A/N: If you hadn't already figured it out, I own nothing. In fact, I live as a hobo, hopping from train to train, gambling, drinking, and writing Harry Potter fan fiction. Not a bad life if I do say so myself.
The Heir
Chapter 5
Classes
Harry was enjoying his classes as much as he ever had. Harry had potions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and even though they were more difficult without using the Prince's book (Harry had burned the book over the summer; he wanted nothing to do with Severus Snape), he still remembered most of the tips from the book. If any drop in Harry's performance was noticed by Slughorn, it was not mentioned. Slughorn spent most of the class pestering Thomas, who was even better at Potions than Harry had been last year, if that was possible, and avoiding Holden. Harry had seen Slughorn nervous before, but never as badly as he had been when he had first come into close contact with Holden. "And this is a man who taught Lord Voldemort himself," Harry added to Hermione, who was arguing with Harry about whether or not Holden was evil.
"It is strange, Harry, but Holden is a member of the Order. If you have any doubts you should ask Lupin-he would know," she commented, watching Slughorn ease out of Holden's line of sight. Harry realized she was right (about asking Lupin, anyway) and Harry decided to try to communicate with him via the Gryffindor Common Room fire as soon as possible. He sent him a letter by Hedwig, asking him to "check his fire" the following Friday at 11:00 p.m. Lupin replied with a yes the next day.
On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Harry had no classes with the two new teachers, but was taught by both. These were their teaching days. The only classes they took were Potions, Herbology, and Charms, and these were Tuesday/Thursday classes. Thomas explained it to Harry before his first Transfiguration class Monday before lunch. "Professor McGonagall had us take our NE.W.T.s for all but these classes so that one of us could keep an eye on you at all times. I had O's in Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and DADA. Holden had all the same, except he also took Ancient Runes and History of Magic. I still ain't figured out how he did it. He's a mighty powerful wizard, Holden, doesn't ever seem to tire."
When the bell finally rang, Thomas had started out by reviewing the class. "Can anyone tell me how I can change around this table with a cat? Miss Granger, then." He nodded towards Hermione, who was practically jumping out of her seat.
"You would have to use a switching spell. Probably one of the stronger ones because of the switching of a live animal and an inanimate object." Thomas had a slight smile on his face.
"So the rumors are true. Exactly. Ten points to Gryffindor. Now, Mr. Potter, would you like to demonstrate?"
"Uh, but sir.."
"Call me Thomas."
"Right, Thomas, wouldn't I need a cat?"
"Oh, silly me, I almost forgot." Harry could tell that he had not forgotten, but had merely needed someone else to realize that he needed a cat to make his next course of action funnier. "Accio Cat," he yelled his wand pointing out of the window. A few seconds passed before Mrs. Norris came zooming in the window. "Here you are, Harry; now just do your thing."
Filch came bursting in the door about ten minutes later, and was very angry to find that his cat was as stiff as a board, while a large table was rubbing up against his leg. "Sorry about that, Mr. Filch," Thomas said brightly, as though he couldn't really have cared less. "Bring her back to me, both forms, table and cat, right after supper, and I'll fix her right up." Harry could tell Filch wanted nothing more than to give Thomas a detention, but because Thomas was a teacher, he could not. He waddled away carrying Mrs. Norris' rigid form, muttering darkly. He was followed closely by the table that now housed Mrs. Norris' mind, much to the amusement of the students.
Harry expected Defense Against the Dark Arts to be a much less pleasant experience. Holden swept into the room in a long black robe with a high collar, very much reminiscent of Snape. Only Holden was much more intimidating. "I am Silas Holden. I don't care what you call me as long as you do not use whatever name you give me too often. For those of you slower students, what I mean is do not ask too many questions. I might get the urge to jinx you, and I do not have the strength of character needed to fight my urges. Now, the class is Defense Against the Dark Arts. Defense Against the Dark Arts is the most important subject you can learn, especially now. This course will have five aims. Do not worry, Miss Granger. I am not Dolores Umbridge." Hermione seemed shocked that he already knew her name. "Now my five aims are as follows," he waved his wand and the aims appeared on the board. "First, to teach you some of the strongest spells known to wizards for protection . These will not only be spells for your protection, but for the protection of your homes and families."
"Second, I will be teaching you various spells that can be used in battle against Lord Voldemort and his followers." There was a collective gasp at the name. "And by the way, if I ever here one of you use the terms "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or "You-Know-Who" in my class, I will throw you out and not let you back in. Those titles sound stupid and childish. Defense Against the Dark Arts is about not just looking your fears in the eye; it is about looking them in the eye and then punching them in the nose. If you cannot say the name, then at least have the dignity to say "the Dark Lord."
"Now, the third aim will be to get you all at least mildly acquainted with the Dark Arts. You must know what you will be facing in battle. I myself have had several Dark curses used against me in battle. On the same subject, I will admit that I have used some myself. They can be very helpful. Yes, Miss Patil?" Harry turned around to see Parvarti with her hand in the air.
"Uh, sir, no offense or anything, but you're our age and you act like you have been fighting Dark wizards for years."
"Three years, in fact. I have been fighting the Death Eaters in America ever since Dumbledore first asked for my family's help. Most of my cousins were rather reluctant, but I signed up immediately."
"Dumbledore asked for your help when you were in fifth year?" It was Dean Thomas, one of the only other Gryffindors in the class. The rest were Ravenclaws.
"Yes. He knew my family well. They are powerful wizards, more powerful from birth than most adult wizards. Yes Mr. Boot?"
" How many Death Eaters are there in America? I mean, aren't most of them here in England."
"Yes most of them are here in England. By most estimates there are about 7,000 worldwide. There are 4,000 here in Great Britain and Ireland. France is third, with about 700. America has about 1,500. But in the area of Mississippi where Professor Shockley and I am from, there are about 600, out of only 650 wizards. So we are having some problems."
"There are only about fifty good wizards in your entire area?" It was another Ravenclaw Harry did not recognize.
"I would not call them good, per se. Most are actually Voldemort sympathizers. They just do not have the, what is the word... testicles? to actually join the Death Eaters. Where Thomas and I come from is filled to the bursting with the Dark Arts. And the Dark Arts are always linked to supremacist ideology. Even the Muggles hate other Muggles; only their hate is because of skin color. The Death Eaters actually based a lot of their tactics on things a group called the Ku Klux Klan did back in the 50's and 60's. They were whites that would try to intimidate blacks and their sympathizers in order to keep them from having any say in the community, nor any real political power. They, too would use torture- and even murder- to achieve their means. The Death Eaters uniforms are even loosely based on those of Klansmen."
"How terrible! I think I've heard of them." It was, of course, Hermione.
"Is it?" Holden was pacing back and forth, looking very thoughtful and brooding. "The Klansmen were merely protecting their way of life- I think that if you or I had been in the position of the white Mississippians back then, we might have done the same thing. I would have anyway."
Harry now had a question. "If you would have joined this Klan thingy, what is stopping you from joining the Death Eaters now? According to your logic, aren't they just "protecting their way of life.""
"Touché, Mr. Potter. Now, on to my next course aim." Harry was angered that Holden had refused to really answer his question with anything more than "Touché", not to mention he was now more suspicious than ever.
"The fourth course aim is to test your abilityin protective charms from the first of the year. You, with help from myself, the other class, and a few professors, will secure the wards of Hogwarts. They were in need of repair already, but with Voldemort alive again they will need some extra muscle. Some Aurors from the Ministry will make sure they are safe and give them their own special touch."
"Now, the final aim, and my favorite, is to prepare you for an actual battle. You will be tested on your ability to not only perform various spells, but to perform them under pressure. At the end of the year, there will be a dueling tournament within each class. As seventh years, yours will have the least restrictions. In fact, the only restriction is no Unforgivables. Do not worry, though. I will personally make sure no one is seriously injured. And their is some incentive for winning. On top of being awarded the highest marks, the winner will be given an invitation to start Auror training upon finishing their schooling, regardless of N.E.W.T. scores. Yes, Mr. Potter."
Harry could already feel the excitement welling up inside of him. He could have the chance to be an Auror, even if he did badly on N.E.W.T.s. But that was not what his question was about. "Sir, last question. You said that you had had some Dark spells used against you-"
"And you would like to know which ones." He smiled his horrible, sinister smile that made the hair on Harry's neck stand up, even though he knew that Holden meant him no harm. For now anyway. "Well, from what I have heard, you know of this one Mr. Potter." He threw off his cloak and took off his shirt. He was chubbier than Harry had first noticed, but his shoulders were a lot wider than his stomach. He was very muscular, and some of the girls in the class had their mouths open slightly. Across his chest was a gash that went from the tip of his right shoulder to just under his left pectoral. "Sectumsempra, apowerful Cutting Curse. Compliments of your beloved Professor Snape."
This chapter is really an introduction into the next chapter which, just to be a jerk, I have not uploaded yet. Muwahahaha. I, Lord Malthon, now hold all the cards. You must bow to my will if you wish to see the next chapter. Review, I say!