The Speaker and His Wraiths

Practice

Practice Makes Progress

As lunch approached, Harry's nine nodded at him whenever they saw him between classes, and he'd always smile in response. It was sort of a reassurance, that they were together and would stay together. It was probably also because they were double checking they had the time right and wouldn't be missing lunch in the Great Hall for no reason, but Harry liked to believe it was mainly the former.

When Harry was released from his last class, he headed for the kitchens below the Great Hall. He tickled the pear and smiled as the door handle appeared for him, and entered the high ceilinged room to crouch down as the house elves appeared with their large eyes and batlike ears.

"Do you be needing food for the Come-And-Go Room again?" One of them asked.

"Yes please, there'll be ten of us in there." Harry smiled. "We're missing lunch, so if you could just bring us something from what you've already prepared that would be perfect."

"We can do that!" Another announced, nodding.

"Thank you." Harry smiled at them and headed out, knowing they didn't particularly like people just hanging around while they worked. The Hogwarts elves took their work very seriously, and he respected that.

Unsurprisingly, Hermione and Ron were outside the Room of Requirements when he got there. Harry opened the way for them and asked for a larger room than usual.

The room Harry usually used was big enough for everybody to have a seat and enough room to move around, and a dais by the far wall where Harry sat. The new room was roughly half the size of the Great Hall, and had a circle drawn on the floor in the very center. It had benches along the right hand side, and Harry noticed several tables on the left with chairs. Probably for the food, he realized.

Draco arrived with Pansy a few minutes later, and then a small hoard of house elves came in to deliver their food. Harry made sure to thank them profusely, and they just waved him off as house elves did.

Once all ten of them were together, Harry cleared his throat to grab their attention. They were all either sitting at or leaning on the tables and snacking away.

"Okay. I've decided we should start slowly. Today, the goal is just for everyone to just learn how to cast the Shield Charm. It's okay if you can't, but that is the goal." Harry smiled at them encouragingly. "I will demonstrate."

Harry took off his robe and hung it on the back of a chair so he could roll up the sleeves of his shirt. Pulling out his wand, he went to the center of the room and took a deep breath.

"Protego." He ordered calmly. The Shield Charm required patience and stability, so the shield was firm and steady. Harry felt the magic cooperating, and he grinned. His invisible Shield was up. "Okay. Hermione, would you be so kind as to throw a spell at me?" She stood without hesitation and pulled out her wand with a smile.

"Expelliarmus!" Color flashed from the end of her wand and it stopped halfway between Harry and Hermione, making them both grin.

"Excellent. Draco, would you do the same?" Harry asked, making Draco raise an eyebrow. He stood without complaint, however, and aimed his wand at Harry.

"Everte Statum." Orange light flashed but once again it stopped midair and seemingly absorbed into nothing. "Damn, you can't see the Shield at all." Draco said, tilting his head as he lowered his wand.

"That's sort of the point." Harry laughed. "Alright, anyone want to touch it?"

"Didn't you say it knocked people off their feet?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"Only if you try attacking it." He replied with a smirk. "If you poke it the effects are moderately less severe."

"Ah what the hell." Malcolm climbed to his feet, shoving a biscuit in his mouth, and walked forward trepidatiously. "Okay, where is it?" Much to Harry's amusement, that's when he walked headlong into it.