The Rivalry

Harry sat at his usual place to the right of the classroom, Hermione sitting to the left of him. That spot was normally home to Ron in years past, now Hermione took over that role and Ron had to find a seat wherever one was left. The dark haired Gryffindor couldn't resist flashing the ginger a superior smile at every available opportunity. He knew he was riling the bigger boy and he knew it was childish, he just couldn't find it in him to care. Hermione made disapproving noises in the back of her throat Harry steadily ignored. After that night in the common room she'd keep her opinions to herself. For the most part.

Facing forward Harry brought out a muggle notebook and made a show of opening it to write in it, mostly because he thoroughly enjoyed the looks on the faces of purebloods when he was seen with it. Honestly he thought parchment looked more impressive and it was fun writing on it, but irritating other people was even more fun. Especially if they learned he actually preferred parchment and a fountain pen. Harry chewed the tip of the blatant muggle pen.

After a moment a triangular folded note made it's way to his desk. It was pink. Mentally he rolled his eyes. With a poorly concealed smirk he looked across the room and met silver eyes. Malfoy raised an imperious brow. Harry lifted his note just enough for the blonde to see, waving it. Malfoy gave a returned smirk and lifted one of his own, waving it exaggeratedly.

Harry snorted then mouthed 'How many?'

The blonde raised seven fingers. Harry lifted five. The Slytherin looked outrageously smug.

"Harry?"

He looked to his left.

"Why are you and Malfoy communicating in sign language?"

Harry blinked at his friend. "We're not."

Hermione opened her mouth but he was spared interrogation by the slamming of the door.

"Sit down, books aways, parchment out and listen." Barked Moody.

Something silver and golden nearly hit him in the face. Harry jerked back and caught it. The snitch he made. Harry leaned around Hermione to glare at Malfoy. As expected, he was un-repentant.

Truth or Dare? Mouthed the blonde.

He rolled his eyes. Dare.

Harry waited for the professor to to start writing on the blackboard, then he tossed snitch at Malfoy. The blonde caught it, glanced up at the front of the room, took out a piece of parchment, wrote on it and tossed the snitch back. Harry caught it just as the Professor turned around. He hid it under his desk and froze.

"Today we are going to discuss dark spells versus light spells. What is the difference?"

Parkinson raised her hand. "Miss Parkinson?"

"One is looked down on to practice and the other isn't, but which is which depends on who you ask?" she asked snidely.

Snickers. With all eyes elsewhere Harry looked down and took out the note.

I dare you to speak nothing but the truth until midnight tonight.

Damn. Harry could always pretend he had a sore throat and didn't feel like talking he supposed.

"Two points to Slytherin for appreciated humor. What else? Mr Weasley?"

"Dark magicks are the sort used to hurt other people, what the ministry considers dangerous. Using them is illegal."

"No, and yes. There are light magicks that can be used to hurt someone, magic is not defined is the categories of harmful and not so harmful. One point. Anyone else?"

Hermione raised her hand. "Miss Granger?"

"Dark magic is considered unstable, addicting and potentially harmful by everyone where as light magic is considered to have a useful purpose."

The ex-auror scratched his chin. "You gave me the politically accepted definitions but not the answer I asked for. Someone else?"

Hermione huffed, no doubt outraged by the lack of points earned.

"Mr Potter?"

Double Damn.

"It's isn't any of those things. Dark Magicks are those passed down by followers of Morgan and ancient magicks and practices where as Light Magicks are those techniques passed down by Merlin and his followers. There are also Black Magicks, Gray Magicks, Natural Magicks and more than I have time to list. The difference is whether you follow the ancient traditions, where you honour Mother Magic in your use of her gifts or if you use your magic as a granted tool like you would a sword or a shield, and as nothing more or less than that. As for the modern definitions? All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is generally a function of power rather than truth. You must take popular opinion with a grain of salt. That is to say, listen with an open mind but prepare yourself to analyze the information you are given regardless of the source or the thoughts of other's around you. Each of us is affected by our life

experiences to a different degree which in turn affects how we tend to colour the information we are given. Generally it is easier to agree with public opinion because your life is easier for it..." He trailed off.

Hermione raised her hand, looking directly at Harry.

"Have you considered that the publicly agreed upon terms of right and wrong best serve the quality of life maintained by the public to be satisfactory?"

Harry didn't bother to raise his hand. "Satisfactory? The world expects you to act and live and be a certain way depending on your supposed opinion. In this case, whether you're declared for Dark, declared for Light, declared Neutral or declared Unaffiliated. While I understand that these restrictions are put into place for reasons I wasn't yet born to hear and see, and I can also admit that most of the world believes them to be put into place for the greater good, I can't help but feel, personally, that no man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce and that instead all of us should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions and to build confidence in the creative spirit."

Malfoy was leaning forward in his seat, as were several other students. Harry was surprised to see some of them taking notes.

Hermione turned in her chair completely in order to face him. "We have a hard enough time regulating spells and things as it is! Some of these things are harmful and to allow just anyone to create whatever they want whenever they want in the current age is irresponsible. The wrong sort of people could create truly horrible things and without public knowledge of these things or regulations to control their use we have no way of knowing in what way they'll use them."

Harry glanced at the professor.

"Keep going Potter." Moody sat on his desk, arms folded.

"There isn't any way to control it now. Having sketchy laws saying this or that spell isn't allowed anymore isn't going to keep people from doing it. And why not? Why not create spells in the current age? We consider the Golden Age of magicks over because the time when Spellcrafters and Enchanters were a common thing has long since passed. We don't have new spells or charms or illusions created anymore. Only ones that come in and out of fashion to suit the needs of the current ministry and the political climate. Nothing ever really settled. Something thought of highly yesterday is frowned upon today and banned altogether tomorrow and occasionally even lost altogether. I think it's a bit of a disgrace you see. While certain limitations on our behavior is understandable I long for the days when people of differing ideals frequently came together to argue and debate and create."

Hermione frowned. "The fields today with creative progress are Alchemy and Potions, both of which are becoming more and more regulated and observed so we can be certain nothing is harmful and-"

"- and it's being stilted." Harry cut in. "Look at the Wolfsbane Potion. Here is an excellent opportunity to be able to study Werewolves and understand the nature of their disease but the potion it's self isn't technically permitted for sale and where you can get it it's outrageously priced. You'd think the world would want to heal their friends and families or at least protect them from acquiring said disease themselves? There are so many lost opportunities that I admit I have found myself somewhat disappointed. So, no. I don't think the current terms for Dark or Light magicks is at all relevant. They don't even use them the way the terms are meant to be used, most of the students in this classroom don't understand the terminology. Why call this class Defense Against the Dark Arts when we aren't even studying the Dark Arts? The Unforgivables? That isn't Dark Magic at all, if anything it's actually Light Magick because it is manipulated as a tool."

It was very quiet then.

"Twenty-five points to Gryffindor, Mr Potter."