A Hogwarts Legend: Chaos Begins [4] (SLOW UPDATES)

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty - "I guess it's because you're ginger."

"That was a lie, Harry," says Hermione sharply over breakfast, when Harry tells us about the letter he wrote to Sirius. "You didn't imagine your scar hurting and you know it."

"So what?" says Harry. "He's not going back to Azkaban because of me."

"Drop it," says Ron sharply to Hermione, as she opens her mouth to argue some more, and for once, Hermione heeds him, and falls silent.

I do my best not to worry about Sirius over the next couple of weeks. True, I can't stop myself looking anxiously around every morning when the post owls arrive, nor, before I go to sleep, prevent myself seeing horrible visions of Sirius, cornered by Dementors down some dark London street, but between times I try to keep my mind off Sirius. I wish I still had Quidditch to distract me; nothing works so well on a troubled mind as a good, hard training session. On the other hand, our lessons are becoming more difficult and demanding than ever before, particularly Defence Against the Dark Arts.

To our surprise, Professor Moody has announced that he'll be putting the Imperius curse on each of us in turn, to demonstrate its power and to see whether we can resist its effects.

"But - but you said it's illegal, Professor," says Hermione uncertainly, as Moody clears away the desks with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large clear space in the middle of the room. "You said - to use it against another human was -"

"Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," says Moody, his magical eye swivelling onto Hermione and fixing her with an eerie, unblinking stare. "If you'd rather learn the hard way - when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely - fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."

He points one gnarled finger towards the door. Hermione goes very pink, and mutters something about not meaning that she wants to leave. Harry, Ron and I grin at each other. We know Hermione would rather eat Bubotuber pus than miss such an important lesson.

Moody begins to beckon students forwards in turn and put the Imperius curse upon us. I watch as, one by one, my classmates do the most extraordinary things under its influence. Dean Thomas hops three times around the room, singing the national anthem. Lavender Brown Imitates a squirrel. Neville performs a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he'd certainly not be capable of in his normal state. Not one of them seems to be able to fight the curse off, and each of them recover only when Moody has removed it.

"Potter," Moody growls, "you next."

"Me or him," I point at Harry.

"Female Potter," Moody says.

"That'll be you," I pat Harry on the back, and he glares at me, pushing me forwards.

I move into the middle of the classroom, into the space that Moody has cleared of desks. Moody raises his wand, points it at me, and says "Imperio."

It's the most wonderful feeling. I feel a floating sensation as every thought and worry in my head is wiped gently away, leaving nothing but a vague, untraceable happiness. I stand there feeling immensely relaxed, only dimly aware of everyone watching me.

Is this what it feels like to be high? Maybe I should get high more often. Or get the Imperius curse put on me, either would work.