C. M. Black: Eyes of an Owl
Chapter XXVII: Defence cuts
Another card was slapped down on the growing pile. A wand and then a firework on the cards, followed by another wand and then an owl. A game of exploding snap had begun after Cassy had won three games of chess in a row against Harry in fifteen minutes. They had stopped studying only half-an-hour earlier after Harry admitted the course content was much easier when he revisited his notes after class. The sessions had been going well so far, when Harry did not distract Cassy, and as the last week of March began they had already covered much of the first term curriculum. In return, Harry practised defensive charms with her and they exchanged useful spells out of nothing more than interest. Ginny had said in passing that it was cheating because Harry already taught her in Dumbledore's Army, but Cassy merely smirked. The DA did not come with kisses and nor could she openly disregard Harry's instructions in favour of her own. It was about the time Cassy realised Harry was, in fact, incredibly ticklish, so if he came anywhere near her in a surprise attack her hand immediately went for his sides.
'It is quite frustrating, you know,' said Cassy as she turned over another card, 'to know you are good at academics and then watch you have a rubber duck fight with Ron at the back of the classroom.'
Harry laughed. 'I never saw it as being that important to try. I always did fairly well anyway and if I did too well it would just make Dudley hit me. He always got me into trouble, so the teachers never liked me either. My aunt and uncle never cared to go to my parents' evenings, so they never knew how I was doing; I was never told "good job, Harry!" for anything, so I guess it's just a habit not to try.'
Cassy kept her hands moving despite the bubbling anger beneath her skin. She hated the Dursleys. They may have taken Harry in, but they were loathsome to him and she could not stand the thought of a child being treated poorly; she knew that childhood pain too well. She put down another card and idly commented, 'You are clever when it suits you, though. Quick-witted and sharp minded when needed. It was what I liked about you immediately.'
Harry grinned. 'Not as clever as you, though.'
'The world rarely is,' she said cheekily and Harry rolled his eyes, still grinning, when a plume of thick smoke burst from the playing cards. Cards scattered everywhere and somewhere in the distance of the common room someone sighed and moved to open a window.
With Harry finally having won a game, the two turned expectantly to Neville, Hermione, and Ginny who filled the various seats around them by the fire. Hermione snapped her book shut and slid it beneath the sofa and the five set off quickly and quietly through the portrait hole towards the Room of Requirement. Harry had created a commotion at the end of the last session when he announced his intentions to begin work on Patronuses from the next week onward. It caused so much of a fuss that when they arrived fifteen-minutes early, the room was already partially filled with eager bodies and joyous chatter.
They waited for another few minutes and when the last head had been counted, Harry called for attention.
'I'll show you the incantation, but it is secondary to the feeling behind the spell. You have to be able to use a memory, a happy one, a strong one, to be able to make anything of this spell. This is extremely complex magic. Most adult wizards and witches can't do this, so don't become disheartened if you don't master it straight away,' he said, pacing in front of the group. 'The happy memory you put into the spell is what the Dementors feed off instead of you, so it can't be an ordinary memory. It has to really mean something to you.'
'Can you show us?' requested Hannah Abbott excitedly.
'Go on,' urged Chang.
Harry shifted. 'It is different doing it in front on an actual Dementor, obviously, but – '
'You can't do it, can you?' accused Michael Corner.
'He can,' said Cassy coldly.
Ginny nudged her boyfriend sharply in the ribs.
Appearing slightly irritated with Corner's insult, Harry waved his wand. A white mist spilt from the end and gathered into a large mass, sprouting tall antlers and long legs.
Some the Dumbledore's Army squealed and gasped in delight. The stag pranced around the hall, nudging Cassy's head with its own; a cool burst of air brushed over her skin. A few claps rang through the room and Harry vanished it and set them off to work at last. Instantly, the hall was filled with shouts and sharp jabs in the air.
Without the excitement of the rest of the group, Cassy moved into her own space. She lingered in the corner thoughtfully, where she could see everyone else's attempts easily. They each watched the tips of their wands eagerly, waiting for that first spark of white. Hermione was frowning lightly, the way she always did when concentrating, and Neville had his tongue tucked at the corner of his lips in exertion. Between them, Harry lingered. He had confessed to her earlier that day that he was not quite sure how to manage the lessons. He had been taught with a Boggart, after all, and Dumbledore's Army did not have access to one of those. He had tried to think how to present the urgent need one felt when they cast it, or the devastating feeling of loss that wracked one's bones when the Dementor leaned in for a kiss. In the end, he had decided to approach with a 'wait and see' attitude.
She had promised him in fourth-year that she would have it mastered by that June, but that never happened. It had been impossible, for many months at least, to think of a single, powerful memory. When her thoughts drifted back to the memory that she had used the year before, it hardly seemed to conjure the same elation it once had. She would always be thankful for the day he told her he would accept her no matter what her faults, she had needed to hear it more than she had known, but it no longer held the same revere in her mind. Alphard was dead and his sentiment meant less when there was no physical force to reiterate it. Perhaps it was because she had struggled last year with the papers and his illness that it meant so much; with her confidence at an all-time high and growing each day now as she worked her way back into her old routines, she did not need the boost so much.
Instead, she thought to what she had found since he had been gone. She had found Tonks, Harry, she supposed, her father in a manner of speaking, and her mother's family. The sight of the warm blue-eyes and the knowing smile of her grandparents brought a flare of emotion she had missed until that Christmas. The memory of them meant more than she thought it should, after all, she hardly knew them, but the fact that beyond a doubt they had wanted to know her, to see her, to speak with her, was enough. Dysfunctional as it may be, she had a family. Her Muggle family, her criminal father, her clumsy cousin, and her friends, of course.
A blur of white shot through the room. It turned and twisted, startling many members and earning a shriek of joy from several of them. It rounded back and Cassy saw the sight of a huge, long-haired dog. Its eyes were bright and its tail curled up back to its spine. A malamute bounded back to her.
A loud clap rang through the hall as Neville began a round of applause. Everyone soon followed suit and Cassy smiled down at her Patronus. She had not really considered her spirit to manifest into a dog, although she knew they could be passed through families unless changed by strong emotions. It was not quite the same as her fathers, she recognised before she even knelt to have a better look. He father's animagus form was a large, black shaggy dog. While her Patronus was almost equal in size, it was fluffy with unusually long fur and sturdy in appearance. The plumed tail wagged merrily.
'Excellent,' grinned Harry, suddenly beside her.
The dog flung its head back and looked as though it was howling and trotted on the spot in excitement before it vanished. Cassy smirked to herself. It moved and did exactly what she wanted it to with very little effort.
'What was your memory then?' demanded Ron.
'None of your business,' said Cassy, still smirking.
'I think I know,' said George with a flash of his eyebrows.
Sniggers broke out amongst the small group who understood.
Cassy tilted her head to the side and stared flatly. 'I think you give him too much credit.'
Howls of laughter broke out and even Harry laughed after emitting a strangled whine. Cassy winked at him.
Her success continued through the lesson and by the next, Harry had assigned her to help encourage the others. By the end of it, almost half the room was producing shields in various sizes. By the next lesson, several of them had managed a full, corporeal form. Hermione had been the first. An otter rolled through the air merrily and almost collided with Chang's majestic swan. Stephen had an owl and Astoria was almost there with a large white shield. For the youngest member, she was doing remarkably well. Neville still had issues but was close and Lavender was much the same.
Cassy's dog roamed freely with Harry's stag through the room. It nipped at the otter that tumbled by. It was much easier to produce after practice. It pranced beside Ginny's newly summoned horse as she cheered with Fred and George at the sight of it.
The lessons were going surprisingly well. The difficult piece of magic seemed less troublesome with Harry pacing the room and correcting them with encouraging phrases and tips. The extra work was a break from their increasing homework. With exams approaching, it was considered more recreational than actual work. It balanced nicely in their schedules, particularly with the excitement of discovering their Patronus forms; even when several students had already cracked from pressure and Madam Pomfrey had administered several Calming Draughts, no one seemed to worry when in Dumbledore's Army. Even Harry's results were improving as Easter break approached rapidly.
The fourth lesson had nearly the entire class producing corporeal Patronus. A Jack Russell nipped at the heels of a hare and Ron laughed joyously, while Luna made her hare run higher out of reach with a dizzy smile. Cassy clapped and turned to look at the rest of the class's progress. A large wisp darted past. She jumped out of the way as the form twisted and turned in the air. Huge feet emerged and a long thin tail followed small ears and a bulky body.
'It's a tiger!' squealed Astoria. She jumped in the air and laughed loudly.
'Well done!' beamed Harry, seemingly forgetting he was speaking to a Slytherin. 'That's excellent.'
Astoria grinned madly at Harry before tackling Cassy with a tight, unrestrained hug.
'I actually did it,' she laughed.
'Brilliant,' congratulated Cassy, prying Astoria from her.
Over Astoria's shoulder, she spotted Neville, purple-faced and sweating. His face was screwed up tightly, as though in pain. His wand was outstretched, but nothing was happening. He waved it again and again. No silver vapour emerged. Silently, she approached while elation of Astoria's triumph still rattled the room.
'You are trying too hard,' she said quietly. She pressed the crook of his elbow and gently made him lower his arm.
'I just can't do it,' sighed Neville in defeat. 'I'm not good enough for this.'
'This is advanced magic, so much so that most ordinary witches and wizards cannot begin to summon one, but there is no reason you cannot learn.' She looked at his wand, remembering the old revelation that his was not one for him, but rather his father's wand and frowned for a split second before smiling. 'Try again.'
Neville's shoulders remained slumped and he put up his arm and said, 'Expectro Patronum.'
Nothing happened.
'What's your memory?' she asked.
Neville shifted in embarrassment.
'You were able to create shields last time. You must be doing something differently,' she commented.
After several more attempts, the white wisps returned. It was impossible not to notice the way Neville's eyes turned as he cast, to see who was watching and who had already completed their Patronus. With the sight of each glowing animal, his own effort would waver and disappear before it had a chance to flourish. Cassy turned his by his shoulders and made him face the corner without a word. He mumbled in protest, but as she stared with her hands on her hips uncompromisingly, he soon gave in and focused on the dark corner instead.
The effect was instant. His shield grew and then wavered again at the sound of further cheers. Pursing her lips, Cassy walked around him, her wand pointed at the ground. She drew out a five-foot circle as she walked, covering them with an invisible silencing charm. Inside the dome she had created, there was no noise beyond Neville's own uncertain puffs. Again, he waved his wand. Again and again. Each time was better than the last, until, suddenly, the huge shield did not form, leaving only a thigh-high shape that burst into life. It kicked and jumped into form, revealing a large-horned ram.
Neville made the most unusual noise Cassy had ever heard and he gripped her tightly. She patted him slowly in a clear indication she wanted to be let go while he wrangled them from the silence circle to follow his Patronus.
'I did it, I did it, I did it,' he chanted.
'Wonderful!' came Luna's airy voice. There was a sudden jolt and although Cassy could not turn her head to see, she was fairly certain Luna had attached herself to the hug. 'I knew you were worrying over nothing.'
'Whose is this?' called Dean and the ram leapt by.
'Mine!' cried Neville.
'Well done, mate!' called Dean back.
'I told you you can be a great wizard,' said Harry, approaching from the side.
'You made him blush!' grinned Ginny with her eyes on Neville's face.
Cassy could feel the heat radiating from him. The ram vanished and he let her go, although Luna was still attached to his back.
A cheerful round of applause filled the room, everyone who knew Neville knew he struggled with basic tasks, more often than not due to his own belief he was doomed to fail. He flushed a bright red, turning white at the sudden bang of the door being thrown wide open. Everyone span, wands out and ready to run. The first thought through their heads was that Professor Umbridge had finally found them, yet there was no pink mass standing haughtily in the doorway. Instead, Dobby scurried over to Harry, his ears peeled back and his massive eyes even wider than usual.
'She's coming!' he panted, before smacking himself sharply on the head. 'You must leave.'
Harry quickly grabbed his assaulting hands. 'She? Umbridge?'
'Dobby had to warn Harry Potter,' he whined, obviously struggling with the idea of going against one of the teachers of the school he served.
'Dobby, return to the kitchens and I don't want you to hurt yourself, okay?' said Harry and Dobby Apparated away. He turned to everyone. 'Scatter!'
Immediately, there was a mass rush for the door. Cassy found herself pushed along with the crowd, though she was desperately seeking Harry. It was impossible. She was too small to see over the heads of the others and in their panic no one seemed to care if she was fighting to go in the other direction. An arm suddenly linked with hers. Hermione dragged her to the door and as soon as the two were free from the doorway they sprinted. Dumbledore's Army members spread in every direction, their footsteps thundering down each corridor in panic. Most were most likely heading towards their common rooms, or to well-hidden areas of the castle where no one would notice them disappear to.
They slowed to a quick walk just before entering the double doors of the library. Madam Pince was not at her desk and the two slunk by and hid behind a nearby bookcase. Several other recognisable people rushed in, Susan Bones and Ernie Macmillan, who had to risk many flights of stairs to return to their common room, and Stephen and Astoria, who must have stayed together in the rush. Cassy poked her head out and waved the four over. They gathered quickly with demanding questions and hush voices.
'Who told on us?' asked Macmillan, scandalised.
'We'll find out soon,' promised Hermione darkly. 'The parchment we signed up on was cursed.
'I hope it's a good one then. We could have all been expelled,' hissed Astoria, her hands on her hips instead of being the slightest bit shocked by the enchanted paper.
'If they know I'm part of it, my aunt might get into trouble at the Ministry,' fretted Bones.
Cassy ground her teeth together. Her face remained neutral, but she could not help but wonder what had happened to the others. If any of them were caught it would be trouble, but if Harry was expelled then it would be disastrous. It would mean the Ministry could claim he had been lying about Voldemort's return and was truly nothing more than a troublemaker.
'The library is closing,' called Madam Pince as she passed.
With low murmurs, everyone went their separate ways again. Now that Madam Pince had seen them in the library and ten minutes had passed since their initial escape, they were all quietly confident that they could not be assumed to be part of the army. After all, it was now curfew and it was perfectly acceptable to be leaving the library late during revision season.
The common room was almost silent. There was the faintest of mutterings and the crackle of the fire, but no one dared speak any louder than a whisper. Neville jumped at the sight of the girls.
'Harry?' he asked.
Cassy frowned. Beyond his shoulder was Ginny with a worried frown.
'I last saw him closest to you,' she replied. Her stomach dropped an inch as she scanned the room.
'I thought he would be with you!' stated Ginny.
Cassy's eye flicked to the door. Harry had the cloak so they could sneak back late at their own leisure after the lesson and she risked being caught too if she went without it. She sank into one of the chairs and exhaled slowly.
It was all over if he had been found. He would be expelled, Dumbledore's Army would be finished, and all their efforts in clearing his name would be for nothing. No one would support someone who could no longer practise magic.
No one from the association went to bed. They lingered around the common room uncomfortably for the better part of an hour, the air so tense that any unsuspecting Gryffindor caught wandering through quickly retreated again silently. It was not until the clock struck ten that the portrait hole opened. Panic rang through the room, fuelled by the expectant fear of Professor McGonagall accompanying Harry to collect his belongings for a long, late night train home. However, there was no Professor McGonagall. Just Harry. Cassy leapt from her seat and enveloped him in a tight hug a second later. She was too relieved to be concerned with the eyes watching the affectionate gesture. He gripped her just as tightly; there was no trembling to suggest he was expelled or hurt. She pulled back and asked him what happened and the room was silent around them.
He ran a hand through his hair. 'Dumbledore's been sacked.'
Silence. Loud cries of protest then echoed through the room.
'They were going to expel me, but he said he had created it. "Dumbledore's Army," he said belonged to him and that he had organised for me to teach them. I was let off and Fudge tried to have Dumbledore arrested, but he knocked them all to the ground with this silver flash and then he vanished with Fawkes,' he explained. 'Percy had already gone to give a report to the Daily Prophet, though.'
'Percy?' hissed Ginny.
'As in our traitorous brother?' growled Fred.
Harry nodded slightly.
'Who was the traitor?' asked Seamus.
Harry scowled. 'Marietta, Cho Chang's friend.'
The room finally exploded with noise.
Quickly and subtly, Harry tugged Cassy's elbow and pulled her aside. Ducking low to her ear, he said, 'Dumbledore knocked Umbridge, Fudge, and Dawlish out and then told me he isn't going into hiding; he's going to make Fudge wish he had never made him leave Hogwarts. Kingsley changed Marietta's memory to make her believe it was the first meeting of the DA before she was interrogated to avoid more trouble. I'm so angry, though.'
Cassy bit her lip, fully aware of how close Harry had been to being expelled.
'I know Edgecomb's mother is in the Ministry, but to crack as she did…' she muttered.
'I thought Cho would have better friends,' grumbled Harry.
Cassy wondered if he was thinking of Cedric again.
'Anyway,' sighed Harry heavily, 'I'm going to bed. Feel free to tell the others the truth.'
He swooped down and kissed her before vanishing up the boys' staircase, unlikely to be able to sleep but unwilling to answer any more questions. Cassy was left with the dreadful knowledge that if Professor Dumbledore was gone, the next person likely to be headmaster was none other than Professor Umbridge.
It's been a hectic few weeks for me, but I should be able to update every week from now on. I am even 2/3 of the way through planning Year Six! I'm actually enjoying planning the next year because there is just a lot less going on than this year. There are so many things that happen in OotP that it makes writing the year slow and difficult sometimes. Next year should be much easier and enjoyable, fingers crossed.
The reason I chose a malamute it because they are very beautiful dogs, large by most standards, stubborn, and needs constant stimulation before they become destructive. I know this because I have two of them. I wanted Cassy to match Sirius to some extent and I thought a large breed of dog would be good, so they are not exactly the same, but similar enough. Sirius' is described as large and shaggy, whereas Cassy's dog is large, long-haired and well groomed. Long-hair on malamute is a genetic 'fault', so I thought this would represent their outlooks a little bit. Although Cassy is small in size, she has an eye-catching persona and if you've seen malamutes about, you probably know they're impossible to ignore.
For Neville, I chose a Ram due to their connotations to innocence despite their ability to fight and defend. They are usually considered unintelligent, although they are really just below pigs, so they can be clever. They are also docile and prefer herds too. I thought that suited him quite well. I couldn't find if J. K. Rowling had given him one online.
Thanks!