Disclaimer: The wonderful world of Harry Potter belongs to JKR, the Inquisition belongs to Games Workshop, and the assorted characters belong to Games Workshop, and Dan Abnett.

"So it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor: Inquisitor Harry Potter."

Silence.

Complete and utter silence.

That was until a young Third Year turned to her friend and asked in a whisper that carried around the Great Hall for everyone to hear.

"Did he just say 'Harry Potter'? As in THE Harry Potter?"

The dam broke.

Like a wave, the voices of the hundreds of gathered students seemed rear up before crashing down in a deafening crescendo. The students lost any pretences of trying to make it seem like they weren't talking, instead opting to shout questions at each other, even calling over to other tables.

"Did he just say Harry Potter?"

"I think so."

"I thought he was dead."

"He went missing years ago."

"I thought he was locked up in the Department of Mysteries."

"He's an Inquisitor?"

"Is he really our age?"

"He's gorgeous!"

Harry's eyebrows arched at that last one and he glanced over his shoulder to where Patience and Bruce were sitting. The pair seemed very amused at the reception and raised their goblets in a mock toast, wide grins on their faces. Harry glared at them but couldn't stop the amused smirk that made it's way onto his face. He turned back to the masses just as Dumbledore was restoring order with the help of a liberal amount of loud bangs from his wand. After nearly a minute, the students finally calmed down enough for them to hear the rest of the announcement. Many were craning their necks trying to spot Harry and a few even stood from their seats for a better look.

"Thank you." Dumbledore said. "Now Inquisitor Potter has asked to say a few words about the arrangement for the next year. Please listen carefully to what he has to say."

Dumbledore stepped aside and gestured for Harry to take the stage which he did with a gracious nod. He turned to the sea of black robes before him, his hands in his pockets and his cane standing beside him, propped up with absolutely no assistance. His cool gaze swept the tables before him before he grinned.

"Hello all!" He called out to the students. "My name is Inquisitor Harry Potter and for the duration of the war I'll be your Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. In addition to this, I've also been charged with the defence of Hogwarts. Because of this there will be changes. These changes may be planned or they may be completely spontaneous but the fact remains that for your own safety and that of those around you, these new rules will be obeyed. Anyone who thinks these rules don't apply to them or they are above such things will be dealt with most harshly." His eyes locked with many of the student's showing them he was completely serious.

He continued, "The first of these rules apply to the Quidditch teams so listen up." Many straightened up in their seats, eager to hear what was going to happen to their favourite sport. "All House captains will submit to me a list of their players, training timetables, tryout dates and anything else connected with managing the teams. Any team that does not submit these things will not be permitted to play at all. You have been warned."

There was nervous muttering at the tables. This sounded an awful lot like Umbridge's Decrees from last year.

Harry ignored the muttering. "In addition to this, all teams must have at least one member of staff supervising all tryouts and training sessions to make sure you're all kept safe. Another new rule is the one pertaining to being out of bounds after hours. If I find anyone skulking around the castle at night without a note or good excuse, the punishment will be far greater than simple detentions or removal of House points. This rule, of course doesn't apply to prefects but only if it's their shift so be prepared to show a timetable if I ask for it."

Harry started to pace the stage. "Now in the coming weeks the school will be going through some renovations. The defences of the school will be upgraded and improved far beyond anything previously seen. I won't tell you what these are for obvious reasons."

He stopped pacing and thought for a moment. "I won't lie to you. I expect this war to be bloody, violent and I expect many people to die before it's conclusion. Such is the cost of war. Because of this there will be times when I won't be available to teach. When this happens you'll either be left in the care of one of my staff or given a free period. Let me make one thing clear: My job is to hunt and kill Dark Wizards. I'm not a teacher. Never was and after this I doubt I ever will be again so my curriculum will be…unique to say the least."

Just then a voice spoke up behind him, causing many to glare in the speaker's direction with unsuppressed hate. "I do hope, Inquisitor, that this curriculum will be Ministry approved?"

Much to the astonishment of everyone else in the Great Hall, Harry continued on as if Umbridge hadn't spoken. "I'm not so cruel as to rob you of your Hogsmade visits but when you are there you are strictly to stay within the bounds of the village, preferably near the High Street. There will be Aurors, teachers and my own staff on hand to handle any trouble so if you need help just look for one of them. I also wish to announce that this year, I will be opening a duelling club for any who wish to learn how to fight."

This raised a great many cheers from the student population but before they could get into it too much, Umbridge's high pitched voice spoke out again. "Now, Inquisitor, I really don't see why these children would need to know--"

Harry once again ignored the woman, much to the student's (And teacher's) glee and Umbridge's consternation. "I am also aware that a number of you are related to known Death Eaters." His eyes flicked towards the Slytherin table. Many shivered at how cold his voice became with his next sentence. "Know that if I discover that you have taken the Mark or are working for Voldemort in any way you will be dealt with accordingly."

Once more the docile tones of Dolores Umbridge spoke up, earning more than a few groans and eye rolls. "I hope you are not suggesting, sir, that any member of a respectable Pureblood family would be involved in any nefarious activities?" The polite tone was as transparent as air. It was obvious she was angered over being ignored.

Harry, already growing tired of the woman, closed his eyes and took a breath. "Headmaster?" He said, his back still to the Head Table.

Dumbledore looked up. "Yes, Inquisitor Potter?"

"If she speaks again without me knowing who she is, I'm going to throw her through the window." He glanced over his shoulder at the old man. "And I won't open it first."

Jaws dropped and many were forced to cover their mouths to smother their laughter at the look out sheer outrage on Umbridge's face will most of the others wore wide grins, happy that someone was finally standing up to the bloated toad.

Dumbledore had to speak over Umbridge's shocked splutters. "This is Dolores Umbridge and by Ministry decree she is Hogwarts' resident High Inquisitor."

Harry's eyebrows shot towards his hairline as a look of disbelief crossed his face. He turned to Umbridge who was standing there with her arms folded, a rather smug smile on her face. Harry looked her up and down.

Then burst out laughing.

He couldn't help it. The thought of this woman (If she could be called that) as an Inquisitor was…

He clutched his cane for support as he laughed. He barely registered Bruce chuckling along with him and Patience looking down at her plate intently, loosing the battle with the smile trying to fight it's way onto her face.

Dolores was now even angrier. How dare this boy laugh at her; the Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic himself. She grit her teeth. "And what, may I ask, is so funny?"

Harry got his hilarity under control, wiping away a stray tear as he stood up fully. "I'm sorry, it's just the thought of you as an Inquisitor is…" He started snickering again and many of the students joined in seeing the look on Umbridge's face which only made her even angrier. Harry stroked his chin in a thinking pose as he looked at her. "We need to find you a new title. Can't have you pretending to be an Inquisitor now can we? What shall we call you?"

Umbridge looked incised. "The title of High Inquisitor was bestowed upon me by the Minister for Magic himself and is a title recognised by the Wizengamot!"

Harry smirked and shook his head. "Sorry, it's all a matter of copyright. Unless I see a disclaimer, you're going to have to change it." He glanced at Patience who glared back and he smirked. She knew he was poking fun of her hobby. She should have remembered to clear the internet search history…

Harry clapped his hands behind his back and spoke as if scalding a young child. "We'll leave your new title for another day though I don't want you going about with the title of 'High Inquisitor'; it might confuse people so we'll just call you 'Madam Umbridge'." He turned to the students who were watching the exchange with a great deal of glee, awe and in some cases (Slytherins) distain. "Do you all understand that?"

"Yes!" They all chanted back, grins on many faces.

"Good!" Harry turned back to Umbridge, who's face was becoming a cherry red. "You can sit down now."

He turned to walk away when she shouted after him, "You can't do this! The Minister--"

Harry spun to face her, all traces of pleasantness gone. Many student's shivered as the look on his face reminded them of Professor McGonagall on one of her worst days. When he spoke, it was with firm authority. "The Minister no longer has any control in these matters. He has shown his incapability to perform the duties given to him as Minister for Magic and as such the Inquisition has been called in to fix your mess."

"Now see here--"

"SIT!" Harry barked.

Umbridge's arse hit the chair so fast, it was a miracle that it didn't break from the impact. All where silent as Harry spoke. This was Inquisitor Potter before them.

Harry's eyes locked with Umbridge's but he spoke for all to hear. "The second that I accepted the mission, this became an Inquisitorial matter. We have jurisdiction, not the Ministry of Magic. Not the Wizengamot. Not even the International Confederation of Wizards. When I saw the floundering of the Ministry, I stepped in to make sure that it didn't collapse in on itself with mindless bickering and blind racism. I won't rush in and force things to be the way they should be but I will force the Ministry to do it."

He pulled his rosette from around his neck and held it aloft, clenched in his fist so that every eye in the hall could see it, the crimson jewel gleaming in the light as he turned to the mass of students. "I carry with me an Inquisitorial Seal. It is a small, unassuming object contained in a neat box of obsidian. It is a modest thing. Relatively plain, adorned with a single motif and a simple motto. Yet with this little object I can sign the death warrant of an entire city and consign ten-thousand souls to Oblivion. This is my authority and cleansing the world of Dark Wizards is my duty. It is a duty that I do not intend to fail."

Draping the rosette around his neck once more, Harry reached inside his coat and withdrew a short but thick cylinder made of black marble, veins of red running through it. Both ends were capped with ornate silver and the thing looked like it could be opened up if the line running down it's length was anything to go by which was secured by an equally ornate lock.

Harry held this up. "This is a Inquisitorial edict signed by both myself and my superior in the Inquisition. As of this moment Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr, a.k.a 'Lord Voldemort', is hereby declared Extremis Diabolous. From this point on, Riddle is a Heretic. The punishment for this crime is death and I fully intend to see this sentence carried out."

He turned to the shocked and awed form of Dumbledore who sat gaping at the boy - no - man before him. "I'm done here, Headmaster."

With that, Harry strode from the Great Hall, Patience and Bruce following behind, leaving behind a stunned Hogwarts left to ponder the force that was Harry Potter.

Later than night, many people were talking. The topic? Their newest Defence Against the Dark Arts professor: Harry James Potter.

"He's amazing!" Ronald Weasley exclaimed to the room in general.

The Gryffindors were all gathered in their common room, discussing the shocking revelations they had just heard. After being dismissed from the Great Hall, they all left for their House, each talking of the newest teacher.

"And did you see the look on that old toad's face!?" Ron continued, looking like someone had just named him Captain of the Chudley Cannons. "She's never looked like that, not even when she and McGonagall were arguing!"

"Did you see her face when he mentioned throwing her through the window?" Katie Bell asked, a wide grin on her face. "Almost wish he had given what she put us through last year."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "He wouldn't have really done it, Katie. Would he?" She looked unsure at the end.

Hermione bit her lip. "I'm not sure, Ginny. Legally, he could have if he wanted to."

Ginny's eyes were wide, as were some others. "Really?"

Hermione nodded. "An Inquisitor has almost limitless authority. Basically, if he wants to do something, no one could stop him, save for perhaps another Inquisitor or his superior he was talking about."

Ron shook his head, a slightly dumbfounded expression on his face. "I still can't believe we're going to be taught by an Inquisitor. And he's the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"I thought he was dead though." Ginny said with a slight blush. She'd always heard about the legend of the Boy-Who-Lived growing up and she had developed a crush on him without even have met him. When she saw him stand up in the Great Hall, all tall and broad shouldered…

Dean nodded. "I heard he went missing when he was four. Imagine being recruited by an organisation like the Inquisition at that age. He must be crazy powerful!"

"And he's going to be teaching us how to duel!" Seamus added with a wide grin.

"I remember my brother Bill talking about them." Ron said in a hushed voice. "He was doing some work for Gringotts in Egypt when an Inquisitor roped him into one of his missions. He couldn't tell me much about it but they ran into a bit of trouble with tomb raiders and got into a fight. He says the Inquisitor made some of the Auror duels he's seen look like a mild jinxing contest in comparison. Remember, Gin?"

The girl nodded. "Yeah, mum went ballistic when she found out. She wanted Bill to drop being a Curse Breaker and come home but he wouldn't." She laughed. "I think mum would have sent the Inquisitor a Howler if she wasn't so scared of them!"

"Did you hear what he said about You-Know-Who?" Lee Jordan asked, his voice low as if he was scared of Voldemort jumping out from under one of the girls skirts or flying through the window to get him.

"Yeah." George said in a voice full of awe. "Do you really reckon he'd hunt down You-Know-Who?"

"How could he? I mean, You-Know-Who's the most powerful Dark Lord of all time." Fred said, doubt clouding his voice. "And you all saw him; he's younger than me or you George, how could he beat someone like You-Know-Who?"

Ron broke in. "But he's the Boy-Who-Lived! He did it once already and he's an Inquisitor now! There's no telling what he could do."

"But he is young though." Hermione said. She glanced out the window towards the moonlit grounds. "I wonder what sort of teacher he'll be."

Down in the Slytherin dorms, things weren't so cheerful.

Draco Malfoy was surrounded by a few of his closest companions (He was loath to call them friends). They had been whispering in a huddled corner, talking about their new professor as well.

"I can't believe it." Nott mumbled with a shake of his head. "Harry bloody Potter is alive. And an Inquisitor. And he'll be teaching here!"

"Calm down, Nott!" Malfoy snapped. "I doubt we have anything to worry about."

Nott looked at the boy as if he'd just sprouted a pair of wings and started flying round the common room. "Nothing to worry about? Are you mad!? We have someone from the deadliest organisation there is living here and you sat we've nothing to worry about? Malfoy, he says he'll be watching everyone for any Dark activity! Inquisitor's aren't like Aurors. They don't wait for warrants or follow any law but their own. If he were to march down here, strap us all to chairs, ply us with Veritaserum until it's coming out of our ears and ask us all about our personal lives, he could do it without getting into trouble! We're fucked!"

Malfoy grit his teeth. "We haven't taken the Dark Mark yet. As long as we don't raise any suspicion, we won't have to worry about Potter sniffing around. I'll need to inform Father about this. You should tell your parents too. The Dark Lord needs to know that Harry Potter lives!"

The next day would see a number of owls flying of towards a number of properties owned by prominent Pureblood families, each bearing a hastily written letter.

Snape slammed the door to his quarters and rushed to his bedroom where he withdrew a full bottle of Firewhiskey from the drawer. He was nearly hyperventilating as he poured a generous amount into the glass, a fair amount spilling onto the table because of his shaky hands.

He was alive. Potter's bastard son was alive! He'd thought the boy had surely perished when he'd left his relatives home all those years ago and that any trace of the name Potter was finally gone.

He threw back his shot before pouring himself another. After tossing that back, he collapsed into a nearby chair, staring vacantly into the fire.

The fact that the boy was a Potter and his body double paled in comparison to that of him being an Inquisitor. An Inquisitor! The best of the Dark Wizard hunters! If the Potter brat knew he was a Death Eater, there was no telling what he'd do, Dumbledore's backing or not. He could be carted off to some cell somewhere, left to rot or just killed on the spot.

He buried his face into his hands, a low groan of misery escaping his throat. Why did his life have to be so bloody complicated!?

Dolores Umbridge threw herself into one of her overstuffed, doily covered armchairs with a huff.

How dare he!? That whelp of a boy! First he steals the position that should have been hers to assure that the Ministry's interest are fulfilled at the school, then he brings in that monster and the Muggle, strutting around like they own the place and he dared make a threat to her person! The nerve!

She moved herself from her chair to her desk, pulled out a sheet of pink parchment and began to furiously scribble a letter to Cornelius. He'd know what to do. She couldn't let a simple boy ruin everything they had been working towards.

Harry, Patience and Bruce convened in their shared common room. It was a rather spacious circular room, made of dark wooden floors and stone walls draped with heavy tapestries depicting the Inquisitorial crest on a black background. Comfortable black leather furniture lay scattered around the room and a number of staircases led off to the six separate rooms. The large fireplace burned brightly.

Harry set his heavy coat over the arm of a nearby chair and scrutinised the heavy tapestries as he unbuckled his armour. "I really appreciate the effort but don't you think all the black is a little depressing?" He thought for a moment then snapped his fingers and instantly the banners changed. It was like looking out at a bright beach on a sunny day, the moving waves crashing down on the shore as tiny figures dashed to and fro or lay sunning themselves on the sand.

"What do you think?"

Bruce nodded his approval. "Nice."

Patience shook her head. "Change it to something that matches the time outside otherwise it'll just get confusing."

Harry nodded an the scene changed to a view of the sea at night, the woven moon high in the fake sky in the exact same position as the original in the heavens outside.

Patience smirked. The scene was awfully familiar. "Homesick?" She asked with a teasing grin.

Harry rolled his eyes at her. "No, I just love the view."

Patience stretched, inadvertently giving the boys another type of good view. "Well, I think I'll go out and get something to eat before I go to sleep. I had to settle for that bottled crap at the feast." She shook her head. Nothing beat fresh blood straight from the jugular.

"I'll have Dumbledore order the House Elves to serve you a fresh kill at every meal." Harry yawned. It had been a long day.

Patience just shook her head. "Naw, I'll settle for the bottles at mealtimes in the school. The hunt makes the feast all the more succulent." A wide predatory grin made it's way onto her face, her fangs elongating slightly in anticipation as she crossed over to the window. She threw it open and placed one leg on the sill, the night breeze pulling at her hair slightly.

Harry just shook his head at his friend. "Happy hunting."

She was gone in an instant. Harry went over to close the window but left it open a crack for her to climb back in later.

"You going straight to bed?" Bruce asked as Harry picked up his coat and armour.

"Yeah. Bloody classes first thing in the morning." He sighed.

"An Inquisitor's work is never ending." Bruce smirked.

"Ain't that the truth."

BOY-WHO-VANISHED RETURNS!!!

By Rita Skeeter

Last night at the annual Hogwarts Sorting Feast the usual start of term announcements gave way to a revelation that has shocked the magical world:

Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived-Then-Vanished, is alive and well!

After the ceremonial event in which pupils are placed into their individual Houses, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore made a series of announcements, one of which was the identity of the latest professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts; a position many have claimed is cursed following it's many short lived (In some cases literally) post holders.

After retired Auror Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody's retirement at the end of the previous term, the school was once more left without a proper Defence teacher, something many have claimed is crucial in the present times.

It is widely known that two years ago, Minister Cornelius Oswald Fudge tried unsuccessfully to install his Senior Undersecretary, Dolores Jane Umbridge, into the position, only to be rebuffed after Headmaster Dumbledore coaxed old Moody out of retirement. Minister Fudge retaliated by instating Madam Umbridge as the first Hogwarts High Inquisitor.

With Moody's retirement from the position, Dumbledore was once more forced to search for a new teacher for his staff. It was thought that no applicants had stepped forward for the position and that Dolores Umbridge's ambitions would come to fruition.

Those hopes were dashed with Dumbledore's start of term speech where he announced to the world that not only is Mr Potter alive but that he will also be teaching at Hogwarts.

Now I know what you're thinking. How can a boy of sixteen teach other children his own age (And older) to properly defend themselves in these troubled times?

The answer? Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, is an Inquisitor of the Holy Order of the Inquisition.

That's right ladies and gentlemen, the saviour of the Wizarding World is a member of the deadliest group of Dark Wizard hunters of all time, a truly remarkable feat for one so young.

It turns out that many years ago, when the magical population of Great Britain thought their hero dead, he was in fact taken in by the shadowy organisation to be trained in the ways of hunting Dark Wizards and this was done without informing the Ministry of Magic at all.

Is this fate? The greatest Dark Lord of recent times comes back from the dead to terrorize the land, seemingly unstoppable in his murderous campaign only for the very person who vanquished him all those years ago to also seemingly rise from the grave to do battle with his foe once more. It sounds like something from a story designed to amuse children at bedtime yet may determine the course of the future. The Greatest Dark Wizard vs. the Greatest Dark Wizard Hunter.

Reportedly, Inquisitor Potter has already announced his plans to fight You-Know-Who, issuing an edict decreeing the Dark Lord Extremis Diabolous: a Heretic Against Magic.

Will the Boy-Who-Lived be able to finally defeat his foe? Will he be able to spare thousands from living under the harsh reign that would surely prevail if You-Know-Who triumphs? These, ladies and gentlemen, are questions that only time will answer.

Continued on page 3...

For the story of the Boy-Who-Lived (pg4)

For a brief description of the Inquisition (pg 5)

For a list of previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers and the reasons for their demise (pg 6-7)

Harry set his copy of the Daily Prophet on the table and continued to slurp his soup, seemingly unaware of the many glances and stares being thrown his way.

"Well?" Patience asked as she sipped her vial of blood. She was still full from the small feast she had the night before.

Harry shrugged. "Just what we expected. Boy-Who-Lived this, fate that, saviour those, yadda, yadda, yadda."

"So what's on the agenda today?" Bruce asked as he tore into his pile of bacon. With the amount of greasy fat on that plate it would be a miracle in the man lived past his next birthday. Or so Patience said.

"I want you to scout the surrounding area of the castle. I want to know everything of use. Patience, your job is to scout out the inside of the school. Get a feel for the layout and pinpoint any important places or areas of interest. You can both ask Dumbledore for blueprints if you need to, just tell him I sent you."

"What about you?"

"I've got the first two periods free so I'm going to get the classroom ready for my first vic--erm, students."

Patience smirked. "Any ideas for a first lesson?"

Harry grinned into his soup.

It was a few hours later that a very nervous and excited group of Sixth Years gathered outside the door to the Defence class, each wondering what their latest professor had in store for them. The problem with Harry not being around at all before the start of the school term was that he didn't set a minimum required grade for the class, so anyone who passed their Defence O.W.L. made it in. This problem was solved by splitting the Sixth Years into two classes. This one contained a mix of Slytherins and Gryffindors and the other would comprise of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.

Ron Weasley, who had just barely managed to scrape an Acceptable grade in his exams, bounced on his heels beside Dean and Seamus while Parvati, Lavender and Hermione were talking a few feet away. Malfoy and his small entourage were leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the corridor, glaring at everyone not in Slytherin green.

They had been standing there for a little over a minute since the bell went and were beginning to wonder where their teacher was. Hermione was about to speak up when they all heard and felt something. It was a steady thumping that vibrated through the air, passing through them. Many looked at each other in confusion before Parvati spoke up.

"It's coming from inside the classroom."

Neville, who was the closet to the door at the time, looked nervous as he reached for the handle. His hand hesitated on it for a moment before he pushed the door open allowing the sounds to rush out into the corridor and wash over them in a near deafening beat. Many Muggleborns grinned as they recognised the song.

I could care less how she perform when she in the bed

Bitch hit that track, catch a date, and come and pay the kid

Look baby this is simple, you can't see

You fucking with me, you fucking with a P-I-M-P

They were in awe of the room before them. It easily dwarfed any previous Defence classroom by far. The room had been magically enlarged to be two-hundred metres long and a hundred wide. Along the walls, large windows were spaced at regular intervals, letting light into the massive room which was completely empty. The ceiling had been enchanted just like the roof of the Great Hall, allowing them to see into the clear sky above. Along the walls near the door were hook for their bags and robes and a few metres from them was a spiral staircase of metal which seemingly went up to a square in midair. It looked like the sole led to an office which must have been invisible or cloaked from sight because the only indication that it was there came from the staircase and the tune warbling from it which had just progressed into the chorus of the song.

I don't know what you heard about me

But a bitch can't get a dollar out of me

No Cadillac, no perms, you can't see

That I'm a motherfucking P-I-M-P

They heard the faint sound of movement over the steady thumping and saw a pair of legs poke out of the hole before their teacher strolled down the staircase from what must have been his office, swaying slightly to the music. He had kept his heavy coat from the night before as well as the button-up shirt and denims but had chosen to forgo his armour and his rosette was gone too.

When he noticed them, the music from the hope slowly faded. When he stepped off the last step, the entire staircase shuddered before retracting into the floor, the hole it led to closing as well leaving no indication that there had been anything there at all.

Harry grinned at their dumfounded expressions and just waved them towards the hooks on the wall. "Leave your bags, cloaks and outer robes on the hooks. You won't be needing them."

The class snapped out of their dazes and hurried to follow their orders, eager to begin. When that was done, they grouped back in front of Harry, slightly confused as to what they should do now. With a smile, Harry waved his hand and, much to their astonishment, conjured a dozen or so padded leather chairs and couches. Once everyone was seated comfortably, Harry conjured himself a chair and sunk into it, folding his legs and propping his head up on one fist, his other hand lying on the other armrest.

With a small pop, a parchment and a quill appeared before a startled Tracey Davis and plopped down onto her lap. "Please sign your names so I know who's here." Harry instructed. As that went underway, he began.

"Welcome to N.E.W.T. level Defence Against the Dark Arts. As you've probably already realised, there are more than the average number of students here than you'd expect in a N.E.W.T. class. That's because I haven't been in the country long and even if I had been I would have most likely let anyone with a pass grade in so that as many people know how to defend themselves as possible in these times. As I said at the Sorting Feast, my ways of teaching will be different than what you're used to. You're going to be focusing mainly on the more practical side of Defence but that's not to say there won't be bookwork!" He quickly added seeing their hopeful faces.

He looked around, meeting many people's eyes. "There is a war on. As a result there will be battles, battles which you may be drawn into either willingly or unwillingly. It is my job to make sure you survive those battles or at least come out in enough pieces to survive, either will do. This will mean extensive work or your half. By the end of this year, hell, by the end of this month I expect most of you will wish me a slow and painful death with what I put you through. If at any time during the year I feel you are not performing to the best of your ability, I will kick you out of this room so fast no potion or spell in existence will be able to remove the boot print from your cheeks. If I think you are falling behind I will help you catch up and if you see any of your classmates having trouble then help them. Let me make one thing clear." Harry's eyes narrowed dangerously, pinning them all to their seats. "I will not tolerate racism, bigotry or any other kind of bullying. If I see anyone picking on someone else, I will kick their arse. Not figuratively, I mean I will literally throw you to the ground and kick the shite out of you then make you apologise before allowing you to find your own way to the Hospital Wing. Be it in this classroom or out on the grounds, that is what'll happen to anyone who thinks themselves better than others."

Harry folded his arms across his chest and sighed. "As Professor Dumbledore has seemingly forgotten the fact that as an Inquisitor, most of what I know of combat is either highly restricted or too far above your level, I'm at a bit of a conundrum. I have a number of civilian level duelling spells I can teach you as well as the standard N.E.W.T. level spells but for the next two years, assuming you last that long, we'll be focusing more on practical skill and not the amount of spells you can use. If the class shows sufficient skill, I may move you onto spells used by Aurors but I doubt you'll advance that far."

There was an overly loud snort and everyone's eyes were drawn to a pale, skinny boy with slicked back platinum blonde hair and grey eyes who sat upon one of the padded chair like it were a throne. The boy looked at Harry with distain and a good dose of superiority to which Harry raised one black eyebrow.

"You, the pasty one who looks like he just swallowed Dragon shite, what's your name?" The non-Slytherins in the class laughed at the stunned look on Malfoy's face before it was replaced by a scowl of contempt.

"Draco Malfoy, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy." He said with clear pompousness, looking as if he expected Harry to fall to his knees in reverence. If he was, he was going to be disappointed.

"Well then, Mr Malfoy, do you have something to add?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Malfoy's grey eyes seemed to look down his nose at Harry. "I was just wondering how on Earth Dumbledore expects us to learn anything from someone younger that the students he'll be teaching. Obviously you're not that strong; you've been told to stay in a school and not help the Aurors like a proper Inquisitor. If I had to guess, I'd say you were only put here to get you out of the way of the adults."

The class gasped at Malfoy's guts at saying that to a teacher. Malfoy himself didn't look too concerned as he sat there with a victorious smirk on his face. The smirk quickly gave way to a look of fear when Harry reached into his coat sleeve, right where you'd keep a wand. The class drew a collective breath as Harry started to withdraw his hand, wondering if they were just about to witness their teacher killing the boy.

Harry's hand slid from the sleeve, his black Basilisk hide wand holster clutched in his hand. He held it up for all the class to see before he chucked it to the floor a few feet away from him, too far to retrieve in a hurry. Harry once again folded his arms across his chest as he stared levelly at Malfoy.

"Curse me."

Every set of eyes in the room widened in shock, none more than Malfoy's who looked like a deer caught in headlights. "What!?" The youngest Malfoy squawked.

"Curse me." Harry repeated as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "You say I must not be that powerful. I'm giving you a free chance to prove it."

Draco glanced at the other students in the class before regaining some of his bluster. He slowly began to draw his wand from his robes, eyes watching Harry to see if he'd make a scramble for his discarded wand but the Boy-Who-Lived just sat there patiently.

Quickly, Malfoy pulled his wand and pointed it right at Harry. "Ric--"

Before he could utter another syllable, a bright blue spell slammed into his chest, sending him flying backwards, his heavy chair crashing to the ground. Malfoy flew over the heads of the stunned group of Sixth Years, tumbling through the air before landing painfully on the hard floor of the room. Groggily, he tried to rise to his feet but faster than anyone could see, Harry had crossed the room, hoisted Malfoy into the air and slammed him into the wall beside the door, pinning him a foot above the ground by his throat.

Draco gasped as his air supply was cut off by the strong hand steadily crushing his windpipe. He thrashed like mad but Harry's hand didn't lose it's grip nor did his arm waver under the weight of the sixteen year old he held in the air.

The class sat in a stunned silence as their professor applied a bit more pressure, making Draco's face become a dark purple, the veins around his eyes standing out taunt. None where sure if they should step in and many were afraid that if they should, they would be the next ones with a hand to their throat.

Harry turned to them, ignoring the desperate thrashing of the boy in front of him. "As you can see, I'm far stronger than the average Hogwarts student. For the greater part of my life, I was taught how to fight and how to kill. When many of you were still playing with dolls, I was learning how to torture a prisoner for information. While you were making wish lists for Santa at Christmas, I was travelling through some of the most lawless, depraved places on Earth, mingling with the worst sort of people. When you were little you planned sleepovers. When I was little, I was participating in raids against camps of homicidal Dark Wizards, killing any I came across. It's my job and I'm damn good at it."

He turned back to Malfoy, who was beginning to blackout. "I will let you off this time, Mr Malfoy, but don't you ever try to use my age against me ever again. You'll find I don't respond well to such things. Understood?"

Malfoy barely had enough oxygen in his brain to understand but still managed a sluggish nod.

"Good."

Harry released Malfoy and the boy dropped to the floor in a heap, coughing, shocking and gasping as he tried to refill his lungs with air. Draco's watering grey eyes watched Harry walk back to where he dropped his wand.

Harry strapped the holster to his forearm once more and waited for Malfoy to stagger back to his seat. He took pity on the boy and snapped his fingers, making the heavy chair right itself. When the blonde collapsed into the chair, Harry turned to the class, who were still stunned.

"If there are no more questions?" Silence. "Good. Now we'll move onto the actual lesson."

With another snap of his fingers, a large jar of spiders appeared next to him, spinning lazily in midair. He vaguely noticed a tall redhead whimper in his seat but ignored it. Pulling the lid off, Harry extracted one spider from the jar before it vanished once more. "Who can tell me the names of the three Unforgivable Curses?"

Immediately a hand shot up and Harry pointed to the bushy haired girl attached to it. "You Miss…"

"Granger."

"Miss Granger, if you'd give us their names." Harry requested.

She took a breath before saying, "The three Unforgivables are Avada Kedavra, Crucio, and Imperio. The use of any one of them will land you a life sentence in Azkaban."

Harry nodded. "Ten points to Gryffindor, well done. Now can anyone tell me what these curses actually do?"

Hermione's hand shot up again but Harry opted for the redhead who whimpered earlier. "Name?"

"Ron Weasley."

"Mr Weasley, what does the Imperius Curse do?"

"It makes a person do what you want."

"A simple way of putting it but there's more to it, take five points. The Imperius Curse gives the caster full control over the target provided they have enough skill to actually cast the spell and sufficient will power to maintain it. Watch."

Harry cast an Enlargement Charm on the spider until it became the size of a dinner plate and had to smirk at the small yelp Weasley gave upon seeing it. For the student's sake, he drew his wand before pointing it at the spider and incanting, "Imperio."

Immediately the spider sprung to life. Jumping off his hand, Harry ordered it to do an intricate series of gymnastics before moving onto it performing Riverdance. The class all laughed at the amusing antics of the creature, even Ron with his phobia. Only Harry didn't laugh and when he spoke his voice seemed to drain the cheer from the room better than any Dementor.

"The very fact that you find this funny sickens me. This is just a small example of what the Imperius is capable of but what if I showed you the full extent? I could have this spider drown itself, devour it's own young or throw itself down one of your throats or any number of other things. What if this were a person? What if it was one of you? All it would take is a second and I could have this entire class as slaves to my will. If I wanted to, I could have you walk through this school, killing anyone you came across. Friends, Housemates, teachers, siblings. I could make you do any number of distasteful things that would have you executed and you entire line shunned forever. There is a very good reason this is called an 'Unforgivable'. Remember it." He watched them all look down at their feet, shamefaced.

Moving on, Harry asked. "Does anyone else know what the Cruciatus Curse does?" A number of hands went up, this time more hesitantly. "You, with the black hair, name?"

"Tracey Davis."

"Miss Davis, what does the Cruciatus do?"

"It's a torture curse. It causes the victim a tremendous amount of pain and can even drive a person mad if exposed long enough." She said quietly.

Harry nodded, missing a podgy boy at the side wince at the description. "Ten points to Slytherin. Yes, the Cruciatus is used to torture people and can cause lasting damage to a person if exposed long enough." He turned to the spider who danced on, unaware of what was about to happen.

"Crucio."

The red beam hit the spider and it immediately crumpled to the floor, leg's twitching madly as the curse wracked it's body. Harry didn't have the curse active for more than ten seconds before a voice called out.

"Stop it!"

Harry's eyes snapped to Granger, who was looking worriedly at another Gryffindor who was clutching at the armrest of his chair tightly, his eyes scrunched shut.

Concerned, Harry ended the curse, leaving the spider to roll tiredly onto it's feet. He looked to the class who were all staring at him in horror. "That is the Cruciatus Curse. It's obvious why it's an Unforgivable so let's move on. Can anyone tell me what the final curse does?"

Slowly, a hand raised itself into the air. They all knew what was about to happen.

"Miss Granger?"

She took a calming breath before answering. "The last curse is the Killing Curse."

Harry nodded and spoke quietly. "Very good, another ten points. The Avada Kedavra; the Killing Curse. It instantly kills the victim leaving no marks or wounds of any kind. It's instantaneous and painless. There is no shield spell in existence which can counter it and no one has ever survived it. No one but me." He sighed. "I know why Riddle's curse backfired and no I won't tell you. Not only is it personal, it would be of no practical use to any of you so forget it."

They watched as he turned to the spider once more. The arachnid, seemingly sensing what was coming, tried to scamper out the window but Harry's wand tracked it before he spoke.

"Avada Kedavra."

The room was filled with green light and a second later, the spider hit the floor, dead. The class sat in silence as Harry put away his wand after Banishing the corpse. He was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "The three Unforgivables. Avada Kedavra, Crucio and Imperio. These three spells alone can make a man into a monster. They are so named because of not only their effects but also the addictive feeling that accompanies them. Acts once considered unthinkable suddenly become reality when a Witch or Wizard falls for the power these curses can give and it is through this that Heretics are created. Even if the initial use is for a good cause, the instant the spell leaves your wand, the corrosive effects take hold and it is for that reason that Inquisitors alone, who are trained from a young age to resist these effects, are permitted use of the three Unforgivables. Even then the effects are difficult to resist."

He turned from the class and began to slowly make his way towards the door. His next words were so cold, it sent a chill down their spines.

"If I discover that anyone has ever used or attempted to use and Unforgivable for any reason then I promise you, there will be no force on this Earth that will stop me from hunting you down and cleansing that taint through the only viable option: death."

The door clicked shut behind Harry just as the bell went. It would be another five minutes before the students gathered their things and left the class as well.

A/N: There you go, another chapter. Whew, two big chapters in three days! Ain't you lucky? As always: READ AND REVIEW!!!

PAIRING:

I'm sorry to announce that I'll be removing the Harems from the story, I just don't think it'll work. I'm also thinking about pulling Patience out as well. I just don't know if I'll be able to make her work. Only time will tell if I do pull her.

Song is P-I-M-P by 50 Cent