Krillin's Salvation

"Well, Mister Son, I hope you are prepared for another exciting year," Dumbledore said mildly as he unstuck a lemon drop.

Gohan blinked stupidly. "I guess. It's been pretty weird lately, and classes haven't even started yet."

"Indeed. I had a few notable visitors over the past few weeks. Including a certain dead one." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

Gohan gasped. "Father came here?"

"He did. He had some rather interesting news. I understand he will be entering the World Martial Arts Tournament?"

Gohan nodded. "It's funny though, even though Father has always enjoyed the event, I never thought he'd actually return to participate. Surely the Other World has some tough competition. Father told me of a strong fighter named Pikkon. Reminds him of Piccolo."

Dumbledore nodded. "So I'm to assume that we both know that this appearance won't merely be for old time sake."

Gohan scratched his head. "Maybe a little, but Hermione and I feel that there's another reason. That's why I'm feeling a little nervous. Dad seemed normal enough, but there were times that he had a deadly serious look on his face. Kind of reminds me when he first faced Frieza."

Dumbledore stood. "Mister Son, do you remember that device I gave you your first year here? The one with the portkey-apparition hybrid?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Do you still have it?"

"Of course, sir. It's in my pocket." Gohan fished out the silver contraption and handed it to him.

Dumbledore tapped it with his wand and handed it back to him. "Be sure to give this to Mister Weasley, if you would."

Gohan blinked in confusion but said, "Okay. Do you want me to tell him what it does?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "He'll figure it out. I've also added an extra function to it," Dumbledore didn't elaborate.

"Okay. I'll give it to him as soon as we get to the common room." Gohan stood.

"Oh, and Gohan, be sure to keep a close eye on Harry and Hermione this year. I've seen some rather disconcerting things and I'd rather be safe than sorry."

"Okay, Goodnight, Professor."

"Goodnight, Mister Son."

...

Ron turned the cigarette-lighter-looking device over in his hand. "What's this thing supposed to do?"

Gohan shrugged non committedly. "He said you'd figure it out."

"What did Dumbledore say to you?" Hermione asked.

"Pretty much everything we already knew. It's funny though; I'm not sure if he's even remotely suspicious about Moody. He didn't even mention him."

"Moody?" Harry said.

Gohan told them about the funny feelings he felt around the new teacher.

Harry looked slightly dubious. "You think someone's switched bodies with Moody? Is that kind of magic even possible?"

"Yes," Hermione said automatically. Everyone except Gohan stared at her in shock. Hermione shrugged. "What do you think my existence is for? Voldemort only wanted me so he could exchange my younger, more powerful body for his," she smiled grimly. "I suppose I should be grateful Snape didn't use that gender determination potion on me. Otherwise, Voldemort would still be trying to steal me for that purpose. And…my name would be Herman," she wrinkled her nose.

Harry frowned. "If he knows about you not being a boy, why would he still want you?"

Hermione looked at him with bitter disgust. "Are you sure you want to know? You know as well as I how he doesn't give up."

Harry's eyes widened in horror. He looked away angrily. "That's vile! I didn't think I could possibly hate him any more than I do now. That freak would do anything to get more power! Disgusting!"

Gohan nodded in agreement. "He's definitely got Cell beat in that aspect. Tee hee…Herman Granger."

Hermione punched his shoulder. "Anyways, I think it would be a good idea to continue our training."

Harry raised a brow. "Well, that's easier said than done. How are we going to get out of the castle every night without being spotted? And are we going to have enough room in the Forbidden Forest?"

Hermione and Gohan exchanged knowing glances. "Who says we have to leave the castle?"

Harry blinked. "Huh?"

Hermione nodded. "I've been making plans with Dumbledore. He's given his permission. The Chamber of Secrets should be ready to use in a few weeks. Gohan, would you write to Bulma and see if you can get more gravitrons?"

Gohan nodded.

"The Chamber of Secrets?" Harry said in shock. "Hermione—"

"It's the best option we have, Harry. Few know of its location; fewer know the password, and…think of the shock potential it has when ol' Voldecoot finds out."

Harry's shock turned into a chuckle. "Voldecoot?"

Hermione grinned. "That's something Gohan and I do for fun…invent Voldy names and Riddle jokes."

Ron stared. "Mental. You two definitely need to get a life."

Gohan grinned. "Hermione, I've got a Riddle for you."

Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust. "That's all right, Gohan. You can keep him."

Harry laughed. "Well, I reckon that's better than moping about the git. I'm turning in. I guess you two are going to train. Goodnight."

Gohan's stomach grumbled loudly. "Maybe we should fish first."

"I see you're eating again," Ron said, grinning at the pair over his eggs.

"We'll, we won't accomplish much by starving ourselves. We're going to figure out another way to help the house-elves," she sighed.

Gohan's eyes brightened. "Hey! I've got an idea! Dumbledore said that you own at least one hundred—ow!" He said as he received a kick beneath the table.

"We'll talk about it later, Gohan," she said quickly, blushing in embarrassment. She felt uncomfortable with the thought of owning house-elves.

...

Gohan and Hermione sat in Herbology, speaking in hushed tones as they squeezed pus from the bubotubers.

"Gohan, what was you saying before—oh, sorry about kicking you."

"It's okay. What I was saying is why don't you start with your own house-elves? Maybe you could start paying them and giving them holidays. They seem quite brain washed, so I'd start with holidays. Start out one day a month. Maybe pay them one galleon a month each—"

"Gohan, that's nowhere near enough for them!"

"I know it isn't, but you might wind up offending them if you don't handle this the right way. Maybe you should ask the professor where they sleep. It would be nice if they had a happy place to go to rest. Maybe the reason they like to work is because they have nowhere else to go for vacation."

Hermione nodded. "I had hoped to start an organization to help promote elvish welfare, but I'm a hypocrite, owning all of these elves."

"Maybe you're the best one for the job. Gain some experience by studying them, and then we can form a plan. And you can still form your club. Just don't say you want to free the house-elves, yet. You can form something more permanent once you gain more insight into the house-elves' culture."

Hermione sighed. "Maybe you're right. Can we go to the library after lunch? I'd like to research any similar groups."

"Okay."

"Miserable bat," Ron muttered darkly as they headed to the Grand Hall for dinner. "That would take the entire weekend, that will…"

"Lots of homework?" Hermione asked brightly, happy for once that she didn't have any. "Professor Vector didn't give us any!"

"Well, bully for him!"

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!" Draco Malfoy and his goons approached. "Check it out! Your father's in the Prophet! Listen to this—"

He read the article aloud.

"Arnold Weasley? Guess your father's name isn't important enough to remember, unlike some."

"Sod off, Malfoy," Ron grumbled.

'Here's a picture of your family and their house, if you could indeed call it that. Your mother could stand to lose a few pound, couldn't she?"

Ron shook with rage. Harry pulled Ron from behind, speaking as he did. "Get stuffed, Malfoy. C'mon, Ron."

"You've spent summers with them, haven't you, Potter? Tell me, is she as chunky as the picture implies?"

"You're really pushing it, Malfoy," Hermione said, standing in front of Ron as he struggled with Harry.

Malfoy smirked. "You've seen her, Granger. Is she really that porky?"

"Well, you know your mum?" Harry said angrily as Hermione now had to stop Ron, his ki sparking warningly. "That expression she's got? Like she has dung under her nose? Is she always like that, or was it because you were with her?"

Malfoy's cheeks twinged a bit pink. "Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter."

"If you can't take what you can dish out, then can it! We don't have time for your stupidity!" Harry said, turning away.

BANG! Something white-hot grazed Harry's cheek. Harry turned to punch some sense into the git, but—

"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!" Moody bellowed with a second bang. Harry couldn't see Malfoy anywhere.

Hermione laughed heartily. "Awww, he's so cute! Such an improvement!" Gohan giggled.

Harry looked down and choked. A pure white ferret was shivering on the stone floor where Malfoy had been standing. He grinned.

Moody clunked forward, his normal eye staring at Harry, his blue one looking into the back of his head. "Did he get you?"

"No…missed," Harry said dazedly.

"LEAVE IT!"

"Huh? Leave what?" Harry blinked stupidly.

"Not you…him!" Moody said, jerking his thumb toward Crabbe, who had tried to pick up the ferret. Apparently, Moody could see right through his own head. He clunked toward the ferret, who gave a frightened squeak and took off toward the dungeons.

"I don't think so!" He pointed his wand, and the ferret rose ten feet into the air, landing on the stone floor with a small thump It squealed in pain. It bounced up again, thump. "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back is turned," thump "Sinking, cowardly…" thump "…scummy thing to do!" Thump. "Never—" thump "—do—" thump "—that—" thump "—again!" Thump.

Gohan bit his lip. He didn't like to see creatures in pain, even annoying ones like Draco Malfoy. "Erm, Professor?"

"Yes, Son?"

Gohan jumped. He hadn't expected Moody to know his name. "Could you stop now? I think he's learned his lesson."

Professor McGonagall had approached and gasped at Gohan's words. "Professor Moody? Is…is that a student?"

"Yep."

"No!" McGonagall flicked her wrist and Malfoy was a boy once more, albeit an extremely flushed one. He slowly rose, wincing in pain. "We never use transfiguration as a punishment! Surely Professor Dumbledore told you!"

Moody's mouth twitched. "He…might have mentioned it."

"We give detentions or deduct house points! Sometimes we speak to the offender's Head of House—"

Moody grabbed Malfoy by the collar. "I'll do that. I've been meaning to have a one-to-one with Snape anyways. Let's go, ferret boy."

Malfoy mumbled something that included the word "Father."

"Oh, really," Moody said as he half dragged him. "You do that. I know your father, boy. You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son, would you?"

Ron sat onto a bench with a strange look on his face. "Don't talk to me," he said dreamily.

"Why?"

"Because I want to fix that into my memory forever. Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret…" Ron closed his eyes and lifted his face up with a serene smile.

Everyone within earshot burst into laughter.

Hermione dolloped beef casserole onto their plates. "But he could have hurt Malfoy…it's a good thing Gohan and Professor McGonagall—"

Ron pouted. "You're spoiling it, Hermione!"

She scoffed impatiently, poking food into her mouth.

Harry stared. "Oh, come on! Library again?"

"Mmm-hmm," Gohan said, his cheeks packed. His mother would kill him if she saw how he was eating.

Hermione finished first and raced out the door, her seat taken by Fred Weasley.

"Moody…how cool is he?"

"Beyond cool," said George as he sat next to Videl.

"Incredibly wicked!" Lee Jordan added as he sat next to Fred. "We had him this afternoon."

Harry looked up eagerly. "What was it like?"

Fred, George, and Lee exchanged meaningful glances.

"Never had a lesson like it."

"He knows, man. Knows what it's like to be out there, fighting the Dark Arts."

"He's seen it all."

"Amazing."

Ron perused his schedule in disappointment. "We don't have him until Thursday."

Gohan frowned. Maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe Moody's not so bad.

Gohan and Hermione trotted toward their Thursday class. To everyone else, it looked like they were going all out to get to class on time. Everyone stared at them as they stopped in front of the door.

They're not even winded, Harry thought. "Well, I guess we should get inside before all the best seats are taken."

Moody clunked into the class. "You can put those away. The books. You won't be using them in here."

Harry and Ron exchanged excited glances.

Moody pulled out a register and did roll. His blue eye momentarily lingered on Harry, Gohan, and surprisingly Hermione as he reached their names.

"Right then. I received a letter from Professor Lupin about this class. Seems you have been thoroughly grounded in Dark creatures and how to tackle them. Correct?"

Murmurs of assent filled the class.

"But you are incredibly lacking in studying curses. So I will be spending my time teaching you what wizards can do to each other. I have one year to—"

"What, aren't you staying?" Ron blurted out.

The man stared at Ron, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The man watched him for a moment, before smiling. "Arthur Weasley's son? Yes, your father got me out of a very tight corner a few days ago…yeah, I'm only staying for one year. Special favor to Dumbledore…one year, then back to my quiet retirement." He barked a harsh laugh then clapped his hands, rubbing them together.

"So—straight to it. Curses. They come in many different strengths and forms. The Ministry would prefer if I only taught you countercurses and such, but how are you going to know how to defend if you don't know what an attack looks like, eh? The Ministry doesn't want you to see them until sixth year, but apparently Dumbledore has a higher opinion of what you can handle. A wizard isn't going to be polite and tell you what he's going to do before he hexes you. You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful. You need to put that away, Miss Brown, while I'm talking."

Lavender and Parvati blushed, shuffling something into their desk.

"So…does anyone know which curses are the most heavily punished by wizarding laws?"

Several hands shot into the air.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"They are called Unforgivables."

"And are so called?"

"Because they are unforgivable," she choked. "The use of any of them—"

"—will earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban. Correct! Now who can tell me which curses fall under Unforgivable? Mister Weasley?"

"Erm, my Dad did tell me about one…the Imperius Curse?"

"Oh yes, you father would know about that one. Gave the Ministry some trouble some years back." He strode to a container that held three spiders, pulling one out and pointing his wand. "Imperio!"

The spider jumped from Moody's hand on a silk thread and began swinging like it was on a trapeze. It did a backflip, breaking a thread and landing on a desk. It began turning cartwheels, stopping only to begin a tap dance. Everyone was laughing—everyone except Moody, Gohan, and Hermione. Harry, Ron, and Videl's ki sense wasn't quite acute enough to pick it up. As soon as Moody had muttered the curse, Hermione and Gohan had sensed the mental and ki penetration into the spider. The spider was in complete control of Moody. The thought was frightening, especially since many spiders are venomous.

Moody nodded at them in approval. "It seems that Son and Granger are the only ones that seem to understand the ramifications of the Imperius Curse. Think it's funny? Would you laugh, if I did it to you?"

The laughter died away instantly.

"Total control. I could make it jump out the window, drown itself, jump down one of your throats…" The class shuddered collectively.

"Years back, many witches and wizards were controlled by the Imperius Curse. It was some mess, trying to sort who was Imperiused and who was acting of their own accord. The Imperius Curse can be fought, but it takes real strength of character, not everyone's got it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He barked, causing everyone to jump.

He tossed the somersaulting spider into a separate jar and extracted a different one. "Another curse. Anyone's got one?"

Hermione's hand shot up into the air, surprisingly accompanied by Neville Longbottom's. Even Neville appeared surprised by his own daring.

"Yes?" His eye fixed on him.

"The…Cruciatus Curse."

"Correct! Your name's Longbottom?"

Neville nodded.

He placed the second spider onto the desk. The spider appeared terrified to move. "Need to be a bit bigger for you to get the idea. Engorgio." The spider swelled to the size of a tarantula.

Moody pointed his wand at the spider. "Crucio!" Gohan jumped. It was the same energy he felt during his sessions with Snape, only Snape had always removed it as soon as Gohan had felt the pain. He had never experienced it long term, because Snape and Gohan were experimenting to create barriers for the curse. But to see the spider writhing, Gohan understood why Snape had wanted him to develop a protection from it. It rekindled Gohan's sense of urgency to continue his lessons with Snape.

"Stop it!" Hermione said shrilly, staring at Neville fearfully. Neville had gone pale, his eyes wide with horror.

Moody removed it. The spider relaxed, but continued to twitch. "Reducio. Pain. You don't need thumbscrews or knives to torture if you can perform the Cruciatus. Also once very popular. Another curse?" He sat the second spider into a container and removed the last.

Hermione's hand shot up into the air mechanically. She flinched and brought it down quickly, but Moody had already spotted her. "Miss Granger?"

"Avada Kedavra," she whispered. Gohan jumped and stared at her, remembering her journal entries from her memories.

"Ah. The last and worst. The Killing Curse," He placed the nervous spider on the desk and pointed the wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" He roared. A jet of green light flew out and struck the desk, scorching the top. The spider was missing. Moody frowned at its disappearance. He turned aside and found the solution.

Gohan was holding the living spider, staring in horror at Moody. "You were going to kill it, weren't you!" He accused angrily. He kicked the door from its hinges and raced from the classroom.

Moody gaped at the splintered door. He turned to face the class. "Well, erm, I guess I'll have to use one of the other spiders." He turned to face the containers when they vanished from his sight. He turned once more turned toward the class and started.

Hermione was standing next to her chair holding the jars. "Don't even think about it." She stated firmly.

Moody stared at her. "Well, it appears I'm outnumbered. Take out some parchment. We're taking notes on the Unforgivable curses." He casually flicked his wand toward the board. Words began to form.

Hermione sat huffly, ignoring Moody's stare.

"But he was going to kill it!" Gohan choked tearfully as he held the spider. "For no reason at all! He wasn't going to eat it. He wasn't going to—"

"Mister Son, I understand your anguish," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "But there was a purpose. To demonstrate the effects of—"

"I don't care! It's cruel! And a waste of life! I don't care if I never see that curse!"

Dumbledore nodded sadly. "Unfortunately, I fear you will see it several times in your life. Your father had seen it countless times as the target. Luckily, he was able to avoid ever being hit." He sighed. "It seems that your little friend has grown rather attached to you. A spider is a rather unusual familiar, Gohan."

The spider scuttled through Gohan's hair and across his chest happily. Apparently, it knew it had found an ally. "Can I keep him?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "No wonder you and Hagrid get along so well together. I suppose, but I suggest you keep it somewhere safe. It doesn't seem dangerous. It's not typically a breed that is venomous. But it does hurt when they bite."

"All right!" Gohan said happily through his tears. "I think I'll name it Krillin."

Dumbledore laughed. "I'm sure your monk friend would approve."