"That's not fair! Hogwarts can't have two champions"
"He's too young"
"Maybe we can have him compete under a different school."
"Hey, Potter, how did you pull that off?"
The great hall exploded into turmoil when Harry was announced as the fourth champion.
"So, how did you do it?" the two Weasley twins sat down on either side of Harry, displacing the other Ravenclaws (and earning dirty looks).
"I didn't do anything." Harry replied in horror, "I don't want to be a champion" Harry looked up to the staff table, hoping for a reprieve, but the headmasters were huddled together for a quiet yet obviously heated discussion. 'My life is over. the whole school is going to murder me for screwing up the Tournament.'
"Well, it's still the best prank of the year." said the twin on the right, slapping Harry on the back.
"But the year is still young" warned Lefty.
"You do know, that with how hard the Tasks are, you're probably a dead man." smiled Righty.
Harry was getting dizzy from whipping his head back and forth. But at least it prevented him from having time to worry about the situation.
"Retract you name immediately!" Fleur stormed over.
"He can't - the Goblet creates a magical binding. He has to compete," This was from Hermione, who was at Fleur's elbow, "You know, Harry, this was very foolish. The Tasks are much too difficult for a fourth year, even an exceptionally talented one."
"Harry's not talented. He's at the bottom of the class" snorted Simon, "You're dead, Potter."
"Now, now. He managed to do something even we weren't able to pull of. He must have some undisclosed talents," One of the twins put an arm around Harry shoulders.
The other twin added, "we will be more than happy to help out. Maybe with training."
"Well, he should change affiliation to another school. it is not fair." Even Krum had joined the crowd around Harry.
"No! Harry stays as a Hogwarts champion" Draco pushed his way in, "He's a student here, so he HAS to be a Hogwarts champion" He looked desperate.
"Harry, could you please come up with me," Flitwick led Harry up to the staff table,
Dumbledore looked very grave, while Karkaroff and Madame Maxine looked irritated. Bartemius Crouch scowled, "Mr Potter, did you put your name into the Goblet in some fashion?"
"No, sir! I had nothing to do with it. I don't even WANT to be a contestant." Harry shook his head, desperate to get out of the very awkward situation.
"I am very sorry to say, Mr Potter that because of the nature of the Goblet of Fire, you will have to compete." Ludo replied. He seemed to be at a loss as to what to do.
"But I am only in fourth year. I'll get killed!" Harry wailed. His look of sheer terror was starting to get sympathy from the Headmasters present.
"Hmm, yes. I believe that you are being honest with us." Dumbledore sighed and stroked his beard in thought. Even the other two headmasters seemed to unbend a little at Harry's desperation. "We will have to arrange some extra classwork for you. Some sort of accelerated study program."
"But within the rules of the Tournament - it must be general prep, not training for the specific tasks" interjected Ludo Bagman. Madame Maxine nodded in agreement.
"For now, go join the other Champions. We will need to look into what our options are." Dumbledore motioned for Harry to move along.
"And punish whoever thought it would be funny to put a fourth year's name into the Goblet," snarled Karkaroff.
*Zero*Zero*
That evening, Dumbledore's study was expanded to host an emergency staff meeting. In attendance were not only the Hogwarts professors, but also the visitors from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. With Hagrid, Madame Maxine and Adam in the same room, it felt very crowded, despite having been expanded enough to accommodate everybody.
"So, what shall we do about Mr. Potter." Asked Albus. He was seated at his desk, his hands clasped in front of his beard. "He is correct - he is dangerously under-qualified for this Tournament."
"He is a below average student. He does well enough on the theoretical aspects, but he has trouble with the practicum." Flitwick dissected his student.
"Hmm," rumbled Adam Loew, "I have not know Harry very long, but he seems like an adequate student. Not a wunderkid, but studious."
McGonagall adjusted her papers before adding, "Adam, you are reinforcing what Filius has already brought to our attention, that in subjects that are purely theoretical, Harry is an acceptable student. Unfortunately, the tournament requires practical application of magic, and at that, he is woefully inadequate."
"Only in wand work, though - in my class he is boring and uninspired, but he can do cookbook potions. He is no worse than the typical fourth year" Frowned Snape, "his main flaw is that he is too scared to move."
Flitwick nodded in agreement, "He is too tight, and his motions are too small. The spells he does best at are one that involve linear wand motions."
McGonagall shook her head, "I don't know if that is the main issue. There are many shy students, but in my class, that has rarely been an impediment. It is often the socially withdrawn children that do best at transfiguration." The Gryffindor head of house sat ramrod straight in her chair, hands folded in her lap. "But Potter has made almost no progress since first year. He still has to struggle to make the simplest transfiguration, even if he understands the theory, and the wand motions are adequate."
"I don't know if its of any value for this Tournament, but he is a good student in herbology" Professor sprout added over her knitting.
"I say he just needs more exercise. The boy is too small." Volunteered Hagrid, shifting gently in his chair, so as not to break it. Again.
"So what do you propose we do?" asked Albus.
"I am not certain what we CAN do. The boy listens, but he does not hear."
Filius nodded, "I would be happy to tutor him, but no matter what I teach, he just doesn't learn."
"Maybe a different approach might help. Hearing the same idea but phrased differently might make get around his block." Adam, despite his large bulk did not have the same difficulty with chairs as Hagrid. Possibly because he didn't fidget the way the half giant did, like a nervous schoolboy. "I can try some training exercises that may improve his wand work."
"Thank you for your kind offer, Adam. I will consider it. Filius, I believe Harry is currently getting tutoring from Mr Diggory. Given that they will be competing against each other, it smacks of impropriety."
Pomona Sprout looked up from her knitting, looking offended.
"I am not suggesting that Cedric would take advantage of the situation - he is a remarkably honest and honorable young man," Albus reassured, "but this Tournament will be the center of a certain amount of media attention, so it is best that we don't do anything that could be misperceived."
The head of Hufflepuff nodded in agreement.
"Thus, Filius, I would be grateful if you could take over tutoring Harry for this year."
"Certainly" the diminutive professor chirped.
*Zero*Zero*
"I am so dead," moaned Harry. He sat slumped in a chair, with his head in his hands. Harry was hiding out in an unused classroom. 'If the I don't die in one of the tasks, then the 'Puffs will murder me in my sleep for messing up Cedric's chances. And the Gryffindors. They were pretty pissed too.'
"You have to try, but you don't have to win," Draco reassured the anxious Ravenclaw. He was sprawled on a bean bag chair that he had transfigured from a desk. "Just put in the minimum effort, and concentrate the rest of your efforts on stating alive."
"Why is Draco so determined to have Harry compete?" Crabbe whispered to Goyle. the pair were sitting by the door. Goyle was whittling something, while Crabbe had been content to sit quietly and await his leader.
Goyle looked up from what he was working on - it was a carving of some four legged animal. Or possibly road kill. "Remember the pool that Draco had, for who would be the Hogwarts champion? I think Draco's trying to weasel out of paying the 'Puffs. They all placed bets on Cedric."
"How's he going to do that" Crabbe's eyebrow scrunched up in thought. It looked like two bears mating.
"Don't know" Goyle turned back to his carving. "I guess we'll find out soon enough. Shit" he had accidentally loped off one of the carving's limbs - either the tail or one of the hind legs. It wasn't clear. With heavy sigh, he held it up to the light and inspected it, turning it from side to side, as he tried to find some way to fix it. "badgers are tail-less, right?"
"Flitwick says he's going to tutor me." Harry shook his head, "But I don't see how extra charms will help. I suck at that class. There's no way I am going to get good enough in time for the first task."
"Idiot." Draco exclaimed, "That's what I am saying. Don't try to learn all the charms that you need to win - just learn the ones you need to stay alive. You know, Protego, maybe the Notice-Me-Not, stuff like that."
"So your saying I should aim to lose?"
"Hey, stick with what you're good at." Draco punched Harry in the shoulder.
"Maybe" 'If I lose, then the Puffs won't kill me.'
*Zero*Zero*
Harry sat at his desk, screwing up his courage as the Foreign Runes class wound to an end.
"Ok, that will be all for today. I would like to see the essay on the effects of stroke order by next monday. You can work with whichever Kanji you want, but I recommend choosing one of the ones I provided." As professor Loew finished speaking, the students all started putting their papers away and heading out the door.
"Uhm, professor?" Harry approached the giant man tentatively. Despite being clean shaven, he somehow managed to appear fiercer than Hagrid, "I was wondering if you could teach me Onmyodo?"
Adam looked down at the boy, "I always approve of learning, but I am curious as to why."
Harry looked abashed, but continued anyway, "I'm not very good at wand magic. And with the tournament... I was hoping to learn how to cast spells with the O-Fuda."
"Hmmm." rumbled Adam, "I can't help you with the Onmyodo - I am not a practitioner, but I know some techniques that may help keep you alive. They may even improve your wand magic."
Harry looked up hopefully, "yes?"
"I also teach self-defense, though not at Beauxbatons."
"You mean, like Karate?"
"Yes, except less formal. What I teach won't win you any martial art competitions, but it may keep you alive."
"Staying alive is good." replied Harry.
"Yes, it is a worthy goal," smiled Professor Loew, revealing two rows of tombstone-like teeth. "If you wish, we can start this afternoon."
"You mean, like now?"
The professor inclined his head "Classes are over for the day. So unless you have something more urgent?"
"Uh, no - should we go outside?"
"No, a classroom will give us more privacy. Beside, the weather has turned decidedly chilly."
*Zero*Zero*
"Step"
Harry took a step the weird way Adam had showed him, and threw a punch.
"Good. Step"
Harry swept his other foot in an outward crescent and threw another punch.
"Bend your knees - you are too high."
Harry had been working in this transfigured classroom for a half hour, and his legs were burning with fatigue. But if this would keep him from getting killed, it was worth it.
"Ok, enough of the basics. Stand up and shake out your legs. Now it's time to use your head."
"Uh, do I need a helmet?"
Professor Loew laughed. It sounded like gravel going through a garbage disposal (A sound Harry was familiar with. Vernon stilled hadn't figured out why the 'cheap Chinese knockoff' had stopped working.)
Harry tried to concentrate his attention back on what Professor Loew was saying, "No, Harry, I meant that this next part requires thinking. You will be learning combinations of moves. It's just like learning a language. The punch and kicks and throws are the vocabulary. Now you need to learn the grammar - how to put them together to communicate your idea effectively." Another laugh rumbled from the giant instructor. He was still dressed in his usual trench-coat and dockworkers hat, but Harry's clothing had been replaced by a martial arts gi. As they trained, Harry noticed that Professor Loew also had some sort of scar on his forehead, but it was covered by the cap.
"So first I will show you block-strike entry forms."
An hour later, Harry staggered back to his dorm and collapsed into bed.
*Zero*Zero*
The following morning Harry was chowing down on breakfast and trying to decide if another class with 'Sensei Loew' was worth the pain he was now feeling when Parvati walked up.
"Harry, You ready for SPEW?" She asked sweetly. She had been much friendlier since Harry had volunteered to help out.
Harry chortled in amusement, pumpkin juice dribbling down his chin. He made a quick grab for a napkin as Parvati looked away in disgust.
"Why yes, yes he is!" Answered Andrew, who had been sitting close by.
"I'm coming." Harry stood up quickly, throwing his napkin onto his half-finished meal.
"Good - I need help with the fliers."
As the two turned to leave, a voice drifted in, "I think I would like to see what you do - my daddy works in publishing." Luna wafted after them.
"Uhm" Parvati's smile became fixed. On the one hand, extra members were always welcome, but on the other hand, she didn't want to have the group be branded as weirdoes by associations.
"I might be able to get daddy to make up some buttons for you, at a discount" Luna smiled.
"Ok, come on then" Parvati decided.
As they walked towards the club room, Harry turned to Parvati, "I'm glad you don't think I put my name into the Goblet. It seems like half the school thinks I'm some sort of self absorbed glory hound."
"Oh, no - I think it's kind of cool to have somebody I know competing in such an important contest" Parvati smiled, basking in the (imagined) reflected glory.
Luna rolled her eyes.
*Zero*Zero*
"So what are we going to do today?" chirped Colin Creevy. The excitable boy was one of seven people at the SPEW meeting.
"We need to print up some fliers. We'll put some up in the great hall, and we can put others in the common rooms, and we can hand out the rest to interested students."
Lavender Brown, the secretary of the group, sat with her (shapely) legs crossed as she scribbled notes on a parchment perched on her lap. The group was meeting in an empty classroom, but Parvati had declared the desks too stifling, so they were sitting in a circle, with the desks pushed off to one side.
Harry's attention kept returning to the legs.
"Sounds good. Too bad we don't have anybody from Slytherin" Sally Ann Perks said.
"Well, I guess helping others isn't high on their list of priorities" snarked Hannah Abbot.
The seven students spent the next half hour debating what exactly to put on the poster.
"I still say we need a photo. A picture is worth a thousand words." Collin held up his camera.
"But how will we sneak into somebody's house to take photos of abused House Elves?" Parvati asked.
"I'm not breaking into anybody's house" Lavender was indignant at the very thought.
"Yeah - I not going to risk getting vaporized by some wards just for a couple of photos" added Harry.
As nobody had anything constructive to ay, the meeting soon descended into gossip.
"I have to get to class." Collin grabbed his camera. He was soon followed by most of the other club members. Harry stayed in the hopes of getting a private word with Parvati. But she was chatting with Lavender.
Luna, who had been scribbling something in the margins of a folded up copy of the quibbler interrupted without looking up ."You know, there are House Elves at Hogwarts."
"Where?" asked Parvati, horrified.
"The kitchen, I presume. They make all the food."
"So my meals are prepared by slave labor?" Parvati looked somewhat ill.
"Well, our next task is now clear - we have to find the kitchens" Pronounce Lavender. After a pause to think, she added, "And stop eating!"
*Zero*Zero*
"I can't believe that you are going along with the SPEW nonsense" Neville was walking with Harry to his tutoring session with Flitwick.
"Well, Parvati is hot."
"Attractive. You're not going to get a girlfriend unless you treat girls with respect." chided Neville.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Whatever." they walked companionably in silence for a couple of minutes before Harry added, "Maybe I'll ask her out after the next meeting."
"That's what you said last time."
"Oh, and how are you doing with the mystery girl?"
"Good" muttered Neville, turning red.
"So you've asked her out?"
"Not exactly."
The duo reached the Charms classroom, to find Luna waiting for them. "Hello, Luna. What are you here?"
"I am here for tutoring., same as you. Pomona has regretfully informed me that Cedric was too busy with everything he needed to do to also be tutoring."
"Ah."
"I'll see you later" Neville waved and continued on his way
*Zero*Zero*
"Reparo"
Harry finished with the swish and flick of the spell, and the ceramic cup fused back together. Professor Flitwick stepped forward and inspected the piece.
"Hmm. Not bad. You are doing much better Harry. Your wand motions have become more fluid. Just remember, stay relaxed until the flick." Flitwick glanced over Luna, who was trying to maintain a Wingardium Leviosa on two cow bells.
"That's what Professor Loew also says." Harry replied, bringing the diminutive professors back to him. "Stay loose until the final moment. But he's referring to punches`"
"Oh, are you learning boxing with Professor Loew?" asked Flitwick, curious.
"It's not boxing - it's some sort of martial arts. There are bunch of different strikes - punches, kicks, open hand strikes. And yesterday he taught me how to fall." Harry paused for a moment before adding, "Which is a lot more fun than it sounds."
"Can I see" asked the bemused professor. Luna quietly lowered her bells to the floor and turned to watch as well (she was very proud of the fact they touched down without once clanging)
"Ok. The basic is the front roll" Harry put his right arm up over his head like a shield and threw himself head first at the floor. As he hit the ground, he rolled and pushed up. He was back on his feet without ever coming to a stop in between.
"Dear me. Wouldn't that be more comfortable with a mat under you?"
"Yeah I guess," Answered Harry, neglecting to mention that when Dudley pushed him down, he usually didn't check to see if there was a mat out first. "You can do it backwards too." Harry hooked his right leg behind his left, tripping himself. He landed with a loud thump - his left arm had shot out and slapped into the floor - before rolling sideways into a crouch.
"Are you ok" asked Luna at the loud noise.
Harry looked sheepish. "Yeah, I'm fine - it's just a noisy move. They are all pretty easy - you just have to twist the right way. The only one I had trouble with was doing the forward roll without touching the ground - I mashed my shoulder pretty bad on that one." He announced proudly.
"And how often are you doing this?" asked Harry's head of house, with mild concern.
"Oh, Professor Loew is training me every day, but it's not always as exciting." Harry bubbled enthusiastically.
"Well, it is possible that the physical exercise is helping with your wand work, so do continue in your spare time, but right now, let us concentrate on charms for the last 5 minutes before dinner." Flitwick tapped the cup with his wand, and it shattered again. "remember, visualize the cup as you cast the spell."
Harry gave a groan - the pieces were smaller this time.
*Zero*Zero*
As Luna and Harry walked to the great hall, she asked, "Do you mind if I come watch your exercises with Professor Loew? Rolling like that would be very useful if a Blithendor tries to sneak up on you - they are very cowardly, you know, and will run away if their prey sees them." she took on her typical spaced out look as she finished.
"Uh, yeah, I guess." Harry quickly turned towards the Slytherin table as they entered the great hall. "By" he waved quickly
Harry sat down next to Draco and his goons, "Oh god. Luna is completely insane."
"So?" Goyle said around what looked like an entire potato shoved into his mouth.
"Yeah, well she keeps telling me her stupid ideas. And there's no way to stop her." Harry relaxed - the Slytherin table was a Luna-free zone.
"Actually, it's pretty easy - just tell her that she is a fucking moron." drawled Draco.
"I couldn't do that!" Harry was taken aback,"She's in my House. And stuff."
"What stuff?" asked Crabbe, "You got the hots for Looney? She's a little flat for my taste, but maybe that floats your boat."
Harry shook his head an emphatic no. He then glanced around to see if anybody was listening, "No. I'm interested in Parvati." he almost whispered.
"So that's why you are in SPEW," smiled Draco, "It's smart thinking like that that got you sorted into Ravenclaw" Draco slapped the embarrassed Harry on the shoulder.
"Are there any other girls in SPEW?" asked Goyle.
"Uh, it's mostly girls - Parvati, Lavender, Luna, Hannah and Sally-Ann. Colin Creevy is the only other boy."
"And I don't know if the little poof counts." chortled Crabbe.
"Hannah Abbot?" asked Goyle thoughtfully.
"Yeah," Harry replied to Goyle before turning to Crabbe, "what do you mean about Colin?"
"I mean he's gay. I heard the Weasley twins laughing about how 'Colin Creepy' was hitting on Ron."
That comment killed the conversation, as none of the boys knew how to respond. At the same time, Dumbledore stood up.
"Please don't let me interrupt your dinner, I just would like to announce that the first task of the Triwizard Tournament will be two weeks from this Saturday. Each student can invite two guests to come to the event, and there will be other tickets available though the school office. Thank you for your attention" Dumbledore returned to his seat.
Harry put his head in his hands, "I'm going to die."
Crabbe nodded in agreement, "In public."
"Oh, I bet the first task isn't going to be that tough - they'll save the really scary stuff for the last task." Draco reassured.
Oddly, it actually was somewhat reassuring. As Harry looked up, with a wry smile, Theodore Nott leaned over to Draco, "that reminds me - put me down for 10 galleons on the third task."
"What's that?" asked Harry.
Draco made shushing motions, but Nott answered, "Draco is running a pool on when you die."
"Way to go, you screwed the odds now," Crabbe grouched.
Harry didn't even bat an eye that Draco expected him die during the Tournament. "I thought you gave up on the whole betting thing after you screwed up the 'Hogwarts Champion' pool."
"It would have been fine if Snape hadn't made me give all the money back."
"You told people that since there were two Hogwarts champions, the contest was void, and you were going to keep all the money," added Nott with a touch of admiration.
"Yeah, but the suck-ups in Hufflepuff told on me to Snape."
"What I want to know is what the first task is. So can you stop screwing around with your betting and give some help here?" asked Harry plaintively.
There was a silence as the Slytherin looked blank. Goyle fidgeted awkwardly.
Draco finally said "Yeah, I guess. I'll see what I can find out."
*Zero*Zero*
Harry snatched at Hermione's sleeve as she left Foreign runes. "Hey, can you help me with something?"
"What do you want" she frowned.
Harry waved her to come with him down the corridor in the opposite direction from the other students. "you're really good with the Onmyodo stuff. Could you help me to learn to cast spells with this?" he held up a stack of O-Fuda.
"I... I don't really know that much more than what Professor Loew has taught us."
"But you can pronounce the Kanji!" he waved the pile of magic papers.
"My family went to Japan over the summer, I learned a little Japanese. That's all" the prim girl shrugged, obviously reluctant to admit that there was something she didn't know, but also not certain she wanted to get pulled into Harry's problems..
"That's more than anybody else in the school can do. I even asked Terry Boots!"
"What about Professor Loew?" Hermione was flattered, but not convinced.
"This is for the Triwizard Tournament, and he can't help because he's from Beauxbatons" lied Harry. In actuality, he had stolen the stack of O-Fuda from Professor Loew's desk on the way to martial arts practice yesterday. "I suck at wand magic, but I need _something_ to keep me alive. People have died in the Triwizard Tournament. And you're really smart, so I thought you might know how to use it."
The combination of flattery and desperation finally swayed Hermione. "Ok. first thing, let's go to the library and see what we can find before we start experimenting." she started walking down the hallway. "Are you certain we can't ask professor Loew some questions?"
"He said that we shouldn't ask him anything. That we should pretend he knew nothing about this."
*Zero*Zero*
An hour later, the two teens were sitting deep in the recesses of the Hogwarts library.
"Atchoo!" Hermione sneezed, barely avoiding the book she was flipping through.
"I don't think anybody has gone in here in ages." remarked Harry as he looked up from his pile of books.
Hermione nodded and turned the book she was reading towards Harry. "Is this O-Fuda in your stack?"
Harry looked at the illustration, and then started flipping through the magical papers that he had stolen.
"Yeah!"
"Ok, then we can start work on this sequence" Hermione pointed to the spell. As best as Harry could tell, it would create a wall of some sort, sort of like transfiguration or something.
Harry looked at the complex series of steps required will a sinking sensation, "That looks pretty complicated." he replied nervously.
"We'll try the first part - that doesn't look to hard, and that will at least give us a general idea of how Onmyodo works." Hermione sighed, "That's the best we're going to be able to do, I think - these are the only books that seem even remotely related to Japanese magic, and this spell the only one that makes even a little bit of sense." she slammed the book shut in frustration, "they all assume that you know how to cast Onmyodo spells."
Harry leaned over and placed a hand a hand on his agitated assistant. "hey, relax. It's my neck on the line, not yours."
Hermione smiled at the weak joke. "it's just that this is the first time that I can make practical use of all my skills. I spend all my life learning and studying. And while that's fun, I like the idea of being able to do something useful with all that knowledge."
"Hey, you said it yourself - you've never studied this before. I'm impressed with how quickly you were able to pull together what you did learn." Harry had been on the receiving end of enough supportive reassurances that he was able to dish them out like a master. Like a school councilor.
Hermione smiled. The two teens sat in companionable silence in the poorly lit stacks. After a bit the cozy setting had its effect.
"You know, this is the first time anybody asked me for help." Hermione volunteered softly, "Usually, people talk to Fleur. They rarely even notice I'm there."
"Then why do you hang out with her?"
Hermione sat quietly for a long time. Harry decided she wouldn't answer and started collecting the books.
"Because its safe there."
"What?" he stopped, confused.
"Harry, did you know that I went to Hogwarts for a couple of months? I was in your year."
Harry shook his head.
"Well, to make a long story short, I didn't have any friends here, and one evening I was in the bathroom when a troll smashed its way in. I spent an hour hiding under the rubble while the monster smashed stuff. Nobody even knew I was missing." Hermione's face darkened, and she looked like she was talking more to herself than to harry, "after that, I transfered to Beauxbatons. With Fleur, There are always people around. I'm not going to get forgotten."
Harry nodded dumbly, 'But you said most people don't notice you next to Fleur', but it felt wrong to call her on it, after she had shared something that was obviously very personal.
*Zero*Zero*
"Step"
Harry whirled in place and did a shuto - an open hand strike.
"Step"
Turn, shuto
"Sink down, Harry. Keep the knees bent more"
"Ok" Harry replied through clenched teeth. Standing with his knees bent was *hard*
"Step"
shuto
step
shuto
Harry finished up the exercise and stood up with a sigh, remembering to bow at the end.
"You are doing very well, Harry," Adams smiled, "but your real strength is in your speed and reaction time."
"Should I work out to put on more muscle?" asked Harry. He was really enjoying the martial arts training. After most classes, he felt like he could take on the world.
"No, not unless you want to be a professional fighter. Speed is much more important than strength, especially for the advanced moves." Adam was also wearing a martial arts gi today, "I want to work on kumites today."
Kumites were combinations of blocks and attacks, and Harry always found those a little intimidating: having to block a punch from a seven foot tall professor who looked like he could have built the Egyptian pyramids single handedly was scary. Even if he was a nice guy.
"go"
block strike
strike strike
Harry finished off the sequence of attacks, and Adam nodded with a smile. "Good. Just be careful if you practice with anybody else - you need to pull your punches a bit more when sparring with humans."
Harry nodded, thinking that it would be cool to spar with somebody more his size.
*Zero*Zero*
"Draco, Professor Loew has been teaching me some martial arts. Do mind helping me practice?" Harry asked as he ran up to the Slytherin and his two thugs. They were walking back from class - they had a free period next.
Draco turned to look at harry with scorn, "Wizards don't do fisticuffs."
"But professor Loew..."
"I don't care what that half-breed squib has to say on the topic. Real wizards don't sully themselves that way."
Harry stopped in the corridor.
*Zero*Zero*
"Hey, Neville, Professor Loew has been teaching me some martial arts. do mind helping me practice?" Harry was sitting with the Gryffindors for lunch.
Neville looked up from his sandwich, "I don't know, Harry, Gran would be furious if she found out I was fighting."
"It's not the same as brawling, Nev. it's more like a class, or quidditch." Harry cajoled,
"Hey, I'll do it." Harry looked up in surprise to see Ron Weasley looking at him intensely. Harry barely knew the red head: The only class they shared was Foreign Runes, and they didn't talk much there. "It'll be dead useful when I apply for Auror school."
"Ok." Harry replied skeptically.
"Great. so when do you meet?"
*Zero*Zero*
Harry's next class was DADA, which was always interesting, if sometimes nerve-wracking, with Moody teaching it. Today was no different. The Ravenclaws were all seated when Moody walked into class with an AK-47 assault rifle cradled against his shoulder.
"Today, we will learn about defending against muggle weapons." He stopped in front of the class. Several muggleborn students prepared to dive under their desks if Moody lowered the weapon. "How many of you know what this is" he held up the assault rifle.
Hands went up, including Harry's.
"Yes, Potter?"
"It's an assault rifle. It shoots a lot of bullets very quickly. Muggle soldiers use them."
"Correct. but for fighting against magic, they are almost useless. Draco, please bring up your book bag."
Moody put Draco's bad against the far wall of the class and with a wave of his wand cast an expansion charm. The classroom stretched out, the book bag receding a good 20 feet.
"Ok, now cast a Protego on your bag"
Draco looked questioningly between the bag and his professor, then cast, "Protego". A blue shimmering disk appeared in front of the book bag.
"Good. now hold it steady." Moody reminded the class "it's not easy to maintain a Protego at this distance."
He then lowered his assault rifle and...
BradaBradaBradaBrada
...sprayed the book bag with bullets. Draco flinched and ducked his shoulders, but he managed to maintain the spell. Moody lowered the rifle and Accio'ed the book bag into his hand.
The bag was undamaged.
"Good job, Malfoy." Moody turned back to the class. "Muggle bullets are all identical, and the rifle fires so many of them, with so little effort on the part of the shooter, that there is almost no intent. The violence is casual. And without some will force behind it, even a weak Protego spell like the one Draco cast is sufficient to stop the bullets." he hung the assault rifle down on a coat rack.
The class sat stiffly, watching with intense fascination.
Moody conjured a bundle of straw tied to two sticks next to his desk - it looked like a naked scarecrow. Moody then turned back to Draco again "cast Protego on this."
As Draco complied, aiming his wand at the figure from a distance of less than ten feet. Moody pulled a sword out of the top drawer of his desk, and hobbled over to the wooden block.
He stared intently at the straw dummy. Then, he took a deep breath and with a loud yell he lashed out with the sword. The Protego spell shattered into blue shard as the sword swept through it, loping off the top half of the scarecrow.
"Can anybody tell me what was different?"
"You had a physical connection to the sword. It is a much more personal weapon. That let your intent carry through" Terry quickly volunteered.
"Very good, Mr Boots. 5 points to Ravenclaw, but please raise your hand next time."
"Mr Goldstein, do you want to try blocking?"
Andrew nodded nervously and cast Protego on the remainder of the straw figure. Moody again took a shuffling step forward, and straw flew everywhere as his sword shattered Andrew's shield.
"You forgot to turn your hand as you flicked the wand," rumbled Moody, clearly disappointed by the poor showing, "I think we need to practice our Protego. Who wants to be next?"
The class continued this way, with each student having a chance to cast the Protego spell, and get critiqued by the professor.
"Potter, you're next" Alastor reparo-ed the straw figure again.
Harry took up a position near the target, unconsciously bracing himself as he cast "Protego" he stood with an intent look on his face. As Moody swung his sword, he tensed as if he was the one who was going to get hit
"GONG"
The sword bounced of the shield with a flash of blue sparks.
Moody looked surprised, but pleased ."Very good. So what exactly was going through your head as you cast your spell?"
Harry shrugged self consciously. He wasn't used to praise, "I just imagined that the sword was coming at me rather than the target. I figured that if I had a real shield, I could definitely stop it, so there was no reason that my Protego shouldn't work as well."
Alastor turned back to the rest of the class, "As you can see Potter's shield was much stronger. He connected himself to the target, and he had strong intent."
The bell sounded for the end of class
"I want two feet of parchment on the use of intent in defensive spells. Class dismissed"