DADA Duel

It was now Tuesday afternoon and the three older Marauders were heading to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class while Ginny went to her Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Harry walked into the room and saw that it also had fewer students than the year before. Harry noticed that Professor Tero had decided to decorate the room with a combination of dark objects and artifacts that he decided she gathered during her trips around the world. Harry and Ron followed Hermione to their seats and waited for the Professor.

Once it seemed like all students had arrived in the classroom and were begging to talk amongst themselves the doors slammed shut. Harry immediately jumped to his feet and drew his wand out of habit. A few students began to laugh when Harry noticed that there was no one near the door to cause them to slam.

"Very good, Mr. Potter. Ten points to Gryffindor." Professor Tero spoke from her elevated office. "You must always be ready to fight, you might call it paranoia, I call it being prepared. Constant Vigilance!"

The students began to chuckle when they heard their new teacher say this last bit, they were reminded of Mad-Eye Moody. Harry began to put his wand back in his robes when he heard Professor Tero mumble something. He hadn't known what she said but he quickly pulled his wand back out and shouted.

"Protego!" Just after Harry cast the spell another spell bounced off of the magical shield he had conjured. Student and teacher then began dueling throughout the classroom casting various non-lethal spells at one another trying to get the upper hand. Harry smiled as he leapt from desk top to desk top during the duel. He eventually reached the desk where Neville was sitting and saw that Professor Tero had also resorted to fighting on top of the desks. She began charging towards Harry when he decided what to do.

"Agito Occulto." Harry whispered to as he pointed his wand at himself. Instantly Harry vanished and repositioned himself behind the Professor. "Locomotor Mortis!" Harry cast the spell at her back and watched her legs freeze, Professor Tero fell forward but before she hit the desks Ron cast a levitating charm and stopped her.

"Well done, Harry. Well done indeed. Have another ten points. Mr. Weasley, thanks for catching me, five points for you as well." Professor Tero spoke as Hermione cast the counter-curse and freed her legs. "That is an example of what can be achieved if you are prepared. You all fought a huge battle last term, not only did you our side win that battle, you all showed Voldemort that even as students you are prepared for a fight. This year you will all learn numerous battle techniques as well as defensive and offensive spells. I expect all of you to receive outstanding on your N.E.W.T.s this year. Constant Vigilance."

"Professor, what do you think about what the Sorting Hat said at the sorting ceremony?" Seamus asked.

"Which part, Mr. Finnegan?" Professor Tero responded.

"Well, all of it, ma'am." Seamus answered.

"Well lets break it down a little and I think you will understand. The first portion it is looking back at last years song and how most of the school listened to it and united to fight under the Hogwarts flag and not each house. Most Slytherins fought next to the rest of the school, that was a huge help. The second portion gives thanks to Dumbledore's Army for a couple reasons, one is removing four students in particular, the second is for removing some of Voldemort's strongest supporters. The next part is the most frightening one of them all, Voldemort will return and probably soon, and those who are against Voldemort won't be able to continue doing so. The fourth section tells us how we can win the war, we must be willing to show complete loyalty not only to your beliefs but to Mr. Potter and his friends because they will be the ones to do a majority of the fighting for us." Professor Tero paused here for a moment then finished. "The final part is his warning to not ignore what he said and that he can't change his decision about which house you are sorted into."

"Why Harry though, Professor?" Seamus asked. "Why is he so interested in Harry and his friends?"

"I think that is because Harry and his friends are the only people that have been able to defy Voldemort so many times, Mr. Finnegan." Professor Tero responded. "Now, lets continue with the class."

At the end of class Professor Tero asked Harry, Ron and Hermione to stay behind for a word. When the rest of the class had left the room she began talking.

"Sorry about not telling you that I was going to be your Professor. I was asked not to." She smiled.

"Why not, Professor?" Harry asked confused.

"Please, when not in class or in the presence of another Professor call me Kim." Kim said with a smile. "It helps me feel like I am staying young and not like I just turned twenty-six. Now as for your question, now that you are members of the Order you can know that I am also a member. The first time you saw me, I was on an assignment. Watching over you three and Ginny without you knowing I was. Professor Dumbledore didn't want you to know who I was because he didn't want anyone else to know that I was going to be a Professor. He felt that might give away the fact that I am also an Order member."

"And your relationship with George?" Ron began to ask.

"Is none of your business." Hermione answered for Kim.

"Right, but it is real Ron. We are a couple." Kim answered smiling.

They said goodbye and went to find Ginny and tell her what they were just told. She forced a smile at the news and gave Harry a kiss.

"What's wrong Gin." Harry asked knowing something was wrong.

"I've just come from potions." Ginny answered. "I am not looking forward to that class."

"I don't think Snape will be that bad this year." Hermione told her friend.

"It isn't Snape I'm not looking forward too." Ginny replied. "It is going to be a very difficult next couple of years for my N.E.W.T.s."

They all laughed and agreed with Ginny as they prepared to go to the Great Hall for dinner. When they were all ready they left the common room and went to eat. They spent the time discussing DA meetings and Quidditch practice times and Professor Tero had told them about the coming year. When they were done Ron and Hermione left to make their rounds while Harry and Ginny returned to the common room.

"Ginny, I think that this is going to be a very dangerous year, for all of us." Harry began speaking as he walked through the portrait hole. "Please, don't trust anyone we don't know. Kim is right, we have to always be ready to fight."

"I know, Harry." Ginny replied as she held Harry close. "Don't worry, Harry. You have taught us all a lot, we will be fine.