Alexandra Dursley {Golden Trio}

Chapter 37 - The Imperious Curse

Thanks again for all your support! If you are waiting for the next chapter, feel free to check out some of my other works. I have an ongoing story called Blood of the Moon, so if you like a Malfoy redemption arc and a Remus Lupin love story, that's the one for you! :)

 Al set waiting patiently in Dumbledore's office feeling very nervous. It had been bad enough having to go up there, but when she arrived she saw it was so much worse. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were also there, and now regarded her with particular interest, making Al squirm and fidget. She felt like she was going to get ganged up on. It certainly seemed like she was in a lot of trouble.

 Voices approached the door and the knot in Al's stomach tightened. Dumbledore opened it and held it open for Moody, and the two of them took a seat. Al wondered why Moody hadn't just come with her and Snape. Oh, she thought, he wanted to let me stew awhile first.

 The headmaster surveyed the room and then spoke up, "Well, I think that's everyone," he said, his eyes landing on Al, "Al, it's lovely to see you. Did you enjoy your holidays?" he asked lightly, but Al knew he didn't care how her summer was.

 "Yes, thanks, Professor," she replied. Then, just for fun, she added, "You?"

 He chuckled, "Very good, Al, thank you. Now, down to business." The knot tightened further and Al placed her hands on her knees to stop herself fidgeting. "Professors McGonagall and Moody have told me you performed a very powerful stunning charm a few days ago?" Dumbledore stated, making it sound like a question.

 "I don't know about very powerful..." Al muttered, trailing off.

 "I can assure you, that was powerful," Moody said, "I don't think I've encountered anything like it."

 "I must say, I did have some trouble reviving him," McGonagall admitted.

 "Look," Al said pointedly, "I'm sorry I attacked Professor Moody. I know I shouldn't have done it. But let's stop beating about the bush." She looked at three stunned faces and two amused ones. No one spoke, so Al continued, "If you're going to expel me then get on with it!" She was amazed at herself, being so confrontational with so many teachers at once.

 "Cool your temper, Miss Dursley," Snape warned her. Easy for him to say, Mr Boring-Grumpy-pants.

 "Why do you think you're going to be expelled, Al?" Dumbledore said, and Al calmed her mind down to think logically.

 "Because I attacked a teacher," she argued. Dumbledore merely raised his eyebrows. "But you're not going to expel me because... because you'd have already done it if you were. And..." Al wondered whether to say this next part out loud, "And it wouldn't do anyone any good to have so much power untrained."

 Dumbledore chuckled again, and Al remained oblivious to what was funny, "You do surprise me, Al," he said, "But you are right. We need to harness this power so that nothing more serious happens. That is why Professor Flitwick has a proposal for you," he turned to the small charms teacher, "Filius?"

 "Uh, yes, Miss Dursley," he said in his higher-than-normal voice, "I would like you to help me run the duelling club." Al let out a small scoff, "Not like that one from two years ago," he added, reading Al's mind (although she knew he hadn't really), "No, a real duelling club. With a tournament and everything. I think it would do you, and some other students, a world of good. What do you say?"

 Al didn't really know what to say. She was a little bit shocked, "I-I'm only a fourth year," she said, uncertain.

 "And yet you have shown power, knowledge and ability equal to my own," Dumbledore told her. Al could feel all the eyes in the room on her as she squirmed to make a decision. If a war was coming, it would do to train as many people up to defend themselves. And she could do with some practice herself.

 "I...guess it wouldn't hurt," she said, still unable to see where Dumbledore's benefit came from.

 "Excellent," Flitwick said excitedly, rubbing his hands together, "Miss Dursley, if you'll follow me?" he said, and she obliged, following him out the office and along the corridor. "My classroom should be big enough at first," he said, "and in the summer term we could practice outside..." Al nodded along, listening. It was quite exciting, "Of course, if its over-subscribed we could transfer to the Great Hall. Lunch stops serving at two, dinner starts at five...yes that works well. Does Saturday afternoon work for you?" he asked and she nodded, "Good good. Well I'll put a notice up outside the Great Hall, and you can sort it from there, yes?"

 "I-uh," Al stuttered. She wasn't sure she could handle this.

 "I'll supervise, of course," Flitwick assured her.

 "Oh, well, yes then," Al said with a smile, before bidding the Professor good-bye and heading off to her common room to update the others.

*****

 "So Dumbledore just asked you to run it?" Draco asked in disbelief for the fifth time that day.

 "Yeah, pretty much," Al said, fishing her Defence textbook out her bag, "You guys signed up right?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

 "Yeah, of course," Daphne said, "We did say we were on your side."

 "Yeah, just as long as you don't boss us about too much," Theo joked.

 They continued chattering and waiting for Moody when a shout came from the back of the classroom, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Most of the class jumped but a few, including Al, remained still. She was a fast learner and had been expecting it. She laughed silently at the momentary look of shock on Draco's face and he elbowed her.

 "Practical lesson today!" he announced heading forward to the front of the room. Everyone packed their things back in their bags and Moody moved the desks to the side with a flick of his wand. Then, with another flick, the chalk began writing on the board: The Imperious Curse.

 "He's not going to use it on us, is he?" Draco whispered, worried, from beside her. She just shrugged - it was such a Dumbledore thing to do.

 "Malfoy!" Moody shouted without looking around. Clearly he was using his magical eye, "Up here!" Al gave Draco a playful shove forward, hoping to lift his spirits. She wasn't too worried about this - what was the worst that could happen?

 Moody raised his wand to Draco, who eyed it fearfully and Al wished he would just chill out for a sec. Nothing horrific was going to happen, after all. "Imperio," Moody said, and Al watched as Draco visibly relaxed. Then, he dropped to the floor, and began doing an excellent impersonation of a ferret. Al couldn't help but laugh and Moody's eye whizzed to watch her, "Think something's funny, Dursley?" he asked, and Al attempted to stop laughing, the corners of her mouth still twitching. "You next," he said and Al traded places with Draco. She tried to offer an encouraging smile, but he still looked pretty worried.

 Moody raised his wand to her and Al braced herself, ready to fight it. "Imperio," Moody said, once again, but Al didn't feel the relaxed feeling she'd been ready for. The only thing she felt was the light impact on the spell and then...nothing. Here we go, she thought, it's the boggart thing all over again.

 "Professor?" she asked uncertainly, "Can I go?"

 "Imperio," he said again, ignoring her and slightly frustrated. Finally, he gave up, giving her a quizzical look like he was trying to x-ray her. Which he probably was with his magical eye.

 "Legillimency doesn't work either," she informed him, shrugging.

 He considered this for a moment, then, "Macmillan, you next!" Ernie Macmillan performed a piece from Swan Lake and then Moody moved onto the rest of the class. Daphne did an excellent impression of Snape telling off Hannah Abbot, who looked a little alarmed then laughed with everyone else. Theo did parkour around the room and the lesson finished with one of the Hufflepuffs performing opera for the class. Over all, the class left feeling light-hearted as they headed down to dinner.