Chapter 8
Lessons
Next time he woke up, all he heard was cessation of sound. He opened his eyes with ease, and saw that the sun was still high up in the sky. Next to him was a blurry figure in the chair. He realized that he didn't have his glasses on and saw the figure moving.
"Harry, you're awake!" said Hermione, sounding really relieved.
"Yeah, I need my - " Hermione gave his glasses. "Thanks," he put them on and everything else was sharp again. "I know, I fell at about hundred feet in the air, please don't lecture me."
"What!? You fell hundred feet from the broom?" she shrieked.
"I take it that you haven't heard, Malfoy hexed me off the broom," said Harry wearily.
"Oh, next time I see him, I'll hex him so badly that his servants," she spat the word servant, "won't be able to recognize him!" she threatened. Harry was glad that she was on their side. But sometimes things do get ugly with her and Harry. "So, is it still Sunday?"
"Yeah, you'll be out of here before nightfall. At least you won't miss any more lessons this time."
"Yeah, I can't afford to keep landing here . . . ."
"Oh you're up!" tutted Madam Pomfrey. "Here, have some of this. You'll be out of here in two hours. Why I can't keep you overnight, I'll never understand."
"Perhaps it's because I haven't even attend one of my lessons yet?" helped Harry.
"Oh, I suppose that's a reason enough," she handed the potion to Harry who unwillingly drank the contents. Then the door opened and appeared Professor McGonagall who looked stern as ever.
"Potter, I hear that you have had another accident."
"Yeah," replied Harry sheepishly.
"I don't approve of this at all, nevertheless, I am glad that you are able to be out of here today instead of missing more lessons."
"I agree Professor," said Harry. "Ma'am?"
"Yes Potter?"
"Um, you know, er - last year, the ban. . . ."
"Is lifted Potter, if you wish, you can be the Captain on the team. I thought you received the letter?"
"Oh, I might have, but as the circumstances were last summe . . ." said Harry slowly.
"Of course, well, you may discuss this with your new Head of House, Professor Conan."
"Thank you Professor McGonagall," said Harry, feeling excited, but somewhat down. Since Ron didn't get the captaincy instead, he got it. He looked to Hermione who was giving off a small smile. The two watched the new Headmistress leaving the Wing and closed the door.
"I bet you're happy that you've got the Captaincy this year. It'll be interesting."
"I suppose, if Malfoy is one too," said Harry. "And I'm glad I'm caught up with my homework. Thanks to you."
"It's nothing Harry, Ginny was really worried," said Hermione.
"Was she?"
"Yeah, she was in tears, she thought you died."
"Don't I have that tendency?"
"Yes, but at this rate Harry, you're going to shave off everyone's lives by twenty years!" Harry laughed at that.
"Oh come on Hermione, it can't be that bad… can it?"
"You obviously have no idea."
"Mmm, then I wonder who slowed my fall down?"
"What do you mean?"
"Someone slowed my fall down, like it did with the dementors back in our third year. Only that time, was Dumbledore's doing. But who did it this time?"
"Huh, I'll find out something about it, but one of the possibly is that you could have triggered that since you were conscious. But perhaps it was someone else."
"Possibly," said Harry. "Well, what am I suppose to do until I get out?"
"I'll get Mark and Ginny," offered Hermione.
"Yeah, I think we'll appreciate that," said Harry and then Hermione stood up from her chair to leave the Wing. Harry watched the sun to go down from the sky to the horizon. Several minutes later, the door opened again and saw that Ginny, Mark, and Hermione entered the room. When she saw that Harry was awake, she ran to him.
"Harry! Oh my god, I thought - I'm so glad you're okay!" she hugged him but winced in pain. "Oh, I'm sorry, did that hurt?"
"Yeah, just a little, but I'm fine. Hey, I have a question, was anyone else besides Hagrid there? At the pitch I mean."
"No, no one else was there," replied Ginny.
"Why?" asked Mark.
"Did you two see my fall slowing down at the last ten feet?"
"Oh yeah, you did. . . ." said Mark, a dawning comprehension appearing on his face, as well as Ginny's.
"I wonder who slowed my fall down then. . . ."
"Could've been Hagrid?" asked Mark, but the three shook their heads.
"He can't do magic, he was expelled back in his third year. But pardoned several years ago because of new evidences," explained Hermione.
"Yeah," said Harry, somewhat uncomfortably. He had been remembering his summer before his first year. His umbrella was his wand and that was his biggest secret and Harry did vow to keep that secret for his friend. But he agreed, Hagrid couldn't have done to slow his fall down. Otherwise that secret would have been out. "Er - this might sound funny but, was he carrying his umbrella?"
The three stared at him and Hermione looked over to Ginny and Mark. But Mark shook his head in answer while Ginny was trying to remember.
"No he wasn't carrying any umbrella, it's sunny out."
"Oh, well nevermind then," said Harry. But Hermione looked at him suspiciously but shrugged. "It's nothing important, that umbrella has some healing uses."
"Oh, I see," said Hermione. Of course, what did she know, Harry had to throw her off the trail, that the umbrella contains some parts of his old wand.
"Yeah, so I suppose you three can keep me company until I get out of here?"
"I don't think so," spoke the stern nurse, appearing behind them. "Potter needs his rest for the next hour, so shoo!" Hermione, Mark, and Ginny looked at Harry sadly and slowly left the Wing.
'Great, just great, I'm stuck here with this woman,' thought Harry bitterly. An hour and half later, Harry found himself twiddling his thumb, still wide awake and too restless to sleep. Madam Pomfrey came over to his bed, hands on her hips.
"You're allowed to go, please Potter, I really hope that you won't need to come here for the next week or two. If you are, I am personally going to give you your own bed!"
Harry widened his eyes in horror, and shook his head timidly. "No, that won't happen. I'll be careful."
"Knowing you, you won't," she shook her head. "I'll be seeing you."
Harry got out of his bed, and realized for the first time, his cloths were bloody and very dirty. How and why did she not change his cloths for the sanitary reasons? That doesn't sound like her at all. 'Oh well, she must've thought that I was leaving so soon rather than overnight.'
He walked back to the Gryffindor tower, and found no one on his way there. Which he was glad for that. He gave the Fat Lady the password, and chuckle and shook his head as he went in. i'Malfoy's a git, that password's going to keep me happy all semester.'/i
When he got to the common room, and found Hermione, Ron, Mark, and Ginny by the fireplace with their faces in the book. Harry frowned at the behavior of his friends. He walked over and cleared his throat for his friend's attention.
"Oh you're here! We're just looking up for any possibility of wandless magic to slow your big falls down and a magical umbrella." Harry inwardly groaned at the last part. "Obviously, we haven't found anything on either of those two yet."
"That's because it's either undocumented or in deep inside the library or even in the restricted section."
"You do know that sixth and seventh years have free access to the restricted section don't you?"
"Really?" asked Harry, new ideas popping in his mind. "Great! I'm out of here to check some things out," he left the common room and slammed the portrait loudly behind him in his haste.
"Oh be rude why don't you!" yelled Fat Lady but Harry was long gone.
'Oh this is great,' thought Harry excitedly. 'Free access, finally!' He barged into the library and skidded to a stop. He forgot the yesterday's incident and found Madam Pince at her desk and she looked up at the door and glared.
"Um, hello," said Harry bashfully, walking to her. "Um, just making sure, can I access the Restricted section?"
"Yes you may," she nodded, albeit disinclined.
"Thanks, and I'm really sorry about yesterday, I'll do my best not to repeat such happenings in the future."
"Thank you, I appreciate that," then she went back to work as Harry walked to the door. He put his hand on the handle, and hesitantly pushed the door open. So many times in the past, he had used this section legally and illegally. First Nicholas Flammel, then the Polyjuice Potion. There were few times when he wanted to get in here in the past as well. He finally entered, and free access to this section of the room had opened the many new possibilities. He ran his fingers along the bookshelves, excited with the prospect of looking up any books he wanted.
He walked to the end of the aisle and randomly pulled out a book and looked at the title. Which had read 'Ghastly Barbarous Malisons,' he flipped the page near the middle and what he saw was reeking blood and organs spilling out of the mouth and nose as the person got thinner. He felt sick to his stomach. He looked on the opposite page which explained what the curse was, how you do it, and the history of the particular curse. He flipped the page to the front page and found the author. It was the same author as the book he got at Knockturn Alley he realized. He carried the book out of the section to the desk to check the book out.
"I'll check this book out," said Harry breathlessly. She looked at him suspiciously from the book she was looking at moments ago.
"What are your reasons for this particular book, may I ask?"
"You ask this question whoever checks a book from the Restricted Section?" she remained stern and he sighed. "I only want to increase my knowledge of the Dark Arts. Because, as everyone knows, I have to deal with Voldemort (she winced at the name) and his followers. Surely, you know that?"
"Of course, so you will be a regular in this library to check books from that section?" he nodded in answer. "Very well," she checked the book out for Harry. "Good night," with that, Harry left the Library to Gryffindor Tower.
He said the password and entered the common room. The others were still sitting where they were. But this time, they all looked up, looking anxiously. Then Harry remembered, 'oh great, now they're going to lecture me.'
"Harry! We should have come with you! Why didn't you remind us!?" demanded Hermione.
"Maybe it's because we all forgot?" asked Harry apathetically. "Anyways, I'm reading this book now," he sat down in one of the plush chairs next to Ginny. He looked at her and then back to his book and opened the book to second page for the table of contents.
"What is it now?" asked Harry, feeling too many stares upon him. "This book is the same author as the book I got from Knockturn Alley, that is all you need to know."
"Harry, you can't be reading those!" said Hermione, looking reproached.
"Make me," Harry snapped, and turning the page to first chapter but Hermione had used the summoning charm on the book. "Hey!" he took his wand out at her who looked terrified. "Give it back," she immediately gave the book back to Harry. "Thank you, I didn't want to hex you."
He went back to reading the chapter one while everyone was looking at him, with high-strung feeling in the air. But Harry ignored the tension and the rest of the people eventually went back to reading. Soon the clock tolled at ten, Harry stood up suddenly which caused everyone a nerve wreck and falling out of their chairs.
"Night everyone, big day tomorrow," said Harry, walking to the dormitories, and forgetting to carry his book .
"Why is it a big day?" asked Ron.
"Because of our lessons, and more lessons with S-Professor Snape. Plus detentions, and of course, Malfoy. So, you can imagine," he closed the door behind him. He went into the Fifth year dormitory and changed into PJs and got under his covers and fell asleep after clearing his mind for Occlumency.
Harry woke up with a start, and realized that it was still dark outside and he found out that he was on the floor. He felt tensed, and out of place, he couldn't remember the dream of what he had. He stood up, wincing as he did. Harry put on his glasses and looked at his watch which read ten to five. He groggily rubbed his eyes and felt too rested to sleep and too sore to stay awake. He got back under the covers, trying to sleep but failed.
He gave up and got out of the bed and dressed in his uniform. He struggled repeatedly to comb his hair but failed miserably. He angrily set the comb down and went out of the bathroom and into the common room. He stopped short, and found himself with the rest of his friends still by the fire. But this time, they were all reading the same book. On closer examination, he saw that he had left the book in the common room and felt angry.
"Why are you reading that?" asked Harry, angrily and they all jumped.
"Oh my goodness, is it time for breakfast already?" asked Hermione, worriedly.
"No, I woke up earlier, now why are you reading that?"
"Same reason as you do," said Ron, defending themselves.
"Knowledge then? Well, I'm glad that now you're on my side."
"I… suppose, if you could put it that way," said Hermione slowly.
"What are you talking about then?" demanded Harry.
"Are you sure you're just reading to defend yourself?" she asked timidly.
"Of course, why would I want to land myself back in Azkaban?" asked Harry scoffing.
"Oh, nothing then, I - suppose you want to read this now?"
"Yes please, and do try to get one or two hours of sleep in, I think you all need some."
"How can we?! After all of those awful things in the book," said Ginny, looking scared.
"It's your fault for picking up the book and reading. Here Ginny," he walked over to her and gave her a tight hug. "I won't let anyone hurt you guys, do you believe me?"
"Of course Harry," replied Ginny.
"Yeah mate," said Ron, standing up.
"Well, after what they said and what you have learned, I suppose I'll have to trust you," said Mark, and Hermione nodded.
"I'm sorry, we shouldn't have doubted you," she said.
"You have every reason to doubt me, after all, because of the past events… actually, I think I'll just write," declared Harry, walking back to the dormitory with his book. He got out his ink, quill, and the journal out of the trunk and carried it back down as Ron got dressed to sleep. When he got back to the common room, and found it empty. He ignited the fire to flare more brightly and giving off more heat. When he was comfortable, he inked his quill, said his long password and flipped to a blank page. He began to write.
September 4th,
Trust is something important to have in friendship
And in any relationship that one person has
But once they betray you
How can they win you back?
All you can hope is to ask for forgiveness
Friendship is something important
Oh the things you can complete
Rather incomplete when alone
Give what you can
In order to have the trust back
Verify that you have the trust back
Enough are when they ask you a favor
New day will approach
Everyday, someone has to trust to an extent
Some don't trust at all
Someday, we all will have one person to confide in
But who is that person?
Perhaps your friends are the people you trust.
Harry leaned his face on his left hand with his elbow propped on the table, rereading the poem and felt satisfied. He closed the journal and sat back in his plush, soft chair. He looked at his watch again, which read 5:39 and sighed. 'Well, breakfast should be starting about now,' thought Harry. 'If not, there's the kitchens . . . but the others . . . eh I'll be fine.'
He got up from his chair and put his things back in the dormitory. He wrote a short note to Ron saying that he would be either be in Great Hall, Kitchens, Library, or the Astronomy tower. He decided to go to the tower first to watch the sunrise. Which would be in about twenty minutes or so. He walked up the stairs and went outside and found that the sky was perfect, clear for stargazing and most of all, the sunrise. There were a few faint clouds, perfect for the sunrays to color on. He watched the stars and observed that it was moonless night. He knew that Remus would be glad for that.
The sky was lightening up fast now. He saw a faint red line on the east horizon. In the distant, he saw threstrals flying in and out of the trees above the Forbidden Forest. This immediately reminded of the deaths he had witnessed and felt a dip in his emotions. He shook his head and saw the sun rising above the mountains in the distant.
He thought that the sky was glorious to see. The faint clouds he saw earlier were now painted in pink, orange, red and purple. He stood there, watching as the sun rose higher and higher up in the sky. As the sun went up, he felt a rise in his emotions as well. Somehow the nature was playing on his emotions. Feeling mostly positive, he went back down the stairs, and on his way to the Great Hall to eat.
"Sunrise is a beautiful thing is it?" someone said and Harry spun on his heels towards the voice, his hand nearly pulling out his wand and found that it was Professor Srycry.
"Yeah," replied Harry, relaxing, now that he knows who it was, but not completely.
"Constant Vigilance is the way to go, don't drop your guard," she said.
"I know," said Harry, looking at anywhere but the Professor.
"I would appreciate if you would at least look at me," she said sternly and Harry looked at her. "That's better, now do I have you today?" Harry nodded. "Good, excellent, it's the best lesson yet, I'll be seeing you in class."
"Yeah, bye Professor Srycry," he went down the different corridor than she was going into. He finally arrived at the Great Hall and found himself the only student to eat breakfast in Great Hall. He sat down to eat as the food appeared around him. Slowly, more students but mostly Ravenclaws arrived in the Great Hall. When Harry finished his meal, he left to the Library with his bag and the book he checked out last night.
He sat down in one of the seats in the library and began to read the rest of the chapter one. He was so caught up in reading, which he is now reading chapter two, that he didn't notice the pair of people were out of breath, and walking up to him. When someone tapped him on the shoulder, Harry overreacted, pulled his wand out, and pointed in the person's face, nearly uttering a painful curse, and realized that it was Mark.
"Oh, sorry Mark," said Harry slyly, grinning.
"Geez, a bit over enthusiastic are you?" joked Mark.
"Something like that," said Harry, nodded. "So, you all finally up?"
"Yeah, classes in ten minutes though, I need to eat something, can you come along please?" asked Mark, looking over to Hermione, begging for help.
"Yeah, come on Harry, I bet you haven't ate yet," said Hermione.
"No, I ate and I'm too full to even think about food," he shuddered. True, he did eat a lot of food for breakfast which he was sure was going to last all day. "I'll just go to class, see you Hermione," he said, standing up from the chair.
"Oh, alright, at least the Professor will be there," said Hermione giving in. They went their separate ways once they walked out of the library. He began to walk to the Charms class, first day of the semester for Harry. He spoke to Professor Flitwick, who gladly accepted his homework, and asked him to perform all of the charms they worked on which Harry gladly did.
"Thank you Potter!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, and Harry went to his usual seat and waited. He looked over his timetable and found out that he has Defense Against the Dark Arts after this class. When sixth year kids piled in and realized that all of them were Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. He reasoned that Charms is an easy class to pass for the O.W.Ls.
When the Charms class finally ended, Ron, Hermione, and Harry went to the DADA class. Harry felt anxious, waiting to find out what the teacher really is like. The three sat in the second row from the front, since they were already taken by other classmates. Then Professor Srycry entered the room and closed the door behind her with the flick of her wand.
"Morning class," she said.
"Morning Professor," some of them answered. Harry felt glad that this teacher wasn't like Umbridge last year. 'At least, so far so good . . .'
"Right now, I would like you to hand in your homework, Potter, all of them if you would?"
"Yes Professor," replied Harry, handing all of his work in along with other classmates. Which was a lot of parchment that was being piled up.
"Okay, today we will be doing practical lesson," low murmur broke out. "You will be using the hexes and jinxes that you found, will be cast on this dummy here," she pointed to the life-sized, worn-out doll next to her. Harry grinned, coming up with many hexes and jinxes to be used on the dummy. He raised his hand to ask a question and saw that Hermione was looking at him questionably. But he shook his head no, and waited to be called on.
"Yes Potter?"
"Would that include curses? As far as I know, hexes and curses are the same thing," said Harry.
"Yes you may," she replied. Harry grinned mischievously. The rest of the classmates, including the ones in Slytherin. Which he found, included Malfoy and his cronies, all looking at him warily. "Would you like to go first?"
"I have another question, is the dummy flexible, and un-destroyable?" asked Harry.
"Yes, the only thing that can actually destroy this thing is the Killing curse. Which I am sure none of you would like to try. Okay, perhaps some of you would, I ask you not to perform the curse, nor the other Unforgivables. So, Potter, would you?"
"Yes Professor," replied Harry, standing up from his desk to the front of the room. The entire class was watching him as he went up against the dummy. "Any hexes, jinxes and curses, and of course, except the Unforgivables?" she nodded.
"Alright then," he rose his wand, pointing at the dummy, coming up with one of the less gory curses he found in the book.
"Cifros Glimmeros Totalis!" The sudden bursts of twirling wind wrapped around the dummy's body. The icicles began to form on every single part of the body, and ice suddenly erupted from the nose, eyes, and the hair on it's head began to freeze. Harry could feel the coldness emitting from the lifeless-doll and set down his wand to his side. He turned to his Professor who stared at him, with some admiration in her eyes and he looked over to the class.
"Just you know," he smirked. "That's the ileast/i gory curse I can do," his eyes flickered over to Malfoy, grinning. "Will that be all Professor?" starting to walk back to his desk
"Yes Potter, twenty points to Gryffindor, half was getting the hex and curse definition right, and performing a difficult one on this dummy. Sit down, Finite incantatem. That curse Potter had just done is fatal in within five minutes, you do not want to be caught in that curse. It is sometimes irreversible. Potter, was that the first time you did the hex?" He nodded, "Wow, you are truly gifted and what they say is true . . . who's next?" Malfoy rose his hand to be called next. "Come then Mr. Malfoy."
He got up from his seat, smirking at Harry as he had sat down. His friends snickered when Malfoy smirked, but Harry ignored the Slytherins. Malfoy walked up to the professor and nodded a little and turned to face the dummy.
"Begin when you are ready, Malfoy," she said, waiting for him to start. He raised his wand from his right side and pointed at the dummy. He narrowed his slits, as if in concentration.
"Tenebrosus Asphyxiatis!" The black clear cloth-like came out of Malfoy's wand and started wrapping around the dummy's body rapidly. The black essence started at the feet, and began tightening the essence up. Soon the entire body was covered in black essence, and before their eyes, began to be squeezed. But before he could actually make any more progress than five seconds of squeezing, Malfoy's wand hand began to shake violently. Harry could see sweat beads appearing on his forehead, and began to pant out of exhaustion.
Professor Srycry had ordered him to stop doing the spell when he uttered the words, but everyone in the class hadn't heard or see her. She even tried to do a Stunning curse but some sort of force shield was in place while Malfoy was doing the curse. Suddenly Malfoy fell to his knees and hand, and watched the essence falling to the ground and dissolved into the stones or so it looked.
"Ten points from Slytherin for not listening to me! Explain why did you use that particular curse?"
"I - I was," he sneered, standing up, making an effort to look like that he wasn't tired out. "Just showing Potter that I'm more powerful."
"Well, you're clearly aren't! Sit down Malfoy," she said sternly, and Malfoy glared at her as he sat down in his seat. He looked over to Harry and narrowed his eyes, filled with malice.
"Who's next?" she asked the class, but she was met with tensed silence. "Oh please, don't be afraid, oh Zacharais, you'll do it?"
Terry put his hand down, and nodded as he stood up. He nervously went up to the front of the room. Harry sat there, watching him dully as he thought about Malfoy's curse.
'Certainly was interesting, where did I read that from? Apparently he didn't have much power to complete the spell. How foolish,' he smirked at the idea of Malfoy being stupid and incompetent he is. 'Heh, he really doesn't stand a chance - damn, I'm thinking like this again!' he cursed himself and banged his head on the table hard which caused loud bang.
"Is something wrong Potter?" Terry had completed his hex on the dummy, Professor was taking the curse off. Harry shook his head no quickly, and embarrassed that everyone had heard the bang. "Well, I want to talk to you after class. That will be all for today, no homework. Good day to you all," she dismissed the class and Harry hung back, packing his bag slowly.
Once everyone left the room, he went up to the desk and stopped in front of her. He waited for Professor Srycry to speak but she didn't and instead stared at him directly in the eye.
"What?" asked Harry finally, annoyed.
"You banged your head for a reason, sure something is not wrong?" she asked, concerned. Harry felt something boiling in his blood, fed up with the fact that everyone was always worried about Harry Potter in one way or the other. He shook his head no, heaving a sigh.
"It's just something you wouldn't understand, let alone Professor Dumbledore, but thanks, I need to get to my Transfiguration class," he left in a hurry, not willing to hear what his new DADA professor wanted to say. When he got in the Transfiguration classroom, and on his way to find the seat, the bell had rung and looked around for the new Head of House professor and found him at the desk.
He quickly grabbed a seat and sat down, and waited for the class to begin. Professor Conan stood up and began walking the aisles, looking at each student carefully. Harry got his assignments and homework out for the teacher to hand them in and when Professor came to him. He collected Harry's work and sent it to his desk with the flick of his wand.
"Today," he began slowly, "we will be learning about the art of becoming Animagus. Back in your third year, I understand that Professor McGonagall told you a bit about being one. Some of you may wish to become one. If you do, you must approach me or the Headmistress McGonagall to begin and during your training. It's a long and difficult process."
He paused there, calculating everyone's gaze upon him, which was alert and awake. "Some of you may be gifted, while others may not be so. Sometimes it will take one person to become Animagus in three years, or even a decade. The record of one person becoming one was in nine months and that was back in the 1500's. I doubt any of you will achieve it before you graduate. As some of you may know, there were seven registered Animagi, before. However in recent light of later years, two more have been added. One was James Potter, and the other is Sirius Black."
Harry suddenly raised his hand as well as Ron and Hermione. He acknowledged the three of them as well as looking at each other.
"Potter?"
"Actually, there's one more Animagus, Peter Pettigrew is one," said Harry. "And of course, there might be many other unregistered Animagi as the history shows that my dad was unregistered until this summer. And that he was unregistered since his fifth year at Hogwarts. You never know if one of your colleagues might be one. Or your . . . enemy," he finished.