Chapter 5: King
The unspoken promise between teacher and student was being fulfilled, for the fifth years at least. It was the most challenging year yet; although, they would admit, every year was more challenging than its predecessor. It just seemed that this year was especially hard, and the upcoming O.W.L.s did not help. It only made things more difficult.
And true to her word, Professor Merle had one day sent all the fifth years a roll of parchment with questions about subjects taught previous, with instructions to complete it without the aide of notes or text. After a few test tries, they all learned that she had put a special charm on the paper that refused ink or graphite or whatever the student may attempt to write with if a textbook or some notes with the answers were nearby, or cheating off another student's answers. It squawked loudly, too. Throughout the school squawking parchment could be heard.
"Squawking parchment sounds like something Fred or George would come up with," Ron complained afterwards, having had his parchment squawk several times.
To the trio's amusement and horror, they had discovered that the Weasley twins had come up with it, in partnership with Professor Merle. In a secret deal (known only to those involved and Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who wisely decided to keep their mouths shut on this, despite Hermione's initial protests), Professor Merle had agreed to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" if they did not pull pranks in her class or on her and she got free samples of their products.
It was not to be said that, despite her playful nature (for one day at breakfast, the first day she had shown up to one, she received a howler from a very irate and old Auror with a false eye about a gift of eye cleaner. She had also sent a gift to Lupin containing dog treats and a collar; he had not been amused, and sent several howlers and a biting letter to show), Defense Against the Dark Arts was not difficult. If anything, it was more difficult than ever, but that's what they said every year. Just this year they didn't have texts. Or, at least, not very informative texts.
Professor Merle anticipated this. She used a lot of visual aids, pictures, and reenactments, and was very good at descriptions. The piece of chalk moved across the board, highlighting the important points, as she lectured about various things. The one class she had talked about Eve, a new-age, magically enhanced hallucinogenic drug that was very potent and undetectable by Muggle means, and had caused a great deal of trouble. Another class had been about Dementors. Mercifully, she hadn't described them, and just shown them pictures; her descriptions bordered on "graphic" and "horrifying," depending on the subject.
"Dementors, as you know," she lectured, walking between the desks, "are being that feast on the positive feeling of humans. They eat all happy feelings, leaving the victim with a feeling of despair and severe depression. If left too long in the company of a Dementor, the victim will have very little chance of recovery, and more often than a place in the psyche ward at St. Mungo's. If the victim happens to be magical, their magic will eventually be gone as well, as Dementors drain a witch or wizard of his or her magic also.
"Another case, consider to be the most horrible, would involve the Dementor's Kiss, when the Dementor sucks out the soul of its victim through the mouth, hence the name. Whether the Dementor actually locks lips -" there was a great deal of shuddering at this moment – "or not, is undetermined, as those who would know kind of don't because they no longer have a soul and aren't aware of anything anymore." (Harry shuddered alone this time, as he knew that the Dementor at least came very close when performing the Dementor's Kiss, and he had seen a person with no soul.)
"Dementors invest dark, filthy places, a lot of the time decaying. They are also stationed at Azkaban Prison, where most, if not all of the inmates go crazy. It's very easy to identify if a Dementor is near; even Muggles can tell, though they can't see them. Squibs can't see Dementors either, but most Squibs are able to identify the signs correctly.
"There are a few defenses against Dementors, though not all of them are practical and most are unfound. My advice for Dementors is that if you feel one coming, characterized by a cold, freezing-of-the-insides feeling, run for it. There is a spell that can dispel Dementors called the Patronus, and although it's difficult, and most witches and wizards can't perform it, I'm going to teach it anyway. Now get out your wands."
There was a brief shuffling as the class pulled out their wands and tucked their notes away for safe keeping (as the last time they had had been taught a spell in her class several pages of parchment caught on fire and notes had suddenly vanished).
"Think of a good memory," said Professor Merle, her own wand out, "A happy feeling, to be exact. Then, when you're high on endorphins, say Expecto Patronum, still concentrating on the memory. A corporeal Patronus will be solid and silvery-white, and an incomplete Patronus will be a silvery mist. Everyone has a different Patronus, so don't be surprised that if you can it looks different from someone else's. And you have to concentrate very hard, and it has to be a happy memory, as it gets more difficult when being hunted by Dementors. Yes, Seamus?"
"What are endorphins?"
"Endorphins are chemicals released by the body as a sense of well-being. Certain foods release endorphins, like chocolate, which is a good thing to have after dealing with Dementors so remember that. Chili peppers work too, but more people like chocolate and it's easier to eat. Now, try the Patronus. Go on."
There were cries of "Expecto Patronum" all over the room but none produced an actual Patronus. Once or twice Harry thought he saw the silvery cloud of a incomplete Patronus, but it vanished before he could get a good look at it.
"Harry, why didn't you try?" asked Professor Merle after the sixth or seventh round. People were looking rather drained, and only a few attempted now. The rest ate the chunk of chocolate they had received.
"Er, I already can," he admitted, accepting the chuck of chocolate.
"What was that?" she asked, her eyes just slightly wide. "You can cast a corporeal Patronus?"
Harry nodded.
Professor Merle stared at him intently. "Show me."
Harry looked at her, and she looked back expectantly. He sighed and, aware of everyone's stares, raised his wand and said, "Expecto Patronum," concentrating on the memory of winning the Quidditch House Cup in third year. White and shining, a stag shot out of his wand.
And Professor Merle's mouth fell open. As did everyone else's, except for Ron and Hermione, who already knew Harry could perform the Patronus, and Harry, who felt color rising up his neck.
Professor Merle, with an amazing amount of effort, pulled herself back to reAlicety. "Harry, see me after class," she said distantly. "The rest of you, read the entry on Dementors in Fantastic Beasts and write a detailed summary on Dementors and the Patronus using today's notes and other sources. That's all." And she disappeared into her office.
"That was odd," said Harry eventually. Then, "Does that mean I don't have to write the summary?"
"Harry."
"Remus Lupin," yelled the witch at the mirror. It was small and in a golden frame with "RJL" inscribed on top and cost her several months of saved money and a loan that had been paid, thank you. A few minutes later her reflection swirled and changed into that of a young, graying man.
"Yes, Alice, what is it?" said Remus Lupin. "It has to be quick, though. I need to get back."
"You didn't tell me that Harry could already create a Patronus," she hissed at him. "Why on earth would he already know that?"
"He has problems with Dementors," said Remus, choosing his words carefully. "The Dementors are drawn to Harry, so it was necessary to teach him."
Alice growled. "A trouble magnet. I'm teaching a f---ing trouble magnet. I've looked over his school records already and he's gotten into more trouble in four years than most people in their entire life. At school! Do you know how difficult it's going to be to make sure nothing happens to him!"
"Which is why I asked you to look over him," said Remus. "Hogwarts needed a Defense teacher, and the minister was planning on sending in one of their representatives to fill the position. No ministry member specifically chosen by Fudge would watch Harry. If anything, they would antagonize him. I would have done it myself but if I signed on again there would be complaints, and more complaints are the last thing we need."
Alice growled angrily but her shoulders sagged in defeat. "I know. I heard that, too, about the ministry. Mr. Weasley isn't in their good books, nor Mr. Diggory. Supporting the notion of Voldemort's return isn't very popular there."
Remus nodded. "Yes, but a surprising number of people are at least willing to consider the notion. Mostly pessimists, though. You can come up with something for Harry. I know you can. But I have to go now. Goodbye." And his face swirled out of focus and the face became that of a gray-blue eyed witch again.
Alice sighed, stood, and readjusted her robes. Remus was right. She could come up with something for Harry. Already a plan was formulating in her mind.
If this goes here, and that goes there a bit, and then one small move and Harry would fall right into place, somewhere that even if she could not watch over him, someone else would.
Life is like a game of chess, she had said once. Sometimes you're the king, sometimes you're the pawn.
She knew who the king was in this game of chess. And she knew who the pawns were.
Harry was standing by her desk when she returned. With him were Ron and Hermione, with worried expressions. Harry was looking more confused than worried, wondering more about what he did wrong more than what will happen.
"Stop looking like that," she told them, noticing the looks on their faces. "Harry's not in trouble. I just wanted to have a word with him."
She took a moment to sit at her desk and shuffle things around a bit, staring pointedly at Ron and Hermione to leave all the while. They understood, and while reluctant, they did leave, though not before telling Harry that they would wait.
"I told you to stop looking like that," she repeated, seeing how worry and confusion became equal on his face. "I just wanted to ask if you would be willing to help in a… student-assistance program."
Wondering why 'student-assistance program' needed a significant pause, Harry said, "Sure?"
"Good," said Alice, ignoring the questioning tone of his voice. "I'll send you a timetable when it's complete and some more details."
"What?"
"The exchange student. I want you to help them when they gets here. I don't know how much or what them has been taught in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I just want you to help them get on track and help them out whenever needed. You're a good student, if that Patronus means anything."
"'Them'?" said Harry, a tad worried. "I thought Hogwarts was just hosting one student."
Alice coughed once. "We are. I just don't know the gender of the student, and I felt bad when I referred to them as 'it'. Still up to it?"
"Yes," said Harry. Then, as an afterthought, he asked, "They speak English, right?"
"Yes. Now get out of here, I've kept you long enough. And yes, you do have to do the essay."
Harry left, and Alice retreated back into her office.
And in Alice's mind, pieces moved on an imaginary chess board.
End of Chapter Five. Apologies for it taking so long and the awfulness. I really hated this chapter. The next chapter has already been started on. I don't own Harry Potter, but plot bunnies are eating my brain. I might update with an interlude first though. I don't know. Depends on which breeds first.
NOTE: I will be rewriting the first four chapters of When Spring Comes. This means that when I am finished revising I will be replacing earlier chapters. If you still want the chapters I will be replacing save them to your computer now as I will not be giving warnings as to when I will be replacing chapters.