Chapter 9:

Time at Hogwarts

Several hours later, Snape had Apparated to the meeting point with Wormtail and awaited his would-be cohort. Pettigrew arrived and performed the necessary scan for tracking charms and then the two of them took the proffered Portkey back to their master. Snape kneeled before Voldemort and nodded to Lucius as he rose. Voldemort smiled and asked, "So what do you have to report, young Severus?

Snape began his report, "Master, the split between Dumbledore and Potter is very real, the two of them were practically at each other's throats."

"How do you know that this isn't some diversionary tactic?" asked Pettigrew

Snape shrugged, "I don't for absolute certain, but the Headmaster trusts me as he does few others and he has expressed increasing concern about the rift between the two of them. He believes that the only way Potter can fulfill the Prophecy is with his guidance. The fool's vanity is only surpassed by his age. Also in my Occlumency tutoring of Potter, I delved into his mind quite frequently and I found that he is a horrible liar and his open disdain for the headmaster is very apparent. He doesn't even attempt to hide it and he has numerous reasons to dislike the headmaster as he has discovered many things about his past and his heritage that the headmaster has kept hidden from him."

Voldemort cackled, "Excellent! This plays into my plans perfectly. How about Potter? Would he be amenable to joining us now?"

Snape shook his head, "I think not, my Lord. The five people Potter hates most on this earth are Bellatrix myself, Pettigrew, Dumbledore, and you. I do think that he would be acceptable to a deal, however."

Lucius finally entered the conversation, "What do you mean by a deal?"

"I believe if we were to agree to leave his friends alone that he would step aside and let us do with the rest of the wizarding world as we choose. He could care less about them at this point. He has intimated that he holds most of the wizarding world in contempt. Since we know Potter is the only one capable of defeating you, Master, I think it would behoove us to make such a deal.

Voldemort nodded thoughtfully, "Not yet, Severus. I want to watch this play out for a while longer, and then we will see where things lie. You will do all you can to foment Potter's distrust of the doddering old fool."

Peter smirked, "That should be easy for him to do. All he has to do is continue to maintain the old man's confidence and that will be enough to keep Potter against him."

"Indeed, Wormtail, Indeed."

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 say it, "our main focus this term in Transfiguration is to begin conjuring objects. All of you have shown a proficiency in Transfiguration to get into that any deputy class. 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.

Later in the day in Herbology, Harry's girl interests were also made known as the pair off at a table with Neville and Susan and Herbology, rather than sitting with Ron and Hermione. This also earned him a dirty look from Hermione and a wink from Ron.

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's Widget was in defense class, and till the Quidditch practice schedule was set. Then, we will know what evening people will be available."

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."

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 them 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 quickly agreed to watch Harry, and report back to the headmaster on anything that she found suspicious. As she exited the headmaster's office, Hermione failed to notice Ginny standing In the corridor with a dark look on her face.

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 follies 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."

A/N: Well, here's another chapter out without the delay of the last one. Hopefully, the next intermission will be even shorter. Happy reading.