The Half Blood Prince Revealed
Summary :
Harry's summer before sixth year is no different from the others. Around every corner surprises, good and bad, and adventure of all kind await. And it looks like the gods have finally granted Harry a possibility for a nicer life. What will this mean for his 6th year at Hogwarts ?
General Disclaimer :
I am just playing in the sand of JKRowling's literary produced beach and am attempting to build my own sandcastle for others to enjoy.
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37 Return to some routine
After the first week of classes where they'd had very little other than introductions and overviews for the various subjects the second week turned out to be anything but easy.
Not really knowing what was expected of them most students had interpreted the meaning of "studying ahead" in different manners: from the extreme like Hermione who - as usual - had learned her textbooks by heart to the relaxed and easy "I skimmed through the pages" from some students. Harry found himself to be among the 'above average' group and was quietly relieved that his efforts yielded the results they did. If not, the future of the DA sessions would have been bleak.
Fortunately for some students the teachers showed some leniency in these first sessions but Professor McGonagall especially clearly indicated that attitude would not last.
Monday afternoon the class on Basic Healing started out innocently enough but some ten minutes before the end Madame Pomfrey mentioned the spell they'd talked about the previous Thursday.
"It has always been assumed that novices or students in the basics of Healing Arts had no need of a time-freezing spell that can be used on patients, as they would not be confronted with serious cases until they were more advanced in their studies.
However, Mr Potter mentioned last week that maybe exactly those people, indeed the general public, would be most helped by knowing said spell."
She explained the use and workings of the spell in what little detail she could share and continued from there.
"Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to teach you this spell at this moment, as it is protected under the Professional Secrecy Act of 1694 but I have already taken steps in order to get it out from under that restriction. As soon as I get approval I shall teach you immediately."
Harry was wondering if maybe two spells could exist. After all, when he'd talked to Mr Black last Friday about his classes the ghost had told him the spell they used to use and had even been able to come up with the old book where the spell had been explained in minute detail, including several possible side effects, a curse that would in time be deadly if used on a patient under the effect of the spell, ways of detecting the use of the deadly curse and the counter curse to undo it.
"Madame Pomfrey, are there two similar spells ? I was told about Aevum Temporalis Clinica this weekend so that one wouldn't be classified, would it ?"
With indignation and even a little worry in her voice, Madame Pomfrey exclaimed "Mr Potter, who told you ? He or she could be struck off the Healer's list for that."
Harry almost laughed out loud at the idea and had trouble to keep his merriment out his voice when he said:
"That would be difficult since he's been a ghost for ages."
In the short silence that fell Hermione's sputtering was audible and both Harry and Madame Pomfrey turned her way. The two girls in the room bore the look of people completely baffled by the happenings around them. Madame Pomfrey was obviously thinking aloud when she said under her breath:
"A ghost told him … They look like they didn't hear. Just maybe …"
Harry in the mean while took pity on Hermione and Daphne and asked them how much they'd heard only to find they hadn't heard a thing.
"It was really weird, Harry, we could see your lips move, and from the look on Madame Pomfrey's face it was clear that she heard you, but I, we, didn't."
So Harry explained about the Professional Secrecy Act that prevented wizards and witches from talking about a whole array of spells and charms used in magical professions, but that it looked like there may be a small loophole in the system through the ghosts. He explained he'd spoken to a ghost during the weekend that was able to tell him all about the spell but how it looked like he himself was now bound by the secrecy act.
Madame Pomfrey, reminded by the end-of-class bell that she still had her students present, told them she would look further into the matter and she would keep them updated when and if she had any news. Both Hermione and Harry had finished classes for the day, but Daphne had to go for her DADA session, so the three agreed to talk about it at a later stage.
As they entered the Gryffindor Common Room Harry saw Sir Nick, their House ghost, glide through the wall on the right and look around the room. The idea came to Harry in an instant and he addressed the ghost without second thought.
"Sir Nick, may I ask you a question, please ?"
"But of course, Mr Potter, please go ahead."
"Are you familiar with a spell that slows time for the one the spell is cast on, allowing you to seek any sort of help ?"
"Let me think. Ah, yes! Mr Potter, it's probably the Aevum Temporalis Clinica spell you are after. It's a very tricky one, as you need to have both the speech and gesticulation part just right, which can be especially hard under the kind of circumstances when this spell is most used. Better have lots of practice before you use it in a real situation."
From Hermione's gasp as Sir Nick was speaking, he imagined she too had heard the ghost's words, and a glance to the side only confirmed that suspicion as she was scribbling down the spell.
"Would you consider teaching me and a few of my friends this spell, Sir Nick ?"
"Would I …, but of course, Mr Potter, it would be my pleasure. Imagine, me, a teacher !" chuckled the ghost.
"That's a deal, then. Would the first Friday evening of October suit you, Sir Nick ? That will give the Senior DA time for some revision of last year's spells and charms."
"That's fine by me. It's not as if I've a filled agenda anyway ! I'll see you later, Ms Granger, Mr Potter. Have a good afternoon."
"Goodbye Sir Nick and you too." replied Harry and Hermione in near unison.
They looked at each other and smiled, before Hermione's eyes lit up as she looked at him.
"Harry, that was brilliant thinking. Now I know the Aevum Temporalis Clinica Spell too. I wonder though, … will we be able to talk about it ?"
"Yes, Hermione, we can. You just proved it. I heard you say the spell loud and clear. But I suppose none of the others will hear us when we talk about this."
Hermione immediately went off theorizing on all the possibilities this ghost-teaching could bring, but Harry was quick to stop her in her tracks. While most scholars would agree with Hermione, what with being as eager as she was to gain more knowledge, things wouldn't turn out as positive for the average witch and wizard. Ultimately it could well lead to the disappearance of the professions as such as everybody would be able to learn the specialised spells and charms. In turn this could result in the loss of jobs and thus also the loss of income for the majority of the wizarding community.
Harry suggested leaving things as they were for the moment but check with Dumbledore what the possibilities were. As to the time freezing spell, since Madame Pomfrey was eager to teach them the spell anyway, having Sir Nick teach them first would just speed the process along, something Harry was sure she wouldn't mind.
Later that afternoon Harry took the opportunity to visit the Practice Rooms. Armed with his cheat-sheets for Transfiguration and Charms he introduced himself to the guarding portrait of Mr Cratchit who immediately invited him to call him Bob and found himself directed to a largish classroom that housed no fewer than five portrait frames, even though only the one was currently occupied.
Again he introduced himself to the man in the portrait and told him what he had to practice before asking what he could do to help the portrait help him. Mr Appleby, the man in the portrait, obviously didn't hear that particular question often and was quick to tell Harry so along with a few pointers that would overcome the portrait's lack of vision in 3-D. They worked through Harry's list of spells, with Harry casting the spell first, followed by Mr Appleby correcting his pronunciation, wand movement or even his stance before Harry had another go at it.
They had been working like that for a good while when suddenly a clock indicating the time appeared out of nowhere thus signalling his one hour session in the Practice Room was nearly finished. Harry thanked Mr Appleby for his aid and returned to the Gryffindor Common Room trying to figure out exactly where he'd plant future visits to the Practice Rooms in his already busy weekly schedule.
Tuesday morning's mail brought Hedwig back from London much sooner than Harry had expected and it was therefore with some trepidation that he opened Remus' letter.
Hello Harry,
This is just a quick note as I couldn't wait to tell you about Hedwig. There's no need for you to worry about her – as I know you do – for getting injured or trapped ever again. And how do I know ? Not from witnessing it myself I'm afraid, but the 5 eyewitnesses (one of which is Mad Eye Moody) can confirm the truth to my claim.
Hedwig arrived this morning with your letter and – as I was in the shower when she got here – she headed down to the kitchen to wait for my arrival. One of the newer recruits was sitting there along with Mad-Eye and four others and decided that Hedwig should just give the letter to any of them, rather than waiting on the back of 'my' chair.
So he aimed a rather harmless spell her way, but she evaded that, and continued to dodge the next several ones he sent her way. Mad-Eye described it as "she was teasing him until she was fed up with the game". After a little while Hedwig just landed on the chair again and this time didn't evade his spell coming her way. But rather than having the desired effect though, the spell simply reflected off a shield that appeared around Hedwig. Mad-Eye was quite impressed with the display and was the one to recognise the protection shield.
Anyway, the real beauty was that said young recruit has learned a very valuable lesson – never to mess with Harry Potter, his friends or familiars, as the outcome for him was to be stunned by an owl ! He'll be teased for ages about that !
Anyway, that's it for now. I haven't even read your letter yet but I'll write back by the end of the week.
Take care and have fun.
From all of us here.
Love
Remus
Harry couldn't stop himself from laughing out loud at the mental image he'd gotten from Remus' description and after handing the letter to Neville to read he turned towards his snowy white owl and petted and complemented her on her cleverness, quickly joined by the others as they finished reading the letter. It left him in a splendid mood for the entire day.
During the mid-morning break in Charms on Wednesday Harry had his first shock when Stephen Cornfoot handed him the registration list from the Ravenclaws and was told that the entire house student population not already in the DA had registered for the group.
When talking to his friends over lunch about it Ginny and Colin Creevey confirmed that the same was true for Gryffindor and that it was also to be expected for Hufflepuff house, which was proved right later that afternoon after Wizarding Society when Susan Bones handed him her list.
That's when Harry realised that rather than starting immediately with the proper Teen DA work he'd better try to weed out those only in it for the prestige. The Teen DA group would be too big and even dangerous if not everybody was as motivated. Surprisingly Hermione when told about the developments as she joined them was against discouraging students to join, saying that even a little practice would be good for them, but Neville with a little help from Harry talked her out of that idea pointing out that the Practice Rooms had been opened to all for exactly that purpose.
So as not to give away the location of the DA room to non-DA members too easily, Harry called upon the headmaster's cooperation and after explaining his reasoning, got permission to use the room off the Entry Hall for a first introduction.
The list Tonks handed him after DADA on Thursday with the Slytherin names of those who'd signed up was thankfully a lot smaller. The second and third years were all present as was to be expected, but from the more senior years, not too many had signed on.
By Friday lunchtime Harry had prepared all the invitation letters for those willing to attend any of the three DA sessions and with guidance from Mr Black had created the sign-up sheets for each of the DA sessions. These would not only record attendances but also any misuse the students would make of the spells and charms they learned during the DA that were not on the Hogwarts curriculum.
After a scrumptious lunch eaten at Black Manor he started on his regular schoolwork, and was soon happy he had had the foresight to start on his school work earlier in the week, as he could tell not only the quantity was bigger but also the intricacy of the theory was more complex than the week before.
He stopped work for dinner and joined his friends in the Great Hall and so heard the big announcement that had the younger years humming with anticipation. The headmaster told them about the ins and outs, the do's and don'ts of the Practice Rooms and that they would be getting a tour from one of their teachers tomorrow so to be sure to check the common room message board that evening to see the schedule.
With Saturday afternoon bringing Quidditch try-outs Harry returned to his studies after dinner and by the end of that day Harry was exhausted and could see how he would need to keep up regular work and make sure to organise his workload better if he wanted to get through the school year in one piece.
Saturday morning's potion class had flown by, and as Harry was having his lunch he read through the short note Charlotte had sent with Elijah. It said she was sorry to only send the one list with the inventory of all the presents that were ever sent to him but with her sister-in-law still in her muggle job they'd had had little spare time with all three kids down with severe colds.
Just before one Ginny, Ron and Harry made their way over to the Entry Hall to retrieve their brooms from the Location Locker where they'd stored them that morning and proceeded on from there to the Quidditch pitch for the try-outs.
Ron had posted the announcement for the try-outs last week and the whole house had been buzzing since with the idea of having a reserve team. Harry wondered what would happen when those interested learned of the brand new team brooms that both Gryffindor teams would end up playing with.
With Katie Bell, Ginny and Ron officially the only remaining players on the team they'd need quite a few new players. Knowing their limitations Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirke had indicated that they wouldn't mind helping out again, but that if Ron found someone better they wouldn't be devastated to be kicked off the team. But Ron had talked to them about the reserve team and they'd gladly accepted a spot there if a better couple of beaters came up.
Harry found out just how much work Ron had already put in as Quidditch captain when he explained the procedure to the many hopefuls that showed up. Ron had them all go through a first simple test. After all playing Quidditch required being able to fly and fly well at that.
With a little prior help from Madame Hooch, the twins and Remus – Ron now set up for the first test. Four identical brooms were charmed and placed at equidistance from the three others. Once mounted, the players would be subjected, much like on some of the muggle games or in simulators, to an obstacle course that would test the candidate's flying skills.
Although they themselves would be stationary, they had to follow a quaffle around a pitch, with that difficulty that the quaffle would make unexpected turns or suddenly speed up and that objects, obstacles and people-look-alike's would suddenly appear in the flyer's path. After each turn of the pitch the player would enter a higher and thus more advanced and more difficult level.
A charm cast on the flyer as they set off would monitor their actions and progress and gave Ron an overall score. To give Ron some reference points the five current members of the team would go first on the course, and when all candidates had had their turn the second part of the charm would list the best candidates and even recommend a position for that particular player.
After eliminating the lesser fliers, round two put the candidates up against each other and they were tested on the skills required for their position within the team.
It was well over three hours later before Ron called the try-outs closed and announced that the results would be posted by Monday morning on the Common Room Message Board.
Harry didn't return to his studies on Saturday but instead spent quite some time reading through his course books on Sunday. After lunch Ron called for the aid of the current players to talk about the try outs, with each of them commenting on the short list Ron had made.
Quite a number of first years had tried out and Ron had allowed them to. If they showed great potential they could be put on the reserve team allowing them to gain some good practice before potentially being allowed on the team next year.
What with Harry's busy schedule for the DA sessions, Ron had agreed for Harry to only participate in the practices scheduled on Saturday afternoons. The other session taking place on a weekday evening, which one ultimately depending on the availability of the team members, Harry wouldn't have to attend except in the week before a match. For that reason, Ron had selected two seekers, a first and a second year, so they could join in the practices, and allow two full teams to play.
The main team would stand with Ron, Keeper and Captain, Harry as Seeker, Beaters third years Ritchie Coote and Jimmy Peakes, close friends who played nearly as well as Fred and George and who had grown well over the summer holidays. Chasers would be Katie, Ginny and Demelza Robins who had shown a near instant rapport during the try outs.
The reserve team were largely younger students in an attempt to provide some continuity for the future team when first Katie, and then Ron and Harry would leave the school.
The idea Ron had come up with for the practices was to constantly mingle the players for the main and reserve team so they would all be ready to play in any team-configuration. After all it wouldn't do to practice with Katie, Ginny and Demelza, when the possibility was always there that Ginny would have to play seeker.
When Ron posted the team list late on Sunday evening he included the invitation to a first short team meeting set for Tuesday at eight to discuss the first proper team practice and tell the players of the brand new brooms they'd have at their disposal. Monday morning brought quite some excitement as the Gryffindors read about their newest Quidditch Teams.
By the time Monday evening came around Harry had to admit to feel quite nervous at the idea of speaking to well over a hundred students. After dinner he made his way over to the room Professor Dumbledore had allowed him to use. It wasn't quite that big, but as more and more students arrived, and the room started to get a little crowded Harry noticed it stretched just a fraction, to allow some more breathing space until the next wave of students arrived and the whole expanding process started over. But it happened so gradually that Harry was certain none of the students had actually noticed the enlargement taking place.
No new arrivals had come in the past several minutes so Harry started with the pre-meeting for the daunting crowd of his fellow students.
"Good evening and welcome to the introduction to the Defence Association, also known as the DA." Harry started.
"Before we get properly started with the DA I wanted to give you all a little information on the reason why we started the club last year, what you can expect this year, and a few ground rules to consider before actually joining properly.
When Umbridge made it clear she didn't plan on teaching us any practical defence, my friends and I were not happy, especially knowing that Voldemort had returned, no matter what the Ministry claimed about that. So we decided that we'd practice together, and we'd teach each other. I must admit that the crowd got a bit bigger than I first expected, but it still worked well. We focussed not only on the spells we read about in class, but also on anything that could be handy should we ever have to defend ourselves.
So that's basically it: we will practice spells you've learned in class, learn some that are not in the course books and we'll also look at the ways you can protect and defend yourself while waiting for help to arrive. If you want to join the DA just to get some extra supervised practice, please keep in mind that the Practice Rooms are now open to all and are the more appropriate option for that.
Unlike the other student groups, where participating is a free choice and you can decide on a weekly basis when to join in and when to stay away, the DA must ask for your commitment to not only attend the sessions each week but also to put in some additional personal practice in between sessions. Some spells are so complicated that we'll be spending more than one session on them, and given the amount of participants, individual tutoring is just not possible.
Joining the DA is not to be taken too lightly. For all of you, but for the 4th years among you especially, it will be hard work, and that on top of your regular school work. I will not tolerate shabby work from anyone as it would endanger not only yourself but anyone in your vicinity. So please do consider seriously before actually joining the DA if you are willing and able to commit to the extra work.
Other rules are basic I think: with so many participants we would insist on the common courtesy to be punctual when it comes to the starting time of the DA and we would hope for your cooperation while the DA is in session to help each other out. The idea is also not to use the spells you learn here to actually disrupt classes, flaunt school rules or tease or harm others.
Please once again ask yourself if you are really up for the additional work the DA will bring, and again also take into consideration the newly opened Practice Rooms that are at your disposal if the only thing you really want is some extra practice.
That's about it as far as I am concerned. I'll answer any questions you may have for me but not before I draw your attention to the attendance lists on the table by the door for you to sign before we start the DA proper. Unlike last year there is no nasty hex on there that activates should you talk to someone not in the DA about the DA, but we will be notified when you do use the spells for mischief and mayhem."
Wayne Hopkins, a 6th year Hufflepuff and a bit pompous, asked:
"You just mentioned there are those younger students present in this group. Isn't there a more advanced group for the NEWT students ?"
"While it is true that there are in fact two more groups, one for the second and third year students, the third group are those who participated in the DA last year, who have quite a bit of extra practice under their belt."
"But still, I'm sure the older students here would be just as good …" interrupted Wayne.
"Mr Hopkins, you took your OWLs last summer. May I ask about your DADA score, please ?" said Harry.
"I passed my test !" he replied rather put out at what Harry might suggest.
"The whole school passed their DADA test, Mr Hopkins, but exactly what score did you achieve, please ?"
"I had an A." he retorted.
"The average score for the Senior DA members was an Outstanding, Mr Hopkins, with only a few Exceeds Expectations in the entire list of those members taking either NEWTs or OWLs. Do you really think you'd be ready to join us immediately ? "
Harry continued talking but now looked at all the older students in the group.
"For those of you who are motivated and skilled enough, I had already planned to suggest to take the extra time and make the effort for additional sessions in the Practice Rooms with a view to possibly join the Senior DA after the Christmas break, but I can assure you that will be a hard task !"
One of the fourth years than asked about attendance and Harry explained that missing sessions wasn't really advisable, but that, if warned in advance about an absence due to a detention or illness, the DA could then take that into account and for instance not start with the planned two-session spell, but instead move that to the following week and plan another instead.
When no more questions were forthcoming, Harry indicated that those still interested in joining the DA were best to now sign the attendance list before they would move to the proper DA room.
Most of the seventh years came to Harry to express their regrets. They all agreed that they would really have loved to join in, but that with the workload already associated with their final NEWT year the extra work for the DA would just prove too much. The two seventh years who'd surprised him for signing on for the Teen DA were Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe. They'd waited for the others to finish before approaching him and it was Marietta who started off with apologising. With Marietta's father a late victim of the previous war years her mum was basically a single mum who'd raised her daughter alone. With Umbridge's threats to have her mum lose her job with the Ministry if Marietta didn't tell her about the DA, she'd really seen no other option but to comply. She said she would understand if Harry preferred them not to participate, but that she hoped he would allow them to enter the Teen DA sessions.
Realising she'd been put under similar stress as he'd been he asked them if they wouldn't join the Senior DA instead, but they both declined. Their workload would accommodate this relatively easier option taking into consideration they'd already studied most of it.
By the time they'd finished their talk and those who didn't want to join left, there were only a few left to sign the list and taking this opportunity, Harry sent a Prongs-message to Neville and Ron who were scheduled to help out that evening. Harry then beckoned the newest DA members – all eighty-four of them - to follow him.
Taking the main stairs the group climbed up to the sixth floor where Harry met up with both his dorm mates and he led them along to the newest DA room, showed them the painted guards, told them the password and they all made it inside the room.
Harry then explained about the password only working if he himself was inside, and even then would only allow them in on Mondays, with the guards alerting him if anyone showed up on either of the two other session-days. He also explained about the two helping students and that these would be different students each session before introducing Neville and Ron.
Just like last year's first DA session, Harry started them on the supposedly easy disarming spell. Seeing the mutinous face of Wayne Hopkins as he heard the first spell they were going to practice, Harry quickly selected four of the students and Hopkins himself and told them to disarm one particular student each from the remainder of the DA members. As expected none of them were successful although the fifth year came close to succeeding. Then he asked first Ron and then Neville to demonstrate their version of the disarming spell. So Harry explained how the spell had helped him against Voldemort, and that although most of them would be able to cast it, practice brought strength and accuracy that would be most helpful and could mean the difference between being alive and dead.
Harry divided the group into pairs and then the three supervisors each looked after a third of those pairs, giving pointers and aiding them in correctly casting the spells. After a first round of practice, Harry had the students make observations and ask questions and with answers and more pointers behind their belt he had them going for another practice round. After that second round the three supervisors switched groups and Harry gave a few more pointers to the entire group and then had them practice some more. Before sending the entire group off for the evening, he asked the five students who'd demonstrated before the class to have another go, and their overall success rate was much better. Harry couldn't help but notice though that Hopkins still did not do too well.
Wishing them a good week, Harry let everyone go back to their respective house common rooms before having a short talk with Neville and Ron about their first session. Neville had seen the dirty looks Wayne Hopkins directed in Harry's way several times and had asked about it. When Harry was done explaining about Wayne's question and the answer he'd received, Neville was nodding and remarked the Hufflepuff reminded him a little of Percy in his last years at Hogwarts. They cleared up the room, even though they knew the place would sort itself out, and then walked towards the portrait that acted as the entry-door to their House Common Room.
Ron and Neville made their way inside but Harry continued on to Professor Dumbledore's office to view the pensieve memories of the trial of Peter Pettigrew.
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Author's Note :
Hello everybody,
My apologies for the delay in posting. Where at first lots of work at work was keeping me from writing much lately Real Life hasn't been too kind and I've felt little need or want for writing. Hope you enjoy the new chapter though.
Thanks by the way to all of you anonymous readers who took the time to read my story and find it enjoyable enough to recommend it to others, put it on your update alert list or fav story list or even mark me as your fav writer. Those notices gave me a much needed morale boost.
Anyway, I would love some feedback from you. If you have any questions about the story, please don't hesitate. For a little extra info and pictures I can recommend my yahoo group (for link see profile page).
cheers
kadedeetje