asherbcool: Thanks for the complement. The Librarian was the shape shifter. That's why Marietta sent him in ahead, because he had to get into her cloths to impersonate her, and why he was so anxious to get her in back, to knock her out.:)
Chaos666: Cho will eventually face off against Marietta, but she needs to get more confidence first, and Marietta's not exactly going to make things easy on her in that regard. And I still don't know who will win. It'll be a desperate battle between good and evil.
Froggie2: Thanks for the review. You can't imagine how sick it is to put myself in the mindset of Marietta Edgencombe. But I'm glad that I can frustrate you with her actions, and words. It means that I'm writing the character in the proper way. You review is always fun to read.:)
Quillian: Well when a problem like that comes up at Hogwarts they address it, like the pamphlets, but I was going under the assumption that it usually doesn't happen in Hogwarts. Since the Muggle world and Wizarding world are so separate. The most that you usually hear is Blood Traitor, or Mudblood, but the shape shifter had been causing trouble in the Muggleworld, and he taught Marietta the hateful terms, and she taught her gang. I don't know if she's going to tell anyone about what happened yet, and Marietta and her gang aren't about to tell everyone what happened. Also there is no evidence as to what did happen, as one thing that Marietta learned about over the summer is covering up evidence. That's what was in a lot of those dark books. Otherwise Dumbledore being the great wizard that he is would be able to just cast a spell and see what happened. However he has a lot more to worry about than what is going on at Hogwarts, and we'll find him absent from the school a lot in order to prepare for the coming war with You-Know-Who. Not that that's what this story is about, but it distracts Dumbledore.
EnlightenedKing: Too long? No of coarse not. I like long reviews. The more details in a review allows me to know how certain aspects of the story effect people. So trust me I'm happy to read a longer review, so that I can see how people are reacting to the story. Glad that I could help with the test. "What was the word?" In regards to the Chinese inquiry, your right, and only eaten because of a lot of extreme poverty in those areas. But really Marietta and her thugs were just trying to be mean to Cho, by implying that she ate cats, and trying to make her feel different in a negative context. Retribution soon, em well not too soon. Marietta has only just begun to start trouble, but I'll try to shorten the story when I can. As for the light tone? I don't know. I'm really a total Goth, and good feelings don't come easy to me, so If I do lighten up on that it will be a slower progression. It's hard to get happy, but I guess I can put in a copy of "The Wizard of Speed & Time" and feel a bit better and maybe inspired to write. Your kind of right about Fiona, but not exactly. Fiona has a flaw that will come out soon enough. You'll have to wait, sorry.:)
Back again everyone, well this chapter is mostly to show two things.
Harry is not a wuss when it comes to dueling. It's just that Marietta was always able to catch him by surprise. But when Harry's ready, no ones getting the edge on him.
That Harry Blames Draco for what happened at the Quidditch game, as Draco's family has money, and connections, and a motive to go after him.
The rest is filler, and well, there is a lot of dialog in it. So I hope it keeps everyone interested. And believe me I really am grateful for all of you reading it. Really!
Chapter 32: Dueling Class.
The collection of Gryffindor, and Slytheren sixth years assembled around the center of the pitch, where a raised platform of blue, foam mats were set in a circle. Almost all of the students were confused as to their reason for being at the Quidditch Pitch for a Defense against Dark Arts class. Almost all. Draco Malfoy, who was as usual flanked by Crab, and Golye, was looking at Harry with dagger eyes.
"Oy, Potter, Weasley, you two are in for a real treat today. I told you that I would get even with you Potter, and now I can do it with the blessing of the school." Malfoy said, as the smiles of the three Slytherins collectively widened. Harry looked at Malfoy with contempt. He knew that it was Draco that impersonated him at the Quidditch, and he knew exactly how he did it. He must have used Polly-juice potion. As soon as he found away to get Draco alone, he would make him confess, and have his proof. Ron leaned over to Harry.
"Do ya think that he knows something that we don't?" Ron asked. Harry nodded.
"Yea, but… I think that I know how he got me in trouble in the Quiddich game the other day. We need to talk tonight; we'll have to have Hermione sneak out after hours with us. Can you two call another truce?" Harry asked seeing Hermione talking to another girl a few students down. Ron gave a Humph sound.
"I'm not the problem Harry. Hermione is the one acting so pissy lately. Believe me; I don't look to start the arguments lately." Ron said. The two of them stopped talking as Professor Snape walked to the center of the pitch holding several pages of parchment in one hand, and his wand in the other. Snape looked around at all the students, and spotted Harry and Ron. He then looked over to Draco.
"I have in my hand the results to the vampire test that was taken last week. I was very disappointed to find that only one student completed all the questions right. Only one receives one hundred points. You have to do better people. Nothing less than perfect is acceptable in my class. Now that student receives a twenty point bonus for their house." Snape walked over to Draco. "Now Mr. Malfoy, do you think it's you?" Snape asked cheerfully. Draco put his head up, and crossed his hands.
"Yes, Professor, it must be." Draco said proudly. Snape's smile disappeared at an instant.
"Well it's not you, and you'd better start thinking of a quick way to get twenty points for our house, because I'm tired of handing them out to Gryffindors, and Ravenclaws! You're disappointing me Draco, I expect better from you, and so does your father." Snape screamed at the top of his lungs. He looked around to see Hermione. "Now Miss Granger… You've passed every test in just about every class with perfect marks, are you ready to receive your points?" Snape asked with a grin. Hermione nodded with a smile, knowing that she answered everything correct. Snape balled his fist. "Well too bad you obviously didn't study hard enough, because you only received a ninety six!" Snape yelled. Hermione gasped! She never expected to get a wrong answer.
"Professor… there must be some mistake. I'm sure I answered everything right. What could I have possible missed?" Hermione asked. Snape shuffled through the papers and pulled out her parchment.
"Well for one thing Miss Granger, when asked to list all the ways to kill a vampire, you failed to mention that you could kill them with silver. That was two points off right there." Snape said. Hermione shook her hand violently to ask a question. "Yes Miss Granger?" Snape said in a board tone.
"Professor, I think that silver is used to kill only werewolves." She said. Snape smiled.
"Really? Are you sure…enough to lose an additional two points on your paper?" Snape asked... Hermione thought about it. How could she be wrong? She studied the lesson over and over. Ron tried to get her attention, trying to tell her not to do it. Hermione nodded. "Did you bring your book to class Miss Granger?" Snape smiled. Hermione nodded again. "You would wouldn't you. Alright Miss Granger, turn to page six hundred and seventy three." Snape said. Hermione turned to the page, and read the lesson. She read all the ways to kill a vampire. Steak through the heart, fire, cross, decapitation, holy water, amongst others, and at the very end silver. How could she have missed it? Would this affect her marks forever? Was she doomed to become a below average student? But Snape had said that she had lost four points, and the question was only worth two.
"Professor Snape. You said that I lost four points. What other question did I miss sir?" Hermione pleaded. Snape's smile was the largest anyone had ever seen.
"I'm glad that you asked that in public Miss Granger. You signed you name Ronald Weasley, with a heart beside it. If I hadn't been able to recognize you handwriting I would have thought that he turned in two exceedingly long papers." Snape finished. Hermione blushed as several of the students in the class giggled and laughed. She was so embarrassed about what had happened that she started to run off the field, but came back after professor Snape said she would get a failing mark for the day if she left. Snape walked through the students and rhetorically asked them who the student was that aced the test that was one of the most difficult that he had created. The student in question, has a history of being only a mediocre, barely average student, yet was able to pass my most difficult test so far. No one could answer. Snape walked back to the center of the students, and over to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, can you tell me how you managed it?" Professor Snape asked suspiciously.
"Managed what sir?" Ron asked innocently.
"Managed to get a perfect score on such a difficult test, Mr. Weasley. Did you have help from another student; did you have someone else turn in a paper with your name on it? Did you cheat?" Snap said, not fully believing that it was Ron's work. Ron was offended at the accusation.
"I didn't cheat Sir. My brother Bill was obsessed with all things vampire a few years ago. Vampires were all he ever talked about, and I guess I just absorbed some of what he was talking about. I mean, he had all the vampire novels, and comics, and everything. He even dated one for a time, but they could never hang out during the day, and she was about six hundred years to old for him. Anyway, I passively got into it as well Professor." Ron said in one breath. Snape looked at him unconvinced.
"Really Mr. Weasley?" Snape asked.
"Really Professor." Ron replied.
"Than perhaps you wouldn't mind telling us what Vampire defeated the Golden Dragon of Canterbury?" Snape asked. Ron thought for a second, closing his eyes to concentrate, soon he recalled a book of Bill's that he had read about the subject. Ron raised his head, and looked at Professor Snape.
"I believe it was Brian Boyd, the Vampire from Dublin sir." Ron said confidently. Snape gave him a surprised look, and a capitulating sigh.
"Fine Weasley, you get your twenty." Snape said agitated. He handed the papers out to the students and waited for them to put them away. Hermione kept hers out, still traumatized at the mark on her paper.
"Now listen close everyone. Due to the events that took place in the Ministry of Magic last year, it has become clear that soon many of you may face some dark forces in the near future. Many of you may wish to join the new Wizarding Army being raised, upon graduation. I will now be overseeing your advances dueling techniques. If you all remember, Professor Gilroy Lockhart and I gave you a small taste of it in your second year. Well now you have come a lot further in your training. Now you have to be much more aggressive. We will have duels, you can use any curse, or jinx you wish… except of coarse for those three that you can never use." Snape said seriously. He pointed to a tent with a red cross on it. "After you lose a duel, Madam Pomfrey will be there to cure… eventually… any students effected from the curses, and jinx used. Only sixth and seventy year students are taking this instruction, so feel privileged. Remember anything goes except for the three unforgivable curses. We'll… yes Miss Granger, what do you want?" Snape said, seeing Hermione with her hand up.
"Excuse me Professor, but do you think that the Head Master would approve of this… anything goes rule? It seems so dangerous." Hermione said. Snape gave her a disgusted look.
"Well you can talk it over with him in you own time, but it might interest you to know that it was his idea. Now would you like to challenge any other of the head master's ideas Miss Granger? I mean since you seem to know better than everyone else." Snape said livid. Hermione shook her head. Snape motioned over to Neville Longbottom to come forward, and handed him a clip board, with a piece of Parchment and a Quill.
"You keep a record Longbottom." Snape said as Neville nodded. Now who shall we start with?" Snape said to himself. "Mr. Dean Thomas step up here… and Mr. Theodore Nott." Snape said casually. The two students faced each other and after some last minute instruction by Snape, each gave a bow to the other. Snape counted off. "Ready?" Snape asked, and the two students held their wands ready, and each nodded. Three… two… one… Go!" He yelled. Thomas shouted out the appropriate word to use the Conjunctvitis curse on Nott, and Nott tried to use the Bat Bogy hex too late, and was sent flying back with his eyes shut. He was quickly escorted toward the medical tent by two other students. Snape seemed disappointed, and called out the next two students. "Parvati Patel… and Millicent Bulstrode!" Snape shouted and the two students observed the courtesies. "Three… two… one… Go!" Snape shouted. Parvati tried to say the Densaugeo curse seconds too late, as Millicent yelled out "Furnuculus!" more quickly and was able to move her wand about correctly, before Parvati could counter. Suddenly Parvati was covered in boils and had to be taken to the medical tent by a couple of her fellow Gryffindors, as she screamed in pain. The dueling went on and on with the Gryffindors having slightly more victories than Slytheren. Harry and Ron watched with sincere interest waiting for their turn.
"Vincent Crab… and Semis Finnigan" Snape called out. Crab took the center stage, and waited, but Finnigan did not appear. Snape looked around irritated. "Semis Finnigan?" Snape shouted again. No reply. "Where the hell is Mr. Finnigan?" Snape asked. Everyone looked around.
"He's not here sir." Ron shouted. Snape quickly turned to him.
"I can see that Mr. Weasley. Go to the castle and find out what happened to him. And he had better have a good excuse for not being here." Snape said. Ron shrugged and headed to the castle.
"Vincent Crab… and Harry Potter." Snape shouted. Harry and Crab moved to face each other, each giving the minimum bow, and reading themselves. "Three… two… one… Go!" Snape yelled. "Crab tried to use Incendio to burn Harry, but Harry was able to give him the Incarcerous curse first, and Crab was bound by ropes instantly. Then Harry used a babbling curse for good measure. Crab was escorted to the medical tent ranting on incoherently by two other Slytherins. Harry started to step down from the raised mats.
"Not so fast Mr. Potter!" Snape yelled. Harry turned around and waited. Snape turned to Gregory Golye, and motioned him to the dueling area, after a bow and a countdown Harry made short work of him as well. Snape started sending all his Slytherins against Harry one at a time, each being defeated in succession. Finally he sent Draco Malfoy up to face off with Potter. "Now Mr. Malfoy… Mr. Potter. Each of you tell me, and the class what spell you intend to use before we begin." Snape said. Each boy thought for a minute. Finally Draco raised his head proudly, and said…
"I plan to use a transformation curse that will turn Potter into a piece of dragon dung Professor." Draco laughed. Harry was steaming mad. Draco had already done enough to him, by impersonating him in the Quidditch game, and now he thought he was going to turn him into a piece of dung? Not bloody likely! Harry thought.
"And You Mr. Potter… what will you use?" Snape asked. Harry looked at Draco contemptuously.
"I'm going to turn Draco into a stupid git… oh wait too late. Well I'll just have to give him the snapis limbis curse that randomly breaks one of his limbs." Harry said enjoying the thought of sweet revenge that he would have against this son of a death Eater that had impersonated him in the Quidditch match, and made him more enemies. Snape smiled.
"You're sure that's the one you will use Potter?" Snape asked. Harry nodded. "Good, alright, ready? Three… two… Wait! Wait… stand fast." Snape said. He looked around. This is getting redundant. Let's make things more… interesting. Draco step down." Snape said in a reflective tone. Draco's mouth dropped open.
"Oh come on please sir, I can take him no problem. Just give me a chance." Draco protested. Snape shook his head, and motioned Draco to step down which he did.
"Snapis limbis huh? Alright. Let's set you up with a new opponent. Miss Granger, step up." Snape shouted.
"What?" Harry and Hermione shouted in unison.
"Oh come now, there's nothing in the curriculum or rules that say you cannot duel with someone of the same house. Now get ready." Snape shouted.
"Sir, Hermione's a girl." Harry protested.
"I'm glad that you know your genders Mr. Potter. May I remind you that there is a full fledged war coming our way, and that Miss Granger's opponents will most likely not be only girls, or even mostly girls. Oh, and you had a good idea about the Snapis limbis charm. Miss Granger, you try and use that one too." Snape said mischievously. Harry and Hermione faced each other with looks of horror on their face. Harry looked back at Snape.
"Well, actually I think that a stupefy charm would be better. I could…" Harry started, but was cut off.
"No Mr. Potter, you wouldn't have had a problem using the Snapis Limbis on Mr. Malfoy, so you can use it on Miss Granger. Now bow to each other and get ready. Harry looked back to Hermione. They each bowed.
"This is stupid, he's just being a sadist, and he's just getting off on seeing us hurt each other." Harry whispered to Hermione.
"Three!" shouted Snape.
"We… have to… to do it Harry. Everyone's gone to the medical tent today, it'll only be painful for a few minutes, and then Madam Pomfrey will fix us up." Hermione whispered back.
"Two!" Snape shouted after a slight pause.
"I can't do it Hermione. I can't." Harry said apologetically.
"You have to try Harry. After we can go to Dumbledore and complain." Hermione said quietly.
"I still don't want to see him yet. I still have issues with him, and…" Harry was again cut off.
"Stand ready Harry, Madam Pomfrey will take care of us." Hermione assured him.
"Ever broken your arm before? It hurts real badly even if for a short time. Remember that bludger of Dobbie's in our second year?" Harry said.
"Three…Go!" Snape shouted. Harry and Hermione took out pointed their wands and Harry told Hermione to move left, as she did he shouted the incantation for the jinx, which barely missed her. She then shouted to Harry to duck, and used the same jinx missing him. This went on for a minute before Snape shouted at them to stop. "Well Mr. Potter, it seems that you two don't know how to use this jinx to well. I guess that Draco needs to show you how to do it. Draco get up there, and use the Snapis limbis jinx for your duel." Snape shouted angrily.
"Finally!" Draco smiled, giving Harry a mischievous look as he stepped up on the mats. Hermione started to step down.
"No Miss Granger. Stay where you are. Potter get down. The opponents for this duel will be Draco, and Miss Granger." Snape said casually. Draco turned to him with a look of surprise, as did Harry and Hermione.
"This is unacceptable Professor! That Jinx is too painful to use on another student! I protest." Harry shouted. Snape folded his arms.
"Really Mr. Potter? You didn't seem to have a problem when you were going to use it on Malfoy. In fact it was your idea, was it not?" Snape said casually.
"Well that was when it was Malfoy. I wouldn't use it against a girl." Harry protested. Snape's smile slowly faded.
"Really? Were you not using it on her just now, or were you missing on purpose?" Snape asked.
"You know I was! So what!" Harry asked contemptuously.
"So you get a failing mark for the day, and you can go and I think that word will go around the school about how you only enjoy abusing and jinxing members of the other houses, like what happened at the Quidditch pitch with the Hufflepuffs, and you only seem to have a problem with Gryffindor students. You own little elitist group. But don't worry. Draco and Hermione will be using the Jinx, not you." Snape finished. He looked to Draco and Granger, and instructed them to bow, which they did. Harry looked on with anticipation. "Three… two… one… Go!" Snape shouted. Hermione shouted the incantation, but Draco used a shield charm to block it. He then pointed his wand at her left and shouted the incantation at the same time. Hermione moved left to avoid the spot where she thought that Draco would fire at and was caught by the full force of his blast, her left leg breaking in two places, and causing her to fall backward screaming in agony."
"Noooo!" Harry shouted. And pulled his wand to hit Malfoy. "Incendio!" Harry shouted, but Snape had already guessed what he would do if Malfoy had won, and used Expelliarmus to knock the wand from Harry's hand, leaving Draco only a little singed.
"Accio wand!" Snape shouted, and Harry's wand went flying to him. He gave Harry a look of deep hatred. "You can have this back when you can act like a civilized human being Potter. After I have a talk with your head of house. Now help Malfoy get Miss Granger over to the medical tent." Snape said pointing to Hermione, who was still moaning in pain. Draco had used the ferula charm to make a splint for Hermione, and he and Harry supported her on each side, as they walked her to the medical tent. Several students who had been jinxed earlier were walking out cured.
"I knew you were going to move left to avoid my jinx Granger, you moved left every time that Potter fired it at you. You became predictable, and complacent. That's why I fired to the left of you instead of strait at you. You jumped right into it." Draco said proud of himself. Harry's face was read with rage.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Harry shouted. Malfoy turned to Harry with an even brighter smile.
"Just too bad that it couldn't have been you potter! That would have been really satisfying. But I think that we might be doing this tomorrow as well. Professor Snape has been training me personally in some particular nasty jinxes. You'll see. Harry shot a hateful glance over at Malfoy as they entered the tent and put Hermione on a cot. She had been moaning in pain all the way there. Madam Pomfrey gave her a cheerful charm to stop the pain. Harry looked at Malfoy.
"You seem so proud to be the teaches pet Malfoy does he tuck you in to bed at night and read you bedtime stories?" Harry asked in a tiny mocking voice. Malfoy balled up his fist. Telling Harry to shut up. But Harry was mad, and he knew that it was Malfoy that had sat him up at the Pitch during the game, most likely using Polly-juice potion, and it was Malfoy who just broke Hermione's leg. Harry was angry, and it took every bit of effort to control himself. He looked up at Draco.
"But I can understand your need for a new father figure Draco, since you own father is going to be sent to Azkaban, and you'll never see him again." Harry smiled. Draco shot an angry glance at Harry and raise his wand, Harry reached for his own not finding it, and remembering that Snape had taken it up. Madam Pomfrey saw what was going on and shouted at the two students to cut it out or they would be sent to the Head Master. Draco shot one more hateful glance over at Potter.
"This isn't over Potter." He said, and then left the tent. My thoughts exactly Harry thought as he watched him leave.
"Harry come over here!" Hermione called to him from where she was laying. Harry walked quickly over to her.
"Are you okay Hermione?" He asked her.
"Much better now. You were right about the pain. Madam Pomfrey said I have to keep off it for a few hours because it's still going to be sore for a while. So I'll catch up with you later. Hey, Harry don't let that git Malfoy get to you, I'm okay now, and it was within the rules." Hermione smiled still a little groggy from the cheerful charms. Harry nodded.
"I'll try Hermione, but it's not just that, Malfoy is the one who impersonated me at the pitch during the game. I know it was him. I dreamed that the person used an invisibility cloak to hide my body. You have to have a lot of money and connections to get one of those. It has to be him, working for You-Know-Who in his fathers place." Harry said very quietly. Hermione looked at him amazed.
"How do you think he's doing it Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry gave a slight smile.
"I think that he's using Polly-juice potion, and I think that I know just the person… err entity to help us find out where he's mixing it. Harry said. Hermione was going to ask who it was but about that time Ron came into the room and she suddenly started acting like she was in tremendous pain. Ron rushed over to Hermione concerned.
"Hermione! Are you okay? What happened?" Ron asked surprised. Draco broke her leg with the snapis limbis charm while they were dueling. Snape had them square off just to be sadistic." Harry said agitated.
"Those slime, when I get my hands on Malfoy!" Ron started. Madam Pomfrey came over to them when she heard Hermione moan in pain.
"Still feeling bad Miss Granger? That's odd I thought you were just fine a minute ago. I'll hit you with anther cheerful charm, but it'll really make you a little silly, so I think that you'll have to stay here a while longer." She finished. Hermione opened her mouth to protest too late, as she was hit by the charm and started to giggle. After Harry and Ron made sure that she was okay they headed back to the castle.
"Oh Ron, whatever happened to Semis? Where was he?" Harry asked. Ron shrugged saying that he had no idea.
"I thought that he was probably asleep since he leaves every night after curfew, but I couldn't find him in the common room. I think that Snape will give him a failing mark for the day." Ron said. Harry nodded. Ron stopped, and turned to Harry. "OH Harry Professor Jittlov is having an open Special Effects class at Hogsmead for the first weekend. You should bring Fiona. I'm bringing Luna, I would invite Hermione, but I don't think that she'll come. Besides girls tend to flip if you invite other girls on dates with you." Ron said. "But it's a really cool class so far. All we've done so far is go through a magic portal to Hollywood, and watch Muggle films, and learn about moviemaking equipment. But soon starting soon we'll learn to do special effects magic. I don't understand everything that the Professor was talking about, but he mentioned stuff about Stop Motion, animation, with Pixilation, and Blue screen, so it will be interesting." Ron finished.
"Sounds like it. Where will it be?" Harry asked.
"The Three broomsticks has a room in the back that will have the class, just for that day. We have to go through the magic portal for regular class, because all the real magic at Hogwarts shorts all the muggle equipment." Ron finished. Harry nodded and they both headed for their next class.