Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters, places et al. are owned by J.K. Rowling

A/N: Another one. I quite like it... And for all those ROn-loving people: this is not the place for it. I hate him with a passion :D

Chapter 7

He waited a short walk away from the dungeon, hidden in the shadows together with Crabbe and Goyle. He had to wait longer than estimated for Potter. The boy had a satisfied smile on his face as he came around the corner. Shouldn't Snape have been punishing him? Why is he smiling?
He moved into the small corridor as soon as he saw him. Crabbe and Goyle all but blocked the corridor.
"Busy, Potter?" Zabini asked with a derisive smile on his face.
Potter looked at each of them, and simply arched an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Zabini? Are you lost?"
"No, you punk!" he snapped. "You picked on Slytherins. I just want to make sure it won't happen again!"
"Ooh", Harry mocked him. "Those two buffoons can't speak for themselves?"
Crabbe and Goyle were trying to push forward, but he restrained them. "Not yet," he hissed at them.
"I can't hold them back all time, you know, Potter? So you better apologize and be a good boy."
"I won't, but thanks for asking." He was trying to walk ahead, but was stopped by Crabbe. "We're not finished. I tell you when we are."
"You're now the current Slytherin gang leader, huh?" Harry asked with a smirk on his face. "I didn't know Slytherin was that desperate. Poor Snape..."
"You...You....You'll regret that!"
Potter sighed. "At least Malfoy was witty... You should go ask him how it is really done. This is just no fun."
He was fuming. How dare he? He should be shivering with fear, not taunting him!
"When I'm done with you, you'll regret the day you're born!" he hissed and his hand grabbed Harry's robes.
Then something happened with Harry. The smirk vanished like someone threw a switch and was replaced by a cold, dangerous stare. The snake, which was back on his arm after the potions lesson, hissed and their green eyes stared into his, as well.
"You threaten me?" Potter asked with a voice as cold as space. "I don't have patience for you. I tell you something. I' don't care about you. But if you cross my way again, if you so much as blink in the wrong direction, I will have you regret the day your parents thought about having a baby. Is that clear?"
He shivered. He didn't want to. He wasn't afraid! But somehow, deep inside him, he was afraid of that Potter. He believed him.
"Is there a problem, Potter?" Professor Snape's voice suddenly cut through the tension from behind Potter.
"No, Professor," Potter said in the same cold voice, his eyes still glued to him. "
No problem, Professor," he managed to say.
"Good. Then why are you blocking the corridor? Off to your lessons!" he ordered. Harry pushed past Zabini and this time he let him pass.

###

Harry was still irritated as he entered the classroom for this year's first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. He always liked them, well, except Umbridge's lessons, of course. He was hoping Dumbledore did get someone who knew his stuff. The track record for it wasn't very trustworthy, though...
The classroom was already packed with students from all houses. He took a free seat in the back row, and waited. Zabini and the goons came a few seconds after him. He just ignored them.
It wasn't long thereafter, as the door to the Professor's room opened and Professor Ragdanovich stepped out. He wore deep-black robes and looked like he was just about to cackle evilly.
"Welcome to Defense Againt the Dark Arts," he finally spoke with a very thick Russian accent. He walked down the short staircase and came to a rest in front of his desk. "I have been told your last year wasn't very...informative."
This brought a wave of hushed chuckles from the class.
"I will try to fill this hole as good as I can. Book knowledge will only get you so far, and any villain or dark creature won't be impressed if you threw books at them. No. You also have to practice. Something this school neglected so far it seems. I have cleared it with Headmaster Dumbledore, and this year, there will be a training course with this class. A sort-of duelling class, if you will. It will start today, after lunch."
The room was filled with whispers and surprised looks.
"Many of you thought to have a free afternoon, so I'm afraid you will have to change any plans you might have."
He sat on his desk and looked at the class. "Now, let us begin with a quiz, if you so will. What would you consider to be the one lesson you should have learned in a class like this?"
Some looked confused, others were studying interesting parts of their desks, and others just stared at the wall. But there were also several hands in the air. Ragdanovich looked around, and pointed at one girl.
"Yes, Ms...?"
"Granger, Professor. And the answer is that one must know everything one has to know to solve the task at hand."
"This isn't what I was looking for, Ms. Granger." Several snickers could be heard from the Slytherin side. It wasn't all too often that a teacher didn't like Hermione's answers. "As I said, knowledge doesn't solve everything. There are many situations you won't find written in books. Anyone else?"
He motioned for Harry to answer. He considered himself to be really good at this, especially after what he's been through. "I would think that the one important thing is to be watchful, prepared and determined whatever you do." Ragdanovich looked approvingly.
"Yes. Exactly. If you know how to kill, for instance, a vampire, the knowledge is useless if you aren't aware that there is a vampire. Or that you are caught unprepared. And most importantly, if you aren't determined, willing, to do what you have to do. Always remember that!"

The next half an hour he spent checking what they already knew and where they were not up to his standard.
"STUPEFY!" Professor Ragdanovich's suddenly rang out, without warning, his wand pointed at Harry. Panicked shouts erupted across the class.
"Protego!" Harry's voice cried out almost immediately after the stunning spell came flying at him. The red stunning bolt slammed harmlessly into the wall, and Harry lowered his protection field.
"Brilliant!" The Professor clapped and smiled. "20 points to Gryffindor."
"What the bloody hell-"Harry heard several class mates shout.
"Just a test. You have to be on the watch on all time. No one asks nicely if they want to attack. They just do it. Mr. Potter seems to be prepared. I hope more of you are, too. Would be a shame if not."
"But you attacked a student!" Hermione incredulously said.
"Yes, I have. Expect the unexpected, Ms. Granger." His mouth twisted into a crooked grin.
For the rest of the lesson, the students were all very aware of the teacher, and very, very wary. He did it two more times.
The first to suffer was Dean Thomas. He managed to duck before the stunning bolt could hit him. Unfortunately, Neville sat behind him and unceremoniously slumped to ground as he was hit. And just five minutes before the end of class, Professor Ragdanovich lashed out at none other than Zabini. His wand wasn't even out when the bolt hit him. The whole Gryffindor side burst out in laughter. Luckily for Zabini, it was only a very weak stunning spell, so he was up again within a minute.
Though, from the look on his face, he wished it would have been longer, especially after the Professor docked twenty points from Slytherin for being caught flat-footed.
"Now," Ragdanovich said at the end of the lesson, "that was a very interesting one, don't you think? I look forward to our session after lunch. For now, we're done. Dismissed."
The classroom slowly emptied itself, students avidly talking among each other.
Harry waited a bit longer. He had to say that was a very unusual lesson. Not like he expected, but very much to his liking. A more practical part couldn't hurt. And this duelling class he had arranged sounded very intriguing. If Dumbledore knows he tests students by attacking them? Possibly. McGonagall and Snape will be furious, he was sure about it...
A thought formed in his mind and he had to suppress an evil smile. Why shouldn't I?
The classroom was now almost empty as he walked up to the Professor.
"Could I ask you a question, professor?" he asked innocently.
"Sure, any ti-"
"Stupefy!" Harry's voice rang out and his stunning bolt missed the frantically ducking professor by just an inch. He heard the sudden gasps and shouts of the few students still in the room.
"Potter!" Ragdanovich snickered as he got to his feet again. "Brilliant! I didn't think you were up to it so early. I might've been fooled by your Gryffindor do-gooder reputation. Would have guessed it would be a Slytherin who would dare..."
"Expect the unexpected," Harry laughed.
"Very good, Potter. There is still hope. Fifty points to Gryffindor. Was there really a question you had?"
"No," he admitted. "But it was a good excuse."
"It was... But now out, I have to prepare for later."

###

By lunch, seemingly everyone knew what he had done. Rumours truly travelled faster than light... He sat alone, but he still was aware of the curious stares he got, the whispers and hushed conversations while people shot glances at him. Some even looked afraid of him. He didn't care. Inside himself, he laughed, laughed loud. It was too funny. He really could get used to such a teacher...
"Harry?" Hermione addressed him from behind. He looked up and saw her standing there together with Ron. "For a word?"
He was just about to leave immediately, but he just sighed and nodded. "What do you want, huh?"
"We want to talk. We haven't been off to a very good start it seems."
"That's putting it quite nicely, yes."
"We just want to understand, you know? We're still your friends." Ron seemed like he was about to say something, but suddenly stopped as something must have hit his shin. Hermione glared at him.
"I just don't want to be the same old boy I was. I am a new Harry, if you will. I've seen too much to just go on. Can't you accept that?"
"It's not easy, especially if you're all this haughty and cold towards us."
"And a snake! And your clothes! You're like a bloody Slytherin-in-training now. Attacking a teacher to boot!" Ron spat out.
"I'm free to wear what I want, am I not? I told you before, I don't need anyone's OK to change my style of clothing. And about my snake here? It's a pet! A pet! Do I hold you responsible for Scabbers?" He just sighed and looked back at Hermione. "But take it all as you will. People around me die. It always happens. It would be best for you if you stayed away from me. It is my fight, my life."
"But we want to help you. We always have!" she pleaded.
"I just need time. For myself. Alone. I can't promise you anything, maybe we'll come to a renewed friendship. Who knows? For now, it's best you stay away from me..."
Hermione just looked sad. Ron was not quite easy to read. He wasn't sure. Anger, distrust, he couldn't really say. Harry stayed silent and they just stared at each other. Finally Ron and Hermione walked away from him, out of the Grand Hall.

###

After lunch, he walked to the room that has been modified to act as their duelling classroom.
It was a rather large one, most likely magically resized to be bigger from the inside. The room was lighted by several large windows in the far wall, and a midnight-blue carpet covered the floor. It was dominated by five long pistes, where obviously the duels should be done.
It was already quite packed with students. The motley group of students, mostly from Defense Against the Dark Arts, but also some additional students, were waiting in front of the first piste.
Professor Ragdanovich was already waiting, surprisingly accompanied by Professor Snape. The professors waited for a few more minutes in silence, until the last student arrived. Waving his wand, Snape closed the doors.
"Now that we're complete," Ragdanovich said, "we should start. Professor Snape here has been nice enough to help me here. I heard you had some bad experience with duelling classes before, but I hope we can manage that one here. So, to begin, you should do a bit practising in pairs to warm up, then we can get a bit afterwards. Begin!"
A bit unsure what to do, the group slowly divided into pairs. Gryffindors kept mostly to themselves, with some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs mingled in. Only Slytherins were sticking exclusively together.
Harry paired off with Kyle Moore, a nondescript Ravenclaw. He wasn't very practised, and he could have blasted him into next year if he so desired.
Those who were in the DA had a head start when it came down to this kind of thing. They quickly 'warmed up'. It was mostly fun and laughter, as no one took it serious.
Yet.
After almost thirty minutes, Ragdanovich's voice boomed through the room. "Enough! Now we'll get to business. I'll be picking starting duellists and they'll be going onto the pistes. Those who win, stay and the opponent will be replaced by a new student. To make it interesting, each won duel will earn your house 5 points. The one, who earns the most, wins. Fun, isn't it?" he smiled crookedly again.
Harry wasn't picked for one of the initial spots, but after the first round of duels found his way onto the piste.
It was almost laughably easy. He sent student after student out of the match.
Only Hermione gave him a serious run for his money so far. She was clever, and when she wanted to, quite tricksy. She nearly shot him out of it with a petrifying spell, but he managed to jump out of the way. It went on like this for quite a while. Spell, parry, counter spell. And it would have gone on for the rest of the day, hadn't Harry been truly lucky and slipped a stunning spell under her guard. He even had to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"Ah, wonderful!" Ragdanovich smiled. It seemed they went through all of the 'free' students some time later, and only those on the pistes remained standing.
"Now you'll have to duke it out with the other ones. Who first? Potter and..."
"Malfoy," Professor Snape smiled maliciously.
Malfoy, quite unusual for his latest demeanour, had his trademark smirk plastered on his face. He moved forward, but was pushed back by Zabini. "I want him!"
"This is not the time, Zabini!" Snape snapped.
But before he could stop him completely, Ragdnaovich spoke. "Well, I guess if you absolutely want, you're welcome."
Taking his chance, Zabini quickly was on Harry's piste.
"Oh well," Snape just said.
Harry looked at Malfoy and was surprised to see something he wasn't used to. The smirk was gone, replaced once again by the cold mask. And maybe a hint of sadness? He would have preferred Malfoy now. Like the good old days...
But he still had a count to settle with Zabini. Harry smiled at him. Not a pretty one, but like a cat who had just been brought a canary on a silver plate.
"Afraid, Potter?" Zabini sneered. Not even close to Malfoy's slickness...
 "You wish," he responded with the proper answer.
"On the count of three then!" Ragdanovich said.
"One."
"Two."
"Thr-"
Before the Professor had finished, Zabini had his wand pointed at Harry and his "Stupefy!" filled the hall.
He possibly thought he surprised him with it. He didn't. He would have been surprised should Zabini really have waited for 'three' at all.
So his stupefying bolt was brushed aside by Harry with contemptuous ease.
Zabini had time to look surprised, before Harry had his wand ready and shouted "Expelliarmus!" The spell hit Zabini with incredible force and threw him high backwards. But Harry wasn't finished yet. While Zabini flew through the air, arms flailing wildly, another curse hit him, pushing him even farther backwards.
As Zabini impacted the room's wall, the satisfying sound of breaking bone filled the room. Harry just sneered.
Snape ran to Zabini who was already grabbing his broken left arm and tears welled up in his eyes. The slugs were also welling up, but out of his mouth.
He had time to look at Malfoy before Snape would turn towards him and for a split second, he thought Malfoy was smiling at him. He slightly shivered. Strange...
"POTTER!!" Snape shouted just on time. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!" "Winning a duel, Professor. At least that was my impression."
"Your excessive use of violence was absolutely uncalled for! This will have consequences!"
"It is not my fault if you let students into this unprepared, really."
Snape was getting so red Harry was afraid he might just blow then and there.
Professor Ragdanovich stepped in before Snape could. "A bit excessive yes, but good!"
"Thanks, Professor," Harry politely answered.
"Now, Severus, Zabini will be in good health soon enough. And he didn't play fair either. I think we call it even," Ragdanovich said to Snape.
"I'll talk with the headmaster about this. Don't even doubt it!"
"You're free to do so, Severus..." Ragdanovich answered.
"I will."
"Well, in the meantime, we should finish this. Who wants to go against Potter next?"