Chapter 8
The next day during the divination class they were working
with bowls of water in which each student dropped a drop of
ink. Each student told what they saw, and the professor smiled.
Then it was Longbottom's turn. He put in his drop and seemed
transfixed. Everybody waited for him to say something.
"Mr. Longbottom?" the teacher asked.
Neville shook himself. "I saw fighting," he explained,
"here, at Hogwarts. We were driving attackers through the
corridors out into the grounds! Harry and Hermione went off
against one of them while the rest of us battled the others!
That's all!"
"That is enough!" Mrs. Potter remarked, putting her
hand on Neville's shoulder. "Students," she remarked
"do not mention what Mr. Longbottom has seen. Do not worry
the other students."
Everyone understood. But Harry felt something. He knew Neville
wasn't telling everything. When they got to the defense against
the dark arts class this time Professor Potter was there.
"I have reports," he announced, "that you did very
well the first day! Evil has one weakness. No matter how much
they try, they cannot combine their powers, even when they try to
attack as one there are slight delays in their discharges.
However good can work as one. Because all of you trust each other
enough to link your minds so your discharges can come as one.
This gives you a distinct advantage! There is also a way of
increasing your power. Some might say you're too young for it,
but in these circumstances we have to use every weapon at our
disposal.
Mr. Longbottom has seen something that I have also seen. Some
time during this year Voldemort and the death eaters will attack
Hogwarts, and the other schools of magic. We're not particularly
sure which one they will attack first, or when. But the students
at the other schools are being trained to defend them as you are
being trained. We will simply not stand our ground, when the
attack comes we will meet it with a swift and sudden counter
attack! If they want battle we will give them battle! If any of
you wish to withdraw, wish to leave Hogwarts at this time and not
face this danger, you are at liberty to do so, without any
incrimination and as soon as the danger is passed you may return
and continue your education. We will put no one in harm's way
without their consent!"
There were several moments of awkward silence and then Longbottom
remarked "We're waiting for our lesson, professor!"
The professor smiled. "I'm going to split you into
teams," he explained, "we're going to learn to work in
groups, two girls and two boys in a group. The others will attack
while you practice. Harry, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, Miss
Tarbati Patil! Girls, I do not want you to do any counter
attacking, I want you to maintain shields. Use the spell
'protectis allus.' Keep the shields around your companions.
Everyone else attack! Now!" The girls brought up their
shields. The others attacked, and their attackers were warded
off. Harry and Ron were able to strike the others and drive them
back. After a few minutes the professor had everyone switch
around and four more people were the defenders. It seemed to go
on forever, but Harry kept catching glimpses of the teachers who
were nodding to each other with happy smiles. Finally the
professor called a halt.
"That's enough for today!" he announced. "Very
good! You're learning very fast! But I don't want you practicing
by yourselves, not in groups. You have a little bit more to learn
yet, before you do that Now, let's go enjoy a few minutes before
you go to your studies and it's time for supper."
"Professor!" Neville spoke up, "I've never seen
you with a wand. Don't you have one?"
"Oh, no, Neville!" the professor remarked. "I'm
far too powerful for a wand. I can control their power." He
looked around. "Perhaps," he remarked, "I should
give a demonstration so you will understand. Come along!"
They went out into the grounds. Some distance from Hagrid's house
was a large rock sitting on top of another one. "This should
do!" the professor remarked. "Form a half circle right
around here so Hagrid's house is shielded and Hogwarts is
shielded. Professor Lupin, would you be so kind as to tell the
new people to move away from this area?"
"Certainly!" Professor Lupin answered and hurried off.
"Now," Professor Potter continued, "Hermione,
would you be so kind as to levitate that rock?"
Hermione took out her wand and commanded "Wingardiam
leviosa!" The rock floated a few inches into the air,
rotated a bit, and settled back down.
"Impressive!" Professor Potter muttered. "Everyone
bring up shields. Make them as strong as you can. Harry, may I
borrow your wand?"
"Certainly professor!" Harry agreed, handing him his
wand.
The professor pointed it at the rock and cried "Wingardiam
leviosa!" The rock shot skyward. "Shields, Harry!"
the professor commented, handing Harry back his wand. The
professor looked skyward. "Get ready!" he commented,
"Intensify your shields now!"
A blazing light descended from the sky and slammed into the rock.
There was a bright flash and thousands of tiny blazing particles
struck their shields, were deflected, and headed out into the
lake to land with thousands of little hisses! When the smoke
cleared there was a large hole in the ground where glowing rock
was cooling!
Neville looked to the professor and remarked. "Don't ever
touch a wand!"
The professor laughed. "Very good advice, Neville! As you
can see," he told the other students, "I have to be
very careful about using my power. I can do far more harm than I
do good!"
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