Incandescence
Part Six
The Triwizard Tournament

Disclaimer: Seeing how I haven't owned Harry Potter for all of the prequal or the sequal, odds are not good that its changing anytime soon. And since I act only as a medium for the Lugovaloses, it could be argued I don't own them either. And Phyrrus is laughing at me again.

Warnings: As with the last five chapters and prior "book" this is slash. Obviously between Phyrrus and Harry at the very least. So, if you've been pretending to be an ostrich and just figured it out, you can't say I haven't warned you. Six times. And them some.

Author's Note: Ne, ne, look! Chapter six! Beta'd and everything! Yay for PrincessXXMoonXX! I have this chapter and one more for the week, and then I'm back to school. So things will get slow because I have to schedule my breathing and I juts haven't got time to do anything. Also, as always, I'm still begging for reviews to draw in more readers. And, as always, I'm not holding chapters hostage. Past this week you probably won't get more until I get out for summer or something. It's not my beta's fault, it's not my fault, you can blame real life. I'm sorry, but my grades are just that important. But, other than that, enjoy what I can offer!

To Mischief Maker In Disguise: You have no idea how close I was to actually killing Chara. Then I thought I'd get lynched and tought better of it. Hee hee. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and I apologize for any heart trouble I may have caused.

To Shadow of a Shadow: Is everything going to be better? Well. . . better is comprised highly of an opinion. . .

To Everyone: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! I was kind of surprised how well Chara's attack on Narcissa was received. Not that I figure you're all for the woman, but I just never expected the reaction. I'm also surprised as how many of you were up in arms about Chara's near death. Wow. I can see she's a loved character! I'm rather glad. I like her, too. Another reason I just couldn't kill her off. Not to say it couldn't happen, seeing how I was about three keystrokes from it, but I'm glad I didn't. I think you lot would've lynched me!

But enough of my talk. Please, enjoy this next chapter!
oOooOo

Harry was absently drawing patterns on the foggy window when Draco appeared in the compartment doorway. "You won't ever guess what Hogwarts is doing this year!" The blond was practically bouncing, getting some very odd looks from the people in the compartment. He paused, blinked, and turned to face Harry's side of the compartment fully. "Torrent, what are you doing here?"

Cyrrus scowled. "I'm going to school. What's it look like? Mom got me into Hogwarts because I couldn't live at home and she's my guardian. Besides, she's the one paying for it, they weren't going to turn her down."

"He's got a point," Harry waved a finger under Draco's nose. Draco shrugged and went back to bouncing.

"Guess what we're hosting, though! Guess!" Draco grinned. "Father only just told me! Guess!"

"Did you know he acted like a five year old when he gets excited?" Cyrrus raised an eyebrow at Phyrrus, who shrugged and shook his head, rolling his fire-gold eyes.

"Draco, just tell us already!" Neville finally cried.

"The Triwizard Tournament!"

Hermione gasped and went straight for her trunk, eyes shining in glee. "I didn't know they were holding that! They put an end to it when the death toll got to great and people started to complain. Oh, I've got the best book on it in my trunk. Flame, you're tall. Give me a hand."

Phyrrus easily lifted the trunk down and Hermione started digging through it, sending everyone diving for cover as books went flying. "And we thought River and Rayne were dangerous." Phyrrus grumbled. The little twins were with the Weasely twins, and it was best not to ask what they were doing. The two genius girls were on their way back to Hogwarts for the second year, and the group often wondered if Hogwarts could handle the strain of two sets of mischief making twins.

Hermione found her book and curled up between Ron and the wall, happily reading over it. Phyrrus and Harry exchanged Looks, but said nothing over it, not wanting to get a large book to the head for their troubles. Draco was still talking incessantly about the Tournament, but only Neville was listening. Cyrrus turned to Ginny, Harry, and Phyrrus. "What about a game of exploding rat slap?"

"Oh, sounds fun," Phyrrus eagerly nodded and slid to the floor.

"Rat slap?"

"Well, the muggles call it a million different things, but mostly Egyptian Rat Screw. Of course, we got wind of the game and started using exploding cards. So now it's exploding rat slap. Since a lot of people look down on the word 'screw."

"Why?" Ginny, unused to the American slang Phyrrus and Cyrrus had a tendency to throw about, asked.

"Because it's another way to say people are having sex," Cyrrus shrugged. Ginny blushed bright red and turned back to Phyrrus, who was explaining the game to Harry. Harry grinned and moved to the floor.

"I'm in!"

"Me too!" Ginny smirked. "Now, someone deal!"

Amid laughter and explosions, the rest of the train ride passed as uneventfully as possible.
oOooOo

Cyrrus was sent with Hagrid to go on the boat ride while everyone else clambered into carriages. Phyrrus glanced towards the front of the carriages and shivered. Harry frowned. "Are you all right?"

"Hm? Yeah. . . I'm fine." Phyrrus smiled and jumped into the carriage. Harry followed, a strange look still on his face. The ride to the school was fairly quiet, bellies rumbling as they approached the school. Harry nearly groaned as he remembered they still had to wait for the sorting and Cyrrus' introduction, but made his way to the Gryffindor table. River and Rayne met them there, River sitting next to Phyrrus and Rayne sitting on Harry's other side.

"Where do you think Cyrrus will be?" Rayne asked. "He's not Gryffindor."

"I'm not sure we are either," Phyrrus pointed out. "Who knows? Just not Hufflepuff."

For being a Lugovalos, Cyrrus had very little loyalty to those that weren't friends and family he cared for greatly. He was intelligent, but Harry couldn't honestly see him in Ravenclaw (can anyone say "mass murder?"). That left Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry shrugged. He'd probably be placed in Gryffindor with his cousin.

River and Rayne nodded at each other and turned to the front, eyes settling on Severus. They waved happily and he offered a slight nod in reply. It was with much excitement, then, that McGonagall entered the great hall, a bunch of first years streaming behind her. Ron muttered something about hunger, and Harry nodded in agreement. He was starving too.

Drooling and trying not to show it, he paid no mind to the sorting until Cyrrus was announced. The tall boy waved to the school and plopped down on the stool, the hat dropping over his eyes. Harry could practically see the ensuing argument. Hat and boy went back and forth for several minutes, the hall holding its breath for the decision.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat finally cried, and all four of the tables gasped and looked straight at Phyrrus, waiting to see what he'd do. In England, being placed in the wrong house was enough to be disowned for.

Phyrrus looked at the rest of the school, confused, and then gave a whoop for his cousin. Cyrrus grinned and waved, then went to sit down next to Draco, quickly engaging him in conversation. One of the older years stared at Phyrrus open-mouthed. "You aren't angry?"

"Angry?" Phyrrus frowned. "Whatever for? It's just a house."

"He's cunning and ambitious!" The teen protested.

"We all are when the need arises," Phyrrus shrugged. "It may not be in the same way, but that hardly matters."

"Oh." The teen frowned, clearly not in agreement with Phyrrus' flippant answer, and returned to his meal. Harry wrinkled his nose.

"I was almost placed in Slytherin," He murmured softly to Phyrrus. "I wonder what they would have thought of me then."

"I wouldn't have thought any differently," Phyrrus grinned. "I was nearly placed there myself. And I know Rayne was. River was almost put in Ravenclaw."

"Is the hat insane?" Harry choked. "Everyone would die. But Rayne in Slytherin?"

"You'd be surprised," Phyrrus chuckled. "She knows how to use people, though it isn't always intentional. River knows how to use people and, more often than not, doesn't care. She'd rather fight with her fists. But Rayne is another story entirely."

Rayne nodded solemnly. "The hat didn't like me telling it to shove off," Rayne told Harry matter-of-factly. "But I didn't want to be in that house. They don't understand family."

"And family is important, right kiddo?" Phyrrus winked as Rayne nodded and grinned.

"Maybe if they understood family they wouldn't be so mean," Rayne murmured. "So I try to teach them. But some of them won't learn."

"I see." Harry nodded.

"No you don't," Rayne smiled innocently at him. "But you will."

Harry turned back to the feast, wondering what, precisely, she meant by that. Dumbledore stood up to make announcements, then, so Harry was spared a reply. Dumbledore glanced around the hall, opening his mouth when the door flew open. The school turned to look at the man in the doorway as he made his way to the teacher's table. Dressed in a long, black cloak, it was clear he had a peg leg from the claw that appeared when the man walked. He was missing a chunk of his nose and an electric blue eyes that spun wildly in its socket.

"Ew," Rayne muttered, then stiffened.

"That's Mad-Eye Moody," Ron whispered. "Insane, but put away a lot of Death Eaters.

"He's bad," The little twins murmured at once.

"Bad?" Ron blinked. "He's not nice, but he's not bad."

"He's bad," Rayne repeated, staring at the man. "He feels bad. Like he wants. . . revenge?"

"And he's mad." River agreed, frowning. "Very, very, mad."

Staring at Moody from the little twins' point of view, Harry could see why they probably wouldn't like him, but River and Rayne had a tendency to see underneath the underneath. Contemplating what the little twins had said, Harry turned to listen to the rest of Dumbledore's announcements.
oOooOo

"Can you believe that we have the Triwizard Tournament here?" Hermione squealed, grinning. It was obvious that she was excited, and Harry and Ron rolled their eyes. "This is history in the making!"

"I'd rather test my mettle in it than sit on the sides and watch," Phyrrus sighed and grinned at Harry. "What about you?"

"No thanks," Harry turned his nose up. "I don't need the publicity that'd gain me! I'll pass! Besides, only seventeen and older anyway."

"Yeah, I know. I won't cheat my way in, I promise." Phyrrus sighed. Harry burrowed into his side, smiling. Hermione laughed.

"You're too honorable to do that, Flame."

"That's what you think," He muttered, grinning at Harry, but nodded in agreement. After promising Harry, he'd never attempt, and Harry knew it. Phyrrus cuddled Harry a little closer and gave a sigh, leaning into Harry's warmth. It had been a long few weeks before school started again, with Chara nearly dying and everything, and it was nice just to hold Harry in his arms and remind himself what was real. Greeting their dorm mates and talking about Dumbledore's announcement of the Triwizard Tournament set everyone in high spirits, as did catching Neville up on the World Cup.

"Aunt Chara asked, but Gran wouldn't let me go," Neville moaned, and everyone winced in sympathy. "And she wouldn't get any tickets for us."

"Miser," Dean gasped, making Neville smack him and everyone else laugh.

"She is not!" Neville protested, before realizing that Dean was only joking and blushing brightly instead. Harry rolled his eyes and climbed into bed, snuggling up to Phyrrus. It felt nice to have him back after the summer of being jostled from one place--and sleeping arrangement--to another.

"Good night, you guys," Phyrrus yawned, cuddling into Harry and closing his eyes.

"I'm with him," Harry yawned. "Night."

The others finally settled in to sleep, their feast-plumped bellies making them sleepy. Harry smiled to himself, relaxing with Phyrrus' heartbeat and curling closer to his warmth. Phyrrus smiled in his sleep and snuggled closer. Before Harry's eyes drifted shut completely, he thought he saw his boyfriend give a sweet smile.
oOooOo

Terrible screaming woke them all sometime a little after three, and Ron turned to see Harry trying desperately to wake Phyrrus. The tall boy's face was twisted in anguish, his hands clenched at his heart. The scream soon turned to a heart broken sob, and Harry grabbed Phyrrus, shaking him as hard as he could. "Wake up, Phyrrus!" Harry screamed by the other's ear, and Phyrrus snapped awake, grabbing Harry and flipping them, landing with Harry in a choke hold. Harry went limp even as Phyrrus released him.

"Harry?" Phyrrus gasped, crawling immediately off Harry. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean too--"

"I know." Harry soothed. "I knew the risks when I woke you. Don't worry. You didn't hurt me. See?" Harry tilted his neck up, and Phyrrus nodded. It wouldn't even bruise. Phyrrus pressed gentle kisses to Harry's neck in apology, and the others were staring.

"What happened, Flame?" Ron demanded. Phyrrus paused.

"I--I'm not sure. I was dreaming something happened to Harry and Mom." Phyrrus shook his head, and Harry snuggled close, to reassure Phyrrus he was there.

"It was probably because of what happened to Mum Chara this summer," Harry soothed. "Don't worry, okay?"

"Thanks, Harry. I'm still really, really sorry. I don't know why I reacted like that," Phyrrus admitted, laying back down and taking Harry with him. "I've never done it before."

"I don't think it will happen again," Harry gently replied, moving closer and resting his head on Phyrrus' chest. The other's heart was racing at a million miles a minute, and Harry spent the next half hour calming Phyrrus down and getting him back to sleep. Harry watched Phyrrus for some time, though, marveling.

Phyrrus had never had a nightmare before this, while Harry had known him, and the vulnerability Phyrrus showed was astounding. He had never been quite so vulnerable around these boys as he had around Harry, but it was obvious he considered them all friends. Sighing, Harry closed his eyes and snuggled close to the warmth next to him, hoping that Phyrrus would be all right. He didn't know what he would do if Phyrrus wasn't.
oOooOo

Phyrrus was back to his normal self when they woke the next morning, apologized for the screaming fit, and wandered away to shower. Harry rolled his eyes. "He's embarrassed." Harry chuckled. "Don't mind him, but I know he'd appreciate it if you didn't bring it up again."

"Sure," Neville agreed cheerfully. "What are friends for?"

Dean and Seamus also agreed, hurrying to get ready for the day, or they'd be late. Harry pulled his robes on and made his way downstairs, frowning slightly. Ron was already there and explained what had happed the previous night to Hermione. Harry plopped down next to them, grinning. "Well, last night was interesting."

"Where's Flame?"

"He'll be down in a moment. He's just trying to regain his composure. He's not used to losing control like that. You should have seen how he woke me up this morning." Harry grinned. Phyrrus had kissed him awake this morning and it was a very pleasant experience, Harry reflected.

Phyrrus appeared in the doorway, and the four collected River and Rayne before racing to the Great Hall. Collecting their schedules, Harry plopped down at one end of the table and then scowled. "Potions first thing in the morning," He grumbled, clearly upset. "But after that is Care of Magical Creatures."

"Hagrid will be glad of that," Phyrrus glanced over Harry's shoulder. "We haven't had much time to write him lately."

"Tell me about it," Harry muttered. "But I hate potions first thing."

"At least Sev--oh, got to get used to calling him Snape. . . Mr. Snape will be in a better mood," Phyrrus pointed out. "Uncle Leon was here yesterday."

"Did he spend the night?" Hermione wanted to know, and Ron goggled at her.

"Far as I know."

"Good, then." Hermione nodded. "Then we know we're safe."

"That doesn't mean he won't take points if we're late!" Harry broke in shrilly, his voice cracking. He blushed in embarrassment and the other three glanced at their watches. They gasped and dashed to get their potions things and haul to the dungeons. They were barely in time. Cyrrus waved.

"Thought you wouldn't make it," He chuckled.

"Fuck you," Phyrrus ground out. "Just because you live in the dungeons. . . "

"Means we have the advantage," Cyrrus agreed. "Stop being stupid, Phy. It doesn't suit you."

"Stop being snotty, Cye," Phyrrus sniped. "It doesn't suit you."

"Did he have a nightmare?" Cyrrus raised an eyebrow at his cousin, addressing Harry.

"How did you know?"

"He's always a snippy bitch when he's tired." Cyrrus shrugged. "How else?"

"Fuck off, Cye," Phyrrus grumbled. Cyrrus frowned.

"Stop that right now, Phyrrus Connor Lugovalos! You are being rude and disrespectful and I won't have you represent our name in such a manner!" Cyrrus barked.

Phyrrus stiffened, opening his mouth, then closing it with a sharp click. Cyrrus nodded, clearly angry. Phyrrus had the grace to look embarrassed and apologized profusely to his cousin, then sat down next to him. Harry sat down on the teen's other side, sighing.

"Connor?" Hermione grinned. "I never knew your middle name."

"Use it and die," Phyrrus and Cyrrus both growled at once. Hermione held up her hands in surrender.

"What if I use it, Phyrrus Connor Lugovalos?" Harry purred, pulling Phyrrus down so their lips were brushing as he spoke.

"That's okay, then," Phyrrus replied, pressing a kiss to Harry's lips, then sitting back up and turning towards the front as the professor entered. Phyrrus winked at Harry, who grinned in reply, and pulled out his things to take notes with. Harry couldn't wait for the school day to end.
oOooOo

When it did end, however, Harry had more homework than he ever wanted to see in his life. "They're preparing us for the O.W.L.s," Hermione explained. "They're only a year away, you know."

"I know," Ron mumbled. "I wish I didn't."

"I wish I never heard of them." Phyrrus grumbled. "What's with these O.W.L.s anyway? What's the point?"

"So they can decide what classes we're best suited for after," Hermione shrugged.

"That's stupid," Phyrrus declared, yawning and throwing down his quill. "Harry, you want to go for a walk with me?"

"Sure. I'll finish this later," Harry threw his own quill down, glaring at the innocent looking feather. Phyrrus laughed and grabbed Harry's hand, leading him from the room and out onto the grounds.

"This is nice," Phyrrus sighed, flopping down by the lake. "I was feeling cooped up in there. I'm just glad I've got the week off."

Farming waited for no one, but Cyrrus and Phyrrus both had the first week of school off to adjust, and then they'd go back to a strict regime of continent hopping to get the harvesting done. Phyrrus was exhausted just thinking about it. Harry laid next to him, and Phyrrus turned, smiling. They were under the weeping willow at the edge of the lake, a place no one ever went and was out of sight to most people. Phyrrus wasn't sure why people didn't go there, it was a nice place, and secluded. Maybe because it was under a tree?

Leaning forward, he captured Harry's lips with his own and gently kissed the other. Harry moaned and opened his mouth, kissing back fervently, scooting a little closer. Phyrrus smiled into the kiss, and pulled Harry on top of him, concentrating only on the kiss. Bright white flashed and both gasped, pulling back with wide eyes. "What the hell?" Phyrrus stared at Harry and the other shook his head.

"The bond?" Harry asked, frowning. "But. . . it shouldn't react like that, should it?"

"I don't know. I've never experienced this before. . . which is pretty obvious. We should write Mom. But until then, I guess we should stick to holding hands," Phyrrus laughed and cuddled Harry, who nodded, still scared by what the light could have meant. Their bond had been slowly developing over the past fourteen months, which was odd since they had little in the was of a physical relationship and most bonds didn't start forming until the members of the bond had sex. The change was frightening, especially when both members of the bond had been prepared, in their own ways, of losing what they had.

Something told Harry that he shouldn't be worried about that anymore.
oOooOo

Harry and Phyrrus made it back to the dormitory just minutes before curfew and changed for bed. It was still early, but Phyrrus liked to read for his assignments while he was in bed. Harry didn't mind, Phyrrus often read aloud if they were on the same material, and Harry enjoyed being read too, even if the book was boring as hell. Curling up against Phyrrus' side, Harry yawned and listened to Phyrrus detail the life of Ulric the Odd and Elmer the Hairy. Stupid goblin wars. Who cared about them, anyway?

Ron saw the two, curled up together, and Phyrrus offered a smile and wink. He was always considerate enough to put up silencing charms when he read to Harry, although several times the other boys had Phyrrus take them down. If they didn't have to read it, all the better. Besides, Phyrrus has a soothing voice and it wasn't a terrible thing to fall asleep to.

Harry's breathing was already evened out, a good indication he was either asleep or something close, and Phyrrus was playing with the other's shaggy, black locks. Seamus made a face and mimed something about cavities, and Neville laughed, crawling into his own bed. He wished he had someone to cuddle up too, though if he played his cards right, Draco might not object too loudly. . .

Neville smirked. Sometimes being evil wasn't so bad after all.
oOooOo

The next morning at breakfast, Dumbledore rose to make an announcement about the tournament. In about another week, the representatives from the other two schools would be arriving, and that the judge to enter the tournament would be placed in the Great Hall that night at a welcoming feast. The announcing of the Champions would take place on Halloween, where they would have the same festivities as the year prior. Phyrrus grinned, anxious for the dance this year. He and Harry had been planning their costumes for months.

Excited murmurers broke out around the Great Hall at the announcements, and Harry mentally wondered how the teachers were going to get them to pay attention in class. Severus would have no difficulty, since he was so scary, and McGonagall probably wouldn't, but everyone else was an entirely different story. Grabbing their things, Harry and the rest of his friends headed of to class.

"What are you going to be for Halloween this year?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. "Have you decided?"

"We were thinking about going as elementals," Harry admitted. "Like muggles have in games. Phyrrus called them RPG's."

"Role-Playing Games," Phyrrus nodded. "The mundanes pretend to be magical and special and stuff. I've played a few, myself. Never really got into it, but it was a ton of fun. Just not my thing. I almost got into this thing called Live Action Role Playing. People call it LARP. Anyway, it was pretty fun, but I just never really got involved."

"Interesting." Hermione nodded in agreement. "I've heard of it. Dungeons and Dragons and stuff, right?"

"Of course." Phyrrus laughed.

"So what's an elemental look like, anyway?" Ron wrinkled his nose. "And which ones will you be?"

"I'm going to be fire, of course," Phyrrus smirked. "I thought I could get some wire and put an illusion spell on it and make wings. And Leon's got some armor that I can wear, and I'll do the same with a sword. Should look pretty awesome."

"Which one will Harry be?" Hermione questioned, looking the smaller teen over.

"We were thinking I'd go as the wind elemental," Harry shrugged. "Get some feathery wings, a huge fan, I'd wear yellow and blue, and we'd go from there. There's still a lot of bugs to work out, but we've got plenty of time."

Hermione nodded, considering what Harry had said. "What should we go as?"

"Well, you could go as Earth, if you'd like. Cye was going to go as Water." Phyrrus shrugged. "And we could switch Harry over to the soul element, which I was trying to get him to do anyway, and Ron could be wind."

"That costume you had for soul makes me look like a girl," Harry grumbled.

"It does not," Phyrrus protested. "Besides, Leon wore it, once. Well, something similar."

"I like that idea, though," Hermione clapped her hands. "Harry, what does the girly costume look like?"

Harry blushed. "It's this long, gauzy thing, with a white under-robe and an iridescent over-robe. The wings are like Phyrrus', but they're iridescent too. I look like a girl."

"I think it sounds nice," Phyrrus raised an eyebrow. "And I don't think Ron would look right in it."

Harry grumbled, but with all of his friends ganging up on him, finally gave in. Hermione huffed at Harry's stubborness, but then turned thoughtful. "What'll my costume be?"

"Brown and green," Harry told her automatically. "Brown wings, feathered, and a book. And glasses. Maybe we can get Hedwig to perch on your shoulder. I think that'd do."

"It's a good idea," Hermione nodded. "I like it. Oh, now I'm excited! Going around the neighborhood was never this much fun! What about River and Rayne?"

"Who knows?" Phyrrus rolled his eyes. "They've assured me they've got it covered, and I really didn't want to know. They had the evilest looks of all time on their faces. I think they're dressing like Harry."

"Excuse me?" Harry whirled to glare at his boyfriend. "What do you mean, they're dressing like me?"

"I don't know. I just heard 'Halloween costume' and 'Harry' in the same sentence. I didn't care to ask past that. Or ask at all, really," Phyrrus admitted. "It never turns out well."

"Only because they're geniuses," Hermione muttered. "How long do you give them until they're on third year course work?"

"The professors aren't letting them work ahead. Anything they do is on their own time," Phyrrus snorted. "Although. . . I think they've read all their course books already. And all mine."

"They've read everything through third year?"

"Well, yeah. . . but they read this year's too." Phyrrus frowned. "I left it at that. They can steal my assignments, if they'd like. They've done that in the past, a couple of times. Anyway, moving away from my genius sisters, we're going to be severely late for class."

Hermione jumped and looked at her watch, taking off down the hall. "I've never been late in my life!" She wailed. "Come on!"

"I guess that handles that," Harry muttered, rolling his eyes. Phyrrus watched Hermione kick up the age old dust that always seemed to lay thick on Hogwarts' floors as she ran and offered a shrug.

"C'est la vie," Phyrrus agreed, grabbing Harry's hand and following after Hermione, a grin lighting his features. Harry giggled and raced after his boyfriend, allowing the other to tow him along. It was nice to play like this, especially after the recent events of the summer. Phyrrus had been rather somber the past few weeks, and this side of him was a pleasant change.
oOooOo

Harry and Phyrrus led the way to Defense Against the Dark Arts, excited because they'd heard it was a fascentating class. Sitting patiently next to Hermione and Ron, they waited for Moody to show up. The steady clunk-clunk of his wooden leg was evident down the hall, and all the students straightened in anticipation.

Moody flung the door open and stumped to his desk, leaning heavily on the scarred, wooden object. "Pay close attention," He snapped, facing the class. Phyrrus raised a brow. The man was even uglier close up. "Dumbledore, despite what the ministry thinks, believes you are ready to learn about the darker aspects of magic. You are well up to speed on dark creatures, but far behind in dark spells. So I will be teaching them to you."

He swept out a jar with three spiders in it, and set it on the desk. "We will start with the worst of the dark curses. Does anyone know them?"

Hands raised, and Harry wasn't surprised to see Phyrrus' go into the air. With Leon's profession, Chara's profession, and who knows what else the rest of his million and one family members did, it was no surprise Phyrrus would know dangerous curses. Moody glanced around the room, then pointed to Ron. "You."

"Imperious," Ron murmured, looking somber. Moody raised an eyebrow as his magical eye slid over the seating chart.

"A Weasely, eh? Your dad would know a bit about that one." Pulling a spider out of the jar, and waved his wand at it. "Imperio."

The spider began to tap dance across the table, then swing from a complicated look web, do somersaults, and other crazy, and rather amusing, antics. The class was laughing at the spider. Abruptly Moody ended the curse. "Why are you laughing?" He demanded. "Someone could use that curse to make you do anything. Jump out a window, stab your best friend, murder, whatever they told you to do, and you would do it."

Phyrrus eyed the ex-aruror with narrowed eyes, but said nothing. Harry made a mental note to ask him later. Leon had, apparently, shared something with Phyrrus that Moody did not share with the class. Moody turned to look out at the room. "Who's knows another?"

Once more, hands raised. He gestured to Neville. "The Cruciatus," He squeaked, and Moody nodded.

He pulled out another spider, and frowned. "He's not large enough." The man murmured, and waved his wand, muttering an enlargment charm. Harry saw Phyrrus tense, and frowned. Phyrrus knew something. "Crucio."

The spider writhed and twisted, and Harry knew that if it could, it would be screaming. Neville tensed, and Phyrrus glanced over to the smaller teen, frowning. The spider continued to writhe as Neville turned paler and paler, his eyes growing wide. "Adamo morsus!" Phyrrus cried, snapping his wand through the air. The entire class turned to stare at him as the spider began to shudder, though they weren't sure why.

"How did you know that spell?" Moody snarled, lifting Phyrrus by the collar.

"Reiketsukan Byakko," Phyrrus snarled, wrenching himself free. "How else?" As with any mind spell, the spell was not powered so much by actual magical power, but more by will--not that power didn't help, of course. Phyrrus had exerted all the Lugovalos stubbornness he possessed, and that made the spell he cast more powerful. The catch was, only a handful of people in the world knew that spell. Leon Lugovalos, who went by the name Reiketsukan Byakko, or heartless ghost fox, while in interrogation, was one of them.

"Phyrrus?" Harry looked from one to the other, but Phyrrus shook his head.

"I'm fine, I promise." Phyrrus grunted as Moody released him. It wasn't far to fall, Moody was actually a bit shorter than Phyrrus. Fire gold met mismatched blue and Moody turned to the front.

"As you can see, more sadistic measures may be taken." Moody sneered. "The spell Lugovalos used turns the pain one is feeling from such a curse into pleasure. It was invented two hundred years ago, but only known to a few. You cannot preform it without strength of mind, which is why the interrogator Reiketsukan Byakko is one of the few able to use it. All the damage is still being done, but instead of suffering in pain, the victim is begging for more."

"I did it only to stop the spider's pain," Phyrrus snapped. "Never would I do it to a human."

"Never?" Moody whirled. "You think you're that noble?"

"No," Phyrrus murmured. "But I do think I was raised better that than. You should know what my mother does, Mr. Moody, which means you know what she's told me and what I've seen myself."

"I see." Moody frowned. "The next spell?"

Phyrrus raised his hand again, and Moody glared at him. "Which one?"

"Animadverto irritum," Phyrrus frowned. "An Amerindian spell, or so I'm told; Mom ran into it a fair amount at home. And from Reiketsukan Byakko."

Moody frowned. "I don't recognize the spell." Everyone stared.

"Only Amerindian mages can use that spell. It destroys the person's mind. They become a moving, breathing robot. Not like where they lose their soul and sit in a corner and drool, no, this person, they do what you tell them. They function, they breath, they'll eat, they might even learn to do it without much help. But they're empty." Phyrrus frowned. "There's nothing to do for the spell. It's blockable, but only just. And once it hits a person, you just as well kill them from mercy."

"Hm. . ." Moody considered that, and then turned to Hermione. "Another?"

"Aveda Kedevra." She murmured, and most of the class stiffened.

"The unblockable," Moody agreed. "There is only one person to ever have survived, and he's sitting right in front of me." Everyone turned to stare at Harry, who blushed. But this was it. It was how his parents had died. This was what created the nightmares he saw with the dementors.

Moody pulled out the last spider and swished his wand, murmuring the magical words. There was a rush of green light, and the spider lay there, limp, dead. Harry stared at it, even as Moody dismissed them. Phyrrus took Harry's hand and led him from the room, back to the dormitory where they sat for a long time.

And Harry finally let the tears come.
oOooOo