Chapter Six
Defense Against the Dark Arts increased in urgency in the coming weeks. Loki introduced the students to combat firearms, use of bludgeons and blades, stealth, and lots of silent magic. No longer were people wondering what the point was when he took the student body for mock battles in the castle courtyard and late-night hide-and-seek matches after-hours. They were now having too much fun to protest.
Every now and then, word would spread about Ron and Hermione's demeanor in class. The feud between Professor Loki and Ron had ended, and he and Hermione would often be slightly removed from the mass of the class, practicing their daily lessons with a bit more seriousness and precision than the rest. Often, they would glance Loki's direction and meet his gaze. Not a word was ever said, but it seemed they were silently sharing something no one else knew.
One day, they were confronted on it.
Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, and Lavender Brown cornered them in the Gryffindor common room as Ron and Hermione were training in close-quarters wand use in their free time.
"Gone from teacher's nemesis to teacher's pet, 'ave ye?" Seamus sneered at the pair, while rubbing at a sore spot he'd gained in D.A.D.A. earlier that day.
"Professor Loki and I met in the middle." Ron said without much emphasis. He struck Hermione's extended wand down with his own, then pressed it to her neck. They broke apart and traded roles.
"We can see there's something going on between you two. Something different. With both of you." Dean said, prying into them.
"Are you snogging him, Hermy?" Lavender accused.
Hermione stopped dead and stared with the fury of a demon.
"I AM NOT." She said with flat rage.
"Well, he's always been so friendly with you…and since you and Ron won't take the bloody plunge…"
Neville interjected.
"What we're really trying to say here is…do you know something we don't? Something important? Is Loki planning something?"
Ron looked everyone over as the mounting tension slightly dissipated.
"He's planning FOR something."
"What is it?" Seamus pressed.
"Does it have something to do with Harry? Or You-Know-Who?" Dean asked, showing serious apprehension.
"He hasn't said anything specifically, but he did say something was coming. Here. And soon." Hermione explained.
"But given the state of things, anything he's teaching would be useful for either of them. If Harry still needs my help when I'm done here, I'll bring everything I've got to his side. Same goes for if Death Eaters show themselves here again."
Ron's grip tightened on his wand.
Seamus nodded.
"That's a good guess. People 'ave seen Loki wandering around Hogwarts, checking windows and doors, like he's expecting something to jump out of them. Even other professors 're saying that You-Know-Who would likely be making another crack at 'Ogwarts. It would be a bit o' secure real estate in a world where ownership is determined only by force."
"Might incline a person to take their lessons more seriously then, ay, Seamus?" Hermione sneered at him, returning the hostility he had initiated the talk with.
"Maybe. He is a fellow Irishman. He must have something worthwhile in mind."
"Ask him yourself. Use that Irish camaraderie." Hermione said, then shifted her gaze to Lavender. "Or snog with him. You're legal age. Not that it matters without any laws in these isles anymore."
Lavender stormed off.
"Loki's more approachable then people think. You just have to catch him at the right time." Hermione said her last, then returned to training with Ron.
Satisfied they had gotten as much as they could, the three boys left.
The next D.A.D.A. class, the students arrived with a new apprehension. Word had spread as fast as always at Hogwarts, and the student body had heard that Loki was not training people just for general readiness for the wild world outside, but for a specific threat against the school. As Loki entered the classroom, he had a very serious air about him.
"Word has already reached that me that people now know about the little secret I've been keeping, so I'll be straight. I have resources outside that inform to events affecting this place, and one of them has told me there is an assault being planned on this school. A large one. Since security is something that's in severe deficit since my act last winter, I decided not to scare anyone into thinking this place wasn't safe. The students needed a place to feel some sense of protection. But now, that safety is threatened by others that want that security, which is why I've been turbocharging the curriculum. Is it wrong to blame someone, especially now, for wanting some security? Not at all. But their gain would be your loss, and they would use this place to establish a new regime the likes of which I didn't wipe out the world to see rise again. So I'm in this with you. We have probably a couple of months before we can expect the strike. I've talked with the faculty as a whole about this situation, and they've consented to also train with me in the things I'm teaching you. For a while, Dark Arts and dark wizards will be all we worry about."
Many of students looked at each other now, all the rumors had been verified, but only now did they seem real.
"If you're worried about this, remember that Harry Potter's out there by himself, taking an offensive on Voldemort. We'll have home court advantage. Things could be worse for us."
Loki stripped off his coat and shirt. Just about every female eye drifted downward. Most male eyes bugged and looked away.
"We've spent a lot of time working on physical preparedness for an attack, magical or otherwise, but what we've never covered is your own fear of the Dark. If you can't overcome your terror, nothing that's been taught will be of any use."
Loki's body tensed so tightly it was fit to explode. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
"Today…"
His skin turned black, and shimmered like crystal.
"…you face monsters!!!"
A visible shockwave of dark energy pulsed from Loki's body, knocking people backward. He let out a primal roar that sounded like choral stereo echoing off into the unknown beyond. Students screamed and tried to run, but a massive wind from nowhere slammed the doors closed. Now trapped and terrified, the students drew their wands and tried to incant, but their voices were dead in their throats.
Smiling like a psychotic predator, Loki zipped around the room fast as a blur, knocking people down and tearing things apart. The floor churned and buckled, sending people sliding across the room. Flames burst from Loki's roaring mouth. Those in the path dove out of the way, but couldn't think straight enough to launch any sort of counter. The curtains exploded with fire, letting loose burning fabric down on petrified students.
The black blur snatched up a Slytherin seventh-year and heaved her over its head. The black eyes that pierced into her led straight down into the abyss. Tears streamed down her cheeks from overwhelming fear.
Then white flesh replaced white, and the eyes of darkness gave way to blue. Loki gently placed her back on the floor, where she fell to her knees and couldn't stand.
As soon as it had started, it was over. Loki was panting and trembling. He looked around the room. Everyone had scrambled as far from him as they could, and were shuddering, totally paralyzed by fright.
Loki took a long, deep breath, then relaxed as limp as a wet noodle. He fell to the floor himself.
"THAT…is what we can expect when the attack comes. As you saw, everything we've covered this year went right out the window when faced with a real threat. So long as that fear remains, we'll lose. Bear this in mind; I'm more horrifying than what we'll be facing. If you can all get used to me, our opponents will be nothing. That's all for today. I'll see you all Wednesday. Expect the same thing. Expect it until it no longer scares you. Class dismissed."