snape and skull

57

A New Kind of Defense Lesson
T

he entire class stared at the unexpected sight of their potions professor in the Defense classroom. Harry opened his mouth to ask why Severus was there, but Hermione beat him to it.
"

Professor Snape! Where's Professor Lockhart?" the brainy Gryffindor asked, concerned.
"Who cares?" Ron muttered. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.
"Not me," Draco hissed. "I hope he's gone on a permanent holiday."
Harry couldn't have agreed more.
"If you are all finished gaping at me like fishes out of water," Snape began, raising an eyebrow. "I shall tell you that Professor Lockhart is currently indisposed."
"Do you mean he's drunk, sir?" asked Seamus.
"Did I say that, Mr. Finnegan?"
"No, but it's what my aunt means when she says that about my uncle," the Irish boy replied, and some of the class giggled.
Severus rolled his eyes. Merlin grant me patience! "That's as may be, Finnegan, but when I say it, I mean it the way it is intended. Lockhart has come down with a bad sore throat and developed laryngitis. Therefore, I shall be your substitute professor until he is recovered."
"Wicked!" Ron shrilled.
"Thank you Merlin!" Blaise sighed.
"Can you just teach the class from now on, sir?" Harry pleaded.
The only one who did not seem overjoyed was Hermione. "Poor Professor Lockhart! Maybe I ought to send him a card and flowers."
Draco snorted. "Better off sending him a mirror—then he could amuse himself staring into it and imagining how great his smile is."
Pansy glared at him. "Really, Malfoy! You jealous?"
Draco mimed gagging. "Merlin's pants, Parkinson! Jealous of that idiot? All he knows how to do is smile and charm women! Puh-lease! I bet I could cast more hexes then him when I was five!"
"Quiet!" Snape ordered. All talking ceased. "Take your seats."
The class all went and sat down, with Harry sitting next to Daphne on one side and Ron on the other.
Once the class was seated, Snape came around the desk to stand in the front of the room, underneath the dragon skeleton suspended from the ceiling. "Now . . . I realize that you have probably not learned much of basic Defense, given that last year you had an incompetent instructor with Quirrel, and this year you have a teacher who writes fantasies and believes that makes him an expert on fighting dark creatures." Severus sneered. "However, I shall endeavor to at least teach you a few spells that may serve for you to defend against an opponent who seeks to harm you."
Over half the class sat up and looked excited.
"Sir, what page shall we turn to?" Hermione asked, holding up her copy of Voyages With Vampires.
"Put that away, Granger," ordered Snape. "You will not be needing that . . . autobiography masquerading as a teaching text."
With relief, everyone save Pansy, Hermione, and Padma Patil put their text away.
"I want you to listen closely," Severus said, lowering his voice to a silken whisper. "The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many headed hydra. Each time a head is severed, the neck sprouts another even fiercer, cleverer, and stronger than before. You are fighting that which is not fixed, mutable . . . but not indestructible. In order to combat the Dark, you must be adaptable, learn how to blend like a chameleon, react swift as a serpent striking, use your imagination to outthink your enemy, and be prepared for anything. Sometimes winning does not always come down to sheer power, or who knows the most curses, but the one who knows his or her limitations and the spells you have learned inside out. And if you can, learn your enemy's weaknesses, and then use them against him. Do that and you shall survive to fight another day."
His students were scribbling frantically in their notebooks, anxious to recall every bit of his speech. Severus watched them, then when it appeared they were finished, he announced, "This class I shall show you two standard charms, one to defend and one to disarm an opponent. Keep in mind that you should always defend before you try and attack—especially at this stage of your training."
"Why is that, sir?" asked Blaise.
"Because, Mr. Zabini, if you don't learn how to block first, you will end up getting killed by an enemy who can attack you quicker and harder than you can. Many dark creatures are twice as fast, strong, and have abilities you do not. Your one advantage is your brain—learn how to use it. Or else you will surely perish."
"And a lot of dark wizards know how to ambush you," spoke up Daphne.
"Correct, Miss Greengrass," Severus nodded. "That's a favorite tactic of many a dark witch or wizard, as well as dark creatures like dvarro, orcs, banshees, and so forth. So it pays to be always alert."
He snapped his wrist in a motion nearly too fast to follow and his ebony wand dropped into his hand. "I would recommend getting a wand holster, if you do not own one already. It gives you an advantage in getting your wand swiftly." He silently summoned a practice dummy from the Training Grounds.
The gunmetal gray dummy came, rolling forward on its one wheel, its torso and head swinging.
"Professor, what's a dvarro?" asked Hermione, raising her hand.
"They are also known as dark dwarves, Miss Granger. Dvarro is what the goblins call them, and they hate them with a passion that is centuries old. But more about that later. You can research them after class, I'm sure the library has a few books about the ancient wars between the goblins and the dvarro." Snape shook his head. Stay on topic, Snape, he scolded himself mentally. "Now, I am going to demonstrate a Shield Charm."
He gestured and the dummy animated, using a practice wand to shoot a Stunning Hex at him.
Severus dodged the red bolt, moving like a shadow fleeing the sunlight.
The students, all except Harry, who had seen Snape in combat mode once before, gasped in awe.
"Always be prepared to react," Snape lectured. "And don't be afraid to move—that's why you were born with legs."
He stepped smoothly to the side and as the dummy cast another Stunning Hex on him, lifted his wand in a sharp up and down motion and said, "Protego!"
A glittering semi-transparent blue shield encased the sorcerer.
The hex struck the shield and bounced off.
Severus gestured and the dummy froze into immobility. He cancelled the Shield Charm. "You can do multiple things with a Shield Charm, protecting not just yourself, but a crowd or a building as well. However, keep in mind that your shield is only as strong as your magical power, and the larger an area you try and protect, the thinner your shield will be—unless you know how to layer it. But that is something you will learn later, as a third and fourth year. For now, I want you all to practice the Shield Charm. Wands out and on your feet."
He gestured and the desks were moved to the side of the room.
"Practice saying the incantation with me. The stress is on the second syllable. Pro-TEE-go!"
He made them all say the incantation ten times, listening carefully to each student and correcting pronunciation if needed. Once he was satisfied they could all pronounce it correctly, he moved on to the wand movement.
That took about ten minutes. Then he pointed to Harry and Draco. "Malfoy, front and center!" he ordered.
Draco came to stand in the front of the room.
"Potter-Snape, across from Malfoy."
Harry also came to stand opposite the Slytherin.
"Now, I know both of you know how to cast this already. That being so, I'd like you to demonstrate it to your classmates. Malfoy, you defend." He turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter-Snape, Stinging Hex only. Begin!"
Harry whipped out his wand from his sleeve, having learned that trick from Severus. Then he cast the simple Stinging Hex. A red spark leaped from his wand.
But it was repelled by Malfoy's Shield Charm, which formed a half-circle about him.
"Stop!" Snape called. "Good form, both of you. Now, trade positions. Malfoy, you attack, Potter-Snape, defend."
Harry waited for Snape's command to begin. When it came, he sidestepped Malfoy's hex then brought up his wand and chanted the Shield Charm.
Draco cast again, and the hex bounced off the blue shield easily.
"Nice one, Harry!" Hermione and Daphne cheered.
"Very good," Severus praised. "Five points to Slytherin and Gryffindor. I hope the rest of you were paying attention. Because I now want you to pair up—with a student from a different House and practice the Shield Charm. Those who are attacking—you are only allowed to use mild jinxes and hexes—like the Stinging Hex, Boil Jinx, Sneezing Jinx, and Tickle Hex. Any attempt to curse your classmate will result in immediate detention. Let us begin."
Harry returned to his seat, and then paired up with Daphne. Draco ended up with Ron, and Hermione with Blaise. Neville was paired with Tracey Davis. Once everyone had a partner, Snape had them choose a spot in the room and mock duel each other.
The professor walked about the room, watching each pair closely, and offering criticism and corrections. "Don't mumble, Longbottom. Speak the incantation clearly and with intent."
He moved over to where Goyle was paired with Dean. "Goyle, you're standing wrong. Straighten your arm, and concentrate! Your arm is like a wet noodle, boy!"
Harry hid a smirk, before he cast a Tickling Hex at Daphne. "Rictusempra!"
She blocked it with her Shield Charm. "Good one, Harry!"
"You were too," he coughed, embarrassed.
They switched places, and Harry cast the Shield Charm again, while Daphne cast a Stinging Hex.
Severus came by to observe, watching the pair like a hawk.
"Well done," he said at last. "Though, Mr. Potter-Snape, you need to focus more on maintaining the shield, making it stronger and more immutable." He turned to Daphne. "Don't hesitate, Greengrass. If you do, you might not live to see tomorrow."
He had them repeat the exercise.
Once he had seen that they could do so satisfactorily, Snape moved on to watch other students.
Daphne waited till the professor's back was turned before whispering, "Hey, Harry can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Uh . . . how come you have a hyphenated last name? Usually only women do that, if they have careers and stuff and want to keep their maiden name."
"It's because of my dad James Potter's will. Since I'm the only Heir to his title and Name, I have to keep his name for inheritance purposes. Once I inherit, then I can decide for myself if I want to become Harry Snape. It's got to do with some pureblood inheritance laws. But when I'm of age I can use whatever name I wish."
"That's good. I know about the old pureblood laws." She made a disgusted face. "Some of them are ridiculous, not to mention medieval. Like the ones that used to say that a woman couldn't marry whom she wished and the only spells she could use were household related ones, because it was a male relative's duty to protect and defend her. There was even one a long time ago when Hogwarts was first founded that stated a girl could only attend here if her father or brother or guardian gave his permission." She rolled her eyes. "So stupid! Like I would ever let a man control me like that. Thank Merlin I wasn't born back then."
"Me either," Harry agreed. "I read a book on these old Heirship laws. They were awful. It almost made me sick reading about how the person holding the title could treat his relatives—it was like they were slaves, and the Heir was a master, he had the power of life and death over the family and could punish them with curses and whippings and . . . it was disgusting! I'm happy those laws got amended because people could seriously abuse their power and probably did." He shivered.
Daphne nodded solemnly. "They did. It was one reason why the Ministry altered all of that once a woman became Minister. But I know that some of the pureblood families still follow some of the old traditions even now."
"They do?"
"Yes. Like the arranged marriages and the whole discipline of children with whips and switches . . . it's barbaric, but I know kids in my House whose parents still believe in all of that."
"Do yours?" Harry queried gently.
"No way. My parents aren't like that, for all we're purebloods." Daphne sighed. "I feel sorry for the ones who are stuck with parents like that. It's why Professor Snape keeps that paddle in his desk drawer. Because those parents insist on it. They believe that's the only way to discipline a kid, with pain. Dunderheads!"
"My dad doesn't," Harry said quietly.
"You think we don't know that?" Daphne muttered. "All of us snakes know Professor Snape hates using that torture device on kids. It's why he hardly ever does so, and when he has to he's never cruel about it. It's three over clothes and he gives you a handkerchief and hugs afterwards."
"I know. After the flying car . . ." Harry blushed.
Daphne stared. "Did he . . .?"
"Not with that. It was just a few swats. Cause I was dumb and risked my neck again. That's the only time he's ever . . ."
"My dad is the same," Daphne told him. Then she changed the subject. "Do you think we'll learn a Disarming Charm next?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, probably." Then he focused back on Snape who had returned to the front of the room.
"Pay attention," Severus ordered. "I will now demonstrate the Disarming Charm. This spell is often used as a standard in dueling academies and also by private tutors. So beware of overusing it, because it's well known and it can be blocked. However, it's a good basic spell to know. Eyes on me."
He activated the dummy and then drew his wand. "Expelliarmus!"
The dummy's wand was blasted out of its grip and landed a few feet away on the floor.
"That's what a properly aimed Disarming Charm can do," Severus lectured. "Now, let us practice the incantation first. Speak slowly and clearly, there's no need to rush or to mumble."
Once he was satisfied they had mastered the incantation, he placed them into pairs again with opposite Houses and had them practice dueling with it.
Daphne used it first against Harry, knocking Harry's holly wand into the wall.
"Nice, Daphne!" Harry praised.
"Thanks. Your turn, Harry."
Harry cast and made Daphne's wand fly into the air above her head for a moment before it dropped to the ground.
Severus came to observe and said, "Good effort, both of you."
Then he swept up to the front of the room again, and announced he was going to teach them the countercharm, the Reflective Charm.
"This charm is also useful to reflect any number of curses back upon your enemy. It can reflect all curses save one. Who can tell me what that is?" He pointed to Ron. "Weasley?"
"The Killing Curse, sir?"
"Correct." Snape nodded. "Watch and learn."
He demonstrated the charm. The practice dummy shot a Stunning Hex at him, and he pointed his wand and waved it in a half circle and called, "Reflectivo!"
The hex was bounced back to the dummy and ended up Stunning it.
"Now, let us begin."
Once they had all practiced this charm, it was nearly time for class to end. "Homework—write for me an essay about five ways to use the charms you learned today in certain situations. Also practice each charm five times. The only way you will improve is to practice. That is all for today. Dismissed."
"Professor Snape, can you teach Defense again?" asked Tracy Davis.
"I shall teach it as long as Lockhart is unable to."
"Somebody pray to Merlin and God that Lockhart is permanently unable to teach again this term." Malfoy hissed. "Because if I have to hear another lecture on the best way to smile at a vampire or read a poem about Lockhart's wardrobe while facing a werewolf, I'm going to check myself into the crazy ward at St. Mungos."
"Same here," said Crabbe and Goyle.
"Me too." Harry agreed, along with Daphne.
Harry walked beside the brunette witch on his way to History of Magic, and asked, "Would you like to come to the study group in Professor Snape's quarters? It's just me, my cousin Dante, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Neville."
"Professor Snape lets you study there?"
"Yeah, as long as we're not too loud and we do all our homework," Harry said. "We started last year, because the library was being renovated and we needed somewhere quiet to study and our common rooms were too noisy. And it has an added benefit—my dad will help us if we have questions or trouble with an assignment."
Daphne smiled. "That sounds neat. I'd like to join you."
"Then meet us at my dad's rooms at seven thirty tonight." Harry told her.
"All right, see you later," she waved as she departed moving towards Transfiguration.
Harry entered History of Magic with a quiet smile on his face. He just hoped the rest of the afternoon went by quickly.
Hogsmeade Station:
Dante waited impatiently beside the pumpkin patch, tapping his foot. Then he realized that he was acting like Sulla and stopped. He wondered where Harry was, for it was ten minutes after dinner, which Dante had eaten with the Gryffindors again. Harry said he needed to grab his bag from Gryffindor Tower and dashed off right after he was done.
The thirteen-year-old smoothed the creases in his black robe down, his early training by Sparrow not allowing him to go around looking rumpled, like a vagabond. He wore the Hogwarts crest on his robe, since he had not yet been Sorted, that had been Severus' suggestion, so Dante felt more like a part of the Hogwarts student body and less like a guest. I wonder where the Hat would think I belong? Or better yet, where I think I ought to belong? I'm not quite sure yet, but while I like the Gryffindors, they are kind of brash and tend to be transparent as glass sometimes. And I have courage, but it's not the trait that I believe stands out for me. I don't think I'd make a good lion.
Just then Harry appeared, cutting short Dante's musings. "Sorry I'm late," he panted, coming to a stop. "I had to tell Ron I was going to help Dad cut up potions ingredients and needed to come and get you."
"It's okay. Before we leave, let me cast a DisIllusionment Charm on us. It'll make us blend in with things so we won't be noticed." Dante waved a hand over both of them and concentrated.
Soon he felt the charm settle about them and he vanished from view.
Harry peered down at himself. "Wicked! You've got to teach me this one!"
"I will, when you've enough power for it," Dante said. "Right now, let's get down to the station."
"Okay. Follow me."
Harry led the way down the path until they emerged onto the siding platform of Hogsmeade station. He paused, counting the cars until he reached the third one from the engine. "It was over there," he told Dante, pointing to a brick building right across from the train windows.
"Okay. Let's see if there was anything there," the older wizard said.
They ran quickly across the tracks, counting it lucky that it was evening and so less people were about the station. Most were eating supper or inside the Three Broomsticks or The Hog's Head.
Harry halted right in front of the building.
Dante's sneakers just brushed the dirt before he halted, kneeling and examining the ground for any tracks. "Huh. You weren't seeing things, Harry. Look, there's tracks of some kind of print." He pointed to claw marks in the dirt beside the building.
"Do you know what made them?"
Dante frowned, thinking. "They resemble talons on a lizard or a large dog, but not a cat because a cat can retract their claws. Also, a lizard or small dragon has the middle claw longer than the other two on their feet." He pointed at the print in the dust.
Harry examined it and saw that Dante was correct. Then he noticed other marks further down. "What are these?"
"They look like marks made from a tail swishing back and forth," Dante replied. "Whatever this is was standing there long enough to make its tail start twitching. Kind of like a cat when they see prey."
Harry's attention was caught by a sudden breeze rustling the shrubbery and looked up and saw something glittery. "Hold on, let me see what that is."
He went and saw a shiny greenish-gold feather stuck in the shrubbery. He picked it up gently, then saw a tuft of black fur also. "Dante! Look what I found here!"
He showed his cousin the feather and the fur. "Could this have come from the same creature?"
Dante nodded slowly. "Yes, if it was a hybrid. But I'd need my creature compendium to compare it to the pictures. Even then, the only real way to be sure would be to brew a Creature Identifying potion and use those parts in it."
"I've never heard of that potion." Harry frowned.
"It's one that Eagle Crest taught me," Dante replied. "But in order to brew it, I need access to Severus' lab."
"Umm . . . he's going to ask why."
"So I tell him I want to show you how to brew it."
"Are you sure we have to use his potions lab?" Harry bit his lip.
Dante spread his hands. "Look, kid, even if we found somewhere else to brew it, I still need access to the ingredients. Which are only in the potions classroom or his private lab. The easiest way to get them is to tell him I want to brew this potion to tutor you. I sure as hell am not going to attempt to steal ingredients from him—I'm not stupid or suicidal and he probably has Anti-Theft wards all over those cabinets."
"Okay. Maybe you'll recognize whatever this is from your books and we won't even need the potion." Harry said hopefully.
"Maybe," Dante replied.
Harry went and checked his watch. "Uh, we'd better hurry and get back. It's quarter to seven. Dad will be wondering where we are soon."
"Okay. Let's head back. I can cast a Swift Foot Charm on us if you'd like?" Dante offered.
"What's that?"
"Something else I learned from Eagle Crest," answered the older boy. He waved a hand and suddenly Harry felt filled with a boundless energy. "It will give you the ability to run like a jackrabbit, but only for ten minutes."
"Holy Merlin!" Harry gasped. He could feel the energy coiling within him and waiting to be released, like a spring wound up.
"C'mon, kid! Let's race!"
With that Dante took off, running like lighting back over the tracks and onto the path leading to the castle.
Harry whooped and sprinted after him. The two tore up the path like dervishes, luckily there was no one on it, for they would have been run over.
Within three minutes they had reached the boulders beside Hagrid's cottage and halted, panting.
"You okay, Harry?"
"Fine! Just a bit . . . out of breath," the other laughed. "That was so brilliant!"
"I know. I love that spell," Dante said, giving his cousin a genuine grin in return. "Eagle Crest and I used to use it all the time for fun and race each other across the prairie." Then his face darkened. "But I haven't used that spell since . . . my dad came and brought me back to live in New York with him."
"How come?"
"In the city there isn't room to run fast and . . . Dad didn't like me using anything Eagle Crest taught me. He thought Eagle's magic was inferior to his sort of magic and he forbid me to practice it."
"Why?"
"Because my dad was a first-class asshole!" Dante spat.
"Sounds like you and your dad didn't get on very well," Harry said softly, wondering if Dante was ready to speak with him now about his father.
Dante snorted, his lips twisting bitterly. "Kid, no one ever 'got on' with Sulla Prince. Dad only had one way of doing things—his way. And if you didn't—you paid for it. Trust me."
"He sounds like he was really strict," Harry remarked.
Dante shook his head. "No, kid. Strict is Severus. My father was unreasonable. He was big on rules—his own rules, and to hell with anyone else's. He was an arrogant, rich, powerful sonuvabitch— who made money like water but otherwise didn't give a damn about anything except himself. And that's the only good thing I can say about him." The boy's jaw was clenched. "I really don't want to talk about him anymore, okay?"
Harry nodded. "Sorry. It's just . . . I know sort of how you feel cause of the way the Dursleys treated me. Maybe you should tell Dad. He could help you . . . he helped me last year."
"I already told him a few days ago," Dante sighed. "And if I need to . . . I'll talk to him. Right now, though, let's get back to my room. Before Severus sends out a search party."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Sometimes Dad can be . . . an overprotective pain in the bum."
"I hear you," Dante smirked. Then he added, "But he's like that because he cares about you, kid. Don't take it for granted." He clapped Harry on the back playfully.
"I don't," his cousin returned. "I know better."
They made their way down to the dungeons, arriving at Severus' quarters a few moments later.
Harry spoke the password and they slipped inside, but Snape was absent.
Dante spotted a note on the coffee table. Dante and Harry, Have gone to help a student with an assignment, will be back later in time for your study group. Go ahead and have a snack, there are oatmeal almond raisin biscuits on the table and Prissy will get you milk or tea.
Regards,
S. Snape
"So that's where he's gone," Harry said with a sigh.
"Good for us," Dante smirked. "Hey, Prissy!"
The house elf appeared with a soft pop. "What you be needing Master Dante?"
"Would you please get me and Harry some chocolate milk?"
"Certainly, Master." She bowed and blinked away.
An instant later she returned with a tray with two large glasses of chocolate milk and set it down on the table.
"Thanks, Prissy," Dante murmured.
"Master Dante it's not necessary to thank Prissy. Prissy just does her duty for young masters. Master Professor Snape told Prissy to listen for young masters while he is being out." The elf said, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"Well, where I come from, we thank people for serving them," Dante said. "So you're gonna have to get used to it, okay?"
"As Master wishes," Prissy said, and smiled at him. "Master Dante and Master Harry and Master Professor Snape is the kindest wizards Prissy has ever known! It is an honor to serve, sir!"
"Okay." Dante held out a biscuit to her. "Here."
"For Prissy?"
"Yup. Go on, take it."
She took the oatmeal biscuit and looked at both boys as if they were heroes. "Prissy loves these! Thanks a thousand times, Master Dante."
Then she blinked away, leaving the boys to eat their snack while waiting for Severus to return and their friends to arrive.
Dante looked at Harry. "House elves sure are weird, kid. She thinks I hung the moon cause I gave her a cookie."
"That's 'cause of how Marlene treated her," Harry explained the way crazy Marlene McKinnon had ordered about Prissy, insisting she be invisible and only there to fetch or carry or clean.
"Sounds like she was a slave," Dante growled. "Man, that bitch is lucky she's dead. Or else I might be tempted to borrow Mr. Weasley's car again and run her ass over." Harry giggled. "And I'm also lucky Severus didn't hear me say that—or else he'd wash out my mouth."
"Got that right." Harry popped another biscuit in his mouth, leaning back on the couch. "Hey how did you like Dad's potions class?"
"It was cool. Only he had me brewing alone today so he could see where I needed improvement," Dante said. "Not like that was too much of a shock, because I've never studied with a real Master, my dad taught me whatever he learned in potions and said that was enough. But I know it wasn't. So now I have to study twice as much to catch up to where Severus says I ought to be. Still, it was cool to watch him as he went around inspecting everyone's potion. I swear, he has eyes in the back and sides of his head like Argus the Hundred Eyed Titan. He doesn't even need to look at a kid and he just knows they're misbehaving. It's damn scary!"
"Tell me about it." Harry chuckled. "It's why no one plays pranks in his class more than once."
"Not unless they want to be in detention for life," Dante laughed. Then he also ate another biscuit and drank his milk, wondering who would come back first—Severus or the students from the study group.