IN HONOR OR OUR QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY!
ENJOY!
Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.
I will continue to use the occasional song lyric in the story and will give credit at the time when needed.
This is the fifth book in my Slytherin Harry series.
Book 1: Harry Potter and the Muggle's Daughter
Book 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Book 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book 4: Harry Potter and the Blood Traitor's Daughter
Book 5: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
If you haven't read books 1-4 you won't know what's going on. But the bonus is you've got four completed books before you even get to this one!
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
CHAPTER VI
Constant Vigilance
"You're joking, right?" Cedric asked.
The rain had not abated by the next morning and Daphne would have been all too happy to agree with the seventh-year Head Boy, but she had long since learned Harry did not consider poor weather a legitimate excuse to skip training. Nor was it an accepted excuse by any of the adults in the Order of the Serpent who were training them. So it was, she found herself beside Cedric on the front steps staring morbidly into the sheets of rain at 5:29 the morning of orientation day. "Have I mentioned just how much I loath you, Potter?"
"The sooner you get wet, the sooner you get dry, Posh," he said and set off. Ginny, Hermione, Luna and Neville followed immediately.
"I hope he steps in a puddle and drowns," Daphne muttered before plunging into the rain.
"Should have brought soap," Cedric sighed and followed.
Harry actually liked running in the rain. Though, as opposed to 5:30, he could have done with the warmth 7:00 and the sun would have afforded. But he didn't mind all that much. The truth was, he derived a bit of perverse pleasure from training in poor weather. It was easy to go for a run when it was warm and sunny. Forcing yourself out when it was butt-cold and raining buckets and not letting your mind win the battle to skip a day was a metaphor to him. After all, he reasoned, how was he to survive what was to come if he let a little water and cold beat him? No, he liked running in the rain. He liked being the fastest. He liked being the strongest. He liked being the best of them at fighting. Though he was smart enough not to say that to Hermione, least she kick his arse for him. But he thought, even though she was one belt above him, he could take her. Yes, he quite liked being the best.
Only today he wasn't. Halfway into a five-mile run and Cedric was keeping pace with him. Just then Harry's watch beeped. "Com'on," he said, stopping and turning back.
"What," Cedric skidded to a stop and hurried to catch him up. "What are we doing?"
"Keeping the group together," Harry said. About thirty seconds on they ran into Ginny. She turned around and joined them as they picked up first, Hermione then Neville and last Daphne and Luna. The five kept going as the last two went past and it was about thirty seconds on that Neville and Hermione turned around again. Ginny kept with them another twenty seconds or so before she too turned for the castle again. "You're with me, Cedric," Harry said as Ginny sped away from them.
"Lovely," Cedric retorted. About a minute later Harry turned back again. Even Ginny was only a small dot far ahead of them now and Luna and Daphne were out of sight entirely, around a bend in the path.
"This sucks," Cedric muttered.
"It keeps us together in case something happens," Harry said. "We'll have to turn back more often next time. They should never be so far they're out of sight."
"What could happen?" Cedric asked.
"You'd be surprised," Harry said
"We're at school, Mate. Hogwarts is safe."
"Hasn't been for me," Harry muttered darkly.
Cedric opened his mouth but immediately closed it again. A few seconds later he said, "I guess we'll keep tighter next time."
"Good plan," Harry agreed. He set his sights on Ginny. "Ready for this?" he asked.
"Ready for what?" Cedric asked. But Harry had lengthened his stride and left him. "Shit." Cedric grit his teeth and pressed after him. "That all you got Potter?" he asked when he caught up again.
Harry's competitive juices surged. "Let's see what you got, Diggory." He pressed ahead with Cedric matching him. Soon they were in a near sprint and quickly catching the others. "Coming for you, Weasley!" Harry bellowed.
She glanced back, did a double take, turned and surged ahead. "RACE!" she shouted. The other four glanced back, hesitated a second and took off as fast as they could.
"I better not catch you, Posh!" Her stride lengthened another fraction.
Harry's heart thundered, his lungs and legs burned but he kept on. Whatever pain he was in, he'd suffered far worse. Feet pounding, arms churning, vision narrowed to a tunnel he flew up the lawn to the greenhouses and the finish, slapping his hand against the wall an instant behind Ginny but a second ahead of Cedric and everyone else. He collapsed to his back on the sodden ground. As his heart and breathing slowed, the pain he'd forced out of his mind trickled in and his legs cramped.
"Ahh," he hissed, sitting up and trying to stretch.
Next to him Cedric was on his hands and knees retching. "Fuck," he gasped and took a breath. "You're." Another breath. "Fast."
Ginny was hardly any better, laying face down in a puddle. Though she managed to push herself up, focus on him and grin while holding her finger and thumb in the shape of an 'L' on her forehead. Harry threw a handful of mud at her.
By lunchtime, Cedric was finally beginning to feel he'd recovered from the morning. He'd thought his summer training regimen was pretty stiff, but Potter was relentless. He'd beaten him running, took about five minutes to recover before working through a strength routine that had left him with arms shaking worse than his legs and then walked off like it was nothing when it was all done. A shower later and the git looked completely recovered at breakfast. Weasley and the rest were hardly any less brutal. And they hadn't done even a single bit of Judo; that was tomorrow.
Harry sat down beside him, reaching for the breadbasket. He took a roll and passed it to Ginny. The rest of his friends, plus Xui, Anwen and Gwyneth, the three second-year Slytherins who had been close with Astoria filled in the empty seats in the immediate area. David and Daniel, the two seventh-year boys from Ravenclaw were already sitting with a group of girls further down the table. "You're not welcome here any longer, you know," Cedric grumbled.
"Just wait till I get you on the pitch this year, Mate."
"When are your tryouts?"
Harry shrugged. "Not sure yet."
"You lot opening all positions again?"
"Yeah, but I can't imagine anyone beating out one of our starters."
"Me either. Wish we were returning every player."
"It's only one," Ginny said.
"It could be worse," Cedric agreed. "Not like losing Wood, or when you lot lost Flint. I tell you, I'm not disappointed to not be facing either of them this year."
"You all keep thinking Ron's a pushover. I'm telling you he can play."
"I didn't say he couldn't," Cedric said. "Even when you lot took him apart last year I could see that. The point is he isn't Wood. I'm telling you, Gryffindor is ripe for the picking this year. Of course the tournament changes all that. Going to be hard going up against what amounts to All-Star teams."
"Kind of cool though," Harry said.
"It'd be pretty amazing to win the first Triwizard Quidditch Cup in over a hundred years," Ginny said.
"You're telling me," Cedric agreed. "Are you upset you can't try for school champion?"
Harry shook his head. "Not a chance, I've had more than my share of the kind of stuff they make champions do for that."
Cedric glanced at him but Harry seemed perfectly sincere in his statement. Ginny didn't look bothered either. "What about you, Ginny?"
She focused on him. "Trust me, Cedric, I want nothing to do with the tournament." The look in her eyes told him she meant every word. "Which reminds me, I need to talk to the twins." She stood.
"Want company?" Harry asked.
She smiled. "Sure."
Harry grinned. "See you, Ced." He stood and hand in hand they walked off. Cedric turned back to his breakfast to find Daphne watching him. "Are you upset you can't enter?"
She considered a second. "Ask Harry what it's like to be bitten by a basilisk, or to have your hand burnt to the bone because you tried to use a common shield to fend of dragon's fire." Cedric swallowed. "It is my opinion, anyone who enters that tournament should have their head examined."
"There's no reward without risk," Cedric countered. "Why do you think champions were so revered?"
Daphne shrugged. "It's entirely your decision of course. Should you choose to enter and subsequently be chosen, I will, of course, support you. It is possible you could do very well for yourself. That does not change my opinion to do so is the height of lunacy."
"You really wouldn't enter if you could?"
"I would not. What's more, Harry would not."
Cedric considered her. "Forgive me possibly being crass, but Harry had no issue at all trying to save your sister last year. Wasn't that a bit more of a risk than the tournament?"
"And should my life be threatened in a similar manner, there is no one, not even Albus Dumbledore himself, I would wish for more to come after me than Harry Potter. And he would, in a heartbeat he would come after me. But I promise you, even were Harry of age, hewould notenter the tournament… There is a difference between life and death and a foolish competition, Cedric."
"You really don't want me to enter, do you?"
"I have lost my betrothed, my mother-in-law and my sister, Cedric. I am blind in one eye, and lucky to be able to see out of the other. My sister is an aching chasm in my heart that Ginny, Luna and Hermione are desperately trying to fill. I've no wish to see anyone else I care about needlessly risk their life. There are other ways to make a name for yourself, Cedric."
Cedric nodded slightly. "Well, you've given me a lot to think about."
"Despite my opinion, I will support and help you in any way I can should you decide to enter."
"I appreciate that, Daphne. Thank you." He pushed his plate away. "If you'll excuse me."
"Certainly."
"I don't think you convinced him," Luna said when he'd left.
"I could have used some help."
"We rather thought you were doing quite well on your own," Hermione said
"I agree," Neville said. "If that wasn't enough, I don't know what any of us could have done."
She smiled and reached to put her hand on his. "I'm just glad no one I truly care for is foolish enough to enter." She gave his hand a squeeze and held his eyes.
"Erm, y-yeah," he said blushing slightly. He pulled his hand away. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the toilet."
"You'll be joining us in the library, yes?" His eyes darted to Susan Bones briefly, but she was speaking with Ernie Macmillan. "I could really use some help getting ahead in Herbology," Daphne said. He focused on her and she smiled. He stared at her, blinking dazedly for a second. She reached for his hand. "Please?"
"Erm, y–yeah, su–sure, see – see you th–there."
"Wonderful." He pulled his hand away and walked off; glancing back over his shoulder he tripped on someone's bag and stumbled for a number of steps before righting himself and hurrying away.
"Well," Luna said, "I should think the Besotting Plimpers will hit him shortly."
Daphne turned to her. "You think?"
"Oh yes," Hermione enthused. "I'm quite certain he realizes you're a girl now."
"Most excellent," Daphne said.
HPHPHP
"What have you got first?" Harry asked.
"Charms," Hermione said. Harry glanced at Neville.
"I'm with her again," he said.
"I've got Defense," Luna said.
Harry grinned. "Brilliant, so do we."
"You lot are all together again?" Neville asked.
"Yes," Ginny said.
"Unfortunately we've still been saddled with Draco and Tracey as well," Daphne said.
"He's been awful quite this year," Hermione observed.
"I was just thinking the same thing," Harry said. "Wonder why, can't be because he suddenly grew a brain." The bell rang, signaling they had ten minutes to get to class.
"I guess we'll see you at lunch."
"Let us know about Moody," Neville said.
"We will," Ginny answered.
As was their custom, Harry and his friends arrived early, and bowing to Harry's paranoia since being abducted they took seats in the back of the classroom. Harry took in the room, noting there seemed to be no changes from when Remus had taught them.
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Daphne read off the board. "What do you suppose that means?"
"To be constantly vigilant, I suspect," Luna said. She pulled her book from her bag and settled in. "It does make sense, doesn't it? Why do you think Harry comes back and gets us when we fall too far behind running?"
Daphne looked at him sharply. "Is that why you do that?"
Harry grinned at her. "Nah, I just like rubbing in how slow you are." Daphne aimed a kick at him that he dodged.
The room was quickly filling as their classmates joined them. Though Harry noticed there was definite avoidance of the front row. Curiosity over their new teacher didn't seem able to overcome the impression Moody had made at the Welcome Feast. Harry didn't care what the man looked like. He just needed him to teach. If they got another professor like his first two years he was pretty sure he'd revolt. Truth be told, he was a bit pissed Remus wasn't back. But he rather doubted Dumbledore would have had him even if his being a werewolf hadn't gotten out. The old bastard hadn't made a single inquiry as to his well being the whole summer; this after years of meeting every few weeks as he tried to mine information about Harry from Remus. The bell rang and there was still no sign of Moody. People looked around curiously. "Suppose he overslept?" Ginny whispered.
Harry shrugged. "No idea." A second later his senses went on full alert. His eyes narrowed a bit as he dove deeper into his wolf. He turned his head slightly. A very soft thunk, completely out of place in the rising bedlam of unsupervised students, exploded in his mind. He instantly zeroed in on it. There, an oddly blurred section of the wall was, ever so slowly, moving. His eyes darted to the board and the message there. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
"GET DOWN!" Harry roared. Pulling Ginny to the floor with him. He tugged Luna's chair out from under her while Ginny grabbed at Daphne.
"Avada Kedavra!"
As seemed to be happening to him lately, the utterance of the Death Curse tripped something in Harry and at the same instant time seemed to slow, instinct took over. His wand slid into his hand while he upended their table. The spell impacted the table and shoved it back a good foot. He jumped to his feet.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Harry jerked to the side, avoiding the green ball that flew at him. It flashed past and splatted against the wall
"Stupefy!"Ginny screamed from beside him. A splotch of red hit the disillusioned attacker. The instant he was hit the spell hiding him failed and Professor Moody shimmered into view.
"DEFODIO MAXIMA!" Harry shouted. A purple ball the size of a quaffle flashed across the room and slammed into the professor. He staggered slightly, but other than the giant blotch of purple paint on his leather duster, was unhurt by a spell that should have killed him.
"Enough!" Moody barked harshly. He locked eyes with Harry, held his hands up and dropped his wand. Dead silence held the room. "Well, Potter," Moody growled, "seems you're even better than advertised."
"P–Professor?" Daphne croaked. She was holding her wand on him with her head poking up from behind the upturned table.
Moody's normal eye remained on Harry while his magical eye swiveled to her. "Aye, he said. "You can all get up now." He focused on Harry again. "Put it away, Son. You too, Lass," he said to Ginny.
"What the hell was that?" Harry demanded.
Moody step/thunked his way to the front of the room, leaving his wand on the floor where he'd dropped it. "That was constant vigilance, Son." He turned to face the class. "This room has been modified to function in the same manner as the live-fire rooms aurors train in at the ministry. For those of you slow on the uptake, that means all spells cast are transformed into balls of colored paint… Which, in turn, means—" He moved almost faster than the eye could follow, his arm coming up with a wand in it. "CRUCIO!" A small ball off yellow paint exploded against Terry Boot's forehead and dribbled down in his eyes.
"Bloody hell!" Anthony Goldstein exclaimed over a number of people screaming.
"—I can cast any spell at you at any time I want," Moody went on. No one moved. Harry, Ginny, Daphne and Luna were still tracking the professor with their wands. "If you haven't noticed, there are some ugly things happening out there and the only way you stay alive is CONSTANT VILIGENCE!"he barked, eliciting another round of screams from those closest to him. "That's what I'm here to teach you." He focused on Harry again. "You lot going to put those away or not?"
Luna sent her wand away before reaching over and gently pulling Harry's arm down. "Easy, Harry."
Daphne did the same with Ginny. "Come on, Ginevra." The two resisted for a moment before slowly lowering their arms and sending their wands away.
"Holsters," Moody said. "Every one of you should get one… Sit," he ordered. Harry picked up his chair and with Luna's help set their table right. "Boot, Terry," Moody barked. Terry didn't respond. "Boot Terry! Are you here or not?" Moody thundered.
"Y–Yes," he stammered.
Moody's magical eye swiveled to him. His good eye remained on the class list. "Corner, Michael."
"H–Here." Harry and his friends went about picking up their things while Moody read the roll.
"Greengrass, Daphne."
"Yes, Sir." His magical eye swiveled to her.
"Lovegood, Luna."
"Here," she said brightly. "Thank you, Harry," she said quietly when he scooped up the last of her things and gave them to her.
"Welcome," he said tightly. He sat in his chair and reached for Ginny's hand. They both jerked away at the same moment. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," she said. She reached for his hand again. It was still there, far more than the normal tingling. "It just surprised me."
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
"Later?"
"Right." Ginny wove her fingers with his. The sensation jumping between them settled a bit, only to spike again when Luna took his other hand. She smiled at him when he looked at her.
"Easy, you two." As one, he and Ginny took a breath and slowly released it. Once again the sensation jumping between he and Ginny began to settle.
"Thanks, Luna," they said quietly.
"Potter, Harry," Moody barked. His magical eye swiveled to him. Harry glowered back. Moody smirked and moved on. "Turpin, Lisa."
"Here." His magical eye focused on her for a second before marking her name on the roll.
"And Weasely, Ginevra." He looked up, focusing on her with both eyes.
"Ginny, Sir," she answered.
He tossed the parchment on his desk. "Potter, take twenty-five points for vigilance. Weasley," he pointed to a red splotch on his left shoulder, "ten for getting off your arse and putting me down. Lovegood, Greengrass, one point each for getting your wands in your hands. Potter," he pointed to the large purple splash on his chest, "another five for not pussyfooting around and killing me." He held Harry's gaze with his normal eye while his magical eye swept the room. "And none of you should think I'm joking." He motioned to the splotch of purple. "If this were to have hit me outside of this room, there'd be nothing left of me from here up."
Harry scowled as a number of his classmates turned to look at him. There was a good bit of fear in many of their eyes. Moody started pacing with his step/thunk gait. Harry's eyes traveled down the man's body. He'd thought it was the man's staff responsible for the thunking, but he wasn't using it now and Harry could now see the lower half of Moody's right leg was missing, replaced with a carved wooden leg ending in a clawed foot. "In case any of you had any doubts, this is Defense Against the Dark Arts. Your previous instructor, Professor Lupin was kind enough to leave me a letter detailing just where your skills are at. You seem well prepared in the creatures aspect of the subject, but are woefully lacking in your knowledge of curses. We will therefore be focusing heavily on curses this year. Curses and CONSTANT VIGILANCE," he barked.
"I wish he'd stop doing that," Daphne grumbled.
"Fat chance," Ginny muttered.
"Now there are a number of different classifications of curses," Moody went on. "I will be demonstrating these curses throughout the year. You will learn to identify and defend against these spells. "Accio!"
"Aaieee!" Isobel MacDougal screamed. She'd been attempting to pass a note under the table to Lisa Turpin. Apparently Moody's magical eye could see through solid objects.
Moody snagged the parchment out of the air. "What is this?" he growled. She didn't answer. He step/thunked to her, slamming his hands on the desk. "Answer the question, Miss Turpin."
"My – My time t–table," she whispered.
He straightened, leaving her time-table on the desk. "When I'm speaking you will pay attention, is that perfectly clear?"
"Yes, Sir," she said meekly.
"Five points, Miss Turpin."
"Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir."
Moody turned and resumed his step/thunk pacing. "Now, where was I?"
"Identifying, curses, Sir," Luna said when no one responded.
"Right. We shall begin with the worst of the lot; the Unforgivables. The Unforgivables, should you cast one on another human being, will earn you a life sentence in Azkaban. There are three curses in this most dangerous classification. Who can name one…? Anyone?"
Ginny slowly raised her hand. "The Imperious Curse, Sir."
"Very good. And what does it do?"
"Allows you to c–control another person."
"Exactly," Moody said. "The Imperious gives you total control of another person. A person under the Imperious will kill their mother, brother, father, wife, son, daughter, anyone at all if they can't break it. Who can tell me why this curse is one of the Unforgivables?" Luna raised her hand. "Go on."
"The person under the curse is aware of what they are doing. Meaning they know they are doing something they don't wish to but can't stop themselves."
"Exactly! The Imperious is a hideous curse and is well deserving of its place as an Unforgivable. Later this year I'll be placing each of you under the curse." Ginny crushed Harry's hand.
"You're going to place us under the Imperious?" Harry blurted.
Moody stopped pacing and focused both eyes on him. "The situation is controlled. You will be asked to do nothing more harmful than to stand on one foot and squawk like a chicken. The point being to give you the chance to feel the curse and see if you can fight it off." Harry's cheek twitched. "Knowing is half the battle, Potter." He held Harry's gaze for another second before moving on. "That's one of the Unforgivables. Gave the ministry huge trouble a while back. Who can tell me another?"
A hand slowly rose into the air. "Corner?"
"The Cruciatus, Sir."
"The Torture Curse," Moody agreed. "Besides the fact the curse stimulates unimaginable pain in its victims, pain that can leave people with permanent damage to their minds, who can tell me why this one is so bad?"
Daphne raised her hand. "Greengrass?"
"You have to mean it, Sir. For it to work properly, you have to want to, even enjoy, causing pain."
"Indeed," Moody said. He swept the class a few times before what must have been a smile cracked his face. "We won't be demonstrating this one."
"Well, that's a relief," Terry said.
"Little yellow ball enough for ya?"
"Yes, Sir."
"I should hope so. Do better to not get hit next time. There are people out there who won't be as nice as I am."
Harry snorted. He couldn't help it. The man had got to him, he could admit it; something about hearing the words Avada Kedavra had changed what he'd believed was nothing more than an abject lesson into something else. A switch had flipped in his mind and he'd attacked… with the full intention of killing his opponent. And it was taking him a bit to come down from the adrenaline high. He was also more than a bit concerned about Ginny having to face the Imperious Curse. She'd seriously impressed him with how she'd led the discussion of the curse, but could tell she was still shaken by the idea the curse was going to be cast on her. He glanced at her, but she was determinedly focused on Moody. He couldn't help feeling a rush of pride in her. He didn't like it. She probably liked it even less. But one thing was clear; they were going to learn a lot this year. And that was exactly what he wanted. It was what she wanted. Just like everything since the chamber, she'd face it… And she'd defeat it.
"And that brings us to the last of them," Moody said. Harry focused on the man. "Avada Kedavra… The Death Curse… The curse for which there is only oneknown survivor… And he's sitting, right, there." Once again all eyes were on Harry; many fearfully, some it was fear together with hatred, three pairs held nervous compassion, while Moody's were calculating curiosity.
"You're welcome," Harry said quietly. It was an act. Harry knew that. He was alive because of his mum; not because of anything he'd done. But there was a good chance someday he'd be staring down some of those hate filled eyes from the wrong end of a wand. He rather thought it a good thing for those people to have a healthy fear of him.
Moody inclined his head slightly. "Thank you, Potter." The bell rang but no one moved. "You will find you cannot reveal details of this lesson to your classmates till such time as they have had a chance to enjoy it for themselves." The class waited. "Twenty four inches on what it means to be constantly vigilant and why all but four, and I'm being generous to three of you, failed at it today." Still no one moved. "Dismissed… Potter, a word."
Harry held back, with Ginny, Luna and Daphne staying behind as well. "I don't recall asking anyone other than Potter to stay," Moody growled when the rest of the students had left.
"I'm just going to tell them whatever you have to say, so they may as well stay," Harry said.
Moody considered for a second before waving his wand at the door. It slammed shut. "Alright, now that the rest of them are out of here, how'd you catch me?"
Harry smiled humorously. "Sorry, Sir, but that information is on a need to know basis and I'm afraid you don't need to know."
"Harry," Daphne gasped.
Moody actually smiled. "Even better than you already proved. Good answer, Potter. Now get out of here before you're late to your next class."
"Yes, Sir."
HPHPHP
The following night the six friends were sat in the library quietly conversing about Professor Moody and the upcoming lesson where he'd be placing them under the Imperius Curse. "Look," Harry said. "You can all do what you want. But the facts are, with the level of Occlumency skills we all have, we should be able to fight off the curse. I'm saying, even if we can, we should pretend we can't."
"It's the same as not telling him how you found him, isn't it?" Ginny said. "If we can fight it, we shouldn't give away the knowledge that we can."
"Exactly," Harry said. The others nodded.
"Exactly how did you spot him, Harry?" Luna asked.
Harry hesitated. "Well, part of it was wolf sense."
"And the rest?"
"When you grow up the way I did, you kind of develop a sixth sense for danger."
"Oh," Luna said. There was a bit of an awkward silence for a moment.
"So we're agreed, we do whatever he tells us, even if we can fight the curse?"
"Yeah, sure," the others said.
HPHPHP
Author's notes:
So, who want's to guess? Is Moody really Moody or is it someone under Polyjuice?