Foreshadowing the Past

Chapter 26

"Illegitimis non carborundum." - Gen. Joseph Stilwell
(Lat., "Don't let the bastards grind you down.")

"That one there!" the whispers started from the minute Connor entered the Great Hall for breakfast. "He saved Cicely Green when she fell off the Astronomy Tower last night!" "My brother saw the whole thing - he's a prefect. " "They're saying he knew it was going to happen before she even fell!"

"Just ignore them Con," Ivy said bracingly as they went directly to the Gryffindor table, not heeding anyone's calls when they were spotted. They chose seats that allowed them to sit with their backs facing the rest of the house tables, and all of the Gryffindor Weasleys chose seats around Connor and his friends, making it difficult for anyone unwelcome to join them and start asking unwanted questions. The cousins already knew, without being told by Connor, what had happened the night before, and he strongly suspected that Ivy had filled them in to save him the trouble. There were sympathetic and supportive smiles from all of them, and everyone urged him to eat his breakfast and act like nothing was different from any other day.

"History of Magic first today," Quentin told him encouragingly. "At least you'll be able to catch up on your sleep."

Connor smiled a bit for his friends' sake, but didn't really find anything funny about his life at the moment. Professor McGonagall had come back to her office the previous evening to give him the unfortunate news that word had spread like wildfire among those who were present at the 'incident', and it was already too late to contain it, as many of the students had been sent back to their houses before the Headmistress had had time to talk to any of them. The only bright spot Connor could see at the moment (besides the fact that he had saved Cicely Green's life) was that Professor Lupin and agreed to do his best to keep Connor's parents from showing up at the school again to fuss over him. There wasn't anything they could do about it at this point, unless they brought a ream of Obliviators with them, and Connor knew he'd just have to ride it out and see where he landed when the general furor died down.

"Is it really true he can predict the future? Like a seer?" One student asked loudly of another as they walked behind Connor, clearly hoping to get some sort of reaction or confirmation from him or his friends.

Everyone around him froze and looked at him to see how he wanted to handle the situation, since it was bound to happen more than once, but Connor simply asked Rachel to pass the platter of sausages and pretended to eat his breakfast as if he hadn't a care in the world. He did notice however, that Zack had been suspiciously quiet since they had sat down, and now that he looked in his friend's direction across the table, he noted that Zack was staring at some point behind him with a furious expression on his face. Connor followed Zack's gaze and found what was causing his anger immediately; Vanessa Malfoy was sitting at the Slytherin table just staring at Connor with a malevolent grin on her face. Connor made no indication that she worried him in any way, and turned back to his breakfast without comment.

"Connor," Zack said with anger evident in his voice, almost a plea for him to take action.

"Let it go, Zack," Connor sighed. "Things are going to go from bad to worse for a while, and the last thing we need to do is add fuel to the fire. Just act like it doesn't bother you; that's what I'm going to try to do."

The others around him nodded approvingly, and Zack reluctantly followed suit.

History of Magic was as dull as ever, though there was much more note passing than usual among his classmates. Ivy, Zack and Quentin glared threateningly at anyone who looked as though they were going to address Connor in anyway, which would have made him laugh in any other situation. When a note from one of the other second year girls got past Ivy's fingers as she tried to swipe it before it could reach Connor, he simply shoved it roughly into his school bag and didn't make eye contact with the sender. At the end of class, Connor got up almost before the bell had rung, left the room with his friends close behind, heading for double Defense Against the Dark Arts.

They made their way along the corridors and down the staircases to the first floor, saying nothing, since Connor didn't seem inclined to talk at the moment. When a large flock of students traveling in the opposite direction forced them to walk single file for a moment, Connor felt a hand shove into his stomach, and raising his hands automatically, felt a piece of folded parchment fall in to them.

Not bothering to break stride, Connor was relieved to find the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom open, and Professor Lupin standing at the blackboard dictating notes to a piece of enchanted chalk. He would finally have a few minutes peace while the rest of his classmates were enjoying the break between classes. The foursome walked in and took places at the front, and Connor unfolded the parchment and read, "Now everyone knows."

"Connor?"

Connor didn't know how long he had been staring bleakly at those words before he registered that Professor Lupin was speaking to him.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't hear you."

"I asked you how you were holding up."

"I'm fine," Connor answered, ignoring the worried and pitying looks he was receiving from his friends.

"What is it you have there?" the Professor asked, pointing to the paper in his slightly shaking hand.

"Nothing," Connor said with a sigh. "Just a note from someone in the hall."

Connor did nothing when the Professor reached down and gently pulled the note from his fingers, and only closed his eyes for a moment in resignation with he saw Lupin's eyes harden. "Did Vanessa Malfoy give this to you?"

"I don't know," he admitted glancing over at Quentin, who looked angry. "I didn't see her. That was just shoved at me in the hallway when a big group of kids went by. Don't worry; I can handle it. We knew that this would happen when people found out."

"Connor," Lupin began, clearly about to go into lecture mode. He was interrupted by a group of students entering the class room, though, and Connor was thankful that he didn't have to hear a speech in front of his friends about keeping his chin up and telling an adult when things got rough. He pulled out his textbook and began to prepare to take notes, when several students passed by his desk, and two more folded bits of parchment fell in front of him. Professor Lupin called the class to order, casually picking up the newest notes in front of Connor and incinerating them in mid air as he told them that the day's lesson would be a practical one. The students stared wide-eyed at the professor, who made no move to mask his actions as the notes disappeared in a little puff of ash as he asked them all to copy the short notes he had made on the blackboard. Connor grinned. Sometimes his uncle could be very cool.

"Disarming charms?" Connor heard Zack say with interest as he copied the notes down. "This should be fun!"

He knew from first hand experience what this charm worked like. His parents often used it on each other when they were feeling particularly silly at home. If cast correctly, the wand of the opponent would be torn from their grasp, and fly into the air, usually toward the caster. Professor Lupin asked them all to practice the incantation without wands first, and then asked for a pair of volunteers. Stephanie Miller and Jacob Barnum were chosen from the sea of suddenly raised hands, and stood facing each other in the front of the classroom, from a distance of about three meters.

"Now," Professor Lupin said. "This isn't really a formal duel, so we needn't bother with the formalities of bowing and such; there will be plenty of time for that later. When I count to three, each of you will point your wands at the other and use the disarming charm. If done correctly, the spell will cause one or both wands to fly into the air, away from its owner. Are you ready? One, two, three!"

Stephanie and Jacob both cried, "Expelliarmus!" at the same time. Stephanie's charm hit Jacob, and his wand flew from his hand, but Jacob flinched at the sight of a spell flying at him, and his own spell flew wide and caused Quentin's to be jerked from his grasp. Stephanie was well pleased that the spell had worked for her, and Jacob was looking sheepish.

"Very good, Miss Miller!" Lupin praised. "Five points to Gryffindor. As you can see, class, aim is important. The purpose of this spell is not to harm your opponent, but to keep your opponent from getting the opportunity to hurt you."

"But can it hurt your opponent?" one of the boys in the class asked curiously. Connor recognized him as one of the less apt students in their year.

"Hmmm," Professor Lupin nodded. "It does take quite a bit of power behind it, and usually a good amount of emotion as well. As with any spell, it's important to retain your focus. I don't believe any of you will be able to hurt each other today. I would like you all to divide up into pairs and practice this spell while I walk around and observe and correct."

Quentin stepped up beside Connor immediately when he noticed one of the girls in the class approaching, obviously intent of cornering Connor for her own partner, no doubt to get a chance to talk to him about all of the rumors flying around. She shot a resentful look at Quentin, who only smiled blandly back at her, and she retreated back to her group of friends.

Professor Lupin used his wand to push all of their desks out of the way to make room, and the air was soon thick with flying wands and shouts of, "Expelliarmus!"

Quentin and Connor faced each other, grinning. They were looking forward to trying this on each other, and so Quentin said softly, "One, two, three!"

They both cast their spells simultaneously, and both of them lost their wands at the same time. Laughing, they retrieved them and tried again. After a fifteen minute interval, the Professor called them all to order again, and said, "Very good, all of you! I can see that some of you have figured out that it is possible to retain your wand if you maintain a very firm grip on it. Usually this can happen for one of two reasons; one, the strength of the spell is not very great, or two, the will of the person being disarmed is exceptionally strong. It can make a difference."

The class was interested in getting back to work on the spell, anxious to see if they could hold onto their wands when hit. Professor Lupin, however, wanted to take the lesson a step further.

"I want all of you to practice this spell again, but this time I also want you to try to dodge the spell that is coming your way at the same time you are casting your own. Even though our classroom is large, our space is limited in here while we're all working on this; spread out as much as you possibly can, and try to avoid hitting anyone from other pairs."

There were a dozen pairs spread out around the room, and Connor and Quentin chose a spot right in the center, not really caring if they hit anyone else or not. The professor had already said that it wouldn't hurt anyone, so they paid little attention to others as they set about practicing. Quentin counted to three again, and fired his spell off, and Connor did the same, but at the same time stepped lightly to his left to avoid the oncoming spell. Connor suddenly had a strange feeling come over him as he sidestepped Quentin's spell, and instinctively dropped to his knees on the floor as two other disarming spells flew over his head. Quentin's wand flew from his fingertips and landed half way across the room, but he didn't seem to notice. He had frozen in place, staring at Connor, marveling at what his friend had just done. Connor rose to his feet and immediately ducked his head to the right to avoid another spell that was coming at him from behind. The room stilled as others had just seen what had just happened.

"Well Connor!" Lupin said his eyes slightly widened in surprise. "What reflexes! Though with your father being who he is, it really comes as no surprise."

Someone in the room snorted and muttered disbelievingly, "Reflexes. Right."

Professor Lupin turned and picked out the student who had spoke effortlessly, since almost everyone in the room was looking his way; many of them frowning, but a couple were smirking. Ivy looked murderous, and Zack was clenching his fists. "Mr. Smythe, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" he asked coolly.

"Well it's obvious, isn't it? He saved that Ravenclaw girl last night because he knew it was going to happen ahead of time, and now he's ducking spells shot from behind him? Come on! It's not really hard to figure out!" Geoffrey Smythe looked smug as some of the others nodded in agreement with him.

"I sincerely doubt that you have it figured out, Mr. Smythe," Professor Lupin said cuttingly. "In fact, having known Connor since he was born, I can say with good authority that you know very little about it at all." The Professor was looking as stern as most of them had ever seen him, and shifted uneasily where they stood. "I would caution every single person in this class to remember that rumors rarely contain the whole truth of any matter," he pinned his gaze at the boy who had spoken out. "Including the one you were referring to Geoffrey."

"Well then how can you explain what he just did?" Geoffrey asked stubbornly.

"Perhaps you might volunteer to help me with a demonstration," Lupin said lightly to the boy. "And then, when it's over, maybe you'll understand."

Geoffrey had plainly not been expecting the professor to be able to answer his question easily, and walked somewhat nervously to the front of the room. Professor Lupin conjured a blindfold and tied it around the boy's eyes and asked him if he could see at all. When he told everyone that he was effectively blind, Lupin took a few steps away and faced the blindfolded subject.

"Geoffrey," he said straightforwardly. "I am going to cast the disarming charm toward you, though it will pass close to your head instead of hitting you. I want you to pay very close attention as I do this, to see if you can discern anything with your other senses as the spell passes you by."

The class looked intrigued by this demonstration, and gathered around to watch, Connor included. He was particularly interested in the results of this little experiment, as he had not felt as though his precognition had really had anything to do with his avoidance of the spells he had just dodged. He didn't really know how he had reacted so quickly or accurately, but he felt sure that he hadn't been forewarned by his abilities and was as curious as anyone to find the answer.

"Expelliarmus!" The professor did not shout the spell, but it moved easily from his wand, and passed only inches from Geoffrey's face, causing him to flinch. Everyone was surprised at this, and began whispering amongst themselves when Professor Lupin cast the spell again. And again. Each time the spell passed near the boy's head, he flinched or ducked in accordance with where the spell was passing.

"Wow!" Connor heard a girl saying from behind him.

Geoffrey removed the blindfold when the professor asked him to, and stood red-faced before his classmates.

"What did you experience?" Lupin asked as if every single person present hadn't been witness to the whole exercise.

"Well I could hear it," Geoffrey admitted, giving it some thought. "Not loud, but a sort of quiet buzzing; it was almost like I could feel the sound coming, like a tiny vibration. Somehow I just...knew."

"I see," The Professor said. "Connor! Would you please assist me in the next stage of this experiment?"

Connor reluctantly stepped forward and let himself be blindfolded.

"Some witches or wizards are more in tune with the magical fields around them than others," Lupin was saying as he tied the black silk in place. "The spells we all cast are made up of magical energy in various forms, and so it makes sense that more sensitive wizards would be more aware of a change in the energies around him, therefore making it possible to react to them more fully than a wizard who is less in tune."

Connor could feel that Lupin had walked away from him, and could hear his footsteps as he retreated a few feet and the turned to face him. "If I'm correct in my assumption, Connor will prove to be very in tune to the energies around him, as his father is; it is often a hereditary trait. Ready, Connor?"

Connor had no sooner nodded than he heard the spell cast at him.

"Expelliarmus!" Professor Lupin cast the spell just past Connor's left ear, then his right, then aimed it directly for his student's chest. Twice.

Connor sensed the spells fairly easily, avoided the first two by simply moving his head one way or the other. The second two spells were trickier, and he had to side step, then spin off on the ball of one foot to avoid the last, stumbling a bit, but not allowing the spell to make contact. He heard applause from his classmates and blushed under the blindfold. He reached to remove it, but the professor asked him to leave it on for a few more moments.

"Connor," Lupin said. "I'd like to try that again, but this time I won't be saying the incantation aloud. You'll have no warning at all as to when I'll send them at you, but I'll only cast it three times. All right?"

Connor nodded and waited, wand held tightly in his hand. The class became so silent, that he had a wild, fleeting feeling that everyone had simply vanished into thin air. A moment later, he felt the spell coming toward him as a kind of air disturbance, and he could easily understand Geoffrey's description from a few minutes ago. He moved to the left and felt the spell pass by him, almost like a fine thread of moving air, and let out the breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. Almost immediately, another spell was speeding toward him, and he moved even further left until he sensed that he was very near to the wall. He had almost no time to think about that, though, as the third spell approached, and Connor felt it make contact with his right elbow. His wand jerked in his hand, making his arm drag outwards toward the professor, but he tightened his grip and managed to keep a hold on it.

"Well done, Connor!" Lupin praised him, coming forward to remove the blindfold. "Ten points to Gryffindor for you, and five for Mr. Smythe for helping with the experiment. Mr. Smythe, I assume you have your answer as to how Connor was able to avoid those spells? Excellent. Our time is almost up, so I would ask you to collect your things. For homework, a five hundred word essay of the practical application of disarming charms, due at our next class on Tuesday afternoon."

The bell rang, and most of the students left the classroom quietly talking about their lesson and speculating about the rumors they had heard about Connor. Connor himself was retrieving his schoolbag from the jumble of desks while Zack, Ivy and Quentin waited.

"Connor," Quentin said with an awe filled voice. "That was so cool!"

Zack and Ivy nodded, and Ivy said, "I wish I'd had a chance to try it blindfolded."

"You may yet get that chance, Miss Longbottom," Professor Lupin said cheerfully from his desk, where he was retrieving his case. "Next class period."

Professor Lupin waited until the students were out of the way before using his wand to put the desks in their proper places once more, and ushered the kids out the door. He winked at Connor before heading in the opposite direction, and the friends all headed in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room to switch their books for the ones they would need for their afternoon Herbology lesson. They were approaching the Fat Lady when Geoffrey Smythe stepped away from the wall where he had been waiting.

"Potter," he said. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for being a prat in class. After all of the rumors flying around, I guess when I saw you avoid getting hit by those spells I thought I was seeing evidence that proved what everyone is saying was true. That isn't fair and I'm sorry for it."

"It's okay," Connor said, stunned at the apology. "I understand."

"So," the other boy asked, looking at his four housemates uncertainly. "Did you really save that girl last night?"

Connor sighed. "I had a lot of help, but yes."

Geoffrey nodded thoughtfully. "And did you really know it was going to happen before it actually did?"

Connor swallowed hard and said, "Yes. Barely."

"Wow." Geoffrey said quietly, more to himself than to the others. He gave the password and climbed into through the portrait hole, leaving the others behind. Connor knew that chances were high that Smythe was making a beeline for his own friends to share this bit of news, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

Quentin, Zack and Ivy all looked stunned that Connor had admitted it. He looked at them and said tiredly, "Everyone's already making up their own stories about it. My version will probably be boring compared with what's probably being spread around. I might as well tell the truth since there's no going back now."

"I reckon you're right," Rachel said from behind them.

They all turned to look at her, and she said, "Some of the rumors I've heard today are absolutely ridiculous! If someone doesn't tell them the truth soon, they'll be saying that Connor's the reincarnation of Merlin next! I even had to hex that Slytherin, Martin Iverson, in the hall this morning for his smart mouth, though I couldn't politely repeat what he said." They climbed through he portrait hole and went to retrieve their books, and then left the Tower quickly before anyone had the chance to try an corner Connor.

At lunch, the Great Hall was a bit noisier than usual, and many students called out to Connor or else just stared openly at him. Connor did his best to ignore them all, and sat with his friends and talked about the Defense lesson they had just been in. Things quieted down some as the meal progressed, though Geoffrey Smythe seemed to be enjoying a larger crowd around him that usual. It wasn't until the last five minutes of lunch that anyone actually approached Connor, and when he turned to see who had tapped his shoulder, he found himself face to face with Cicely Green.

"Hi," he said quietly. She looked almost too nervous to speak, and obviously hadn't missed the fact that the other kids in the immediate area were blatantly eavesdropping. "How are you doing?"

"Oh!" she said. "I'm fine! I just came over to say, well, thank you. For saving my life."

"It was nothing," he said quietly, silently adding, 'All I had to do was ruin mine.'

"No!" she insisted. "It was really something. I was really upset at the time, and I don't think I realized what had really happened. I'm sorry I didn't thank you before."

"Well then, you're welcome." Connor said, blushing slightly. "Just be more careful next time."

"I will," she answered fervently. She paused for a moment, and Connor raised an inquiring eyebrow to prompt her to say what was on her mind. "I just wanted to say that I think that you're really nice, and I don't believe any of the stuff that people are saying about you around school. You're not a freak at all!" She looked immediately horrified by the last words she had uttered, and clapped her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean..." she began from behind her hands.

"So they're calling me a freak already, huh?" Connor said lightly. "Well that's no surprise, so don't worry about it. I've kind of been expecting it."

"I'm sorry, Connor," Cicely said sadly, putting a tentative hand on his shoulder. "I don't know why everyone is being so stupid. Being able to predict the future isn't..."

"I can't predict the future," Connor corrected her quickly.

"Connor!" Rachel warned, but he ignored her.

"Sometimes things just...come to me. Luckily for you, your fall came to me just in time. It's not something that I can make happen."

The students around them that had been listening suddenly turned to discuss this bit of information with their friends, completely overlooking the fact that Connor was sitting well within earshot of their conversations.

"Well I'm glad it did, or I'd be dead right now. Thank you." She plucked up her courage and leaned forward to kiss Connor quickly on the cheek, making them both blush, before she dashed away, back to the Ravenclaw table.