It has been now ten days since Harry has been seen. During those ten days, he went through a stage crying and silence. After three days of almost behaving like he didn't want to live, he started getting better.
He started training again. With potions and more than adequate food, he started to gain all the weight he lost. He started meeting with Sirius and Remus.
Slowly, he started to open to them and his Ancestors which lead to a few tears and a new resolve of becoming better.
He finished planning the assault on the terrorists in Chypre.
He decided to return to Hogwarts on the morning of November 22nd.
Meanwhile at Hogwarts, students and Professors alike were trying to cover the absence of their friend.
Harry's friends were getting updates from Sirius and Remus after four days of total silence. Only the Professors knew when Harry will return and they were silently excited to see the young Lord again.
"I can't wait for Harry to come back. Not seeing him here is weird and the school feels kinda empty."
"Neville, I'm still shocked at what he did. I ... when he was talking to Lady Bones, I could see the pain in his eyes. No matter how strong he is, like Lavender said, he is human. At least he has Sirius and Remus with him."
Neville nods and silently prays that Harry will be coming soon.
Harry is wearing his black robes and the dark gray crests clearly visible on his chest.
He smiles tightly at his godfathers. "How are you going to Hogwarts?"
"Oh no. I'm heading to the Ministry. I need to tell the Ministry that you are back at Hogwarts. Most of the Wizengamot were truly shocked you did what was written in the BNN."
"Well, I did what the Potter magic was requesting me to do. What about you Remus?"
"I'm coming with you, cub. I will use the Floo if you do your lightning trick."
Harry chuckles at Remus' comment, which is the first time he does since the state of mourning started.
"I will use the lightning trick, as it helps better control my magic. Thank you for the breakfast Pauly."
Said elf is happy to see his Master getting better. "Pauly is thankful for seeing Master smiling. Will Master be stopping here soon?"
"I will try to stop by twice a week, Pauly. Baron Potter, Ancestors, I thank you for your support during these hard times. I was lost in an ocean of sadness, pain and despair."
Baron Potter sends him a small smile. "Harry, you have done more for Albion in twelve days than some Lords during their time. We are a family and we always depend on each other. Remember my words Harry, you always have support with your family."
"Thank you Baron Potter. I appreciate your words of wisdom." Harry sends him a weak smile.
Harry nods at Remus and turns into lightning and head to Hogwarts.
Breakfast still had another hour before finishing when a few raise their heads to the ceiling when they hear something weird. Slowly, the sunny sky becomes cloudy, dark clouds filling the sky.
Lightning, thunder and heavy rain starts dropping when they see a large lightning dropping from the ceiling.
Lightning quickly molds together and Harey is standing. A bit taller, slightly more muscled and power showing in his eyes. He slowly walks the head table and stands at the seat between Minerva and Filius.
"Good morning everyone. In the last days, I went through what anyone who loses a cherished one goes through. I thank each one of you for your kind words and I'm sure Hogwarts herself showed you how much your thoughts touched me. While I am still in morning, that will not stop me from helping Professor Flitwick in the dueling club and I take back the defense club. After tomorrow, our three champions are going be showing us their prowess at the first task. For that, we won't have any clubs that day, to celebrate their achievements. Further information will be given to you in the next day or two. Until then, may Lady Magic bless you all."
He sits down and is shocked when student after student stand up and start clapping. after a minute, he stands up and bows in respect. Soon, the clapping stops and they return to their breakfast.
Harry wandlessly raises numerous wards around the head table. "I thank you all for your kind words. Headmistress Maxime, I thank you for your kind words. I asked my High Chancellor to invite President Laurier for the first task."
"He was honored and truly happy to be able to assist the first task. I also would like to give you my deepest respect for your state of mourning."
"Thank you Headmistress. I saw the outrage on your face when I arrived that night." He tilts his head in resprct to the woman. "Deputy Headmistress Sarkonoff, I thank you for being present to better represent your fine institution. I quickly traveled to Bulgaria to deal with Karkaroff, as he is a Bulgarian citizen."
"Lord Hogwarts, I truly apologize for my predecessor pathetic words. I also send you my deepest condoleances for the passing of your parents and it shows strength to do what you did."
"Kind words coming from a honorable person, Deputy Headmistress. Your words are truly appreciated and valued. May I personally welcome you to Hogwarts, home and school of my Ancestors."
The whole table send their wishes to Harry and soon classes start and students head out. Harry is one of the few who stay behind at the head table.
"Filius, how was these past ten days?"
"Gryffindors were close to being in mourning with you Harry. I barely saw any sense of unity as blatant as this one. Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Slytherins were subdued and most of the school was respecting your state of mourning. Both foreign schools were as respectful as our students. Many chose to assist to the clubs and work harder, to prove you right with creating these clubs. Most Professors were worried in the first few days when Sirius and Remus were telling us that you weren't leaving bed or even eating. Minerva chose to do the state of mourning with you. You saw her waering plain black robes. Most of the faculty is indeed wearing plain balck robes. To honor your parents, as they were as famous as you with the staff."
Harry smiles weakly and nods at his friend. "I better head to meet eith the Founders, as I fear they will lash out at me if I try to postpone it any further than that."
Filius pats his shoulder and Harey apparates to his office in the Founders tower. "Godric, Helga, Rowena, Salazar."
All look at him with worried expressions. "I won't ask you the question but I need to say I'm proud of you. You honored your parents, even the fact that it hurt you greatly."
Harry wipes out the tears falling on his face. "The hardest part was carrying the cold, dead bodies of my parents. I have never even dreamt or had a nightmare of such event to happen. For the first few days, I couldn't ... I couldn't see myself living without my parents. But with all the Potters, Sirius and Remus, I slowly started to live again. Talking with my parents, grandparents, Baron Potter and many more slowly started to help me scar the giant pain I was feeling and take care of that scar. I have endured physical pain, psychological pain. But I felt my heart break in half when I saw and carried my parents to their final resting place. Pain beyond measure, an ocean of sadness and feeling so empty that living wasn't worth it. But they helped me and with Magic's help, I was able to slowly get stronger and get better. After three days of total despair, I started to take care of myself. And here I am today. It still hurts, a lot. But my will of living is as strong as before, if not stronger."
Harry takes a minute to control his emotions and waits for them to talk.
"Harry ... we were worried sick over you. Take our nicest portraits from our chest and install them in your office at Potter Castle. We all agree about it and it will never be removed. This is our way to thank you for everything you have done."
Trying to convince himself that he isn't dreaming up, he sends them a small smile. "This is a high honor, one of the highest. Are you sure you want to do that?"
All four nod and Harry quickly chooses the best ornate portrait of each Founder and apparates directly in his office at home. He installs the portraits and activates them.
"Baron Potter, Ancestors, please welcome the Founders of Hogwarts. They requested to be installed here. Have fun getting to know each other."
He leaves them and return to Hogwarts. After sending all his documents in his main office at home through his elves, he chooses to walk around Hogwarts.
He enjoys the calm hallways and corridors. He meets the few seventh years heading to their classes and thank Merlin he chose to be invisible.
After a walk of an hour within Hogwarts, he retreats in his tower where he drinks a cup of tea to calm down. He thinks of the next day and apparates to the Potter Rangers barracks.
Walking there, he requests a meeting with his Captain. He looks around and sees all flags in black and the crests in dark gray. All Rangers are wearing black robes and a sense of mourning is present.
"Lord Potter, may I please be the first to give you my apologies. It must have been beyond difficult Sir."
"Thank you for your well wishes, John. While difficultand after ten days or so, I'm back. I think you know why I'm here and I can guess that you have a plan somehow."
They spend the next two hours planning the first task's security, with checkpoints and scans.
Harry returns to Hogaarts with the official copy of the plan and requests a meeting with Lady Bones, Minister Fudge and the head of the security details of both dignitaries coming to Hogwarts.
He receives positive answers from everyone and sends a note to Minerva that she is needed in her office in one hour.
Harry shows himself at lunch and sits next to Minerva. At her questioning look, he tells her one word. "Security."
Lunch quickly finishes and they revonvene in her office, which sees the Floo being activated several times.
"Miniter Fudge, Lady Bones, heads of President Laurier and Minister Krum's security details, please come and sit. Most of you know Hogwarts' Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall. Now, as you all are busy people, I will tell you the security measures I took here at Hogwarts with that many important dignitaries. First, there is many large private stands being built as we speak. They are built in cement and reinforced with spells to make them unbreakable. Features to see through from the interior are added to not create any dead angles. Each dignitary will have his own private stand, for him and thise with him. The Tri-Wizard judges will also have their own stand and all five stands will be linked with a private set of Floo fireplaces. They will not be linked in the main Floo network, to increase security. Agents will be setting checkpoints, to make sure no one will be creating trouble. Thirteen checkpoints all around the complex of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, all present on this map."
He drops a map of the surroundings of Hogwarts. They clearly see the Quidditch pitch and its surrounding resembling a fortified zone rather than a regular pitch. "The interior of the pitch will be enlarged to be able to host all tasks, regardless of how big they will be. And finally, the stands will be keyed to allow entry to a set of people. Anyone else will not be able to enter the stands. Any questions?"
"Yes, two. How do you think about all of that and who are these agents?"
Harry nods in thanks to the Bulgarian Minister security chief. "I spent two hours with my Captain and these Agents will be wearing a different uniform than their usual Rangers one. Protections to keep them unharmed are taken but I will keep these to myself."
"So your Rangers will be present? Good, this means security is ten times stronger."
"Indeed Lady Bones. No matter what, I take security really seriously. This is me taking it a step further."
He taps his wand on the map and four different domes are visible to all of them. "The first dome is to protect the champions from anyone in the crowd. It also protects them from portkeys, anyone under polyjuice, anyone who wants to harm them directly for who they are and to protect them from unwanted visitors. The second dome protects all private stands, with all the same description but also including a ward arresting anyone who tries to force themselves in any of the private stands. Third dome is to protect the crowds watching the task. Ten minutes after the start of the task, two wards will start working: the first is to stun anyone hiding themselves, including invisibility cloaks, polyjuice or any other potions, any kind of spells and even using muggle means to change how one looks. The second ward is to scan every person in the stands and to stun anyone who is considered a threat. Some Agents will be patrolling the stands and collecting the stunned people under the pretext of making sure to heal them correctly. Of course no one will doubt the Agents, as they will be more than efficient at the checkpoints, not that people will realize that there are a few hundred Agents."
They all think about what he told them and they soon agree to all his safety measures. They spend the next hour discussing adjustments and added precautions. Soon, they all leave after expressing their condoleances to Harry.
"Harry, I am starting to understand you. Of course you are one giant puzzle so fully understanding you will take time. From the least I know about you is that you react harshly when there is a major threat. What has you so worried that you will transform the tasks and Quidditch pitch into the most secured place in the world."
Harry sighs and looks at all the portraits looking back at him. "This is a matter of utter secrecy, no one is allowed to speak of it out of this office. I want a vow of secrecy to never reveal what I am about to tell you until I am either dead or the threat is over. Even from the previous Headmasters and Headmistresses."
After a few minutes of each portrait swearing an oath and finally followed by Minerva, Harry raises his strongest wards and they are clearly visible thanks to how potent they are.
"From this moment, nothing is to be repeated or even discussed except with my approval. Now, back to World War II, Grindelwald turned the German dictator into his puppet. He used the chaos in Europe to kill millions. After his co-called defeat by Dumbledore, both chose to do it differently. Slowly and throughout the years, they started infiltrating each magical Ministry on earth. By two weeks ago, only Britain, France, the USA and Geneva are clean. The other are either partially or totally infiltrated. Before I continue, in the raid I lead when I arrested Riddle, my men also arrested seven terrorists bearing an unknown mark. I personally interrogated them and it lead to five feet of documented proof of infiltration, assassination, murder, rape, and receiving covert help from a dying magical nation. Russia."
They all start to understand how bad it is and what is exactly on Harry's shoulders. "There are only four thousand magicals in Russia. The seven men I interrogated spilled anything they knew, including the major news of two groups in each nation. One group, with close to ninety percent of the total force, working in each Ministry and the last ten percent are in a safehouse, hidden in a small muggle village. It was those my men arrested. Last night, my men successfully raided a safehouse in southern France and all six had the same mark, in their mouths. Grindelwald's mark. My deployment at Geneva was to help the ICW destroying the insurrection and the Americans do have the best spy networks in the world. Anyway, back to the failed insurrection here in Britain, the Department of Mysteries was also breached. The Head Unspeakable was not happy and chose to put his department under lockdown and deal with them in his own way. Afterwards, I met with him and showed him the dmall tower of information and we started making plans. I won't be able to talk about them until they are done. To add even more bad news on top of the already bad ones, it seems these miscreants have a main base, in Chypre. And we should not forget the hrlp given by magical Russia, which we do not know how they will react once pressed with all the proof. It is for that reason that I tasked my High Financier to buy all dragon reserves in Europe, Africa and Asia. Thankfully, there are only four and I will keep the second European one under the Potter leadership. The other three will be sent to another one of my Houses. King Ragnok already sent teams of warders and curse-breakers to secure each reserve, in case the Russians choose to use our dragons to attack us from within. I have a team of scholars working around the clock to go through the books to see if any magical nation died in the past and if yes, what happened so we can avoid major problems this time. I'm leaving most of the critical information privately for now."
The Founders look almost amused by the numerous shocked faces around them. Headmaster Black is the first one to process Harry's last sentence. "All of this isn't critical information? What the hell is going on out there?"
Harry sends him a weak smile. "That was my first reaction too but with more ... colorful words. I then created a second team, this one mixed between scholars and former diplomats, to study the reasons of the actual international political state. They found one reason: confusion. With Dumbledore always telling everyone they are safe, they stopped reaching out to each other. With my takedown and sadly my rise to international political status, I started reaching out to the French, Americans and the ICW. I did the same with the Bulgarians when the motonic Karkaroff opened his mouth and will do the same with the Scandinavian nations, after I talk with Germany and the Baltic countries. Anyway, I have my diplomatic corps working under Sirius and they are reaching out, creating a plan. Back to the reason I asked you all a secrecy vow, a nesr dying nation is more scary than a nation with an army. The first always acts erratically while the second usually follows a plan. I'm trying to remove uncontrollable elements and control them but ... that is my fear. Hogwarts and everything under he control will become a fortress once the renovations are done."
Everyone is processing all the information. "Hogwarts will be protected during the tasks. I also will be personally raising all wards surrounding the competing grounds. Gringotts will send some warders to add on everything I will raise."
Every Headmaster/Headmistress send him an appraisal look. "When will they be raised, Harry?"
"Everything will be raised on the eve of the first task. Checkpoints, tents for my Agents, a perimeter with security, the private stands will be done during at time and all wards will be done around two or three in the morning. Remind me to tell you my plans for the Quidditch pitch."
"Will you need our help for the wards?"
"No. I want everything to appear normal. I will be invisible and working late hours. I have the defense club this afternoon and early evening. I will start working later tonight."
"Good. If you need anything, please tell us. Now, I'm too curious to wait anymore. What do you want to do with the Quidditch stadium?"
Harry smiles at the Headmistress blatant curiosity. "After the first task, the current Quidditch stadium will be dismantled and the stadium that should have been built in late June will be secretly done starting November 25th. Four days and night of work and the new stadium designed by the Founders will be unveiled before I leave for the security council."
Minerva looks at him in utter shock. "Will it be as planned?"
"Yes, with more added security measures. But yes, the new stadium will be able to host major Quidditch events. Over fifty thousand seats, the whole stadium made out of stone and charmed to protect the spectators from the weather. Security features will be added and a building will be built to host changing rooms and bathrooms for each House, each House will have a training room and a meeting room for discussing their tactics. Also, each House will have their Quidditch stockroom for their training materials. Plus a few surprises."
"Amazing idea Harry. but how will that affect the other two tasks?"
"Easy. Building the stadium will also include ten to twenty private stands incorporated in the stadium with the previously discussed security features automatically added."
"Four days and night? Who will lead the work?"
"Why, Gringotts of course. Ragnok already agreed and teams will be working eight hours shifts. Eight a.m. to four p.m., then four in the afternoon until midnight and finally midnight until eight a.m. next day. Everything should be ready and done at seven in the morning on the 29th. A school wide presentation of the grounds will be done after breakfast, as it will be a Saturday. Any student who tries to break through the giant curtains that will be raised will be suspended for two months, as dangerous work will be going on behind said curtains. I am not joking and I will personally enforce that rule on anyone who will not listen to it."
Discussion flows around until an hour before the start of his defense club. He bids everyone a good day and head to his defense club room.
He enters it and make sure that everything is ready then asks for a small lunch.
Fifteen minutes before the start of the club, students started coming inside.
Being invisible, no one sees him. A minute after the start of the club,
He walks in the middle of the group and starts throwing stunners.
Most drop but only three are able to take cover and raise shields. Harry drops his invisibility and smiles at the three students.
"Good thinking. While being the only three still awake, you need to work on your response speed. Help me revive them."
After reviving them, Harry starts his lesson by giving them a lost of their expected spells they should already know.
"These spells are divided by the year you should have learned them. If you need any help with them, come and talk to me. If you can perform all of them, I want you to come and show them all to me. I will then put you in groups where you will be going defending yourself from a dummy throwing various offensive spells against you. Now, let's go everyone. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students, you are welcome to stay and go through as the same of my students."
Almost every student can be seen using various defensive spells except two students. Which is where Harey is found, helping both students. He gave them an assignment to close the gap in their DADA knowledge. He sent them to practise their spells against dummies and turned his focus on the rest of the group.
Harry raised their dummies to seventh year offensive knowledge. He separates the better students from the rest and talking to them.
"If you want, I can give you an assignment. I want you to research offensive spells and defensive tactics against these offensive spells."
They all get a glint in their eyes and all nod. "Good. If you want, you can set your dummies at the advanced seventh year. I'm going to talk to the rest of the students."
They all thank him and head to continue to the next level.
Harry walks to the rest of them. "Okay, for you guys. You have enough knowledge in defensive spells for your years. But I want you to deepen that knowledge before you go to the next step. Your assignment is to learn more about your actual knowledge and slowly start to expand on offensive spells of equal strength. The assignment isn't a requirement but it will help in DADA."
They nod and Harry calls for everything to stop. "Now, I have more training and more knowledge than you but I still want to show you what I expect from someone who is in fifth and sixth year."
His wand appear in his hand after snapping his fingers and sets the dummy at sixth year. "I will only use Protego, deflecting spells and the other defensive spells. Remember, I will not be using either more power or more advanced spells."
He starts deflecting spells, throwing shield spells and evading offensice spells. "I will now use deflection to return offensive spell to its caster."
They watch him slowly using his wand to return all offensive soells back to the dummy.
"I want you to understand that even the darkest of spells can be deflected, using the right way. And if you can't deflect the spells then you are to evade them. This is where being physically active and healthy comes into play. Physical strength has many positive outcomes. Between lasting longer in a duel to evading spells, and not forgetting to use more powerful spells. Running one hour a day will, after a couple of months, help boost your magical reserves."
He deflects all spells to the dummy, which is stunned. "As I told some students in Slytherin, practising your spells repeatedly helps your magical core to grow. Think of it as a muscle you train every day. After training it for months, it becomes bigger, stronger and is more stable. Now, I fo not want to see spells flying in the hallways and corridors. I will stun you and throw you in detention before you even realize what the hell happened. Am I clear?"
Everyone nod and Harry tells them to sit in the living room part of the room. "Now, I will answer your questions. We still have a few minutes."
One Ravenclaw raises her hand. "Yes, Ms. Toyle."
"Why doing this and why now? I don't mind the extra practise, as it will help me for my OWLs."
"Easy. I'm a walking library, literally. And I'm a trained hit-wizard. While I do not train you to become hit-wizards, I do give you the tools to see for yourself that defending yourselves is indeed possible. One of the faults of last war here in Britain was that people were running when Tom Riddle and his terrorists were attacking. Both them and the bystanders had the same weapon. Wands. Not the same training, but the same weapon. After going through thousands of reports from both Hogwarts and the Ministry, I realized that the common cause of inaction from civilians is the lacking of stability in DADA here in Britain. Which is being fixed. Anyway, our generation will face greater threats and with greater threats, it also awakes greater power. Which I wish to help all of you wield. Next question."
"Why is the Ministry doing nothing?"
"You mean here at Hogwarts?" When he sees the sixth year nodding, he points at the crests on his right. "Hogwarts is the result of hard work by four people, commonly known as the Founders of Hogwarts. As Fate and other Divinities played their roles, the Heirships of all four came to me. After many discussions with the Founders, it has been decided that the Ministry will not get involved in Hogwarts, as the Heir of all Founders is found. Also, Hogwarts is a privately owned school, which in turn forces the Ministry in acknowledging my leadership over the school. And lastly, the previous Headmaster was in fact destroying both the curriculum and the school itself from within and yet, the Ministry and Board of Governors let him do whatever he wants. Next question."
"What else will you teach us?"
"Every notion I will be covering with every one of you is in this library. Books have been divided by year and types of magic covered by DADA. While I do not mind you reading in advance, these books are tied to this room and won't be taken out of it. More of each books can be found at the main library. Last question and make it good."
"Will you teach us the Patronus charm?"
"Of course. In fact, after the Yule break, I will start teaching the Patronus to every fifth, sixth and seventh year. These beasts are still roaming the Realm and you need to know how to defend yourselves against them. I will not endanger even a single one of you by not teaching you how to perform it. And remember my earlier answer; your magical core is like a muscle. Do not use the excuse of not being powerful enough. Each core can grow and yes, reach its limit. But Magic herself gave the ability to each of her children to be able to defend themselves and that includes against Dementors."
Every student is smiling, even the foreign students. "Good, now go eat something healthy as all of you spent quite a lot of energy. Stay safe and may Lady Magic help you all."
They thank him and slowly leave the room. He turns to a side of the room he didn't go near and waves his wand.
Most of the staff and both foreign Headmistresses are sitting and watching him. "How was the show?"
"Phenomenal, Harry. I think it's the first time I have seen students happy to receive an assignment. And how you taught them is amazing. Teaching them defensive spells first before going into offensive spells. It is quite ingenious."
"Minerva is right. Using their knowledge in defensive spells to learn their counterparts in the offensive part is really something no one has taught of doing. Instead of using whatever comes in their minds, they will know both the theory and having trained using both sides of DADA magic."
"Indeed. The Tuesday, Thursday and early Sunday groups are going to be similar yet not the same knowledge. The seventh year will be a brutal wake-up call. Not today though. I will go through the same tactics as earlier today but I will warn them that they must get better. The lack of stability in teachings in DADA over the last twenty years has been a major problem and must be fixed."
They all look at him like he lost his mind. "Why am I feeling like your next idea will be somehow scandalous?"
"Me? I'm innocent." Snorts are heard from everyone and Harry waves his wand to fix the room for the incoming group. Fine, break my fun. I want to make sure adults know how to defend themselves. My goal is not to make an army out of all witches and wizards but to make sure that everyone knows how to defend themselves until aurors and/or hit-wizards are present. My example of the last war is spot on. If these people had a DADA OWLs level of understanding, many lives could have been saved and many lines will effectively be strong today. While the auror forces in the major countries are going through major reinforcement, people cannot rely on a couple thousand to defend them against every problem that comes their way. You will understand what I mean when the seventh year enter the room. Now, what can I improve?"
They all look at him like he grew another head. "Improve? I was thinking of helping us build a better DADA program."
Harry sends the French Headmistress an incredulous look. "What? Why?"
The Bulgarian Headmistress chuckles softly at Harry's face. "Lord Hogwarts ..."
"No, absolutely no. Call me Harry."
"Fine, Harry. Let us leave your major skills on the side, being a teenager yourself gives us an insight into how to better teach a knowingly hard subject. With the way you were guiding these students, they advanced leaps in less than two hours. You always know what to say and what to do and all reacted positively. Even our students, and they had stability of teaching. Yet, they learned faster and stronger."
Harry turned slightly pink and looks at them like they lost their minds. "Fine, I will see what I can do. Now, I will raise the wards, which includes a privacy and secrecy ward. I hope you asked the elves to drink and eat." Seeing their faces, he sighs heavily. "For Merlin's sake, at least drink something."
He wandlessly raises the wards and turns himself invisible. Ten minutes later, many objects were levitated in the room and the first srudents who entered the room.were wondering what the hell is wrong.
When all seventh years arrived - both Hogwarts and foreign students, Harry started stunning them en masse. Objects levitated were attacking them and yet, no one coordinated with the others to protect themselves.
Five minutes later, only seven students are still standing. Harry levitates the objects back to their initial place and starts clapping.
"While I expected more to still be standing, congratulations on not being stunned. May I know why no one coordinated with the others around them?"
A French student answers him. "We don't know anyone here."
"And yet, if you walk the streets of Marseille, you won't know those around you. By talking with others, you are better protecting yourself, as you cover your dead angles. Now, why no one took down the flying objects?"
A Bulgarian student answered immediately. "We didn't know if they were cursed or not."
"A good answer most propably learned from the book. A good answer but that might have killed you in real life. Instead of incapacitate the objects, blow them up. Whatever curse they might carry will be destroyed with the destruction of the object. Last question, who here threw a shield on the ground?"
A Ravenclaw seventh year raised her hand. "Perfect. Most probably learned from a book too. When you cast the shield, did you brought your head towards the ground?"
"Yes, as I needed to make sure I spell it correctly."
"While being a good idea, breaking your concentration from your enemies might kill you. In seventh year, you should be able to produce shields easily. Without looking. Good idea but the execution needs working on. Now, we will revive the sleepy heads and we're going to play a game."
After reviving them, Harry told them the game. "You are fifty-five students. After I enlarge the classroom, you will divode yourselves in eleven groups of five. You have to follow three rules. First, you have to communicate between groups. Second, all eleven groups will be attacking my position and myself. Third, you are to use only offensive spells while I will be only using defensive spells and deflecting yours. I will be suing the strength of a seventy year and no spells from my hit-wizard training. Oh, unexpected rule. You are not to stay with your friends. You are to create groups with others, as if you are attacked in the street, your friends won't always be with you."
After enlarging the class and making sure the staff is protected, he creates three small houses, leaving them tow and keeping one for himself. He slowly starts to raise defensive walls around himself and builds a small tower behind the small house. He raises defensive wards that any seventh year should know and waits for them to start attacking.
The Professors are gaping at Harry's idea. "This is ... How did he get this idea?"
"Criticak thinking, Minerva. He truly is thinking outside the box. You have to give it to him, everything he did was seventh year knowledge, even the wards. And look at how he is tauting them."
"He is going to play with them. It is clear that even my Slytherins haven't realized it yet."
"What do you mean, Professor Snape?"
"Headmistress Maxime, look at what he raised around his house. These aren't normal walls, look at the small runes. Protective runes, that if they are able to destroy, will explode towards them. Remember his first rule, communicate brtween all groups. They seem to be getting something right, as they are discussing what they can do in coordination. But they are taking too much time, hence his tauting. Oh, its starting."
Harry raised a seventh year shield all around the house and smirks at the spells hitting it. He decided to use a tactic used by Riddle himself during the last war.
When four of the groups come closer to the shield, he drops it and they rush inside, which was what he wanted exactly. He quickly raises the shield again.
"Communication guys. You are now in danger, what do you do? Think, the answer is easy. When in danger, do not overthink and keep it easy."
They hear his comment and all nod and start attacking him. He starts deflecting the spells and take out almost half of them under five minutes. The rest regroup and renew their attacks while the other seven groups attack his shield. He creates holes in his shield and deflect some spells towards the groups out of it.
He raises a smaller shield that reflects all spells back to its sender, effectively taking out all four groups around his house. He pushes them out of the simulation and revive them.
"Four groups down, seven to go."
He drops his shields and all hesitate before lauching dosens of spells. He raises numerous small shields to reflect back while he deflects all spells towards them. He starts to evade and spells himself to reflect any spell that might hit him.
Less than fifteen minutes later, only two groups are left standing and they are attacking Harry relentlessly.
"When you are in what people call standstill, you slowly try to break it out without hurting your position. You have two options, the first is to always be moving and lauching high powered spells while the second is to regroup and build a defensive position, only if reinforcements are coming. Both options have good and bad consequences, and I'm not going to stop our mocking fight. Think and act. Go!"
As he expected, a group detach itself from the defensive position and start attacking him from the sides. He transforms into his phoenix animagus and flames behind them, attacking them immediately as they are gaping at him.
They are all taken out and the simulation is over. Reviving them, he brings the room to its former size and invites them to sit down for ten minutes.
"Now, while everything is fresh, what are your observations about me?"
Victor Krum raises his hand and Harry nods. "High stamina, you wrre deflecting and reflecting; two different ways of sending back spells to its casters. You used walls with runes on them to blow up if heavily attacked, raised a shield and used it to take out the first groups, which were our strongests."
A student Hogwarts raises his hand and gets approval to talk. "You also used different variation of shields and of course your animagus. You also silenced your feet from making any noise, hence being able to hear if anyone walks near you."
"Very good, Mr. Krum, Ms Jones. You said almost everything except two small things I did but they were essentials." He sees the confused looks. "The first was that I taunted you when you were taking time to attack. Always expect your enemy to provoke you, to force you to make mistakes. And the second? I used the animagus transformation to shock you and I was easily able to take the rest down. One major rule in life and that goes beyond DADA: Always expect the unexpectable. Never take anything for granted. As for myself, I only take death for granted, for all shall meet him one day. Except that? Nothing. Now, I want to hear about your tactics. You did a few good things but your next actions negated your first actions."
It became a debate about how one can defend himself when alone and how one can defend himself and those around him when fighting with others.
"Good, you are all calmer and slightly better. Now, you will be testing your spells against dummies. It might sound stupid but you will cast every spell you should have learned in DADA, starting from first year. The dummy will turn green if cast right and red if need to add either finesse or techniques. I will be monitoring behind you to offer advices. Good? Go!"
Parchments flew to each student and they stsrted casting each spell. All of them quickly reached fifth year before needing to cast them more than once and they started to understand why he did it that way. Refreshing their earlier spells, it became easier to cast the harder spells from the same family.
Before they knew it, they were casting seventh year spells and Harry was continuously advicing them.
Ten minutes before the end, he reconvened them to the couches. "Now, drink water and eat snacks. Food and beverages will be in your common rooms and temporary quarters for our guests. I will be answering your questions for the remaining time."
"How was your hit-wizard training?"
Harry chuckles, a rare sight and they all send him small smiles. "Remember that I was a scrawny little kid." He showed them a hologram of his previous self. "The first week of training was so hard that I was physically hurting, not unlike living with those animals. But it started to get better when I learned one important lesson: never underestimate yourself. Three weeks later, I could stand against trained hit-wizards for about five to ten minutes. For an eleven years old, they were shocked. And it is with that mentality I came to Hogwarts and learnt four years worth of schooling in my second year. Your brain is your biggest weapon. When they say knowledge is power, it means that with the right knowledge, physical power comes easier. Right, back to your question. When I returned between my second to third year, I could beat the new recruits. They thought I was cheating with potions and when I swore on my life, they upped my trained tenfold. The ICW is using the muggle military ways, which means waking you up with frozen ice on your fave, running ten miles before breakfast, you eat as quickly as you, then physical training. Then comes the theory and they throw you right away in practising the theory learned. Because of my name, I also had a mentor. You all know Mad-Eye Moody? Well, the Lone Tiger was about ten to fifteen times worse. He poisoned me so mamy times I lost count, attacked me in my sleep, trapped me. Well, you get it. I became as paranoid as this psychopath. Next question."
"How can you study four years in one year? Especially at twelve?"
Even the Professor sat straight at that question. "There was attacks in the Castle in my second year, when most were calling me the Heir of Slytherin. I spent countless hours in the library trying to arm myself with enough spells and knowledge to be able to fight anyone who might attack me or if I meet that monster. Before Yule that year, I was starting the sixth year cursus. I found a spell to copy information and when I felt I might be caught, I copied several books and read them in my bed. Sleep was about two hours a night and I looked like utter shit. By May, I finished my Hogwarts education but I couldn't do anything, as an old goat was beyond interested in me. Truly, I was more scared him forcing himself on me rather than him attacking me. Anyway, next question."
"What made you study like that?"
Harry gets sad for a second before using his Slytherin face. "I asked one day Professor Flitwick about my mother and an elf heard me asking about her. It was in Spetember 1991. Later that night, she popped me in the library and told me all about my parents. Elves are frown upon but truly, they are powerful beings. Really powerful and useful. So elf after elf told me stories about my father and his friends who pranked everyone, especially the Slytherins. I call it borderline harassment but each has their own definition. They told me about my mother, her Slytherin friend, how she used to study for hours, as she wanted to prove everyone that muggleborns aren't stupid. Little did she know that she was a squib from the main Slytherin line and second Hufflepuff line. Anyway, it is then, when I heard about my parents but especially my mother, that I decided to honir their memory."
"What about your third year?"
Harry weakly smiles at their curiosity. "Well, while coming here, a Dementor tried to kiss me. Yup, really fun. It sadly unblocked the memory of THAT night. It is then that I started my reseach on Dementors, trying to find a way to destroy them. Trust me, I have almost seven feet of research in my office and I can't figure out how to destroy them. Anyway, I stumbled on the Patronue charm and asked Professor Lupin to teach me. After the seventh class, I deduced he was a werewolf and started reading on the first war. I have several boxes on it but it is them I found what happened to my godmother. I think it was in early October and between the memory of my parents and what I found on my godmother, my magic started to slowly burn a table in the library. One of the elves brought me a Calming Draught and the others fixed the mess. I contacted my friend at the ICW to send me lots of resources to work a solution on that problem. After almost two weeks of research and several feet long of scrolls, I found a small old book, the author tried to achieve the soul revealing potion and failed. He even left the first step of the potion and it is from then that I worked on it. Took me eight bloody months and one night, I got mad. Instead of blowing up, I looked around and chose to remain in my animagus form to calm down. I cried in a vial and chose to drop a number of tears I will not disclose to you all in it. With blood freely given from a unicorn and something else, the potion became white. As white as your soul. I couldn't believe it. I bottled everything up correctly and sent everything to the Potion Guild. The rest is now history."
Everyone is focusing on his words, captivated by his story. "And before you ask me, last summer. Having heard of the World Cup, my mentor and my trainer both decided to train me even harder. You all saw what came out of my scar and at the start of the summer, I visited the Goblins. It is then I discovered the true length of the manipulations from the old goat. We created plans and the only thing I will trll you is that the Goblins asked me if they can use these plans for their problems. I happily agreed but its to show you that I was mad. As in mad when the whole school heard me yell when I heard about the dragons. Ragnok - eh sorry - King Ragnok's office was burning and my magic was coming out in waves as it was responding to my anger. Do you know how they knocked me out?"
Both the students and Professors are expecting something unexpected. "One of the goblin warriors apologized and when I turned around, I received a eight kilograms shield in my face. I had a concussion for three days but magically, I was mad. Anyway, back to my training. After the evil magic was out of my body, I could easily duel with more than a few hut-wizards. When I expressed if they have anything on Grindelwald's grave and got a negative answer, I was part of the raid to Nuremberg. It was hosting several hundred of his followers. Constable Henry and his opponent stopped dueling and both watched me tear down their forces. In my head, they were Dumbledore's too. Which means their eradication means hurting whatever plan he was concocting. Henry didn't wait for us to return to Geneva, he upgraded me to silver level. In my ... unique way of fighting, I apparently saved several fellow team members. I didn't even see them, as I was hunting any one trying to escape the prison. Each one of them thanked me and I had to play the bloody idiot who purposely saved them."
They all started to laugh, as the scene must have been hilarious. "Do they know you didn't purposely saved them?"
Everyone turn toward the voice and they see a journalist sitting comfortable. "Oh hey Suzie, long time no see. I hope you got everything I said. I don't have the energy to go through an interview tonight."
She chuckles at the gaping faces looking at Harry. "Oh, I got everything all right. But you didn't answer my question."
"I know, you moron. And to anseer your question, yes. I told them the next morning and they all looked at me like I was crazy and started laughing. Thanked me again and returned to their training."
Harry clears his throat. "You do know that I'm Lord Slytherin, why are you all surprised? Knocking several birds with one stone. Oh and she was present from the beginning. Don't worry, she won't write anything about what we discussed earlier."
He waves his hand and the wards surrounding the Professors are lifted. He levitates their chairs and bring them closer.
"Miss Suzie is here to write about these clubs I am leading. Don't forget Professor Flitwick is also leading thr dueling club."
"Don't worry Harry, you told me at least ten times. I think I got it after the third time."
"Okay. She will write about everything I told you and I have the approval of every actor named in these stories for the publication of my stories. Now, fourth year. Well, better call it this year. When I heard about the Tournament, I knew that the old goat will try to drag me in it, one way or another. So, I planned. With Gringotts, heavily with them. I prepared the elves to evacuate the Great Hall if Dumbledore tried to get violent, as I would not have children getting hurt. I had King Ragnok himself seize every stolen Knut from the thief, every Potter artefact he stole and anything else that is my family's. I then started to read on the Dumbledore family and found one little detail."
He summons a really thick book and shows the title to everyone. Houses of Albion and their true History, written by Baron Potter and magically updated - thanks to Lady Magic's approval
"Yup, the first Potter created one of the first Potter artefact and the most completehistory book covering four thousand years of history on our Houses. It says here that several hundred years ago, the Ancient House of Dumbledore tried to kill the then Lord Potter and steal all their wealth. It is then that the Potter family signed a neutrality treaty with the Kingdom of Gringotts and became their first customer, after King Arthur and his Consort Merlin. Every Lord Dumbledore tried to achieve what his predecessor tried but failed. Fast forward to Albus Dumbledore and it partly explains why he set my parents to death and why he wanted to raise a martyr. Uncensored and unfiltered history is a jewel to protect, Ladies and Gentlemen."
He snaps his fingers and the book returns to the vault in his office back at Potter Castle.
"One last question from the students. We are way past our time."
"You did so much and yet, you seem to wanting to do more. What will you do next, Harry?"
"Amazing question. While I did a lot, it was to fight evil. I do not want to do more but I will always stand against evil, no matter who they are. What I will do next is both known - as I will continue the state of mourning and stand tall for my parents and unknown. But why say everything when one can add a little suspense in life?"
Chuckles are heard and the students thank him before leaving him with the reporter and the Professors.
"So Suzie, did I deliver on my promise?"
"Deliver? Harry, except your conversation with the Professors, everything you said will be published without any changes. The private convo with the Professors have been deleted, as promised."
Harry read quickly the whole "interview" and hand it back. "Perfect. The attention on the champions is to be complete. I do not want any attention on myself before November 29th. I have enough to deal with and I will not have more headaches on my head before then."
"I have enough to cover several days, that is without the interviews with the champions before and after the first task. Don't worry, our contract is clear."
"Perfect, see you soon Suzie."
She quickly leaves the room and Harry turns his attention on the Professors. "Truly a Slytherin, Harry."
Harry chuckles and taps his wand on the four crests representing the four Hogwarts Houses. "Of course Severus, do you expect something else? I'm a quarter each Founder and one hundred percent a Potter."
"You did so many things at the same time. You covered so many topics. Were the questions pre-planned too?"
"Oh no, I will never force my issues on the students. While they knew a reporter might be present, as rumors have been circulating, I didn't ask them to ask these questions."
"As you said, you are spicing things up. Why and to what purpose?"
"That will be telling, Headmistress. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you, your school, the Tournament or anything that might be related to education. Now, tell me your honest opinions about the first part of their training."
They spend the next half hour, discussing the merit of different ways of teaching.