The Apprentice Piece
by Jardyn39
Part One of "The Apprentice Piece"
Chapter 10: DADA Lessons Begin Again
Harry woke up early the next day but found he had missed Ron already. He dashed downstairs to the common room to see if Ron was there. He called out to him as he was about to exit through the portrait hole.
"Ron! Wait up. I need to talk to you," Harry said loudly.
Ron paused for a moment and Harry wondered if he would wait. Ron turned though and came back into the common room. Harry made his way down the steps to face Ron.
"I know you must be disappointed not being made Captain, Ron," Harry began.
"Yeah?" Ron said aggressively.
"Ron, you're my best friend. If there's something wrong you can tell me," Harry continued, giving Ron an opportunity to get it off his chest.
Ron paused for a moment.
"Yes, Harry, I was disappointed and I'm finding it hard not to be bitter that you took it away from me."
Harry sighed. "Well, I hope you get over it soon because try-outs are next weekend. I want you on the team, Ron, but it's up to you. I was looking forward to playing with the King again."
Ron smiled at last. "You sure you want me on the team?"
"Of course I do!" Harry said grinning. "I just hope Denis doesn't want to try for seeker. He's quite good. I didn't even see the snitch when he caught it on Saturday. Come on, let's go and get some breakfast."
"Harry," said Ron, "even Captains have to get dressed for breakfast. Go, on. I'll wait."
*
In their first lesson, which had been delayed until the second week, Harbinger introduced himself and apologised, explaining he had very little teaching experience. He also added that unfortunately they would not find much use for last year's standard textbook and he hadn't selected a book for this year yet.
"If no more questions, let's get started. I'd like four volunteers. It's nothing bad I promise."
Harry, Ron, Parvati and Neville stood at front of the classroom. Harbinger asked all of them to point their wands up and produce some sparks in turn. They all did so.
"Good, now your homework task will be to write up and explain what you are about to see. You four are exempted from homework for volunteering, of course."
Ron gave a, "Hah!" as those still sat groaned.
"Now Ron, isn't it, please take this wand. Good. Please produce some sparks again."
Ron put down his wand and took the new wand. Nothing happened at all when he tried to produce some sparks. Harry looked as Ron examined the wand, wondering what was wrong with it.
"Good. Ron, that's exactly what I expected. Now I'd like you to swap wands and so all of you try each wand that isn't your own. You might like to announce who's wand you are using before you try it so we don't get too confused."
All four of them tried each of the others wands plus the new wand. Ron and Neville produced limited sparks with three wands but none with the new wand. Parvati produced strong sparks with three of the wands but again nothing with the new one. Harry produced stronger sparks than the others using the other's three wands but was staggered when he tried the new wand. The shower of sparks was enormous. Almost the entire class dived under the desks.
Harbinger had been scoring the results in a table drawn onto the chalk board. When they were all finished he thanked the four volunteers who returned to their desks.
He passed the new wand around the class and invited them to each try it. Hermione examined it very closely when she got it, frowning.
"So, who can tell us what was happening there?"
Hermione put her hand up. "Yes? Hermione, is it?"
"Yes, Sir. Using someone else's wand never produces as good results."
"Quite right. There is no such thing as a universal wand, after all it's the wand that chooses the wizard. However, there is a close alternative." He drew out yet another wand. This one was black and shiny.
"This is a soldier wand. It is a mass produced wand that can be used, with training, by any witch or wizard to produce a limited but fairly effective range of spells. They were developed long ago in answer to the problem of soldiers losing or breaking their wands. They don't actually have a magical core as such but the casing is made up of a composite material. The core is usually made of a ferrous material and is there just to give the wand strength."
He aimed the wand at the waste basket and sent a red reductor spell disintegrating it.
"Harry, have a go with this one. Shoot a stunning spell at the desk over there."
Harry aimed and shouted "Stupify!". Nothing happened.
"Parvati, please have a go."
Parvati produced a weak stunning spell before handing back the wand.
"Interesting, isn't it. More to think about. So who would like to speculate what happened with this wand they all tried earlier?"
"I'll give you a clue," he said smiling. "Ron and Neville produced exactly what we would normally expect from the wands they tried. Almost everyone in the wizarding population would produce the same results. Parvati's results were less common. I must admit though, Harry's was very unusual. I didn't expect that at all."
Everyone looked at Parvati and Harry. Hermione put up her hand again and asked, "Professor, what core does that wand have?"
"Excellent question. I look forward to reading your speculation on the answer in your homework essays," he said smiling. The bell went.
"Okay, so twenty points each to our four brave volunteers, and twenty for Hermione for asking the best question. Thank you, you may go."
Everyone rose to pack-up and leave except Harry, Hermione and Parvati. Ron and Neville were ready to leave but hung back. Harry looked up to see Harbinger leave. He looked over to Parvati who was thinking hard.
"Parvati, why do you think that happened?"
"I think I know why I could use the soldier wand. Before I got my wand I used to use my Mum and Dad's wands all the time at home. Now I can almost get as good results from theirs as mine. We've all got different cores and I guess the soldier wand compensates for different users. What do you think the core of the other wand was?"
Harry thought for a moment. "It felt strange. When I first tried my wand at Ollivanders, it was the only one I could use. As soon as I picked it up it felt almost warm. I could feel the power."
"I'm sure the wood was holly, the same as Harry's wand. That had to have something to do with it," said Hermione.
"Yes, it was the same wood. When I picked it up I didn't feel anything but when I aimed it I felt the power running through my entire arm. Hang on, let's try something." He dived into his bag and brought out the apprentice piece.
"This may not work at all." He aimed the wand in the air and produced even more sparks than before. He quickly dropped the wand and clutched his arm in pain. "That felt like an electric shock!"
Parvati picked it up and aimed upwards. "Be careful, Parvati, I don't …"
However she quickly dropped the wand looking annoyed. "I can't do it!"
"Harry, what core does that wand have?" asked Hermione.
"It's not really a wand, it's an apprentice piece. There is no core. I made it from solid holly."
"Actually, Harry. It is a wand."
They all looked around. Standing before them was Dumbledore, smiling at them.
"I'm sorry if I startled you. I saw the fireworks from the corridor and thought I would investigate. Harry, you will need to be trained before you can use that wand safety." He perched himself on one of the empty desks.
"In most wands the core provides a means for the witch or wizard to focus their magical energy. For most people holding a piece of wand wood has the same effect as trying to perform wand-less magic. The results are usually disappointing and inaccurate.
"Most children raised by wizard families will get to use a wand before they go to school. The magic they produce is weak because lack of training but their minds get used to it anyway. When they try to produce wand-less magic they nearly always fail."
"Hermione, why don't you try. Just sparks remember."
She took Harry's apprentice piece and produced a few sparks and didn't appear to feel any adverse effects.
"That's quite good for a first effort," he said smiling. He looked at Harry. "Professor Harbinger doesn't know you Harry, nor your wand." Harry nodded. "He also has no idea what core your wand has."
Realisation dawned on Harry. "The holly."
"Only partly, but yes. You will receive additional instruction later once the Auror tent is ready."