Volleypickle16: Glad you like it!
Eriee: Cheers!
Miss Mooney: Lol! Thanks for the tactic!
Remo Con: I like fluff too! Thanks!
Athenakitty: George dragged Harry because he didn't want to face the girls alone. And Rosie will make duplicates of the pictures! Heh. I love being evil…
Chassandra: I'm flattered! Thank you!
Anonymous: I know George made the comment, but he dragged harry along because he didn't want to face the girls alone, and knew Harry could protect him. So he ran off when Rosie cornered them, and the girls were content on just punishing Harry, just because he was there! Either that or I just like bullying Harry… And as for when are the other people going to find out… I'm not quite sure yet… Thanks!
Lily Lady3: Glad you like it!
Klover P: I would have chased after them to. Hell, I would have brought a bloody butchers knife and chased them with that! And there's a little bit of trouble now that Hermione likes Sev… Oh, I love being evil! Cheers!
Jeangab057: Thanks!
Aalikane: Thanks for the review!
n/a: If you don't like my story, you can piss off and read some one else's. And how brave of you to leave your name on the review! I mean, God, wouldn't want to give your identity away, would we? And just for the record, I am the wrong person to flame.
Mjk306: Thanks!
Cassandra: Glad you like it!
Chapter Sixteen:
"Here," said Tonks firmly, slamming down a box on the table. "Found it Diagon Alley. It's a pirate copy."
Harry frowned and picked it up. "The Day After Tomorrow," he read. "Isn't that the one where New York gets flooded?"
Tonks nodded excitedly. "Isn't it great? Apparently it's got the same guy in it as Donnie Darko. I love that film…"
Harry shook his head in bemusement. "You're getting just as bad with muggle stuff as Mr. Weasley."
"Hey! I resent that!" cried Arthur indignantly.
Ginny impaled some innocent bacon onto the end of her fork. "If it's a scary one, I'm not watching it," she said firmly, her voice daring anyone to disagree.
"It's not scary," said Tonks reassuringly. "It's just about a huge storm going over America, killing a bunch of people, nearly flooding New York and then letting everything get covered in ice and snow," she shrugged. "No biggie."
Harry rose his dark eyebrows in her direction. "Right," he said. "Well, I'm going to go down to visit Dobbie…" Harry motioned to Ron, Hermione and Rosie. "You coming?"
Hermione sighed. "I promised myself that I was going to do homework today-"
Everyone in the room groaned.
"Oh, fine," snapped Hermione. "I'll come."
"Ooh!" said Lockhart excitedly. Lockhart was back to his normal height and had lost his German accent, but his hair still remained fluorescent green. "Can I come too?"
"Erm…" Harry stared at Lockhart. "Are you sure that when your mum was pregnant with you she wasn't…" Harry made a show of bringing an invisible bottle of alcohol to his lips, staggering slightly and blinking.
Ginny giggled.
Hermione scowled and whacked Harry round the head. "Oh, Harry!" she hissed. "You are so rude!"
Harry rubbed the place where Hermione had hit him, watching Lockhart in bemusement.
Lockhart apparently hadn't worked out that the insult was aimed at him, for he was laughing himself.
"Harry! You really are so funny!"
Either that, or Lockhart was just really, really dumb.
"Right," said Ron. "Harry? We going?"
Harry nodded, still amused by Lockhart.
The group exited from the Great Hall, Ginny still chuckling about Harry's joke.
"Harry! Harry! Slow down!"
Harry stopped, glaring at nothing particular and his lips pulled back into a snarl.
"What. Do. You. Want?" growled Harry.
Lockhart flashed him a toothy smile.
"Nothing much, old chap-"
A window near Harry exploded.
Lockhart flashed him another smile.
"Just let me fix that – you have a bit of glass in your palm!"
Harry glared at Lockhart so fiercely it caused him to take a step back.
"Not a chance. You are not going any where near me with that wand."
But Lockhart had already brandished his wand, twirling it so extravagantly it struck him in his nose.
… And a string of mumbo-jumbo Latin words later, Harry didn't feel a thing…
… But the glass was still in his palm.
Harry, not in his Shadow form and all his defences down, had received the full blow of Lockhart's spell, though whether it had any effects or not, Harry couldn't tell.
"Hmmm…" said Lockhart thoughtfully. "Maybe if I try this…"
He swished his wand, uttering complete nonsense as he did so.
"Ah! That should do the trick!"
Well, it certainly did something.
A dizzy spell over came Harry, and he started coughing…
"He's coughing up blood! Get him to the infirmary!"
Harry was dimly aware of people dragging him around, making him extremely uncomfortable. Unconsciously, he moaned in protest.
"… How… Did such a spell… Don't know… Beyond me…"
The voices were fading in and out, Harry regularly falling into blackness… and then regaining consciousness.
"… Harry?"
Harry blinked, his vision clearing.
"Hmmm?"
"I want you to try and sit up."
Harry did so, his head throbbing at the movement.
Someone shoved a potion down his throat. Harry was sent into a coughing fit at the taste.
He glared at Madam Pomphrey as his vision cleared completely and the throbbing subsided.
"What was that for?"
"It was for your health," she said briskly. "Lockhart did quite a number on you, Mr. Potter."
She frowned at him.
"You healed remarkably quickly for someone who stopped breathing. I expected you to be out a week at least. It's been barely an hour."
"Wait a second… stopped breathing?"
"Yes. Lockhart some how managed to block off your air passage. That wouldn't have required much magical energy on his part at all, but it still can be rather effective."
Harry snorted at that.
"It wouldn't have been able to kill you, but if you hadn't been brought to me as quickly as you were, the situation could have been a lot more serious."
"Right," Harry said, nodding in understanding. "So… can I go?"
"No you cannot!" snapped Madam Pomphrey. With a swish of her robes, she disappeared into her office.
Harry sighed.
"Bored, are we?"
Harry glanced up to see Rosie, Ron, Hermione and the rest all standing at the door.
"Yes. Madam Pomphrey is holding me captive."
Ron chuckled.
"I was so scared…" whispered Hermione in a hushed tone. "You just… stopped breathing."
Harry gave her a weary smile, his eyes twinkling in the light. "I'm fine, 'Mione. Nothing to worry about."
"Hey, Harry…" Ron trailed off, looking uncomfortable. "I was just wondering… why is Snape being nice to you?"
Harry regarded Ron for a moment, then shrugged. "We've kind of called a truce. And he's not that bad – he's actually quite nice."
Ron's jaw hung open. "Snape and nice aren't two words I would usually link together in a sentence."
Harry smiled and whacked Ron playfully on the arm.
Suddenly, the doors to the infirmary burst open, revealing a very pissed off Snape.
His eyes sought out Harry.
"What happened?" He growled, his fists clenched.
Harry gave him a sheepish grin.
"Nothing."
"Really?" asked Sev, giving him a stern look. "Just decided to pop in for a chat with Madam Pomphrey?"
Fred gasped. "Did you just make a joke?"
"Shut up."
"I can visit Madam Pomphrey if I want!" cried Harry defensively, crossing his arms over his chest.
"And you decided to take a nap while you were here, I presume?" he said, eyeing Harry's bed.
Harry blushed.
"Well…"
"Tell me what happened."
Hermione sighed. "Lockhart was trying to fix something, but he didn't do the spell right and it made Harry's air passage block up, and Harry couldn't breath." Hermione's eyes widened, realising what she just said. "Professor – don't hurt Lockhart!"
But Severus had already left – his robes billowing behind him.
Harry jumped after him, attempting to stop Severus.
"Get back into bed now, young man!"
"But-"
"No buts! Do as I say!"
Harry looked desperately from Madam Pomphrey to the door, trying to make her understand.
"But-"
"NOW!"
If ever Pomphrey had an animagus form, Harry would bet on his life that it would be a dragon.
Dumbledore took that moment to walk in, his smile faltering as he did so.
"Harry?" he asked questioningly.
"Sev – Lockhart – kill."
And Dumbledore seemed to understand that in a flash, for he sighed, and left without a word.
Pomphrey looked confused, staring at Harry.
"What on earth was that about?"
.
Harry frowned at the chessboard, trying in vain to block out the voices of the chess pieces.
"Move me, you dolt! I would have thought that much would have been obvious – even to an amateur like you…"
Harry scowled.
Ron laughed at him heartily, leaning back in his chair and grinning.
"You can't beat the master, mate."
Madam Pomphrey had insisted on Harry staying in the infirmary, much to Harry's annoyance, so here Harry was, failing miserably in a game of chess against Ron.
There was a soft click as the door opened. Harry, seeing who it was, groaned at the contented look on his father's face.
"Tell me you didn't kill him."
Sev shook his head.
That was when Harry noticed the slightly glazed look of his father's eyes…
"What did Dumbledore do?"
Severus came over and sat on the edge of Harry bed.
"Trance Charm," replied Severus dully, no hint of emotion showing in his voice. "A rather powerful one at that. I shall be rather annoyed at Albus when I am released from it." At this, Severus' eye twitched.
"Right…" said Harry nervously, edging away. "You're kinda scary like this, you know."
Severus didn't answer – instead; he glanced down at the game of chess.
"Move that pawn forward," he said. "It's easy."
Harry's chess pieces cheered, and the king cried out, "Finally! Someone ho knows what he's doing!"
Harry scowled. "Shut it, mate."
"Hey!" cried Ron in mock outrage. "Two against one! That isn't fair!"
"Yes it is," deadpanned Harry. "Now shut up while I whoop your ass."
And so the game began, resulting in a beaming Harry and a sulking Ron.
"So not fair. You didn't even play!"
"Did so!" countered Harry. "I moved all the pieces, didn't I?"
Ron groaned.
Harry turned his attention back to Severus, grinning broadly.
Severus, still not showing any signs of human emotion, began to talk. "I think Albus hit me from behind with his Trance Charm," he explained in a flat monotone. "But on the bright side, I think me being so calm unnerved Lockhart more than actually attacking him would." Severus cocked his head slightly at this, looking at Harry fondly. "And as soon as this Charm wears off, I'm going to rip him apart, limb by limb-"
All of this was delivered in such a calm, contented voice that it completely unnerved both boys.
"Erm, Sev?" Harry cut into his father's tirade. "I think you're scaring Ron."
"Understatement of the century," muttered Ron. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Harry."
Severus sighed. "I made a promise to Albus I wouldn't harm Lockhart… I think it's a bit unfair I did it while under the Trance Charm, though."
At this, Madam Pomphrey entered, giving Harry a stern look.
"I've decided to let you go-" she began, but no more was said as Harry bolted from the room, Ron following closely behind, leaving an amused Severus in his wake.
.
"I still can't work out who the Defence teacher is!" Hermione hissed, kicking an innocent wall.
Harry shrugged, enjoying his new found freedom. "Professor Snape said that I won't know either of the new Professors-"
"Hold up," said Ginny sharply. "There's more than one new teacher? Who's leaving?"
Harry frowned, a little surprised that they didn't know.
"Dumbledore's made a new class – it's compulsory – It's a sport class." Harry shrugged. "Dumbledore obviously thought we should do more exercise. Apparently we're going to do muggle sports and stuff."
The group took a sharp turn.
"Dumbledore is making a new class? I always knew he was nutters-"
Harry hushed them, leaning into the wall.
"Listen," he hissed.
And they did. Drifting out from the small crack of the teacher's lounge were voices – two of which were unfamiliar.
Harry, sending an exited look Ron's way, crept toward the door.
"… Exited about meeting the students. I won't let Albus down… I'll make sure those students reach their best potential in sport! They'll be able to run around the lake in minutes by the time I'm through with them!"
Ron sent Harry a horrified glance. The man who had spoken – the sports teacher – was quite handsome. The man was tall, had a broad frame and quite a muscular build. He was tanned, with even features and high cheekbones, and had short sandy-brown hair. His eyes were a calm blue.
McGonagall snorted. "If you actually get some of those students to work you'll be dubbed a miracle worker in my book."
Something on the sport teacher's left barked.
Harry, when he shifted in his position, found it to be a large husky, with silver and black fur, and eyes the exact same Colour as the sport professor's.
McGonagall gave a disapproving sniff. "You'll have to be careful with him," she said quickly. "Not all students like dogs, you know."
The professor just laughed. "He won't hurt anyone. He's very well trained. And his name is Fury."
McGonagall gave another disapproving sniff. "Fury! Doesn't exactly give him a good reputation."
The professor just laughed again.
"A husky!" whispered Hermione excitedly. "I've never seen one of them up close… he's so beautiful."
"Do you mean the dog or the professor?" snapped Ron.
Rosie ignored them.
It was something about that professor that just… wasn't quite right. It wasn't something Harry could explain.
"I don't trust him," said Harry immediately.
"Neither do I," said Rosie firmly.
"Well," said McGonagall, holding out her hand to the sports professor – the one Harry didn't trust. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor Letum. I hope you enjoy your stay."
AN: Done! So you've met the sport professor, but you haven't met the DADA professor! Please review!
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