Hello again all, it's been a while. I'm taking a few days off work for my birthday so I've finally got a chance to update. I'm hoping our computer problems will be solved soon as we're hopefully getting a new computer in January. Fingers crossed for that.
This chapter goes out to Gryffindor's Newsie, for enthusiasm, ice-cream, chocolate and sugar quills, mmmmn Sugar Quills.
Disclaimer: four-sided-triangle was the first to notice that I sometimes borrow other peoples names so I would like to mention L.J Smith's Nightworld, The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper and Sherrilyn Kenyons Darkhunter Series. Not making any money off them either, just borrowing a few names and being inspired by their characters.
WednesdayWednesday, for everyone except Neville, who had 2 hours of Household Magics first thing, began late as everyone caught up on the sleep that had been hard to come by the night before.
There was good news at breakfast too, the first years had been released from the Hospital Wing, including Georgina Gayle, whose mother had gone into premature labour after she was injured in the attack.
Luckily the Mediwizards had been able to save both mother and child and Georgina was happily sharing wizarding photos of the new arrival that had been sent over by Express Owl.
The first lesson, an hour before lunch, was Apparition, which Harry was looking forward to despite the fact that he couldn't take his test until next year. Ron was looking forward to it even more, as he would be eligible to take his test in March.
'Then Fred and George had better watch out. We'll see who's popping into who's bedroom then!'
'Might be a bit dangerous just popping into the Twins room though,' Harry pointed out. 'I mean, they've probably booby-trapped it.'
Unfortunately their first Apparition meeting was unutterably boring. The Ministry Instructor had droned on and on about the rules and regulations attendant on teaching underage wizards to apparate, the fines for underage apparition, misuse of apparition and apparation in front of Muggles and the appropriate authorities to contact if you lost parts of yourself in transit.
He had then 'talked them through' Apparition, making them recite 'Destination, Determination, Deliberation' over and over again while he went through the Three Stages of Apparition.
By the end of the hour Harry was wondering if Wilkie Twycross was some sort of descendant of Professor Binns. To his great relief, however, the class were told that from Monday the Apparition lessons would be more practical in nature as by that time the headmaster would have arranged to lift the anti-apparition wards over that area of the castle.
'You have a week in which to begin reading your Apparition Theory book, I suggest you use it wisely. I would advise you reading the handbook carefully as there will be a written exam before you are permitted to apply for your license. I shall see you all on Monday.'
Lunch passed quickly as Harry, Ron and Hermione were all looking forward to their first Enchantment lesson while a rather dusty Neville was planning to visit Professor Sprout to discuss which plants he should put in his pond.
Enchantment was held in a large room in the East Wing of the castle, down a narrow and twisting corridor. The first thing they saw as they entered was a pair of pineapples which appeared to be waltzing around the Professors desk.
The Professor himself was stood in a dark corner of the room, fiddling with a grandfather clock. He was tall and thin, with hawk-like features and a shock of white hair though he didn't appear to be terribly old.
He didn't bother turning around as the class filed in but suddenly asked 'Can anyone tell me which of those pineapples is enchanted?'
There was silence. 'I shall take that as a no.' He pointed his wand over his shoulder and said 'finite incantatem.' One pineapple fell over and rolled off the desk but the other danced on. 'There is your answer.'
He turned around and walked over to pick up the fallen fruit. 'A charm or incantation affects an object only as long as the charm itself lasts. They can be removed with the correct counterspell, they can wear out and with some charms you need only break the casters concentration to break the charm itself.
Transfigure an object and while it's shape may change the object itself does not. A gerbil in the shape of a goblet is still a gerbil, no matter how little it may look it. Charms and Transfigurations only affect an object, Enchantments are an integral part of the object.
This is why many Enchantments are laid during the object's making, with swords being enchanted during forging or brooms during crafting as this facilitates the enchantments integration.
As they are a key component to the object itself an Enchantment can be nigh on impossible to break. There are no simple counter-spells which would work against a broad spectrum of enchantments. Each enchantment is a highly individual crafting and as such must be individually studied and it's components broken down before you can formulate a counter-spell specific to that single enchantment.
As with any sort of spell of course the stronger and more complex the enchantment the greater the time, talent and power necessary to break it. Should any of you place a simple enchantment on a quill say, then it would easy enough for any of the professors here to break it. Should the headmaster place a complex enchantment on the same quill, pouring his strength into the project, then I don't believe there is anyone capable of breaking it.
My name is Professor Merriman Lyon. In the coming weeks we will be studying the theory behind Enchantment. We shall then be spending some time studying enchanted objects themselves and learning how to identify them and the enchantments which have been laid upon them. In a few weeks, if I feel you have sufficiently grasped these basics, I will begin teaching you a few simple enchantments.
Now books out and begin. I expect you to have read and comprehended the first five chapters by our lesson on Friday.'
Uncomfortably reminded of Umbridges lessons Harry got out his copy of 'In the Footsteps of Merlin' and began chapter one 'A Brief History of Enchantment' while the Professor turned his back on the class and returned to his clock.
He was distracted when a wad of parchment zoomed forcefully into the side of his face from a smirking Malfoy's side of the room. He didn't even have chance to open it before Professor Lyon was stalking down the line of desks to Malfoy's seat.
'Mr Malfoy,' he said softly, leaning over the desk. 'You were allowed into this class because your exam results indicated you were capable of the work. But enchantment is not a game Mr Malfoy, it is a serious subject. We will be handling objects of great value, items of great frailty and things which are extremely dangerous to those who do not know what they are doing.
People, in other words, like you, Mr Malfoy.
If you do not possess the mental maturity to study a subject like this a t NEWT level then you can leave my class now.'
Harry looked at the teacher with renewed respect. Fred and George hadn't been kidding when they said Lyon wasn't a professor to cross – Malfoy looked almost as cowed as he had done around Moody in Fourth Year.
Piercing gray eyes swept the room.
'That goes for all of you. I will tolerate no messing around in this classroom. You are here to learn, not act like children. This is your first, and last, warning. The minute you choose to ignore it is the minute you leave my class for good. Do we understand each other?'
'Yes Sir!'
'Good. Oh and Malfoy, 10 points from Slytherin.'
Harry went back to his reading with a smile on his face.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
'Did you see the look on Malfoys face?' Ron said happily as they left the room.
'Wasn't it fascinating' Hermione rhapsodised about the lesson. 'Chapter Five was particularly interesting, don't you think?'
'Chapter Five?' Ron said blankly. 'I haven't even finished Chapter One!'
Hermione looked horrified. 'Well you've got an hour before we meet up for Wandless Magics so you'll be able to catch up. Come on Harry, we're going to be late for Potions. See you in an hour Ron.'
It felt very odd to be headed into the dungeons without any expectation of Running into Snape. Stranger still to be looking forward to Potions for once.
Unfortunately not everything unpleasant about Potions had been left behind after OWL's. Malfoy was still there and was obviously still simmering over his set down in Enchantment.
'Just because you got lucky in the exam doesn't mean you're going to make it in Potions Potter,' he sneered. 'The Harmans are probably the oldest pureblood family in the world. In fact,' he smirked 'I think we're actually related to them.'
He lowered his voice and stepped in close. 'You remember my Aunt Bellatrix Potter? The one who shoved her blood-traitor cousin through the Veil? Well from the rumours I've heard Harman's even worse and you've signed on for two years under her thumb.'
He laughed and it was all Harry could do not to grab hold of his throat and squeeze until he turned purple. Instead he concentrated on setting out his scales and Potions book, a task made more difficult by the fact that Malfoy and Parkinson took the next desk along.
There were four Slytherins in the class – Malfoy, Parkinson, Zabini and Nott, a handful of Ravenclaws and Ernie McMillan, the only Hufflepuff in the group.
Professor Harman was at the front of the class writing on the blackboard and gave them a warm smile as they took their seats.
'Hello and welcome to NEWT level Potions. As we only have an hour this lesson we won't be doing anything too challenging. If you turn to page six you will see a potion we found particularly useful doing my own NEWTs called Mindclear.
A potion to promote general well-being, it leaves you feeling refreshed and clear headed, like a particularly good night's sleep. Particulalry useful after hours of studying when you feel tired and muddled it should not be taken to excess as it begins to cause hallucinations, particularly if it is taken when you haven't been getting much sleep. It is also forbidden to use just before an exam.
Now, while the potion itself is not too difficult to make it will allow me to observe how you treat a variety of ingredients and tend to the potion, allowing me to evaluate your skills. You have 50 minutes, beginning now.'
There was a scramble for the Potions Supply Cupboard as students rushed for those ingredients not inside their potions kits and began to finely grate Unicorn Horn and roughly chop sage.
Professor Harman wandered through the class, pausing to advise Ernie on his stirring technique and watching Zabini add lemongrass and sunstone as she checked that the potion turned the correct shade of green.
It was while she was on the other side of the class that there was a muffled 'Whump' and Harry was suddenly covered in foul smelling green sludge. He turned to glare at a smirking Malfoy who had mysteriously managed to avoid getting any of his potion on himself when it exploded.
'Sorry Professor,' he said insincerely. 'I must have knocked my vial of doxy stings in.'
She hurried over to Vanish the sludge, though Harry's skin itched like crazy and the smell lingered. She peered suspiciously into Malfoys cauldron.
'Well, no harm done other than two potions ruined. Potter you'll need to rub some camels milk into that otherwise you'll end up with scales, but that can wait until after the lesson. Malfoy, you'll have to share with Parkinson and Potter, you're with Granger.'
Harry held up the sodden remains of his potions book and looked with dismay at his ruined pile of ingredients.
'There are a few old potions books at the back of that cupboard,' said the professor. 'You go find one and I'll salvage what I can.'
He finally found a battered copy of Advanced Potions Making that wasn't completely falling apart and hurried back over to his desk, taking the opportunity to bump forcefully into Malfoy and drop a small muslin bag into Parkinson's cauldron as he passed.
'Well at least it didn't ruin anything too expensive to replace,' Professor Harman said as he came back. 'Although you will need to visit the Apothecary for some more Pixie Dust. Now, go and help Miss Granger with her potion, you only have ten minutes left.'
Harry devoutly hoped that whatever Fred and George had put in that bag was good as they finished off their potions and were permitted a ladleful before leaving. He was a bit disappointed that Malfoy and Parkinson did not immediately turn into pink Pygmy Puffs or something but didn't have time to wait around for results. Instead he and Hermione rushed to Wandless Magics.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Today we're going to start concentrating on Fire and Water. Those of you without these magics can observe and read the first two chapters on them and their uses.
First thing to do is cup your hands as you did when you held the testing stones, with your wand hand on top. Remember – wands, testing stones and other such things only act as a focus, the power is a part of you.
Now close your eyes and concentrate on your palms. Think of what water or fire mean to you. Think of images, memories, imagine yourself immersed in your element. If you are a Fire Talent I want you to imagine warmth travelling up your arm, and heat pooling in your palm.
Water Talents, you are to concentrate on a cool feeling travelling up your arm and pooling in your hand. Concentrate. Concentrate on the heat or the coolness and allow it to fill your hand.'
The words were hypnotic and Harry felt lulled into his memories of fire. His earliest memory, a flash of green fire and cold, high laughter, later, Uncle Vernon burning his Hogwarts letters, they weren't very happy memories.
Hermione setting Snape on fire in first year when he was in danger of falling off his broom, that was still funny. Harry remembered laughing with Ron over it. And that little pot of flames Hermione used to carry about, before they'd learnt warming charms, to huddle around in the cold, whatever happened to them?
Blue flames flickering in Remus's hand when the train went dark, did that mean Lupin had Fire Magic?
Flames hissing in the Goblet of Fire, a fireball from the snout of a Hungarian Horntail, Quirrel conjuring fire to prevent his escape in first year, Fawkes arriving in the Chamber of Secrets in a burst of flames, his shock at Fawkes Burning Day, his first experience of Floo Powder, seeing Sirius's head in a fire, sneaking into Umbrideges office to stick his own head in the fire.
Small flames on candles, in pumpkins at Halloween, in torches and under cauldrons – how had he never realised how entwined his life was with fire? Fire. Around him, inside him, filling him up, until…
'Well done Mr Potter! 10 points to Gryffindor!'
Harry opened his eyes to a bright flame dancing over his palm which quickly sputtered and died.
You must have some exceptionally strong memories of fire to conjure it up so quickly, well done.'
Professor Owen peered into his face and smiled. 'You look done in, not unusual after your first piece of Elemental Magic.' He waved his wand and a glass of pumpkin juice appeared.
'Drink that and get started on reading the section on fire. I doubt you could manage any more practical work.'
Harry turned to the book with enthusiasm, eager to find out what this new power could do. He'd only finished the first chapter before Hermione managed a tiny flicker of yellow light and a few pages later Ernie conjured a palmful of water.
He gave Harry a triumphant grin. 'Wonder if that potion had anything to do with this? Clear minds must have given the three of us a bit of an advantage eh?'
Harry felt slightly put out that he hadn't managed to come first without the aid of a potion, it seemed a bit like cheating really. Then he reminded himself that Hermione had had the potion too and she hadn't been the first to show her Talent.
For once he had actually beaten her in class. He decided it was alright to feel just a little bit smug about that.
By the end of the class Susan Bones was the only other person to 'Manifest' her Talent, though Ron was convinced he was close as his palm had gotten very hot. Neville, on the other hand, wasn't sure if the slight dampness of his palm came from a Talent with water, or just from nerves.
'Alright everyone, I want you all to practice concentrating on your element. That includes Wind and Earth Talents. Those of you with Fire or Water magic are to read the first three chapters in the section on your Talent. Class dismissed.'
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Harry's stomach was grumbling loudly as they left the class and headed to the hall, still discussing Elemental Magic. He was distracted when Michael Corner stopped to hand him a rolled-up scroll.
'What's that about?' asked Ron.
'Dunno,' Harry replied as he opened it.
It read 'Dear Harry,
I would like to start our private lessons as soon as possible. Kindly come along to my office at 8pm. I hope you are enjoying your new lessons.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore.
P.S. I enjoy Acid Pops'
'Acid Pops?' asked Ron.
'The password to his office I think.'
'What d'you reckon he'll be teaching you?'
'Occlumency probably.'
'It could be some cool new jinxes and stuff,' Ron said eagerly. 'For fighting Death Eaters off with, stuff they wouldn't know.'
'Anything they don't know would probably be even more illegal than the things they do know Ronald,' put in Hermione.
'Not necessarily. I mean, it could be stuff he invented himself, stuff he didn't tell anyone and now he's going to pass it on to you!'
'But it's probably just Occlumency.'
All the same Harry was at the gargoyle a few minutes before 8. He'd done his best over the summer but since he didn't quite understand what he was doing he couldn't be sure he was doing it right. He needed a teacher, and he knew it.
'Come in Harry.'
As he entered Harry saw a flash of multi-coloured veils in the fire as their owner disappeared. He wondered again just who, or what, the veiled figure was.
'Do take a seat dear boy. And a biscuit. I hope you have been enjoying your new classes?'
Taking a seat in front of the desk, and a custard cream from the proffered plate, Harry grinned.
'They're pretty good, especially Wandless Magic. Why didn't you tell us your grandson or whatever was going to be teaching?' He went to take a bite of his biscuit and paused. 'These aren't Canary Creams are they?'
The headmaster chuckled. 'No, they have absolutely nothing to do with the Weasley Twins, and I'm afraid Owen is more of a 'whatever' than a grandson. In fact he is my great-great-grand-nephew.'
Harry thought hard for a moment. 'Does that mean he's your brother…Aberforth wasn't it? The guy with the goat?'
He wondered if the headmaster would find the goat reference impertinent.
'Yes indeed, and well remembered Harry. Owen is Aberforth's great-great-grandson though luckily the two of them are not much alike.' He lowered his voice confidentially. 'Aberforth has been in trouble again you know. An incident involving several sheep and a particularly bemused cow.'
He sighed and shook his head. 'I do wish he would learn to keep his hand's off other peoples livestock.'
Harry stifled a laugh.
'My dear boy, with Voldemort and his associates becoming more active, being frequenly called to the Ministry and trying to run the school I fear there will not be as much time as I had hoped to devote to these lessons. Voldemort has been rather quiet in your mind of late, has he not?'
'Yeah, I mean, I've barely been getting flashes since, ah, since the summer.'
'I imagine he did not find his experience inside your mind at the Ministry any too pleasant Harry, however, we cannot trust that he will never again attempt to use the link he forged between you. To that end I have secured a tutor in Occlumency for you.'
He peered over his half-moon spectacles.
'I do trust that you will try a little harder than you did last year though I hope that the lack of animosity towards your tutor will help somewhat.'
Harry felt that this was a bit unfair since Snape had been acting with at least as much animosity towards him last year and besides that, the greasy git had started it. He decided not to point that out to the headmaster though.
'Our own lessons, when we have the chance to meet, will focus more on the old adage 'know thine enemy,' and I believe that is your tutor now.'
Indeed the flames on the hearth were burning green as a figure in patched and fraying wizards robes stepped out and knocked ash off his shoulder.
'Profess, ah, Remus!'
The werewolf laughed. 'Much better Harry, though for once the Professor would actually apply as I'll be teaching you again.'
'You're a Legilimens?'
'And an Occlumens, though not nearly as accomplished a one as Professor Snape.'
Harry snorted in disgust.
Dumbledore eyed him with something like disappointment in his eyes.
'Despite your feelings towards him Harry, Professor Snape is an extremely talented Potions Master and Legilimens.'
'Maybe he is Professor but he isn't a very good teacher,' Harry said with a great deal of restraint, hands clenching white-knuckled on the arm-rests of the chair.
The headmasters face settled into stern lines.
'As you yourself were not the best of students?'
Harry leapt to his feet, green eyes blazing.
'At least I tried. That git is so caught up in hating my Dad he didn't even bother trying to teach me.'
He slammed the book down on the desk between them.
'Maybe I'm not much of a student headmaster but I've read that book and what Snape did to me is classed as Mental Rape, of a minor, and that's punishable with a 5 year sentence in Azkaban!
He didn't prepare me, he didn't tell me how to guard my mind, he didn't bother with any of the basics, he just ripped into my head to find every nasty little memory he could taunt me with! He's worse than the bloody dementors!'
'In his defence Harry you do seem to pick up the practical side of things more easily.'
'PRACTICAL! Harry yelled. 'IT WOULD'VE BEEN JUST AS BLOODY PRACTICAL TO LET THE BLOODY DARK LORD KEEP BREAKING INTO MY HEAD AND HOPE I COULD FIGURE IT OUT ON MY OWN! IT PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER! AT LEAST THEN ONLY ONE PERSON WHO HATES MY FREAKING GUTS WOULD'VE BEEN IN THERE!'
'Professor Snape was only trying to help you be prepared Harry.'
'HELP? HELP! HE WASN'T ANY BLOODY HELP AT ALL. HOW WAS WEAKENING ANY DEFENCES I MIGHT HAVE HAD A HELP? HOW DID HIM INVADING MY MIND HELP STOP VOLDEMORT FROM DOING IT? IT DIDN'T.' He let out an angry laugh.
'IN FACT, LAST YEAR, VOLDEMORT WAS A HELL OF A LOT NICER TO HAVE IN THERE THAN SNAPE!'
Harry stood for a long moment, chest heaving, glaring at the headmaster before he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room before he gave in to the urge to break things. At least this time the door wasn't locked.
As he headed down the stairs he thought he heard Dumbledore say 'Well, that didn't go quite as well as I expected.'
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
A little bit more CAPSLOCK!Harry there which should please those of you who thought he'd disappeared.
As you may have noticed I'm taking a day for each chapter at the moment. This isn't going to continue all through the fic, just over the first week so you can see all the new lessons, characters and so I can lay the foundations of the rest of the plot. After that things will be seriously hotting up.
Nonjon – you weren't the only one bugging me for more action. Just the loudest. (grins)
Hakkai- Goijyo-Goku-Sanzo – as you can see Harry has, ah, 'shared his feelings' about Snape with the headmaster and as for more on the new teachers, new lessons, etc, well it's all coming up.
Lina Thanatos – of course you can critisise me, I like criticism. Gold would be a nice colour but I just feel that most people would connect green to earth magic more easily so I've got to leave it as is really.
Deh-Vap – don't worry, you'll be seeing more Rebellious!Harry soon and he's going to be doing a lot more to prepare himself, including dragon-hide and dark arts books.
Joou Himeko Dah – I agree, I wanted to more about the behind-the-scenes stuff in HBP so I go more into description to let everyone know what's happening. Hopefully you'll enjoy the rest of the fic too.
Four-sided-triangle – If you had the Simi you wouldn't have a problem with Voldie, she'd just barbecue him! Though I don't think even BBQ sauce would make him taste good. Whose your favourite hunter?