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Author: Sorting Hat Story: Harry Potter and the Hall of the Phoenix Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 1 Words: 23,753
"Wow, Mate! How did you find this place?" Ron said, eyeing the enormous room before him. Harry had enlarged it magically; at the moment, it was much larger than the Great Hall even. "Sirius showed me," said Harry, grinning. He'd known Ron would like this. Hermione said nothing, having already dashed over to the large book section, where she was rapidly looking from one book to another, an expression of delight on her face. Harry glanced at Ron, and both of them shook their heads at her. "I'm going want you two to help me out during the next class. Oy, Hermione!" Harry said. In a moment, Hermione was back by Ron's side. "This place is wonderful Harry!" Hermione said, "It's almost as good as the library!" Ron dropped his teeth, and Harry grinned, then his face turned very serious. "I was planning on doing shield charms today, and I still want to, but I think I want to change it up a bit," Harry said. "What do you mean, Harry?" Hermione asked. "I want to teach shields, and Expelliarmus," Harry said. "What do you need us for then?" Ron asked. "I can already do a shield, and so can Hermione, so we need to teach you. What I intend is this: I'll be teaching shields, Hermione will be reviewing Expelliarmus, and you will be reviewing Accio," Harry replied. "Each of us will have a third of the class." "Right," Ron said, gripping his wand, "Hermione, I think I need to go over Accio a bit, too...." "What?" Hermione asked, just before being lifted from her feet, and landing in Ron's arms. "Or maybe I don't," Ron quipped. Harry smirked. "Practice makes perfect," Ron said, shrugging. "True," Harry said, deciding after a moment to make a discreet exit. Ron and Hermione didn't even notice. *** "Hey, Freak!" a voice yelled a few minutes later, interrupting Harry's thoughts. "Huh? Oh hi, Dudley," Harry said. "I'm lost," Dudley complained, with an annoyed frown. "Where were you trying to go?" Harry asked. "I heard that old bat say he'd found a room for me and I wanted to go there by myself. I don't need to be led around," Dudley snapped Harry stood in shock for a moment. That has to be the most coherent sentence Dudley has ever spoken to anyone but his parents. I hope Hagrid doesn't hear Dudley call Dumbledore an old bat. "Where did he say they were?" Harry asked, sighing. "I don't remember," Dudley confessed. Harry rolled his eyes. "Come on," Harry said. He started on his way back to the Headmaster's office. "Did you sneak out of the medical wing?" Harry asked. Dudley nodded proudly. Harry rolled his eyes again. It hadn't taken Dudley very long to get himself lost. The two walked in silence for a while, until Harry stopped at the Fat Lady's portrait and said, "Oblivioni Sacrum," The portrait swung open silently. "Oblimi whatsit?" Dudley asked. "The magic word that lets me into the tower. Don't worry, you won't need it," Harry replied. Dudley snorted. "Sit down in front of the fire. I'm going to contact the Headmaster, and I'll see about your arrangements," Harry said. Dudley huffed, and sat in the chair Harry had indicated. Harry walked some distance away, and twirled his wand in the complex motion he'd used before. "Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked into the tip of his wand. "Yes, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, sounding slightly worried. "I have Dudley here, apparently he got himself lost sneaking out of hospital." "I see," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "Please bring him back to my office." Harry gestured to Dudley, and soon the two were back on their way. "What's gonna happen to me?" Dudley asked, suddenly. "What do you mean?" Harry asked. "Those people with the masks tried to kill me! They already got Mum and Dad. What's gonna happen to me?" Dudley clarified. Harry was about to tell Dudley that nothing would happen to him, but in the face of his Aunt and Uncle's deaths, Harry suddenly found he didn't feel comfortable telling Dudley that, and it wouldn't really be fair, would it? "Dudley, I don't know, honestly. I was going to say that I didn't really think you were a target, but we both know that isn't true. You are here, after all," Harry replied. Dudley nodded, grimly. "I don't think Professor Dumbledore will let anything happen to you while you are here, but...." Harry trailed off. The two walked in silence for several minutes. "This place is creepy," Dudley eventually said. "What? Hogwarts?" Harry asked. Dudley nodded. "Pictures aren't supposed to move. Stairs aren't supposed to move. Since when did birds deliver post?" Dudley explained. "Since forever in the wizarding world I suppose. Hedwig certainly seems to do a good job of it," Harry replied. "Hedwig? That vulture you have in the cage at the house?" Dudley asked. "Hedwig is not a vulture!" Harry snapped. Dudley shrugged. "If you say so." Harry turned away and proceeded toward the Headmaster's office at a slightly quickened pace. Before long, the two had arrived, Harry fuming, and Dudley huffing tiredly behind him. "Lemon-berry sherbet," Harry said shortly. The stone gargoyle slid out of the way. "Hello, Harry, Mr. Dursley,"Dumbledore said politely, and nodded to Harry. The two boys sat down. "I understand you are ready to leave the hospital wing, Mr. Dursley?" Dumbledore asked, with a slight smile. Dudley glared at him. "Yes." Dumbledore smiled serenely. "Well, I suppose we could arrange that. I've secured quarters for you near Gryffindor tower." "Gryffindor Tower? What's that?" "That's where I sleep," Harry said, surprising himself by stifling a groan. Dudley glanced at Harry, and nodded, though he looked slightly disgusted. "Whatever. As long as I can get away from that bi-that woman," Dudley corrected himself quickly, seeing both Harry and Dumbledore narrow their eyes. "I see," was Dumbledore's response. Harry of course, was having none of it. "Professor, Dudley, if you will excuse me, I have a class to teach," Harry said, rising. "Of course, Harry. It wouldn't be proper for a teacher to be late, after all," Dumbledore said. "No! You can't! I don't want to be a pig again!" Harry sat back down again, slowly. "Mr. Dursley...Dudley. I deeply regret that incident," began Dumbledore. "You have my solemn promise that act will never be repeated." "What is he talking about, Professor?" Harry asked. Albus opened his mouth, and then closed it again, as Dudley began to explain. "He came to the house a few days after you left. He told Dad that if he ever found out Dad had mistreated you again, he would regret it for the rest of his life. Then he turned me into a pig." Harry sat still, looking at Dumbledore with a shocked look on his face. "I ah, really need to go. My students will be waiting for me." Harry finally said. "But he'll-" Dudley began. "No he won't. When Professor Dumbledore promises something, you can be your life on that. He won't do anything." "But-" "You have my word on that, Dudley," Harry said. Dudley seemed only slightly mollified, as Harry slowly walked out of the room. Harry was lost in thought when he finally arrived at the Room of Requirement. Ron and Hermione were already there, both still looking a bit flushed, and the normal gaggle of students had already begun to filter in. Evidently, McGonagall had told all of them of the change of location. Remus Lupin sat in the back of the room, but shook his head at Harry. He'd observe, but only help Harry out if Harry specifically requested it. That suited Harry just fine. "Hello, Harry," came Ginny's voice. Harry turned around and found himself staring at her. "Hello, Ginny," Harry replied. Ginny frowned. "Is something wrong?" she asked, "You seem upset." "Dumbledore turned my cousin into a pig a few weeks ago. I just found out today. I hadn't thought Dumbledore would be capable of something like that. Well, I mean, of course he can do it, I just didn't think it was something he would do." Harry finished. Ginny put her hand over her mouth and her sides began to shake. This continued for a few seconds until tears began to run out of her eyes and down her cheeks. "It's not funny!" Harry snapped. "No, it really isn't," Ginny replied, "but he doesn't really have that far to go, does he?" Ginny asked. Harry shrugged. "I intend on rotating the class today. You need to learn some of the things we are teaching today, or I'd have you teaching as well." "We? Who else is teaching me?" Ginny asked. "Hermione, and Ron," Harry replied. Ginny huffed, and began to mutter under her breath as she walked away. "All right you lot, let's get started," Harry yelled into the din of noise. No one spared him so much as a glance. "Sonorus. ALL RIGHT YOU LOT. LET'S GET STARTED!" Harry said. This time, everyone stopped, and turned their heads toward him. "THAT-QUIETUS-sorry. That's better. Now, this time around, we're going to split into three groups. One group with be with me, learning shield charms. Another will be with Hermione, reviewing Expelliarmus. Everyone else will be with Ron, reviewing Accio. Everyone will get a chance at everything, so there is no rush right? Right," Harry said. "Everyone number off up to three, Neville, you're a one. Hannah, you're a two, and so on." After everyone had numbered off, and the groups had separated, Harry took his third into the back of the room. He was about to begin his instruction, when he realized his students wouldn't be able to hear him over the crashes and other noises which would soon dominate the room. "I could really use a way to keep my third of the room quiet," Harry said toward the ceiling. A divider appeared, much to the amazement of the students surrounding Harry. Before they could ask any questions, however, he got right down to business. "Now, can anyone tell me how shields are produced?" Harry asked. None of the students raised their hands. Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Basically, you have to imagine your magic fortifying you. Imagine it as a force inside you, coming to the outside to protect you from a threat. Sort of like a bubble around you. I'll show you." With that, Harry looked deep inside himself, imagining his magic to be at the center of his being. Slowly, he began to imagine that magical core expanding, slowly, until it began to spread across his body, turning it a slight shade of blue in his mind's eye. He concentrated quite a bit harder, and suddenly, the bubble was there, light blue in appearance, spherical in shape, extending about five feet to each side of Harry. "Pretty cool isn't it? I can make it bigger, enough so that I could cover all of you," said Harry, as he did so, briefly, "Or, I could make it small enough to fit me like armor," Harry slowly contracted the shield until it was just touching his skin, encasing him in blue, just as he had seen in his mind's eye. After that, he let his shield wink out. "I didn't keep it around you lot very long. Can anyone tell me why?" Surprising everyone, Neville raised his hand. "Yes, Neville?" Harry asked. "The further out you extend your shield, the weaker it becomes," Neville said. "Exactly. Just like a soap bubble. If you try to make it bigger and bigger, eventually it will pop," Harry said. "Ten points to Gryffindor," Remus called. He had situated himself so that he could observe all three sessions. "All right. Now you lot try it. I'll walk around, and try to help you if you need it." Harry said, and began to do just that. Seamus was the first one who seemed to need help. He kept gritting his teeth, and clenching his eyes shut, only to sigh in frustration a few seconds later. "You're trying too hard, Mate," Harry said. "What do you mean?" Seamus asked. "Just let it occur naturally. You can't force the magic to come. It has to do it by itself." "I don't get it," Seamus said. "Think of yourself as a guide, helping the magic along. Start slowly, and then imagine it coming out gradually. Eventually, you'll get to where you can do it as quickly as I did," Harry replied. Seamus nodded, and began to work again. Harry nodded, and walked around for a bit. "How's it coming, Neville?" he asked. "I don't know. Haven't tried it yet. Trying to get myself in the frame of mind," Neville replied. "What if Goyle tried to curse you?" Harry asked. To both boys' utter amazement, Neville's shield snapped into place almost as quickly as Harry's had. "That's great, Neville!" Harry said excitedly. Neville could only nod, his amazement still etched on his face Several minutes later, after everyone in Harry's section seemed to at least have the basic bubble shape down, though some couldn't hold it for more then a few seconds. Nodding, Harry sent them to their next stations. "Don't worry if you can't hold your shield yet. We'll be practicing this again during the next meeting," he told them as they left. Harry went through the instructions several more times with the other two portions of the class, noting that while the Ravenclaw students seemed to establish their shields more quickly, the Hufflepuff students were able to hold them for far greater amounts of time. I think I'll have to keep that in mind for another lesson sometime. Harry thought to himself. Eventually, a bell began to toll from nowhere. "All right everyone! That's the signal to end class for the night," Harry said, after having the dividers removed. Harry hung back, along with the other members of the team, until the other students had all departed. "Tell me about Neville," Harry asked his friends. "I don't know what's gotten into him, but he seems more sure of himself for some reason," Hermione said, "He almost managed to disarm me!" "He still needs to work on Accio a bit though. I told him I'd practice with him in the common room later," Ron finished. "Excellent class today Harry," Remus' voice suddenly came from the back of the room. "You're turning out to be a fine teacher." Harry blushed, and muttered a thank you. "Dunno about you three, but I'm ruddy hungry. Let's go eat?" Ron said, in a pleading tone. "You're always hungry," Hermione said, in an exasperated tone. "Am not!" Ron retorted. "Yes you are," Hermione said. "I am not!" Ron snapped, his face beginning to redden. "How many steps from your room to the kitchen in the Burr-" Hermione began to say, but then her face clouded over. Ron fell silent. "S-sorry, Ron," Hermione said. Ron nodded mutely. The three walked to the Great Hall in silence, each lost in his or her own thoughts.
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