. Hand magic involves the caster using their hands to mimic the action the magic is to perform, although it maybe vague, a gesture will service. Some wizards have a certain power which they have control over, in 1456 a witch. The third and most difficult level of magic requires no movement, no wand and no word. All that is needed is the thought. Although when it is first being learnt the subject of the 'spell' is need to be in the sight of the caster, however when the caster is more experienced this is not necessary. Both the second and the third levels of wizardry fell out of use, since they are much hard to learn to control, and the use of either level is today refereed to as wandless magic.
"Harry are listening to me?"
Harry jumped and looked around in alarm, he spotted Ginny standing next to him.
"Oh hi Ginny! Sorry what were you saying?" said Harry.
"I said when is the meeting going to be? And why haven't you used to coins Hermione gave us?" said Ginny.
"Err- Wednesday, and I didn't want to use the coins becomes I'm not sure all the old members would want to come back!" Harry said darkly.
"Good point, I can't see Cho or Marietta coming back after the thing with the curse." Ginny said happily, "or Michael Corner", she added as an after thought.
"Would you please tell Dean about the meeting for me? I'm not sure if I'll see him to speak to before then," said Harry.
"Sure, if you want me to," Ginny said uncertainly. "But why can't you do it yourself, I mean you share a dormitory right?"
"Yeah, we do," Harry said feeling out of his depth. "I just thought that as you are together that you would see more of him than me."
Ginny looked at him as if he had gone mad and then boast into laughter, but Harry for the life of him failed to see what was funny. When Ginny finally stopped laughing she said, "Sorry Harry, It's just-," but it was too much for her and she started laughing again. Harry looked at her feeling thoroughly stupid, when her laughter had subsided she said rather breathlessly, "It's just, just I've never been with Dean, I just said it to irritate Ron." She smiled at him, "I couldn't work out what you were talking about and then it hit me."
Harry smiled too, "well Ron hasn't forgotten, I think he must have mentioned it in every letter he wrote to me over the summer."
Ginny started laughing again, she was still a little giggle five minutes later when she and Harry were making their way back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Potter," both Harry and Ginny turned to see who was calling him, it was Professor McGonagall coming up the stairs behind them.
"Yes Professor?" said Harry.
"Potter I've just been looking for you in the Library," she said.
"We just left there," Harry told her.
"How's the team going?" McGonagall asked.
Harry grinned before answering, "Great Professor, I think our chances are very good. We'll be well up to speed by the match against Slytherin."
McGonagall beamed at him, "oh yes, Potter I've been meaning to give you this."
Harry looked down to see what this was. This was a badge, with 'QC' superimposed on the Gryffindor Lion. Harry had completely forgotten about the badge, this mouth was dry as he stretched out his right hand to take the badge from McGonagall.
"Thank you Professor," he said trying to take the badge from her, but she wouldn't let go.
"Potter," she said suddenly sternly.
"Yes Professor?"
"What is that?" she said pointing down at the back of his right hand. The white scars, as clear as ever still forming the words 'I must not tell lies', were the only testament to Umbridge forcing him to cut his own hand night after night. Harry hesitated, "well Potter?"
Harry looked at Ginny, she was staring at his hand in amazement, anger engraved on her face. All the laughter had gone from her eyes, and Harry would have swain that there was a flame burning within them.
"It's-well it's where-"
"Spit it out Potter!"
Harry took a deep breathe and told McGonagall about Umbridge.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
* Sorry it's short, I'm later for English! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I don't have time to put up personal bits but I will next time!