Chapter 17: Realizations and a New Class
All was dark, and Harry was numb. Not just the sort of numb felt in the legs when one has been sitting in the same position too long. He felt literally drained of any emotion from the inside out. His world, unstable at best, had just been given another great heave and turned completely upside down once again. On top of all of that, his eyes seemed glued closed, and he was unable to open them. It was as if he was fighting to travel toward some semblance of day, but could find nothing to guide him; no sliver of light in the black cave.
Strangely enough the visions in his head, brought on by events just an hour earlier, needed no light to play out in great detail before him.
Remus Lupin is my father…My father is inside his friend's body…I can't…don't want to believe it…Lied to me…everything was a lie…everyone lied to me…m..my god I'm related to Voldemort…related to Voldemort!…have to kill him…have to kill him…have to find Hermione…need her…
"Harry…"
The name was spoken so softly that Harry whirled around in his obscurity, unsure of whether he'd truly heard her or whether his mind was playing tricks on him.
"…Please wake up love…Please come back to me."
No mistaking…that was Hermione's voice. Great Merlin, she was better than light. He'd follow that voice and find day even if there was no day left to find.
As he followed her sound, slowly, Harry began to see his sliver of light, although with it came whitish flashes of pain residing somewhere behind his eyelids. But though it hurt to finally open his eyes, Harry saw Hermione's concerned face swimming fuzzily before him. It made it worth the effort.
" 'Mione," he croaked dryly, "Y'came to Dumbledore's office…Should be in bed…Y'should be in th' infirmary…"
Hermione smiled with relief and Harry realized then that she was reclining on his bed beside him. Hang on…his bed? How did he…
"No Harry, we're in our dorms," smiled Hermione as she stroked the hair from his forehead. "Don't you remember? You hit your head."
Harry turned his head briefly to see Ron's concerned face swimming before him, as his friend was perched on the other side of the bed. He vaguely heard Hermione telling Ron that he'd be fine now, and to get to his dorms and get some sleep. Ron nodded, and his tall blurry red-haired form patted Hermione companionably on the shoulder and exited his room.
H…hit my head…blacked out…Dream? Tell me it was a dream…"Mione …tell me it was a dream. Tell me you weren't in the infirmary. Tell me I wasn't in Dumbledore's office…Tell me that my father…my father didn't lie to me for sixteen years…" One year old when my mum and dad were killed…lied to me for sixteen years…I've needed him for sixteen years…
"Y…You're father?" Hermione felt her heart quicken and put her hand on Harry's cheek as he gazed up at her. "Harry I don't know what went on in Professor Dumbledore's office. All I know is that Ron and I were waiting for you to come back and it seemed hours later, Professor Lupin and Dumbledore came in levitating you behind them. He kept apologizing to Madame Pomfrey for letting you bump your head on the floor. He said he caught you but dropped you a minute later…seems you're a lot heavier than he thought. Ron and I had a right time convincing Madame Pomfrey to let you and I return to our dorms…" She finished with a searching look, and Harry dropped his gaze. "Harry, what happened outside? Did you find who sent the dark mark? And what happened in Dumbledore's office? When they came in with you, Lupin was sobbing. It scared Ron and I half to death! We thought he was crying over something awful that had happened to you." Tears began welling in Hermione's eyes and she swallowed harshly. "I don't ever want you to go running off like that again, Harry. You could have been…Harry, for a moment I thought you were…we thought you were d..de…I can't even say it."
Hermione raised a hand to her mouth and her face twisted in an attempt to keep back the tears that once again threatened to fall. Harry raised a hand gently to her face. He could see that she'd been crying for some time.
"It's all right, love. Just a bump on the head." He smiled then to lighten the mood, although it was clear the gesture didn't reach his eyes. "Ironic isn't it? Guess you were right when you said what happens to me happens to you, and vice versa. I just wish it didn't have to be all of the physical stuff as well."
Hermione couldn't bring herself to smile at the joke and leaned closer to Harry's face, almost whispering. "Harry…Please tell me what happened tonight. And don't leave anything out. None of that skipping over parts so I won't be hurt in any way." Harry opened his mouth to protest. "And don't bother denying it. I know you too well."
Harry closed his mouth again and half-grimaced. She did know him too well. Although he would do anything to spare her any grief, even if it was over him, he also couldn't lie to her. He knew he was a terrible liar and he always had been. That's why when it became necessary he usually left it up to Ron.
Harry began slowly, leaving nothing out, and by the time he was finished, Hermione was shaking with shock beside him, her mouth forming a tremulous and distraught "O".
"M…my god Harry…My god…Are you…are you…" The suppressed look of pain on Harry's face hurt Hermione more than if he'd been yelling or screaming, and she found herself breaking down into sobs for him. Harry, who'd been trying to keep an even face throughout the whole telling, finally broke down as well, crying and choking as if his heart were shattering into a million pieces.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him and the two of them cried together until the wee hours of the morning, until they had cried themselves into exhaustion and had fallen into a hard sleep.
By the time Ron came round to their dorms and knocked heavily on the door, it was a quarter of eleven the next morning. As it was a Saturday it didn't matter what the students did, but as neither Harry nor Hermione had shown up for breakfast, he was more than a little concerned.
The loud knocking woke Harry with a start, and he opened swollen eyes to find Hermione snuggled closely to him, an arm thrown over his stomach, her head on his bare chest, and her mouth slightly relaxed open in sleep. The knocking came again, more fervently this time, and Harry growled softly, agitatedly, and began carefully disentangling himself from Hermione. After fumbling around for his glasses and shoving them onto his face, he gently covered her with his blanket and padded wearily to the door, rubbing a hand over his face and through his hair before opening it.
"Wonky knight," he heard Ron growling to Sir Cadogen. "Look, I don't know the password alright? But these are my friends and I need to know that they're safe…"
"Upon my word as a knight of King Arthur's court you shall not pass sir!" Harry heard the squeaky voice of Sir Cadogen reply. He heard a clang of armor as Cadogen must've fallen from his horse again. "And as you are determined to force my hand in the matter I shall have no other choice but to challenge you to a duel!"
Cadogen unsheathed his sword with a mighty heave that almost sent him toppling forward and rushed towards the end of his picture brandishing the blade and waving it to and fro, hopping up and down.
Ron scoffed in disbelief. "What the…You're bloody wonkers, you psycho!"
"Draw coward! Have at thee! Forward and fight! I shall skewer thee and leave thine entrails for the birds of prey!"
Ron sighed angrily. "Bloody hell."
Harry opened the door fully and poked his tousled head around it to look at the knight. "No duels today Sir Cadogen, he's welcome anytime. Ron, what is it? It's Saturday, mate. Hermione and I are both knackered."
Ron slumped against the frame of the door and sighed in relief. "I know it's Saturday. It's also almost Saturday afternoon you wanker. You and 'Mione didn't show up for breakfast, and after last night I got worried. Where is she by the way?"
Harry stepped aside and let Ron in. "Still sleeping. Been a long night you know…"
Ron started for a moment and then fixed Harry with wide accusing eyes. "Sleeping! Harry you let her sleep!? Remember Madame Pomfrey wanted her awake for twenty-four hours! Good lord, where is she!?"
A look of horror swept over Harry's features as he realized what he'd done. Of all of the selfish, shit-faced things to do…
Quickly he ran to his room and jumped on the bed, gently shaking Hermione by the shoulders. " 'Mione love, wake up. No sleeping right now…Wake up…"
Hermione pushed the hands on her shoulders away, irritated in sleep, and opened swollen eyes. "H'rry…Wha'…what're you…"
Ron took her hand and helped her sit up even as Hermione growled menacingly at him. "H'rry, Ron, please. Tired…need t' sleep, K?"
She began to slump back under the covers but Harry swiftly put an arm behind her back and dug under the covers to place the other one under her legs. He hoisted her up and set her down unsteadily on her feet, keeping an arm about her waist.
"Harry, what're you doing!?"
"Madame Pomfrey's orders, remember love? No sleep for twenty-four hours. God Hermione, I'm so sorry. I should've been watching you, not whinging on about my own problems…"
Hermione shook her head and walked into the common room to sit in front of the fire, Harry and Ron following.
"As you can see Harry, I'm fine. And what you're upset about most certainly isn't something you should've kept to yourself. Besides if you had, I would've hexed you into next winter."
"Hang on," said Ron suddenly, sitting up and peering steadily at Harry. "Does this have to do with last night? Harry tell me what happened."
It was more of a demand than a request, and Harry had no choice but to tell him. Truth be told, he needed Ron to know everything as well. He'd never been able to keep anything from him, or from Hermione, and he'd figured out long ago that it was much better to include them than to go through things alone.
Ron's reaction mirrored Hermione's almost exactly, although he didn't cry. True to his nature, his face reddened and he sniffled almost imperceptibly, turning halfway away from them as if he found something hanging on the wall of particular interest.
"Bloody hell. Professor Lupin? Your dad?…Bloody hell! Th…that…I don't know what to say, mate. That must've been hell on you. But your dad's alive. He's alive! You have him back! Truthfully I don't understand why you're not with him right now trying to learn everything you can about him…"
"Ron, I never lost him. Don't you see?" Harry's throat began to constrict painfully again and he fought the tears tooth and nail. He was done crying. "He never really died. But he and Dumbledore, and Professor McGonnagol for that matter let me believe that he did. He lied to me, Ron. For seventeen years he's been here, and he's left me alone. I just…I can't understand that."
Hermione sighed, a fresh set of tears brimming in her eyes, and spoke softly although her gaze stayed glued to the orange fire in the hearth. "Harry, they did it for your protection. I know you understand that. As much as it must hurt, they had no other choice. If Voldemort found out that your father was still alive, which apparently he did, he'd have found you so much easier if you'd been with him. As it was, he'd have never thought to look for the most powerful wizard child in the world among Muggles. And Dumbledore placed powerful protective wards around the house until you turned eleven, and of course, even now…until you were to come to Hogwarts and be watched over here. They just wanted you protected from the wizarding world for as long as possible."
When Harry replied, his voice was hoarse with bitterness. "Hermione, I would've much rather had one day with my father, than a lifetime of safety. Don't you understand that? All of my life, up until I met you and Ron, I've been alone. People surrounded me, and yet I was alone. I needed him. I needed him so badly, and he could've been here. Instead he waits until I'm bloody seventeen to tell me he's still around…"
Ron sat forward then and spoke in a hard voice full of wisdom that somehow surprised both Hermione and Harry. It wasn't that Ron had no intelligence; far from it. But somehow he'd always been relied on to be the light one. The one that most of the time, pulled Harry and Hermione from the heaviness of reality and made them smile for a bit; made them realize that laughter was a part of life too. But today, Ron was all sage.
"Harry, don't you realize that it was just as hard, if not harder for your father to give you up, than to be with you? In a way, he sacrificed his life to keep you safe, mate. He'd just lost his wife, and now he was losing his son. But mate, he chose to do it to keep you safe; to save your life. I know it must be hard to forgive him and even to take all of this in, but Harry you have to try. I know my father would've done the same thing for me. You should be thankful you have a dad that loves you so much. What your dad did for you, that's unselfish love, Harry. It's unconditional love."
Hermione pushed away the astonishment she felt at Ron's eloquent words and nodded. "It's a father's love, Harry."
Harry sat for a long moment staring into the fire, not answering, his whole body slumped with emotional exhaustion. No one had ever promised life would be easy. There were no guarantees the journey would bring happiness, just others to travel with you if you were lucky. He was indeed fortunate to have such a selfless father…and for that matter two such wonderful people as Hermione and Ron to trek life's road with. Yes, there'd been too much shocking information given to him at once, too many heavy revelations to have to process, but once again, he would find a way to deal with it. And keeping the people who loved him close somehow always made the blows much softer.
Hermione moved from the end of the couch to sit closely to Harry and laid her head on his shoulder, taking his hand in hers and kissing it briefly. Finally, wordlessly Harry nodded in quiet agreement. Ron and Hermione, knowing Harry enough to know that companionable silence was best for now, kept mute and let him think, getting lost in their own thoughts as well.
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The rest of the weekend passed too quickly for Harry's comfort as he'd resolved for the remainder of it to hide out in his and Hermione's dorms until Monday; until he'd figured out some way of handling the disconcerting revelations and approaching his father.
He found his throat constricting over and over with different emotions; emotions he couldn't quite make himself understand. Grief, joy, bitterness, betrayal, rejection and even loneliness (?) seemed to pound away in his veins at every turn. He felt as if his spirit had been torn in two. On one hand, he was heart-poundingly overjoyed at having his father back after having believed him dead for all of this time. What normal person wouldn't be thrilled at having such a miracle dropped as if from God right into his lap?
On the other hand Harry was terrified, and this was yet another feeling he was unable to resolve with himself. He'd only ever known bits and pieces of his father; pieces that even as of yet he'd been unable to put together to form a complete picture of the man. Truthfully, he'd never really had a father, and had no clue as to how to have a relationship with one, especially with the circumstances surrounding this particular father/son connection. Would more resentments begin to surface? Would they be awkward and distant with each other? How could they just pick up and act like father's and son's act (which was what, exactly?) when they were little more than strangers to each other?
Harry was also suffering from little pangs of guilt that seemed to interject themselves into his thoughts without warning. Without really meaning too, he sometimes felt he had enough to deal with without the added complications of Lupin turning out to be his father, James. Every time that thought tried to creep into his head Harry mentally raged at himself for it, feeling as if there should be no forgiveness for someone like him. After all, how many other sons and daughters that had lost parents would give all that they had to have even one more day with them?
So all in all, Harry spent the remainder of his weekend confused and filled with such guilt that even Hermione's usual words of wisdom did nothing to lighten his heart.
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Ron had returned to his dorms and had met with a fuming Ginny who insisted that he be flayed alive for not coming back immediately to tell her how Harry and Hermione were. As it was now late Sunday afternoon, the whole school had heard what had happened Friday night save for the conversation between Harry, James, and Dumbledore.
After having seen Harry safely to the infirmary with his father, Dumbledore had immediately withdrawn himself and James from the room and had called an emergency meeting with all of the teachers to discuss the dark mark. Much to Lupin's relief, Dumbledore had had the foresight not to mention his true identity. The Headmaster had felt that it was not his place to reveal it to anyone and that when the elder Mr. Potter felt the time was right, he would divulge the secret. Besides the glaring fact that if Voldemort were to find out that James was here at Hogwarts it might make him even more determined to start his final battle. Having the elder Potter near his son, in Voldemort's eyes, would intensify the threat that Harry might find out his true identity. That was the last thing that Voldemort wanted. After all, knowledge truly was power.
Once again, new rules were put into place. Students were to be in their common rooms no later than eight o'clock in the evening, and no one else, not parents, not Ministry officials, no one was to be allowed onto Hogwarts grounds until the perpetrator of the dark mark was found. Although Dumbledore had a great idea who it had been, nothing could be proven, as Hermione had told Madame Pomfrey that her attackers face had been covered with a hood.
The theft of the time turner greatly disturbed the faculty of Hogwarts as well. Not one witch or wizard could for the life of them figure out what Lucius or Voldemort would want with it, as it's power extended only as far back as a year or two. Also, the consequences of using it even as far back as that period of time might be even more dire than to have not used it at all. Even so, there was nothing to be done for it at the present time. There were no witnesses save Hermione who could identify no one, and no evidence with which to press charges. Dumbledore could try telling the Ministry to keep a close watch on Lucius Malfoy, but they all knew what a great lot of good that would do since Malfoy had the entire Ministry and especially Cornelius Fudge, folded neatly into his wealthy back pocket.
So, Dumbledore had concluded, the school would need to be put on double alert where security was concerned. The teachers would take turns along with Argus Filch, the caretaker, patrolling the hallways at night and making sure that all students were properly stowed for the evening.
Quidditch was still to go on as planned, but every game was to be presided over very carefully, as well as every practice, and students were to come immediately inside afterwards. The Yule Ball, which was to commence in two months time, was also to go on as planned, but students were to be prohibited from wandering school grounds during said event. On and on the list went, with this and that activity either completely prohibited, or to be chaperoned at all times.
With the delivery of bad tidings usually came an unending amount of unhappy students, so each house head groaned appropriately when the time came to go to each of their houses and read out the new list of school rules. As always, they were to be posted like a death warrant above the mantle of the fireplaces in each common room, and McGonnagol was no exception to the line of teachers dreading the task.
Of course the worst thing by far was the announcement that all Hogsmeade visits were cancelled this year, especially for the sixth and seventh years, who complained repeatedly about last chances to visit. But with her usual unbending sternness, McGonnagol explained thoroughly that it was for their own protection, and left them to grumble amongst themselves.
Ginny particularly was livid, as Malfoy had actually asked her in a roundabout way to go with him next weekend, although he had made sure to do it when no other Slytherins were watching. She smiled to herself. At least she had finally made him admit, although with exact words, that he'd been jealous of she and Seamus.
(A/N: I know this is where I messed up before and put Ginny in a seventh year potions class, but it fits with my story so now I have to go with it. Please forgive me! =0/)
She smiled as she thought briefly back to the glares of death Draco had been shooting Finnegan at every moment possible from the moment she'd begun flirting with him in Potions. It was, she admitted, a dirty, low-down thing to do, but as the old Muggle saying went, 'all's fair in love and war.' And war it was. It had taken Draco a month of handholding, whispering, giggling, oh-we-just-happened-to-run-into-Draco-while-snogging-in-the-hallway's with Seamus for the Slytherin to finally corner her yesterday afternoon as she was headed outside to enjoy a fresh Saturday afternoon with her friend Michelle Garroty.
Shell was a redhead too, although her hair was decidedly more of a flaming cherry than Ginny's auburn hue, and very inch of her body was covered in large brown freckles rather than the light dusting Ginny owned. Early on she had earned the nickname Carroty, which she loathed in every way possible. This resulted, of course, in most students at Hogwarts calling her exactly that, especially the Slytherin.
As it was, that afternoon, Ginny had just finished reassuring Shell that she was sure the slightly younger girl's hair would darken into a lovely auburn hue when Malfoy happened upon both of them.
He had approached them in his usual abrupt manner and looked directly at Ginny.
…happens to be very tall and very blonde and very sexy…Nonononono…keep it together Ginny…
"Beat it Shell. I need to speak to Ginny."
Shell narrowed her eyes in disgust. "What makes you think Ginny wants to speak to you?"
Malfoy eyed her finally with annoyance. "Don't remember needing your permission. Now wait outside like a good little carrot. I promise to send her back to you shortly."
Shell huffed angrily and prepared to walk away, but Ginny grabbed her arm as an afterthought before her friend could get away. "Never mind that, Shell. Whatever Malfoy has to say to me he can say in front of both of us. Can't you, Draco?"
Draco shrugged nonchalantly and raised his eyebrows. "All right…What's going on with you and Finnegan?"
Ginny crossed her arms and turned to her friend. "Shell, would you wait outside for me?"
Michelle dropped her shoulders in exasperation but shrugged. "Whatever you want. I don't care." She walked outside without another word and Draco turned to Ginny.
"Changed your mind rather quickly, didn't you?"
"I have the right," Ginny replied saucily. "So, repeat the question? Sorry, wasn't paying attention."
Draco lowered his brows in annoyance. The brat could be so irritating. "Finnegan…ring a bell? Seems you and he've been playing rather heavily at tonsil hockey for the past couple of weeks."
Ginny smiled humorlessly. "Nice." She crossed her arms once again and gave him a challenging look. "I've never known you to be interested in anything I do. What changed your mind?"
Draco smirked. "I have the right."
"So you do," said Ginny smoothly, ignoring the irritation she felt at receiving one good turn for another. She walked around him quickly and began to saunter outside, flipping her long red hair and swinging her hips a little more than was necessary.
Draco had to smirk, although rather grudgingly, at her retreating form. She was good. "Where you heading, Red? We're not through here."
Ginny turned around sharply and leered at him. "Whether or not we are, I also have the right to leave your rather 'unasked' questions unanswered. And I'm not in the habit of abandoning my friends for very long so unless there was anything else…"
Draco slipped his hands into the pockets of his robe and with chin down, grinned again; that wickedly sultry grin that made him look like he was up to no good. Ginny found some of her confidence beginning to slip. Nonono…I will NOT let him get to me that way, the miserable prat…
"Well, I did have one more thing to ask you, Red. That is if Finnegan will let you. I realize you might have to ask his permission."
That did it. Ginny's face burned as brightly as her hair and a look of fury replaced the twisted smile. Unconsciously she balled her hands into fists, a move that Draco found oddly sexy. "ASK HIS PERMISSION!? You mean as if he OWNS me!? We aren't even going together for Merlin's sake and even if we were NO ONE OWNS ME. Not Seamus, not Ron, no one…"
Draco barked out a harsh laugh which stopped Ginny right in the middle of her ranting. He'd hit a nerve and he knew it. "See Red? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Ginny blinked, confused for a moment, and began running through her last words, muttering under her breath. She finally realized what she'd confessed and flushed again, simultaneously annoyed and embarrassed. "Well you did it. Got the truth from me, did you? Two points to you. Congratulations."
She whirled around to walk away but Draco laughed again, this time much softer and took a few quick steps to stop her. When his hand grabbed hold of her arm and turned her back round, the resulting unseen current that seemed to pass from one to the other, confused Draco much more than it did Ginny. Although she flushed from the contact and looked surprised, Draco seemed nonplussed. The flash traveled through his chest to settle somewhere in his abdomen and continue to flutter. It confounded him. He spent the next few seconds staring down at the hand that had just served as a conductor.
Ginny breathed out the next sentence as if she'd just run the hundred-yard dash. "Somethingelseyouwanted?"
Draco stuttered out the next few words and mentally punched himself for it. C'mon Draco pull it together, damn it! Malfoy's don't get flustered… "I…wanted to tell you to meet with me for Hogsmeade next weekend. Just for kicks and shits, of course. You know…need someone to argue with…amuse me…decent at it for a Weasley…"
Ginny swallowed thickly. In a half-arsed, roundabout, Malfoy-like way, Draco had just asked her out, and she'd been totally unprepared for it. "Well…Of course I will. After all, Seamus doesn't own me. No one does!" There you go…act like it's a challenge…keep your cool…my god does he have to have such stormy gray eyes…
Draco stood to his full height then, all flustration gone. "Ok then, I'll meet you at seven by the carriages…And Red, wear something nice for god's sake. Malfoy's aren't seen with ragamuffins."
Completely unmoved, Ginny replied tartly. "I will if you will. And if you'll attend to personal hygiene for the love of Merlin I might be tempted not to ditch you the moment we get there."
Malfoy inclined his head sarcastically at her, gave her a mock salute and began to walk away, but his last thoughts were less than insulting. She'd look good dressed as a house elf, damn her…
Ginny stumbled outside wringing her hands nervously as she scanned the grounds for Shell. The bastard always smelled good enough to eat…
Ginny shook her head to rid herself of the mental projection. Well it was screwed all to bloody hell now. No more Hogsmeade weekends.
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As Ron, Harry and Hermione made their way from Potions to the last class of the day on Monday, Harry found himself even more disheartened than usual after the hateful encounter with Snape. They were headed to the Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and this was the first time since his confrontation the weekend past with Lupin in Dumbledore's office that he would be facing him. Along with that came the fact that he was to stay after for more training; just he and the professor, alone. Harry's body was so abuzz with nerves that he literally felt the vibration traveling throughout his veins, making his body shake and his heart flutter madly.
Hermione and Ron were unconsciously walking on either side of him as if to reassure him that he was not alone, and they both continued to send him furtive glances until Hermione could no longer take the look of dread on his face.
"Harry." She spoke softly, like the whisper of a breeze, and Harry closed his eyes momentarily, letting the sound of it wash soothingly over him. "He loves you. No matter what…"
Ron said nothing but nodded in agreement and patted his friends shoulder awkwardly. He'd never been good at the whole 'comfort' thing, but he was nothing if not caring and trustworthy to the end. Harry gave him a thankful smile and they resumed walking, Harry doing his best not to seem like he was making his way to the electric chair.
As they entered the class, Harry was eternally grateful that Snape had chosen to let them out a few minutes late as the other students that had been chosen by their heads of houses had already all seemed to arrive.
The three chose seats towards the back of the class, and Lupin, who still had his back turned to the full room, was apparently rearranging some things on his desk. If he had seen them file in the back he'd made no indication of it.
Inwardly, Harry wondered how he could have expected it to be any other way…after all, what was his father to do in the middle of a class? He began to relax a bit, and settled back into his chair, realizing that at least he had a good hour before the disconcerting one on one confrontation with him was to begin.
He began to notice with a quick glance around him what students had been selected. Gryffindor had quite a few, really more that any other house. In fact, all of the seventh years had been selected, and a few of the sixth years. Ginny was one of them, and as Harry glanced at Ron, he saw that his friend seemed none to keen on the idea of her being selected. He knew that Ron was overly protective where his baby sister was concerned, but McGonnagol and Dumbledore had obviously had a reason for choosing her to participate. He suspected it had something to do with the elder Weasley's being part of the Order of the Phoenix, and the fact that the Weasley children might be in more danger than some because of it.
Curiously, Malfoy had been the only one chosen from Slytherin, a fact that didn't seem to escape anyone's attention as many of the other students were gazing at the blonde boy as well. Apparently, Draco took this as a sign of great importance and looked smug, as always.
There were only four Ravenclaws that Harry recognized, and two Hufflepuffs. He turned to Hermione to comment on the odd number from each of the houses, but as usual, she seemed to have already formed a theory on it.
"So what'd you think about the numbers represented here?" Whispered Harry curiously. "Especially with there being only one Slytherin…"
Ron sneered. "One too many if you ask me."
Hermione sighed with tolerance and eyed them. "Isn't it obvious?"
Ron flushed with impatience. "Apparently not."
"Well as far as Gryffindor are concerned, we were all chosen for our house by the sorting hat because of our sense of bravery," said Hermione, " and a lot of us, especially where Harry and Neville are concerned have had quite a few run-ins with dark magic in our lifetimes, haven't we? As for Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, I'm not sure…"
"I'm shocked," cut in Ron sarcastically. Hermione shot him a filthy look.
"As I was saying…I'm not sure about those two, but as for Malfoy being the only Slytherin chosen for this class, I should think it would be obvious."
Harry paused waiting for her to continue, but when she just kept looking at them, he sighed patiently. "Love, since it's not obvious, fill us in, would you?"
Once again, Hermione smiled long-sufferingly at them. "Well it's as Ron said back in our first year, isn't it? There's not a witch or wizard who's gone bad that didn't come from that house. And since I'm sure Dumbledore doesn't want a load of overly trained dark wizards running about, he probably whittled Snape's list down to only one."
Harry gave a half-smile at that. "If that's true I'm sure he's furious about it."
"I'll just bet he is," said Hermione thoughtfully, "After all, he already thinks Dumbledore favors Gryffindor house above all others…especially since you're in it," she said, looking pointedly at Harry.
Harry gave her a disbelieving look. "I'm not so sure on that…"
Ron hissed with dissatisfaction. "But if he were going to choose one Slytherin, O' swotty sage," Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, "Why for the love of Merlin would he choose Malfoy!? Harry's told him that his father is a Death Eater, and it's pretty certain that he's the one that attacked you this past weekend. I mean really…He'd have to be completely nutters to do that! Like father, like son, right!?"
Even Hermione had to admit that that one had her stumped. "I don't know. But I'm sure he has his reasons…"
Harry humphed and slumped back down into his seat. He'd felt on more than one occasion that Dumbledore's decisions weren't always spot on. As for what Malfoy would choose to do with his extra training, well, it remained to be seen.
At that moment, Malfoy turned from his slumped position in his seat nearer the front to sneer at Harry and Ron, with Hermione resolutely ignoring him as usual, but Harry found that he had too much else on his mind to respond. Ron however had none of the same hang-ups. He'd been even more disgusted with the Slytherin than usual because of his attempts to talk to Ginny on the initial carriage ride to the school, so he gave him a filthy snarl and raised his wand ever so slightly in a threatening manner. Malfoy simply smiled as if he'd just glanced at the mentally challenged and after sharing more looks of hate with Ron, he turned to glance ever so slightly towards Ginny.
She caught his eye quickly, and something passed between the two that made Ron distinctly uncomfortable. It wasn't like, he was certain, but it certainly wasn't hate either, and he felt his blood instantly begin to boil. Both Harry and Hermione couldn't help but notice either, and they managed to grab both of Ron's arms just as he began to rise menacingly from his seat. It had been just in time too, because Lupin chose that moment to finally turn his attention to the class.
"Good afternoon," he said simply. There was a distinct lack of any type of tool or book behind him, and Harry began to wonder exactly what they were to do in his class. He didn't have long to wonder.
"I assume by now you've noticed that we have very little in this classroom that you might associate with an advanced class. We have no textbooks, no tools, nothing out of the ordinary. There's a good reason for it."
With a swift whirl that made him look almost like a blur, he whipped around toward the first person his wand pointed to in the room, a tall dark Ravenclaw boy named Castor Eustance, and quickly uttered a spell.
"Exarmonato!"
Immediately, Castor's wand flew from his hand and at the same time, he was quickly thrown up and backward to levitate in a back corner of the room.
The class quickly began muttering amongst themselves, amazed at what had just been done. Completely unscathed, Castor managed to mutter a 'Cool' under his breath, while at the same time wiggling his arms and legs in midair slightly, smiling at the feeling of nothingness beneath him.
Satisfied, Lupin turned his attention back to the class. "Who can tell me what I've just done?"
Malfoy, who'd always hated Lupin, gave him a snotty look. "What kind of question is that!? It's pretty clear. You caught him off guard, that's what…levitated him."
"Very astute, Mr. Malfoy but you're missing something…" said Lupin with no trace of malice in his voice. "Anyone else?"
"You've disarmed him," piped up Neville, staring at Castor in the back of the classroom.
Lupin sighed and muttered "Degravo." Castor began to slowly lower to the floor until he was replaced gently on his feet. Lupin gestured him with his wand to return to his seat and handed the boy back his wand. "There's something else. Something you've all missed."
Hermione looked up at him. "You've performed two spells at once. You've disarmed and suspended him."
"That's right!" said Lupin enthusiastically. The rest of the class seemed to ponder on it for a moment and finally realized she was right. "Five points to Gryffindor."
Harry beamed at her before turning his attention back towards the front.
"Now," continued Lupin, "what was my purpose in showing you that?…To demonstrate to you one of the objectives for this class. Our first lesson is for you to remember the double D's…disarm, and disable. In defending yourselves against dark magic, one of the first things you want to learn is how best to disarm and disable your opponent. If you're able to catch your opponent off-guard enough to end the battle with a spell such as the one I just showed you, more's the better for you.
Dark magic can be much more powerful than regular magic. Why? Because along with it comes the power of emotion. Do you all remember before you came to Hogwarts? How sometimes in particularly emotional situations, situations in which you were feeling extreme happiness, sadness, or anger, you were able to perform a bit of wandless magic?"
Harry thought back to the time he and Dudley had been staring into the same python cage at the zoo. After Dudley had knocked him onto the ground and out of his way, Harry had somehow made the glass separating the snake from the outside world disappear. After Dudley had fallen into the snake's homemade habitat, the glass had replaced itself, leaving a terrified Dudley face to face with the serpent. Harry had fantasized an awful lot growing up that maybe if Dudley'd been stuck in there for just a few minutes more, he could've at least lost a limb. Such was luck…he smiled.
Lupin continued. "Emotion is very powerful in any human, but its power is doubled in a wizard. Coupled with great ability, emotion can push one's power well beyond that of the ordinary wizard. Therefore, it's most helpful if you're able in situations where you might be faced with dark magic, to first try disarming and disabling your opponent. There are quite a few advanced defensive spells that you've yet to be taught. It's my intention to start with these."
"And will we be taught to actually perform and defend ourselves against some of the more heinous spells, Professor?" Piped up Malfoy a little more sarcastically than was needed. "Being able to perform two spells at once is impressive, but assuming that doesn't work, what in hell're we supposed to do then?"
Dean Thomas spoke up as well. "No offence professor, but I wonder that as well. It's all well and good if we catch them off guard, but…"
"Defensive spells are only one part of our class," said Lupin calmly. "Of course I'm going to teach you counter-curses as well, but as it's my class…and it's better to start something at the beginning, how about we try it my way?"
Dean slumped a little sheepishly into his seat, while Malfoy continued to stare supremely unaffected at Lupin, only giving a slight snort in reply.
Ron reddened with anger and spoke quietly. "Bloody git. He'd do better to keep his ruddy mouth shut and his ears open. That is of course, unless he decides to follow in daddy's footsteps…"
Hermione made a harsh shushing gesture at him, but Harry looked at him with concern. "Let's hope not, mate. I think your sister's rather taken a shine to him. I'd hate for her to be hurt."
Ron flushed again, this time right to the tips of his ears. His eyes blazed with fury, and Harry took it as a sign that he might've waited until after class to drop that particular bomb on him. "Oh don't worry, Harry. He won't hurt her. That's a promise."
Harry saw Ron tighten the grip he had on his wand, and grimaced. Hermione widened her eyes at him in disbelief, but Harry merely shrugged. He'd thought it would have been obvious to Ron a while ago what was going on. Even in the Great Hall, the two continually snuck looks at each other through every meal. Ginny looked smitten, and Malfoy, well…suffice it to say he didn't look particularly hateful.
The rest of the class continued with little other distractions until toward the very end. Lupin paired them all off and had them try the spell on each other, making sure to pair each student with one from an opposite house so that they would be sure to work to their fullest potential without extra worry for their opponents.
He, in turn, watched every pair perform the spell, giving them a countdown of three to see who could perform it the quickest. "After all," he conceded to them, "A spell is only as effective as the speed of the spell giver."
All went smoothly until he came upon Harry, who was unfortunately paired with Malfoy. The rest of the class watched as Lupin began the countdown.
Harry and Malfoy stood tautly opposite one another, wands down and to their sides as Lupin had instructed them, and looks of supreme concentration with a touch of loathing on each of their faces. Harry was reminded of the dueling club that Lockhart had saddled them all with in their second year…
"Ready then? Three…two…"
True to his nature, Malfoy raised his wand to strike before the countdown had completed, intent on embarrassing the "golden-boy", and Harry was almost caught off-guard. He felt a white-hot flash of fury go through him at Malfoy and immediately, he dropped his wand without even realizing it and waved his arm in front of him, palm outward.
"Exarmonato!"
Instantly, Malfoy's wand shot out of his hand like a missile, landing in Harry's other, and the Slytherin was thrown in the direction of Harry's outstretched arm, and then upward, slamming against the ceiling much harder than Eustance had done.
It took a moment of complete and utter stunned silence from the classroom for Harry to realize what he'd done. He lowered the offending hand slowly and turned it over, looking at it as if he'd never seen his own arm before. The whole class stared at him in utter bewilderment, and then in fear, and began to back away from him as one.
Even Malfoy himself seemed at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly, and Harry couldn't figure out whether it was shock, or whether he'd knocked the wind from him.
Only Ron and Hermione remained near him, both looking startled, but not near as much as the rest of the class.
Ron's widened eyes rested on Harry, who looked almost as astounded as the rest of them. When he spoke, the redhead sounded almost reverently quiet. "Bloody hell, mate. I wondered when you'd be able to do it again, but I never expected…" he trailed off silently.
Hermione just kept her eyes glued to Harry, a mixture of surprise and reassurance settling in their caramel depths. For that, Harry was eternally grateful.
He turned his gaze upwards to Malfoy, who still resembled a fish, and then to Lupin, whose gaze reflected surprise and pride. "I…I'm sorry, I don't know why…or how rather…I mean…I..I don't know how that happened."
After a few more moments of complete silence, Lupin turned calmly towards the class. "That's enough for today. You're only homework is to practice the spell. I want it perfect by the end of this week. Dismissed."
The class began filing out, disconcertingly quiet. A few whispers filtered out of the crowd of students, but mostly, silence reigned. It unnerved Harry. He'd had his fill over the years of students thinking he was dangerous and unstable, and he certainly could've done without this.
Lupin released Malfoy, and then motioned Ron and Hermione out as well, reminding them of Harry's extended class time. They left reluctantly, promising him that they'd meet him in the main common room before leaving for the Great Hall for dinner.
When the classroom was finally empty, Lupin finally turned to Harry.
"Well…you've certainly surprised me. Suffice it to say there'll be no easy way to start this. I know you have a lot of anger towards me right now, Harry, and by no means do I think I'm undeserving of it. But I have a proposal. For right now, let's just concentrate on our tasks, and leave the talking for later. What I'm about to practice with you needs to be the only thing on your mind right now. Do you understand? Do we have a deal?" Lupin hesitated for a moment, and then shakily stuck out his hand.
Harry surveyed him for a moment, his brain feeling like it was on overload, and then slowly took his father's hand in his.