Kindred Spirits
by Tailkinker
This is a work of fan fiction based on the Harry Potter series and the Sailor Moon franchise created respectively by J.K. Rowling and Naoko Takeuchi. The characters and settings belong to their respective owners and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered as part of the official canon of either series.
Backlash
"The Shield Charm is one of the most useful in your kit," said Harry. He paced at the front of the dojo, his trainers finding excellent traction on its tatami mats. Hotaru had suggested that he not wear shoes in the dojo, but Harry had pointed out that Death Eaters wouldn't wait for them to remove their shoes.
"In its most basic form, it puts up a barrier between you and a hostile spell," he continued. "Though if the spell is too powerful, it will break your shield."
"And that's bad," commented Draco.
"It is," agreed Harry. "It's more tiring to re-cast the Shield Charm if it's been broken. I don't know why." He glanced over at Hermione, then to Hotaru. "Hotaru-chan, do you know why?"
"Because some of the energy that goes into creating the shield is recovered when you allow it to collapse normally," said Hotaru. "Whereas if it's broken, the energy dissipates."
"Pity I can't give House points," said Harry. "All right. I want two volunteers." He watched as almost every hand went up. He didn't want to pick any of his 'crew' this time, and he wanted people from different Houses. "Susan and Parvati. Come on up here."
Susan was a red-headed witch, with a plain but pleasant face and a no-nonsense demeanour. Parvati, on the other hand, was an exotic beauty and a gossip queen. Both approached the head of the dojo.
"Wand motion is a simple upward-right slash, across the body." He demonstrated. "The incantation is protego, and each syllable must be timed properly, the first before the wand starts moving, the second as it reaches the half-way point, the third as it ends its movement."
Each witch silently moved their wands through the motion.
"Susan, you're pausing at the half-way point. Keep the wand in steady motion. Parvati, your other right. Wait, you're left-handed, aren't you?" He turned to Hotaru again. "Hotaru-chan, does handedness affect this charm?"
She shook her head. "As long as the wand moves from inside to outside."
"Thanks. Never mind, Parvati, that's good.
"Flipendo!"
He cast the Knockback Jinx at Parvati, who completely failed to react. She was shoved backward, letting out a squeak. Luckily, the jinx didn't have enough force to knock her down; it was normally used for pushing over small objects.
"Oh, come on, Parvati!" He grinned. "You know why we're here! And I just taught you the Shield Charm. Flipendo!"
He jabbed his wand at Susan, but she'd clearly been paying attention. She snapped her wand through the motion, yelling, "Protego!"
But Harry's jinx shoved her back as well. "You didn't time it right," he said. He turned back to Parvati again. "Flipendo!"
But she yelled, "Protego!" and intercepted his jinx with her Shield Charm.
"Well done," he said. "Flipendo!" Again at Susan, but she was also ready, and blocked the spell.
"Good," he said. He turned towards the rest of the Soldiers. "All right, I want you to split off in pairs. Take turns casting the Shield Spell and the Knockback Jinx, until everybody can produce a shield."
"Flipendo!" cried Parvati.
Harry whirled, his wand cutting through the air. He didn't speak, nor did he manifest a shield; his wand caught Parvati's jinx with the tip, batting it aside.
"Good try," he said. Then paused, and turned back.
The Soldiers were staring at him in shock.
"What?" Harry tilted his head. "Do I have something on my face?"
"You swatted that spell," said Draco. His voice was a bit shaky.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry in confusion. "I cast the Shield Charm."
"Wordlessly," pointed out Hermione.
"And you didn't actually create the shield," added Ron. "You just slapped her spell out of the air."
"Well, yeah," he admitted. "I saw..." He glanced at Draco. "Well, I saw someone do that, and figured it was a good trick."
"It is that," said Hermione weakly.
"Anyway. Let's split up, like I said." Harry watched as the Soldiers started to pair up, then walked over to Hotaru.
"It wasn't that impressive, was it?" he asked.
Hotaru shrugged. "I don't know. It certainly looked impressive."
With only two weeks left until Christmas, Hogwarts was in a festive mood, with holiday decorations going up all over the castle. Even Umbridge's presence wasn't quite enough to dim the holiday spirit.
As Harry entered the Great Hall for breakfast that morning, he noted an unusually large number of owls circling near the ceiling. He grinned; things were about to get epic.
He made his way over to the Ravenclaw table, and sat down between Hotaru and Luna. "Good morning, you two."
"Good morning, Harry-kun!" Hotaru leaned into him, rather than giving him a hug, as her hands were full of silverware.
"It's the day, isn't it?" He glanced up at the owls circling the ceiling.
"It is," agreed Luna. "I must thank you, Harry, for paying for three hundred copies of the Quibbler."
"Three hundred?" Hotaru stared at him in shock.
"One for every student and staff member at the school," he said. "Except Luna, who I suspect has her own subscription."
"But that must have been terribly expensive!"
Harry shrugged. "Came to about fifty galleons," he said. "I think it's money well spent."
The noise level in the Great Hall was rising rapidly as people began to discuss the article. Harry grinned as he watched Hedwig glide down to meet him, his copy in her claws. Seiun was also approaching, with Hotaru's copy. He offered Hedwig some bacon, and opened his copy with relish.
Of course, he knew what was in it; he'd given the interview, after all. And while much of what he knew about Riddle's background was deduced, rather than experienced, he also had included the details of his resurrection. Including the role played by Narcissa Malfoy.
Luna had received a note along with her copy. "Father says that this issue sold out almost immediately. And that's not counting the three hundred copies he made specifically for you. It's our most popular issue yet."
"So the news will be spreading far and wide," said Harry with satisfaction. He looked up as Umbridge entered the Great Hall, her own copy clutched in her hand. "Oh, here comes the bad year blimp."
Hotaru giggled, while Luna just looked puzzled. Umbridge glared over at the Gryffindor table, then scanned the rest of the Great Hall. Then began stalking towards him angrily.
"Detention, Mr Potter," she snarled.
Harry looked up at her. "Sorry, but for what?"
"For writing the lies in this...this tabloid! And for undermining the Ministry."
"I didn't write anything for the Quibbler."
Umbridge slapped her copy down, and pointed to the article on Voldemort. "This! This pack of...of falsehoods!"
"Well, according to my copy of this...respectable newspaper, I see that the article in question was written by Rita Skeeter," he said, keeping his voice mild. "Perhaps you might give her detention?"
"You are the only person from whom she could have gained this information," snapped Umbridge.
"Sorry, but I thought you said these were lies. If they're lies, she could have made them out of whole cloth. But if they're information, then they're accurate."
"You still—" Umbridge drew in a breath, visibly calming herself. "You are well known to have stated that Voldemort was resurrected, and that Narcissa Malfoy was responsible. These lies must be punished."
"First you must prove they're lies," pointed out Harry. "Also, according to my copy of the Hogwarts Code of Conduct—which I received from my barrister—lying to a teacher is only forbidden if it would impact the function of the school."
"You are undermining the authority of the Ministry," yelled Umbridge.
"That's the Ministry's problem, not Hogwarts'," countered Harry. He deliberately kept his voice calm, to contrast with her escalating rage. "There is nothing in the Hogwarts Charter, nor the Hogwarts Code of Conduct, which prohibits such self-expression."
"I am the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic," snapped Umbridge.
"And as such, are bound by the code of conduct of your own office," said Harry. "Which does not give you the right to violate the Freedom of Expression Act. Only the Wizengamot can suppress that act." He raised his eyebrows. "Do you really want to give my barrister that sort of ammunition against the Ministry."
Umbridge paled at the thought, then turned to stalk away. But then turned back again.
"Students are required to sit at their own tables for meals," she said sweetly. "I'm afraid that you'll have to move."
"That rule only applies during three specific meals," said Harry.
"As High Inquisitioner, I am extending it," she said.
Harry nodded, and stood up. "Very well. Hotaru, Luna, if you'd like to join me?"
"They are already at the Ravenclaw table—"
"I'm not going to the Gryffindor table," said Harry. "I'm leaving the Great Hall. I find the atmosphere in here...distasteful."
He turned and stalked from the Hall, Hotaru and Luna following him.
Educational Decree #27
By order of the Hogwarts High Inquisitioner, the publication known as the Quibbler is hereby banned at Hogwarts. Possession of a copy will result in expulsion.
