Chapter Ten – New Beginnings

The next morning broke grey and dull through the windows of the Gryffindor common room's windows, with a bit of rain mixed in as well. The sun was overcast, but Darren just felt that the weather matched his mood. He was still on the couch I the common room, and he realized that he was a little cold, even though he had slept in his clothes and school robes. He had not slept well at all. The couch may have been comfortable to sit on, but the way the arms were designed did not make them a very usable pillow. He sat up and rubbed his head to try to wake himself up, and saw that he reason he was cold was because the fire had gone out sometime in the middle of the night. His watch told him it was seven o'clock and he jumped up to get washed and changed so as not to miss breakfast. In fact, his stomach was telling him not to miss breakfast, since he had not eaten very much at dinner the previous night.

The walk up the steps to the dormitory took a while because his legs and back muscles were very stiff from the couch. He entered his new dormitory and saw that there was no one there. 'Must be in the bathes,' he thought to himself when the sound of people walking up the steps behind him made him jump. He heard all five of the fifth year boys coming and he rushed to his trunk to get his things before they saw him just standing there.

As he knelt down to open it he heard Ron say, "Whatcha' doin' Darren, letting loose another snake to attack the common room?"

Seamus laughed at the remark, but Darren was relieved to hear that the other three did not find it very funny. He heard Harry talk quietly to Ron and Ron just whispered back harshly, but Darren could not tell what either had said to each other.

"Morning Darren," Neville said to him.

This brightened his day somewhat, and he replied with "Morning Neville."

"The bathes are at the top of the tower, on the last landing, if you need to use them this morning," Neville told him.

'Err, thanks Neville, I appreciate it." Darren then took his soap and shampoo and set off up the tower stairs and found that the bathes were indeed at the very top. He drew a tub full of water and washed himself quickly. After hurriedly drying with a giant white towel from the shelves, he rushed back down to the dormitory and dressed as quickly as he could. Breakfast ended in thirty minutes and he was famished. He took the steps by two on the way down and saw that Neville was still there in the common room.

"Hey Darren, wait up."

Darren stopped dead and waited for Neville to come over.

"I figured you might need a guide to get to the Great Hall before breakfast was over." Darren looked at him with what must have been an extremely odd look, because Neville then said, "I may forget the passwords all the time, but I never forget how to get to the room where they serve the food." He smiled feebly at his attempt at a joke and that made Darren laugh out loud at Neville's humor.

"Sure, I would appreciate that Neville, come on."

Together they hurried down the corridors and the stair wells until they got to the Entrance hall and then the Great Hall itself. Darren was thankful that Neville had shown him the way or else he was certain that he would have missed breakfast all together.

At the entrance to the dining hall Neville gave Darren an embarrassed look and said, "I may forget a lot of things, but the way to the Great Hall at mealtimes isn't one of them."

Darren let out a small laugh but did not say a thing to contradict him, but he could not help but think Neville should not be so hard on himself.

"Well Neville, lets get some breakfast, I am starving and classes start in a few minutes."

They went in and found the Great Hall to be about half full. Most of the students had already eaten and headed to the library or to class. The hall got quiet when the students left there saw Darren, and then a murmur broke out when they realized who he was with. Apparently Neville Longbottom was the last person that anyone ever thought would be friends with Darren Clarkson. Neville's fear of the Slytherins and their head of house in particular was well known throughout Hogwarts, so it was shocking for the school, especially the Gryffindors, to see him with Darren. Neville just ignored the hushed talk that had broken out when they entered and tool a seat in the middle of the Gryffindor table across from Dean and Seamus. Harry, Ron and Hermione were next to Neville and Ron just turned away so as not to have to talk to Darren that morning. Darren did not really care one way or the other, since Ron Weasley had never been his favorite student in Gryffindor, even before he had been re-sorted yesterday. Darren had never really had a problem with Harry or Hermione, unless you count the fact that he wanted to beat her in school this year, but he was not interested in becoming fast friends with the three of them. He just wanted to get through this year and the next with as little trouble as possible. However, after the events of the previous day, Darren had determined that it would be a miracle to avoid any further trouble.

A few minutes later his fears were proven correct. Blaise walked over and asked to talk to Darren, in private. Darren followed him out in to the Entrance Hall where Blaise erupted at Darren.

"How dare you leave and join Gryffindor! Just who the hell do you think you are, you bastard? What makes you so God damned special that you can just leave Slytherin and throw our friendship away like this? I hope you are happy, you son of a bitch!"

Darren recoiled in shock at Blaise's outburst. He was sure the students still at breakfast could hear it and he was more than a little shocked at Blaise's attitude towards him. The other Slytherins he expected to feel this way, but he and Blaise had been best of friends since their first year.

"Blaise, I don't want to not be your friend. I didn't mean for this to happen, it just..."

"Just what Darren? Just happened? I suppose it is all Snape's fault too, huh? I guess you never thought what the effects of your actions would have on other people, did you Darren?"

"Effects on what people Blaise? How does this affect you?" Blaise and his shouting were beginning to irritate Darren now, something Blaise had never done before. They had never had so much of a disagreement in the over five years they had been friends, and now it was all coming apart.

"How does this affect me? Are you crazy Darren? I am being tormented to no end by Malfoy and his gang because I used to be friends with you, and Snape keeps asking me if I want out too."

The last statement caught Darren off guard. "...because I used to be friends with you..." Darren had never been so hurt by the spoken word in his entire life. The one person he had assumed would understand had apparently cast him aside and wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

"So Blaise, we aren't friends anymore?" Darren asked him simply.

Blaise snorted derisively at him. "Friends? We stopped being friends once the house elves came and got you things from the dormitory Darren."

Darren just stood there and thought for a minute. He could see no other solution, so he said, "Well Blaise, if that is the way you want it, so be it," and turned and walked back into the Great Hall.

As he walked away, Blaise said "Yeah Darren, that's the way it is, and you had better watch out for yourself in the future, because I won't hesitate to walk all over you if you get in my way, you damn Gryffindor."

Darren stopped short at Blaise's threat, but he did not turn around. Instead he walked into the Hall and sat back down next to Neville. The other Gryffindors did not say a thing to him, but he knew that they had heard it all. Everyone had.

Herbology was first that day. Darren had never really liked the class, but it was better than Divination. In fact, every class was. He was a bit surprised to find that the Gryffindors had double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, and he spent the entire class trying to ignore the hushed whispers from the Hufflepuffs that were around him. He and Neville had spent the day potting Angelica plants, a plant that protects witches and wizards from evil spirits and magical charms and spells and is also known as "The Root of the Holy Ghost". Professor Sprout explained to them that the plant required special care as it was a biennial plant, and its glossy leaves and white flowers made Darren think of the wildflowers that grew on his grandfather's estate outside of Cork. He felt himself drifting back to the days of his childhood when his family would regularly visit his grandparents; before...

"Mr. Clarkson. Mr. Clarkson! Would you please pay attention young man?"

Darren jolted to attention as he realized that it was Professor Sprout talking to him. Some of the other students were laughing at his daydreaming and he tried to play it off, but he was unsuccessful in his attempt. He had let his mind wander, and not for the first time since he had returned to school for the year.

"Sorry Professor, I had something on my mind."

Professor Sprout looked at him out of the side of her eye and told him, "It is all right Darren, I understand, especially after what happened yesterday. Now, who can tell me what the Angelica plant is primarily used for by Muggles?"

Neville raised his hand, surprising Darren. He had never seen Neville volunteer information during any of the classes he had shared with him in the past.

"Yes Neville," said Professor Sprout as she pointed to him.

"The Angelica is used primarily to decorate cakes and trifles and its leaves are also added to preserves and fruit dishes."

"Very good Neville. Five points to Gryffindor."

Neville looked like he was about to burst at winning points for Gryffindor and Darren clapped him on the shoulder in congratulations. The bell rang then and Darren was leaving Professor Sprout asked him to stay behind for a moment. He thought for sure she was going to fuss at him for not paying attention in class, but she did not.

"Darren, I, along with all the other teachers, was glad to see someone finally take up for Neville Longbottom, and what you did yesterday is admirable. I know that it takes great courage to stand up to someone that is in the wrong, and I am glad to see that you and Neville seem to be getting along very well."

Darren did not know quite what to say, so he just muttered a "Thank you" to her.

"You're welcome Darren, now hurry along or you will be late for your next class."

Darren did just that, arriving for Defense Against the Dark Arts just before class started. Professor Lupin was already writing on the chalkboard, for some reason he did it by hand rather than with magic, and he was writing about other uses of the Patronus Charm. Darren sat in the seat next to Neville and took out parchment and quill to write the notes on.

"Now," Professor Lupin began "today we will be discussing some other possible uses of the Patronus Charm. Understand that these are mostly educated guesses, but it is something that I feel we should discuss as to explore what the Patronus could do for us in a defensive situation."

He class sat quietly. Darren was particularly shocked to hear that they would be learning theory instead of actual magic spells.

Professor Lupin continued. "Now, wee know that the Patronus will protect a witch or wizard from the Dementors and Lethifolds, but will it protect us from other things as well. It is a protector, so I feel that it can be cast to cause a diversion or distraction to the witch or wizard that may be attacking someone."

The class broke out in a murmur. None of this made any sense to Darren, but he listened anyway, intrigued by the possibility that he would be able to use a Patronus for reasons other than its intended use.

"Think about it class. The Patronus is the embodiment of hope, love, happiness and every other good emotion that makes us human. That is why it works against those things that are the exact opposite. The Patronus cannot be harmed; therefore it is invulnerable to every spell or curse that may be used on it."

Hermione's hand shot up and Professor Lupin let her ask her question.

"Would the Patronus even be unhurt by Avada Kedavra?"

"I believe it would Hermione. I feel that it would simply absorb the spell and no harm or weakness would be caused to it. After all, it is not a living thing, so how could it be killed? Also, what about the fact that a Corporeal Patronus can actually physically attack a Dementor or Lethifold? Would it therefore be able to physically attack someone or something else that is evil enough to try to attack, or even kill you?"

Darren blurted out "You are talking about Lord Voldemort?"

The students reacted with shock at the mention of Voldemort's name. Neville gave a whimper next to Darren and almost fell off of his chair in reaction to it. Professor Lupin turned to look at Darren, apparently curious as to why he would say Voldemort's name out loud, and in the way he did.

"Well Darren, I had not thought of him specifically, but it would seem that since Lord Voldemort is so evil and lacking of the very things that make the rest of us human, it would logical be logical to believe that a Patronus could indeed be used to help ward him off long enough to attempt an escape from him and his Death Eaters."

Darren gave this some thought as Professor Lupin continued to talk about other uses that could be possible with a Patronus. The thought of Lord Voldemort being ripped to shreds by a giant silvery tiger or some other beast brought a smile to his face. The class then broke out in heated discussion about what a Patronus could or couldn't do. Seamus seemed to think it could fly and carry a person away from danger, and only the fact that Professor Lupin told him it couldn't made him drop the argument. Darren then noticed that Harry was not involved in any discussion. Ron and Hermione, as usual, were having a heated argument between themselves, but Harry was very quiet, as if he was absorbing what Professor Lupin had said in class. After a few more minutes, the bell rang and Darren found himself once again asked to stay behind to talk to his second Professor that day.

After all the other students had left, Professor Lupin spoke to him. "Darren, I am curious why you spoke You-Know-Who's name in class?"

Darren just shrugged. "I don't know sir. I guess it always seemed silly to be afraid of someone's name."

Professor Lupin gazed at him thoughtfully for a second before changing the subject. "You were having trouble with producing a Patronus before, were you not?"

"Yes sir, I am still having trouble with it."

"Have you been practicing like I asked everyone to do?"

'What is he thinking?' Darren thought to himself. 'Of course I have been practicing. Does he think I want to get eaten by a Lethifold or something?'

"Yes sir, I have been practicing. I just can't seem to do it though."

"Ah, well, it is a very difficult bit of magic, but if you keep trying, hopefully you will be successful in the near future."

"Sir, could you help me with it sometime?" Darren asked.

"I am afraid I would not be able to Darren, sorry. Between my teaching duties and outside things, I don't have time to help any of the students on a singular basis. But, maybe you should ask Harry. He is quite good at producing a Patronus, and I am sure he would be willing to help you out. After all, you are a fellow Gryffindor now, are you not?"

"Yes."

"And I am sure you know about the so-called Dumbledore's Army, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Well then Darren, I think that you should ask Harry if you could attend the private lesson he gives to some of the students on evenings. He is quite good at his Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I think you would learn a lot from him."

Darren was a little shocked to hear that Harry Potter taught a group of students defensive spells after school hours. He did not know about it and had only answered yes to make Professor Lupin not think he was an idiot.

"Now Darren, if you would excuse me, I have some work to do before my next class in an hour."

"Okay sir, see you later then."

"Good day Darren."

"Good day sir."

And with that Darren made to leave but something else jumped into his mind and he turned back to ask one more question.

"Sir?"

Professor Lupin looked up. "Yes Darren, what is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me, about a spell?"

"If I can. Go ahead."

Darren told him what had happened to his belongings and how they had attacked him when he had opened his trunk the night before. He thought he saw Professor Lupin stifle a small laugh, but he did not say anything or give a hint that he saw it.

"Well Darren, it sounds like Tentantio Erus, which means Attack the Owner in Latin and is an obscure spell, but an effective one, as you have unfortunately found out."

"So, it probably wasn't a Gryffindor that did it then?"

"I would have to guess that you are correct. I highly doubt that a member of Gryffindor would have done such a thing. Besides, how long was the trunk unattended in Gryffindor Tower? I bet it wasn't long enough for anyone to tamper with it, was it?"

Darren just shook his head.

"Well then, if it wasn't tampered with in Gryffindor Tower, and I am betting that the house elves didn't do it either, then there is only one explanation, isn't there?"

"Yes, it was tampered with in Slytherin House, and I am sure I know who did it too."

Professor Lupin just grinned at Darren and shrugged his shoulders as if to say "I didn't tell you".

"Thank you sir, I appreciate it."

"Any time Darren. Now, I must really get that work done, and you are going to miss lunch if you are here any longer."

"Right. Goodbye then."

"Goodbye Darren."

Darren almost ran out of the room, ecstatic at the thought of knowing the exact spell that Draco Malfoy had put on his belongings. He did not even notice that Neville was waiting out in the hall for him.

"Hey Darren, what were you talking to Professor Lupin about?"

"Huh? Oh, hey Neville."

"What were you talking to Professor Lupin about?" he asked again.

"Oh, just getting a little information that may come in handy in the future. That's all."