Erised's Bane

Author's Note: Hiya! Well, I have come out with yet another chapter. Yes, there have been a lot of them recently but I have had idea after idea and I needed to put them all down somewhere, so here you go. Go me. Oh yeah, I'm in a really good mood because I had an art breakthrough...I learned how to perfect my anime...hee-hee-hee...well anyway, enjoy this chapter and have a nice day.

Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Harry Potter. Geesh, I'm through with trying to be original and write all these different funny disclaimers. What do people think I'm made of, jokes? Yeah, I'm a regular joke machine, aren't I? What are you looking at, pretty boy, huh? Want a piece of me? Hoo...okay, I need some time alone...to get in touch with my inner....whatever.

Sorry. I really shouldn't write when I'm hyper...

Chapter Six: Professor Young's Method

"Morning." Harry grumbled as he sat down at the table, barely looking up as he began spooning up his porridge.

"Well aren't we the morning person?" Hermione said absently as she eagerly looked over her new class schedule. "Hmm...I have Astronomy right after Potions...at least I can get some fresh air after being in the dungeon..."

"Yes!" Ron said gleefully. "Free periods. Too bad Harry...I get to relax while you're stuck with Snape in the dungeon."

"I can't believe you aren't taking Potions." Hermione said for what Harry assumed to be the twentieth time. "Couldn't you have arranged something? You really need to take that class, you know..."

"I'm not planning on ever using potions." Ron said in exasperation. "I'd just poison somebody if I did. And the...profession...that I'm looking into doesn't require it, really."

"Yes, but a basic knowledge..."

"I have a basic knowledge." Ron snorted. "What do you think I got after five years stuck with him? Not just a load of bloody bad memories, I can tell you that."

"Well, bully for you then." Harry snorted, yawning widely. "But at least it's still Defense against the Dark Arts, right?"

"Of course." Ron muttered. "But I might drop out if this Professor Young turns out to be...well, you know. Another Snape or Umbridge or something."

Hermione shuddered. "Don't remind me of that awful woman. That was one teacher I was really glad to see go...well, you know, besides the other two that tried to kill Harry."

"Gee, thanks for your support." Harry said in amusement, glad of the lighthearted atmosphere. "I guess we'll see how she is in a few minutes though, we've got her first thing."

Ten minutes later Harry, still yawning, with Hermione and Ron in tow started down the hall towards the classroom. However, when they got there they discovered that the door was firmly locked, the room inside dark, and Young was nowhere to be seen. "Where is she?" Hermione asked Dean Thomas, who shrugged pointedly.

"What do you think is keeping her?" asked Ron, though the tone of his voice suggested he wasn't that interested in the situation.

"Dunno. Maybe Snape attacked her." Harry muttered under his breath. "Didn't get the job this year, he's bound to be slightly peeved, don't you think?"

Dean sighed. "Well, if she isn't here, I think I'll employ the old five minute rule."

"The what?" asked nearly everybody except Harry and Hermione.

"The five minute rule. If she isn't here in five minutes, we're able to leave without being totally responsible."

"Oh, stop that rubbish." Said Hermione in her condescending tone. "She'll be here. She was probably just getting her lesson ready or..."

"Oh! Didn't I leave the note on the door? I can't believe it, I've already made a mistake..." Young came running up the hall, her hand clutched over her hat to keep it from falling off. She stopped, breathing heavily, before the group of students and sighed, wiping off her forehead. "My apologies, sorry about that. Really didn't mean to keep you waiting..." She stopped for a long moment, looking at the students expectantly.

"Well?" said Dean after a moment. "Aren't we going to...do something?"

"Oh! Right. Follow me." She made a slight motion with her hand and started back down the hall the way she came. She then froze. "Well, I guess you won't be needing your books, so you can just toss them in the room." She waved her wand and the door flew open. A second later, quite literally, the books leapt into the room of their own accord, leaving most of the students speechless. The door slammed closed again a moment later and Young smiled with a slight nod. "Come on, then. Make sure you have your wands."

Harry exchanged amused grins with his friends as they made their way down the hall. They passed the other classrooms quickly, every person wondering where they were going. What they didn't expect was that Young would lead them right out the doors of the castle to the side of the lake, where she finally paused. A desk was planted right under the beech tree and she sat on its edge, beckoning the students in front of her.

"Right then." She said, looking at them all. "I thought we'd better start outside today, as the lesson...well, it tends to get a bit messy if you're inside, and I don't think I'd like to spend my afternoon repairing the classroom." She said bluntly. A low murmur broke out but Young didn't seem to notice, as she was currently going over her notes. "Now, this is fifth year N.E.W.T. course, correct? Well, before we begin I'll introduce myself. My name is Sabrina Young, Hogwarts Class of 1975, Gryffindor naturally. I was beat out for Head Girl and Captain of the Quidditch team, but I was the next best...well, we won't get into that." She coughed, as if reminding herself to get back on track. "Well, then, now where was I? Oh right. Why don't we all sit in a circle here on the grass, and you tell me about yourself as we all go around?"

Everybody was staring at her in amazement, as if it was common for an entire group of fifth years to be asked to play as if they were first graders. But the idea of an unconventional lesson was enough to convince most of them to play along with her game. "Now, tell me your name and a bit about yourself." She said, smiling warmly. Neville jumped when she pointed at him. "You first."

"Uhm...I'm Neville Longbottom." He said uncomfortably. Young made a small noise and checked him off on her roll. "And I...er...well, I like chocolate frogs a lot. And butterbeer." Everybody laughed and he grinned sheepishly as Lavender Brown started telling about herself. Time passed and soon the group had circled around to Ron.

"Ronald Weasley." He said, his ears turning red. "I'm a keeper for the Quidditch Team and I have a pet owl named Pig."

Young chuckled and pointed at Hermione. "Well, my name is Hermione Granger. And when I get older, I plan to campaign for the rights of house-elves and other magical creatures that have been treated unfairly for so long. Starting with the elves here at Hogwarts." She said proudly. Young turned to her and raised a brow.

"Interesting. I may have some material that would help you if you were interested, Hermione."

Beaming, she nodded. "Yes. Thank you very much, Professor."

Everybody then turned to Harry and he felt himself grow red. "Harry Potter." He muttered, "And I have the strange habit of almost getting killed."

Young stared at him for a long moment, and he instantly regretted what he had just said. But then, to his amazement, she laughed out loud. "Yes, that is a terrible habit. I think we'll have to break it soon, Harry." Everybody managed weak grins though he could tell they were having a hard time understanding how nonchalantly he had just taken his own near-misses at death.

The circle finished off with Parvati and Young stood, stepping over Neville to the center, reminding Harry strangely of the children's game Duck, Duck, Goose. She tapped her foot for a moment, looking around at them all, before nodding. "All right, stand up now. I think I'll get started with this."

Everybody obeyed and her gray eyes sparkled for a moment. "Okay. Before we get anything started, I'm here to tell you one thing...we're not here to play games. I'm not going to teach you theory or tell you the dangers of dark magic...you're all well-aware of that, and frankly I don't think that load of theory rubbish is going to do any of us any good." She said shortly, making Hermione smile smugly.

"So let me tell you what we are going to learn. I have heard of the actions you took last year to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts...properly. That is well enough, but what you did was in a controlled environment, with good knowledge of what you were going to do. Though it might help prepare you, it's only the first step. So this year, we are going to learn how to use what you learned...the right way. And before we start that, I have one simple spell to teach you." She grinned, raising her wand. "So on the count of three, you are all going to use your best curse on me."

"Excuse me? Did you just say..."

"Oh, you heard me right Hermione. Yes, you are all going to curse me, and none of that codswallop kiddy stuff. I want you to use something realistic. On the count of three...oh, and make sure whoever is across from you can handle something you send their way. I don't want any nasty little mishaps on my first day."

Harry noticed a small scuffle break out as students clamored not to be the one across from him. After a moment, Seamus reluctantly stood across from him, glaring at Parvati as she faced Ron with a relieved smile. "All right now...everybody ready? Good. Now, on three...one...two...three!"

Immediately a multitude of voices rang out as every student used their best curse on Young. Harry, who had chosen Riktor Sempra, watched the lights emanate from every wand and quickly near Young, who was standing there staring as if she hadn't a care in the world and didn't realize she was about to be attacked. Finally, when one of the curses was about to hit her, she rose her wand and her voice rang out true and clear. "Negatus Incantatum!" Harry watched as the lights from the various spells neared her and just as instantly vanished like they were nothing. He noticed a certain few, including his and Hermione's, struggle for a moment as if caught in some barrier before they too faded away. Everybody was staring in amazement as, after a long moment, the smoke cleared and Young was standing before them, wearing the same lazy smile.

"Awesome!" said Ron in admiration.

"That was the Negate Curse spell. It will work on many spells, but the barrier lasts for only a few minutes. It is unlike most shield charms in many ways...including the fact that it does not dispel the curse, but destroy it. There is a reason I have shown you this spell at this moment." She said as she stepped back out of the circle and sat back down on top of her desk, casually blowing a piece of hair out of her eyes. "Because this is one of the two tools you will need more than anything to make it through my class...the other is the Expelliarmus, which I am told you are already skilled in."

"But...why?" said Hermione after a long moment, when Young didn't appear to be intent on finishing her speech.

"Oh, I thought it was obvious? Well then, I shall tell you. This year, we will be having daily duels." She stood again, not noticing that most of the class was staring at her and had broken out of their circle. She walked through the mass of them, tapping a hand on her chin. "Yes, daily duels. Each person will be partnered with a randomly chosen duelist, and the two of you shall spend the year in battle against one another...in our class only, of course. I will accept any extra credit on defense charms and jinxes that can be used for efficiency in a duel, in essay form at least two feet long. No spell used more than once, I will determine how much extra credit you receive."

Hermione raised her hand suddenly. "No need to be so formal." Young said with a wave of the hand. "You haven't been thus far anyway."

Blushing, Hermione spoke. "Well, I was just wondering...how do we choose our partners?"

"What do you think I was asking your names and information for?" said Young. "I've already made the list." She stopped again, and Harry felt a strong surge of annoyance when he realized she didn't intend to go on.

"Well...aren't you going to tell us who is partnered with who?" he said, surprising quite a few people.

"I suppose you'd like to know." She said. She pulled the list back out. "Right...Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter..."

Neville? Harry turned to look and saw that he was having the same thoughts as his partner. Neville was mouthing in astonishment and appeared worried--he knew as well as everybody else that the last person Harry had faced in a duel was Lord Voldemort. He jumped when he heard a snap and saw that Young had dropped her list into a large black bag. She nodded just as the bell rang. "I'll be seeing you later. Oh, and if you see Hufflepuffs near the room, could you direct them this way please? So kind of you." She said without waiting for their response. Harry stared at her a long moment before turning with his friends to leave, shaking his head.

"Strange." Ron muttered. "Definitely."

"I think she was nice." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Even if she is a little...addle-brained."

"Insane is more like it." Ron laughed, making Hermione poke him hard in the ribs.

"If you want to talk about insane, look over there, it's your girlfriend." Both Harry and Ron turned and saw that Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw fifth year, was waving at them quickly, a large and very orange fluffy thing sticking out of her hair.

"What do you mean my girlfriend?" Ron said absently as the group of them turned back down the hall.

"Do I have to tell you everything?" Hermione said with a sigh. "Isn't it obvious she has a crush on you?"

Ron coughed hard the moment she said that, making her pat him on the back with concern. "She fancies me? You're the one who's insane." He wheezed. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Have it your way. Harry and I have to go to potions. See you later."

"Yeah. Whatever." He was still standing there, hunched over, as Harry and Hermione made their way back down the steps towards the dungeons.

"What do you think we'll be doing today?" Hermione said, a nervous tone in her voice.

"I don't know. Probably something extremely difficult that I'll be a total failure at."

"Don't say that." Hermione sighed as they rounded the corner and entered the dungeon. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Stop trying to be nice." Harry snorted, making her frown. "I really mean it."

Rolling her eyes, they took their seats at the table, both of them looking strangely at the empty seats that had usually been occupied by Ron and Neville. "Look on the bright side." Hermione muttered out of the side of her mouth. "No Crabbe and Goyle."

"Yeah, Malfoy does look a lot smaller when he's not flanked by his goons, doesn't he?" he muttered as Malfoy sauntered in, glaring darkly at Harry.

As the class moved quietly in, considerably small than it had been in the past, they quietly sat themselves around, watching as Snape emerged from the shadows of his office. He stared at them all for a long moment. "So." He finally said in that same awful whisper as always. "This is what I have. After five years of culmination, you are what I have reaped from the mindless depths of this school." He gave Harry a dark look. "Most of you, anyway. I must warn you that this class is not for the weak. It requires strong blood to do much of the work, and more out of class work than I believe some of you are willing to do." Once again he looked at Harry, a smug smile passing over his face. "And once again I find the famous Harry Potter...more famous now than ever. Tell me, Potter...what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry stared back at him, a long ago memory stirred up in his mind. "I believe that would make a sleeping potion powerful enough to be known as the Draught of Living Death. Sir." Harry said, not breaking eye contact with Snape, who frowned.

"Ah...I see I managed to get one thing through that incredibly thick skull of yours, Potter. Now, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" he said, his lip curling.

"I believe the bezoar is found in the stomach of a goat, and if I am not mistaken it will save you from most poisons. Sir."

Snape shook his head. "Ah...too bad you couldn't have known this first year, Potter. And now..."

"What's the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane? Why, none at all." He continued staring at Snape. "And look, Hermione didn't even have to raise her hand this time."

Snape, whose eyes had gone a particularly menacing black, turned away. "Enough of this foolishness. You will stumble in here soon enough, Potter...and mark my words, when you do even your faithful pet Miss Granger will be unable to catch you." He picked up a large leather bound book. "In here are some of the most complex potions you will ever attempt to make in this school. Among them are the Polyjuice potion, Veritaserum...others that even skilled witches and wizards are never able to produce. This year will be one of the hardest you will face. I trust that at least one of you will be up to the challenge." He said, casting a glance in the direction of Malfoy.

Harry bit his lip and watched as Snape explained the process of the supposedly simple sleeping draught, struggling to keep himself from dozing off as he had that morning. The night before had been ill-spent, tossing and turning until four, when he had finally given up and started reading to keep his mind occupied. Finally, when the lecture was over, he forced himself fully awake--as much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to do well in this class...if only to show Snape that he was wrong.

But after a few moments his vision, which was already sleep blurred, started going hazy. He pulled off his glasses and wiped them clear before replacing them, but if anything it was now worse and everything seemed to be obscured by shadowy fog. "Hermione!" Harry hissed quickly. "I can't see!"

"What?" she said, frowning as she looked at Harry. "What do you mean?"

Harry, whose vision had now gone almost completely black, grabbed her arm. "Check around, see if Malfoy is doing anything. My vision started going blurry, now it's like I've gone blind."

"Are you serious?" she said in a slightly nervous tone. He felt her move away slightly before returning, leaning forward. "He's talking to Snape, he can't be doing it, and nobody else is even paying attention to you. What do you think it is?"

"I don't know. There aren't any weird potions nearby I might have...?"

"None." Harry shut his eyes tightly and opened them again to no avail. Things were completely black, and nothing at all was visible to him.

"Try again." Hermione whispered. "Maybe you got something in there..."

Harry shook his head. "Nothing. Look, see if you see anything." He turned his face in what he hoped was her direction and held as still as possible, trying not to blink.

"Oh, Harry!" Harry heard Hermione's small cry before she stood. "Professor!" she said hurriedly.

"What do you want Miss Granger?" he said in his usual tone. "Haven't you started on your potion yet? Usually you're the first off..."

"It's Harry." She hissed. Crouching down further in his seat, Harry desperately wished himself out of the situation....he was only glad he couldn't see it. He heard footsteps and winced automatically when Snape neared.

"What is it?" he said in irritation.

"I can't see." Harry said.

"Perhaps you need new glasses." Snape sneered.

"No, he really can't see!" Hermione said, close to tears. "He's blind!"

Harry heard a quiet in the air and he assumed that at that moment everybody had ceased their activity and was now staring at him. Even the thought made him turn red.

"Take him to Madam Pomfrey." Snape said. "I suppose he'll need your help, Miss Granger."

"Right." Hermione stood and started to take his arm.

"Just lead me." He said quickly, not wanting to seem any more feeble than he already was. "I'll follow, I can hear you."

He felt along the desk and suddenly he felt a hot pain sear through his forehead. He automatically clapped his hand to his scar and hissed, the pain being much more intense than usual. Hermione let out a small cry of horror when she saw what was happening and started towards him, but he raised a hand when he heard her. "Just...wait." he said hoarsely, aware of the heavy silence. "No...I think it's okay." He muttered after a long moment. "In fact, I think I might be..."

He blinked a few times...sure enough, light was starting to come back to him and he was swimming briefly in the thick fog of earlier. "I don't know what this is." He muttered. "But I can see now." He said, blinking the ache away. He turned around to face Hermione.

And let out a shout of horror.

"What Harry?" said a mutant voice, emanating in echoes from a warped version of Cedric Diggory's face with hollow eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Leave me alone!" he shouted, bringing his hand to his eyes. "Stop it!"

"What is this?" Harry turned and wretched as bile rose into his stomach...Sirius was now staring at him, his face dark and accusing. A great gaping hole was torn in his chest and the rags of his robes were fluttering like the flight of a ratty gray veil...

"No...no...No!" he cried, turning once more. The final image made him feel as if he had split into a million pieces. "Don't do this!" he shouted, gripping his hair in his hands. A woman with long, dark red hair and his eyes was watching him, a tall black-haired man at her side. The both of them were gaunt, peering at him almost hungrily.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and he screamed out loud as he turned. "GET OUT!" he shrieked, and his vision went suddenly black as he collapsed to the floor, trembling with sweat. He stayed stationary for a long moment before cautiously opening his eyes, seeing normal again...normal...he had to be normal. He gripped the side of his desk and weakly brought himself to his knees. When he emerged from behind the desk he saw the entire class staring at him, with unnaturally white faces...Snape included. "I'm...sorry." he gasped, trying to get his breath. "I...saw..."

"You don't have to tell us what you saw." Hermione shuddered, looking down at the floor. "We saw it too. All of us." He saw the tears gleaming in her eyes and looked away in shame. Everybody was still standing that way a minute later when the bell rang. Hermione scooped up her books and fairly fled, as if she were afraid of Harry. Malfoy gave him a look of combined horror and pleasure...horror that he had seen such a gruesome sight, and pleasure...pleasure because he knew it was only a small sampling of what Harry went through.

With a shudder, working as if he had to reteach his limbs what it meant to move, frozen as they were, he packed his own things and started out of the room. "Potter." Harry stopped and turned. "Meet me for your first Occlumency lesson of the year tomorrow evening." He said, his face unreadable. "And do try to work on it for a change?"

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Ohh...scary. Told you I shouldn't be writing when I'm hyper. That part actually scared me, and I was writing it...but that's probably because I'm sleepy and I've had too much ice cream and as I was writing it I had the weird mental images going on in my head. AACK!

Well, thanks for your kind reviews and everything, they totally rock. If you'd like to talk to me, E-MAIL me! I LOVE getting e-mail that isn't junk stuff...I got a friggin FIFTY-SEVEN bulk E-mails yesterday...no thanks, I really don't need ointments for *certain* things.

Well, ttyl....REALLY, PLEASE E-MAIL ME! I'm a loser and I don't have many real friends to talk to...

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