The door closed slowly as their teacher slumped towards the front. The eyes followed him in his slow walk as he moved over. With a sigh, he leaned against the front desk, before blinking at them in a tired movement.

"Hi, guys." He gave a sluggish wave. A few of the students not sure how to react waved back at him.

"I was asked by your headmistress to fill in here for a while until someone else takes over. I know this is quite unorthodox and strange, but as I understand, people fear this class is cursed and applications are rather scarce. So, let me say a few things before we get starting. First of all, I will give you no homework. I don't have the time to correct them and quite frankly I don't feel like I am in a position of authority here. So no homework."

A little murmur broke out and Harry was sure he heard Ron's voice saying "Sweet."

"Furthermore, who doesn't want to learn can leave. I can take points or give you detention so I will not bother with those who don't want to be here. I will neither rat you out nor mark it in any shape or form."

The students looked at each other in confusion. "This is not a trap, you can leave."

After a moment, two or three carefully got up and walked to the door, looking over their shoulders.

Ulrich waited then nodded. "All right, all of you still here want to learn about defence and fighting. Good. It's a dangerous world out there, our's more than the Verhüllte, I think you call it muggle, and you have to be able to defend yourself. Now first of all, what do you think is the most important thing in a fight? Any guess?"

For a moment it was quiet until Tracey Davis raised her hand, uncertain. "Power or training?"

Ulrich nodded slowly pointing at her. "Not bad. Quite a good answer. Yes, it helps you most of the time when you are more powerful and or better trained. But there is something more important."

Harry slowly raised his hand, while the Gryffindors around him were still thinking. He remembered his first talk with the german champion, who nodded in his direction. "Harry?"

"Luck."

The tired champion faintly smiled snapping his fingers. "Exactly. The most powerful fighter can be brought down by an amateur with enough luck. Luck decides who stands at the end of a fight. Luck is what keeps you alive. And now the more difficult question. Why doesn't that matter at all?"

The class fell silent for a while until a pale hand in the back rose and Ulrich pointed again. It didn't seem like he wanted to learn their names.

"Because you can't learn or influence luck." Draco said with a careful voice. Grimmly Ulrich nodded.

"That is right. You can't train your luck, can't bargain with it, can't cheat it. Luck is Luck and no one changes that. Why do I tell you this? The reason is simple. Never get cocky and never give up. That is the most important feature of a warrior. Never think your opponent can't beat you because you are so much better, so much stronger, so much smarter. One lucky hit is all that it takes. On the other hand, this also means, just because someone has the upper hand is not a reason to give up. Sure there are moments when it is better to surrender when you lay down your arms. But if you are up against a dragon or someone who wants you dead, always keep in mind, it will only take one lucky hit on them too. Everybody can fall, have a bad day or sheer dumb misfortune."

He moved two steps to the side. "But as I said, you can't control luck or fate or whatever you want to call it. Also the bigger the difference in skill between you and your opponent is, the more luck you need to win. I can't train you to be strong, a wizards and witches core is set and I can't train your luck. But I can help you develop skills. And that is what I want to teach you."

Harry heard again Ron whisper to Shaemus. "Sweet, we learn awesome spells."

Maybe Ulrich heard him, maybe don't as he shook slowly his head. "We will not start with spells. Sure there are some that are quite helpful, but frankly speaking, that is not as important as something else. There are two things I want to train you more than anything. Awareness and dodging. Those are the things that will keep you alive more than anything else."

A murmur of confusion went through the room and Ulrich sighed once. "Someone, shoot a curse at me."

For a moment, it was quiet as they all looked at each other unsure before a yellow arc came from the Slytherin side of the room hurdling towards the young german champion. He bent on the hip moving his upper body out of the way and it splashed harmlessly against the wall. Daphne Greengrass lowered her wand slowly.

"That is what I mean. I could have shielded that one, but really? Moving out of the way is safer and costs less stamina. Always dodge if you can. We will work on the shield spell as well because you can't dodge everything. But and that is more important, you have to be aware that someone is attacking you for you to do something about it. A good duelist will give you only a little time to react, a great one even less. So the best thing is being ready. I'm not saying that you should trust no one, be always on edge and never let your guard down, that is paranoia and madness. No, what I am saying is that you should assess your situation and determine whether it is dangerous or not. Or could be dangerous. So to train this I have come up with a certain training session."

He pulled forth a bag and opened it. "In this bag are scraps of paper, one for each of you. On each scrap are written four names, one from each house in your year. Your challenge is simple. You have until our class next week to hit each of your targets with the Scallion Enchantment in the colour of their house. When you do, that name will change colour on your scrap of parchment. I have worked this out with your headmistress, the house that gets the most hits in gets fifty points, the house that is hit the most loses fifty points."

The Scallion Enchantment was a simple spell they learned in first year that simply changed the colour of something and wore off in 4-5 days. The counter was somewhat complex and NEWT level. Hermione smiled a little. Given these factors, it was best only to move in house unity not attacking their own house.

"There are three more rules. First, you can only attack your own targets. Getting the ones of someone else and your hits aren't counted. Second, no fights during the classes. Do it in your free tie or you are out." Then Ulrich started smiling.

"Also, whoever gets all four of their targets is freed from homework for two weeks. All right everybody gets a piece of paper."

Hermione's smile froze on her face as she heard the excited whispers around her. She got up and walked over to the young german champion, pulling a scrap from the bag. On it were just four names.

Wayne Hopkins - Terry Boot - Blaise Zabini - Harry Peverell

"Oh damn." She murmured.

Harry leaned back in his chair, waiting for their Etiquette class to start. This had been for the most part of the year the most interesting class. It was so much you could learn from this, even though he knew quite a bit. For example, he learned that even though Malfoy had been rude to Ron in the Express first year, so had been Harry. Maybe. It was hard to tell. It was proper customes for someone of a higher social status to help those of a lower one along. And in return for the lower one to accept that. Question was, was Harry on a lower status than Malfoy. He didn't feel that way so he still thought he made the right choice back then.

Shaking his head, Harry pulled out the scrap of parchment he had gotten last class.

Susan Bones - Shaemus Finnigan - Michael Conner - Daphne Greengrass

"Oh god, this will be damn shit." He mumbled as he looked at the last name.

"Language Harry." Hermione nudged him with her elbow.

"I mean, Hermione, look at this." He showed her his scrap of paper, pointing at the last name. "What do you think will happen when I hex Daphne? I would be in so much trouble for sure. I can do this."

Hermione frowned a little. "It is an assignment. I think she will understand that. Also, this is for points so don't you dare to chicken out."

Harry frowned a little. "Maybe you are right." But he wasn't really convinced. For a moment they were quiet. "So who do you have anyway?"

Hermione's face turned a little red. "I am pretty sure we aren't supposed to show each other the names, would defeat the purpose of it all. Also, I think it would be better if I, Oh look Professor Cambridge is here."

The distinguished teacher walked smoothly through the rows to the front. Harry didn't miss the look some of the girls gave the man, being reminded of Lockhard in the second year. But different to Lockhard this man knew what he was talking about. He was a true gentleman in every way there was.

"Good morning everybody. Please quiet down. Thank you." With a simple shrug professor Cambridge shed his outer coat, placing it over his desk in a smooth movement. He then turned with a smile.

"Today, we will talk about respect and proper conduct. It is important to know how to act around people, so you don't offend someone. Offending someone can make things quite complicated for you in the long run."

Around Harry, a murmur of people came up who were whispering to each other, while he leaned a little back. This was a lesson that didn't concern him that much as he was pretty sure he knew most of it. Instead, he took a quill out and moved it around the desk, letting Dawn chase it.

"Quiet, please. Now, we will begin with an introduction. It is custom that the socially higher person offers their hand to the socially lower placed one. Which, I am sorry to say to you, will most likely be you. With a few exceptions." His and most of the eyes in the room turned to the black-haired boy, who in turn did his best not to flinch. Of all the teachers he ever had, with the exception of Lockhard, Cambridge was the one putting him on display the most. While Harry didn't like it, he knew why it happened, not because of boy-who-lived stuff, but instead him being Lord and heir of two houses.

Next to him, Hermione raised her hand. "Why are we most likely the lower one? I didn't notice around here in the school."

Cambridge nodded. "Maybe between you students. As you are young no one expects you to follow the rules. But with teachers, who you will agree is socially above your station, you do act respectfully don't you?"

Hermione frowned a little. "I guess, but still, why us? This isn't about the whole pureblood thing again isn't it?"

Cambridge flinched a little. That had been one disaster of a lesson a few weeks back. He had carefully tried to explain the reasoning behind the pureblood agenda and had been very confused about the uproar he had created. It had taken a long conversation with Burbage about certain developments in the muggle world over the last hundred years to explain why his students were THAT angry about the whole ordeal. He was careful not to repeat that mistake.

"Not per se. No, the reason is simple. Whatever trade you will work in, you start at a low level. That is the way it has always been and rightly so. Someone has to earn his place. So your superiors are to be respected of course. Over time you might be a superior yourself and it will change."

Shaemus raised his hand slowly and was pointed at. "What about different places? I mean, there are other people we see than those we work with."

Cambridge nodded smiling. "Quite right. Now there are certain factors in this. For example age. Elders are respected in our society and showing respect to someone older than you is always well received. Then of course there is the matter of noble houses." Again all eyes turned to Harry. "You should always be respectful when talking to a noble. I won't go into too much detail, as this would be complex and take hours, we will have time for this in future years. But you should know that noble families are special in the eye of the law and our society and therefore to be respected. You don't have to worry too much, as I said, in school, the rules are different and can be put mostly aside, but after you came out of this fine institution, you should always be respectful to those above you."

Cambridge felt his insides sigh as he saw Hermione Granger raise her hand with a dark expression on her face. Here we go again. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

Hermione raised her chin. "How can that be fair? Why should someone be better, just because he was born into a special family? Didn't you say everybody needs to earn their place?"

Cambridge gritted his teeth and squinted a little at her. "Yes, and they did. Their ancestors build our society, fought and defended it. From what I have gathered, Muggles aren't that different in that regard, still honouring the Queen and the Royal family as well as the House of Lords."

Hermione slowly lowered her hand, but didn't look like she was ready to admit defeat.

"Hello everybody, I hope you are all right today?" Professor Burbage closed the door behind himself, before walking slowly to the front. Around the room, the students quieted down. While their professor was softspoken and a rather nice guy, he was one for order and discipline in the classroom and speaking out of turn was a guaranteed course to pointless.

"Today we want to talk about transportation in the muggle world. While it is unlikely for you all to ever use it, it is important for you to understand them in order to work around them. Being hit by a car is something some secluded witches and wizards has died to in the past and I don't want you to follow in their footsteps. It also might come a time when you need to use one of their devices in order to get somewhere."

He turned to the Blackboard. "Let us begin with the most frequent and most obvious, the car. You see-"

He continued to talk about how a car worked and what they had to look out for. Signs on roads, those red and green lights that had been blinking and none knew what it really meant and so on. Most students were writing along, as it was quite interesting. While most of them had first laughed at the idea of this class, this had changed. Muggles were fascinating. So different, they could almost be a different species altogether. Ron for example loved muggle studies. For one it was an easy class. You mostly listened and asked for more explanation. This wasn't dry textbooks and lectures. This was pictures, stories and thing that connected with him. And all he didn't get, it was easy to ask Hermione, who could easily give him most of the answers. But the best part had been coming home at Christmas.

Ron stretched as he leaned back on his chair. Stuffed with the most wonderful Christmas Dinner, he sighed in content. The snow had fallen outside thick and white, but the inside of the Burrow was wonderfully warm. The remains of the Christmas Dinner was still plated up on the table. Potatoes, Chicken, Salat and Apple pie. Mum had decorated the entire kitchen. Mistle toes and evergreens hung from the cupboards. All of the family was sitting around the table. Fred and George were whispering amongst each other about something, probably mischief. Percy was speaking to Dad about work and the ministry and other boooooooooring stuff. Charlie tried to talk to Ginny, the only real glum person at the table. Ron frowned a little. His sister had pushed most of her food just around, talking in short sentences. Most of the two days since coming home, she had been crying in her room. Ron wasn't sure how he felt about that. for one he was relieved that she and Harry weren't together anymore. It had been awkward and weird and strange. On the other hand, he was pissed that his sister had been dumbed and that after this awful paper article. For Harry to boast about something like that. He had some nerve.

But and here was the but, Ron couldn't see Harry go to the paper about that. That wasn't his friend's way of doing things, Ron was sure. So maybe he wasn't. Could have been one of the slimy snakes, who caught wind and wanted to embarrass Harry. Maybe. He had no idea. He shook his head, shoving these thoughts away. This was Christmas after all. Instead, he listened in on his dad's conversation.

"Yes, we had to clean out the entire house. I mean everything. They had cursed almost everything in there. For example, in the kitchen was one cabin that was so heavily cursed, there was ice in it and it was as cold as the outside in there."

"That was the fridge dad. It is supposed to be that way." It took a moment until Ron realised it had been himself that spoke.

Arthur turned to his youngest son with a surprised look. "What?"

Ron shrugged folding his hands. "That cupboard in the kitchen was a fridge. It is an electrical device to freeze food, so it won't spoil so fast."

Arthur frowned. "Are you sure? Food should be fine in the kitchen."

Ron shook his head. "Dad, muggles don't have stasis charms. They use cold to keep food in good condition."

He now realised that everybody around the room had stopped talking, looking at him in bewilderment. Ron felt his ear turn a little red. "We learned that in muggle studies. The class is very interesting, so I remembered it."

Molly's face turned a little wide with a smile. She knew her youngest son wasn't one who liked school very much, so for him to announce that he liked a subject and thought it was interesting was wonderful news for her.

Arthur turned his chair to his son, now really interested. "Are you sure? I mean I had no idea, but then again we didn't detect any magic from the thing, was dead confusing."

"He is right, dad. Nym has one of the things in her apartment. Apparently her parents always used them. Something to do with the taste Stasis Charms can leave in the food or something." Bill nodded in Ron's direction.

Mum turned to Bill and started the 'conversation' which Ron knew his brother had dreaded since he came home. About his girlfriend and him being gone at the 26th. Arthur in the meantime looked between his sons, before turning with a wide smile to Ron. "What else did you learn?"

Beginning an evening of questions and interest, which Ron hasn't had in many years, making him feel special.

After that evening, his dad had sent him more letters, sometimes asking for his opinion on certain matters and cases. His opinion! He felt so adult! It was bloody awesome. Sure he had to relay some of the questions to his teacher and sometimes to Hermione, but to think that this was something. Something that made his dad proud of him, it filled Ron with special feelings. For all his life, his family members all had their special something. Charlies Dragons, Bill being the oldest and very good at school, Fred and Georges Charisma and smarts and Percy's intelligence. Ron had only been the chess kid and Harry's friend. Okay, Ginny too, but she was THE girl and their parent's favourite child, no matter what Mum and Dad said. But this, this was something he was good at and something that made his parents proud. It was something new and exciting to Ron.

But it wasn't only the youngest Weasley boy who enjoyed this class. Professor Burbage just had the ability to make the most mundane subjects sound engaging and interesting. He lured you in and then you would listen to him and discuss the importance of artificial grass vs natural growing grass. Even a few of the die-hard pureblood elitists secretly enjoyed this class. Gregory Goyle for example was one of them. Muggle studies weren't such a complex and theoretical subject as transfiguration or potions and he loved it for it. He had to be careful though, not to show his interest amongst his peers, especially Draco.

But on the other hand, the wide boy thought, Draco didn't notice much as of late. Ever since his friend and leader had returned from home, he was withdrawn, answered mostly in one word and seem to think a lot. Gregory wasn't sure why, but then again, he wasn't one to overthink things like that. It was the way it was and he wouldn't bother asking.

While most students were interested, Draco didn't listen at all. For one he didn't care about lower lives and peasants and muggles were both. His father had told him what he expected Draco to show as a mark in this "subject" and therefore not caring at all was fine for him. But that wasn't the main reason. Four days ago, in the library, he had finally found what he had searched. Hidden in the restricted section, which he searched through thanks to an item given to him by the Dark Lord, he finally found what he had searched. After that, it had been rather easy, to his surprise. The ward stone was placed in a cave deep, deep down under the school, lower than probably all other places. Just one simple spiralling stairs lead there. The cave was natural for the most part. Only a large carving of a huge dragon in one of the walls was manmade, besides the door through which he entered. In the mouth of the dragon had been what he searched for.

The Hogwarts Ward Stone. And the curious part had been, there was nothing to protect the stone really. Yeah, sure the stone itself was brimming with magical energy and protections. Even touching it would probably kill someone, but the room itself wasn't guarded, no wards, no enchantments no nothing. Not even the door was locked. The founders seemed to have thought that the stone itself was protected enough to the point where no one could even touch it. And luckily for Draco, he didn't need to touch the stone. His mission had been simple, just setting down a rune-covered stone in the room with the ward stone and that was it.

Draco would have been happy, finally, his anguish had been over if there hadn't been that damn owl his father had sent this morning. He didn't need to pull out the parchment to know what was in there. Besides his father congratulation on his "good mark", which meant the successful mission, there had been that one damn sentence near the end.

"I hope you will get another good mark on your next test. I expect will find someone to study with. The more the better. The finals are most important and I want you to have the support you need to succeed."

Draco gritted his teeth. It was clear what that meant. The Dark Lord expected him to sway as many students to his side as he could, so when the attack came, they could fight from the inside. As if it was that easy. A year ago, he would have been in a position to get people on his side. But that wasn't the case anymore. For one, damn Potter taking the title of heir Black from him had considerably lessened his options. Also, his father had let shine through that their finances were dwindling fast. His new marriage was keeping them afloat for some time but somehow their fortune was getting smaller by the day and Draco couldn't buy as much loyalty as he used to be.

There were those, of course, he could count on. Greg and Vincent had always been his friends and their fathers were already in deep with the Dark Lord. Theodor Nott's father also was one of the Dark Lord's servants so he could probably count on him too. While Pansy's parents weren't Death Eaters, her Grandfather had been and also Pansy would do what Draco told her to do. She understood her role in all this. But other than that, there weren't many people Draco could think of. He didn't know enough about the upper years to know who was with the Dark Lord and could be an ally. Also, Draco knew he hadn't been the most pleasant person, while he had been on the top of the totem pole.

Also, he thought, glaring at the blond braid a few rows in front of him, damn Daphne Greengrass had decided that this year had to be the year when her merlin damn family left their neutral position and she started politicking. And she wouldn't do it in Draco's favour. Not with the alliance they had with damn Potter and the fact that Draco's father had tried to kidnap her. He knew she knew it was his dad who did it. Just when the school had started this year, she had made that very very clear.

Draco scowled to himself as he walked down the corridor in the dungeons. He was in a bad mood right now. This year had just started and it was already going all wrong. While he knew that some of the other Slytherins revered him as their leader due to him being the heir Black, he had no idea it had been that bad. Just now, Prucey and Warrington had told him in very clear terms what that he wasn't the basilisk anymore, a nickname he had gotten, since he had been the king of the snakes. No, he was a fourth-year and while he was rich, he wasn't richer and more influential than some of the other big shots in Slytherin. So they had taken his place at the hearth from him as well as the allegiance of most of the other students. And he was out of the Quidditch team too!

Gregory and Vincent were following him through the corridors, while he muttered to himself, grumbling and glaring at the stones. They knew better than to speak to him while he was in a foul mood, so they were just walking behind him, acting as bodyguards. But, not good enough.

From out of nowhere two red flashes came and his two larger companions crumbled to the floor. Draco caught off guard, blinked. The upper years seemed like they wanted to make an example of him. He cursed. The blond boy had thought that at least the close connection of his father to professor Snape and his favour would protect him. Still, he pulled out his wand and stared into the darkness. Then he heard a sound behind himself, swirling around. But there was no one. Only an empty corridor with nothing in it but dust.

"Expelliarmus!" It came from behind him again, and with a sudden jerk, his wand was ripped from his hand while he tumbled to the ground. Cursing, he threw his head around.

Walking in his direction was Daphne Greengrass, his wand in her one hand, while the other held her own. She wore her school uniform and a braid that showed her status as a pureblood heiress maiden. He steps were light and she tilted her head slightly.

"What do we have here? A little Dragon, all by his own?" She asked with a sweet voice. Draco pulled back. Her tone was dangerous. But he bumped into someone and when he looked up he stared into the sneering face of Tracey Davis. She jerked her knee forward, shoving him forward again. Greengrass in the meantime tossed his wand over her shoulder while she got closer. Even though he relaxed a little when he saw that no one else was handling his wand anymore he whinced as he heard the clattering of it on the hard stone floor.

"What do you want Greengrass?" He hissed as he collected himself from the floor.

She just smiled at him.

"You will be in trouble for this, wait til I tell professor Snape he will-"

He was cut off by Greengrass who started laughing. "Really? Do you really think our head of house will help you? Professor Snape is a Slytherin at his core and he knows from where the wind is blowing. I think not."

That was probably true. Even though he hated Black and that wouldn't change, Draco knew that professor Snape wouldn't keep it up and protect him in the same way he used to. Probably.

"When I tell my father he will-"

Greengrass stepped closer, her eyes cold as ice, her voice only a whisper. "Oh yes, tell your father. Tell him you lost to a girl. A girl he planned to steal. Tell him what happens to those who anger House Greengrass. Which brings me to the reason I am here. Did you know?"

Her voice got a little angry and he saw a light red on her cheeks. Draco swallowed. She looked like she was ready to kill him.

"W-What are you talking about?" He mumbled looking to the side. Of course, he knew. His dad had told him about his plan. Had told him to do his duty to the family. To bring Greengrass into the fold. To this day Draco wasn't sure how he felt about what happened that night. What could have happened. What his life would have been if his father had succeeded and this girl would have been his bride...and slave. Some of him relished in the power he would have had over her. About possessing someone. Especially someone with her looks. But other parts of him, the parts that had seen the marriage of his mother and his father, had been worried. All his life he had been told he could marry who he wanted. In certain bounds. As a Malfoy, it was his birthright to get what he wanted when he wanted. And he wasn't sure if he wanted that. A partner who hated you, who wasn't a real partner, was that something he wanted. Some relife had flooded him when his father had returned empty-handed and with a gash on his face.

Greengrass searched in his eyes, then her gaze hardened. "You knew. You disgust me. Listen for once you arrogant prick and listen good. Never, ever! try to harm me or mine or you will be wishing for death before the end. Are we clear?"

Draco swallowed. "I-"

"ARE. WE. CLEAR?" She hissed out slow and forceful.

Draco, not in his proudest moment nodded once. Then there had been a red flash and he had been woken by Madam Pomfrey.

Draco snapped the quill in his hand when he thought about that. After that, Greengrass had thrown her weight around, blackmailing, bribing and complimenting her way into the centre of the snake pit. There wasn't a lot he could do there to turn people to the Dark Lord who wasn't already his. With a squint he looked over, seeing one of the Ravenclaw girls watching him. Maybe it was time to find support somewhere else.

Chapter done and dusted. I don't have much to say, I wanted to open up about a few characters. The first thing about the competition is just something to "lighten" the mood a little bit as the whole part of this story is now moving closer and closer to the finally so the cards are getting stacked.

I like writing about secondary characters it is fun and I enjoy it greatly.

Do keep comments coming, I hope you liked it.

PS: I can recommend the series choices by

Lomonaaeren. It is well written and a lot of fun to read with deep characters.

Have a nice week everybody.