(A/N: "Hello out there! I have returned from the journey that is finishing a chapter. There were many perils along the way such as the dreaded 'writer's block' and 'fleshing out' that were beaten back at long last by pure willpower. There was a time though, where the muddy path nearly took me and I found myself sinking in pit of frustration. There, it was only the cries of the reviewers that saved me, giving me strength to grab a hold of a nearby mini-plotline and pull myself out. For that, I have you all to thank. Now, I believe that it is on with the story that has lain dormant for so long. Ladies and gentlemen, with no more ado I present to you, chapter nine!")
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Chapter 9 – "Tell Draco He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today"
At breakfast the following morning a signup sheet for the Dueling Association was passed around and both Harry and Hermione were pleased with the number of people that looked as if they were signing up for the class. Some of the younger years looked disappointed that they were unable to take the class; Dumbledore had limited it to fourth year and above with the exception of Dennis Creevey who was in the DA the year previous. After the sheet had finished its rounds through the school each student received their timetables. Harry smiled as he looked down at his paper. For the first time in five years, he wouldn't have to endure the torture that was Snape's Potions class.
Ron gave a 'whoop' as he realized the same thing and exclaimed that the trio started off with a double session of N.E.W.T. Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry quickly verified this and confided with those that asked that he had high expectations for Shaklebolt's performance. After breakfast the trio led the way through the halls to the DADA classroom and took seats at the front, eagerly awaiting Kingsley's arrival. They didn't have to wait long.
As the clock on the wall ticked 8:00 the door from the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office opened and Kinglsey Shacklebolt stepped out. He descended the stairs with an assurance of self that had been unmatched by any professor before him, not including Lockhart, and strode purposefully to the podium at the front of the class. The student's heads turned as he moved, following his progress and forming judgments about their newest DADA professor. Harry thought that the man was putting on a good first impression.
"Hello class," Kingsley started, his deep voice startling a couple students. "Before I introduce myself and explain in short what Defense Against the Dark Arts will be focusing on this year I need to take roll. Forgive me if I mispronounce your names, and please be patient with me while I try to learn them. Alright then," Kingsley picked up a sheet of paper from the podium. "Hannah Abbot?"
The once shy Hufflepuff raised her hand and Kingsley gave her a warm smile before continuing with the roll. Harry was pleased that, unlike any of their new professors before, Kingsley merely called his name and continued on without making undue glances at his scar or telling some sort of story. Soon enough roll was called, Harry had almost groaned when Draco Malfoy's name was called, though the Slytherin was without his two bodyguards.
"Okay," Kingsley started after putting down the roll sheet. "Welcome to N.E.W.T. Defense Against the Dark Arts. This class will be vastly different than any other Defense Against the Dark Arts class you have had before. Not only will it be more difficult, it will be intensive, and the things you learn I expect will change the very way you live and look at things. The text, though reading will be assigned, is secondary to in-class practical work. You will not be required to bring the text to class, and don't expect to have time in class to do any assignments.
Grades in this class will be based on a combination of class work, participation, and tests, of which there will be three each semester. Homework will only ever be reading and extra practice of what we did in class. Though it is not a part of the grade officially, it will count somewhat in the class participation section, and I expect everyone to keep up to date with it." He gave a quick glance around the room searching for any student that looked as if they would take advantage of his not checking homework; he found none.
"Now, a little bit about myself. As you know, my name is Kingsley Shacklebolt, you can call me Professor Shacklebolt, Professor Kingsley, or just Professor, whichever is most comfortable for you. I attended Hogwarts in the 1960' s - 1970's, graduated in 1975. After school I enrolled in auror training and have been an active auror in the corps for eighteen years. Headmaster Dumbledore asked if I would take this position earlier this summer, I obviously accepted.
"I have browsed your education in the subject briefly and I assure you that unlike most of your previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, I am competent." This earned a few smiles from the students. "Now before I continue are there any questions?"
No one raised a hand. "Very good. Now, can anyone tell me what Dark Arts are exactly?"
"Anything used for a dark purpose," Ernie Macmillan called out.
"Do you mind expanding your answer Mr. Macmillan?" Kingsley asked.
"Any art used with the intent to hurt in some way?" Ernie offered, a bit unsure of his answer.
"Very good," Kingsley said. "Dark Arts are any art used with intent to hurt. The injury can be physical, it can be psychological, it can be social, but it is always intended. That is what a Dark Art is. I expect that with the second rise of," Kingsley took a short breath, "Lord Voldemort," most of the class gasped, Draco looked deciding smug, "Dark Arts will once again become commonplace. It is my job to teach you to defend yourselves in the event of an attack.
"A wise man once said, 'Know thy enemy.' I fully believe in this concept of defense and so, unfortunate as it is, I will be giving each of you a rudimentary understanding of the Dark Arts, and teaching you some spells that are mostly used as a dark art. It is my opinion that one cannot fight against that which he does not know and understand."
This statement was something of a bombshell dropped on the students who immediately erupted in soft whispers, more than a few of which were directed at Harry. Kingsley let them continue for a few moments before reigning the class back in. "I know that in your fourth year you were taught the unforgivables, I assure you that I will not teach you anything of that nature." This seemed to calm the class down somewhat and Kingsley continued to relate to the class some of the specific topics that they would be covering.
Pain curses, shield charms, and deflecting curses were all part of the curriculum. Harry and Hermione would be far ahead of the class in most of the topics mentioned as Tonks had seen fit to give the two a very thorough education, but Harry was interested nonetheless in Kingsley's specified style of teaching. It was far different than Umbridge's had been, and that held a great appeal for the Boy-Who-Lived.
The last half of the class was spent going over some basic material that the students had learned in past years and it was all too soon, in Harry's opinion, that the class was finished. As soon as the bell rang, Hermione packed her bags and with a quick 'bye' to Harry took off to get to Arithmancy early. She needed to speak with Professor Vector.
"So Harry," Ron asked in the hall outside the classroom, "how do you think Kingsley will do?"
"Well, he'll certainly do better than Umbridge," Harry said with a smile. "I figure he'll rank right up there with Professor Lupin."
"I don't know mate, Lupin was the best teacher we've ever had," Ron countered shaking his head.
"We'll see Ron. Anyway, what do you think about the material we will be covering?"
"Tell you the truth, I'm a bit nervous about it," Ron answered. "I've got no love for those curses, but I suppose that we'll be seeing enough of them soon, so I better learn what they do. How about you? I bet you already know half of that stuff."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, Tonks was a pretty decent teacher. I almost wish that she was here, but I guess she is kind of young to be quitting her job as an auror. But yeah, Hermione and I already know a bunch of that stuff. It should be helpful though, a lot of the DA will be over some of those topics." Harry pulled out his timetable. "What do you got now?" he asked Ron.
Ron pulled his out of his pocket and winced. "Urgh, Divination. I better get going if I'm going to make it to class on time. See you later tonight mate."
"Talk to you later Ron," Harry called after his best friend. It was a strange feeling bidding his friend goodbye at school. It was the first time he and Ron had different classes in all their six years of schooling at Hogwarts. As Ron turned the corner to the staircases Harry turned towards the library, he had a free period before having to go to Medimagic and he wanted to test if the notice about his access to the Restricted Section had been sent to Madam Pince.
An hour later found Harry relating to Hermione his first experience of permitted visitation of the restricted section and of his quick glance in the teacher's library as the two walked towards their medimagic class. It was a familiar route as Harry was often injured and thus needed the attention of Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing, and they followed the path on autopilot. Stepping into the classroom, which was located within the Hospital Wing itself, the two quickly found seats near the front of the class where they were greeted warmly by Madam Pomfrey. The two students continued to speak with their teacher until it was time for the class to begin.
"Hello everybody, and welcome to the first Medimagic class available in twenty years here in Hogwarts. As you know, I'm Madam Pomfrey and you may continue to address me as such, professor is not needed. I will be giving each of you a thorough background in this branch of magic over the next two years and you will be ready for the Medimagic NEWT when the time comes. This class will be very difficult, there is a lot of theory you will need to know, and it will also require that you spend time outside of class working with me in the Hospital Wing at times. I will collect each of your schedules for clubs and whatnot at a later date, probably next week sometime, and set up a time for each of you."
Harry could see a few students grimacing at losing free time but each there, mostly Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, wanted to learn and knew that the extra time would help accomplish that.
Madam Pomfrey continued. "Alright, Medimagic is first and foremost about empathy." Harry lost concentration a few times during the following lecture as he had received nearly the exact same one those few months ago in the summer. The lesson plan for the first semester was pretty much what he and Hermione already knew, but since those basics were key to the understanding of the art as a whole Harry didn't mind that he was getting a better foundation.
'Plus, the first semester of this will be easy so I can better concentrate on my other classes and the DA,' he thought with a small smile. Hermione would probably smack him if he suggested that they could take it easy in this class.
.:oOoOoOo:.
"I don't know why I elected to take divination again mate, be glad you got out of it," Ron said between bites at the lunch table. "Trelawney was worse than ever today, predicted my death, Neville's, and even Lavender's. Poor girl fainted dead away, pardon the pun, when Trelawney announced it." Both shared a good round of laughter, earning a disapproving glance from Hermione, but whether it was from Ron's choice of words or the topic neither could tell.
"How was arithmancy Hermione?" Harry asked the witch. "What did you need to talk to Professor Vector about?"
"Oh, it was fine. Today was mostly review of alpha omega calculations." At Harry and Ron's confused looks she waved a hand dismissing the topic. "I wanted to talk to Professor Vector about my calculations this summer for that spell Harry." Ron was the only one who raised an eyebrow at this. "I trust the twins somewhat, but not entirely. I wanted to double-check our combined calculations with her before I proceeded with the next set, which is going to be far too difficult by the way. I hate substitution matrices calculations."
The attempted explanation that followed was lost upon both boys, neither had even a rudimentary understanding of the subject, and when it was time to go to the next classes – Harry was done for the day, Ron had Advanced Charms, and Hermione had NEWT Potions – the two boys left confused and Hermione left slightly frustrated.
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Harry and Hermione traipsed up the staircases of Hogwarts Castle towards the sixth floor, towards their unknown office. Ron had been disappointed when the two informed him that they were going to see it right after Hermione's NEWT Potions course as he had a double session of Advanced Charms on Mondays and would not be able to make the original round of exploration.
The two students were left slightly panting as they surfaced on the platform of the sixth floor; it was a long ascent from the dungeons and they had not had time to acclimate their bodies to the amount of climbing necessary during the school year. After a moment's rest the two proceeded down the hall where they were greeted by several portraits, including that of Edgar the Evangelizer.
"Tell me! When a man dies does he live again?" The portrait called out to the two. Harry turned to answer but Hermione pulled him along around a bend and out of sight.
"Why did you just ignore him?" Harry asked, confusion etched in his features.
"You've obviously never experienced the Jehovah's Witnesses Harry, once you give them a second, they'll take an hour." This explanation of course did nothing to address the Boy-Who-Lived's current state of confusion ('Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses and what do they have to do with Edgar?') but Harry took her reason as a reason good enough. After all, Hermione had given it and Merlin knew she was always right.
It was only a few steps later that the duo came upon the statue of Sir Malak the Moody. He was placed in a small alcove dug into the stone wall and looked resplendent in his shiny armor, adorned with the colors and signet of his house.
"Good day Sir Malak," Hermione greeted the statue of the knight with a smile. A snore that reverberated through Malak's armor was the only answer she received. "Umm, Sir Malak?" Hermione asked again, slightly louder this time. Again there was no intelligible answer.
"Well this isn't quite what I was expecting," Harry offered as he walked from one side of the knight to the other, examining the statue's foundations and wondering how it would turn into a portal.
"Nor I," Hermione answered before futilely calling out the knight's name again.
"Here, let me try," Harry offered as he climbed up into the alcove along with the knight.
"Harry," Hermione started, "I don't think that's such a good -"
"SIR MALAK!" Harry yelled into the knight's helmet from mere inches away. The response was immediate. An armored elbow to the gut dropped Harry to the ground three feet below out of breath and badly bruised.
"What in Merlin's name was that boy? Waking up a poor knight when he is trying to get his allotted amount of beauty sleep?" asked Sir Malak as he spotted the teenager laying on the ground below him.
"Urrgh," came the pain-filled response of arguably the most recognized person in the wizarding world.
"I tried to tell you," Hermione said before muttering a few quick healing charms and getting Harry back up to his feet.
"Well?" Sir Malak inquired again. "What reason have you for disrupting my rest?"
"I apologize for my friend's cruel and unusual way of rousing you Sir Malak," Hermione stated like an expert diplomat. "It's just that we are the two professors who will be using the room beyond you and when we approached you were rather – well – asleep."
"And snoring," added Harry earning him a quick jab in the gut from Hermione causing him to redouble over in pain.
"Professors you say? Aren't you a bit young?" came the inquiry.
"Well, yes. A bit," came Hermione's response. "But I can assure you that we are well – "
Sir Malak cut off her response. "In my day Hogwarts would never have employed professors so young. Not enough practical experience to be able to actually teach the children anything. I can't imagine what Dumbledore is thinking. Why –"
And so the two found out why exactly it was that their password was 'superfluous.' Sir Malak, it appeared, would open up only once he had regaled upon his unwilling listeners tales of his past. And so it was that after an hour, Sir Malak insisted that they were the first ones to use the room in near a century (he couldn't imagine why, it was a perfectly good room) and so had many more stories to tell this time than he would in the future. Neither teen was convinced.
"Superfluous, superfluous, superfluous!" Hermione tried for about the fifth time during one particularly boring tale about Sir Malak's guarding of an unused and forgotten bridge. He was just explaining how he had sworn to not allow any to cross, and none did, when Ron came around the bend.
"Merlin! You two haven't found your office yet?" he asked them, incredulous.
"Oh no, we found it," Hermione answered, "We just haven't been able to access it yet." Sir Malak continued his droning on, apparently unaware of his audience's lack of attention. Hermione pointed at the knight, "He hasn't responded to the password any of the fifty odd times I've said it."
Ron looked at the rambling knight and gave Hermione a small wink. "I know just how to put an end to this. SIR MALAK, STOP YOUR TOMFOOLERLY THIS INSTANT AND LET US INTO THIS ROOM. SUPERFLUOUS!"
Sir Malak recoiled slightly at Ron's yelling before sniffing and tapping his halberd on the stone three times. Slowly he sunk into the ground and the alcove behind him opened up revealing a room behind. A small set of stairs leading up to the door formed where there had been before a wall.
"Impressive, Ron," Harry commented, a grin on his face. "You know, that is how I got him to wake up – but it didn't turn out as well. Where did you learn to do that anyway?"
"Mum," the redhead answered confidently. "That is what she does to the ghoul in the attic when it starts to think that it should be given its own room and locks us out." Harry stifled a snort before looking at Hermione. She looked a bit put out that Sir Malak had not responded to her rather polite demands. Harry reflected that she was probably used to getting everything by diplomacy and not by force. Regardless, she was the first to make the move to walk into their new room.
The first thing that stood out to Harry was its size. For Dumbledore to say that it would be adequate was a drastic understatement, it was about the size of the Gryffindor common room. Ron, apparently, noticed the same thing.
"Just imagine the house parties we could throw in here," he reverently whispered earning him a smack from Hermione.
"Is all you think about breaking the rules Ron?" she berated him. "This is our office, not some animal house!"
Ron looked at Harry who gave a knowing smile. "Oh, you two are incorrigible!" Hermione said throwing her hands in the air.
Further exploration of the room found that it was actually quite posh for the castle. Directly across from the doorway sat soft leather chairs and a matching couch, which faced a small fireplace at the far end of the room. Two gigantic windows stood to either side of the chimney. On the left stood a number of empty bookshelves (they wouldn't stay empty for long) and a cabinet much like the one that Snape kept his potions ingredients in. The right hand wall was adorned with Tapestries depicting such events as the Goblin Rebellion of 1652, the Signing of the Magical Concordat of Worms, and the Rise of Transylvania; each famous events in wizarding history. A set of work desks sat facing each other under the second of those tapestries. Target dummies stood against the front of the room on either side of the doors. The color theme was, appropriately enough, maroon and gold.
"Wow," Harry said rather dumbly when he finished his quick exploration of the room.
"This is… quite a bit more than I expected," Hermione imputed. Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.
An hour later and the shock value that the room had initially had had worn off. The trio was currently lounging around in the room, Harry and Hermione finalizing the lesson plans for their first DA class tomorrow, and Ron adding input whenever asked.
The redhead argued that the class would be able to review everything within the first week, and that it wasn't necessary to take the review of the previous year over two weeks. Hermione thought that it would be a good idea, especially in the case of the Patronus Charm.
"Like it or not, more than three-fourths of the people in the DA last semester could not produce a corporal Patronus, Harry," she said matter-of-factly. "And with things as they are, You-Know-Who on the loose and all, there are going to be dementor attacks. The safety of the students, and perhaps even the student's families, may rely on their ability to cast that charm effectively."
Ron cut in, "Hermione, it's not a reasonable expectation for all of us to be able to conjure up a corporal Patronus. The raw magical power is beyond the reach of some of us, especially those in the younger years. Besides, it could take weeks for the members of the DA to get the charm down well enough, and even then it wouldn't be tested against actual dementors. Harry here can attest to how much more difficult the charm is to perform when there is a dementor sucking out all of your happy thoughts."
Harry found himself nodding as Ron argued his point and finally spoke up. "Hermione, I think that Ron is correct in his arguments. The Patronus Charm is rather heavy-duty for us to be teaching. I taught it on a whim last year, and there is just no way that it can be properly learned in one session. Besides, the focus of our group now is dueling, not so much defense. I do agree that it is an important spell to be able to cast however, and so I will go with you to Kingsley to propose that he teach it to the class if you would like. He is the one that should take on the responsibility of teaching us that defensive measure."
"But what if he doesn't have time in his lesson plans to accommodate the spell?" Hermione asked. "I am very strongly of the opinion that the students need to learn this spell ASAP!"
Harry put his head into his hands. "Look Hermione, if Kingsley can't teach it (even though I think he will be able to) I will offer to the members of the DA private tutoring time in the spell if they wish to learn. But I will not force the spell upon them. It is the most difficult spell I've ever learned, it took me months to perfect it, and that was using a fake dementor to help me practice."
"I think that is the best you are going to get on this Hermione," Ron added. "And since you can cast the spell, you should be able to help Harry tutor students in it if it should come to that."
Hermione sighed, "Alright, I concede the spell, but I really do think that we should do a two week review. The basics are just so important."
Harry rose from the chintz armchair he had been occupying and strode towards the small fireplace before starting, "What about those that weren't in the DA last year. Are they going to be reviewing as well? For them the stuff may all be new. I don't think that it is fair really to do any review, let alone two weeks worth. What I think what we should do is 'review' as we go along. So when we do a section on shield charms we will do the standard protego as well as some of the more specialized shield charms that the former DA members won't yet know. We are going to have to help many of the students who did not take part in the DA last year because they will be a further year behind most of us. Why cram a year's worth of learning into two weeks for them?"
A hand was run through his raven hair as he turned to face Hermione and Ron again. The latter was nodding his head in agreement and while the former still looked slightly unconvinced, Harry could see that his argument had weakened her resolve for the review weeks. Finally, after a couple minutes of only the fire crackling Hermione too nodded her head, accepting the lesson plan.
Twenty minutes later found the trio agreeing that the first day would consist of explaining the basic class syllabus while taking some questions from the students. They would be released early and afterwards if students wanted to stick around some duels could be enacted.
That finally decided, the three students left the new office and meandered up a flight of stairs to the base of Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady opened up immediately (most unlike Sir Malak) upon being given the password ("tinsletoe") and the trio stepped into the Gryffindor common room. Harry barely had time to admire the comfortable chamber before being hailed by Neville.
"Hi Harry, hi Ron, hello Hermione, how were your summers?"
"Hello Neville, summer was good, how about yours? How were your OWLs?" Harry responded. The other two members of the trio nodded their agreement.
"Oh, I did alright on the OWLs. I got an 'O' in Herbology and an 'E' in DADA. I reckon you were the reason for that last one though. I've always been pretty hopeless in the subject." The four shared a quick laugh before Neville continued. "Anyway, as expected I did absolutely horrid on my potions OWL. Though I guess I should be glad, no more Professor Snape now, and I have room to take the class offered by Professor Potter."
Harry tinged slightly much to the amusement of the others that were coming around to say hello. "I swear Neville, you call me that again and I'll dock house points! I can do that you know," Harry said with a smile in an attempt to relieve his embarrassment. Neville and the newly arrived Dean Thomas chuckled at his remark.
"So Harry," Dean cut in, "What do you think of Professor Shacklebolt? Myself, I'm not too sure about this teaching us the basics of the dark arts. Sounds kind of fishy to me."
"Oh, I think he will do fine. Hermione and I," Harry said gesturing between the two of them, "learned a bunch of what he is going to be teaching this summer, and I can tell you that all the results have been positive. Besides, how are you supposed to properly duel a Death Eater without knowing what curses he is using? That would be pretty hard."
"I agree," Hermione said, "I mean, how would you know that you couldn't counter a wide-angle bludgeoning curse if you didn't know you your opponent had used one?" Both Hermione and Harry shared a laugh but stopped once they realized that Ron, Neville, Dean, and Seamus, who had just walked into the common room, did not understand.
"What makes you think that we will be fighting people that will be using those kind of curses though?" Seamus asked. "I mean, I know that the ministry has acknowledged that You-Know-Who has returned, but it's not like everyone is going to have to pitch into the fight."
Harry chose his words carefully, "I think Seamus, that in the coming months you'll see exactly why people are afraid to say his name. Voldemort, however sick it was, earned the fear that people have of him. There were very few British wizards that escaped the last war with him completely unscathed. I imagine that this time it may well be worse."
"But what about his Death Eaters? I mean you lot captured a whole bunch of them in the Ministry fiasco. How can he do anything without followers?" Dean asked.
"Those captured in the Ministry were much of his inner circle," Hermione offered. "Voldemort has many more followers than just those ones, though they were arguably his most loyal."
Harry looked at Hermione, proud that she had overcome her fear of the dark lord's name over the past months. The others looked at her with surprised etched across their faces. "What?" she asked contemptuously, "there is nothing to fear in a name." Harry flashed a smile in her direction, a smile that she returned.
.:oOoOoOo:.
The rest of the evening was spent with their classmates; Harry learned what Lavender and Parvati had done over the summer vacation (not much), and that Dean attended a muggle football camp for a few weeks in June. Neville related the remainder of his summer, the time from Harry's party to the Hogwarts Express, to the group and mentioned that he had done quite a bit of defense practicing over the summer. Harry told the larger boy that he couldn't wait to see how much he had improved.
Breakfast the following morning was eaten without Ron, as 'the lucky bastard,' as Harry put it, didn't have class until 10:00 and was currently sleeping in. Harry polished off his last blueberry scone on the way to Flitwick's room for NEWT Charms.
The small, energetic man sat at a small desk off to the side of the room and greeted the two as they came in. "Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, I was pleased that you elected to take my course, there are going to be many interesting things that we will be learning this year."
Harry gave Flitwick a smile and a short, "I can't wait," before finding a seat that wasn't yet taken. Hermione sat next to him and the two watched as the rest of the class trickled in. Draco Malfoy was the last to arrive and upon entering sneered at the two Gryffindors.
The class was primarily made up of Ravenclaws. Historically, next to potions, NEWT Charms was the hardest course to get into. Many students simply couldn't wrap their minds around the concepts behind many of the charms. It was these charms that this course would be focusing on.
"Welcome back everybody to another year at Hogwarts," Flitwick began enthusiastically. "This year will be unlike many years past as I have changed the curriculum somewhat." A few groans were heard from those who had older siblings that had already taken the course and left behind their work for them to 'study' from.
"Now, now," Flitwick said, his eyes twinkling. "I assure you that in this case change is a good thing. This year, instead of learning some more advanced household charms we will be studying the magic of transport. I will give a short lesson on the Floo system, portkey manufacturing and ministry regulations, and last but certainly not least, apparition." The class erupted into excited whispering at mention of the last and it was Hermione who asked the intelligent question.
"Sir, how will we practice apparating? You cannot on Hogwarts ground as I'm sure everyone knows."
"Very good Miss Granger. The actual practical portions of the apparition lessons are optional, though I highly encourage each and every one of you to participate. The practical lessons will take place on undecided Saturdays throughout the semester in Hogsmede. Should you miss one of the lessons, you will be unable to continue taking the practical apparition lessons, as there will be no time for makeups. Also, should you finish the set of lessons satisfactorily, you will receive your apparition license from the Ministry of Magic, who will be testing each of you at the final lesson. Some of you may even be able to get the license before you turn of age this way!"
If the whispering had been excited before, it just became zealous. Harry saw that even Malfoy looked faintly pleased by the announcement and was currently discussing something with Theodore Nott, a stringy sixth year Slytherin whose father Harry knew to serve Voldemort.
After several minutes Flitwick managed to get the class back under control and announced that for the following month the class would be focusing primarily on charms that warped space. This magic was used to create trunks that could hold much more than they should have been able to, or to make a house much larger on the inside than on the outside. The item, Flitwick explained, became more difficult to morph the larger or magic dense it was.
The rest of the double period of charms passed with the class attempting to get down the exact pronunciation and wand movement for the most simple of the space altering charms. Hermione was the only one who had actually made the inside of the thimble each student had big enough to fit a thumb into and earned ten points for Gryffindor.
After Charms Harry and Hermione traipsed up the Transfiguration room where they met Ron, who apparently had just rolled out of bed. Hermione didn't stop ragging on the redhead for his messy hair and bad breath until Professor McGonagall began to speak, and even then shot incredulous looks his way. Ron was somewhat peeved by her behavior, but Harry found the entire situation extremely amusing.
"Today, as per usual, will be spent mostly going over the material that you will be learning in NEWT Transfiguration. Each of you has proven that you belong in this class with a grade of at least Exceeds Expectations on your OWLs." Harry glanced around the classroom to see that it mostly comprised of Ravenclaws, which wasn't unusual of NEWT subjects. Draco Malfoy, blessedly, had either not qualified for the class (which would have made Harry's year) or had chosen not to take it as he was nowhere to be seen.
"This class and your class next year should be seen as two parts of a whole as the lessons build on each other from square one. We will be starting off the year learning how to transfigure an inanimate object into a real animal, capable of thought and survival. The process is long and arduous and I expect that each of you will put in more than the minimum amount of effort required. Part of these lessons will be the covering of the theory of why magical animals cannot be created in this way."
Hermione could be seen wearing an exceptionally large smile at the thought of being able to discuss the subject with a master of the art. Harry was willing to bet a bagful of galleons that she had already read all of the accepted hypothesis and had even formulated a few of her own. Ron, for his part, looked sick at the mention of doing more than the minimum amount of work required and Harry had to stifle a laugh.
"From there we will move on to human transfiguration." A well-placed comment about ferrets from Ron caused Harry to lose composure and cost Gryffindor five points. "This is without a doubt the most dangerous of all the things you will be learning this year and I expect that each of you will demonstrate the maturity necessary for these lessons. If I feel that anyone is unable to continue for any reason at all, I will not hesitate to remove that person from my class. Petty rivalries will not be tolerated in this classroom in your final two years.
"Those two lessons should take up the entirety of the first semester. Coming back from Christmas Break we will begin work on conjuring. This skill is very useful for practical reasons and is one of the most difficult skills that we will be learning. Now, who can demonstrate turning this pin into a mouse?" Several hands were thrown into the air, Hermione's among them, but Ernie Macmillan was chosen and earned ten points for Hufflepuff.
After class Ron bid the other two members of the trio goodbye and went off with Dean, Seamus, Zacharias, Terry, and a few others for a pickup game of Quidditch before lunch. Hermione and Harry struck off towards Medimagic, a class that would prove quite boring for a number of weeks before Madam Pomfrey got into subjects that neither Gryffindor had learned yet.
Ron arrived uncharacteristically late for lunch, Harry had never known the redhead to be late for a meal, but shrugged off Hermione's questions as to why, focusing instead upon the game. A number of upper level students had taken part in the game, even a few Slytherins had joined in on the action. Ron's team lost 170-130, the team of chasers and Ron's keeping skills shining through. In the end though, Cho Chang beat out Jennifer Hawken, a Gryffindor seventh year, for the snitch.
By agreement, after lunch Hogwarts two youngest professors proceeded up to the Room of Requirement. Dumbledore had granted their request for use of the room for the Dueling Association. The two finalized their lesson plans before Harry suggested a friendly duel. Hermione, who had voiced earlier that there were a couple new spells she had learned and wanted to try out, agreed.
The two backed fifteen paces off from each other, the standard dueling distance, and bowed.
"Funis necto!" Hermione started off the duel by conjuring ropes around Harry's body.
"Finite Incantateum!" Harry cried, vanishing the binds. "Conjunctiva!"
Hermione expertly absorbed the spell with a protego shield and sent off a leg-locker curse and a bludgeoning curse in quick succession. Harry responded with a protegoshield of his own and counter attacked with a cry of, "Ignipoten, decido!"
Hermione, recognizing the futility of the shield charm in the face of the blasting curse, dove to the ground and rolled up to her knees as the spell reduced a wooden table that had been behind her to splinters. The flipping charm impacted harmlessly against the stone walls of Hogwarts.
"Reprobra ego!" Hermione called out and Harry suddenly found himself facing two Hermiones, each seemingly real and independently acting.
"Incendio!" Harry called out and the Hermione on the left fell to the ground, the flames only nicking her robes. Harry was sure that it was the real one. "Aeger dolor!" Harry pressed the advantage on his classmate. The place where Hermione had been lying on the ground was suddenly empty and Harry let forth a curse knowing that he had fallen for the false image. He spun around quickly attempting to locate the real Hermione.
"Ael loc mal!" Harry threw a shielding charm into place before spinning to face the direction the curse had originated from. What he had not expected was to see three separate spells shooting towards him. With seeker-enhanced reflexes Harry threw himself to the ground. He was not, however, quick enough and his shield was impacted by two of the spells and broke under the stress. A well placed stupefy ended the duel.
Hermione threw a fist into the air and gave a small squeal of delight. It wasn't often that she beat Harry in a duel and with a smile she pranced over to where Harry lay unconscious on the ground and revived him.
"I win!" she announced in a far too cheerful a voice.
Harry groaned and rolled over so he could lie on his back instead of on his face.
"So," he started slowly, not feeling all that aware, "when did you learn the duplication image spell, and what in Merlin's name was that last spell you cast? Three spells?"
Hermione gave a laugh and pulled up a chair that had appeared behind her. "Well, the first one was an illusion charm with a built in confounding charm. It made you think that the false illusion was actually me, that is why you spent so much time on it rather than looking as I cast an invisibility charm on myself."
'Merlin this ground is uncomfortable,' Harry thought as he prepared himself for the explanation. He grabbed a pillow that materialized nearby and placed it under his head.
"And what were those three spells you cast that I thought were one spell?" Harry asked from the floor.
"Oh, those were single syllable bludgeoning hexes," Hermione said with a smile and a laugh. "I was going to teach them to you right before we came but I thought that this would be better use of them to start with." She smiled. "Weren't they?"
"Oh yeah," Harry replied sarcastically with a smile and a wink, "I love it rough, you know that."
"Well, with all the beatings you've given me I thought it would be poetic justice," said Hermione, justifying herself and ignoring the innuendo.
Harry gave her a smile that she returned. "I rather think it was," he said. "Anyway, you want to teach me those? And just how many are there? I know you used three, but are there more?"
Had Ron walked in on the two just then he would have been appalled, Harry was turning into Hermione. The old Harry would never have been so inquisitive, even when it came to defense. The old Harry would never want to study as this Harry had done all summer and was doing already in the school year. The old Harry would never have playful banter like he was with Hermione. Yes, Ron would have been appalled, it was a good thing that he wasn't watching.
The two continued their discussion of the single-syllable spells for the free hour they had, Hermione beginning to teach Harry how to cast them. They were far more difficult than Harry had imagined. It wasn't the raw magical ability that was needed to cast them that made the spells hard to learn, it was the focus necessary to get off a string of them. A, perhaps intended, side effect of long incantations was that it was easier to visualize the spell being cast and therefore much easier to succeed in the casting. After all, will played a large part in the utilization of magic. With the single syllable hexes there was little time to properly focus one's will into the forming of the spell.
It wasn't long before a trickle of students began to come through the door. Both Harry and Hermione greeted the students, old and new, enthusiastically. They promised a year of learning unlike any they had experienced before. Ron and Neville arrived together with a few of the other past members of the DA from NEWT Care of Magical Creatures shortly before the class began.
Finally the clock upon the wall of the Room of Requirement showed 2:00 and Harry moved to the front of the classroom.
"Hello all, and welcome to the Dueling Association. I'm sure you know me, I'm Harry Potter. Along with Hermione Granger here I will be your instructor for the year. You may call me Harry, or Professor Potter, and may call Hermione either Hermione or Professor Granger, either will do. We will not be exploring any defense or dueling techniques today unfortunately," Harry continued and there were a few 'ahhs' from the students. "Like most of the teachers, we will be going over a rough syllabus for the semester."
At this Hermione stood up to take the stage. "Headmaster Dumbledore assures us that Professor Kinglsey will be a more than adequate defense teacher and has asked us to focus more on offensive styles this year, so each of you will learn methods of attack in this classroom. This class will be mostly practical, though there will be a few theory assignments, and each day you will be required to bring your wands. You may also be asked to bring your defense books during certain days of the year.
"We will be starting off with some basic spells used to incapacitate an opponent, many of which you will already know. We are aware of this, but we want to make sure that each of you have these spells mastered before we continue."
The door to the Room of Requirement was suddenly opened, capturing the attention of both teachers and their students.
"Come on you imbeciles, father wants to know what this is all about, and I want to see Potter make a fool of himself." The words were greeted with silence as Draco Malfoy and his two cronies entered the room. Harry stood from where he had been sitting listening to Hermione.
"Nice of you to join us Mr. Malfoy. Ten points each from Slytherin for tardiness, disruption of the class, and your blatant insults to members of the faculty." There was a smattering of laughter from the assembled students and Draco Malfoy's face turned a magnificent shade of red.
"You can't do that Potter!" he yelled at Harry, who was currently wearing a smirk on his face.
"Actually, Mr. Malfoy, I can. Another ten points from Slytherin for your cheek. If you are going to stay I suggest you find a seat before I take more. Oh and Mr. Malfoy, it's Professor Potter to you while you are in this classroom." Even Hermione couldn't hide her smile at the way Harry had dealt with Malfoy. It was clear to everyone present who had just won that battle of wits.
As soon as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle had found seats in the back of the classroom Hermione continued. "As I was saying before the interruption these basic spells must be mastered before we can continue. Along with Professor Shaklebolt's curriculum we will also be studying some of the dark arts, as they are very effective dueling tools."
There was a quick murmuring throughout the class as those that had had not yet had Defense Against the Dark Arts began to talk. Hermione let the class quiet on its own before continuing.
"Harry and I have discussed the matter ourselves, and just to let you know, we do not feel comfortable with the subject either, but we cannot discard that particular art's usefulness in a duel," she said to let the students know that their professors could empathize. Draco Malfoy snorted in the back of the classroom and nudged his two bodyguards who began to snicker as if on cue.
"Is something funny Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked the blonde Slytherin.
"Not at all," came the automatic response.
"Very well then, you can either quit disrupting the class or I will remove points." Malfoy shot a glare at Hermione who chose to ignore it continuing, "We will also be holding a dueling tournament open to all Dueling Association members sometime in the coming months, probably before the Christmas break. The tournament will be put on as a spectator event for the school and anyone from Hogsmede that wishes to come to watch."
As expected, there was a fair amount of excitement at this, and the two student professors grinned as they saw even Ron was enthralled as he had not been told previously. Across the room students could be heard voicing their prospects at winning (none louder than Draco Malfoy) and there was several minutes of chatter before Harry stepped in.
"Because of the nature of the tournament, neither Hermione nor myself will be participating. However, we will put on an exhibition duel at the beginning of the tournament, and the tournament winner will be given the opportunity to duel each of us. That opportunity will also be extended to the tourney runner-up." There was a minute more of excited talking amongst the students before Harry could continue.
"That is all that we had planned for today so all of you are dismissed. However, if any want to stick around and have a few friendly duels between you Hermione and I are willing to proctor them. The only rules would be no unforgivables, and nothing that can kill."
Most of the class stood up following this announcement and after double-checking to make sure they had all their possessions exited the classroom. Ron, Neville, Hannah Abbot, Katie Bell, and Cho Chang stuck around and came to the front of the classroom.
"Harry, Neville and I are going to go at it alright?" Ron asked of his friend.
"Yeah, I'll be right there to watch," came Harry's reply as the two walked to one side of the room where a dueling platform had erected itself.
"Hannah and I are too," Cho called out to her former boyfriend of one date. Hermione saved Harry from having to say anything as she voiced that she would watch the duel. Cho left with the Hufflepuff girl looking slightly put out.
"Harry," Katie Bell started as she walked alongside her classmate towards where Ron and Neville were getting ready to duel, "McGonagall approached me today asking if I wanted the team captainship for Quidditch."
"Well that is great Katie," came the immediate response. "You deserve it after all, seniority and being such a great player and all."
"Yes, well thank you Harry, but the reason I was telling you is that I felt I had to turn down the position. You know, NEWTs and all this year. I have to be at the top of my academic game, and frankly, I don't think there is a future in professional Quidditch for me."
"Codswallop," Harry stated with a smile. "You are a brilliant chaser Katie. I imagine you will follow Wood to be the second member that has played with me to go on to the pros. You should take the position."
Katie blushed slightly at the praise before beginning again. "Harry, really, I'm not that good. I stand by my decision to pass on the captainship." A few seconds of silence passed and Ron and Neville's first spells flew through the air at each other. Ron successfully dodged Neville's tripping hex and Neville's shield deflected Ron's stunner.
"The reason I'm telling you is because I think that you should expect to be offered the position next Harry. McGonagall usually chooses by seniority."
"Hmm," came a thoughtful sound from Harry as he watched Ron and Neville fight it out. A number of jinxes flew towards Ron who was finally forced to erect a shield charm with a loud 'protego.' Finally Harry responded to what Katie had told him. "I don't really want the captainship Katie. I've a lot to do this year besides Quidditch. I simply will not have time to plan team strategies and as seeker I'm not the best position for a captain either. I would like to pass the opportunity to be captain to Ron if you think that would be alright. I know that Quidditch is a very important part of his life, and Quidditch strategy is one of the few things he will study without Hermione prodding him."
The two shared a laugh as a stunner from Ron flew through the air and shattered Neville's shield. A second stunner dropped the larger boy to the floor of the dueling platform unconscious.
"Yes," Kate said with a smile. "I think that would be fine. I believe we can expect good things from Ron as captain. I'll inform McGonagall of our decision and let her decide. I think that it will be fine though. Ron really improved over the summer, and as much as she doesn't show it, McGonagall takes Quidditch seriously enough to even keep track of the players in the pick up games." Harry chuckled a bit at the knowledge of his most strict professor's favorite sin.
"Congratulations Ron!" Katie called out to the redhead as she left, though Ron didn't know that it was for his new position on the Quidditch team that that congrats was offered rather than his victory in the duel.
"Indeed," Harry agreed, giving his best friend a smile. "Congratulations."
.:oOoOoOo:.
(A/N: Well, if you didn't understand the author's note up at the top it basically says that I was unable to get this chapter out due to writer's block and a fault in trying to get the story from the beginning to the end the way I want the story to progress. Again, thanks to you reviewers for making me get off my lazy bum and actually force my way through the chapter, I hope it was satisfactory. Several things of note happen in this chapter, but I will leave them to you to discover. Most are blatantly obvious, some not so much.
Credit goes out to sib-ff for the idea of single-syllable bludgeoning curses. I was granted use of the idea. Also, if you haven't, read sib-ff's The Awakening Power for a complete, and most excellent, sixth year fic that is COMPLETE! Yes, you read that right, complete. No sequel planned though, so bug sib for it. I tried, though it doesn't seem to be working.
Chapter title comes from a Fall Out Boy song, "Tell Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today," which I believe is a quote from the movie Rushmore. I just thought it was better than the previous title of the chapter, 'Enter Professor Potter.' More amusing at least.
Now, for the blatant self-promotion. If you haven't, I suggest reading my two short stories. One is a one-shot and the other, I suggest the revamped version, is something that I will add onto to try to relieve any writer's block on this story. So far that hasn't been too successful but you can't blame a guy for trying.
To those that inquired about the story I haven't posted, the reason is that it is just an idea right now. Feel free to take it for your own, consider it a challenge. For those that don't know what the hell I'm talking about, see my bio. I expect Harry Potter: Incurably Criminal Boy would be a pretty fun new type of fic for people to read. I've got a lot of a possible plot planned out, but nothing down on the computer yet.
Well, that was one hell of a long author's note. I'll leave it there.)