Chapter12:
The very next day Harriet had a lesson she knew she would never forget; defence against the dark arts.
It was just after lunch and Harriet and Luna arrived early. Most of the class had however gathered before their teacher; Mr Carrow appeared.
"wands out and turn to chapter 10" he ordered as they came into the room. He had a horible cruel voice which made Harriet shiver.
The chapter they had been asked to turn to was that for the unforgivable curses.
"right well start with crussio, the torturing curse" Carrow said.
"I would like two volunteers" he looked around "you, you can come and cast and cast the spell" Harriet heard Harper come forward "and you can be tortured, if this boy is able to perform the curse" he said pointing.
No one moved, but next to her Harriet heard Luna gasp. Then she knew. Carrow's finger was pointing at her.
"come on, don't dordle" Carrow said in his horrible voice.
Harriet moved forward courteously. Finally she was standing in front of the class.
"now this is how it is done Harper" Carrow said and he pointed his on Harriet.
"she felt like thousands of knives were peersing her body. She tried not to scream but couldn't help herself the pain was so intense.
Then she heard laughter. Carrow was laughing at her. She was lying on the ground every bone in her body in her body was screaming at her.
"get up" Carrow barked as he stopped laughing. Harriet did as she was told.
"now Harper"
"crussio!"
she felt the pain. The pain like a whip hitting every part of her body, but it wasn't like the pain from before. It was distant, and it quickly ceased.
"good for a first time" Carrow was saying.
Harriet was still on her feet but swaying slightly.
Then a hand closed around her wrist and lead her back to her place. It was Luna.
They practised for the rest of the lesson. And by the end Harriet could barley walk. She had stayed with Harper. By the end he had got very good. Harriet spell however had simply coursed a pleasant tickling.
Luna looked dreadful too.
"we need to tell someone" she said as they headed back to their common room.
"no! There's nothing anyone can do" Harriet said firmly "all we can do is start the DA as soon as possible"
"okay, if you say so we'll talk to Neville" Luna replied knowing there would be no point in arguing with Harriet.
So when they came to the great hall for dinner they headed for the Ravenclaw table via Gryffindor. There they met Ginny also talking to Neville.
"what do you say to tomorrow" Ginny asked.
"fine" they both said.
"that's settled then, but we might not get many people" Neville said in a voice of finally.
"I've still got my galion" Neville then said "I'll contact the rest"
"okay, you two better get back to the Ravenclaws or it'll look fishy" Ginny said looking at Harriet and Luna.
"okay, see you tomorrow" Harriet said as they moved away.
The meeting the following day could in Harriet's opinion not came fast enough. The next day they had potions which despite him being headmaster Snape still taught. Snape was just the same. Just as horrible and greasy. He still treated Harriet in exactly the same horrible manner. He obviously still loathed her. And she only loaded him even more ever since he'd killed Dumbeldore.
Then they had transfiguration which had become near impossible as they were now learning non verbal spells. But to Harriet's delight she found she was the first to vanish the snail in front of her without uttering a tone.
"well done, have 10 points to Ravenclaw" McGonigall said smiling. And then she bent closer to Harriet and muttered "I wish to talk to you at the end of the lesson Harriet"
Harriet just looked confused but did as she was told. At the end of the lesson Luna waited outside and McGonigall said:
"you need to be careful Harriet"
"why?" she asked confused.
"the Carrow's and the ministry"
"I still don't get it" Harriet replied. She knew the Carrow's were horrible but...
"the ministry is starting to round up muggle-borns"
"but I'm not muggle-born"
"I thought you didn't know who your parents were Harriet" McGonigal asked. It was her turn to be confused.
"I was told y professor Dumbledore but he said not to tell anyone" Harriet replied.
"well I think you will need to tell someone and I do believe that local friend of yours Luna might deserve to know"
Harriet nodded as McGonigal strode over to the door and opened it.
Luna came in looking confused.
"so are you going to say" McGonigall enquired.
"my parents were Lilly and James Potter" Harriet said, just like that.
McGonigall gasped and really fell backwards.
Luna just stared. Then finally McGonigall said:
"how?"
so Harriet explained what Dumbledore had told her 5 years ago.
Finally she had finished and McGonigall said:
"well I certainly think that should be kept between up, which of course means you are still to the ministry a muggle-born"
"yes, I got a letter but it didn't say what it was for" Harriet replied.
"what what was for?" McGonigall donated.
"a ministry hearing on the 12th" Harriet replied calmly.
"a hearing, how will you get there?"
"it said ministry people would come and pick me up" Harriet said.
"well, this certainly isn't good and I didn't expect it to start this soon" professor McGonigall sounded worried. But then turning suddenly brisk "you two must get off to your next lesson, I'll write you a note"
they were very lucky. There next lesson was charms and professor Flitwick excepted the note fine. Had it been a Carrow's however Harriet was sure they'd have got something like detention.
That after noon they had their first muggle studied lesson with professor Carrow.
"sit down and open your books" she ordered as they all came in.
they did as they were told. And by the end of the lesson Harriet felt sick. They had spent the lesson reading and hearing about how dumb muggles were.
"I think muggles are very clever to get around without magic" Luna said once they were a long way from their classroom.
"I suppose they are, like they've got stuff like electricity and steam" Harriet replied listening hard.