Part 2



“Hey Harry, do a Patronus.” said Neville, eyes illuminating. “Go on; show Karis what you can do, and those Slytherins for that matter.”

Harry laughed. “We are supposed to be blocking Neville; everyone will think I’m just showing off.”

“OK Harry, play it your way! “EXPELLIARMUS”. shouted Neville.

Harry flew up in the air and landed on his large foam cushion, slightly winded.

“Neville!” Harry shouted. “That was so out of order!” he was shocked at his friend, but still he was laughing, this was a different side to Neville, Harry had never seen him act this way before, but he liked it.

“Well done Neville, caught Harry unguarded there I see.” said Karis from across the classroom. “Harry, I’d watch out if I was you!”

Draco threw Harry a grin. “Hurt did it Potter?” he shouted.

“Not as much as I’m gonna hurt you Malfoy if you talk to me again!” retorted Harry.

Karis shot Harry a frown, but at the corners of her mouth Harry noticed a small mischievous grin forming.

Harry brushed himself down and quickly lifted his wand, Neville was totally unprepared. Harry shouted “IMPEDIMENTA”

Neville froze like a statue, Harry released him after a few seconds and Neville fell back on his cushion. Harry was in a fit of hysterics, he didn’t realise how much he missed this.

Harry looked over at Karis, she seemed to be playing it safe with Draco. He threw a stunning spell at her; she said “Protego” and blocked it.

“Well done Draco, not fast enough though I’m afraid. Would you mind if I just walked around the class and checked on everyone to see how they are doing, seems to be fine at the moment but I just better make sure. You can team up with your friends over there.”

Karis turned away and started to review the pairs of students in her class. Draco started to walk over to Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry saw it as if in slow motion, Draco turned on his heel and swung his arm around and aimed his wand at Karis’ back.

Harry’s heart started racing. “LOOK OUT” he shouted.

A red light flew out of Draco’s wand, Harry watched in horror as it flew across the classroom.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, Hermione screamed, Ron’s mouth was hanging open and his eyes were bulging, they resembled large beetles.

Karis turned quickly, “Reflecto Accio” she shouted so fluently fast.

A large shield appeared around her and it reflected Draco’s beam of light. It shot back towards him, now he had a look of terror in his eyes. Karis still had her wand raised. It was going to hit him, Harry felt a slight twinge of excitement, Draco was going to get hit by his own evil attempt to curse Karis.

Karis however said a spell that Harry did not quite hear, the red beam of Draco’s hex had stopped in mid air, it started to crackle, then a shot of silver liquid rose out of her wand, and turned the spell into ice, levitating only two inches away from Draco’s stomach. Then gently it shattered into small pieces onto the floor and disappeared.

Everyone in the class stayed silent.

Harry felt his anger rise from the pit of his stomach, he was losing it, he knew it was wrong, but still he couldn’t help himself.

Harry lifted his wand, and without another thought, he shouted “Stupefy”

Draco was hit in the chest with Harry’s spell and fell back hard onto the cold classroom floor.

Everyone in Gryffindor ran towards Harry and stood by his side as the Slytherin’s raised their wands. Staring at each-other with hatred so intense Harry felt like the war had already started, face to face, two sides, detesting one another, looking ready for battle.

“LOWER YOUR WANDS THE LOT OF YOU” Karis shouted.

Harry had never seen her angry before.

“POTTER, TWENTY POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!” Harry put his head down, he felt deflated, but only momentarily.

“MALFOY. FIFTY POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN!” she shouted. The look on the Slytherins faces made Harry feel better at once.

“Why do I get fifty and Potter gets twenty!” spat Draco, scowling and red with anger.

“Because, you tried to curse me while my back was turned and that is the most cowardly thing any one could do. I will be telling Professor Snape about this, I will also make sure you will be serving detention!” she turned to Harry. “And you shouldn’t have retaliated, it was under control!”

“What he did was wrong.” shot Harry “I had to do something.”

“You should of just watched me, you may have learnt something, but instead your temper got the better of you.”

“You will learn Professor after a while, that Potter-here-always-likes-to-save-the-day.” Interrupted Millicent Bulstrode sarcastically.

“Saving instead of disrupting I am more in favour for Miss Bulstrode, and I don’t recall asking for your opinion!” Karis then turned to the rest of the class. “Sit down all of you!”

“Except you” she said, pointing to Draco. “Take this note to Professor Snape immediately and no dawdling, I have eyes everywhere!”

Draco snatched the note out of her hand, and stormed out of the classroom, slamming the door behind him.

“Right, homework! I want a two foot parchment essay on Defence in the Dark Ages. I believe its chapter five. To be in by next lesson, you have one week!”

There were a few grumbles in the class. Harry however felt relieved; at least he didn’t have to do detention with Draco.

“Don’t worry mate; I’ll get the twenty points back in Herbology.” said Neville quietly.

Harry let out an appreciative smile and got down to reading chapter five.

The sound of the end of class bell chimed and one by one they headed for their next lesson.

Throughout the day there were many talks about what happened in Defence Against the Dark Arts with Draco and Professor Karis. Many patted Harry on the back for his Stupefy hex. But the main part of the conversations where about her conjured protection shield, Harry was also encapsulated by her power, the only other time he had seen a spell like that was last term at the Ministry of Magic in the Atrium, by no other than Lord Voldemort himself!



Part 3.



Ginny flung her arms around Harry as soon as he entered the Gryffindor Common Room, she had tears of happiness forming in her hazel eyes.

Harry had no idea what it was about, but she was beaming at him, so excited in fact she found it hard to speak.

“Harry, oh, Harry, congratulations, Oh we are SOOOOO going to win!”

“Ginny, what the hell are you talking about?” replied Harry, looking confused.

She grabbed Harry by the hand and led him to the Common Room notice board. There pinned on the corked frame was a note.

To all Gryffindor Students

I would like to remind you all that now term has started once again and we have Professor Albus Dumbledore re-instated as Headmaster. It is his wish that Quidditch will now resume as normal. May I congratulate Miss Ginny Weasley in her new role as beater, and welcome back Mr Harry Potter as seeker!

I have also been asked by certain house elves of Hogwarts to advise you that any small knitted clothing found in the Gryffindor Common room will no longer be tolerated, and they will instigate a strike. So will the culprit please refrain from practising their needle work inside the school!

Also, due to these difficult times, students are not allowed to wonder outside into school grounds after 7pm, this will change to 6pm when Winter approaches.

May I welcome our new first years, and I expect you to all offer a helping hand in their settling in period.

If you have any problems, please speak to one of your house prefects. Mr Ronald Weasley or Miss Hermione Granger, or alternatively, please come and see me.

Last but not least, I am also DELIGHTED to announce that all Education decree’s instigated by Professor Dolores Umbridge throughout last year have been annulled.

Yours sincerely

Professor Minerva McGonnagall

Divination

Head of Gryffindor



A large crowd of red and yellow had gathered at the notice board and were scanning the letter, Harry felt a lump form in his throat, and a wave of emotion engulf him. If Professor McGonnagall had walked into the Common Room at that precise moment, he would have kissed her!

“You see Harry, you’re back, there will be no stopping us now, when are we going to practice?” asked Ginny

“We will have to ask Angelina, but she is in her final year now and I imagine she’s really busy. I’m so pleased to be back in the team though Gin, it’s just cool to be apart of Quidditch and the DA.” said Harry beaming. “At least this start of term is going right, so far….”

Ron came in and patted Harry on the shoulders “Well done mate, knew you would be back on the team. “

Hermione however had a deep frown on her face while reading the notice from McGonnagall.

“Oh leave her.” said Ron, noticing Harry watching her. “She’s got the right hump about that, Oh but she’s happy for you though mate!” quickly correcting himself.

“Yeah, well you have all that to contend with now Ron, good luck mate!” Harry chortled.

Ron gave an amusing smirk to his friend. “Yeah, but she’s worth it.”

“Yeah, she is.” replied Harry, with a warm smile.

Hermione came storming over to where they were both standing. “I can’t believe that woman, how dare her! What’s wrong with what I did? I was only trying to help the poor House Elves, I think the slavery of them is wrong, I will continue with S.P.E.W. I don’t care what she says!”

Hermione then walked off in a stupor and sat by the small lit fire.

Ron looked at Harry with a helpless expression and said quietly. “Nah, I take it back, she’s a nightmare! A total loony and I have no idea what I’m letting myself in for!”

Harry laughed out loud. “Like I said, Good luck mate!”

They both approached Hermione and took residence in the empty padded chairs next to her, and all sat looking into the fire. Harry remembered the last time he gazed into this fire, he saw Sirius looking back at him. He shuddered at the memory, and tried desperately hard to push it to the back of his mind.