Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

“Do
you guys really think it’s ready?” Susan asked for the fifth time.

“Of
course we do, but we don’t know what kinks to work out if the spell isn’t
performed,” Hermione said rationally.

“But
Hermione, this is going to be a really powerful spell, what if it back fires?”
she asked again.

“Do
you want Harry to do it? He has offered. He could probably conjure a shield
that would block just about any curse,” Hermione reasoned yet again.

“Well,
if he wants to do it the first time, I’ll be happy to repeat it as many times
as you want me to so you can see it worked. It’s just, well, I’m not a
Gryffindor, I do have nerves,” she said glancing at the other three nervously.

“Susan,”
Draco said in a soothing voice, “Let Harry do the
spell. I’m sure it’s perfectly safe, we’ve been
working on it for over a month now, Dumbledores going to want to see some
progress. He’ll cast the initial spell to show you it’s safe, and then you’ll
repeat it as many times as needed so we can observe closer if needed, okay?”

“Are
you sure you don’t mind Harry?” Susan said glancing at him nervously.

They’d
been working advanced form of the Patronus for over a month now. They had
created a Partonus spell that was laced with a back firing cheering charm, but
the two spells together could be explosive, which was Susan’s problem. They
gone through all the wand movements, and there was only one they were worried
about using, but as far as safety goes, the spell was pretty much harmless.

“No
Susan, it’s okay. But Hermione is wrong about one thing, I can’t have a shield
up, if I do then the I won’t be effected by the cheering charm,” he said giving
her a meaningful look that made her put her head down sheepishly. He supposed
she was ashamed of trying to manipulate him. He didn’t mind though, he was
dating the master of cons, Draco Malfoy. Harry took aim at nearby book shelf.

“class=SpellE>Expecto Patronus!” he said. The incantation used to be all
that was needed, now there were wand movements with
it. The stag that Harry loved so much burst from his wand. The silver
apparition ran a few trots then turned toward him as if wanting direction on
where to go. “Come here Prongs,” he said affectionately.

“Okay
Susan, as much as Harry’s demonstration helped, he can already cast the normal Patronus.
This is going to affect you more than him, go ahead and try,” Draco coxed her.
With a new found determination from somewhere or something, she strode up
beside Harry and looked at his stag. It nuzzled her hand before disappearing in
a wisp of silvery substance.

“Okay,
here I go,” she said raising her wand in the same direction as Harry, “class=SpellE>Expecto Patronum!” she yelled a
form came from her wand. To everyone’s surprise, it was a style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Mermaid, and a fierce looking one at
that.

“How
odd,” Hermione said tilting her head and examining the creature, but as soon as
she made the statement, the mermaid vanished.

“Not
very sustaining is it?” Draco remarked taking a note on his piece of parchment.

“It
could have been because her concentration was deterred,” Hermione said.

“I
think it’s that slight movement adjustment, remember, the rune was for a
corporal apparition. Remember we also use the counter for the rune for the
cheering charm. Of course, the first rune is stronger so its effects were
totally lost on the movement for the cheering charm rune. Maybe we should just
find another kind of charm to use. I would suggest a love charm, but I’m afraid
that the effect would be that a student, Auror, or
Professor would have the urge to walk up to the Dementor and kiss it,” Draco
said thoughtfully.

“Oh,
that defiantly wouldn’t do,” Susan said. She seemed slightly cheerful given the
made reference, but the glossiness of her eyes was wearing off as it was a side
effect of a cheering charm.

“Is
there a hope charm, that could be used,” Harry said taking a seat back at the
table and looking over his notes.

class=GramE>“How about a confidence charm?” Hermione said, “There’s a
potion for it, so I’m sure there has to be a spell for it.”

“That
may work, I just hate the fact that we’ll have to start all over,” Susan,
finally herself again, voiced.

“Oh,
it would only take a minute,” Hermione said a-matter-of-factly. “The components
would be the same because their both based on emotion. We just have to find
one,” she said exasperated. She grabbed an overly large tomb that they had been
using to splice the cheering charm with the Patronus charm and opened it to the
middle. She started flipping through it with her brow furrowed.

“Is
there no index in that thing?” Susan asked.

“Yes,
but its in alphabetical order in terms of incantation. It’s a reference, not a
book of theory,” Harry murmured looking through another book himself.

“Hermione,
how long do you think it would take for us to do a three way splice with this?”
Draco asked somewhat hesitantly.

“What
do you mean?” she asked looking up curiously.

“Well,
driving a Dementor off is good and all, but they’ll always be back. What if we
destroyed them?” he asked, again hesitantly.

“You’ve
been thinking about this for a while haven’t you?” Harry asked furrowing his
brow. The idea sounded possible, but the theory against Dementors was very
vague. Only accomplished Occlumist could stroll up to
one of the vile creatures. Because they prey on thought, such as Bogarts do,
their effects could be blocked.

“I
have. I just don’t see the reasoning of driving them away when we could develop
a spell that could kill them,” Draco said logically.

“The
only thing that is known to kill them is the Avada class=SpellE>Kadava and we can’t incorporate that into our spell,”
Hermione said scornfully.

“Oh,
well it was just a suggestion,” he said with disappointment.

“Wait,”
Harry said getting an idea, “What if we just used another charm with the intent
to kill?” he said.

class=GramE>“Meaning?” Hermione asked worriedly.

“Well,
we could take a leaf from Ron’s book and tie it with a simple class=SpellE>Diffindo charm,” Harry said.

“But
what would that do, tear at their black robes?” Susan asked confused.

“The
power that would have to behind the spell in the first place would be taxing
because a Patronus is a complicated charm anyway. With so much power behind the
spell, it wouldn’t be a simple Diffindo charm, it
would be much more powerful, even more so than the one used on Draco,” Harry
explained.

“Then
it would have to be practiced with caution, just like many other spells. Lets
just do it this way for now and if Dumbledore says that it’s too dangerous,
well roll back and do a replacement on the spell and take off severing charm,”
Harry said logically.

“Well
okay. Well lay the severing charm over the whole spell so that the power of the
charm will be fueled by the two existing ones. This should take care of it as
long as we don’t have to add any counters to the runes we’re already using. I
just hoped Dumbledore doesn’t look down on us for this, we’re bordering on Dark
Arts here,” she said wearily. Harry knew she was right. Any spell with the
intent to kill or mortally wound is Dark Arts. The only difference in their
spell was that it was meant to kill a dark creature.

“I
only have lessons with Dumbledore left, so I think that I’ll skive off today
and finish this, I want to be able to present him with something by the end of
the week. Have any of the other groups come up with anything yet?” Harry asked
looking at Draco across the table. The other group was a Slytherin group and
then there was a Ravenclaw group.

“The
Slytherin group came up with something like a fogging spell that only the
caster could see through, but no one else could. It would only be useful if the
opposing party didn’t know the spell because one the opposing party cast the
same spell, they cancel each other out because they can both see through it,”
Draco explained, Susan smirked.

“Cunning,”
she said sarcastically.

“Hey,
no one said that the entire house was cunning, there’s also ambition,” Draco
said defensively. Hermione snorted in laughter but kept her composer.

“Keep
telling yourself that Malfoy,” Harry said smiling.
Draco just rolled his eyes and huffed.

It
was another hour before they finally had their second finished product. Due to
the time, six o’clock, Harry
suggested they try it out on the grounds. He didn’t want anyone in close
proximity with the spell when he cast it. The butterflies in his stomach were
fluttering like never before. There was excitement, panic, a little
hopefulness, but mostly determination. This had to work, it was probably the
only tool they had against the dark side at this time.

They
all gathered around the lake and decided that the spot was the most sufficient.

“Harry,
I just thought about something, do you think you could summon the Bogart from
the Room of Requirement so that we can see the effects it has on the Dementor?”
Hermione asked thoughtfully. It did make sense. They wouldn’t know what the
definite effects would be unless they tried it on a real Dementor and this was
as close as it was going to get. Harry waved his hand and let his staff appear
before using a simple summoning charm to summon the chest. Five minutes later
it came zooming out of the castle doors at an alarming speed.

class=GramE>“Impedimenta!” Hermione yelled panicked at seeing the chest
come at this at such an alarming speed.

“Thanks,”
Harry said, he was slightly shocked at the speed his staff made the chest fly
that he hadn’t thought of stopping the thing. For all he knew, he was just gong
to jump out of the way.

“No
problem,” she said looking at Harry’s staff. Harry caught her look and banished
the staff back to his finger.

“Well,
we know that your staff works properly,” Draco said though a nervous laugh.

“I’ve
known that for quite sometime,” Harry said, “But that was the first time anyone
besides Snape, Flitwick, and Dumbledore as seen it in
action. Even I’m surprised,” Harry said.

“Right,
well, we’ll all climb in the tree while Harry casts the Patronus and I’ll
release the Bogart. Do you have a quill and parchment Draco?” Hermione asked.
He nodded and pulled the supplies out of his pocket. “Ready?” she said looking
at Harry who nodded nervously too.

Hermione,
Draco, and Susan all climbed on to a large limb just at the bottom of the
canopy of the tree and sat with their feet dangling down. Susan had conjured a
lap desk for Draco to bear down on and Hermione was holding the ink bottle for
him. Harry ran a hand though his hair nervously. There was no guarantee that
his Patronus wasn’t going to turn on him, but he had hope. He drew away from
the chest about twenty feet but kept it just in front of him so that the Bogart
would see him first and use him. He made a small crack
in his mental walls so the Bogart would see his fear and nodded to Hermione.

With
a flick of her wand the lid of the chest flew open and the Bogart started to
rise in a bundle of black robes. Harry was waiting for it to take full form
before he summoned the Patronus but was struck cold as the figure grew its
head. It was not a Dementor; it was Voldemort in all his glory.

“Ah,
Potter, so nice to see you again,” the Bogart of Voldemort hissed at him. Harry
couldn’t believe it, his greatest fear had changed, and it was no longer a
Dementor but Voldemort himself.

“I
trust you’ve gotten my messages Harry?” he asked with a maniacal grin on his
face Harry just stood there for a second, both stunned and fascinated. He had
faced Voldemort many more times than he had Dementors, but Voldemort was still
his greatest fear.

Harry
quickly feed the Bogart an image of a Dementor and with a ‘pop’ the Bogart
changed into a Dementor. Harry, unneededly, nodded
his head in acceptance and brandished his wand. As the darkness started to
press down on him and the screams started, he raised his wand.

“class=SpellE>Expecto Patronum class=SpellE>Exstinguo!” Harry shouted. He immediately felt the
confidence charm hit him and held his wand strong as a stag erupted from the
end of it. The only difference this time was Prongs looked ready to kill. Even
more surprising was his antlers; they looked razor sharp and lethal. He charge
without a look at Harry and flung the Dementor/Bogart over himself with a flip
of his muscular head. Relentless, was the only word that Harry could think of
as he watched the startling stag mangle the Dementor. The stag apparently had
to qualms about attacking while the enemy was down. He continued to thwart and
slay as if Harry wasn’t there. Harry finally closed off his mind and yelled ‘class=SpellE>Riddikulus’ at the Bogart to watch it evaporate into
silvery smoke. Prongs looked mad for a second at the fact that the Dementor had
gotten away, but then Harry caught his eye. Prongs looked at him interestingly
for a moment before he galloped towards him and nuzzled him with his snout.
Harry smiled at this, it seemed safe so far.

< “Thanks
Prongs,” Harry whispered before he muttered, “Finite Incantatum.”

“Harry!”
Hermione yelled coming out of the tree, “The was
horrible!”

“What?”
Draco followed flabbergasted, “It was brilliant, it worked!” he argued.

“Yes,
it did, but did you see how vicious it was, we’ll have to rewrite the spell,”
she said putting her chin in her and thinking.

“We
are not rewriting the spell, it worked perfectly!” Draco argued.

“What
if there were people around? It would have attacked anyone!” she said
stubbornly.

“I
was around he just nuzzled me,” Harry pointed out.

“Yes,
but that was after the Dementor was gone. What if there were other students about?
Do you think it would have centralized it self on just getting rid of the
Dementor or do you think it would have went for anything that moved?” she asked
exasperated.

“There’s
only one way to find out,” Susan spoke up. She looked white as a ghost. Harry
co’t b’t blame her though. Just last year they were all admiring how their
Patronus’ were so graceful and such, now they were battle warriors.

class=GramE>“Oh no we’re not!” Hermione declared, “I refuse to chance my
life and let Harry cast it with me around, no way.”

“Has
anyone ever told you how stubborn you are?” Draco asked in what seemed like amusement.

“Yeah,
come on, where’s your Gryffindor courage?” Susan taunted also amused by
Hermione’s tantrum.

class=GramE>“Why I never!” Hermione retorted in a very McGonagall like
way. Harry laughed out loud at this.

“Okay
Hermione, we won’t try it now,” Harry said smiling, “When we present it to
Dumbledore, we’ll ask him about it and see what he says. If he thinks its okay,
we’ll try it with just us, until then let’s put this spell on the back burner
and try to develop a binding charm for the Dementors. You know, like a ring of
mist that the Patronus’ are made of. That way we can keep them at bay and put
them somewhere,” he said.

“But
that means we’ll have to start all over!” Draco whined.

“Some
cheese with that whine?” Susan asked laughing.

“Humph,”
was Draco’s only response.

“Well,
for now I think that’s a great idea, and it doesn’t border on the Dark Arts,”
Hermione said approvingly.

“But
we could have received an Order of Merlin for this spell!” Draco wailed yet
again.

“What?
You’re move worried about what you get out of it than what everyone else gets
out of it, like their souls?” Hermione asked disgusted.

“No,
I was just looking forward to the recognition was all,” he said deflated.

“You’ll
get it soon enough Draco,” Hermione said, “We’re quite intelligent so I’m sure
the binding spell will be just as successful,” she assured him. He just nodded.

“So
we’re all agreed? Back burner until we’ve had a discussion with Dumbledore?”
Susan asked. Everyone agreed.

Over
the next few days they worked on the Binding spell for the Dementors as
promised. Draco didn’t seem as into this one as he did the last, but at least
he was making an effort. As it turned out, this one would be a lot easier, and
since they already put so much time into the previous spell, they decided to
work off of what they already had. They immediately began to feel like experts
when it came to the Patronus spell. They already had it broken down and
splicing it with the other spells efficiently was the only hard part. But, as
they proved, having four people do it as a team sped the process up rapidly.

By
Thursday afternoon, they were in the library and just about done with the wand
movement when Professor McGonagall’s voice came booming from all directions.

“All
students return to their dormitories at once. Anyone caught out and about will
be in serious trouble,” she bellowed from no where. “All apprentices please
proceed to the Headmaster’s office at once,” she said hurriedly. All four of
the students looked at each other before they packed up their things in a hurry
and ran to Dumbledore’s gargoyle.

“Fizzing
Wizzbee,” Harry said hurriedly and dashed up the
stairs with the other three behind him. The door at the top was already open.

“Harry,”
Dumbledore said taking notice of the others that were with him, “You Draco and
Miss Granger are to go with Professors McGonagall and Snape. Hagrid spotted
cloaked figures in the forest moving this way and has alerted us in time to set
up a quick defense. The students on the grounds all apparently made it inside
and are safe,” he said flicking though his papers quickly and taking a piece of
parchment out. He ripped it into four pieces and said, “Portus.”

The
pieces of parchment glowed blue for a moment before Albus picked them up once
more and gave one to everyone except him.

“I
trust you still have your pin Harry?” he asked looking at Harry over his
glasses. Harry nodded and turned the sleeve of his robes, more precisely the
cuffs, inside out and showed it attached to the inner lining. class=GramE>“Brinlliant! Take no chances and
if you get into too much danger you will take the port-keys straight back. It
will be fifteen to twenty minutes before the ministry can make it here. There
are a few Order members who are going to meet you in the Entrance Hall. Now,
go, make haste,” he said in a rush of words.

class=GramE>“But---Professor, what about you?” Harry said worriedly. He
was hopping the Headmaster wasn’t going to do anything foolishbus bus surveyed
Harry for a moment before he finally spoke.

“There
were two giants spotted with them. I know it’s not all they have, but I think
Voldemort is just trying to send us a message that he’ll do what he pleases,”
the Headmaster said gravely. Harry nodded in agreement before he turned towards
Snape, who was standing at the door impatiently. Snape opened the door and they
made their way out. As soon as they were at the end of the steps, Harry dropped
back grabbed both Draco and Hermione by the back of the neck.

“We’ll
meet you down there Professor,” he said quickly to Professor McGonagall before
all three of them disappeared in a rush of flames.

They
reappeared in the Entrance Hall and Hermione was the only one to stumble.

n
cn
class=GramE>“Alright?” Harry asked steadying her; she looked up at him
with wide eyes.

“You
can’t Apperate in Hogwarts!” she wailed.

“Well,
I’m not sure if it constitutes as Apperation, but its close,” he said. Draco
just had a smirk on his face as Moody strode up from nowhere.

“Potter,”
he greeted looking at the other two with his magical eye. “You all
apprentices?” he asked looking Draco up and down. Draco, who knew Moody more
than he’d had liked, paled immediately. “Don’t worry kid, heard what Crouch did
to ya. Though, if it were me, would have just cursed class=SpellE>ya, not transfigured,” he said with a smile.

“Moody,
don’t tease the kid,” Lupin said kindly making an appearance from the Great
Hall.

class=GramE>“Remus!” Harry said smiling, “I’d never thought I’d be
fighting with you.”

“It’s
nothing to be proud of Harry,” Lupin said putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Speak
for your self, I’ve been dying to use this thing for something worth while,” he
said waving his hand and letting his staff grow it its proper length. Moody let
out a high whistle.

“That’s
some staff Potter, what charms you have on it?” he asked looking up and down at
it with his magical eye.

“At
this point it doesn’t matter what our resident celebrity has done, we have been
assigned a job,” a silky voice said halfway down the stairs.

“Snape,”
Moody growled without turning around. “I’m assuming that you’re going to be
wearing a hooded-cloak?” he asked gruffly.

“Yes,
as if it mattered to you anyway,” Snape sneered.

“Enough,”
McGonagall snapped. “Let’s go, three of us will hide just on the other side of Hagrid’s
hut while the other four will hide behind the trees just beside the lake. Any
questions?” she asked. No body commented. “Good. Severus, Moody, you take Draco
and Granger and take post beside Hagrid’s hut. If you think you can be seen too
easily, Severus you are to hide in the paddock. I would suggest the others do
the same,” she said. This was her way of saying that though she was deploying
them, they still had their free will available.

“Potter,
you will come with Lupin and myself to the lake and take out any who get past
the other four, clear?” she asked again. They all nodded. “Right, head out,”
she said. Harry was surprised at her. She clearly sounded like one of the
generals from the army shows that Dudley was so keen on
watching on the Muggle telly.

They
all quickly made their ways to their posts and took position. Harry,
McGonagall, and Lupin could see the others from where they were, but from what
Harry could see, they were at a safe distance.