The Stress of Being Harry Potter

Chapter 9

Harry's first week of classes certainly left something to be desired. His disdain for anyone who agreed with Dumbledore was made obvious during his first Transfiguration lesson of the year. McGonagall entered the class and walked to the front of the room. She turned to the class and said, "Our main focus this term in Transfiguration is to begin conjuring objects. All of you have shown a proficiency in Transfiguration to get into this class, as you must for all N.E.W.T. studies. The headmaster…"

She paused as Harry snorted and then turned it into a fake cough at a look from her. Then, Hermione shot him a dirty look as McGonagall continued the lecture, "Transfiguration is no place for horseplay or pranks, and this goes doubly so at the N.E.W.T. level. Accidents that could occur from foolishness could very well prove to be difficult to reverse, so any horseplay will result in your expulsion from the class." From that point forward, McGonagall continued to explain the finer points of the theory of conjuration, and the limitations thereof.

Later in the day in Herbology, Harry's girl interests were also made known as he sat at a table with Neville and Susan, rather than sitting with Ron and Hermione. This also earned him a dirty look from Hermione and a wink from Ron. Professor Sprout paused in surprise as she entered the greenhouse and saw Harry sitting with Susan. She gave the two of them a smile and then nodded in approval, and then began her lesson, which consisted of another lecture on the difficulties of Herbology at the N.E.W.T. level.

That evening at dinner, Neville broached the subject, "So, Harry when are we going to get started on the D.A. again?"

Harry turned Neville, "I wanted to wait until I got to see how this Professor Widget was in defense class, and till the Quidditch practice schedule was set. Then, we will know what evening people will be available. It will make the scheduling much simpler, and far less likely to cause any controversy."

Hermione obviously had to put her two sense in, "You've asked the headmaster about continuing the D. A. haven't you, Harry?"

Harry shook his head, "I have no intention of asking the old man anything, Hermione. If he has problem with what I'm doing, he can come stop me. It's not like the old fool isn't aware of everything that happens in this castle anyway."

Hermione huffed in indignation, "Harry, if you don't stop this disrespect of Professor Dumbledore, you will leave me no choice, but to issue you a detention."

Harry snorted, "Issue away, Hermione. When you do, I will take the complaints that most of the other students have against you to Professor McGonagall, and then to the Board of Governors. You might not have bothered to think about the politics involved, but the Board would revoke your prefectship in a heartbeat if the Boy-Who-Lived was behind the petition for your removal."

Hermione reared back if stung, "I don't think it would happen that way. I have always followed the rules in my prefect duties."

Harry shook his head, "This isn't about the rules, Hermione. This is about popularity and positioning. I have more of both, and I am not afraid to use them to get what I want."

"What has happened between us, Harry. We've always been best friends."

"I'm growing up, Hermione, and that involves not worshipping at the feet of authority. You still haven't figured that one out. However, until you do, you need to understand that if you want to continue to be my friend, then you are going to have to tolerate me badmouthing several people in authority, most especially Snape and Dumbledore. You've expressed your opinion that you disapprove, I have acknowledged that and told you that I don't care. So, the next move is yours. You can deal with it, or go away."

Hermione stayed silent for the rest of the meal, while the boys talked Quidditch, and Ginny came over to add her opinions on it as well.

Early the next morning, Hermione went to the Headmaster's office for her first debriefing of the year. She began before the Headmaster even had a moment to ask a question, "Headmaster, I'm worried about Harry. He has such an attitude about you that was never there before. This confrontational facade that he has put on isn't good for him. He needs to look to you for guidance."

Dumbledore smiled. It seemed he would need to do little to steer Miss Granger to his way of things. "Miss Granger, I have also noticed his increasing scorn of me. It has worried me as well, and I propose that you keep an eye on him for me. I dare say that Harry will not join Voldemort, but I am worried about him delving into the dark arts and becoming Voldemort's replacement."

Hermione nodded, "I hope that wouldn't happen, but his ambivalence to authority has me worried."

Dumbledore continued, "Are there any other of Harry's friends that might be amenable to keeping watch over Harry as well?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, Ron openly disagreed with me when I chastised Harry about discussing the Order of the Phoenix in front of Hufflepuffs. None of the others protested at all when he insulted you. I threatened him with detention, but he practically laughed in my face, and claimed that he could have my prefectship revoked by the Board of Governors."

Dumbledore answered gravely, "It would be best if you did not antagonize him, Miss Granger. His threat was very real, and there would be little I could do to protect you in such a situation. If you need to have punishment issued, report to Professor McGonagall on his actions, and let her decide the appropriate discipline."

Hermione quickly agreed, and the details of when she was to report back to the headmaster on anything that she found suspicious were worked out.. As she exited the headmaster's office, Hermione failed to notice Ginny standing In the corridor with a dark look on her face.

Later that day, the Gryffindors had their first Charm class, after Harry and Ron had enjoyed a free morning, while Hermione had attended Potions class with Snape. Flitwick treated them to yet another lecture on the difficulties of N.E.W.T.'s. The only real difference between his lecture and the other two that Harry had already listened to, was that he paused to congratulate them all on their O.W.L. results, while McGonagall and Sprout had not.

The next day Harry entered his first DADA class, and sat down to await the new professor with his friends. A few moments later Professor Widget entered the room. He smiled easily at the group and then took roll. "Welcome to the first day of Defense against the Dark Arts. Since you lot seem to have had a different teacher every year, I figured that I would test your dueling ability by having a few practice duels against each of you. Since this term is to mostly be about spell tactics and ways to incapacitate an attacker without doing lasting injury, I thought judging your aptitude would be a good way to spend the first few class sessions. So, who would like to go first?"

Neville Longbottom raised his hand, "I will, sir, but first I would like to ask what your dueling expertise consist of?"

Widget to smile, "Certainly, Mr. Longbottom. I was an Auror for seven years during the first rise of You-Know-Who. I retired after he was defeated and have been spending my time writing books on the subject of defense, and a treatise on shielding spells from around the world."

Neville nodded and walked to the front of the class, and assumed a dueling position. Widget copied him, and then the two battled. Neville opened the exchange with a stunner, but it was easily deflected, and then Neville opened up with a barrage of spells that were just as easily deflected with Widget only returning fire when Neville paused to catch his breath. A few such volleys soon found Neville trussed up with magical rope while Widget held his wand. He released Neville, and then handed him back his wand while most of the class applauded Neville's efforts.

Widget turn back to the class, and asked, "Who's next?"

Most of the D.A. turned their attention to Harry, who merely lounged back in his chair like the devil at rest. Widget followed their eyes and said, "Well, Mr. Potter, it seems that the rest of the class feel that you should take a shot at me? Is that your liking?"

Harry shrugged, "I may as well get it over with, but I didn't think it appropriate to beat the professor on his first day. However, if they wish for a show, then they shall have one."

The professor looked amused at what he saw as false teenage bravado, but once the two took their stances, and bowed, Harry merely stood and waited for Widget to make the first move, which disturbed the professor. His main strength was shielding until he wore his opponent down, and by doing nothing Harry was taking that away from him. It became obvious almost immediately that Harry would wait him out, so Widget went on the offensive with a shackling spell that a simple Protego would not stop, it required a more advanced shield that the professor presumed Harry did not know.

However, he was not to discover if Harry knew a better shielding spell, as Harry simply stepped to the left while twirling his wand in an arc to leave it pointed down and to his right. Widget was perplexed, but decided to try a combination by throwing a stunner and a shackling spell. Harry brought up a shield without an incantation to reflect the stunner back at Widget, and stepped to the right and kicked his foot in an arc at the ground.

Widget easily blocked the reflected stunner, but as he brought his attention back to bear on Harry, the transparent stone that Harry conjured in the first exchange and kicked at him in the second struck him in the forehead. As he staggered from the blow, Harry took three steps forward, snatched Widget's wand from his hand, knocked him to the ground with a quick leg sweep, and then incapacitated him with a full body bind.

Harry then dropped the professor's wand on his chest, and quickly returned to his seat while canceling the body bind over his shoulder.

The professor gingerly got to his feet and smiled ruefully, "That ladies and gentlemen is what happens when you underestimate your opponent. 20 points to Gryffindor for your dueling skills, Mr. Potter."

Harry shrugged modestly, "I had a very good instructor over the summer. It was somewhat of an unfair advantage, since you would hardly expect a sixteen year old to be trained in such a way."

Professor Widget chuckled, "Mr. Potter, you will discover very quickly in dueling that there is no such thing as an unfair advantage except one you don't have." Harry nodded to acknowledge the point, and then class resumed. After the class was over, several of the Gryffindors surrounded Harry, and congratulated him on the duel. Hermione looked on disapprovingly, but took Dumbledore's advice and didn't say anything to Harry about it. Harry took this to mean that she had taken his advice to heart, and smiled at her, unknowing that he had a spy in his inner circle.

The last class of the day was Care of Magical Creatures, and Harry and Ron traipsed down toward Hagrid's, leaving Hermione to head off to Arithmancy. Hagrid greeted the two boys, and they returned them. Harry quickly heading over to Susan, with Ron tagging along with a half grin on his face. Hagrid led a quite enjoyable class with the absence of his normal trouble makers, and for the first time that week, there was no lecture about the difficulties of N.E.W.T. level classes.