Chapter 13 - DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS

Harry POV

I went back into the common room with Ron and Hermione, that was when it hit me.

With my potential death out of the way in the first week of school, usually, it was towards the end of school! This means I might have a chance for a regular year of school!

Then I looked around the common room and saw somebody reading a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Yeah right, a psychotic killer is on the loose to get me, to think this year was almost normal…

I then walked up to my room, sat on my bed and shut the curtains. I crossed my legs and then proceeded to read through the books I got from Godric's vault. There were many interesting things, such as battle transfiguration and spell formations when casting to restrict your opponent's choices in movement. For the rest of this weekend, I spent most of the time devouring Godric's books of knowledge.

Daphne POV

On the way back to the dungeons, Tracey kept up her nonsensical word vomit of how I dealt with the ferret.

"You were like, I ain't taking your shit Malfoy, then WASSSAM! You punched the lights out of him! By the way, which was brilliant! Then-"

"Okay, okay, Tracey calm down, I didn't do anything the whole school wasn't thinking of".

Tracey beamed at me with that statement as we entered the dorm. We then both got onto my bed and shut the curtains. We put of privacy spells and locks quickly. Tracey then began.

"Still...I don't understand one part, I mean it was awesome as it turned Malfoy into a Hogwarts dessert but...It's just...who did cast those banishing charms?"

I also pondered at what Tracey said.

"Maybe one of the professors? Whoever was responsible did not draw their wand, only professors would be capable of wandless magic? Whoever cast it had very good control, he or she managed to lift a lot of food and cutlery to block spells, then have it change directions and precisely hit Malfoy".

Tracey, however, denied this quickly.

"No, they shouldn't have been close enough to react in time, also they seemed pretty content with letting things play out before Malfoy drew his wand and cast spells at you. I mean professor Lupin only disarmed him after he raised his wand again for the second time".

I nodded at her point.

However, this leads to a dead end then, who could have wandlessly casted magic to protect me then embarrass Malfoy?

I pondered for a few moments longer, then the answer was clear. I laughed out loud at how clear the answer was.

Stupid Daphne! How did I miss it?

Tracey looked worriedly at me.

"You okay Daph? I know punching the ferret is great and all, but u haven't gone crazy right?"

I smiled at her statement and waved her off.

"No...I just figured out who banished the food".

Tracey's eyes glinted with excitement, "Who?"

I blushed slightly, "It was...Harry".

Tracey's face then morphed into a confused look.

"Think about it Tracey, who else in the hall would try and protect me, certainly none of the Slytherins, they were the closest ones to us. The only other people close enough are people watching from the Gryffindor table. Besides, Potter is quite magically powerful, you and I both witnessed him casting his full body patronus. It is not a stretch to think he could do wandless magic... And did you see how he was provoking professor Snape! It had to be-".

I stopped mid-sentence as I noticed Tracey's smirk.

"Well geez Daph, don't let me interrupt you, continue on about your prince charming".

My face then became rosy red, I grabbed my pillow and chucked it at a laughing Tracey.

Harry POV

The week had gone pretty good so far. It was currently Thursday, I had my first DADA today during the fourth period, and tomorrow at the third period as well. I was excited to get to class. I didn't pay much attention to any of my classes last week as I had an axe over my head the entire time. I was excited as our teacher seemed good this year. Professor Lupin, after all, did cast a patronus, so he was already good right off the bat and not some fraud like Lockheart.

I remembered Fred and George telling me how happy they were, finally no Quirrel stuttering or Lockheart smiles in DADA. Although I still found it a bit strange why we missed DADA classes in the first week, professor Lupin had been away on some business.

I walked to class with Ron and Hermione. We just made it on time, I saw Daphne and Tracey seated near the front. I decided to sit at the row behind them. Ron looked like he wanted to say something, as he had a frown on his face but was cut off as the professor entered the room.

"Good morning everyone. Today we will be reviewing some of the spells previously learned in your earlier years. It has come to my attention that many of you lack practical application with these spells, due to previous instructors".

He coughed slightly after that and the entire class laughed.

"Before we tackle this year's course on dark creatures, I felt it would be prudent for you to have some practical experience first".

The class then murmured with excitement.

"In a moment, I will be pairing you off to duel each other".

The professor then waved his wand and sheets of paper flew of his desk. A sheet of paper then floated to each individual students' desk.

"In case you have forgotten, here is a list of spells and their incantations, I will give you some to read through them, then afterwards, please push your seats and desks to the edge of the classroom, the rest of the class will be a practical session".

The class rumbled with discussions as students excitedly talked to one another. I quickly glanced over the sheet, due to my Occlumency training, I recalled the spells I previously learned quite easily. I looked in front and saw Daphne sitting there brimming with excitement, seems she was done looking as well. I then got up and pushed my desk and seat to the wall. I turned around to find that Daphne had done the same. Professor Lupin then came over and smiled at the two of us.

"Well then, Mister Potter, Miss Greengrass, you two will be paired for this session".

The professor then led us away to a more open space in the classroom. He then left shortly as other students finished reading and pushing their desks to the edge. I then locked eyes when Daphne briefly before grinning and curtly bowing, as per dueling tradition. She smiled at this and did a small bow as well. We then pointed our wands at each other. Then after a moment of holding each other at wand point and not casting, Daphne shot the first spell.

"Expelliarmus!"

She called out her spell as a jet of red light shot towards me. I easily sidestepped the spell. I smiled at her as the spell missed. However, she seemed to not take kindly to how easily I avoided her spell and my sheepish smile.

"Expelliarmus, rictusempra, silencio, flipendo!"

She casted a string of three spells very quickly before following up with her fourth. I was surprised by the first three spells she casted. They came in a triangle formation, leaving very little room to dodge the spells.

Damn, I underestimated her!

I decisively decided to get hit with silencio as I couldn't dodge within the gap in triangle formation quickly enough. Then on pure instinct, I wordlessly put up a protego shield quickly after and blocked the flipendo. PING! The spell then went back towards Daphne. She was so shocked that she didn't dodge in time, in fact, she didn't attempt to dodge at all. She was struck cleanly by the spell and launched backward, falling onto the cold stone floor. I stared shocked for a moment as she landed onto the floor, I then quickly ran over towards her.

"I'm sorry, you okay?"

I quickly knelt down and offered her my hand. Daphne then grabbed my hand as I helped her up. Realizing she was just staring at me and not saying anything, she blushed slightly and shook her head.

"I'm okay…"

She then stopped shaking head and stared right at me.

"More importantly, how did you do it? You just casted a protego shield! That is a spell in the fifth grade curriculum! You also did it non-verbally as you were hit by my silencio!"

Professor Lupin, seeing what occurred in my duel with Daphne, weaved his way through other students that were doing and arrived next to us. He then smiled at both of us, he then looked towards me.

"Indeed Mister Potter, that non-verbal protego spell was most impressive, you have been clearly reading ahead and learning spells. Twenty points to Gryffindor".

He then looked over at Daphne with the same warm smile.

"Also… another ten points to Slytherin for an excellent precise string of spells, at a triangle formation no less".

He then gestured for us to continue as he walked off the instruct and look at other students. I looked over as professor Lupin approached Ron and Hermione, and saw Hermione whooping Ron onto his ass. I chuckled slightly, then Daphne and I then resumed dueling a couple times before I started to teach her the shielding charm. We got along really well, and before I knew it class had ended. To say I was disappointed was an understatement, DADA this year was so fun! The fact that I got paired with Daphne was a bonus. I left the classroom slightly dejected class was over but was still excited at coming back again tomorrow at the third period.