Mother Knows Best

Defence Against the Dark Arts

Next Friday, Harry was tucking into his lunch in the Great Hall, having just finished a rather unusual Herbology class -- even for Herbology at Hogwarts'. They were studying Deku plants, which had a wide variety of incarnations, all of which were sentient to some degree. There were Deku scrubs, which were a bit wild, and rather aggressive (the mad ones spat nuts at anyone within range). They also studied Deku babas, which were something like large, hungry, omnivorous Venus Fly Traps that would chew on you if you got close enough. There were also Deku trees, who grew to great age and great wisdom.

Harry looked around the Great Hall and noticed Hermione was talking to Lucy. They were being a bit secretive, which piqued Harry's curiosity. He went over to see if they would let him in on whatever they were talking about. As he got near, he caught pieces their conversation.

"Do you think I could interview...?" Lucy asked Hermione, Harry missed the last bit.

"I don't know, I'll ask him," Hermione answered. They both stopped and looked up as Harry came up to them.

"Well, let me know about that, Hermione," Lucy said.

"I will." It seemed the conversation was over.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked, a touch suspicious

Hermione gave Harry a sly look. "Lucy is absolutely brilliant! And she's helping me with SPEW; she was full of good suggestions. I really think SPEW is going to take off this year!"

"Good Lord, you mean she actually agrees with you?!" Harry said, a bit exasperated.

"Yes, she does," Hermione answered, openly annoyed. "She says quite a few wizards abuse their house elves: she's seen it for herself. She's helping me start an awareness campaign, and I'm surprised you're not more supportive after the way you saw the Malfoys treat Dobby." Harry thought about this, and about what Dumbledore had told him about Kreacher last June. Hermione seemed to take this as an apology. "There, you see? Now, why don't you help us out by asking Dobby if he's willing to talk with Lucy, and maybe let her take a few photographs?"

Too late, Harry found himself cornered. "Oh, all right," he said, giving in.

* * *

Harry's next Defence Against the Dark Arts class was even more peculiar than the last. Lucy had gotten Buffy, the Slayer, to talk to the class -- something Buffy seemed totally unaccustomed to, as well as rather uncomfortable with. She started off with, "Hi, I'm Buffy -- Buffy Summers! And... well, I'm the Slayer -- or, I was... you know, before all the other slayers were activated. Anyway, I'm still a slayer, and as such, I slay stuff. Vampires, mostly, oh, but lots of demons, too! And I also got rid of the Master; he was some bigwig vampire way back when, and a whole bunch of ueber-vamps. They're like, way stronger than regular vampires, and they aren't affected by crosses or holy water..." Buffy had what Harry imagined to be a very Californian accent, but it wasn't too hard to understand. Unfortunately, she carried on in this halting manner for most of the class, and was relieved when Lucy told her she could finish.

Lucy then offered up a question period, but Buffy had jumped around so much in her lecture that no one could remember any. "Well, if you think of any questions, I suggest you write them down, and I can send them off to Buffy at Hogsmeade for you, or you can ask her yourself on your next trip. Also, I want you to take notes on these lectures, and write an essay on your interpretation of what's being said: I want you to tie all this into how it relates to Defence Against the Dark Arts. That will be your midterm assignment." The class seemed unimpressed at this announcement, and Harry was worried the rest of Lucy's guest lecturers would be just as bad, though that Rupert fellow seemed to have some good sense about him. Lucy told Buffy to go and wait at Lucy's office, and she would call for a carriage to take Buffy back to Hogsmeade.

Buffy nodded and left, and Harry was about to follow her out, when Lucy held him back. "Do you have a moment?" she asked

"I suppose," he answered.

"Look, I know Buffy is anything but a brilliant lecturer, but she has eight years of experience in the 'hero business.' She does a lot better under pressure; she's been a slayer for so long, and has devoted so much of her energy to it, that she has trouble being anything else. She's still adjusting to not being 'The Chosen One' anymore. But she really does know what she's talking about, even if she's not sure how to say it, and I think you could really benefit from talking with her. I think she'll have some very useful insights on how best to fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters -- silliest names I ever heard! Really! In any case, do you think you would be able to talk to her in a less... academic setting?"

Harry thought for a moment. Buffy certainly didn't seem horribly bright, but if she'd done even half of what she'd said she'd done, then she was certainly well-versed in the ways of fighting evil. And, if so, then Lucy was right, and Harry really could use her insight. "What about the DA? You know, our Defence Against the Dark Arts club?"

"Splendid idea! Are you having a meeting next week?" Lucy asked.

"Well, yeah, we try to have one every week."

"I think that would be a good time; does it suit you?"

"Well, yes, I suppose," Harry answered, "but I think I should talk with the rest of the members, first."

"Of course. Just let me know."

* * *

Hagrid had seemed unusually merry in Harry's Care of Magical Creatures class, and he had hinted to Harry, Ron and Hermione that he had a bit of good news to share with them later. This rather worried them, as Hargid's 'good news' usually involved large, dangerous magical creatures that frequently put someone's life in peril. Hermione actually pointed this out when they went to visit him in his hut after supper. But Hagrid, as usual, simply ignored her and ushered them into the Forbidden Woods.

"Hagrid!" Hermione said nervously, "We can't go in! The Centaurs will be furious! The only reason we got out alive last time is because Grawp distracted them!"

"Don't worry, Hermione, I got everything straightened out; once they saw how much Grawp's manners improved with a little bit of practise, they settled down. They've got a real respect for my skill with creatures now," he said proudly.

"Hagrid," Ron said, terrified, "it's not that the creatures you find aren't... er... neat..." there was a touch of sarcasm in Ron's voice. "But after meeting a three-headed dog, a dragon hatchling, giant spiders," Ron shivered, "Blast-Ended Skrewts, and those... Thestrals that I flew on, even though I couldn't see them! Well, I'm not sure I can take another surprise."

Hagrid looked rather disappointed at this, but said, "Well, anyway, we're here." He indicated forward.

Harry started to gasp, but stifled it halfway through. There, in front of him, was the massive form of a sleeping dragon. It was dark, so Harry couldn't see its form or colour very well, but they were only about fifteen feet away from its head, and he could feel hot breath on his face every time the dragon exhaled.

"Oh no, Hagrid, you didn't go get Norbert back, did you?" Hermione whispered, somewhat despaired.

"No, no. This one came in all of its own accord. I think it'll make a good pet for Grawp, once I've tamed it. But it's nervous right now; it's real skittish around people. So, we need to get it used to us, and then I think he an' Grawp'll be great friends!" Hagrid was not talking anywhere near full volume, but it was still much too loud for Harry's taste.

"Hagrid, I don't think it's a good idea to wake up a sleeping dragon; let's stick to whispers," Harry suggested.

"But 'e needs to get used to people talkin'!" Hagrid insisted.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Hagrid! Remember what the Hogwarts crest says? 'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus,'" Hermione hissed in an increasingly agitated whisper.

"I always thought that was a bit funny; never understood a word of it, m'self."

"It means 'dragon sleeping, do not disturb'! It is there because one of the first students at Hogwarts tried to sneak up behind a sleeping dragon and frighten it with a Wizard Cracker; the dragon awoke so angry that it ground the poor student to a pulp. All they found were a few of his teeth, broken bits of his wand, and a shoe! So the founders put that up as the school tenet to warn other students of the dangers of fooling around with magic and magical things."

"Come one, Hagrid," Ron added, "you know what they say, 'let sleeping dragons lie.'"

Hagrid look a bit ruffled, but Harry was struck by a sudden idea. "Maybe it's had an exciting day, what with being new in the woods and all, and it's all tired out," he suggested. "Why don't we come back again tomorrow at lunch? It should be awake by then."

"Why, how thick can I get?" Hagrid asked. No one answered, but Ron and Hermione looked like they wanted to. "I've been so keen to visit with this fella that I haven't given a bit of thought to what he's been through! Come on, let's leave the poor beastie be." Harry and the others gladly followed Hagrid back to his cabin.

* * *

As far as originality was concerned, Defence Against the Dark Arts was by far the most unique class at Hogwarts. Whether or not this was a good thing was yet to be determined. Once again, Harry was sitting there, looking at a nervous-looking young woman.

Lucy's guest, Willow, had medium-length red hair, and was wearing a nervous smile. She looked to Lucy for direction, but, as soon as the bell rang, Lucy began to speak.

"Now then, the difference between Muggles and witches and wizards is that Muggles can't use magic, right?" The class nodded in assent. "WRONG!" Lucy retorted, firmly. "The Dark Arts will obey anyone whose heart is filled with malice. In America, at least, things are nowhere near as clear-cut as here in Britain. Wicca practises can be accessed and used by the general public. There are herbs and crystals that can be used to allow the most untalented Muggle to cast a spell. Covens are open to all who would join them. However, there will always be those who have a natural aptitude for magic. When someone with a natural aptitude calls upon the Dark Arts, well, the results can be utterly... disastrous." She waved to Willow.

"Hi. My name is Willow Rosenburg. You can just call me Willow. Raise your hand if you have any questions -- I have a lot to tell you, and it's important you understand it all. Lucy said I should begin at the beginning, so I guess that would be when I met Buffy.

"It was 8 years ago; I was in the middle my second year at Sunnydale high -- we all were: Buffy, Xander and I. Buffy had just transferred from LA, and she needed someone to help her catch up with her classes; I was the natural choice," Willow said, sheepishly. "Little did we know that strange, bad things were happening in Sunnydale. But that's exactly what Mr. Giles, the new librarian told Buffy.

"Vampires were multiplying at a scary rate, as I found out when one picked me up at a club. Buffy saved me, and slayed it, but I got a very close run-in with the Master that day. He was a local ueber-evil vampire, but Buffy slayed him later, too. Anyway, that's when I found out that Buffy was a slayer, and I tried to help her however I could, so I started studying magic.

"Miss Calendar was the real talent with magic, but when she died, someone had to take over. I started teaching her computer class, and studying her magic books.

"A bit over a year after I'd first met Buffy, I had my first real breakthrough is casting spells; I was able to re-curse Angel -- he's a vampire, he... had lost his soul, and had gone all evil and destroy the world-y. The curse restored his soul, and made him good again. Unfortunately, he'd already unsealed Acathla, so Buffy had to kill him anyway, but he came back, re-en-souled and all, so it's good.

"Well, I kept studying and improving, I learned so much. Then, two years ago, maybe a bit longer, something horrible happened: Buffy died. She died saving the world, again. But... I couldn't let her go. I don't think any of us could, so... I brought her back. Instead of being happy, Buffy was miserable. I had ripped her out of someplace safe and peaceful. She didn't deal well, at all. And I started overusing magic; I had tampered in things too powerful for me, and then I was addicted." Willow hung her head.

"It took me a long time to accept that I wasn't ok, Tara..." the name seemed to have a lot of pain attached to it. "She tried to tell me, but I wouldn't listen. It was only when Buffy's sister, Dawn, was nearly killed that I finally drew the line." Willow looked up at the class. "I stopped using magic altogether. It was hard, really hard, but I did it. And for months I was ok; I might still be ok if she hadn't..." a tear rolled down Willow's cheek. "Tara was killed; she wasn't even the main target! Warren was aiming for Buffy; Tara was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and took a bullet through the heart. People get killed in Sunnydale all the time, Buffy herself has been clinically dead three times, but that doesn't make it any easier. When Tara died, I lost it. It drove me over the edge; I had nothing left to live for. I called upon every dark force I knew of to try and bring her back, but I couldn't. I decided... that the world did not deserve to exist anymore, and I tried to destroy it." This disturbed many of the students. "From what I've heard of this Voldemort everyone is so scared of, he's not so hot. Dark Wizard to Dark Witch, I'd mop the floor with him." Willow smiled darkly. "I let all the dark forces I'd been calling take over my body, and then I went on a rampage. I flayed Tara's murderer; I literally tore off his skin -- he didn't stand a chance. I killed him slowly, he suffered a lot before he died. Buffy tired to stop me, but she was no match. Even Giles tried, with magic he'd gotten from a coven in England. I just took the power from him. I had summoned the goddess of destruction, and was just about to destroy the earth, maybe everything in existence, when Xander came up. I had broken several of his bones, but he still talked to me like the best friend I'd always been, and he still listened patiently. And after a while, I remembered that I was human; that I had friends and people who cared about me, and whom I cared about. You see, the power I'd taken from Giles was true magic, and it came in touch with my humanity. That, and Xander, saved all of us that day. I still have that true magic power within me, it's my responsibility now.

"I've had a few lapses since that day, when the dark powers I've called on have snuck back into me, but I've beat them. And last year, I did my first real white magic spell. *I'm* the one who activated all the potentials in the world, and turned them into Slayers. With their new powers, they were able to keep the ueber-vamps at bay until Spike managed to collapse the Hellmouth, sealing the ueber-vamps out of this world forever. There is no longer one chosen from every generation, there are hundreds of guardians to stand against the vampires, demons and forces of evil. We'll find them all, I'm sure of it, and once we get them trained, and help them understand what they are, I think they'll rid the world of evil." Willow smiled at this last note. The whole class was agape in shock at everything they'd just heard.

"Ok, so to sum up," Willow said, transporting the students back to the classroom, and away from Sunnydale, "using magic is not without risk. Be VERY careful when and how you use it, even if you have had several years of teaching. Also, there are much worse things out there more dangerous than Voldemort, things like I was, and things that create a need for a plural form of 'apocalypse.' But there are people like Buffy, and Lucy, and Giles, Xander, Spike, and me, who have faced these things, and have lived to tell about them. Evil always gets its dues, and if Buffy doesn't make evil pay, someone else will."

The class was jolted back to a very humdrum Hogwarts castle by the bell.

* * *

That night, in the Gryffindor Common Room, every student was still abuzz with Willow's lectures. The sixth-year Gryffindors had their Defence Against the Dark Arts class on Fridays, so they had been among the last to hear it.

"Do you think she really was evil enough to give You-Know-Who a fright?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Harry answered. "Buffy doesn't seem like she could slay anything, but I think what they said about her is true, somehow. -- OH!" Harry shouted.

"What is it?" Hermione asked; she looked worried and glanced at his scar. "Is your scar hurting you again?"

Harry shook his head. "Not any more than usual. No, I just remembered, Lucy suggested that we have Buffy come to a DA meeting. Lucy said to just tell her when, and Buffy will be there. Why don't we ask them all to come, and have everyone ask whatever questions they like? I don't think they'd mind, and they certainly seem to have a lot of stories to share; I get the feeling Willow left out a LOT in class today."

"I don't know, Harry," Hermione said, "I don't think they like to be gawked at any more than you do."

"They don't act like they're famous," Harry responded in kind, "and it doesn't hurt to ask."

* * *

Lucy wasn't as enthusiastic about Harry's new suggestion as she had been about reforming the DA. She listened to most of it with a cocked eyebrow. When Harry had finished, she thought for a moment and said

"Well, I think it's all right, but it's not really my opinion that matters. I will talk it over with everyone. Do you want me to come to your meeting as well?" Harry hadn't thought about that, and admitted as much. "Well, just as well, I'm afraid there are a lot of questions that I can't answer right now; mostly about myself. I think I will come along, just to monitor what is said. There are things Buffy and everyone know which could cause alarm at Hogwarts" -- Harry looked worried at this -- "mostly by exaggeration and rumours, but we need calm now, and we need to keep the school united," Lucy assured him.

* * *

Harry got an answer from Lucy the next day with the morning post. He had been rather surprised to see Hedwig swoop in with the hundreds of other owls delivering letters and packages. He took the letter addressed to him from Hedwig, gave her a pat and a thank-you, and read the letter:

I talked it over with everyone, and they're more than happy to come to your club meeting. Truth be told, we're used to the modern conveniences of California, and we have very little to do in a small town like Hogsmeade, especially since we're not quite sure how magic works here, or what we can and cannot do. Thus, we tend to err on the side of caution and do nothing. Obviously, no one has any prior engagements, and we will come at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Lucy O'Grady, HM, PhD Sc Phys, PhD Sc Ch, PhD MD, M Sc Psych.

Unless Harry was very mistaken as to the initials for graduate degrees, the great line of letters following Lucy's name showed that she was a doctor at least three times over. He showed the letter to Hermione, and she said that not only was Lucy a doctor, but a doctor of physics, chemistry, and a physician. Hermione also said that Lucy had a master's degree in psychology.

"But none of that makes sense," Hermione added, "its really hard to earn a PhD, it takes years, normally. To have these kinds of credentials, Professor O'Grady would have to be Professor Dumbledore's age. On top of all that, I have no idea what these first two initials represent," Hermione frowned, "I'm sure I've seen them somewhere before, though." Hermione knew practically everything about everything; she usually had her textbooks memorised before the new term began. It drove her mad when she couldn't place something.

Harry tried to take her mind off it; he wasn't up to helping her scour through the library to hunt down that fact. "I think I'm starting to understand what Lucy meant when she said there were a lot of questions about herself she couldn't answer just yet."