On Tuesday afternoon all those who shared Advanced Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts with Harry and Draco were in for another surprise. Professor Lyons announced that since they had studied several offensive and defensive spells, they would devote a class period to more intense and active practice. “I want each of you to choose a partner. I do not, however, want you to pick your best friend. Pick someone you dislike, or at least are mostly indifferent to.”
Several people looked at each other, and a few pairs of girls who had immediately glanced at each other in confirmation of the fact that they would be partners frowned disappointedly.
“But Professor, what are we doing?” one of the Slytherins asked.
“You’ll get further instructions once you’ve got partners.” He paused and looked at them for a moment before barking, “Well, what are you waiting for? The sooner you get up the sooner we can start.”
Tentatively the class stood and began looking around. No one wanted to step forward because Lyons had told them to partner people they didn’t like. Lyons watched them for another long moment when he said, “This is a surprise. Shall I step out of the room? Surely some of you have hexed each other between classes?” He looked around at a few faintly blushing faces and said, “The point of this is to pair you with someone who is not your best friend.”
When he paused again, Harry stepped over to Draco. “No one could accuse us of being best friends,” Harry said to the blonde.
“True enough,” Draco replied with a smirk. “Partners?”
Harry nodded and turned to stand next to him. Hermione gave them a knowing look as she walked up to Millicent Bulstrode, and Ron looked at Harry with confusion as he approached Blaise Zabini. With this example, others in the class began to warily approach each other. A few minutes later the entire class looked to Professor Lyons.
“Today we will be dueling,” he paused to let the excited murmurs that sprang up die down. “You may use any spell we have studied in class, with the exception of the Unforgivables, and you may also learn any spell you learned in Charms. I will ask you to refrain from using Transfigurative spells, in fact it will be ten points from the house and the final grade of anyone who tries it. Understood?”
He looked sternly at them as they chanted, “Yes, Professor Lyons” in a ragged chorus.
“Right then,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Begin.”
Harry and Draco were one of the first pairs to recover and turn to each other. They threw their first spells almost simultaneously. Back and forth they went, incanting spells, charms, curses, and hexes. They cast shields and blocking spells when they could, and dodged when they couldn’t. For a time, they even shot at each other from behind two tables that they had tipped over.
Half way through the extra-long lesson Professor Lyons shouted, “Stop!” After a moment, the class did and students with jittering legs, blue hair, boils, and all manner of other magical ailments and disfigurations turned to look at him. “You will all please cast Finite Incantatem on your sparring partners,” he instructed them.
When most appearances had gone back to normal he instructed them to sit down and reversed the few spells that the students had not been able to break and returned to the front of the classroom. “That was excellent,” he said as he stood in front of his desk. “Some of you seemed to do rather better than others, but that is to be expected. Homework tonight will be to analyze the tactics you and your partner used in a short essay to be handed in next class. Yes, Miss Granger?”
“How long is ‘short’ Professor?” the witch asked as she returned her hand to the desk.
“How long do you think it is, Miss Granger?”
“No more than one roll of parchment?” she suggested hesitantly.
He nodded, “Very well, Miss Granger, your essay is to be no longer than one regular roll of parchment.”
“That’s a bit long isn’t it? I thought you said short?” one of the students in the back row piped up.
“Then by all means, make yours shorter.”
“But there has to be a minimum,” one of the Ravenclaws said in a distressed voice.
“Yes,” a Hufflepuff chimed in, “otherwise it wouldn’t be fair.”
“You all want a guideline, eh?” Lyons said.
“Yes!” several voices exclaimed. “Fair enough. You are to deal with the topic thoroughly. When you honestly believe that you have covered all major aspects of the different tactics you and your partner used, you will be done. I should warn you, I am not interested in any historical precedents for using that method or maneuver; I will guarantee that you didn’t consider any of that today. What I want is an assessment of the pros and cons of your actions here. I also don’t want you to write more than one standard roll of parchment. Given that that is about ten feet, I think you all should be able to comply with that restriction with little difficulty. Understood? Good. Take out quill and parchment, then, we’re going to take a few notes on various single-combat tactics, maneuvers, and strategies. Keep in mind that this will be a very brief overview and there is more information in your text, as well as in the library.”
-
The next Defense class Professor Lyons had them all pass in their essays and then asked, “Well, how did you all find that assignment?”
“A little odd, but not too bad,” Ron said.
“Glad to hear it, Mr. Weasley, because you will have the same assignment today.” Several eyebrows went up at that statement, prompting the professor to smile. “Find your partners please.” The students exchanged excited glances and hurried to comply. “The same pairs as last session, if you please,” Lyons called above the din.
When it was still again he said, “This will be a little different from last class. Today, you and your partner will need to work together. I want each pair to select another pair. You will be dueling, with your partners, against the other group. Everyone clear?” When there were no objections he said, “All right, get into groups and let’s begin.”
Ron dragged Blaise over to Draco and Harry. “Group?” he asked.
“Sure,” Harry said.
“Fine with me,” Draco agreed.
Blaise just nodded. A moment later, the four were hexing each other. Or rather, two pairs were hexing each other. By common consent Draco and Blaise aimed for Ron and Harry, respectively, and Harry and Ron also cast at their Slytherin counterpart.
After a few moments of this Professor Lyons’ voice boomed out, “Stop!” All activity ground to a halt. “The point of this exercise is to force you to work with your partner against the other pair, even if one of the members of that pair is in your house, even if it’s your best friend. You are to support your partner. If this were a real dueling situation you wouldn’t just ignore one half of the enemy, so don’t do it here. You will fight together, or not at all. Anyone caught fighting against their partner will lose five points for each spell cast. Is everyone clear?”
There was a chorus of groans, but no real objections, so the grizzled professor gave the signal for them to begin again. It was an awkward and halting battle at first, but after a few minutes all house boundaries and loyalties began to disappear in the heat of the moment.
Which is not to say it went smoothly. People who had just pressed their advantage ruthlessly would suddenly find that they simply could not curse their best friend. Others decided that if they had to spell both members of the other team they would use nothing but the most mild of hexes and jinxes.
When the halfway point of the period came, Professor Lyons once again called a halt to their activity. He helped them reverse the spells that had been cast on them and bid them put the room back in order and sit down. Then, as in the former class, he lectured for the rest of the period, this time on group combat tactics.
-
That weekend was once again a Hogsmeade weekend, but that didn’t stop Harry and Draco meeting early Saturday morning. There was little conversation, but they spent their time very agreeably engaged in a game of aerial tag. This assuaged Harry’s guilt a bit; he couldn’t help feeling that it was disloyal to Gryffindor, and more importantly, Ron, to help the Slytherin Seeker practice his Quidditch moves.
When Harry got back to the tower he found Ron already awake, which was something of a surprise as his friend usually slept in later on the weekends. “Where have you been?” Ron asked eyeing the broomstick Harry was carrying.
“Out for a bit of flying. There’s nobody out this early on Saturday mornings, so I can fly without anyone talking about me.”
“Right,” Ron nodded. He didn’t look entirely convinced, but he didn’t say anything, so Harry simply gathered his things and headed off for a shower.
-
Ron and Hermione went to Hogsmeade with Harry, as usual, but once they reached the village Harry soon wandered off on his own. It felt more than a little strange, but he appreciated the fact that his friends needed a little time to themselves. He had just stepped into Zonko’s when he heard someone calling him. It was Ginny. She and Luna were standing in front of a display of disappearing ink. “Hello,” he greeted them.
“Hi,” Ginny replied. “I’m trying to convince Luna to play a trick on some of her housemates. Want to help?”
“Sure,” Harry said with a smile. “What are you going to do?” he addressed the blonde Ravenclaw.
“I was thinking of slipping some disappearing ink into their bags. It vanishes after awhile so you can’t see what you’ve written.”
“What if they write their class notes in this ink?”
“Harry! You’re supposed to be helping me!” Ginny exclaimed.
“I will, but are you sure this one is a good idea?”
“You can cancel the magic on the ink with a simple charm,” Ginny protested.
“How simple?” Harry asked.
“Well, for a Ravenclaw I’m sure it will be no problem.”
“I know that spell,” Luna commented. “I used it last year to cancel the disappearing spell on my potions text.”
“They spelled your potions book?” Harry asked, frowning.
“Mmhmm,” Luna nodded, “it always vanished halfway through class.”
“Definitely the ink, then,” Harry commented. “If they can’t figure it out they’ll just have to ask you for help.”
“I’m not sure they would.”
“Serves them right, then.”
Luna gave him a piercing look and picked up the ink, heading for the counter. When she had completed her purchase and tucked it discreetly into a pocket, the three walked out of the store. “Want to come to the Three Broomsticks with us for lunch?” Ginny asked.
“Sure, but it’s a bit early, isn’t it?” Harry asked.
“We’re going to the bookstore next. I wasn’t sure you’d want to come,” the redhead replied, head tilted slightly to the side.
“I’ll come.” Ginny nodded and the three of them crossed the street and entered the dusty bookshop. The time passed quickly and soon it was noon. The trio walked into the crowded Three Broomsticks and struggled over to a table.
“I’ll get drinks,” Ginny called, leaving Harry alone with Luna.
“How’s your year going?” he asked her.
“Well enough, none of my books have disappeared yet.”
“Why don’t you do something about that?”
“It’s not that important.”
“Yes it is,” Harry said vehemently.
“You don’t have to fix everything,” Luna said, looking closely at him. “Besides, I don’t mind so much. If they pick on me it means that they underestimate me. That could come in handy someday.”
“I suppose,” Harry said resignedly.
“It’ll be all right.” Harry looked at her dubiously, but did not contradict her.
When Ginny returned she had Neville in tow. She sat two glasses down in front of Harry and Luna and took her seat as Neville sat the other two down. “Look who I found,” Ginny commented before taking a sip of her butterbeer.
“Hello, Neville,” Harry said. Luna nodded absently at him.
“Hello everyone,” the round-faced Gryffindor said. “How are you?” he inquired.
“Pretty well,” Ginny said in response.
“How are you liking the recent DADA lessons?” Neville asked, looking very sly.
“Much better than last year,” Harry said warmly.
“Yes, much,” Ginny agreed. “I wonder how he can be getting permission from the ministry to teach dueling, though. It is hard to believe that Fudge is any less worried about a Dumbledore’s Army this year than he was last year.”
“It is odd,” Harry agreed thoughtfully.
“Well, I really don’t care, as long as we get to keep Lyons a while longer. He’s only the second decent DADA teacher we’ve had in the last six years.”
“No kidding,” Harry agreed rolling his eyes at the memory of the incompetence they had been subjected to.
“Speaking of the D.A.,” Neville said casually. “Can we assume that we’re not going to be meeting this year?”
“Yes, unless something happens to Lyons. The whole point of it was to get people to practice dueling and hopefully getting some idea of what we’re up against. The way class has been going lately there’s really no need for it.”
“It might be interesting to do it as an optional study group,” Ginny countered.
“It might be, but I couldn’t really do anything but repeat what was said in class. I don’t think many people would come to that.”
“You might be surprised, I think,” Ginny commented levelly. “Still, if it should become necessary…”
“If it should become necessary,” Harry picked up as she trailed off, “or if it even looks like it might be more beneficial than not, you can bet I’ll be the first to start back up again.”
“That’s all we can ask for, I suppose,” Ginny said as she leaned back in her chair and took another sip of her butterbeer.
-
“Hello again, professor,” Harry said slipping the cloak from about his shoulders.
Instead of the greeting he was expecting, however, Snape said, “Legilimens.” Harry was startled, and it took him a few minutes to actually force the other’s presence from his mind. It was far easier to keep someone from getting in in the first place, Harry had found, than it was to kick them out afterward. Conversely, however, it was difficult to keep his shielding up all the time. He tended to relax them when he was with someone he knew and trusted.
When he had succeeded in evicting the invading presence, Snape said, “Acceptable, but only just.”
“I take it this is the new idea you wanted to try?” Harry asked wryly.
“It does you very little good to only be able to resist attack when you know it is coming, and though you are no longer as vulnerable during your sleeping hours you must be on your guard during your waking ones as well. This will take practice.”
“Right,” Harry sighed.
“Consequently, I will be randomly spelling you during our conversations.”
“I suppose it’s for the best,” Harry said in a resigned tone.
“I believe it is,” Snape returned with the barest hint of apology. Harry simply nodded. They sat in silence for a few moments before Severus commented, “I shall be unable to test you in the manner I have described if we do not actually discuss anything.”
“I know,” Harry said with a mischievous grin. “Actually, I have a question for you,” the youth continued as his teacher leveled a reproachful glare at him.
“What is that?” Snape asked in mild apprehension.
“I don’t know whether or not you know what we’ve been doing in DADA,” he paused in expectation.
“I may have heard something, though I have far less inducement to keep up with the lesson plans for that class this year, as your professor is neither a moronic imbecile nor a possibly dangerous creature.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he replied, “We’ve been dueling.”
“Indeed? And how have you been divided for this exercise?” Severus paused to allow Harry to answer and said, “Legilimens,” just as the young wizard-in-training was opening his mouth to answer.
Once again it took some time for Harry to regain complete control over his own mind. When he had finished occluding he said impatiently, “You know, that really is distracting.”
“It is intended to be,” Severus remarked blandly, though Harry thought he discerned a small twinkle of amusement in the other’s dark eyes. “You were about to tell me how you have been grouped for dueling,” the potions master said helpfully.
“Oh yeah. So far we’ve dueled one on one and two on two.”
“No doubt you and Weasley have been wildly successful,” Severus commented in a dry voice.
“No, actually,” Harry said.
“Oh, you have partnered Granger then?”
“Nope,” Harry said, a smirk beginning to stretch his lips.
“Don’t tell me you’ve let Weasley and Granger pair with each other?”
“Still wrong,” Harry said, the smirk becoming a full grin.
“Do tell,” Snape commanded with a raise of his eyebrow. “Whatever can have come between the golden trio?”
“Lyons,” Harry said simply. When there was no immediate reply Harry continued, “He told us to pair up with someone we either didn’t like or didn’t care about. Then he let us hex each other.”
“What?” Snape asked, voice falling into that dangerous, be-careful-how-you-answer tone that Gryffindors learned to fear early in their first year.
“He did,” Harry said earnestly. “And then he stopped us and we talked about tactics for a bit, and then the next class we had the same partners and had to duel against another pair and if we didn’t support our partner we got points off,” he finished a trifle breathlessly.
“I see,” Snape said contemplatively. “And who is your partner?”
“Malfoy.” The eyebrow rose quickly. “It was my idea, actually,” the boy said brow furrowing, “and I think it’s made Ron suspicious.”
“You are still keeping secrets from Mr. Weasley?” Harry frowned and nodded.
“Legilimens.” This time, Harry was a bit quicker about occluding his mind.
“Anyway, the question I wanted to ask is how is the ministry letting us get away with actually practicing our dueling in class?”
“With the proof that our esteemed minister has finally found that the Dark Lord truly has returned, I think he may have realized that it is best to keep Dumbledore on his side. The headmaster, of course, maintains that they were always on the same side, but I think it safe to say that Minister Fudge is feeling a little contrite.”
“As well he should be,” Harry said passionately, “foisting that Umbridge-“ he was cut off abruptly as Snape once again said, “Legilimens.”
Harry found it far more difficult to close his mind while angry, but after a few false starts found that he could do it if he let go of his anger.
“Remember that hatred is one of the things the Dark Lord feels most often,” Snape said tonelessly.
Harry nodded but did not immediately give the statement the thought it deserved. “So that’s it, then? Fudge caved because he needs Dumbledore?”
“Primarily, though it probably also helped that Professor Lyons has been examined and certified by the Ministry’s education department.”
“Where was he last year?” Harry grumbled.
“Curse breaking in Central America, I believe.”
“He’s a curse breaker?” Harry asked leaning forward as excitement colored his tone.
“Yes,” Snape confirmed, “One of the more talented ones, too, I understand.”
“Wow,” Harry said. “What was he doing in Central America?”
“Working on one of the Mayan temples, I believe he said. The ancient Mayan wizards were not only very creative; they tended to be extremely paranoid.”
“Do wizards know why the Mayans vanished?” he asked curiously, remembering a short history section he did once in primary school.
There was an amused quirk of an eyebrow, but an answer was, obligingly, forthcoming, “It is widely believed that the people went under the Fidelius Charm to avoid the conquistadors of the period, though such a thing is, of course, rather difficult to verify.”
“Oh,” Harry said, clearly trying to work out how an entire people could be placed under a single charm. “Wow.”
“Indeed,” Severus said with a twist of his lips. “Shall we do some more traditional practice for the remainder of our time?”
“I think we’d better,” Harry said with a sigh. “Clearly I need more work than I thought I did.”
“You have not done so very badly,” Snape said, “You simply need to work on your adaptability. Rigidity can be deadly.”
Harry blinked at him and nodded, biting back a comment on how less than comforting that sentiment had been.
At the end of their session as Harry was getting up, Severus said, “Don’t forget the essay due tomorrow.”
“I haven’t,” Harry said with the look that Snape had learned meant the youth was plotting something, then swept his cloak on to his shoulders and drew the hood up, slipping out the door as his professor left and warded the office behind him.