Disclaimer: I Don't Own Them.
Author's Note: I've posted a new story called Hufflepuff Harry. Look for once a month updates on this until Silver Viper is fininshed. s/9152536/1/Hufflepuff-Harry
Prof. Flitwick had Harry meet him at the 6th floor courtyard by the Ravenclaw tower. It was one of the strange things about Hogwarts from the 6th floor up there where odd courtyards open to the sky scattered here and there, several being used as gardens. Neville was monopolizing the one by Gryffindor tower along with the NEWT level Herbology students for a rare plant garden. Every one in Gryffindor knew it was enter at your own risk as the plants where libel to eat you as not.
This one had no plants in it only statues of various heads of house and benches all in white marble. Flitwick waited on a flying carpet just big enough for two in the center of the courtyard. "Excellent on time, hop on and we will be off." Flitwick ordered.
"I thought flying carpets where illegal Prof. Flitwick?" Harry asked as he got on. There was some sort of localized warming charm in effect once he got on the carpet.
"Yes and no. No in that places like Hogwarts behind muggle repelling wards are acceptable. Also 1 and 2 person carpets can be used the same as brooms with the same restrictions. What is illegal is the large multiple person carpets." Flitwick told him as they headed to the roof.
Once clear of the roof Harry saw the faint blue of the Ravenclaw wards. "The wards are weird, Professor." Harry commented.
"The Ravenclaw wards are unique. Instead of being laid over the castle like the other wards they are woven into the very fabric of the castle." Flitwick explained. "Damage will appear as rips in the fabric of the wards."
"What are those?" Harry asked about the grotesque statues scattered over the roof.
"Stone Golems they are part of the defense system of Hogwarts. They where put up by the students of Hufflepuff not long after the castle was built. They are somewhat dated these days still they are a defense that few know about these days." Flitwick explained. "If you want to know more about them I could suggest some books though Prof. Sprout knows more of them then I do."
Another oddity of Hogwarts are the rooms built into the roof. They examine several. There are no exits save the door to the roof. Like the old barracks rooms they served as a place to house watchmen. "Sir, there's a rip in the wards." Harry pointed. "There by the golem with 3 horns."
"I see it." Flitwick steered the carpet to land by the golem. He touched it and it looked down at him. "This is how the master is getting in. It's been a recent entry as well. Mr. Potter please place your hand on the golem. I want to identify you to them. I'm going to activate the search function and wish you recognized as friend. This one is going to guard the rip and not allow any one in or out unless known to it."
"Right," Harry touched the golem surprised it was warm, he had expected it to be cold stone. He just might take Flitwick up on that suggested reading. The golem looked at him then turned back to the rip in the wards. However when Harry turned his head he could see faint glowing foot steps leading away.
Back on the carpet Flitwick raised the carpet just enough to clear the roof and drew a wand of some very dark wood with his left hand.
"Specialized dueling wand." Flitwick whispered. "When we get close I'm going to leave you the carpet. I want you to find some place to hide. If I fall you are to find the nearest courtyard and seek help. Understand."
"Yes, sir." Harry drew his own wand.
A searing bolt of white light blasted by them. Destroying both their night vision and their mage sight temporarily. Flitwick tumbles off on purpose and Harry finds a chimney to hide behind.
Flitwick casts 3 rapid fire spells along the path of the light bolt. Then a further 3. Harry heard a few curse words from his left. Then another bolt of light from that direction. Flitwick cast more spells silently only his wand motions betraying his location.
As his night vision and mage sight returned he tried to keep track of the battle. Flitwick darted around giving the attacker almost no target to aim for. The attacker on the other hand was getting hit hard. He had thrown up shields which betrayed his location to defend against the barrage of spells Flitwick kept casting at him.
As the battle wore on Harry began to notice that Flitwick was herding the attacker in such a way that the attacker back was to Harry. When a particularly brutal barrage knocked down the attacker's shields Harry cast the disarming hex. As the man heard him the spell only glanced off a hastily erected shield allowing the man to keep his wand though throwing him directly into a bit of nastiness that Flitwick threw at him.
Harry used this distraction to dodge behind another bit of concealing stone work. Then the process started again. Flitwick seeming to know were Harry was hidden so maneuvered the attacker so his back was presented to Harry. Three times the ruse worked. The third time there was a cry of pain followed by a bolt of light that blinded them. When their sight cleared enough to see again Flitwick came to Harry to check to see if he was alright.
Only then did Flitwick go to where the attacker had last been. On the ground there was a few drops of blood. They follow are able to follow it for about a 100 yards before it disappears into one of the roof top rooms.
"Damn and blast." Flitwick muttered. "That leads to a supply hub. He could be anywhere by now. By the way excellent work with the backstabbing spell work. Few Gryffindors your age would even consider it acceptable. 10 points to Gryffindor."
"My cousin considers me his personal punching bag. Sneak attacks are the only way to get even." Harry shrugged.
"One can't choose one's relatives unfortunately." Flitwick comments. "Let's finish up the inspection and close off any other entrances for that foul man."
"Professor I rarely heard you use spells though I saw wand motion. Why was that?" Harry asked.
"Nonverbal magic is taught in 6th year. Though considering your advanced level I like to have you tested to see if your magic is mature enough for it. Don't be disappointed if you never learn it. Your Father was never capable of it. Though he learned to be almost silent with whispered spells. The advantage he had was that he didn't have to move his wand to cast spells. It seems to be a trade off you have one or the other never both." Flitwick explained as they finished up the inspection.
They find three more rips in the fabric of the wards. These are smaller and like the first near a stone golem. Once finished Flitwick returned Harry to Gryffindor tower. There Harry made the rough notes he'd use for the write up for Prof. Snape. Astronomy for his classmates was canceled that night.
At breakfast the next morning Snape request that Harry join him for lunch in his office. When he arrived at Snape's office he found lunch waiting. "Tuck in Mr. Potter." Snape ordered. "Prof. Flitwick praised your cool head last night and awarded you points for it. He also came to as I am your Master that you be tested for magical maturity. I am in agreement with this you are showing levels of power you shouldn't be showing until 6th year and beyond. That said I'd like to arrange for said testing. Since it will take three hours and require Madam Pomfrey's presence I'd like to know when you are free to take the tests."
Harry set his sandwich down on the plate. "I've Wednesday nights with you, Tuesday and Thursday nights with every other Saturday morning scheduled for quidditch practice. Astronomy this year is at midnight on Wednesdays. It will change to 3 AM after Easter Break." Harry informed him.
"I believe the testing can wait until Easter Break. It is my understanding that you will be staying over the holiday correct?" Snape asked.
"Yes, Sir." Harry replied after swallowing a some tomato salad.
"Then plan on it for the first Monday. I'll inform you of the exact time. Now if you will describe for me the duel you saw and the colors of the spells you recognized." Snape ordered.