Chapter 33: The Felix Prize
The morning after the beginning of the year feast, the students flooded the Great Hall for breakfast. Several of the first students to arrive in the Hall were in their sixth or seventh year whom were eager to receive their new schedules, particularly the sixth years. Professors Burbage, Flitwick, Snape, and Sprout were distributing the class schedules, which was more complicated since they had to check to see if the students had indeed qualified for the N.E.W.T. classes they signed up for.
"I must say, Ms. Bones, your O.W.L. marks were exceptional," Professor Sprout praised as she reviewed the N.E.W.T. classes Susan signed up for. "You most certainly have qualified for the classes you've selected." She handed the strawberry blonde her class for the year before moving on to Hannah.
At the end of breakfast, once all the students had received their class schedule for the year, they began leaving the Great Hall. Heading toward Ancient Runes, Tracey, Blaise, Neville, Lilith, Susan, and Hannah were talking about the Dueling Tournament. "This tournament sounds like fun," said an enthusiastic Blaise.
"Easy, mate. We first got to create a team and then win the competition," said Neville.
"Oh, please. With as much as we've trained, this competition is as good as ours," a confident Tracey laughed.
"At least there's no requisite for humility in the tournament," said Lilith with a cheeky smile.
"Well, you guys have fun. I don't want to compete," Hannah said as they entered the classroom. She and Susan sat at an open table in the second row.
"That's you, Hannah," Susan looked at her friend for a moment before turning to the others, "I'm in."
"Sweet. It looks like we have our team," Tracey replied.
Soon, the rest of the students entered the classroom along with Professor Babbling, who did a quick roll call. The Ancient Runes professor congratulated them on making it into her N.E.W.T. class by getting either an E or an O on their O.W.L. She then explained that since they were now considered N.E.W.T. students, the coursework would be more difficult. No one discounted her words, for they knew this was bound to happen. By the time class ended of class, some of the students were wishing they hadn't gotten out of bed this morning, given the amount of homework they were given.
"How much homework do you think we'll get in DADA today?" Lilith asked as they walked to the Defence classroom.
"Don't know. But knowing Professor Snape, we'll probably get an essay or have to read some chapters," Neville responded with a yawn. "Man, I wish I had drank some coffee this morning."
"Hey, don't forget Harry is also teaching the subject too. I just hope he's teaching our class today. . .maybe we won't get as much homework," said a hopeful Tracey.
"We can only hope, Trace," said Blaise as the classroom door opened so they could see Professor Snape and Harry standing near the desk talking.
No one said a word when Snape's black eyes fell on them. "Inside and take your seats," Snape said coolly. One look around, and the students could tell the classroom mirrored the man's personality. The DADA class had a decent number of students this year-many of them had likely attended Harry's after-school sessions since he became a Professor's apprentice. "Put your books away. I have not asked you to take them out." Severus waved his hand, closing the door with his cold black eyes scanning the room for a second. Immediately, everyone put their books away and gave him their full attention.
"You have had five teachers in this subject so far. . .six if you count Professor Potter," he said, glancing at Harry, whose arms were folded in front of his chest while looking at the students. "Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion, I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. Make no mistake, the workload will be more advanced than you've had previously when the former Headmaster altered the subject so that you'd only learn a second-rate curriculum. You will now learn what you should have learned years ago before you took your Defence O.W.L. This will teach you how to recognize and defend against the Dark Arts, whether it be dark spells or dark creatures."
"The Dark Arts," Severus began with passion in his voice as he continued his lecture, "are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting an indestructible, unbendable, and damaging force that could be your undoing if you are not prepared. Therefore, your defense must be decisively swift in adapting and flexible when facing it. These pictures," he indicated to the ones hanging on the walls, "give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse, feel the Dementor's Kiss or provoke the aggression of the Inferius. . ." He gave them a few moments to get a good look at the pictures on the wall.
"Has anyone ever used an Inferius? Would they do it again?" Parvati piped up, though she quickly regretted her question when he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Yes," it was Harry who answered, "Gellert Grindelwald had once turned a Quilin into an Inferi with the hope of becoming the next Supreme Mugwump. There have been a handful of dark witches and wizards who have used Inferius in the past. Voldemort used them in the previous war more than once, so there's a chance he will probably do it again."
"Have you encountered one?" Lavender asked.
Harry thinned his lips while sucking in a breath. "I have once. Several, in fact. And I can tell you from personal experience that they were hostile.
"Who here can tell me what an Inferius's strength is?"
A few people raised their hands, with Granger being one of them. Unsurprisingly, she was the first to have her hand in the air. "Ms. Davis," Harry called.
Tracey lowered her hand and responded, "An Inferius has three notable strengths: Since they are already dead, they do not feel any pain. They are resistant to some magics. And rely on their numbers."
Ron scoffed lowly and whispered to Dean, "Yeah, she would know that. Her family has probably used them before."
"That will be three nights of detention, Mr. Prewett," Harry narrowed his eyes at the boy, who widened his eyes. "One would think you'd finally have grown up or become smart enough to refrain from making unwanted comments. But turns out that was only wishful thinking." A few people snickered while an embarrassed Ron glared at Harry.
"Back to you, Ms. Davis," Harry turned his attention back to Tracey, who, along with Blaise and Lilith, quickly sobered up. "What are an Inferius weaknesses?"
"Given how they are found in cold, dark areas, the best way to beat them is by using fire-type magic," the brunette replied.
"Correct. Fifteen points to Slytherin."
Harry then turned his attention back to the class as a whole. "By now, many of you should be proficient when using nonverbal spells given the experience from last year-some probably earlier experience. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?"
This time, more hands were in the air. Harry looked around at the many hands in the air until his eyes fell on a table in the middle row. "Ms. Patil."
"Yes," both Padma and Parvati said at the same time.
"Apologies, I should have been more clear," Harry stated. "I meant Gryffindor Patil."
Hermione blinked in surprise that he would call Parvati to answer rather than her or Padma. Why Parvati? Parvati was not unintelligent. Above average, yes. But not as intelligent as her twin.
"By casting silently, your opponent will be unaware of what spell and the amount of power you are putting into it. This will force them to guess how they should defend themselves. It also helps you conserve energy instead of saying the incantation," Parvati's answer surprised a handful of people, especially Hermione. Her eyes flared in both jealousy and surprise as she was not expecting Parvati to give an answer like that.
"Nice explanation. 10 points to Gryffindor."
Snape then took the reigns once again. "Yes, those capable of using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards or witches can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some. . ." his gaze lingered maliciously upon Ron, Dean, Pansy, and a couple of other students, "lack."
"You will now divide into pairs," Snape went on. "One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx with the standard shielding charm in equal silence. Get started."
Both Harry and Severus walked around observing as the students paired up and got to it. Severus silently admitted to being surprised as several students were actually capable of doing silent casting at a decent level. He chalked this up as a result of his son's after-school sessions. After several minutes, he told them to stop upon seeing Hermione use Protego Duo to block Susan's stunning spell. Susan dodged the spell as it was deflected back.
"You did not follow the lesson, Ms. Granger," Harry said coolly.
"What? But I did shields nonverbally," Hermione retorted.
"The lesson was for you to use the standard shielding charm: Protego, not its variation, Protego Duo. Do you believe this is a pointless exercise?"
"No. But my shield was destroyed by Susan's second-to-last spell. . ."
"A Knockback Jinx Duo," Harry said casually. "And do you know why your shield broke apart?"
"She obviously put a decent amount of power into it," Hermione replied evenly, even though she was glaring at Harry for singling her out.
"Ms. Bones's spell may have put some extra power behind her spell, but that is not why your shield broke," he stated. "The shield would have blocked the jinx. However, since you kept it up for longer than necessary, it broke. Maintaining a shielding charm for an extended period of time will drain the caster of their magic, thereby making their shields flimsy."
"So, what was I supposed to do? Let her spells hit me," she argued. Some people shook their heads at Hermione's comment.
"You are supposed to be smart enough to know when you are taxing your magic. For all your claim about being the Brightest Witch of her age, you didn't even realize that simple fact. 20 points from Gryffindor for failing to adhere to the lesson and for talking back to a professor." Harry glared at her before telling the rest of the students to resume.
By the end of class, the students were back in their seats. Before the bell rang, Harry assigned them a twelve-inch essay on the advantages and disadvantages of using nonverbal shielding charms. There was a collection of groans from the students as they exited the classroom.
This meant they had a free period; however, to others, it was time for their next class, which would be Arithmancy. The school was definitely back in session, and the professors were more than happy with the changes to the school's curriculum. Now that they could teach the more advanced aspects of their subjects, they were going to take advantage of it. When lunch rolled around after morning classes were done, the students and professors gathered in the Great Hall. Ron and Dean complained about how much homework they had gotten on the first day. A still fuming Hermione was working on her Ancient Runes assignment while they worked on their DADA essay. Something that proved to be more complex than they'd believed.
(00)
After finishing his sandwich, Harry teleported to the Potions classroom, where he will be assisting Professor Slughorn for the rest of the day. He appeared in the classroom and looked around to see three large bubbling cauldrons on a table, each giving off different fumes. It didn't take long for the man to come out of the office with a jovial smile and a vial of potion in his hand.
"Ah, Harry, my boy. You're already here. Good, good," the man said, walking over.
"Afternoon, professor. I hope you do not mind, but I decided to show up a little early," said Harry with a small smile.
"Oh, not at all," Slughorn dismissed his concern. "I look forward to working with you today as I have something special in mind. Can you perhaps guess what this is?" Handing the vial over. Harry uncorked the vial and gave it a quick sniff. The smile on his face told Horace he knew what the potion was.
"I had a feeling you would know what potion this is," Slughron laughed.
"So, I take it you're going to offer this as some kind of reward to the sixth-years?" Harry asked.
"Goes without saying. . ." the man confirmed with a big smile. "I must say the students I've had today are better than I thought."
"Well, the other Professors and I are glad you decided to take the job. Oh, and before I forget, I have something for you. . ." Harry reached into his watch and pulled out a tin box, "here, my Mum mentioned you like these," he said, handing him the box.
Horace's eyes lit up when he removed the lid to see an assortment of crystalized pineapples inside. "That is so like Lily. Yes, crystalized pineapples are indeed my favorite. Thank you, Harry. I'll be sure to enjoy these immensely."
He glanced at the clock to see they had five minutes until the students were due to arrive. "Oh my. It seems we only have a few minutes left ." An idea then suddenly popped into his head. "I heard from the other professors that you are a very good teacher. . .though haven't had the opportunity to observe for myself. Would you mind. . ."
"Of course, sir," Harry answered, understanding the man's train of thought.
"Brilliant. Do not worry; I'll let you know when to take over."
Harry nodded his head and stood next to the desk. The classroom's door opened a half minute later, with the first group of students arriving; surprisingly, more than fourteen students managed to qualify for N.E.W.T. Potions. Slughrorn was delighted with the number of students present. Upon spotting the silly, lazy grins on some of their faces, Harry had to resist the urge to roll his eyes, especially from a handful of the girls who were staring at him like he was a piece of meat. He was mentally glad that neither Daphne nor Emily were present; they would not appreciate the stares being directed at him.
"Now then, Now then," Slughorn began, "Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making. . ." He told the ones who commented about not having their Potions book that they could borrow one of the old copies from the store cupboard until they get their own from either Flourish and Botts or the Trinity Library.
"Alright," said Slughorn, returning to the front of the class and inflating his already bulging chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat threatened
to burst off, "Professor Potter and I have a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of things you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?"
He indicated the cauldron nearest the Slytherin table. Harry stepped forward after receiving an encouraging nod, which he figured was Slughorns' way of saying you can take over now.
As expected, Hermione's well-practiced hand hit the air before anybody else's; Harry gestured for her to answer. "It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth," said Hermione.
"Correct. How long does it take to properly brew Veritaserum?" Harry questioned.
"It will take a single lunar cycle or rather 28 days," she said without fail.
Correct. 10 points to Gryffindor," he said before gesturing to the cauldron nearest to the Ravenclaw table, "this one here is relatively well-known. . . Often featured in the Ministry leaflets. Can anyone other than Ms. Granger happen to know which potion this could be?" Harry recognized the slow-bubbling, mudlike substance in the second cauldron and its pungent odor. Barty Crouch Jr. used it to impersonate Alastor Moody two years ago.
Harry inclined his head toward Sue Li when she raised her hand while ignoring the glare Hermione was directing at him. "It's Polyjuice Potion. A very difficult and time-consuming potion that allows the drinker to temporarily take on the physical form of another person. However, you need to be sure the hair strands belong to the person you wish to turn into and not someone else or some animal."
"The main ingredients are?"
"Lacewing flies, Boomslang skin, Knotgrass, and Fluxweed."
"Excellent. 15 points to Ravenclaw." He then moved to the last cauldron, "now, who can identify this potion?" A couple of hands went up, as did Parvati's.
"Gryffindor Patil," Harry called. The dark frown on her face was visible, not to mention understandable. Padma stood beside her, keeping a firm yet comforting grip on her sister's wrist.
Parvati took a quick breath. "It's the most powerful love potion in the world, called Amortentia, and is also very dangerous. Despite being called a love potion, it does not create actual love, as manufacturing and replicating such a thing is impossible. Instead, it creates a powerful infatuation and obsession. Basically, the potion will turn whoever consumes it into a slave."
"Indeed, fifteen points to Gryffindor," said Harry, awarding her points. He then shot her a sympathetic smile. Seamus Finnegan intended to use the potion on her last year but instead was sentenced to Azkaban. "You can recognize it, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen and the steam rising in characteristic spiral. Keep in mind that this potion is supposed to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them. . ." The smell reminded him of Daphne's signature scent, vanilla and mint.
"Like what Ms. Patil said, the potion is very dangerous as it will allow an individual to have control over their intended person. You will find that the potion is almost akin to using the Imperius curse."
"Professor," Lisa Turpin spoke up, "has anyone ever attempted to use it on you?" All eyes were firmly on Harry.
"Sadly, yes. A few have tried to use it on me in the past," Harry admitted, releasing a breath. There were a few snickers and laughs from the students. Professor Slughorn jovially laughed, showing he found it amusing. "Needless to say, their attempts received. . .a less than savory response from some people."
A few people shuddered in response as they could only imagine what the people in his family-particularly Professor Snape, Emily, and Daphne-would do if someone was foolish enough to try and dose Harry with a love potion. That would not end well.
"Sir, you haven't told us what's in this one," said a recovered Ernie Macmillan, pointing at a small black cauldron standing on Slughorn's desk. The potion within was splashing about merrily; it was the color of molten gold, and large drops were leaping like goldfish above the surface, though not a particle had spilled.
Harry only smiled. "Ah, yes. This little number is what you all will be trying to earn today. What you see here is known as Felix Felicis or, more commonly known as. . ."
"Liquid luck. It makes whoever drinks it very lucky for an entire day," said an excited Hermione. Her hand punched the air again. The whole class seemed to sit up a little straighter, giving their full attention to both Harry and the potion beside him.
"You know, Ms. Granger. It's one thing to have knowledge. It's another to flaunt it in the faces of others. No one likes a braggart or a self-righteous showoff," he chastised. "You may be an exceptionally knowledgeable and powerful witch. . .but your need to constantly demonstrate it is as vexing as it is pathetic." An embarrassed and furious Hermione lowered her head slightly with her cheeks pink.
"That will be twenty points from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Nott," he said, not even looking at the two who had been whispering and chuckling. Draco and Theodore's eyes widened considerably. "You two would be wise not to insult another student under your breaths near a professor with really good hearing. It'll be two detentions if I hear either of you utter the M-word again. Or should I say. . .added to the number of detentions you already have." Several of the students were staring hateful glares at the two Slytherins.
"Similar to what Ms. Granger said, this is a very curious potion that, if brewed correctly as this has been, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed. . .at least until the effects wear off."
"Why don't people drink it all the time, sir?" asked Terry Boot eagerly.
"Because Felix Felicis is heavily regulated by the Ministry of Magic and a banned substance in organized competitions-sporting events, examinations, or elections. A person is to use it on an ordinary day only. . .and watch how that ordinary day becomes extraordinary! If taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence," Harry replied.
"One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis," said Harry, receiving a minuscule glass bottle from Horace with a cork in it and showing it to them all. "Enough for twelve hours' luck. From dawn till dusk, you will be lucky in everything you attempt. Now, here is a word of warning, and I want to make this perfectly clear to each and every one of you. We are only giving away one vial of Felix Felicis; this potion will go to the lucky person who can successfully or, at the very least, brew a decent Draught of Living Death. But before you get started, I want you to take this warning to heart: If any of you have the notion of brewing this potion yourself or trying to buy it from the Apothecracy, then I strongly suggest you reconsider. Because if I catch any of you trying to create this potion without permission from either myself, Professor Slughorn, or Professor Vector, then a serious punishment will await you. That's a promise.
"The instructions for the Draught of Living Death will be on page 10 of your books. You may get started." Slughorn gave him an approving nod as the students set out to get the necessary ingredients and turn to the appropriate page so they could get to work.
Harry and Horace walked around the classroom observing and offering suggestive comments to the students about their potions. He found it amusing how some of them tried to get on the man's good side by explaining their family positions and connections. Luckily, Slughorn appeared to have caught onto what they were doing and deflected the conversations back to their cauldrons before continuing his rounds. Also, Harry kept a discreet watch on Malfoy, who seemed determined to be the one to claim the Felix Felicis. The arrogant, egotistical, self-important blond boy was not making a usual nuisance of himself, and Harry understood why. His suspicions were now confirmed.
This continued for the remainder of class; after inspecting all the potions, Horace cleared his throat. "And time's. . .up!" called Slughorn. "Stop stirring, please!"
Harry and Horace had a quick chat about who brewed the best Draught of Living Death and came to a decision. The latter went to deliver the verdict. "We have reviewed everyone's potion and reached a decision. The clear winner!" he cried to the dungeon. "Excellent, excellent, Ms. Davis! Here you are, then, here you are—one bottle of Felix Felicis, as promised, and use it well!"
Tracey accepted the vial from Professor Slughorn and slipped it into her pocket. There was a mixture of applause and groans from the students.
"Better luck next time, everyone. Though on a happier note, there will be no homework for the day," Harry informed.
"Oh, thank Merlin," a relieved Ron whispered. Despite not winning, many students were glad they weren't assigned any homework.
Soon as the door closed when the last student left, Slughorn was bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Oh, that was a fantastic lesson today, my boy. The other professors certainly did not exaggerate your teaching skills, as you were brilliant. Having you as my apprentice will certainly not be boring."
"I look forward to working with you, sir," Harry nodded. "What's your plan for our last class for the day?"
"I have the perfect assignment in mind. . ." Horace laughed and explained his idea for the incoming students.
Later that day, Blaise and the others were working on their homework assignments in the library. Tracey was still giddy about winning a vial of Felix Felicis today in Potions. "Easy Trace. Remember that you only have one vial, so use it wisely," Blaise teased lightly.
"Don't worry, I know," she replied, holding his hand underneath the table. "This may be the first day of classes, but we already have a lot of homework to do."
"I know, right," Katie agreed. She was working on her seventh-year Herbology essay.
"Suck it up, you two. This is what N.E.W.T. work is like," said Daphne, who was working on the last paragraph of her Ancient Runes essay.
"She got you there, babe," came Aaron, who took his eyes off his now-finished Herbology essay. In the back of his mind, he mentally groaned about how lucky Daphne was because she only had to do five N.E.W.T. classes this year. "Though, on a different note, I am glad we got some new professors and the changes made to the school's curriculums."
"Here, here," said Neville. He turned to Luna, who was working diligently on her own homework along with Emily. "How are you two enjoying O.W.L. year so far?"
Emily shot him a piercing look that made him lose his smile. Luna responded, "It is about what we expected," her usual dreamy expression appeared.
"Professor Slughorn is actually a better professor than I thought he'd be," Emily added.
"That is very true," said Aaron.
For the next forty-five minutes, they worked on their homework essays, with the Greengrass heiress finishing up her essay for History of Magic. She eventually decided it was enough for the day and teleported out of the library with her things. Daphne appeared in a familiar living room, where she spotted her boyfriend sleeping on the couch in front of the roaring fire. Dropping her bag beside the couch, she layed next to him with her head on his chest.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Harry stirred and felt something on top of his chest. Opening his eyes, he saw a familiar dark blonde hair as the familiar scent of vanilla and mint filled his nostrils. "Evening, Sapphire. When did you get in here?"
Daphne raised her head to look at him with a soft smile. "Well, look who finally woke up. You enjoyed your nap?" She lightly teased, seeing him yawn.
"You could say that. There's something I got to tell you," he said with a hint of seriousness laced in his voice. Her expression then became cool and neutral. "Today in Potions, Malfoy was acting a bit odd. He wasn't making a normal nuisance of himself. . .in trying to sabotage another student's potion."
"Is that significant?" Daphne raised an eyebrow.
"This next piece of information is. . ." Harry replied. "There was something odd about his magic: it was honed as sharp as a knife, and the aura around him was completely dark and evil. Malfoy is now a Death Eater."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I sensed the Dark mark on his left arm."
"That's very concerning. Yet not unexpected. We suspected that he would become a Death Eater but did not think it would be this soon," Daphne said thoughtfully. "Do you think he did the same ritual as Voldemort and the other members of his inner circle? The one where he absorbed the magical cores from others?"
"I'm almost sure of it, and it would explain what I sensed from his magic."
"What are you going to do?"
"That's difficult," Harry stated. "While there is a big part of me that would like to see him dead or sent to the Maze of Tarturus, I promised Narcissa I keep her son alive. Also, I get the feeling that Malfoy is up to something."
"Well, if he is up to something, then it would most likely be on Voldemort's orders. The safest thing to do would be to discreetly watch him and make sure he doesn't find out we're onto him," Daphne surmised.
"Mmhm." Harry nodded.
A mischievous glint appeared in Daphne's eyes as her lips tugged upward. "Enough about Malfoy and Voldemort now. There is something much more interesting you and I need to be doing, Professor Potter. . ." Daphne crawled up till she was sitting on his lap.
"And what would that be, Ms. Greengrass?" He rhetorically asked with a coy smile.
"I like to review one of the subjects we often practice." Harry brought his lips to hers and grabbed her by the waist. Daphne smiled while their lips moved in sync, and their tongues started wrestling. Her hands wrapped around his neck as she wiggled her bum on his lap.
Several minutes of heated snogging passed until they pulled apart. "That can be arranged. . .though we will have to keep the details of our session confidential. After all, it would be scandalous if word got out that a professor was having relations with a student," he mischievously said.
"I can keep quiet," Daphne smiled innocently. "So what will we be reviewing this evening, Professor Potter?"
"How about I show you? I guarantee it will be quite the experience," he whispered slyly. She gasped when he grabbed her arse. Daphne smiled when she saw the fire behind his green eyes. A dragon and a phoenix. They make one hell of a pair. Harry lifted her up and carried her to the master bedroom.
He tossed her onto the bed and quickly reclaimed her lips with his own. The heated makeout session they shared only a few moments was not only renewed but became more intense. It did not take long for Daphne's school robe and the shirt she'd been wearing to end up on the floor.
(00)
In the sixth-year boys' dormitory of Slytherin house, a fuming Draco layed in his four-poster bed staring up at the ceiling and recounting the events of his life. Nearly everything he had was gone. All of his beautiful dreams for the future had gone up in smoke. He envisioned himself being on the Slytherin Council-the leader of Slytherin house. The members of Slytherins would have bowed and followed his orders without question. He would have had that Greengrass bitch and later the Greengrass family's wealth and political power along with the Blacks. Combined with the wealth and power the House of Malfoy once had, he would not only have been the wealthiest person in all of magical Europe but feared and revered. But everything he had and would have had had been snatched away. And it was all because of Harry bloody Potter and the people close to him.
The death of his father, aunt Bellatrix, and uncle Rodolphus, as well as his disownment from the House of Black and the destruction of the House of Malfoy. It was all Potter and his ilk's fault. He would make them all pay for what they've done to him, for ruining his life. The Dark Lord has tasked him with a special mission, and he swore by Merlin's name he would complete it. He will prove his worth and be rewarded above all others. He will become the Dark Lord's right hand. . .succeed where his father and aunt Bellatrix have failed and ensure his master's reign will be unchallenged so he can rule the world. Once the Dark Lord was in charge, he would wipe out all the mudbloods and mudblood lovers.
What happened today in Potions angered him as he desperately wanted to win that vial of Felix Felicis. It would have made his job a lot more easier. But no. Zabini's whore Davis ended up with the vial instead of him. However, this minor setback would not deter or stop him from completing his mission. By the end of this school year, he will have everything he once had back and, later, much more. Those thoughts filled his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
(00)
In Transfiguration class, there were only ten minutes left before the bell rang to dismiss the students. The class currently consisted of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw fifth-years, and their lesson for the day was about the Vanishing charm. Professor McGonagall seemed impressed as more than a handful of students could not only perform the spell, but some had also done it silently. ". . .homework for the night will two rolls of parchment on the aspects of the vanishing charm; its variants along with its strengths and limitations. Due by next class."
Harry was about to turn his head when he saw someone raise their hand. "Yes, Mr. Monroe. Is there something you need?" he asked, looking at the boy. The dark brown-haired boy is the great-nephew of Mr. Tofty at the W.E.A.
"I was just wondering when you would open your after-school sessions," said Eric. "You didn't open them yesterday, so I wanted to know when they will be open again?"
Nearly everyone was looking at Harry with expecting eyes; they were clearly wondering the same thing. With a small grunt, Harry responded, "I was planning on opening them today." There was a collection of big smiles amongst the students, and with good reason too. Harry's after-school sessions were already popular, but their popularity drastically increased after seeing how effective they were the previous year. Several owls from various parents/guardians and former N.E.W.T. students have written to Harry thanking him for his help.
"Anything else?" Harry questioned.
The boy seemed hesitant for a moment, though nonetheless responded, "The two spells you demonstrated at the beginning of class. The first one, where you turned yourself into a gaseous form, would fall under Human Transfiguration. But the other one that made you intangible. What would categorize that one under?"
"A good question," Harry began with a slight smirk. "Would anyone like to guess which branch of Transfiguration the Intangibility spell will fall under?"
A fair number of students raised their hands. He gestured to the person sitting behind Prewett. Since the start of class, she had been sneaking glances at him, either looking at him like he was a piece of meat or batting her eyelashes, trying to appear sexy.
"The Trans-species Transformation," the fifth-year Gryffindor said.
"Incorrect, but good try."
Colin was the next to respond, "The Vanishment branch."
"Wrong."
"It would be Human Transfigurations," Luna answered. "The reason is that the spell basically turns the caster or another person into something untouchable."
"Correct. 10 points to Ravenclaw." At that moment, the bell rang. "That's the end of our lesson for the day. Class dismissed." The students gathered their things and vacated the classroom. Harry discreetly gave Emily a curt nod when she looked at him before leaving.
"Interesting, isn't it? How so many students are now not only taking their studies more seriously but are actually willing to put forth the work," Minerva said.
Harry could hear the pride in her voice. "That it is. For years, the students who've attended Hogwarts have been unmotivated. The school's curriculums didn't help matters either. It only encouraged them not to try and study harder. But now that they've seen the results of what could happen if they study the more advanced levels of magic, they'll be more inclined to take their studies more seriously."
The Scottish witch let out a long sigh. "If only this had happened this years ago. If Dumbledore and the Ministry hadn't lowered the school's curriculum, then the witches and wizards of magical Britain would have been better equipped. Our society would have been stronger, and the people who were killed could have had a real opportunity at living, to actually make something of themselves."
"Now they will," Harry replied softly. "It's time for a new era of witches and wizards. What happened in the past cannot be undone. But we can help work toward a better future."
"You are a very wise young man. Your parents and grandparents would be very proud of the man you have become," Minerva praised.
Harry met her smile with his own. "You know, I think they'd appreciate it if you come visit them at my home. I know my grandmother would be happy to see you again." She smiled as a lone tear fell down the side of her face.
"Thank you, Harry. I will take you up on your offer."
"Do you have any plans for this weekend?"
"I think I can fit into my schedule." Minerva wiped the tears from her face.
Harry looked at his watch to see that the students were due to arrive any moment now. "Let me take the reins for this class." Minerva gave him a nod just as the classroom door opened up.
"Hello, everyone, and welcome to N.E.W.T. Transfigurations," Harry began once they all sat down. A great many students actually managed to make it to this course's N.E.W.T. level. "Seeing as how you have made it into this class, I can only assume that you've achieved either an Exceeds Expectations or Outstanding' on your O.W.L. You should feel proud. Professor McGonagall and I certainly do, as it means we did our job." He let that sink in for a moment, then resumed.
"However, do not think you will be able to slack off. This holds true for those who barely managed to qualify, as you will need to work even harder. As for the ones who achieved high marks. . ." he said while walking down the aisle, causing the front students to turn their heads. "Just because you managed to secure a spot in this class does not mean you will have it easy or will succeed in passing your N.E.W.T. exam at the end of your final year. Understand that there will be no laziness nor any tomfoolery. You are here to learn about the more advanced pieces of Transfiguration, and if you believe the O.W.L. coursework you had previously was difficult, then you are woefully, foolishly mistaken. That was only a precursor to what you will have to do now. So, if any of you think you will be unable to handle or wish to complain about the coursework, I suggest you leave right now. Know that I do not expect you to be perfect or always get the highest grades; only that you try your best."
No one made a move to get up and leave. Many whom were captivated by his speech and could tell he was serious. Harry waved his hand at McGonagall's desk, summoning the two stacks of parchment on top of it. The stacks floated down the aisles, and a piece of parchment was deposited in front of every student.
"This is the syllabus you will all work from for the year," Harry stated as he walked back up to the front of the room. "Who can tell me why conjuring animals is much more difficult than inanimate objects?"
A few hands went into the air. "Ms. Dunbar," Harry called.
"Because you have to decide on the type of traits you want the animal to have like fur color, eye color, bone compositions, the type of behavior you want them to have, and what you want them to do," she said.
"Correct. Does this apply to anything else?"
"It does. If you transfigure an object into a living animal, then you have to take the object's physical appearance into account and later know what type of creature you want to turn it into along with the physiological and behavioral traits."
"Correct 20 points to Gryffindor. As Ms. Dunbar said, you have to consider not only the type of animal you want to conjure but also their physical attributes and the behavior you want them to have. These are really important aspects that must be considered when creating an animal. We will pick this lesson up during the next class. For now, put your books away and get your quills ready, as you will be doing a quiz for the day," Harry instructed.
There was a collection of groans, but it didn't last long after Harry flexed his magic. "This exam will be two-part-a written and practical. It will give me an idea of where you all are in terms of knowledge and abilities." He waved his hand at his desk, summoning and distributing the exam sheets to everyone. "You may begin."
The students started working on their exams. Harry and Minerva would often alternate between walking around and observing them. Last week, when they met up, Harry proposed that the sixth and seventh-year students be given an exam to see where they were. This will give them an idea of what they have to work with.
During the last fifteen minutes of class, the first person to raise their hand to say they were done was surprisingly not Hermione but Parvati. Harry collected her exam, summoned a clipboard, and motioned for her to follow him to another section of the classroom. A privacy ward appeared around them, and he had her demonstrate four different spells. Each one of her spells was done nonverbally. He jotted down some notes on his clipboard and took down the ward so she could return to her seat. Granger's seat was empty, and Professor McGonagall was nowhere in sight. Plus, a privacy ward was up on the other end of the room. It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on.
Harry motioned for Padma to come forward so he could administer the practical portion of the exam. Once she was done, he pulled up the next person. This continued until the very end of class. Before the bell rang, Harry told them to read chapters one through three for the next class.
"Yes, I'll grade the exams tonight," said Harry after glancing at Minerva to see she was giving him a knowing smile.
"Much appreciated," Minerva replied.
Harry spent the rest of the morning working with Professor McGonagall and then left to assist Professor Flitwick for the second half of the day. The diminutive Professor seemed content with letting Harry take charge of his remaining classes for the day while only stepping in to add to the lectures or give extra instructions every so often.
A/N: The students are back to work with their classes, and the professors are working on getting them back up to scrap. Professor Slughorn was more than happy about the number of students in his sixth-year Potions class and how knowledgeable some of them were. During Potions, Harry could tell something was off about Malfoy as he wasn't his normal arrogant, egotistical self. No matter how hard he tried to conceal them, Draco's magical aura and the magic signature on his left arm told Harry what the boy had become.
Malfoy has no idea what he is up against. Little does he know that Harry is now onto him. If he goes after Harry or the people he's close to, then he will find a new definition of the words pain and suffering. In the event that things do not go as planned, the boy better pray to whoever it is he prays to that he'll be able to escape to somewhere safe.
Next Chapter: Making a point