Jez: I rather tend to ignore religion as being not only pointless, but also stupid. The Lance has a rather blunt quality to it's style. Once it has willing co-operation, it tends to bully them into doing what it wants, simply over-riding objections, and totally ignoring questions that don't aid it's cause. As for the attacks, most of the victims are in coma's, and the Lance is trying to win them over while they're cut off from the support of friends and family.
Short chapter, but sets up for later.
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"I am pleased to announce, that there will be a dance this fall, only semi-formal, though robes are mandatory. The dance will be held in the great hall, and is open to all years, attendance is not mandatory however." McGonagall announced. Dumbledore had, in the days since his attack, recovered enough to resume most of his duties, as well as attending meals. However, McGonagall still insisted on doing announcements. A round of cheers met her announcement, as did general merry making. The mood of the school, which had dropped like a stone, after Dumbledore was attacked, sky rocketed again. Harry found it odd, but Draco was no longer accompanied by his Crabbe and Goyle any longer. He asked about it, and was told, in the same rude tone, that it was none of his business. So it was a surprise, when they encountered Malfoy around a corner one day.
"Harry, you've got to help me." He yelped, grabbing Harry's robes.
"Help you? Why would we want to help you?" Ron asked.
"It's Crabbe and Goyle, they've lost it, they're trying to kill me." Malfoy replied.
"Can you really blame them?" Monica asked. She'd taken an interest in the rivalry between Harry and Malfoy, even though she did her best to remain neutral. She didn't cheer either one on, but she also didn't entirely play nice with either. Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that Monica liked one of them, but didn't want them to know which one it was. Malfoy just glared at her.
"I hate to say it, but I think Malfoy's right." Ron interrupted, as Harry opened his mouth to speak.
"Why do you say that?" Harry asked instead. Ron pointed around the corner.
"Because here they come." Hermione swung around the corner.
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted. A silver blast lanced down the hall. "It didn't work." Malfoy held up three wands.
"I already tried that, they still came after me." He shrugged. Hermione swore, and Ron stared at her. She stepped back around the corner
"Petrificus Totalis!" The blast froze them both in mid-stride, but only for a moment. "No."
"Didn't work?" Monica asked. They shook heads. "Then might I suggest retreating?" She asked, already running. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione.
"I'm with her on this one." Ron replied, darting away. Hermione shrugged and bolted. Harry and Malfoy stared at each other, and the three runners, and took off after them. Crabbe and Goyle came around the corner and charged after them. Halfway up the hall, Monica slowed, and said something to Hermione. They slid to a stop. Hermione's wand reappeared. Monica's staff appeared in her hands.
"Petrificus Totalis!" Hermione shouted. At the same instant, Monica slammed her staff into the floor.
"Vinao!" Vines lashed out at the momentarily frozen thugs, catching arms and legs, and pulling them tight, holding them in place. "Nice timing." Monica complimented, breathing hard.
"What is going on here?" Snape asked, appearing behind Crabbe and Goyle. Fire from his wand severed the vines, as the other five shouted.
"NO!" The two, freed now, started after them again. Snape grabbed them by the shoulders. They turned, and leveled him with two consecutive punches, and then turned. Harry lifted his wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" They rose into the air. "Someone help, I can't hold them forever." He grunted through the strain.
"Exnori!" Ron bellowed. The two smashed into the far wall.
"I said a dab will do." Monica commented, wincing.
"What was that?" Hermione asked.
"A banishing spell. A bit more powerful than Accio. I had to annoy the hell out of my teacher to get him to teach it to me. I use it on boys who just won't take the hint." She grinned, and winked at Harry and Malfoy. They stared back at her, apparently not catching the hint. Hermione did, and laughed. Ron shrugged, expended from the spell. "I think we'd better hurry to class."
"What about Snape?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione stared at him.
"What about him?" Ron asked. "He's a teacher, let him deal with them."
"But he saw us attacking them. He's going to come after us." Harry reminded them. Hermione sighed.
"Allow me." She stepped up beside Snape, and tapped his forehead. "Obliviate." She winced. "Hope I didn't erase anything important." She darted after them.
"Believe me, it doesn't work that way." Monica commented, as they rounded a corner. Straight into McGonagall.
"What are you doing running in the halls, in the middle of the day?" She asked.
"Helping me." Malfoy opened his mouth. "Crabbe and Goyle attacked me. They tried to stop them, but Professor Snape thought they were under attack, and cut them free. They attacked him. We were coming to find you." He explained. The last was a lie, but Malfoy was good at lies.
"This way then." She led them back around the corner, and they gave her a wide lead. Rounding the corner, she found all three just coming around. Looked up, and past her seeing Malfoy. They began to advance, whatever enormously powerful compulsion they were under driving them almost beyond the point of reason. "Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle, stop right now." They ignored her. She seemed to realize it, and drew her wand. "Stop, right now."
The air seemed to shimmer, and the light began to dissipate. Everyone but the two slowly advancing thugs seemed to realize what was happening. Eight wands, and one staff burst into light. The two continued to advance. Then the light from the wands, and the staff began to fade. Snape was the one to take action.
"Move!" He roared, startling them all into motion. He turned, and went the other way, McGonagall pushing the others along. Crabbe and Goyle charged after them, seeing their prey start to escape. At the end of the hall, into the main area, where they could see Snape on a parallel staircase, they stopped to make a stand. McGonagall raised her wand, aiming as the two came around corner.
"Stupefy!" The stunning spell lashed out, impacting both, but only slowing them.
"Ron, Harry, the sleep spell, quick." Hermoine urged. They hurried forwards, around McGonagall.
"Somnus!" The waves lashed out, crossing the distance, and bringing the two larger boys to their knees. A repeated blast brought them all the way down. As if called by magic, which was rather likely, considering where they were, Dorion, and Dumbledore appeared, each from a different direction.
"Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.
"In a moment Professor. I think it's rather a good idea for these four to move along to class. I know the situation, and will deal with it." McGonagall spoke sternly. Dorion coughed.
"Since their next class is with me, I'll escort them." He turned, and pushed them along.
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"So, tell me Hermoine, has anyone asked you to the dance?" Monica asked, startling the other. Hermoine took a deep breath, and waited a moment for her heart to calm again. She didn't know anyone could sneak that quietly, even with his cloak, Harry could still be heard coming.
"Several people, why?" She asked. Monica dropped to the seat beside her in the library, laying down a very large book.
"Just making conversation." Monica replied, and snickered softly. "I seem to have attracted most of the male population of the school."
"Could it be the clothing you wear under your robes." Hermoine suggested. "Or perhaps the lack there of?" Monica laughed dismissively at the suggestion.
"They are a bit... less, than what the rest of the girls, women, what have you, around here wear. Aren't they?" Hermoine's almost incredelous stare, made her smile.
"Just a bit." Hermoine answered. "Why do you wear them?"
"Personal style." Monica shrugged. "Where I've been learning, we don't like robes getting in the way of our spell casting."
"I've been reading up on it, and from the descriptions, it involves a lot more complex movement with hands, than it does with wands." Hermoine began. The rest of the day was spent in a discussion about exactly that.
