The Calm before the Storm

Okay here’s the next chapter. I hope everyone had a great Christmas (Or whatever you celebrate) and a wonderful new year. I know it’s a late but hey that’s me. My friends are always saying that I’ll be late for my own funeral. I’m inclined to agree.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or any of its corresponding paraphernalia.

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Chapter 9 - Choices

Harry stretched as he sat in his seat at the front of the Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts class. It too was a combined Gryffindor and Slytherin class but he didn’t care, what he cared about was his aching muscles.
Remus had worked him hard last night, first teaching him a defence spell and then getting Harry to practice it, as Remus threw curses and spells at him left, right and center.
He’d picked up the spell pretty quick because of that.
Harry looked up as the doors to the classroom opened and Tempest walked in.
Instead of wearing robes she was dressed in faded blue jeans and a dark blue tank top.

“Alright you lot, hang up your robes,” Tempest said and with a flick of her wand hooks appeared on the walls, “I’m pairing you up. One Slytherin and one Gryffindor to a team.”

There were groans and protests immediately filling the air.

“Quiet. There is no way you’re getting me to change my mind. After watching you last lesson I found that you work better this way. Now the piece of parchment on my desk has the pairings on it. Find out who your partner is and stand by them,” Tempest said as she walked down the center aisle flicking her wand and sending desks across the room to pile up against the side walls under the cloaks.

Harry finally got up the desk and couldn’t help but smirk as he saw Draco’s name beside his.
Harry walked over to Tempest and watched as she pulled her hair back into a pony tail.

“So what are we learning?” Harry asked.
“You’ll just have to wait and find out,” Tempest said before yelling, “It doesn’t take the entire time period of this class to find out your partner and stand next to them.”

Draco came over and stood next to Harry.
Blaise and Hermione were paired up, while Ron got paired with Pansy. Seamus and Dean were paired with Crabbe and Goyle, there were also other basic pairings.

“Alright gather around, my job is to teach you to defend yourselves from not only advanced spells and curses but from large animals. I did not go in depth last class but I shall now. You’ll be learning to defend yourselves from spells such as Occulus Incinera, Memorius Oblivia and Elcarcerate. You will also be taught to defend yourselves from large and often magic immune creatures such as Dragons, Trolls and Thunderbirds,” Tempest said, “Not all defences are magical, you will at times need to resort to weaponry.”

There were whispers and murmurs before Hermione’s hand shot into the air.

“Yes Hermione?’ Tempest asked.
“What kind of weaponry?” Hermione asked
“Swords, crystals, gems and various others,” Tempest stated.

Hermione nodded.

“Okay first things first. Occulus Incinera. The spell that scorches the eyeballs leading to permanent blindness and endless pain. A good spell to use when being attacked but not nice when it is cast in your direction. There is only one spell able to block it,” Tempest said walking to the opposite side of the classroom from her students, turning she said, “Draco if you would cast the spell in my direction.”

Draco nodded and stepped forward.

Pulling out his wand and aiming it at Tempest he said, “Occulus Incinera.”
“Meriscus,” Tempest said holding her wand out in front of her.

The red ball of fire that had been heading towards Tempest abruptly burst and disappeared.

“A perfectly performed Meriscus is all it takes to stop Occulus Incinera. Now I want Gryffindors on the left side of the room their Slytherin partners on the right. You’re each going to take turns casting Meriscus,” Tempest said as they separated.
“Professor do you think it wise. What if you or your partner don’t cast Meriscus properly?” Hermione asked.
“Permanent blindness and endless pain,” Tempest said simply.
“But professor,” a few of them chorused.
“I’m just giving you the incentive to do it perfectly,” Tempest said, “So who wants to go first?”

Nobody volunteered.

“Gryffindors you’re on the defence,” Tempest said, “Draco and Harry you’re first.”

Draco and Harry looked eachother in the eye and nodded at eachother.

“Occulus Incinera,” Draco called pointing his wand at Harry.
“Meriscus,” Harry yelled.

The ball of fire burst and disappeared causing everyone in the class to let out the breath they had been holding.

“Ron, Pansy you’re next,” Tempest said.

Pansy smirked evilly as she raised her wand to point it at Ron and before Ron could even raise his own wand in defence, Pansy cast the spell.

“Meriscus,” Tempest yelled stopping the ball of fire mere centimeters from Ron’s face.
“Thanks Professor,” Ron squeaked.
“No problem Ron,” Tempest said, “That’s bad sportsmanship Miss Parkinson. You were in no immediate danger therefore your actions were unjustified. If you’re going to continue in this way there’s the door don’t let it hit you on the way out.”

Pansy looked at the door, then looked at the floor and shook her head.

“Alright let’s get back to it,” Tempest said.

The rest of the class was spent practicing, while Tempest stopped any spells that would have hit their target.

“Alright. I think that is enough for today. Class dismissed,” Tempest said.

Everybody went over, put their robes back on and grabbed their bags before leaving and heading for the great hall for lunch.

Harry walked with Hermione and Ron who were talking about the class.

“To be able to keep track of all those spells and stop the ones that would of hit, it’s amazing,” Hermione gushed, “She must be very powerful. I read that she graduated from Hogwarts at age nine before disappearing until now, but what’s so weird is that her last name is not written down anywhere.”
“You think that’s weird,” Ron said, “I heard that she and Professor Lupin are really, really close. I overheard a few Hufflepuffs saying that they saw Tempest kiss him on the cheek.”
“That doesn’t mean anything Ron,” Hermione scolded, “I kiss Harry on the cheek, and it’s obvious that Remus and Tempest have known eachother for a while. I just wish I knew more about her.”
“More about who Miss Granger?” came Severus’s voice from behind them.
“No one Professor,” Hermione said quickly as she turned slowly to face him.
“Very well Miss Granger but let me give you a piece of advice. Don’t go snooping for information. The consequences could be quite severe,” Severus said before walking past them and towards the great hall.
“What do you think he meant by `the consequences could be quite severe`?” Hermione asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Harry said, “I for one have other things to worry about. Like how many are going to show up for Quidditch tryouts and whether anyone is going to be any good.”
“Ginny’s trying out and she’s pretty good,” Hermione said.
“And I think I heard that Seamus and Dean are trying out too,” Ron said.
“Well there you go, the spots are filled and my job is done,” Harry said grinning.
“Harry,” Hermione scolded, “You have to let everyone tryout. It wouldn‘t be fair if you only picked your friends.”
“I know, I know,” Harry said chuckling.
“Leave him alone Hermione,” Ron said, “Harry knows what he’s doing and anyway he’s Quidditch Captain he can do whatever he likes.”

Ron and Hermione continued to fight all the way to the great hall and into lunch giving Harry one hell of a headache causing him to leave halfway through to seek out a quiet place to get over it.
His seeking led him to Remus’s private rooms.
Harry hadn’t seen him at lunch so maybe, just maybe, he was there.
Harry went to knock on the door but even before he raised his hand to knock on the doors he received an immediate reply.

“Come in,” Remus called.

Harry opened the door and walked in to find Remus in one of the large, comfortable chairs reading a book.

“Hello Harry what brings you here?” Remus asked putting down the book.
“A few things,” Harry said as he collapsed in another of the chairs, “I wanted to talk to you about your ability to conceive.”
“What would you like to know Harry?” Remus asked.
“Did Sirius know?” Harry asked looking Remus in the eye.
“Yes he did,” Remus said as he stood up and went to kneel before Harry, “I could never keep a secret like that from him. What made you think he didn’t know?”
“Well you two haven’t had a child, Sirius loved kids and…,” Harry was silenced by a finger being placed on his lips in an effort to quiet him.
“Harry I di…,” but Remus was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Remus sighed in frustration and called out, “Enter.”

Dumbledore came through the door all smiles and laughter but Remus knew the real reason why the headmaster was there. To stop him from telling Harry what he had been about to say.

“Harry dear boy doesn’t your next class start soon?” at Harry’s nod Dumbledore continued, “Well you’d better get moving you don’t want to be late.”
Harry nodded and stood up, “I’ll see you later Remus.”
“See you Harry,” Remus said going and sitting back in his chair.

When Harry had left Remus looked at Dumbledore angrily.

“I will tell him,” Remus stated.
“All in time,” Dumbledore said, “I have an inkling that something is going to happen.”

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Harry watched as the last three people who had turned up for tryouts climbed off their brooms.
Sighing he flew down and landed, dismounting from his broom and throwing it over his shoulder.

“First of all I’d like to thank all those who tried out. You were all very good but I have to do what’s best for the team and what will win us the Quidditch Cup,” Harry said causing a cheer to go up, “I will let those who have made the team know before I announce it to the house.”

There was a murmur of acceptance before,

“You might want to think about reserves Potter. You’re going to need them.”

Harry turned around to see Bartholomew Grint, the Slytherin quidditch captain, flanked by the rest of the Slytherin quidditch team.

“But then again with the talent you’ve got here I don’t think beating Gryffindor will be a problem,” Bartholomew sneered looking around.
“As if,” Ron snorted, “Malfoy couldn’t catch the snitch if it flew into his hand. You’ve got no chance.”
“Draco has been a bit pathetic these past years but he knows that if he doesn’t pick up he’s off the team,” Bartholomew said looking at Draco in disgust.

Draco looked at the ground. Harry saw a flicker of hurt and sadness cross Draco’s face and before he could stop himself he snorted.

“You throw Malfoy off the team and Hufflepuff will have more of a chance at meeting Gryffindor in the finals than you will.”
“What was that?” Bartholomew snarled.
“What Harry is trying to say is that if Malfoy is kicked off the team, Gryffindor would wipe the pitch with you in a matter of seconds,” Fred said.
“He’s the only one who can give Harry a challenge,” George stated nodding.

Harry caught Draco’s eye and gave him a nod to show that what was being said was true.

“Slytherin wouldn’t even be worth our time,” Harry stated, “Alright everyone lets get back to the school.”

They left the Slytherin team behind and headed back to the school.
Harry looked up at the sky as he trudged behind everyone back to the castle.
Halloween was in a few weeks and a week before that was a full moon which meant Remus wouldn’t miss it. That Harry was thankful for. Harry sighed as they made their way up the front steps and through the front doors.

“Harry what’s wrong?” Ginny asked hearing Harry sigh.
“Dumbledore is making Remus keep things from me. Remus wanted to answer a question I asked but Dumbledore appeared out of nowhere and stopped him. Why does he always do that?” Harry yelled gripping his hair in frustration.
“I’m sure he has his reasons Harry. Don’t worry about it,” Ginny said, “So how do you honestly think I did at tryouts?”
“Really good. You and Seamus were brilliant. I heard Dean was going to tryout. Why didn’t he?” Harry asked.
“He was thinking about it but decided to stick with his school work,” Ginny explained, “Mind you I found out how Seamus got so good on a broom. He and Dean have had several make-out sessions in the air.”
“Why am I not surprised,” Harry chuckled shaking his head.
“Maybe you and Malfoy should give it a try,” Ginny said smirking and looking sideways at Harry.

Harry almost tripped over at that remark.

“What the hell,” Harry spluttered.
“Oh give it up Harry. Hermione and I have had our suspicions and your sticking up for Malfoy just proved it,” Ginny said.
“You’re insane. I don’t like Malfoy,” Harry exclaimed adamantly.
“Harry, Hermione and I know you like him like that but we won’t tell. Mind you Fred and George as well as Dean and Seamus think there is something going on. The twins more than the other two. We’re all okay with it so don’t worry,” Ginny said patting Harry on the back.
Harry sighed, “You two are too smart for your own good. But there is nothing going on between Malfoy and I.”
“Not yet anyway and what do you expect we’re woman,” Ginny said grinning.

By this time they had reached the common room.

“Well goodnight Harry,” Ginny said as she headed for the girls dormitory.
“Night Ginny,” Harry said as he too made his way up to his dorm.

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Well there we go another chapter done.