Harry Potter and the Mind Mage

By James Milamber

A/N: Many, many, MANY thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story so far, in particular gpotter (this story would have stalled ages ago if not for you, and from reading your story, anyone would hate Michael Corner. I just have the opportunity to torture him a bit), Blue Firefly (Nice to have another Aussie along for the ride, but Fluff-a-holics-Anonymous? Ye gads, I'm that bad? Oh well. And yes, I am a freak), Dree (The ever picky perfectionist – kidding! 'Course you can borrow the chainsaw, but I gotta get it off Blue Firefly first, she's using it to destroy Quick Edit and I get to hold her coat!) and all the other regulars. Without you lot to encourage me, this chapter would have been a lot longer in coming. THANK YOU all so much!

Anyone who spots the Matrix reference gets ten points (it's really obvious, go on!). Twenty points to Dree, who was the only one who figured out where I got the idea for the Dream Plane, or at least the only one that said anything (come on, it was obvious, wasn't it?).

Cobalt45: Harry probably would have rathered a quiet entrance, but he wasn't going to get it anyway. He could appreciate the risk the Prefects took in openly allying with him; they were making themselves targets to take attention away from him, and he was grateful. As for what happened between Hermione and Ron…use your imagination!

It was odd for Harry to know that, while his experience on the dream plane had seemed to take only ten minutes, it had in fact been five days. He had some trouble adjusting to the fact that it was no longer Saturday, but was now the following Friday. He mentally shrugged; just one more bizarre experience in the magical world.

He had been excused from classes until Monday, and he spent the time reviewing class notes supplied by Hermione and trying to catch up on some of the homework he had missed. His own class would start on Monday morning, and he didn't know whether to look forward to it or dread it. Dumbledore had simply dubbed it "Advanced Defense", and told Harry to concentrate on things that were not in the normal curriculum, like the Patronus Charm.

By the time Ginny, Ron and Hermione climbed through the portrait hole after classes he had given up on getting any work done and was staring moodily out the window. Ginny made directly for him and dropped into the seat beside him. 'Lo, you,' she said, kissing him on the cheek. He immediately brightened, wrapping one arm about her waist as Hermione looked over the notes he had been making.

'These are fine, Harry,' she said, indicating the work he had done. 'Stop worrying.'

'Easy for you to say,' Harry said pensively. 'You don't have to teach a class with Malfoy in it on Monday.' Ginny squeezed him slightly in silent reassurance.

Ron's face suddenly lit up. 'Hang on, didn't Dumbledore say you could take points?'

Harry's smile was immediate and vicious. 'I'd forgotten that.'

'Serve the git right,' Ginny growled. 'Remember last year, when he was in the Moron Squad?'

'And besides, we'll all be there, and so will Professor Milton and Tonks,' Hermione said soothingly. 'I don't think Malfoy's going to try anything, is he?'

Harry smirked. 'You know, this could be more fun than I thought.'

========

By Monday morning, however, he wasn't quite as optimistic. In DADA they were learning dueling techniques, and Harry had now missed three classes worth. He did, however, manage to dodge the Tripping hex that Professor Milton sent his way as they entered the room, earning him ten points and Neville a broken nose when it hit him instead.

When Neville's nose had been repaired James divided them up into groups of four. Harry was with Ron, Hermione and Dean Thomas.

'I want you to practice the techniques we've been going over in the last few lessons with your partners,' he instructed. 'Practice makes perfect, and there was a lot of sloppy work last lesson. Begin!'

While Hermione showed Harry what he had missed, Ron and Dean set up a mock duel so they could practice. It ended when Ron managed to disarm Dean after a good ten minutes.

'Good one,' Dean gasped, massaging his ribs and wincing.

'Sorry about that,' Ron said sheepishly, handing the other boy's wand back. 'Got a bit carried away there.'

'It's alright,' Dean assured him. 'Just smarts a little. I'd hate to have to take you lot on in a real duel.' The last was directed to Harry and Hermione as well.

'It's Harry's fault,' Ron grinned.

'Ron,' Hermione scolded.

'It's alright, Hermione,' Harry laughed. He looked at her speculatively. 'Want to show them what a real duel looks like?'

Hermione smiled a little mischievously. 'All right, Mister Potter,' she said, standing. They took up places where Ron and Dean had dueled while the latter two looked on in great interest. Harry bowed impishly, his wand held in a dramatic position. 'Show off,' Hermione laughed, then leveled her wand. 'Petrificus Totalus! Stupefy!'

The spells came at Harry so fast he didn't even have time to think, so he didn't. Running on instinct he dodged to the right to avoid the Body Bind then sucked in his stomach and leaned back to avoid the Stunner which passed so close it grazed his robes. He recovered in an instant, his wand aimed at Hermione. 'Expelliarmus!'

Hermione easily blocked his spell, firing off another Stunner. Harry blocked this with a Shield Charm, causing it to ricochet off and almost hit Dean.

'Sorry!' Harry yelled at Dean, immediately sending an Impediment Jinx at Hermione, who dodged.

A peculiar feeling came over him as he dueled, like there was another awareness guiding his actions. It wasn't malevolent, more like a friendly hand guiding his. He concentrated on the feeling, and suddenly it was like time slowed down. He could see Hermione's arm moving forward, inscribing her wand through the air in the movements of the Disarming Hex. Before she had even finished the spell he had dodged to the side, still in that peculiar slow motion, and leveled his own wand.

'Petrificus Totalus!'

The spell caught Hermione completely by surprise; to her eyes, Harry had simply vanished from where he had been standing to reappear an instant later some three feet away and with his wand leveled. Before her spell had even reached where he had been standing her limbs sprang together and she found herself toppling forward, until Harry caught her and performed the counter curse.

'How did you do that?' she asked breathlessly as Ron and Dean hurried over.

'Do what?' Harry asked, confused.

'Move like that. I've never seen anyone move so fast.'

'Did I?' Harry asked in surprise.

Just then the bell rang. Hermione gave Harry a look that plainly said "this conversation isn't finished" as they packed their bags and hurried out, heading for the classroom Harry had decided to use for the magic part of his class.

When they got there, they found the room had been magically enlarged so it was now roughly the size of the Great Hall. Covering the floor were brightly coloured beanbags, and at the far end of the room where the teacher's desk would usually have been was a raised platform, almost like a stage. Tonks stood off to one side flipping her wand into the air and catching it again with a smile.

'Like it?' she asked, spreading her arms wide.

'Thanks,' Harry said a little uncertainly, 'but why?'

Tonks looked at him incredulously. 'When was the last time you looked at the sign up sheet?'

'Erm…' In fact, Harry hadn't looked at the sheet since before his time in the Hospital wing. 'A while ago?'

Tonks shook her head. 'Harry, there's over one hundred and fifty students coming today! I thought you knew that!'

Harry gaped at her.

'When they heard you'd faced Voldemort again on a dream plane, half the school signed up,' Ron said.

'You're really popular now, Harry. People are starting to see you as a symbol against Voldemort again,' Hermione added earnestly.

Harry looked around the room in panic. 'Oh hell.'

'It's alright Harry,' James said as he entered the room, obviously having caught his last comment. 'You've got lots of help. It'll be fine, you'll see. But the natives are getting restless,' he indicated the door behind him. 'You'd better let them in.'

'I'll get it,' Ron volunteered, heading for the door.

'I can't teach that many!' Harry whispered urgently to James. 'There were only about thirty last year!'

'Just don't panic!' James said sternly. 'These kids are relying on you to teach them how to stand up to Voldemort. What they learn in these classes from you may decide whether they live or die later, when they meet Death Eaters. Are you going to take that chance away from them?' He smiled reassuringly. 'Me and Tonks are here, but it's your show. We're just here for support.'

Harry couldn't reply as just then students from all four houses filed into the room, taking seats on the beanbags. James led Harry up to the dais, where they were joined by Tonks, Hermione, Ron and Ginny.

Finally all the students were seated. Harry saw Malfoy glaring at him from near the back, along with Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. Surprisingly, there were quite a few Slytherins, mostly from the lower year levels.

'Settle down!' James commanded, and immediately all conversation ceased. Harry looked at him gratefully. James winked, before continuing. 'You are all here to learn how to defend yourself from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.' To the student's credit, few flinched at the Dark Lord's name. 'Now, Harry here has agreed to teach you, as he has faced Voldemort many times and lived to tell –'

'Prove it!' A Slytherin girl stood abruptly. Harry recognised her as a fifth year Prefect. She had long black hair, and looked vaguely familiar. Angry mutterings filled the hall, and many Gryffindors and not a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were looking murderous.

'No, hear me out,' the girl held up her hands to pacify the crowd, although it didn't work. 'I'm just as willing to learn as the next person, but I want to know exactly what Potter's basing his knowledge on. What experience has he had? We know in a vague way that he's faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but I want to know specifics.'

'Sit down and shut up, snake,' a yell came from the crowd, and Harry immediately scanned the room.

'Who said that?' he demanded.

'I did,' a fourth year Ravenclaw stood proudly, glaring at the Slytherin girl.

'Bigot,' she glared back.

'Traitor!' the Ravenclaw shot back.

'Twenty points from Ravenclaw,' Harry said through clenched teeth. The hall stared at him blankly, everyone totally confused that he would defend a Slytherin, no one more so than the Slytherins themselves. The Ravenclaw fourth year stared at him incredulously.

'But…it's only a Slytherin!' he spluttered.

'Five more points from Ravenclaw,' Harry said coldly. 'She is a person, not an it. Sit down and quit making a fool of yourself. Before I take more points.' The Ravenclaw sank down onto his beanbag again, and Harry noticed with some satisfaction that Michael Corner was glaring at him. The Slytherin girl, however, just looked confused.

'Your question is a good one,' Harry told her. 'If I was in your position, I'd want to know the same thing.' Harry sighed heavily, mentally preparing himself. He hadn't wanted to have to go through this, but quite obviously it would help his position. If the only way to teach them to defend themselves involved them putting him on a pedestal, so be it. He glanced sideways at Ginny, who smiled encouragingly. 'Very well, I'll tell you all the whole story.'

And he told them. He told them of the Philosopher's Stone in his first year, of saving Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets in his second. He glossed over the events of his third year, instead telling them about the end of his fourth, when Voldemort was resurrected in front of him, and the duel in the graveyard. His voice caught briefly as he described how Cedric had died, and he made a special point of not catching Cho's eyes. Finally he described what had happened at the Department of Mysteries, and his recent experiences on the Dream Plane.

By the time he had finished the entire hall was in stunned silence. Harry looked the Slytherin girl directly in the eyes and quietly asked, 'Does that answer your question?'

With some awe in her face she rose to her feet and gracefully curtsied. 'I would be honoured to learn from you,' she said in a choked voice. There was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the assembled students.

'Good,' Harry said wearily. 'Then the effort wasn't wasted.' The bell rang for the end of class, and the students jumped as one. They had been so engrossed in Harry's story that they had obviously forgotten where they were. Almost reluctantly, it seemed, the students stood and began to file out of the room. Malfoy was one of the first out the door, shoving younger students out of his way in fury. Finally, when there were only a few people left, the Slytherin Prefect approached the dais where Harry was talking quietly with Ginny.

'Potter?' she started hesitantly. Harry looked up from Ginny.

'Yeah?'

'I just wanted to say sorry,' she muttered, her eyes firmly fixed on the floor.

'What for? As I said, in your situation I'd do the same.'

'Yeah, well…thanks for standing up for me, as well. Not many of you lot are that decent.'

He looked at the girl curiously. 'What's your name?'

'Isabelle,' she raised her head and looked him in the eye. 'Isabelle Lestrange.'

Harry rocked backwards as if she had slapped him. Was she…she couldn't be, could she?

'Are you…' he began weakly, but couldn't finish the sentence.

'Bellatrix Lestrange is my mother,' Isabelle confirmed. 'She went to Azkaban not long after I was born.'

'Oh.' Harry didn't know what to say. He could sense Ron and Hermione standing just behind him, and Ginny slightly off to one side. They all knew that Bellatrix had nearly killed him over the summer and had been the one that killed Sirius, and all three had tensed when Isabelle had told them her last name.

'See you around, Potter,' Isabelle said, quickly making her way out of the room. Harry just stared after her, at a total loss for words.

'You did good, Harry,' James said simply, laying one hand on Harry's shoulder. Ginny wormed her way into his arms, a smile tinged with pride on her lips.

A/N: Major writers block on this chapter. I couldn't decide how I wanted to do it, but I think this works. Questions, comments, spelling errors (Dree!) are all welcome! Let me know what you think!

I just realised that I left out a word in the last chapter. Near the end, Ginny was supposed to be staring at 'the Ravenclaw table', not at 'the Ravenclaw' like it said before. She wasn't staring at Cho, she was staring at Michael. The error has been corrected.