Alexandra Dursley {Golden Trio}

Chapter 36 - The Stunning Spell

Sorry I didn't publish a chapter yesterday. I was really busy because it was my birthday!!! Anyways, enjoy this one :)

 The first day back was uneventful and seemed to fly by. The Slytherin's first lesson with Moody was quite interesting and Al found herself looking forward to the year ahead - it seemed like she'd learn a lot. Ancient Runes was getting harder and harder and Al found herself feeling quite overwhelmed when she flicked through the textbook, "Don't worry," Theo said warmly as they left Arithmancy to go to tea, "You're one of the best in our class. You'll get the hang of it."

 As they approached the entrance to the Great Hall, Draco joined them, clutching a bit of newspaper, "Watch this," he whispered, grinning. "Your Dad's in the paper, Weasel," he called to Ron, Hermione and Harry, who also appeared to have met in the Entrance Hall. "There's a picture too - you're Mum's looking a bit porky, isn't she?" Al chuckled a little bit along with the other Slytherins - she still hadn't forgotten the mud incident.

 "Does your Mum always look like that, Malfoy?" Harry called out while holding Ron back, "Like she's got dung under her nose? Or was is just because you were there?"

 "Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter," Malfoy spat. You started it, thought Al.

 "Shut your trap then," Harry retorted, turning around. BANG! Malfoy shot a stinging hex at Harry, missing him by milimetres. A group of first years ducked to avoid being hit as Al instinctively drew her wand. She didn't need to though, because with another bang, Draco turned into a ferret right in front of her.

 Al, Daphne and Theo gaped at Draco; Al in particular filled with glee. But who had done it? It turned out to be Moody, who was stumping across the entrance towards Harry, with a face like thunder. Al went to pick Draco up, who was shivering on the steps when Moody shouted, "No you don't!" she assumed he was talking to someone else, because he was facing away from her, so continued what she was doing. "What did I just say?" he thundered.

 "Oh - sorry, Professor," she said nervously, still clutching Draco, but getting very hot all of a sudden, "I didn't hear you properly."

 "Liar!" he spat, raising his wand. Al raised hers too and before she knew it they were locked in wand to wand combat. Al ducked, blocked and dived rapidly to avoid being hit, but managed to fire a few stunners in his direction too. Then, with no warning she hit him dead centre in the chest. The room stood silent as Moody tumbled backward down the stairs.

 "Professor Moody!" Al heard McGonagall shout and she hurried down the stairs, her chest heaving from breathlessness. What is that spell? Al thought desperately. "Arresto Momentum!" McGonagall shouted. Ah, yes.

 Nobody spoke as McGonagall revived Moody and Al approached him, her hands sweating. "What was that you hit me with?" Moody growled.

 "Um, a stunner, Professor," she said, thinking she was going to be turned into a ferret too.

 He considered this for a moment, "Pretty powerful for a stunner. What's your name?"

 "Al Dursley."

 "Ah, yes," he said, looking her up and down with both eyes, "I've heard about you." Al wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

 Draco scampering across the floor caught both their attention and Moody levitated him into the air and then bounced him around, slamming him into the floor once or twice, "Never - attack - a man - from - behind!" he warned.

 Professor McGonagall looked shocked, "What are you doing, Alastor?"

 "Teaching," he said simply. Al was horrified.

 "Teach- Professor Moody is that a student?" McGonagall asked, astounded. With a wave of her wand, Draco transformed back to normal and Al rushed over to him, helping him up while McGonagall berated Moody. The four of them headed cautiously into the Great Hall when Moody called out again.

 "You've still got detention with me, Dursley," he said, limping past them, "Thursday night. Seven o'clock sharp."

*****

 Thursday night came, and Al headed up to Moody's office, worried about what she was going to have to do. She'd heard rumours about how terrifying he could be, and she didn't want to be on the receiving end of it. Al reached the door and knocked, then dried her hands on her trousers and hoping the stomach butterflies would fade.

 "Enter." Al opened the door and peered round. There were devices littering every surface and bit of wall, some of them spinning or ticking and some of them just sat where they were. Al spied Moody sat behind his desk and writing. "Sit," he said, his magical eye whizzing up to look at her.

 Al sat down at the small table he'd indicated. "You're going to be writing lines," he said, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he shouted, but Al didn't jump - she'd been expecting something like that. Moody looked impressed, "two hundred times."

 Al sighed and picked her quill, ink and parchment out of her bag. She was relieved it wasn't something else, "Problem, Miss Dursley?" he asked, noticing her discomfort.

 "No, Professor," she said, "Only...I already had constant vigilance. That's why I had my wand out," she explained carefully and politely.

 He looked surprised, "So you do have a problem?" he growled.

 "I-uh..." Al looked at both his eyes, which were fixed on her, "Yes," she finally decided. He seemed like the sort who like decisiveness.

 "Well, then," he said, "two hundred lines of 'I will do what Professor Moody tells me to'," he said. Al was annoyed - he'd doubled the amount of work - but didn't let it show on her face.

 The office was silent aside from the scratching of the two quills and the whirring and ticking of the objects. Al's hand ached as she wrote and wrote, but she'd soon found a rhythm and the time flew by.

 She was at one hundred and ninety three when there was a knock on the door. "Enter," Moody called and Snape slipped into the room, looking grumpier than usual. He looked at Al, who returned to scribbling her lines, "Ah, Severus," Moody said, putting his quill down, "How may I help?" He didn't sound like he wanted to help.

 "Professor Dumbledore has requested Miss Dursley's presence in his office," Snape said, his lips curling into a thin sneer, "Immediately."

 Moody glanced over at Al, who continued to write, pretending she hadn't heard. She didn't want to talk to Dumbledore - she hadn't even done anything yet. "You better be off then, Dursley." Moody said and Al looked up. His head twitched towards the door. Al scowled, putting her things away.

 "Would you like me to finish my lines, Professor?" she asked, hoping he'd say no.

 "That won't be necessary," he said, with what looked like an attempt at a smile. So, for what felt like the millionth time, Al reluctantly went to speak to Dumbledore.