Chapter 5: First Impressions
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Dueling 101
Neville Longbottom fidgeted nervously as he watched his newest friend ignore Professor Lockhart while the latter was questioning the former. He winced visibly as Lockhart screamed himself hoarse to get the attention of the Hufflepuff. Glancing around, he noticed that everyone else in the class was paying attention to the rapidly approaching confrontation.
"Mr. Potter! What is the first step during a Dueling Match?" Harry looked dead on, his gaze going straight through the blustering man in front of him.
"Answer the question, Mr. Potter!" Lockhart was turning purple now.
"If you don't know the answer it's perfectly alright to say so, you know!" Harry still refused to acknowledge his very existence, which started to make some of the Hufflepuffs nervous. The Gryffindors were looking at him with some admiration for his gall, or brashness as the Ravenclaws called it. The Slytherins eyed him with interest, wondering what he was up to.
"Potter! That's it! Fifty Points from Hu-"
"The first step to a formal dueling match is to bow to your opponent as a sign of respect. You are then to wait for the referee to count to three, after which you will do your best to disarm, incapacitate, or kill your opponent depending on the match's requirements for victory. In an informal duel, otherwise known as 'fighting for your life', the first step is to assess the situation. If you are outnumbered, the best choice is usually to flee. If that proves impossible, you may call for help and attempt to hold out, or launch a rapid assault to break the enemy's equilibrium." Harry answered suddenly, interrupting Lockhart and still managing to not look at the man.
Lockhart looked stumped that he knew the answer. "Why did you not answer me at once?" He demanded, glaring at the insolent child.
Harry finally bothered to look at the man, staring him down with his eyes. Lockhart involuntarily shivered under his gaze. "Because, Gilderoy, I was gathering my thoughts." He answered dryly, twirling his wand casually in his right hand. "Is there anything else?"
"Next time, I would appreciate it if you said you were thinking instead of ignoring me pointedly. And that's Professor Lockhart to you." Lockhart was about to drop the issue when the next few words from Harry successfully provoked him again.
"Whatever you say Gilderoy." Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Ten points from Hufflepuff!" The Hufflepuffs collectively groaned, while everyone else in the room cheered.
"Harry, shut up! We're never going to win the House Cup at this rate!" Hannah hissed beside him. Harry just gave her a look that screamed "Do I look like I care about the stupid cup?"
"Gilderoy?"
"What is it Potter!" Lockhart snapped. "And another ten points for your insolence."
Harry, not bothered in the slightest by the punishment, continued. "Why are you teaching this class? I thought Albus Dumbledore or Filius Flitwick would teach. Hell, even Severus Snape would have been a good choice. All of them are accomplished duellists. The same cannot be said for you, I'm afraid."
"I'll have you know that I am a very good duelist."
"Really? How many dueling circuits have you entered? A dueling circuit is, by the way, a tournament that employs the Round Robin method instead of the elimination format."
"I know what a circuit is!" Lockhart frowned. "And, technically, none yet."
"Hmm is that so? Alright, how many National or International Duelling Tournaments have you won?" Harry asked, watching him with scorn.
"I...um...I've never won one either."
Harry propped his chin lazily on his hand, unfazed by his answers. "Really? Not even one?" Harry asked in mock surprise. "Well, how about local tournaments?"
"What's your point Potter?" Lockhart asked, glaring at the upstart.
"Albus Dumbledore has won three international dueling circuits. He also has immense battlefield experience from facing Grindelwald and Voldemort. Filius Flitwick is a renowned international duelist. Having won two international dueling circuits, and the World International Dueling Championship, not to mention countless local, regional, and national tournaments, it is not surprising. As for Severus Snape, he won the Glasglow Open, and qualified for the English Nationals. The reason he did not continue was to fight in the war against Voldemort." Harry recited. "A war, Gilderoy, during which you spent your time hiding abroad."
"Ten points for that accusation Potter!"
Harry tilted his head to the side. "Not that I care about the points, but Hogwarts's rules state you cannot take points away for a student telling the truth. You were in Egypt, were you not between the years of 1975 to 1981? If I recall correctly, the Ministry had sent you there, but you were declared missing in action. It was during this time that you claim you did most of your 'adventures'. So not only did you hide, you also forsook your country when the Ministry ordered the Egyptian Expedition to be recalled to help in the war." Harry stated, scoffing. "And by the way, claiming you defeated some magical creatures doesn't qualify you. It just means you're a good animal hunter, at best. That's hardly the same as fighting another magically endowed individual."
"Alright Potter. If you think you're such a hotshot, then step up here with me and let's have ourselves a mock duel. If you wish to be humiliated, I will be happy to help." Lockhart taunted.
Harry smiled sweetly at the Professor. "Your terms?" He asked, stepping onto the platform.
"We duel 'til one of us is knocked out. Take up your stance, Potter." He spat vehemently.
Harry bowed mockingly, shooting the blonde a cocky grin, before standing upright. As he expected, a silver stream of light was already making its way towards him. Behind it, he could see its caster smirking triumphantly at him.
With disinterest, Harry raised his left glove, leaving the spell hovering in midair, before vanishing. "A memory charm...how...distasteful." Harry drawled. Before Lockhart could cast another spell, Harry had sent two towards him.
"PROTEGO!" A dark red shield appeared before Gilderoy, deflecting the two cutting spells to either side.
Ready to launch his own counterattack, Lockhart dropped the shield, only to have to sidestep another incoming Diffindo. It shot past him, and hit the table behind. As if on cue, the three tables hit by the cutting spells collapsed in synchrony.
Lockhart paid them no heed, and returned his attention to the upstart. "Checkmate, Gilderoy."
"What are you-" Before he could finish, the random severed parts of the three tables slammed into the man from three sides, knocking him out instantly.
The room became deathly , someone spoke up. "What the bloody hell just happened?"
Harry glanced at the perpetrator, annoyed. "That, my dear blind friend, was me beating Blondie. Really now, keep your eyes open, or you'll miss all sorts of things."
He turned his attention to the class. "Well, that was a rather poor example of a duel, but it will have to do I suppose. Anyone else up for a round?" Unsurprisingly, no one rose to the challenge. "No one? Really?" Harry frowned, shaking his head in disappointment. "It is a sad day when Gryffindors do not charge brashly into action."
Neville snorted. "This coming from the guy who provoked a teacher to fight him?"
Harry raised a brow at him. "I'll have you know this was a calculated risk on my part. I didn't just decide spontaneously to fight him."
"What was the point of this anyway?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged. "Partly for the heck of it. I was bored so I had to think of something interesting to do. Partly for a practical demonstration so you lot can learn something in this class. Who can tell me what he did wrong?"
"He didn't watch his surroundings. And he paused in casting, giving you an opening. You, on the other hand, kept laying the pressure so he couldn't regain offensive momentum." Neville answered, a pensive look settling on his face.
Harry nodded. "That's right. Another mistake of his was being too sure. He didn't bother moving or using proper form in the fight, and it limited his movement when I send those tables to crush him. Never underestimate your opponent." Harry said emphatically.
"What makes you such an expert in Duelling, Potter?" Someone asked haughtily.
"Would you care to go a round Nott?" Harry asked politely. He smirked when the boy shook his head. "I'm not claiming to be an expert. I just know more than that incompetent teacher of ours."
"Harry! You'll get in trouble for insulting teachers! We could lose the House Cup!" Harry looked for the source of the voice, identifying it as Susan Bones.
He shrugged. "So what? It's just a stupid cup." Everyone stared at him, dumbfounded. "Think about it. What do you get when you win the cup? Bragging rights during the train ride back home? Your house colors hanging in the Great Hall for one night? Showing your superiority over the other houses?" The students nodded hesitantly at each point he enumerated.
"And you think that is worth being a teacher's pet for an entire year?" Harry asked, standing up. There were even fewer heads nodding now. "The point system as created to award those who follow the rules, even the stupid ones. The cup is nothing but a glorified goblet, and not a very expensive one at that. You don't even get to take it home. If you really want your house colors on the Great Hall, just arrange it with a prank. The Weasley twins do it every other week!
"As for your bragging rights, there's not much of a point is there?" Seeing their confused looks, Harry continued. "Malfoy, do you have any friends outside Slytherin?"
"Of course not." He spat.
"So chances are you don't sit with any non-Slytherins during the train ride back home?" Draco frowned at him, nodding.
"Macmillan, how about you? Or you Finnegan?" Each one in turn confirmed they rarely sat with any outside their house. "See my point? You don't see them because you don't sit with them. Who are you supposed to brag to? Your fellow housemates who also won the cup with you?" He asked sarcastically. "Fact is, pretty much all of you waste that opportunity as well. As for showing 'superiority', the only thing you show is how you are more obedient then them." Harry paused then added an afterthought. "That or how much of a suck-up you are. It doesn't prove your acclaimed superiority in intelligence, magical or physical strength, skill, courage, loyalty, cunning, or even social status!
"Face it, the cup is a stupid gimmick that the Headmaster got all of you caught up in." Harry finished triumphantly as he saw many pondering over his words seriously. His exulted feeling was destroyed by what happened next.
"I still want the cup!" Someone shouted form behind. A chorus of affirmation followed.
Harry groaned to himself, walking back to his seat. "I study with the bloody sheep." He muttered. He felt a sudden throbbing pain below his ribs.
"Watch what you say." Hannah hissed again, confirming she did indeed elbow him. Harry shot a dark look at her, before walking out.
We need a new Duelling instructor whom I hope is competent. It'd be real bothersome if I have to keep knocking out a new teacher everyday in order to learn something around this freaking school. I mean come on, it took me four spells to knock out this idiot. Even at my state, I could probably cast fifty average strength spells in a fight.
"Harry, where are you going?" Neville shouted behind him, breaking his musing.
"To my next class. I've got Transfiguration with the Lions." Harry called back.
"Oh, alright." A few minutes passed before he realized what his friend just said. "Wait a minute I'm in Gryffindor!" Neville realized, running after his friend. The rest of the class came to similar conclusions and began running out the room to get to their next class, leaving their unconscious and battered instructor alone to sleep.
Transfiguration
"Class, welcome to Transfiguration." McGonagall stated obviously. "Today, we will attempt an inanimate to living transformation. The key to transfiguration, as all of you should be aware of, is intent and will. Ms. Bones, would you care to tell us what the first step of Transfiguration is?"
"Um...know...what you want to do?" She half asked, half said.
"Are you asking me or telling me Ms. Bones?"
"The first step is 'know what you want to do'." She answered more certainly this time.
"Very good. Who can tell me the other three steps?"
"Visualize what you want to do. Intend what you want to do. Do it." Harry said, raising a finger for each step.
McGonagall smiled kindly at him. "Very good, Mr. Potter. Ten points to Hufflepuff. I see you inherited your father's talent. Class, you must transform your desks into sheep before the period ends. Begin."
Harry watched disinterestedly as his classmates tried - and failed - to do the assigned work. After fifteen minutes, a student ran in the classroom, handed McGonagall a note, and ran off again. Harry turned his attention to the stern woman as soon as he heard her footsteps drawing closer to his desk. "Is there something I can do for you?" He asked, brow raised.
"Why are you not doing your assigned work?"
Harry waved his wand lazily over the desk, instantly turning it into a sheep. An instant later, he halted his use of magic, thereby reverting the animal back into the oaken desk automatically. For effect, Harry knocked on the desk twice. "I see you have mastered it. Now, perhaps you can explain why I just received a report from Professor Lockhart that you disrespected him in his class?" She asked, her voice becoming rather shrill.
"It's not disrespect if I tell him the truth. Is it my fault the truth hurts? The man's an adult for goodness sake. If he can't handle facts than I don't think he's fit to be in this school at all."
"What happened." She demanded more than asked.
"I asked him what his qualifications were. When he could not answer properly, he challenged me to a duel. As I am here unharmed, I think we can safely assume I beat him soundly in that."
"And if he decides to sue you for libel or assault? What then, Mr. Potter?"
"Then he would be a greater idiot than I thought he was. If he makes this publicly known, people will question how he did his so called 'achievements' if he got beat by me, a fourteen-year old. Libel is not a case since I can prove everything I said using Public records and books he published himself. As for assault, it has the least credibility to it. According to Pureblood traditions and Wizengamot ruling, anything goes in a duel. If I chose to off the man, no one would bat an eyelash in court. Certainly not the Malfoys or the other conservatives. They'd be hypocrites to do so."
"You're rather sure of yourself aren't you? Well, just be careful. I'd hate for a student as promising like you to be brought down because you were too brash." McGonagall went to supervise the other students, leaving her "prodigy" alone.
Harry watched her leave, then examined his gloves. Sighing, he grabbed his wand and began engraving more runes onto the gloves in an even larger circle.
Herbology
The combined group of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors trudged through the dirt to get to the Greenhouses. Professor Sprout was waiting for them outside, as usual. Somehow, Harry found himself walking at the front of the group, accompanying his overzealous Gryffindor friend, Neville. "I think you're going to really like this class Harry." He said, practically bouncing up and down.
"We're going to learn how to murder people using plants. What fun." Harry answered dryly.
Neville frowned at him. "Not everything in Hogwarts is teaching you how to murder people."
"Defense Against the Dark Arts teaches you how to defend yourself form being murdered, preferably by murdering the guy before he can off you. Transfiguration is hiding the body. Charms is about making it seem like suicide. Potions deals with the cloak and dagger routine, and Herbology teaches you the au naturale method. History of Magic tells you of all the past killing methods to give you some ideas. Arithmancy lets you compute the probability of success. Ancient Runes is about making the death seem 'mystical'. Care of Magical Creatures is so you can blame creatures for what you did. That or sicking dangerous animals on your unfortunate victims. Muggle Studies so you can use conventional Muggle weaponry, which is much more effective mind you. Muggles are killing machines. They've turned it into an art. Oh, and Divination is so you can predict the best way to kill them. Did I miss anything?"
Neville rolled his eyes as his quirky friend ranted about Hogwarts being a school of murder. "Aren't we morbid?"
"I'm just saying, Hogwarts is a school for magical assassins. Every subject literally helps, in some way, to empower you to kill."
"Alright, what about Astronomy?" He asked smugly.
"Um...sending people to die in outer space?"
Neville smirked at him. "You can do better than that."
Harry chose to ignore him for the rest of the class. Even though they were partners.
Lunch
"Hey, Potter."
Harry turned to the source. "Really Hannah? I'm back to Potter? Just the other night you called me Harry. And I thought we had something special." Harry sighed wistfully.
"Well that was before you lost us thirty points on your first day of classes." She growled. Cedric spun around, looking at him in horror.
"You lost us thirty bloody points?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Seriously? We've been over the point system being a teacher's pet contest. Besides, cut me some slack, I got ten points from McGonagall didn't I? And a further twenty because I was teamed up with Neville during the Herbology practical."
"Whatever. Justin and Ernie wanted me to ask you if you wanted to join our study group."
"Why didn't they ask me personally?"
"I doubt anyone is going to talk to you for a while after that stunt you pulled with Lockhart."
"You're talking to me." Harry pointed out.
"That's because I'm not scared of you."
"But I sense angry at me. Why?" Harry stared at her, before his eyes widened in realization. "You're mad because I showed up Lockhart aren't you? You actually had a crush on the man!" He concluded smugly.
Hannah turned beet red and scowled at him. "Just one question though Hannah. Did you like him because of his smile or his hair?"
"If you weren't so bloody good at dueling I'd hex you right now." She muttered darkly.
"But I'm very good at it, so you won't anyway." Giving Harry her customary goodbye scowl, she left.
"Is that scowl permanent Hannah? Because you look a lot prettier when you're smiling." Harry called out to her retreating form cheekily.
"Was taunting her really necessary?" Cedric asked.
"No. But it was fun."
Cedric nodded. "Right, well, Quidditch tryouts will be this afternoon, after last period. Do you have a broom?"
"Nope. I'll just borrow a school broom."
"Those aren't exactly reliable."
"It'll make things more interesting a the very least."
Potions class proved to be an interesting affair with the Ravenclaws, especially since Snape's first words to Harry weren't "You look like your father. I don't like your father."
Instead they were "Twenty points to Hufflepuff, Mr. Potter."
"Is it for my dashing looks, my megawatt smile or my charisma?" Harry asked.
"Its for wiping the floor with the blonde idiot." Snape said, ignoring his jibes.
"You're awarding him points for attacking a teacher?" Hannah asked incredulously.
Snape paused, as if to think it through, then decided. "Yes, I suppose I am. Let's call it 'for showing remarkable ingenuity, courage, and skill in the face of uncertain odds' and leave it at that. Good work, Potter. I'm sure you're father will be proud. Beating up a teacher on your first day."
"Yes, I was thinking of him when I planned it. Thought he'd find it interesting. My mum will probably kill me though. By the way, they send their regards. Is the wedding still a go?"
"We're pushing through with it." Snape answered, noticing that the class's attention was solely on their conversation. "Alright, today we will be brewing..."
Harry automatically tuned him out. Ok, so Snape isn't a a git to me at least. That's good.
Charms proved to be amusing, in contrast to the relatively peaceful Potions class. Without the snide remarks or the glare of doom, most of the students managed to brew "acceptable" potions. Although it wouldn't be potions if at least one Cauldron didn't blow up. I mean where would Snape get his entertainment during class if he didn't purposely sabotage someone's work just to see if they could fix the damage?
No, in contrast, Charms was much more rowdy and destructive. "Class, today we will be reviewing animations!" Flitwick squeaked. He waved his wand, and hundreds of toy soldiers appeared before him on the floor. "Animation is a complex part of charms, and it is very difficult. I expect most of you to have mastered it by now, especially since we've been practicing since last year." With a swish, the toy soldiers snapped to life, standing at attention before the professor. Another swish, and they began marching by rank and file. "You're task for today is to animate enough toy soldiers to defeat the ones I've already animated. First house to get a soldier to touch me wins! Let the games begin!" He said, standing on his table excitedly.
Instinctively, students clumped up together by house and began grabbing for various toys strewn around the classroom to animate. Moments later, the classroom became a veritable battlefield, with plastic arms and legs strewn across the floor. In the midst of all this, Harry watched the students attempt to break through the ring of plastic men-at-arms. After a good thirty minutes of doing nothing, Harry noticed that the Slytherin soldiers and the Hufflepuff soldiers were no attacking each other, the Professor's animations had been powered down. Now, it was a fight for dominance between the two houses.
"Harry, stop doing nothing and help us!" Hannah shrieked.
Harry raised a brow at her. "I was under the impression that you were angry at me?"
"If you help us win, I'll forgive you. Now animate those toys quickly!"
"Wow, Hufflepuffs really take this pride thing way too seriously. Besides, what makes you think I know how to animate? I wasn't hear last year to learn remember?"
"You're a bloody prodigy! You're mother is Lily Potter. Figure it out!"
Harry sighed. "Really Hannah, your swearing is unbecoming of a lady. Didn't your mother teach you better manners?" Harry asked, wagging a finger at her. Flicking his wand, he levitated a toy soldier and banished it towards the diminutive professor, smacking him in the forehead.
The classroom went silent for the umpteenth time that day because of something Harry might or might not have done. Then, the most unexpected thing happened. "Very good, Mr. Potter! An excellent example of thinking outside the box! Using previously learned charms to compensate for your inadequate education to win! Twenty points to Hufflepuff."
Harry groaned to himself. "At this rate, I'm going to win the suck up cup by myself." He muttered.
Hannah frowned at him. "Most people would be proud of that fact."
"I'm not most people."
And by Ancient Runes, everyone in school knew of what Harry had did to Lockhart.
"Mr. Potter! I've been expecting you all day!" The unknown professor said. "But where are my manners? I am Professor Bathsheda Babbling. I've heard quite a lot about you."
"All good things I hope."
"Oh, I don't care much or your reputation as a troublemaker."
"Troublemaker?"
"The Lockhart incident, Mr. Potter. While I don't approve of your actions, I will not deny your invention intrigues me. If you don't mind, I was quite hoping to get a chance to look at your gloves!"
Harry extended his hands so she could inspect said instruments. "Simply marvelous! Your mother helped I suppose?" Harry nodded dumbly to the Professor, taken aback by her eagerness. "Yes, yes, brilliant design. Excellent rune use." She stopped her musings, and stared Harry in the eye. "You will do quite well here Mr. Potter. Speak to me sometime this week and we can begin discussing your creations and how to improve them."
Harry bowed slightly at the praise. "Thank you, Professor."
She turned her attention back to the class and frowned. "There are less of you than I expected. Where is Ms. Granger?" Harry looked around. There were only six of them in the class currently, professor included.
"I heard she was in the Hospital Wing. Some mishap during Ravenclaw Potions." A boy who donned the Ravenclaw robes answered.
"Very well. Thank you, Mr. Goldstein."
After the last class had ended, Harry had come to several conclusions. Firstly, Lockhart was smarter in this world in a "I will crush you by destroying your reputation" kind of way. The man was definitely a Slytherin, given his preference to use social and political methods instead of open confrontation. Second, his professors were of two minds on the matter. Some, like Snape, openly approved of his actions. Others denounced him for it. Yet all of them were impressed in one way or another. Third, the changes in this world were vast. Many small details escaped him, and not all the changes could be found in books. And lastly, Harry was born for Quidditch.
"Alright! Everyone gather around!" Cedric ordered. "I want all Chasers in the air now! Five laps around the field!" Five figures hastily broke away from the main group and took to the air to as was instructed. Whilst flying, Cedric's words to the others faded over the sounds of the rushing wind. Adjusting his grip on the Comet 360 he had "borrowed" from the school, he accelerated to full speed.
So if there are five of us, then I only need to beat two others to get in. Let's see...we have Preece, Macavoy, Appleby, and Summers. Preece is a veteran so he's a shoe in. Same goes for Summers. Macavoy has some talent, and Appleby is pathetic.Harry thought disdainfully, speeding past that player in particular.
After the laps, they proceeded to the shooting portion. "Chasers, each of you try to make five shots past Fleet. We'll start with Preece."
Harry watched each of his fellow Chaser aspirants go through the motions of catching, then shooting the ball, observing them all the while. Preece had made four shots, and his last one missed by chance. Summers, unsurprisingly, got a five, while Macavoy received a four after failing to catch a pass that was thrown too high. Appleby made two shots and completely missed the others.
"Potter! You're up!" Immediately, the first Quaffle went soaring into the air, aimed to arrive a few meters in front of Harry. Without a thought, he sped up to catch the Quaffle. Without even blinking, he executed a barrel roll to confuse the Keeper and threw the ball into the right most hoop. As soon as he had released, another Quaffle came rushing towards him. With the Keeper out of position, it was an easy thing to make the ball go through the left most hoop. The third shot went through the center after Harry had faked. With the fourth, Harry decided to be a bit more gutsy with his shots, and charged the Keeper head on. The nervous Keeper kept his ground and prepared for impact, but at the last moment, Harry pulled up sharply, and threw the ball past the surprised Keeper.
Unfortunately, the next Quaffle thrown was too low. Cursing himself for his luck, Harry analyzed the situation. Without hesitation, he locked his feet together, and at the same time, put his weight towards his left. It resulted in his body rotating around the broom, and with the palm of his hand, Harry managed to redirect the Quaffle into a hoop.
Harry could feel his heart throbbing in his chest rapidly. He had did it. He managed a perfect score. Around him, Harry suddenly felt very conscious as everyone in the Pitch had stopped to watch his last move.
"Bloody Hell Potter! You got guts for trying to pull that off!" Preece cried. "If that doesn't get you into the team, I'll eat my hat." The veteran Chaser said, shaking his hand. The other Chasers swarmed him, congratulating him for pulling off such a risky move. Had he timed it wrong, the heavy ball would have hit him squarely in the face, crushing bones, knocking him off his broom, and possibly ruining his smile!
AN: Some of you might be wondering how Harry can be a "prodigy" when I've previously said he was magically weak. Well, doing magic like Transfiguration or Charms requires more control over your magical core rather than needing a lot of power. In this case where his core is weaker, it actually makes controlling magic easier. Besides, Magical strength is only considered when you need to cast a particularly strong spell (the Unforgivables, "Epic Spells", spells that are overpowered to provide greater effect, large scale or area of effect spells) or a spell that needs to be channelled (like shield charms). Aside from his greater control, Harry still has his years of education in Hogwarts and apprenticeship under Flamel form his past life, giving him a huge edge.
Someone left a review telling me that the length of my chapter is directly proportional to the number of review I receive per chapter. Since I made this chapter the longest so far, does that mean I will get more reviews? Let's test the hypothesis.