Harry Potter and the Armies of the Dark Future Chapter 6: Requirement
The next day dawned to find Harry already down in the common room along with Neville, Ron, and Hermione. They had decided to set up a small game to teach the two newcomers the rules. To everyone's surprise Ron was catching on faster than Hermione. She had read all the rules and could quote them by heart just as well as the two veterans. But actually putting that into practice was another story. By the time more students started filtering into the common room Harry was convinced that his two newest friends had a firm grasp of the rules so they started packing up to go to breakfast.
As they were climbing the stairs Harry became annoyed by the stares and whispers of the people passing him. Neville had explained a long time ago about his fame and the reasons for it, but Harry really wished the other students would just treat him like a normal person. Instead he got the side show freak treatment all the way down to the great hall.
Following breakfast, with schedules in hand, the quartet of friends made their way to class. Harry's preparation put him in good standing in most of his classes, right behind Hermione.
The one exception to this was his Friday class, a double period of Potions with the Slytherins. The problem had nothing to do with knowledge, but instead was due to the fact that Prof. Snape hatted his guts from the start.
While calling role during their first class the teacher paused at his name,"Ah Yes, Harry Potter. Our new Celebrity." The condescending tone of the asshole's voice annoyed Harry almost as much as the unsuccessfully suppressed laughing from the Slytherin welcoming committee he had run into on the train. Immediately following the roll, he started spouting off about the wonders of potion making. It would have been motivational if it weren't for the obvious contempt he had for the class.
After the speech his lip curled into a smile,"Potter! What would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry smiled and reached over to gently lower Hermione's hand, which had shot up at the question."Sir, you would get the Draught of Living Death." Harry started reciting everything he could remember about the sleeping potion, including various other potions it could used to make and the historical events where it had been used.
"Very well Potter, so you decided to crack your book. Where would you look to find a Bezoar?"
Hermione just waited to see what Harry might say about this. "A Bezoar is a stone found in the stomach of a goat. It can be used as a base for many potions to cure poisons."
Snape was starting to get visibly aggravated at the arrogant smart ass who actually knew something,"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Harry was glad he had read the whole book, including the appendix. This was a tough one,"The difference is what part of the plant you take them from. Monkshood, wolfsbane and aconite are all taken from different parts of the same one."
Snape was rather groused over this one, despite himself he was actually impressed that Potter had gotten that last one,"Very well, your assignment is on the board." He gave two flicks of his wand. The instructions appeared on the black board and the supply cupboard opened,"You have two hours."
The period went just 'swimmingly', with Snape swooping around and criticizing everything he could. When he came down on Harry and Ron, all the students being broken into pairs, he could only say,"Be mindful of the time Potter."
He then went over and praised Malfoy, even though he was falling behind the rest of the class because Crabbe had been slow about preparing his ingredients."Five points for Slytherin, Draco."
Harry was relieved to be out of dungeon three hours later. He went down for lunch and began talking to his friends about the possibility of a big game that afternoon.
Fred and George came over and listened for a moment,"You know, we might know a good place for games like that." Fred said.
"But it's on one condition." George said.
"And that is?" Harry asked, wondering where this was going.
"We want to come along." Fred said.
"This looks like a cool game." George finished.
Harry looked at his friends, who all shrugged."Okay, your in."
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The group of Gryffindors got to the seventh floor corridor twenty minutes later. Fred and George turned on the others and grinned widely.
"I present to you," Fred said.
"The Room of Requirement." George finished as they both gestured toward the blank wall, opposite a tapestry of a wizard being clubbed by a group of trolls in ballet shoes and tu-tus.
Harry looked at them incredulously,"Did you drag us up here just to waste our time?"
Fred looked hurt,"Oh ye of little faith,"
"We would never waste time,"
"Unless it annoyed a teacher."
"But you see, there is a hidden door right there." George waved at the still empty wall.
"All you have to do is walk past it three times,"
"While thinking of what you need."
Harry still wasn't quiet sure the twins weren't just as mad as the headmaster, but decided it couldn't hurt to try it. He walked over to the wall and started walking. As he walked he thought,'We need some place to play.' Turn. 'Someplace with tables and templates and dice.' Turn 'And rule books and every army codex.'
As he finished the third pass Hermione said,"Harry, look."
He spun and followed her pointing finger. Right in the center of the wall, there was a door with a large GW surrounded by the symbols of the various armies. He took a breath and reached for the knob. Inside he found exactly what he asked for, and so much more. There were sixteen tables ranging from snow white, all the way through the spectrum, to volcanic black. There were shelves with every possible form of terrain imaginable. Hills, rubble, ruins, fortresses, woods, grasses, spore spires, Waaagh banners, slave pits, etc, etc. And every table was set with six sets of templates and dice. Then there was the real point of interest, a book case with multiple copies of every book for Warhammer 40K.
All six of them, even the two that were familiar with the room's powers, said."Cool."
Harry turned to the rest,"Okay this works. Let's grab some rule books and we can discuss it until dinner. Then tomorrow we can try out some small stuff to make sure everyone has the rules. After that, we should be able to play whenever we can find the time."
Neville pointed out,"Yeah, but it's only going to be with two armies."
Harry scratched his head,"That should work, at least for a while. We'll think of something by then." They grabbed the books and pulled the stools around one of the tables. The discussion started with the basic rules but after about an hour turned to the many armies.
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The weekend went very well for the small group of Gryffindors, most of their time was spent playing until everyone had a firm grasp of the rules.
Monday was another story though. Aside from being the return to classes, a notice was posted to the board in the common room declaring that first year flying lessons would begin that Thursday. The thing that made this a truly bad thing for Harry was that Gryffindor and Slytherin would be together for these lessons.
"Ah, man. That means that Draco and his gang are gonna be there." He said as they made their way down to the great hall.
"Don't worry about it. All his bragging is probably just hot air." Ron said.
"Maybe. But the little prick may be good." Neville countered,"And I know that I'm going to make a fool out of myself."
"Now Neville. How do you know that?" Hermione asked, trying to be reassuring.
"Because I tried it once. My uncle took me out in the country and let me use his broom."
"And?" The other five asked.
"I broke my left leg and my right arm. As well as spraining my left wrist."
"Ouch!" Was the response he got.
Fred and George each threw an arm around his shoulders."If he says anything," Fred started.
"Just let us know." George continued.
"We'll make him regret it." Fred finished.
"Thanks guys."
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There's chapter six, hope you like it.
Thanks to my wife for reviewing for me.