Many, many thanks to my beta-reader, newbi, for the sorting hat song. That rocked.
Chapter 2 - Attack
Countless times I have been on this stool,
A smelly old hat I may seem to you.
But I'm not just any stinky old hat you see,
For a magical intelligence lies within me.
From long ago in the past I came,
T'was the founders who gave me my name.
Gryffindor, who was bold, and brave to the core.
Hufflepuff, a hard worker, and burdens she bore.
Slytherin, cunning, not much of a saint.
Ravenclaw, book-wise, but snobbish she aint.
And these four decided to start a school,
Hogwarts, it was, for teaching wands to be a tool.
But then arises the problem of learners,
They're taught to use wands like Bunsen Burners.
And thus came about the houses' idea,
Which is the reason of why I am here.
Each founder was special in their own ways,
Though together they had spent their days.
Gryffindor, the fearless, groomed many as brave,
And felt that wands were best used to save.
Hufflepuff, hard workers, complain they don't,
And patient they are, betray you they won't.
Slytherin, seemingly scheming, yet friends you'll find there,
For though they are crafty, they will still care.
Ravenclaw, the smart one, no trouble with studies,
Witty they are, and there you'll find good buddies.
These are the fours houses that are here,
I'll sort you in one for sure my dear.
So come try me, please show no fear,
For in an instant, I'll sort you right here.
Put me on your head, and don't be a mouse,
In moments I'll announce your honourable house!
I clapped politely as the song ended, like every year, but couldn't help but feel that something was… off. Wrong in some way. I didn't know what it was; I just couldn't seem to put my finger on it. The feeling faded as the sorting ceremony commenced, until the last little first year was left.
"Mary Zanclar."
The first year walked up and placed the sorting hat on her head. I tried to smile encouragingly, but the girl didn't really have the best vantage point to see me.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I smiled and clapped, though it was a bit more enthusiastic than the clapping I gave when the student was sorted into another house. It might have been four years since I graduated from Hogwarts, but I still definitely pulled for Gryffindor.
At a low moan, I glanced to my right, seeing Trey look out over the Slytherin table with a mixture of horrified revulsion and depressed resignation. I almost giggled at this, but stopped myself, as I wouldn't have wanted to be in his position myself. I did roll my eyes though.
It was his own fault after all.
With little Mary Zanclar sorted, and I gazed over the room, and realized what was wrong. The tables were about half the length they were in my school days. It was sad to see that there seemed to be fewer little wizards and witches to teach than when I attended.
Damn you Harry. Damn you. You knew that teaching was something I wanted to do and you deprived me of a full happy classroom in addition to everything else you've done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I looked out over the classroom and the students sitting there with a look of consternation. These were fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors. Not exactly what I wanted to start any day with, much less my first one.
This will not go well.
"All right, students. Welcome to another year of Defence classes. You have OWLs this year, so naturally that means I'll pile on the work until you scream and then give you more, as is every other teacher you have. Grading will be strict, harsh, and cruel, because without it you don't stand a snowball's chance in… Hades… of passing your Defence OWL, much less surviving in today's world."
I paused for a moment to take in the looks of shock that were coming at me. I grinned.
"You don't want to know what I'm putting the seventh years through for their NEWTs."
That got a small laugh out of them. But I wasn't kidding. They'd be ready for almost anything, or they wouldn't pass the class. Fortunately most of my proposed curriculum for this year was practical things, so I wouldn't be grading much outside of class. I gazed out over the classroom.
"Now, who wants to tell me who you had for Defence last year?"
About a dozen hands sprung up, about three-quarters of the room. I pointed to one boy near the back.
"Yes… Mr… Thomas, is it?"
The kid nodded. I took a small sip from my flask.
"Yes sir. We had Lockheart."
I promptly swallowed before I could spray my students with the contents. My proposed curriculum would have to be completely tossed out.
"Good lord. Did you kids learn anything last year?"
Thomas, Kennedy if I recalled his first name correctly, grinned.
"Not in this class sir."
I arched an eyebrow at him, but sighed theatrically.
"Well. That sets me back a bit. I was rather hoping you'd have had someone at least slightly competent to teach you. No matter. Accio Tests."
The class groaned as the door to my office flew open and a stack of papers flew into my outstretched hand.
"Relax. I want your very best on this exam, but it won't be going on your final grade in any way. This is mostly so that I have an idea of where you all stand as far your standard go. I encourage you to do your best, because one way or another you will all be caught up to where you should be by the end of the year."
I paused for a moment.
"Or you'll fail trying. And no one will fail for lack of effort on my part."
I magically shot the papers out to their desks, and sat behind mine, taking another small swig from the flask.
It's going to be a long day.
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I smiled as the first years left my classroom.
They're such a bright and eager bunch.
I exited after them, traversing the halls to the library for my off period. I needed the specifics of a healing potion for my sixth years, who I had after the hour was up.
"I didn't know half the stuff on that test. Did you?"
I glanced over. There were two boys talking. The second shook his head.
"Do you really think that fifth years are supposed to know all that stuff? Defence this year is going to be brutal."
The first boy snorted.
"Well, what do you expect? We had Lockheart for a few years. We haven't learned half the stuff we're supposed to. Professor Raptor's just doing his job."
I arched an eyebrow.
Lockheart? The only reason Dumbledore would hire Lockheart again is if… no one else would take it…
I sighed at the thought. The defence position still had its so-called curse on it, and the students suffered as a result. The second boy snorted.
"I know that. It's just I thought this year was going to be hard enough because of our OWLs, you know?"
"I'm aware. I'm just glad we had able teachers for the rest of our subjects."
I found what I wanted in the library and left. Obviously Professor Raptor was going to be rather strict. But I wondered if that was going to be a good thing or a bad thing. It sounded like they would need incredible amounts of help by the looks of things. But I'd wait and see what happened before saying anything or acting on what I'd heard.
Classes went smoothly for several days afterwards, even if there were constant complaints about the workload in defence. The first weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend, in an attempt to acclimate the students back to school life.
I was enjoying my time as one of the escorts, when the ground seemed to rock under my feet at a tremendous explosion. I spun around.
"All students are to proceed immediately to the castle. NOW!"
I turned and ran out, leaving the students to run back for the castle while going to search for any others. The noise was coming from Honeyduke's. And people dressed in white robes were pouring into the area.
NO!
The Reapers had cornered several students who had been passing through the general area when it happened, and Madam Hooch was running forward, casting as she went.
"STUPEFY!"
The Reaper she cast at just smirked as he dodged and her spell flew by to hit a student. I kept moving forward watching in vain as I did when a hooded figure with red and gold embroidery raised his wand.
"ERUMPO!"
I fell to my knees, watching in terror, as Madam Hooch's body seemed to convulse for a moment, before exploding in a shower of blood, splattering in all directions, even onto the students against the wall.
I gaped in shock as the room fell silent in the wake of the horrible vision. There was a muffled 'thump' as something hit the ground and rolled towards me. I felt bile rise in my throat as I realised that it was Madam Hooch's head. I emptied the contents of my stomach onto the ground as I saw the look of shock on her lifeless face.
The sound of my violent retching attracted the attention of the Reapers. They moved forward, but the embroidered one waved them back, and then approached me himself.
"Hello Hermione."
Oh no…
I suddenly connected him back to the wedding.
Harry…
I scrambled backwards, drawing my wand as I went, not that it mattered.
"EXPELIARMUS!"
A moment later, my wand was sitting in his hand, and he was still continuing forward as I continued backwards.
And then I hit the wall.
Harry leered at me and continued forward as I rose, flattening myself against the wall, wishing for all the world that I could fall right through it. He tossed back the hood as he got close, letting me see the green orbs that I'd once found hope in, now revealing nothing more than base instincts. He placed a hand under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"You've certainly… grown… Hermione. We didn't really get a chance to talk at the wedding, did we? And I so wanted to talk to you then too. What a shame. I wonder? Should I take you with me? I could, you know. I could show you everything out there that Dumbledore doesn't want people knowing… Would you like that? You've always liked learning new things… Maybe we could invite a few of the others… Ronald… Virginia… Malfoy… Oh yes, Malfoy should definitely see some of this. What do you think?"
I tried to knee him, but he twisted slightly, and my knee fell harmlessly on his thigh instead of my intended target.
"PULSUS! EVERBERO!"
Suddenly, Harry was ripped away from me, and seemingly struck across the chin by nothing, yet he still went sprawling back. I turned to find Professor Raptor standing there, wand still straight out at Harry, stalking forward.
What in the… when did he get here? And without anyone noticing?
Harry was up in a flash, wand drawn at Raptor. He grinned at Raptor.
"Let's finish this, hmm?"
Raptor just laughed.
"Really? Surely you remember what happened the last time we duelled each other directly? Care to risk it again?"
Harry just kept grinning.
"ICTUS!"
"PERSECO!"
The two bolts clashed harmlessly against each other, and Trey stepped back a little shocked.
"What? How did?"
Harry just smiled.
"FRENDO!"
Raptor's eyes widened and he leapt to the side. I didn't recognize the curse, but I'm sure that anything Harry was sending at him was nasty. Suddenly a large number of pops sounded, as Aurors Apparated into the area. Harry swore.
"Next time Raptor, next time."
With that, Harry Apparated out. Trey smirked then.
"Does he even realise how absolutely stupid he sounds?"
I sat there, watching the pattern engraved in blood on the ground. One of the Aurors turned to me.
"Hermione?"
I blinked.
"Neville?"
He followed my gaze.
"Who…?"
"Madam Hooch…"
He closed his eyes, and I noted that Trey had stopped smirking, and was kneeling by the center, head bowed with his eyes closed as well.
"Damn… If only we'd been here sooner."
I gave a small smile.
"You did your best Neville. That's all you can do."
"Sometimes the best isn't good enough, Hermione."
We looked over to see Trey, his eyes still staring down at the head. He went on.
"Sometimes, no matter what a person does, no matter how hard he tries, the inevitable happens. I was closer than you, Mr. Longbottom, and I was still too late to save Madam Hooch. If you wish to blame anyone, blame me. I was here, but I didn't realize until it was too late. I claim responsibility."
Neville blinked.
"Mist… Professor Raptor… You aren't to blame for this. Nor do I really blame myself. I blame the one who did this. I blame Harry Potter."
Neville's eyes were like flint as he said this, and you'd never have guessed that as a boy, he could be scared so easily. Trey stared back equally as hard, then suddenly turned, and his voice came back hard and cold as he walked away.
"Do as you wish."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sighed as I watched Raptor go off like that.
There's something about him…
I turned to look back at Hermione. I hadn't known Madam Hooch that well, as I didn't really like flying that much in school, and still preferred to do without it now.
But it still hurts to see one of my professors killed like that.
I sighed and looked at my friend who was still staring at the lifeless head. I gently guided her away from it and began to gently question her.
An Auror's work is never done.
"Can you tell me what happened Hermione?"
She nodded slowly, and began to speak.
Several hours later, with all the gruesome details catalogued, I took Hermione back to her room in the castle to let her sleep.
"Is she all right?"
I shrugged. Raptor was an okay guy; he just closed up after tragedies. We'd crossed paths a few times after he'd started trying to stop Potter. People deal with grief differently.
If Hermione's anything like she used to be, then she'll be in the library tomorrow, keeping herself busy with something.
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I wandered the halls that night, unable to sleep. Things were rapidly progressing to the next level. The attack on Hogsmeade was too uncoordinated for it to have been intentional.
His most likely goal was Hogwarts itself.
That was distressing, because it meant that one game was over, a game that I knew well by now, and a new one had begun.
And I'm going to have to learn the rules all over again.
Then I paused and frowned, turning back the other direction again.
Or maybe it's a restart of an old game…
I didn't like that thought at all. But I was interrupted by muffled sobbing coming from the open door to the astronomy tower. It was a well-known snogging spot for the students, but this sounded otherwise, and therefore worth investigation.
"Lumos."
My wand lit as I entered the enclosure, and I heard the sobbing pause, as well as some scrambling. I proceeded closer, and was shocked by what I saw. Terra Davies, one of my Slytherins, and Leroy Hooch, who was understandably the sobbing one.
"Ms. Davies? Mr. Hooch?"
Terra looked panicked.
"Professor Raptor… Please don't say anything… Leroy, he's…"
I waved my hand to silence her.
"I will not be taking points Ms. Davies. I understand his plight. Though I do wonder why it is that you are here."
It was rather easy to see the slight blush that overcame her. I arched an eyebrow.
"A Slytherin and a Hufflepuff? Dear me, just what is the world coming too?"
She started stammering.
"P-Please don't say anything… I'd be ostracised from the house…"
"I won't be saying anything Ms. Davies. I actually approve. Hope for the future and all that."
"Thank you…"
I looked over sharply. It was not Terra who had uttered that, but Leroy. I smiled a little.
"Of course. As a teacher, I have to ask that you at least consider going back to Hufflepuff and getting some sleep, Mr. Hooch."
He nodded, but looked back up at me.
"What… What happened out there, sir? No one will tell me."
I swore softly under my breath. They were sixth years, they could handle it, but I looked sharply at them anyway.
"You didn't hear me say that. Or any of the rest of this either. As far as anyone else is concerned, I never entered the tower tonight, is that clear? Absolutely secret."
They nodded, and I let my gaze relax a bit.
"I wasn't there until later, but I found out from the Aurors that the curse used was erumpo."
"Erumpo?"
I nodded.
"Bursting curse. Very nasty."
Terra's eyes widened considerably.
"But… shouldn't that be…"
"Unforgivable? There was never a need for it to be classified as such until now."
Leroy's turn to be confused.
"I don't understand. Something that makes things blow up? Shouldn't that be forbidden automatically?"
I nodded.
"I understand your reasoning, Mr. Hooch, but that has not been the case. I imagine it's being considered now though."
Terra frowned.
"That didn't answer the question. Why isn't it unforgivable? Before now, at least."
I paused, formulating my thoughts, sinking to sit on the floor with them.
"That is because what Potter did should have been impossible. The curse was originally developed for demolition work, taking out buildings and the like. But it's nature made it outlawed for danger of shrapnel. Physical objects have density, they like to stay together, and the curse forces them to fly apart. On an object that's living, with a certain amount, of spirit, the curse is nearly impossible to perform because the spirit also wants the physical object to stay together, creating a second level of defences."
I paused again, gaining breath. A glance told me that they were both locked onto my words.
"I've read that some of the most powerful wizards, like Dumbledore for instance, though I doubt he's ever tried, can actually get the curse to work on trees and other plants, which have smaller amounts of spirit. But for it to work on a human being…
"In addition to the physical nature wanting to stay together, and the spirit, there is also the mind working in the body's defence, and in this case, the person's magic as well. There are four distinct levels of defence against a curse that is incredibly difficult to cast. Back in the old days, Voldemort and his cronies wouldn't have bothered trying it…"
Leroy's eyes widened again.
"So the reason it wasn't already unforgivable was that it couldn't be done?"
I sighed.
"That's the short of it, yes. But it seems that he's more powerful than we could have dreamed."
They looked at me. Then Terra, her Slytherin side showing through for once in the night, asked the question I was hoping wouldn't be asked.
"Can you do it?"
I shrugged and answered honestly.
"I don't know. Decent wizards don't bother with trying. Now, let me escort you back to your common rooms. I fear the night will be far too short as it is."
AN:
Spells used:
I got these out of an online latin translator, so if anyone has huge issues with them, and is more in the know than I, please say something.
Ictus: Stab
Perseco: Cut
Erumpo: Burst
Pulsus: Push
Everbero: Hit
Frendo: Crush