Harry woke to the feeling of warm sheets, the sound of howling wind, and rain lashing against the windows. It seemed a bit less than it was when he'd first arrived, but he still found it enjoyable while he laid in bed. He opened his eyes and sat up, checking his watch, which quietly told him it was one thirty in the morning. He could still feel Rose's magical presence next to him, heard her standing from a chair that she made vanish when she noticed he was awake. Harry climbed from bed and Rose patted him on the shoulder before he created her a magic portal for her to step through, so she could return to her office. Magic must have created the one for him last night, Harry thought, though hadn't been paying complete attention to what she was using their shared magic for.
After dressing for the day, Harry crept from the room and entered the common room, where the fire still burned, though not quite as intensely as before. Walking over to the couch where Magic sat, Harry sat next to her and smiled as she put her arm around him. His desires for experimenting with physical intimacy hadn't gone down, but they weren't as prevalent, either, and he imagined that was a result of him having matured so quickly, though couldn't be sure. Whatever the case was, having Rose watch him sleep seemed to be less of a need now than it had been previously. Since she was still willing to watch him, however, Harry decided to continue having her do so until he was certain he didn't need her presence anymore.
"Hi, Magic." Harry said.
"Hello." Magic replied calmly.
"Good night?" Harry asked.
"Your night was good. My night was good." Magic stated.
Harry smiled, then asked, "Did you create the portal for Rose last night?"
"Yes." Magic stated.
"Thanks." Harry responded, feeling his magic wrap around him and lovingly caress him, slowly and tenderly shifting within him. Magic's right hand rubbed his shoulder very gently.
"I do as you wish." Magic stated.
"That you do." Harry said. "I love you, Magic."
Magic only responded by leaning against him with a calculated movement, and Harry smiled. He sat with her for about a half hour, simply enjoying the warmth of the fire and Magic's tall, strong form. He then leaned his head on her shoulder and let his eyes close, wanting Magic to wake him at five o'clock if he went to sleep. He ended up drifting off to sleep in the comfort of her hold, and at five, Magic's precise taps on his shoulder woke him and he sat up, smiling at her. He stood quietly and Magic stood next to him. Taking her hand, Harry slowly walked from the Gryffindor common room, letting Magic guide him to the Great Hall. At the speed they walked, it took Harry about ten minutes to get there. Once he and Magic were sitting at the Gryffindor table, Harry transported his backpack to him with a thought, hearing mostly silence in the Great Hall. The majority of the storm had apparently blown itself out, Harry thought as he put his hands on the table, touching the empty plate and his silverware that sat in front of him, waiting for breakfast.
"It's strange to be here without anyone else but you." Harry said, hearing his voice echo around the room, now empty of people. Without the students at the tables, the room seemed larger.
Magic said nothing to his statement, but when Harry wanted to know about the storm, she said, "The sky is cloudy. The more active portions of the storm have dispersed."
"Ah." Harry responded.
Harry paused when he realized he could hear footsteps approaching. Given the time, that seemed rather unusual. The identity of the person was quickly known to him, however, as Malfoy called across the hall.
"Potter!" From the tone of his voice, Malfoy sounded rather angry, Harry noted.
"Yes?" Harry asked as he turned to face him.
"Stand up, put that ridiculous shield down and face me like a man, Potter!" Malfoy roared in fury. "I know you did that to my father! You're the only one with the skill to bind magic like that and get him into Azkaban, and you're going to pay, Potter! Do you hear me?"
"No wands." Harry stated as he stood.
"What, Potter, you think you can give me some kind of condition?" Malfoy asked. "What, you think you're going to make me fight like some filthy Muggle?"
"Malfoy, listen carefully." Harry replied as he heard a faint clunking approaching, and realized it was the familiar sound of Mad-Eye Moody's possibly wooden leg. "I'm willing to fight you. But I'm not going to lower my shield and let you have at me."
"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy shouted.
Harry felt the disarming charm hit his magical shield, break it down to raw magic, and feed it into the power of his magic. Malfoy, however, didn't seem surprised by what Harry knew he'd see, the spell being absorbed into seemingly nothing. Harry next heard him shout, "Stupefy! Stupefy! Reducto! Glacius!"
The last spell didn't hit his shield, but instead, blew freezing cold air on the ground at his feet. Harry felt the cold through his shoes, heating the air and dispelling the magic.
"Listen." Harry said as the clunking of Moody's leg grew louder, closer to the Great Hall than before.
"No!" Malfoy shouted furiously. Judging by the fact that Harry imagined Malfoy could hear Professor Moody approaching, and simply continued on, he was either in a more fragile state of mind than Harry realized, or simply didn't care, blinded by grief.
"I'm through listening, Potter!" Malfoy continued in pure fury as Harry noted the clunking stop.
"If you want a fight, I'll fight you." Harry stated coolly. "But I will do so fairly. We won't use ma..."
"Diffindo!" Malfoy shouted wildly. "Incendio! Stupefy!"
Harry's shield absorbed the cutting curse and the stunning spell, and it was a simple matter to douse Malfoy's flames. Harry sighed.
"Malfoy, I..." Harry began.
"I've had enough of listening to you!" Malfoy shouted. "What are you going to do, Potter, bind my magic like you bound my father's magic? Do you know how shameful it is for our family? Because if you don't, I'm going to kill you! So you choose!"
Malfoy's voice was shaking, Harry realized, but didn't doubt that in his current state of mind, he'd probably attempt something. He wasn't surprised. Obviously, Malfoy losing his father, not only to a magical binding that couldn't be broken except by Harry himself, but also to Azkaban, a prison he'd never escape from, had effected him far more than Harry had ever realized it would.
"Stop." Magic stated, but Harry knew it wasn't for him. "The content of that bag will not be touching Harry's plate."
"You get her out of here right now!" Malfoy shouted furiously.
"Why?" Harry asked. "So you can kill me with some type of powder or liquid? Was that your plan, Malfoy, poison?"
Malfoy then did the last thing Harry expected, and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" Even before the incantation was finished, Harry had bound Malfoy's magic.
"Very, very, very unkind." Harry stated coolly, and for effect only, shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" Through his wishes, Magic made a green light shoot from Harry's pointing hand, which hit Malfoy and turned his hair, robes, and even his skin a bright, Slytherin green.
"What have you done!" Malfoy shouted as he jumped toward Harry and bounced off the shield, falling to the ground, but soon got back up.
"Oh, please." Harry stated calmly. "It's only what you'd call a color changing charm. It'll be gone in five minutes. Oh, and I saved you a trip to Azkaban. You never cast that unforgivable curse on me, since I bound your magic before you could. And I won't unbind it until you apologize for what you've done. I know you're grieving. I understand that. But that's no excuse for attempted murder."
"What you did to my father is worse than murder!" Malfoy roared in fury.
"You assume I did it, and yet, you've got no proof what so ever." Harry stated.
"The proof of your ridiculous power's all I need! Now unbind my magic!" Malfoy shouted.
"I think everyone would be safer if I didn't. Don't you?" Harry asked.
As Malfoy stormed off, he shouted, "Anyone with half a brain could make the connection that you're the unspeakable who bound the magic of those people and sent them all, including my father, to Azkaban! And you'll pay, Potter, you mark my words!"
"I think you'll be the one paying, laddy!" Harry heard the gruff voice of an elderly man shout across the hall. "You're coming to the Headmaster's office with me, right now! Potter, Magic, you too, let's go!"
Harry let Magic take his hand, she leading him from the Great Hall. Malfoy was sullenly storming in front of them, and walking at the head of their procession was Professor Moody, with his artificial leg clunking every other step. Harry felt no worry and no concern, as he felt he'd only defended himself against a grieving, and unstable individual.
"Lollipops." Professor Moody stated a few minutes later.
Harry felt the magic of the gargoyle guarding Professor Dumbledore's office as it moved aside, and they stepped on to the spiraling staircase that took them up to the door. Professor Moody wrapped on the door, and Professor Dumbledore said, "Enter."
Harry heard the door swing open, Magic leading him into the office.
"Ah, Alastor, Mr. Malfoy, Harry, and Magic." Professor Dumbledore greeted brightly. "What can I do for you four this fine young morning?"
"Draco Malfoy here just tried to kill Potter." Professor Moody answered gruffly. That was quite to the point, Harry thought, approving of his style.
"Is this true, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
Malfoy said nothing, but Harry heard Professor Dumbledore sigh.
"Potter apparently bound his magic. Maybe Magic did that. Don't know which." Professor Moody stated. "Better he stays that way in my opinion, less of a danger to the students around him. At least he had the decency to face Potter rather than attack from behind."
"And, Mr. Malfoy, just what precipitated this attack?" Professor Dumbledore asked sadly.
"You know exactly what, Professor." Malfoy stated in a vicious tone.
"This wouldn't, perhaps, have anything to do with your father, would it?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"It does." Professor Moody stated. "He was talking about it loud enough to wake half the castle."
Professor Dumbledore's sigh sounded regretful.
"Harry, Magic, can you confirm this?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Yes." Harry replied. "He tried, and failed to use an unforgivable, only because I bound his magic like I did to Umbridge. I didn't really feel like testing my magical shield against that."
"You would have been protected." Magic stated, then added, "Harry's statement is true."
"Then, Mr. Malfoy, I'm afraid that, as of now, you are to be expelled from Hogwarts." Professor Dumbledore stated firmly. "Your wand, if you please."
"I'll never give it to you!" Malfoy shouted in fury.
"Best give it up laddy, or we'll get it by force." Professor Moody stated angrily. "Now what's it to be?"
Malfoy let out a cry, and Harry felt Magic manipulate their magic to form a physical shield around something which let out a bang. He was curious about what it had been, and why she'd done as she had, and Magic stated, "Mr. Malfoy attempted to toss an unknown potions vile at us. In his current state of mind, Mr. Malfoy's actions are best considered threatening. I acted to protect us."
"Good girl, constant vigilance!" Professor Moody roared quite suddenly. Harry jumped a bit.
"As you can see, Mr. Malfoy, you won't be leaving this office. Your wand." Professor Dumbledore stated with a firm coldness to his voice.
A long moment passed before Malfoy shouted, "Imperio!" Of course, nothing happened.
"I see." Professor Dumbledore stated, his voice colder. "Then, we shall do this the difficult way."
Harry heard Malfoy let out a shout of rage, then heard wood snap. He presumed that Malfoy's wand had just been snapped, which he didn't imagine would make him any more amicable. He sighed.
"Alastor, if you would escort Mr. Malfoy from the grounds, please." Professor Dumbledore said sadly. "Fawkes, please give this note to Narcissa Malfoy so she may collect her son."
"I demand my magic be unbound immediately!" Malfoy shouted, reminding Harry of Dudley.
"Why?" Harry asked with a cool firmness to his voice. "So you can fire another unforgivable when you get a wand? Magic, what do you think?"
"It's illogical to unbind Mr. Malfoy's magic. He's likely to find a means of attacking you should you do so." Magic stated. "He is quite unstable and irrational."
"Okay, then." Harry responded. "I'm just fine with that. Goodbye, Malfoy."
Magic pulled Harry to one side as Malfoy and Professor Moody walked from the office. Malfoy said and did nothing, apparently giving up on trying anything, as he knew that anything he did would fail. As the door closed behind them and the sounds of Professor Moody's leg grew fainter, Professor Dumbledore let out a sigh.
"I do so hate expelling people from the school, but..." Professor Dumbledore sighed again. "Harry, while I understand the difficulty of your position, you simply can't bind the magic of people who attempt to kill you."
"Then, should I have let the killing curse hit me?" Harry asked. "I was pretty sure my shield would have absorbed it, but I didn't quite feel like taking any chances with that just then."
"You could have dodged it, I do believe." Professor Dumbledore replied. "My point, Harry, is this. You have an incredible power at your command. The more you show its capabilities in such ways, the more of a target you will become by those who either wish to kill you, or who perceive you as a threat to wizard kind."
"I think it's a little late to hide things like binding magic." Harry stated. "Last year, I showed that power in front of the court."
"You also showed it when you bound the magic of the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup." Professor Dumbledore responded.
Harry felt nothing at the revelation that Professor Dumbledore seemed to know it was him.
"You are, I believe, an unspeakable, Harry." Professor Dumbledore added. "Either that, or you simply decided to take action on your own. However, I prefer the former possibility."
"Unless, of course, a spell was created to bind magic that you're not aware of." Harry said.
"True." Professor Dumbledore responded. "But, the events do lead to the possibility that you are an unspeakable. But, we've gone off the topic of discussion, I do believe. All I ask for you, Harry, is to be careful in the use of your abilities."
"I'm always careful." Harry said after a moment. "But I'm not going to let someone just shoot an unforgivable curse at me, either. If that means binding their magic as I've done with Malfoy, then I'm going to do that."
"I cannot stop you, of course." Professor Dumbledore stated with a sigh. "As a matter of record, Harry, I should tell you that there are those who still wish you expelled, but not for your lack of ability, but for your abilities. There are many who believe you to be far too powerful to attend Hogwarts, that your own natural tendencies toward the use of magic makes it unfair for the other students, as you perform tasks beyond that of any seventh year."
"I'm sure, and not surprised." Harry said.
Nothing was said for a long few moments, then Professor Dumbledore stated, "You may go, Harry and Magic." Silently, Magic turned, tugging Harry with her, and he followed her lead without resistance as she took him from the office. After the gargoyle closed behind them, Harry spoke.
"What do you think, Magic?" He asked.
"You acted logically." Magic responded.
"Well, given the new information, I think it would probably be a good idea if you're more active in your protection of me." Harry said after a moment.
"I'll be as active or inactive in our protection as you wish of me, as you always wish me to be as protected as you." Magic responded. Harry smiled.
"I shouldn't have asked." He said.
"I do all that you wish." Magic stated. "Asking is superfluous."
By the time Harry returned to the Great Hall, there were some breakfast dishes on the tables. Smiling, he let Magic lead him to the Gryffindor table, sat, then dished himself something to eat. As he and Magic began to eat, Harry heard the clunking sound of Professor Moody's wooden leg as he drew closer to the doors. After he entered the Great Hall, Professor Moody stated, "Potter, Magic, I expect your vigilance to continue or I'll be taking points."
"I've already learned the lesson of constant vigilance, Professor." Harry responded. "As for Magic, she'll do whatever I want her to do."
Professor Moody said nothing more, and Harry heard him walk to what he presumed was his chair at the teacher's table. Gradually, students began entering the Great Hall to eat. It was about a half hour before Harry was joined by most of his friends, and their class schedules handed out to them.
After breakfast, they went to "Herbology, where they were squeezing the pus out of the Bubotubers, which felt more like creatures and less like plants. It was a difficult task for Harry, since he had to try and collect the pus in bottles while wearing thick gloves. He had some difficulty, but was able to figure out how to collect the liquid in the bottles he'd been given.
After that was Care of Magical Creatures, and this year, they seemed to be working with something that Hagrid called Blast-Ended Skrewts. They seemed to live up to their name, as their ends would occasionally blast off flames and sparks, propelling them a little ways. Harry imagined that they were small for the moment, but once they grew, he imagined they'd be more difficult to handle than they already were. Predictably, Hagrid loved them, and Harry wondered if he shouldn't have taken another course, such as arithmancy. Harry set those thoughts aside for the moment, though, and did what he could to help care for these rather dangerous creatures.
After Care of Magical Creatures, they entered the Great Hall for lunch, where Harry heard Hermione eating rather quickly for her. He was saved by asking her what she was doing by Ron, who said, "Is that your new stand on elf rights, Hermione, you're going to puke instead?"
"No, I just want to get to the library." Hermione responded.
"So you can free the house-elves of a place, and condition that they may be happy with?" Harry asked.
Hermione's fork hit the table with a bang, at least, Harry thought it was her fork.
"Just because you don't agree with what I'm doing doesn't mean you have to insult it!" Hermione said indignantly.
"All right, but I didn't insult it." Harry responded calmly. "Besides, Hermione, if they're treated well, as they themselves want to be treated, they're sentient beings. Who are you to inject your own cultural standards into..."
"I've heard enough." Hermione stated furiously. "Drop it, Harry."
"Harry is correct." Magic stated. "You..."
"And you too, Magic. If you want to help, fine, but I've decided what I'm going to do, and it isn't going to change because you want it to." Hermione stated angrily.
"Yep." Harry stated with a sigh. "And what if they don't want to be freed of what you think is their enslavement, Hermione? What then?"
"They'll need to be taught, then." Hermione stated coolly. "Going to object, Harry?"
"No." Harry sighed. "I don't want to lose your friendship over this, Hermione."
"Harry, you don't actually think that, do you?" Hermione asked, her voice gentler now than before.
"A little." Harry said. "It's silly, I know."
"Listen." Hermione said. "We just disagree about some things. It doesn't mean that I won't be your friend. I might get angry or upset, and I might even say things I don't mean at times, but that doesn't mean I won't be your friend. That's nonsense."
Harry felt relief, and Magic stated, "Logical. Thinking is advisable."
"You're right, of course, Magic." Harry said. "But for a moment, I thought about the Dursley's, who didn't really treat me well."
"Harry, I'm still your friend, even if I don't agree with your views on the house-elf situation, and you don't agree with mine." Hermione said. "Now, going to the library. Meet up with you later!"
Hermione then hurried off, and once he'd finished his lunch, Harry made his way to the Muggle Studies classroom, where he spent a double period learning about different ways Muggles had for recording information. Harry, who already knew the information, was thinking more about his situation with Malfoy, and whether he'd handled it correctly, and if he should do the same to anyone else he came across who tried to kill him. He also thought of Professor Moody, and was curious to know exactly what kind of defense class he'd teach.
According to what Fred and George said at dinner, Professor Moody knew what he was talking about. They sounded quite excited about his class, which made Harry even more curious than before. The next couple days passed without incident, and the majority of the Gryffindor fourth years went to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom early, before lunch had ended. Harry and Magic were among them as they waited, and Hermione showed up just in time for the class to begin.
Everyone entered the classroom moments later. Harry, Daphne, Ron, Hermione and Magic found seats at the front of the room. Harry heard everyone getting out their books after they sat, so he did the same. He waited, listening for the familiar clunking of Professor Moody's leg. That didn't come, but he felt a magical presence approaching the classroom, one that reminded him of Professor Moody. The reason for his silenced wooden leg didn't take him long to find out.
Harry heard several screams as he felt stunning magic entering the classroom. He and Magic, of course, were shielded magically, absorbing anything that would have hit them otherwise. The classroom was a chaotic mess of people trying to get out their wands and get out of the way of the stunners. Daphne had already been hit, and Harry felt Ron fall over him as he struggled to move away from the stunners, and was hit by one, losing consciousness. Hermione used magic to overturn her desk and hide behind it, and as Harry opened his link of knowledge with Magic, he saw a stunner reflect off a mirror and hit her. Some students tried to get out of the classroom, but couldn't due to a magical barrier. Harry quickly pushed Ron from his lap, and along with Magic, stood calmly as the pandemonium went on around them, and Harry noticed that, with the exception of the first few stunners, none had hit either of them again. As a precaution, Harry shielded he and Magic against all physical items as well, and waited. Within a minute, everyone except for Harry and Magic were unconscious, and he saw Professor Moody appear at the front of the classroom through Magic's knowledge. With a wave of his wand, the desks were put back where they should be, and the unconscious students were sitting back in their chairs. With another wave of his wand, They were waking up from being stunned. Several grabbed their wands, but Harry heard sighs of relief when they saw the Professor.
"Professor sir!" One of the Gryffindor girls shouted. "Someone attacked us when we came into the room!"
"That's right, they did." Professor Moody stated in his gruff voice, then added loudly, "It was me! CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"
Several people jumped, but Harry didn't.
"There were only two of you who didn't immediately start panicking and running around like headless chickens, and one of them I thought would surely fall to my stunners. But no! He didn't! Do you know why?" Silence followed Professor Moody's question. "Because he was prepared! He's on guard! He's ready for an attack at any moment, from any direction, at any time! CONSTANT VIGILANCE! You will learn it! Live it! Breathe it! And when I'm through with this class, it will be your motto!"
Harry thought that, perhaps Professor Moody was going a little overboard with his constant vigilance motto. It was sure going to make the students jumpy. It was a lesson that he, unfortunately, had already learned due to his circumstances, though in this class, perhaps it was fortunate. He decided to keep his shield against physical attack up at all times in this class, along with his shield against magical attack. He felt Magic comply as always, then Professor Moody stated, "Magic, Potter, sit down." They did.
Professor Moody told everyone to put their books away, then began to call out names. Magic wasn't listed on the official register for students, of course, though she had participated in the practical portion of some classes already. Once the last name had been called, Harry found himself anticipating what might come next.
"So." He stated. "Got a letter from Professor Lupin about this class. You know a great deal about dark creatures, but you're not up to speed on dueling, dark curses, and that's what we're going to learn. By the end of my class, you'll be able to hold your own against a Death Eager should you come across them, and rest assured, they're still out there. First. I want all of you to tell me exactly what you did wrong when my stunners started, starting with you, Potter."
"Nothing, Professor." Harry responded.
"Nothing, eh?" Professor Moody asked, sounding a bit mad. "What if I'd been a Death Eater? What if I'd been Voldemort himself? What if it was something unblockable I was sending instead of stunners?"
"All magic..." Magic began.
"I wasn't asking you!" Professor Moody shouted. "Now, what did you do wrong, Potter?"
Harry stopped to think for a moment, though since he could feel all the magic that was being sent, he still didn't think he'd done anything wrong.
"I feel magic, Professor." Harry stated. "If I'd felt anything dangerous, I'd have blocked it appropriately, or moved."
"Not all magic can be blocked by a shield." Professor Moody growled. "That's your first mistake. And do you know what your second was?"
"No." Harry said, confused.
"You didn't incapacitate the enemy!" Professor Moody roared. "You need to be ready, at all times, to do what's necessary, and you need to put your newspaper away when I'm speaking Miss Brown!"
Harry heard a startled gasp from a few desks back, and the faint sound of paper.
"Now!" Professor Moody said. "Magic! Your mistakes?"
"None." Magic responded.
"Wrong!" Professor Moody shouted. "Let's have your analysis again, then!"
"I never gave you one, but here it is." Magic responded. "I did as Harry wished."
"Mistake number one. Don't rely on one person's wishes to get you through. You need to be ready to act on your own, not sit there and wait for Potter to hand you all the answers!" Professor Moody stated.
"I'm capable of acting independently." Magic stated. "I will not act outside the parameters of Harry's own wishes for me."
"And if you were an official student, I'd have failed you right now for that attitude. Potter's magic or not, you're going to have to learn to act on your own." Professor Moody stated.
"Illogical." Magic responded. "I'm Harry's magic, I'm sustained by Harry's magic, I do as Harry wishes. If Harry dies, I shall die. If Harry's soulless, I shall act based on the best predictions of what his wishes for me would be in that instant. If Harry is near death, he wishes to survive. I ensure that survival. My existence is linked to Harry's existence, and will always be. Moving beyond such parameters is illogical."
Professor Moody didn't respond, only stated moments later, "Granger! What did you do wrong?"
"I thought the desk would protect me, I didn't think you'd use a mirror." Hermione responded.
"Acceptable analysis. McGonagall?" Professor Moody asked.
"I didn't have time to act." Daphne said.
"Wrong!" Professor Moody shouted. "Didn't you think it was suspicious that no one was in the classroom, and no one had approached when it was time for me to have been here? But you got out your books like it was any other day! Didn't you think the enemy might be approaching? And where was your wand, in your school bag for most of you! You don't want to be fumbling around in your bags for your wands if I'm a Death Eater, do you?"
Daphne didn't respond, and Magic said in his thoughts, 'She looks contrite.'
'Guess she's learning, like we all are.' Harry responded.
"Weasley!" Professor Moody shouted.
"I um... Ran." Ron said hesitantly after a few moments.
"You ran! Is running going to save you? The door was blocked with a ward far more complicated for any of you to deal with! And you thought you could run? No, running won't save you, you've got to be ready to fight for your life in any situation!" Professor Moody responded.
The list went on this way, and there wasn't a single student that Professor Moody didn't point a fault out to. Despite the professor pointing him out, Harry thought he'd acted correctly. Once he reached the end of the list, Professor Moody let silence fall on the classroom for a moment.
"Now." Professor Moody stated. "We're going to begin with learning about the darkest of dark curses. I'm not supposed to teach you this until sixth year, but I, and Professor Dumbledore both agree that you've got to know what's out there, and you've got to be prepared. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" The class jumped when Professor Moody went from talking normally to bellowing his favorite motto at the top of his lungs, Harry included. A bit more of that, though, and he imagined he'd get used to it rather quickly. "I've got a year to teach you what you need to..."
"What?" Ron blurted. "Aren't you staying?"
"No, Weasley." Professor Moody responded. "Special favor to Dumbledore, just staying the one year. Then it's back to retirement. Now, the darkest of curses. That's what you're up against with Death Eaters and dark wizards. They're not going to care what's illegal, and they won't say it nice to your face, either. They'll be using curses most heavily punished by wizarding law. Who knows what they are?"
Harry rose his hand into the air.
"Weasley." Professor Moody called.
"Er... My dad told me about one... The Imperius curse I think." Ron said.
"Which is what, what kind of curse?" Professor Moody asked. Ron didn't answer, but Harry kept his hand in the air. "Magic?"
"It's a curse which takes a person's will over with the caster, and is classified by the ministry as an unforgivable curse." Magic stated.
"Exactly." Professor Moody stated as Harry heard him stand, then clunk his way over to the chock board. "These unforgivable curses will give you a one way ticket to Azkaban, and we've got one listed. The Imperius curse. Total control. It can be fought, and I'll be teaching everyone how to do it in this class, but it takes a great strength of will. Now, what are the other two? Anyone know another?"
Harry rose his hand again, but wasn't called on.
"Longbottom." Professor Moody stated.
"There's one... The Cruciatus curse." Neville said in a timid, quiet voice.
"Good." Professor Moody stated. "Pain." Harry could hear him writing. "Imagine the most pain you've ever been in. Take it, multiply that by ten or more, like you're blood's turned to acid and it's burning you from the inside out. This is more than just a broken bone, it's worse than anything you've ever experienced. People have been driven mad from this curse, so it's best to stay out of its way, because it can't be blocked by any magical shield. You want to say something, Potter, do you?"
Harry didn't know that Professor Moody had seen his fidgeting, but now that he'd been called upon, he said, "Magic is Magic, Professor. I'm sure I could block it like I block anything."
"Really?" Professor Moody asked. "Want to test that, then, Potter?"
"You can't be serious!" Hermione shouted. "It's illegal to cast that on a human being, you'll be sent to Azkaban!"
"Don't be silly, Granger, the only curse I'll be casting on you later is the Imperius curse, with your consent of course, because you need to be prepared to detect it, and to fight it." Professor Moody stated. "Now, Potter, you want to block the curse, do you? Prove me wrong, eh?"
"I don't want to, but..." Harry began.
"But you will." Professor Moody stated coolly. "Now, set up a target for me and shield it by whatever means you've got yourself shielded."
Harry created a stone block in front of Professor Moody, with the magical shield around it.
"Right." Professor Moody stated. "Crucio!" The class gasped. "Imperio!" Harry heard silence. "Keep that target there, Potter, and someone list for me the last curse! What is it?"
Harry thought he knew what it was, as he'd had some experience with the Imperius and killing curses, and knew the killing curse was a one way trip to Azkaban, as well as having personal encounters with it. He rose his hand.
"Potter." Professor Moody stated.
"Avada Kedavra." Harry responded steadily.
"Avada Kedavra!" Professor Moody shouted.
As with the other two curses, Harry felt the raw magic being fed into his own magic, and was quite confident that, if he was ever hit by the killing curse or any piece of magic that didn't produce something physical, he'd be safe. He felt a strange feeling of relief at that. Unlike other curses, however, Harry heard a rushing sound along with feeling the killing curse, as if something was moving through the air. It ended quickly, though, and Professor Moody barked out a laugh.
"You can get rid of that now, Potter, it's not often I'm proven wrong. But you're a rather unusual case I hear, and saw myself." Harry made the created target vanish. "Avada Kedavra. The killing curse. Only one person has ever survived it. Potter. And that might be why he can block it, but maybe not. We don't know. But here's what we do know. Any other wizard can't block it. The protego shield can't block it. Objects can, but depending on the object, it'll be destroyed. If you hear that incantation or see that green light coming, get out of the way or you won't be moving again. It's the last, and worst of the unforgivables. Unstoppable death."
A tense silence fell on the class, but Harry had already known that this curse had ended his parents lives, and would have ended his own were it not for his mother's sacrifice. He didn't feel as uneasy as he imagined the rest of the class did.
"There's a difference between these curses and others." Professor Moody stated. "You could all point your wands at me and incant the killing curse, and I'd likely get nothing more than a bloody nose. But rest assured, dark wizards know exactly how to cast these curses, and they won't play nice. You need preparing. You need arming. And I'm here to ensure that if any of you come up against the enemy, you will be able to hold your own to either incapacitate them or run. And most importantly, you must, at all times, practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Now get out your quills and parchment, we're taking notes."
Harry took out his Brailler and began to take notes on the unforgivable curses along with the rest of the class until the bell rang. Everyone was talking about the class as they exited, but Harry was silent. He was assured that he could block the unforgivable curses if he needed to, but despite all his magical power, he knew he wasn't invincible, and knew he needed to ensure that he himself didn't become overconfident. After all, there were still things he didn't know about, and since Voldemort knew about his own magical abilities, he wouldn't be surprised if Muggle means were used to capture him.
*** Barty Crouch POV ***
Barty stood in front of the mirror as he carefully applied muggle makeup to his face. He loathed it, but the thought that Potter wouldn't detect it, nor would anyone else, gave him the strength to continue. Most of all, however, were the orders of Lord Voldemort. He would do anything for his lord, even if it was a distasteful act. He would do so even if he wasn't being watched. Behind him stood Stacey, staring at him in the mirror with her cold blue eyes, standing unnaturally still. After he finished applying the makeup, Barty turned around to face her.
"Acceptable." Stacey stated with an icy calm. "And undetectable by Potter. I shall leave, and when your father returns, you shall kill him and take his place."
"Yes, my Lord." Barty said with eagerness as he fingered his wand, looking forward to the rush of killing, the joy he received at life leaving eyes, especially the eyes of his father, who had kept him under his control for far too long.
Stacey disapparated, and Barty went to the front room where his father always apparated in, having set several magical traps for him in preparation. Anyone with the dark mark, however, was exempt from the magical traps, and could come and go as they pleased. It was a few hours later that Barty Crouch senior apparated in, and was immediately locked in place by Barty's magical traps. His father stared at him with terror as Barty laughed, then said, "Your time is at an end, father, and I will be taking your place. But first, we've got to make sure I can adequately serve as your replacement. Don't we?" After summoning his wand, Barty entered the mind of his father, his rage fueling his strength, and once he'd collected all the memories he needed, he aimed his wand and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" A flash of green later, and his father fell lifelessly to the ground. Barty laughed, and as he looked from the mirror to his father's face, he noticed no difference in their looks. Perfect, Barty thought to himself. My lord will be most pleased. And when he showed up at Hogwarts for the beginning of the Triwizard Tournament, all the plans would be in place to capture Potter, one way or the other.