For the most part, the rest of the week passed by pretty well for Danny and his friends. With some help from Dobby, Ron had managed to get a functioning wizard's wireless for Tucker to use. Unfortunately, Tucker's interests in music were limited to rock, pop, and rap. As all of the music from the wizarding world consisted of choir, drums, guitars, lute, cello, bagpipes, tin whistle, bhodrán, violin, French horn, oboe, flute, piccolo, English horn, and different types of chamber music, there was not much Tucker found very pleasing. Ron had been coming up more and more during his free lessons, and he and Tucker were now engaging each other in long-winded arguments on which type of music was better, Tucker not able to give samples of his music. Sam thought the wizarding music was wonderful, and Danny thought it was pretty good. Rather than listen to the debates, Danny spent most of his time going over the Marauder's Map (he finally noticed the introduction at the front fold) and exploring the school. He'd gotten along well with all the ghosts, mainly because he was the only one besides the Bloody Baron of Slytherin house who could now control Peeves. Any time they met each other in the hallways, the poltergeist either took off in the other direction or asked in a panicky voice if Danny needed anything at all. Sam occasionally went along, but spent most of her time reading. Hermione's schedule for her to stop by, but Harry came by once and a while.

Of all his years at Hogwarts, this was by far the one where Harry had the least amount of homework. Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, Astronomy, and Defence Against the Dark Arts amounted to six subjects, and Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were the only ones liable to give them any large amounts of homework. Hagrid's classes were now finally popular with a majority of the students. They kept at riding unicorns through the week, Ron finally getting one to let him ride on it, and Dean and Seamus being accepted by them. Even Malfoy couldn't find a way to ruin the classes, as most of the Slytherins were enjoying the lessons with the Gryffindors. Harry had expected Transfiguration without Ron to be difficult, but not this difficult. He was sitting by Hermione now, whose constant hand raising made it hard to think clearly, even if she'd done it the past six years. He also had no one to talk about the lessons with who didn't go into long-winded lectures. Charms, Herbology, and Astronomy were all bearable. Above all else, the absence of Potions, Divination, and History of Magic really helped him relax this year at Hogwarts. He was able to avoid Snape the entire first week.

On Thursday, just before lunch, they had their first new Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with Lupin. Everyone had their wands out, waiting in anticipation. After a few minutes, Lupin came in, looking shabby as ever but smiling. His entrance was greeted by a loud round of applause by the class.

"Thank you," he said as he set down his briefcase, "Thank you. It's good to be back. Now, Dumbledore's left me a few notes on what you've covered since third year. Impostor or not, my immediate successor did handle curses, jinxes, and hexes extremely well. As for your last year..." he seemed to just catch himself from saying something inappropriate, "Well, I'm glad you took things into your own hands," he looked over at Harry, who wore a sly grin.

"Well, for this year, we have a few more Dark creatures to cover, and a couple of curses. I've been talking to Dumbledore about maybe trying a Duelling Club again after your second year so we can start on combat practice. Now, if you'll follow me," he led them out the door and down to the Great Hall. The four House tables were gone, and the golden stage from their second year was up against one wall. Lupin climbed up on the stage, the class turning to face him.

"The spell we are going to learn today is now mainly used for sporting purposes," Lupin said, "If we do manage a Duelling Club, I foresee it will come in handy. It's relatively easy to perform. You stand on guard as if fencing," he did so, holding his wand out like a sword, "and utter the incantation – sabreus!" suddenly, his wand became a gleaming silver rapier. Harry noticed the carving of a wolf's head serving as the pommel, and designwork laid into the guard and blade depicting a running pack. The rest of the class seemed quite taken with the sword.

"The Blade Spell," Lupin explained, holding his sword up into the light, "Just as no two wands are alike, each sword will be unique to the wizard who conjures it. Now, everyone spread out," the class moved apart, leaving three or four feet between each person, "Assume the on guard position," everyone did so, "and – sabreus!"

"Sabreus!" the class echoed, and in a flurry of silver, everyone's wand became some kind of sword. Harry looked over his own; it bore more than a passing resemblance to the ruby-studded sword of Godric Gryffindor he had used against the basilisk in his second year. The pommel had the shape of a stag's head, complete with antlers, and just below the hilt was engraved the name – Prongs.

"Very good," Lupin's voice came back through everyone's admiring their blades, "Well done, indeed. Now, the disadvantage is that you cannot perform any spells while your wand is a sword. The only two wizards who have managed that are Dumbledore and Voldemort," at the sound of the name, a shivering silence overtook the class.

"We'll be learning how to duel with these the next few weeks," Lupin continued, "Before we start on any bladework, however, you need to know how to move. So, now that you've seen your swords," he relaxed himself, gave a flick with his sword, shouted, "Wandisimo!" and his wand returned. Everyone else did the same. The lesson was spent going over footwork for swordplay in the hallways, a combination of French épée, sabre, and La Verdadera Destreza, which they practised on a pattern laid out on the floor. Though he'd never done any real swordplay before, the footwork came very naturally to Harry and the lesson went by smoothly and enjoyably. They returned to the classroom to collect their things just as the period ended, and wen they went down to lunch they found the four House tables returned and the food laid out.

"Wicked lesson, that was," Ron said through gulps of Pumpkin juice, "Never heard anything about that Blade Spell before, not even in a sports catalogue."

"Yes, but don't you think it was a bit difficult?" Hermione said, and Harry just noticed now how out-of-breath she seemed to be.

"Not quite something you can learn out of books, is it?" he grinned.

"Just like broomsticks," Ron grinned as well, "and that reminds me. Have you talked to Katie about applying for captain yet?"

"No. I should do that – here she comes now. Oi! Katie!" the seventh-year blonde-haired girl whirled around.

"Hi, Harry!" she called, "Have a good summer?"

"Yeah. Listen," he got up and walked over to her, "Are you still planning on trying out for Gryffindor Quidditch Captain?"

"Yeah, I was going to go see McGonagall this Saturday. Why?"

"Because I was sort of – maybe thinking of – "

"Oh," she said, frowning slightly, "Well, I was planning on going right after lunch Saturday. Why don't you come with me and we can talk with her about it?"

"Sure," Harry nodded. Katie walked off.

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked as he gathered his stuff together.

"Muggles," he said.

----

Danny lifted up another fold of the Marauder's Map, showing the caretaker Argus Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris prowling the grounds. He could vaguely hear the sounds of the wizard's wireless filtering through the wall between his room and Tucker's; having given up on finding any music he liked, Tucker was now trying to find out more about Quidditch. Sam was in her room, reading. Dobby had brought up lunch a while ago and Danny was now finishing off some strawberries while examining the map. He saw footsteps approaching their rooms, with the ribbon reading "Harry Potter" by them. He got up, unlocked the door, and opened it, looking out at a surprised Harry.

"Saw you coming," he held out the map, "Come on in."

"Thanks," Harry said, "Our music still not growing on Tucker?"

"Nope. And Sam's been reading all day. How many books did Hermione lend her?"

"No idea," Harry looked at the map, "Looks like Malfoy's telling off a few first-years – probably for nothing," the ribbon carrying Malfoy's name was indeed floating by some smaller ones.

"Hey," Danny said, "I've been meaning to ask you..."

"Yeah?"

"Well...y'know how Dumbledore said that in ghost-mode I might be able to learn magic or improve my powers with magic?" Harry nodded, "Well...would you mind teaching me some spells?" Harry frowned, but not as if he were annoyed with Danny. He seemed to be thinking.

"You sure you want me to teach you?" he finally said, "Wouldn't you rather ask one of the teachers who's in the Order? Or Hermione?"

"The only time I learn from a teacher is when I'm actually part of their class," Danny answered, "And if Hermione's way of teaching things is anything like when Sam gives me extra credit to get my grade up, then her teaching me is probably a bad idea," they both grinned.

"Fine," Harry said, "It'll have to wait until the weekend, but all right."

Trevor the Enchanter: The action is coming. Right now I'm trying to get everything in the story settled and play the two trios off one another. But Vlad and the Death Eaters will start appearing soon enough. That's not a bad idea about Aragog...don't know if I can work it in, though.

SawCyn-wroteSin: That's true about Ron in the books, but the Ron in my fic is a mix of the one from the books and the more comedy-relief Ron of the third movie.