A/N: I'm able to update quickly because I have most of my story written in a notebook. Soon, I will have caught up and will more than likely be unable to continue to update once a night. Sorry.
Sirius009: I understand and thank you for your opinions. They made me realize I made a few mistakes.
ScrewyLouie12: The reason that I'm writing the way I am is because I already have ideas on my next story and am really excited and I want to hurry up and put them on paper but I have to finish this year first. Sorry.
Chapter Thirty: New N.E.W.T. Classes
The next day after Herbology, Harry went to see his uncle.
"Professor, were you at the Manor yesterday?" asked Harry.
"Oh, well, yes I was. I just wanted to see the place again," answered Strindell.
"Is it true about your past…thievery?" asked Harry.
"Harry, those days are well behind me," said Strindell.
"Okay, I understand. Dobby was just worried when he found that someone had entered the Manor," said Harry.
"Dobby?" asked Strindell.
"The house elf that works at the Manor," replied Harry simply.
"Funny, I don't remember Mum having a house elf," said Strindell, "If I remember correctly, she preferred to do all her own cleaning. She didn't trust it to others."
"I helped Dobby gain his freedom about four years ago, so he's kind of brought himself in as my servant. I pay him in sox," said Harry, "Anyway, the real reason I came here is because I need to get a boggart and, as the resident Defense teacher, I was hoping that you would be able to help me get one."
"Well, I haven't seen any lately but I think I can find one before you leave for Christmas break," said Strindell, "I must be off, Harry. Good bye and I'll see you in class."
That day, Harry and Ron decided that it was time to break the stiffness of the castle. They used many of the jokes from the Weasley twin's joke shop. They placed a Portable Swamp in the middle of a rather congested dungeon, directly in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Then, do add to the anarchy, Harry let off a Wildfire Whiz-Bang over the heads of the Slytherins trying to get into their common room. Snape could be heard muttering loudly about seeing to it that the thrower was expelled. About a week before the students left for the holiday, Harry invited the members of the Guard to his Manor.
"I've noticed some peculiar behavior from that Draco Malfoy," said Terry Boot during the meeting.
"Like what?" asked Ron hoping to be able to punish Malfoy.
"Like that fact that he hasn't been fights with anyone," replied Terry.
"Oh," said Ron slightly downtrodden.
"I noticed that too," said Padma Patil.
"Harry, do you know why?" asked Parvati.
"I do but it's not my secret to tell. Let's just put it this way: there is a method to his madness," said Harry offhandedly.
The other members of the Guard gave him funny looks but generally accepted his explanation.
The next day during Potions, the group had finished most of the potion.
"Okay, let's add the hairs," said Hermione as she separated the potion into six containers and placed Unbreakable Charms on them.
Neville pulled out six silver hairs and added one to each vial. The potion began to fizzle and turned a dark grey. Unlike the real Polyjuice Potion, this potion didn't smell.
"For what we want it to do, it looks like we're doing the right thing," said Hermione.
"This is definitely an improvement over the real thing. At least now it doesn't reek," commented Ron.
"Should we add the chocolate now or later?" asked Hermione.
"Later, we don't want the chocolate to ruin. We won't be able to test the potion immediately," said Harry as the bell rang.
"One final week and it's time for break," said Ron longingly.
'Remember you guys, I live at Seven Griffin Lane.'
"Hey, I just realized something," said Katie.
"What's that?" asked Harry.
"You live in a shack!" said Katie.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione burst out laughing.
"Sometimes, I wish I did. The Manor is huge," said Harry, "Why, do you see a shack?"
"Yeah, it's about three by three. The reason muggles don't try and tear it down is because every time they get near it, they become violently sick. Wizards knew that anti-muggle wards had been placed on it so they knew to let it stand. I always wondered about that," said Katie.
"You have got to love my ancestors, they thought of just about everything," chuckled Harry.
"So, how are you all getting home?" asked Katie.
"My parents are muggles, so they're driving the car," said Hermione.
"My parents will apparate with me and Ginny since we know how to now," said Ron.
"My gran's picking me up," said Neville.
"How about you?" asked Harry.
"As you know, Godric's Hollow's wizarding percentage is far below that of the muggle percentage. So, in order to fit in better, my parent's bought a car. They'll be picking me up in that," said Katie.
"Can't your parent's apparate?" asked Harry.
"No, not for a long time. When I was born, my parents decided to stop apparating so that it would make me feel like less of an inconvenience," said Katie, "Now that I know how, I'll have to teach them."
"If you ever get bored, my 'shack' door will always be open to you," chuckled Harry.
'Harry, there is someone in my office who would like to see you.'
"I guess I'll see you guys later, off to Dumbledore's again," sighed Harry.
"What for?" asked Ron.
"What else? Someone wants to gawk at the famous Harry Potter," laughed Harry as he departed from his friends.
Harry walked up to Dumbledore's office and entered. When he knocked on the door, he was beckoned inside. In the study was someone he didn't expect.
"Hello… sir," said Harry awkwardly, "I can't call you professor so what should I call you?"
"You can call me Professor Moody as of January," growled Mad-Eye Moody.
"So, what can I do for you?" asked Harry.
'This January, a series of N.E.W.T. level courses dealing with the careers the students have chosen. Alastor here has agreed to teach the classes that would serve as a prerequisite to Auror training," said Dumbledore.
"I see, does this mean that I have been selected by the Ministry as a potential candidate for Aurorship?" asked Harry.
"You have ever since your first year," laughed Moody, "Just because Fudge didn't know what he was doing doesn't mean you haven't been recognized for your skills. You and your friends are some of the daftest kids I've ever meet, you especially. Now, this course I'll be teaching will be exactly like the real thing. At the end of the year, you'll be given a test that will make you a Junior Auror, giving you access to take the real thing. This should be a class that you could sleep through and still pass. If I catch you sleeping, you'll wish you hadn't. Just thought I'd give you a heads up on it so that you could prepare yourself."
"I bet the whole Guard would love to join this," said Harry.
"Yes, I've heard of your little group of mini-Aurors," said Moody, "Hand picked and trained, is that right?"
"More or less," said Harry as Moody reached into his pocket.
"Here you go. I had it specially made just for you," said Moody as he pulled out a silver flask, "Think of it as an early Christmas present."
"Wow, now no one will be able to poison me," said Harry.
"That's the idea. Watch your back, Potter," said Moody.
"In return, I think that you should try a special spell I created," offered Harry.
"Normally, I wouldn't but you're a trustworthy kid, so I'll bite. What's it do?" asked Moody.
"If cast correctly, it allows the person placed under it to assess the magical properties and levels of anyone around them," clarified Harry as he whipped out his wand, "Calla Gauga!"
"Merlin's beard!" exclaimed Moody as he looked to Harry, "This is some spell! Well I'll be a fire breathing donkey! You've got quite the set of abilities on you!"
"I'll take that as a compliment," said Harry, "May a go now?"
"You may, Harry," said Dumbledore as Harry turned and left.
Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room.
"What was that about?" asked Ron as Harry climbed through the portrait hole.
"There are some new classes starting in January," said Harry, "One's on pre-Auror training."
"Brilliant! We can get a step up on the rest when it's time for the real training," said Ron.
"So you're interested? Anyone else?" asked Harry.
Katie and Neville raised their hands.
"You're not interested Hermione?" asked Harry.
"No, I think I want to be a Script," replied Hermione.
"What's a script?" asked Harry.
"Funny that you of all people should ask considering that you're already a partial Script. A Script is a spell-maker."
"That fits you," said Ron as he gave her a hug, "You do know everything."
"The only problem is that it's getting increasingly difficult to create a spell. There's little left to do but improve on the spells already created," said Hermione.
"That's true," said Harry.
"Harry, who's the teacher for the Auror classes?" asked Neville.
"None other than Mad-Eye Moody," said Harry.
"That's just great," said Ron derisively, "We'll never get in if he's turning us into paranoid lunatics."
"Hey, speak for yourself," said Harry as he reached into his robes and pulled out his flask, "I'm already on my way."
"Bloody hell, Harry," said Ron as he punched Harry in the arm, "Now all you need is a wooden leg and a blue eye."
"Who's Mad-Eye?" asked Katie.
"Mad-Eye… is a retired Auror," said Harry as he chose his words carefully, "As he's grown older, he's gotten somewhat mistrustful about anyone around him. He's a very cautious man."
"Okay," said Katie.
"I'm going to bed," said Harry as he stood.
"Yeah, me too," said Ron as he and Neville stood and followed Harry to their dormitory room.
The next week went quickly for Harry. The day the student's were supposed to leave, Professor Strindell found a boggart.
"Harry," called Strindell down the corridor as he caught up to Harry and began to talk quietly, "I've finally gotten my hands on a boggart for you. It's in my office locked in a trunk. I'll leave it out for you."
"Thank you, Professor," said Harry as he leaned closer to his uncle, "You're welcome to come to the Manor if you want."
"Thank you, Harry, but I have a number of things to do and I'm afraid that I'll be unable to join you," declined Strindell, "Good bye."
That night before the train arrived, Professor Dumbledore called the sixth year students into the Great Hall.
"I have some important and exciting news: starting January third, the day we are to return from our holiday, a series of new classes will become available to you. These classes will coordinate with the careers you chose during your career advice sessions last year. That is all and have a wonderful weekend."