A/N: You may have noticed by my inclusion of Tonks & Kingsley at the World Cup that I am not certainly above bringing in other characters/situations which would take place later on in canon. This will continue with the next couple of chapters to a large degree.
Interestingly enough, this Dumbledore is pretty much the exact opposite from the Dumbledore from my "Heirs" universe, though I see both as merely a fundamental extension of various points in canon Dumbledore's characters. I don't know if you see it that way, but that's what I'm trying to go for.
/ - / - / - /
Hermione Granger sighed contently as she entered her room in Gryffindor tower. Though she didn't consider it her true home, Hogwarts was still a place of great significance to her, a place that held a great many memories in her young life, and as much as she enjoyed her time during the summer with her parents, it was still good to be back.
She ignored the prattling of her roommates for a while, setting about organizing her books and such for the next day. She hadn't received her timetables yet of course, but it certainly never hurt to be prepared. For the first time in a long time, much to her surprise, she found she wasn't worried about the end result of her homework. She wasn't fretting over whether or not she had included enough material in her essays to get outstanding marks on everything.
"Earth to Hermione," came a rather giggly voice from behind her. Hermione sighed and turned towards Lavender Brown, who was staring straight at her, a wry smile on her face. "So," Lavender continued, folding her arms ever so prim and properly in a mock show of civility. "When are you and Harry planning the wedding?"
Hermione couldn't help but blush a bit at that comment, but she tried as hard as she could to fight back the embarrassment at the question. Shaking her head and staring straight at her roommate she crossed her arms and put on the best face she could. "Honestly Lavender, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't Hermione," Lavender replied, rolling her eyes as she scooted back further against her pillow. "Those aren't longing looks that you give him every time he says something. Those aren't more than friendly hugs you give him everytime he is in trouble. Nope….you're not enamored with him at all." Parvati giggled, while Hermione scoffed.
"Honestly Lavender, sarcasm is not very becoming of you." She threw back her covers and removed her shirt, searching through her trunk for a gown to wear to bed.
"Maybe not," Lavender said grinning, "But I just call them like I see them." At that, she turned around and drifted off to sleep.
Hermione lay in bed for several hours after that, rather worried. Lavender may have been just kidding around, but then again she had accurately stumbled onto the truth, even if it had been unknowingly. That scared Hermione, scared her to no end actually. That conscious voice of the logical side of her mind consistently told her to tone things down with Harry; that she was sending all the wrong signals when just a year ago she had wanted to try and distance herself from him and give any thought to a romantic relationship a quick and sudden death.
But so much had changed since then, she told herself bluntly. Harry had entrusted her with his deepest secrets, and Hermione had taken it upon herself to try and make his life better. And, she had to admit, that while it seemed plausible to withdraw into herself and her studies a year ago, it was becoming increasingly hard to envision her doing that. Perhaps, in a way, Harry had managed to do exactly what Hermione had intended to do for him, lure her out of her own self-created shell. And now that she saw the light, she was rather reluctant to return to the dark.
Hermione pulled up the covers and closed her eyes, trying not to dwell on such thoughts that evening. That night however, as it always did, hope sprang eternal in her dreams.
/ - / - / - /
The next morning the school was still abuzz with the cancellation of Quidditch and the eradication of the House Cup for that year. Reaction was generally in the negative on both counts, though some of the upper year students seemed to have an inkling as to what was going on, particularly the prefects and the head boy and girl.
Throughout it all Harry Potter simply moved on autopilot, unable to shake the feeling that something was about to happen. His scar had finally stopped hurting the night before, and it hadn't bothered him yet this morning, something he generally accepted as being a good sign. Still, he had hoped to have heard from Sirius by that point, seeing as how he had written the letter before they had left for King's Cross Station.
He picked away at his breakfast, for once thankful that he didn't have to rush through his homework at the last minute. He glanced out of the corner of his eye as he saw Ron diligently chomping away at the eggs and bacon in front of him while simultaneously working on his potions essay, with more than a bit of help from Hermione he reminded himself. His gaze wondered upwards and he glanced at Hermione, who merely smiled at him, but quickly looked away as she did so. Harry felt slightly awkward at the moment.
Quickly they were all drawn to attention by Professor McGonagall, who was sorting out timetables for all of her students at the moment. She stopped at the three of them, handing them each a piece of parchment. "Here you are, and might I add that I am glad you three have decided to challenge yourself more this year in terms of your academics," she said with a small smile across her lips. As quickly as her pride shone through however, it faded as she turned towards Harry. "Mr. Potter, the headmaster would like to speak with you this evening if it is convenient for you."
Harry looked taken aback a bit. "Of course," he blurted out, his mind running through any number of possibilities as to what the headmaster would want to talk with him about.
"Very well, I'll tell him you will be there at seven tonight. The password is gumballs." She slightly bowed her head in courtesy to the three of them and went on her way. Harry looked down at the table, still a bit concerned with what Professor Dumbledore had to tell him. Idly his eyes wandered up to the head table, focusing on Dumbledore in the center. He appeared to be chatting merrily with Professor Sinestra, laughing at something that had been said between the two of them.
"I'm sure it's alright Harry," Hermione said, causing Harry to turn at her. She offered a small smile, "Your last visit with him didn't go so bad, now did it?" Harry chuckled and nodded his head.
"I suppose not." He took a sip of his pumpkin juice as he glanced over his timetable. There was a sour look that crossed his face quickly, but before he could say anything, Ron interpreted it for him.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, "We have potions AND defense with the Slytherins to kick things off." He dramatically tossed his paper onto the table, "Well that's a real smashing start to the year." Harry couldn't help but agree. He certainly had enough trouble dealing with Professor Snape as it were without Draco and his Slytherin gang making things more miserable for him. He glanced over at where Snape was sitting, and was surprised when he saw Snape staring right back at him intently, an expressionless mask firmly etched onto his sallow face.
"Harry what is it?" Ron asked, as he finished his breakfast, Harry turned and looked at him, and then looked back at Snape, who had just left the heads table.
"It's nothing," Harry replied without breaking his glance, "At least….I don't think it is."
/ - / - / - /
There was a palpable sense of dread as the Gryffindor 4th years filed into the dungeons for potions. Word had seemingly spread overnight that Professor Snape was in no too good of a mood, and that usually meant one thing, trouble for them. And with no house points to deduct this year, many of the students didn't really know how their least favorite professor would go out of his way to make their life miserable.
The Slytherins, on the other hand, had a more surprising reaction. Many of them shuffled in with a rather stunned look on their face, as if someone had hit them squarely in the gut with a bludger. Harry took a moment to judge their reactions, and to his recollection they had appeared to be that way at breakfast that morning as well, save for the usual gang that hung around Malfoy. They had been as chipper and arrogant as usual, and Draco shot Harry a knowing glance. Something was up.
Before Harry could turn to Hermione to say anything, the doors to the Potions office swung open and Severus Snape came stalking out, his black robes billowing behind him dramatically. He stopped in front of the blackboard where he had pre-written instructions for that day's lesson and glared out over the students. His gaze passed by Harry three times, moving past the other Gryffindors only once in succession, before he spoke.
"Listen closely because I am only going to say this once," he hissed, anger seeping out of every fiber of his being, "I have been watching my students for quite some time, and I am sad to say that, particularly in this year, the cases of sabotage and misbehavior are at absolutely inexcusable levels. To that end, any rule breaking, sabotage, or other misbehavior shall be met with swift and….just punishment. Do I make myself clear?" He looked at Harry again, focusing solely on him as the rest of the class nodded their heads in forced agreement. "Excellent, now pass in your homework and we'll begin today's lesson."
To everyone's surprise the lesson seemed to go smoothly for the majority of the period, with everyone keeping to themselves safe for some students helping one another out. Snape for his part set nothing at the displays, merely pacing back and forth with a sour expression on his face. To say that the whole thing put Harry on edge would be an understatement, and he fervently worked as hard and as diligently as he could to finish his potion and get out of the creepy scene.
"Have fun with your pet mudblood over the summer," came a rather shrill voice from across the aisle way in the classroom. Harry glanced over and saw Draco Malfoy staring right at him, a smirk on his face, with his dimwitted accomplices Crabbe and Goyle each chuckling next to him. No one noticed Snape turn to witness the affair. Harry tried his best to ignore Malfoy, who snickered, "What's the matter scarhead? Kneazle got your tongue?" Harry glared back at him, only to be silenced by a slight clearing of the throat from Snape. Hermione turned and glanced back at the professor, as did Harry, and the two of them went back to work.
Draco however, was undeterred, "I suppose she's nice enough….if you were to use her as some sort of consort or mistress." Harry stopped what he was doing and glared up at Malfoy with a look that could have put a basilisk to shame, "Merlin knows she's no good for breeding, but who would want THAT filth in your lineage." Harry's hand started shaking with anger, and Hermione placed her hand on Harry's shoulder, fighting back her own tears.
"Let it go Harry," she whispered.
"That's quite enough out of all of you," Snape barked, pacing between the two parties. Ron glared at Snape from behind his cauldron, whispering something to himself.
As soon as Snape had passed, Malfoy turned back towards Potter, "So what about it Potter, you going to give us the intimate details on your fun with the mudblood." Harry never looked at him, merely glaring down at the table, his fist clenching and unclenching rapidly at his side.
"Don't call her that," he whispered, shutting his eyes to try and control his anger.
"What did you say Potter?" Draco said with mock sincerity, "I didn't hear you but….I could have sworn that sounded a bit like a threat."
Harry flipped his head around, "I said…."
"ENOUGH!" Everyone stopped and stared straight at Snape, who slammed a book down on his desk. "I warned you and now you'll suffer the consequences." He glared straight at the Trio, a look of palpable anger shown on his face. "You three will have detention with me the next two nights."
Ron slammed his head against the table, while Hermione looked outraged. Harry merely glared right back at Snape. Malfoy and his goons smirked to themselves, Malfoy in general chuckling snidely.
"What are you laughing at Mr. Malfoy," Snape replied in an even-tone, his eyes never once leaving Potter's gaze, "Or did I miss the point where two nights detention was a joke." He quietly turned towards Draco and his gang, leaving Hermione and Harry each with stunned looks on their face, and Ron with an ever widening mouth. Draco immediately looked at Professor Snape, equally confused.
"Excuse me but, did you say that…"
"Yes I did Mr. Malfoy," Snape said evenly, turning his back on the students, "You and your friends, Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle, will join me in organizing my potions storeroom the next two nights. Perhaps then you will learn to keep your mouth shut." Draco's eyes widened, a glimmer of anger beginning to cross his countenance as the realization hit.
"But, sir,"
"Don't But me Malfoy! Unless you are trying for five days detention….."
Draco shut up, looking dejected, "No sir…."
"I didn't think so." He glanced around the room, stopping on Ron, "You're not a codfish Mr. Weasley, now get back to work!" Ron quickly did as he was told, as did the rest of the class. Harry put the finishing touches on his potion, turned it in, and got out of their as fast as he could, his mind working a thousand different directions over what had just transpired.
/ - / - / - /
Slowly, one by one, the Gryffindors and Slytherins made their way into the defense classroom, each filled with a different emotion for what had just transpired in the dungeons with Professor Snape. Theories were already bouncing off the walls like Cornish Pixies hopped up on Pepper Up Potion, everything from Snape having been replaced by someone via Polyjuice Potion, to mind control, to Snape having just gone plain off his rocker.
Harry sat and listened to the murmurings around him, and considered everything. The headmaster wanted to speak with him, and Professor Snape was, for once, acting fairly. Perhaps the two were interconnected, somehow, he told himself. In any event he would hopefully find out soon enough. Things were rapidly changing, almost too fast for his liking.
He turned and saw Hermione walk into the room, almost instantly lighting it up. She didn't even need to smile, though if she had Harry certainly wouldn't have minded one bit…..
"Stop this!" Harry told himself frantically, "Do you want to ruin the best thing in your life?" Harry shook his head frantically, trying to clear out the momentary cobwebs that Hermione had installed there just by simply existing. It was a miracle she had decided to save him from the Dursley's, save him from hell essentially, and the last thing he needed to do was go and bugger that up by bringing these….feelings into it.
"I can't believe that greasy git managed to give detention to Malfoy and his cronies," Ron said with excitement as he walked in and sat down next to Harry. "And did you see the look on his face? It was like someone blew up a dung bomb right in his face when he did it."
"Yeah…yeah I saw the look on his face," Harry replied, thankful for something to distract his thoughts from that treacherous road. "He was looking at me the whole time it seemed like. I don't know what that was all about."
"I wouldn't worry about it mate," Ron said with a smile on his face, "Whether that greasy git just swallowed some SleakEasy potion when he was doing his hair this morning or whatever, I say we just sit back and enjoy it while it lasts." He looked around as Hermione finally made her way towards them, sitting down in between Ron and Harry.
"Has anyone seen Professor Moody yet," she asked, getting a shrug of shoulders from both of the boys she was seated next to.
"No, but my dad told me about him a while back. Said he was one of the most famous aurors in the last war with You-Know-Who, but after that he kind of became a recluse. Really paranoid is what my dad said."
"Potter!" Harry turned to see Draco stalk into the room, his face an obvious scowl.
"Well, if it isn't snakebreath himself," Ron said cheerily, "Planning on what to wear to scrub out the dungeons tonight Draco?"
"If you're lucky I might give you some pointers Weasel-bee, seeing as how you'll be replacing that squib Filch when he finally croaks." Ron scowled back at Malfoy as he turned back to Harry. "I don't know what you did to Professor Snape, but rest assured my father is going to hear about this."
"Be sure he sends you a clean pair of robes to replace your mucked up ones," Harry answered back, causing the crowd to laugh a bit. Draco looked around, and simply harrumphed his way towards his seat.
Several moments passed by while the class awaited the arrival of their new professor. Many of them were starting to get a bit disinterested with Moody's lack of appearance, when Harry began to feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise up. Instinctively he grabbed his wand and dropped down, just as a rather loud sounding spell shot out over his head and exploded in the front of the classroom. Everyone turned to see the new threat in the room.
The man was slightly hunched over, leaning forward on a jagged wooden staff. He was a grizzled man, dressed in a long brown robe that covered most of his body. He had stringy blonde hair that hung out of every which way on the top of his head, but his most prominent feature was a solid blue glass eye that sat on his left side, held in place by a gold socket and a leather strap that wrapped around his face. The eye whirled about in his head, glancing around at every student, before stopping at Harry.
"Well done Mr. Potter," he blurted out as he limped his way forward, causing Harry for the first time to notice the leg that appeared to be slightly shorter than the other, and from the sound of it made of wood to boot. "Good demonstration of the one skill that can save your hide against the dark arts…CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He turned and faced the class, as Harry retook his seat. "I am Alastor Moody," the professor said in a quieter tone. "Retired master auror….ministry malcontent….and your new defense against the dark arts professor.
"As Mr. Potter just demonstrated, the easiest way to defend yourself is simply by always being on guard of the threats around you, even the ones you can't see. Simply by practicing CONSTANT VIGILANCE….you'll be better prepared for what's out there."
Moody paced back and forth around the class, looking at everyone in turn and staring a hole directly through them. "I've studied the notes of your previous professors, and suffice to say with the exception of Professor Lupin, you've not had even close to an adequate instructor in this area. Well that changes now. For the next month, I will give you a crash course in everything you should have learned the last three years, and at the end of the month, we will have an exam to determine where you stand." He adopted an almost manic look in his good eye as he whispered, "But not today….
"Today you will get the same lesson everyone third year and up is getting….you need to know what you're up against….so with that in mind…" he looked down at a roll of parchment before staring right at one of the students.
"Miss Granger!" Hermione was startled by the force of Professor Moody. "Stand up." Hermione slowly rose to her feet, and Moody walked over and got a good look at her. "Professor McGonagall tells me that you're the brightest witch of your age. Well then…." He walked away and turned towards the blackboard, beginning to write something, "Perhaps you can tell us how many unforgivable curses there are."
Hermione gulped, and Harry looked at her with worry on his face. "Three sir," she managed to answer.
"And they are so named?"
"Because they are exactly that, unforgivable. The use of any one of them will earn you a…."
"….life sentence in Azkaban prison." Moody finished writing and the board, and turned around, motioning for Hermione to sit down as he did so. "Very good. Now, who can give us a curse?" He glanced around the room. "Mr. Malfoy….stand up!" Draco defiantly stood firm in the face of him. "Why don't you give us a curse?"
"My father told me about one," Draco said firmly, "The imperious curse."
"Yes, you're father would know all about that one now wouldn't he." Before Draco could respond, Moody glared at him, causing him to quickly sit down. Moody turned around and began fishing in a series of jars for something. "The imperious curse is a particularly nasty little thing. It empowers the caster to control anyone or anything that they curse. Every whim of the caster is done without question or hesitation." He backed away and held up a spider, setting down on the table in front of the class. "Let's have a demonstration shall we? Engorgio!" The spider grew to twice its normal size. "Imperio!" The spider stayed completely still, not moving an inch, "Now….dance!"
Rather comically, the spider stood up on its hind legs and began to tap dance, causing the class to laugh out loud, increasing in intensity as the spider did other, more elaborate dance moves. "Ah you think that's funny do you? What shall I have her do next?" Moody flicked his wand and the spider became airborne, landing right in front of Ron, who screamed in fear? "Should she bite him?" He moved the spider again, floating her near a glass of water. "Maybe drown her?" He motioned towards the window. "Throw her out to her doom?" He motioned towards a small candle. "Burn her alive?" The class fell silent and Moody moved the spider back in front of him, leaving it stationary for the moment.
"Now, scores of witches and wizards, including Mr. Malfoy's father, claimed that they only did You-Know-Who's bidding because of the Imperious Curse. But here's the kicker….how do we sort out the ones who are telling the truth….from the ones who are the liars." He paused. "Any ideas?" There was no response from the class. "Towards the end of the last war, aurors were authorized to use one of the most horrendous spells imaginable for this very purpose." He glanced around the room for effect, stopping on Neville. "Mr. Longbottom! Stand up." Neville slowly rose. "Perhaps you know the spell I'm referring too?"
Neville looked down very quietly he muttered, "The….the cruciatus…."
"Very good….you may sit down." Neville did so, and Moody looked at him a long time, before pointing his wand at the spider. "It's also known as the torture curse. Crucio!" The tiny screams of the spider filled the classroom as a bright crimson light shot out of Moody's wand. Everyone watched in horror as the spider twitched involuntarily in pain as the spell was applied with more intensity. Harry looked up at Neville, who appeared to be cringing moreso than everyone else, borderlining on becoming physically ill.
"Stop it….leave it alone!" Harry screamed, causing Moody to stop and stare straight at him. Moody shook his head and picked up the spider, slowly walking over towards Harry and setting the spider gently in front of him.
"Perhaps you would care to share with us the final unforgivable curse…Mr. Potter?"
Harry swallowed hard, his eyes misting over slightly. He had read about the unforgiveables in one of his defense books, though they had only been mentioned in passing. "The killing curse…." he whispered. Moody nodded and started to walk away, before quickly turning back.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" A pale green light shot out at the spider, causing it to go completely limp, much to the horror of everyone. Moody glanced around at all of the students. "The killing curse is the most powerful spell in a Death Eater's arsenal. There is no known counter, and no known protective measure that can be taken." He stopped and looked right at Harry. "Only one person is known to have survived it…..and he's sitting here in this room." Harry glanced right back up at Moody, who simply turned away. "Class dismissed."
A/N: As you can tell I pretty much went with the GoF movie for my template on the Moody scene, though some things are different.
You'll find out why Dumbledore wanted to see Harry in the next chapter, as well as a partial reason as to why Snape acted the way he did. We're getting closer to the tournament starting too….so sit back and enjoy the ride.