Resistance

Chapter 5 - You

In the few weeks after Harry and Ron's conversation, matters in Hogwarts fell into a routine.

During the day, Harry and Ron went to their classes and did their homework. They even spent an hour in the library each day. Bur after dinner, they would sneak into a disused classroom in one of Hogwarts' towers and Harry would teach Ron advanced magic.

Like this particular evening.

Harry and Ron were in a classroom in the Northern Tower. They didn't know what the tower was used for, as they saw elder students go in its direction during they day, but they really didn't care. There was no one there at the moment and that what was important.

Harry was teaching Ron a simple mind control spell, or at least, he was trying to.

"I don't get it!" exclaimed Ron after his tenth attempt. "What am I supposed to think about? Why am I supposed to think about it at all?"

Harry sighed. "Alright, from the beginning. "We're trying to modify the cat's personality right?"

"Yes," Ron answered a bit shakily, glancing at Mrs. Norris.

For the purpose of this particular lesson, Harry had sought out the cat, caught her and now she was standing between Ron and Harry. She appeared to be quivering.

"What are we trying to do?" Harry's tone was careless.

"We want her to mewl at the students."

"Exactly. Now, does she do that?"

Ron snorted. "No."

"Alright. How is she going to know she's supposed to mewl if you don't tell her?"

Ron looked at Harry questionably. He then turned to the cat. "Mewl."

Mrs. Norris did, or at least attempted to.

Harry started laughing. Ron watched in amazement. "Did it work?"

"No," Harry chocked out, still laughing. "She's so scared, she obeys you."

Ron continued to watch in amazement.

Harry calmed down and they continued the lesson. "You have to think what you want her to do while you're performing the spell. You have to be very specific. If you just say 'mewl' she'll do it all the time and won't be able to drink, eat, sleep or even breath and this way, she'll die. We don't want that."

Ron nodded in understanding. "So how do I say it?"

"Like I said, you have to be very clear. I can't tell you what to say, because if you'll have to use this curse on your own there won't be anyone to tell you what to say."

"You sound like a bloody book."

Harry blushed. "I'm actually resisting it."

Ron snorted. Harry glared.

"Fine, fine," said Ron. "How about 'mewl whenever you see a student'."

"And what happens if she walks into the Great Hall? There'll be hundreds of students there, she'll have to mewl once for each one."

Ron laughed. "That'd be a sight."

"Yes, it would," Harry agreed, smiling. "But it won't work."

Ron thought for a moment. "How about 'you can mewl whenever you see one or more students'?"

"First of all, that means she can only mewl when she sees a student and second, she can choose whether to mewl or not. You said 'can', after all."

Ron nodded. "Alright. What about 'whenever you see a student, two or a group of students you are to mewl, at least once'?"

Harry pondered this for a moment. "Yes, that seems about right."

Ron grinned.

"Now the spell."

"What about it?"

"First there's pronunciation."

Ron waved his hand. "I know that!"

"Let's hear it then."

"Alright. Adcectio Mecies."

Harry nodded. "Good. Now the hand movement."

"What about that?"

"Let's see it."

Ron lifted his arm and did the needed movements.

"No. You have to turn your wrist to the left and only then to the right. Not the other way around. Try again."

Ron did.

"OK, that's good. But I want you to try it several more times."

"Are you sure this would work?" Ron asked.

"Of course," answered Harry with a smile. "Why do you think Selena puts my packages carefully and doesn't drop them like all the other owls?"

"Um, Harry?" Ron asked tenably, after a few more gesture tries.

"What is it?"

"Does this spell work on humans?"

"Yes, of course. Why did you ask?"

"Well, you only tried, or going to try, in our case, on animals. I just wanted to know."

"First of all it's rather illegal to use it," said Harry.

"I thought rules were for other people," said Ron cheekily.

"And second," Harry glared. "Who are we going to try it on? It's not like we can catch anyone here."

Ron shrugged.

"Did you get the movements?" Harry went back to instruction mode.

"Yes, I think so."

"Good. Now try to do the movements at the same time as you say the spell. Try not to think about anything and point at that chair."

Ron did as he was told.

"Your timing is a bit off. Try again and this time you have to point your wand at the chair at the same moment as you finish saying the incantation."

Ron tried again.

Harry nodded. "That's right. Do it a couple more times until your mind is completely blank when you perform the spell."

And thus the preparations were over.

"It's time for you to try it our," said Harry. Ron turned to face Mrs. Norris.

The cat tried to shrink back so the spell might miss her, but to no luck.

Ron raised his wand and shouted "Adcectio Meacies" and a moment later a shock of yellow light broke free from Ron's wand and hit Mrs. Norris.

After the light cleared the two boys saw the cat. She immediately mewled.

Both of them laughed.

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The Next Day
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"So, what are you two up to today?" asked Iris.

"What can you possibly mean?" answered Harry in an innocent voice.

"Oh, you can't fool me!" laughed Iris. "Something's been happening here for weeks and it's always your doing."

"Not always," said Ron in between mouthfuls. "That thing with professor Phaea was not out fault."

"Yes, how could we possibly know he's allergic to frogs?" Harry defended himself.

Iris laughed. "Yes, you're right. You couldn't possibly know that."

"Anyone could have missed on the fact he won't stay in the same room with Neville," said Ron.

"Yeah, well -" Harry was just about to say that it was difficult to know weather the professor was allergic to the toad and not Neville himself when Mr. Filch, the caretaker, and his cat entered the Great Hall.

No body would have paid it much attention if Mrs. Norris didn't start mewling loudly.

"Mrs. Norris?!" Filch cried in astonishment and betrayal.

Mrs. Norris gave him what seamed like an apologetically look, turned to glare at the students and started mewling again.

"Is this your idea for a joke?" Iris hissed at Ron and Harry. "He's going to have your head for that."

"He'll have to proved it first," answered Harry.

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During Lunch
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"So, she mewled at me! Can you believe it?" Nathan was telling Ron, Harry and Iris. "Whoever did that was a genius!"

"I doubt that," said Iris darkly, though she sneaked a wink to Ron and Harry. "Probably very stupid. They'll be caught in no time."

"I'm not sure about that," said Nathan. "Filch won't let anyone touch that cat. He says she's been cursed, but the teachers say there's no one in this school that can perform this kind of spell." Then he grinned. "Or, they have no courage to talk to them."

Harry smirked and Ron was about to comment something when someone cleared their throat behind Harry's chair.

The four students turned and found Draco standing in front of them with his arms crossed.

"I need to talk to you, Potter," he said.

Harry nodded. "When?"

"Tonight, after classes."

Harry glanced at Ron. "Sure."

"Meet me here after Dinner then."

Harry nodded again and Draco went away.

"Why are you meeting him?" asked Ron.

"He's my best friend," answered Harry. "You know that already."

"Doesn't seam so best friendish to me," commented Iris.

Harry shrugged. "It's complicated."

"Make it simple," Iris suggested.

"Fine," said Harry, annoyed. "When we grew up, our parents spent lots of time together and inevitably we did to. And besides, we were the only ones who actually possessed brains." Iris lifted an eyebrow. "Oh, come on. Didn't you notice the Slytherins?" Pansy, Blaise, Vincent, Gregory?"

"He's got a point," Ron nodded, a bit reluctantly.

"Fine, if you say so." Iris gave up.

"What do you think you're going to talk about?" asked Nathan.

Harry shrugged. "How should I know?"

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After Dinner
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Harry and Draco were walking through a deserted corridor. Neither said a word since they met and the silence was quite heavy.

Harry was hoping he hadn't lost his best friend because of this stupid house rivalry, so he didn't dare speak first.

"We're here," said Draco so suddenly that Harry jumped.

"We're where?" asked Harry, feeling stupid.

"There," answered Draco. "Now let's get in."

They entered a chamber. It was probably located deep in the heart of Hogwarts and near the dungeons, considering it took them approximately fifteen minutes to get there.

The room itself was practically bare, except for a couple of chairs and a table standing in the exact center.

"Sit," said Draco and Harry did as he was told.

"So, what's this all about?" asked Harry after Draco sat across from him and leaned on the table.

"This," Draco said seriously. "Is about what we saw in my attic."

Harry sat up immediately. "You're kidding!"

"No," said Draco, who was still acting cold and superior, but his eyes were gleaming mischievously.

"Did he tell you?"

"Yes, he said we are in a perfect position to attack."

""I knew it!" exclaimed Harry, jumping from his seat.

"What are you talking about?" Draco was obviously startled by this exclamation. "You knew what?"

"They all knew I'm going to be sorted in Gryffindor, even your father!"

"That can't be possible," Draco dismissed it. "How could they know?"

"I have no idea, but they did. My parents told me not to be disappointed if I didn't get what I wanted, and now your father says we are in a perfect position to strike? It sounds fishy to me."

Draco shrugged. "Coincidence. Besides, you always see things that aren't there.

"And you can't see what's right under your nose. Remember when your house elves fell in love and you didn't believe me until one of them started eating all your food and you found out she was pregnant?"

"Yes, OK, whatever," Draco was clearly annoyed.

"Fine," said Harry, reading his friend like an open book. "What did your dad say about the attic?"

"Oh, that's a very interesting story," Draco's eyes were gleaming again. "You've got to hear this."

"I'm listening."

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Some time later
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"So, that's done," said Harry bending over the parchments Draco had produced earlier. "Only thing that's missing is our cover."

"What cover?" asked Draco.

"Oh, come on, did you really expect to get away from school for more than a day and no body noticing?"

"Mm."

"Exactly. So what do you think we can use?"

"I don't know," Draco looked thoughtful. "We could use that tag-along of yours, if he can spin a tale, that is."

Harry looked at him for a moment. "I don't trust him much, that red hair I suppose, bust for now I guess he'll do."

Draco nodded. "What will you tell him?"

"I don't know. But we've got time. I'll come up with something."

"Hey," Draco looked at Harry quizzically. "I heard a rumor saying you teach that twat Dark Magic."

Harry returned the stare. "I was bored."

"But, but you wouldn't teach me that!"

"In our house. Do you imagine what my mum would have done to me if she knew?"

"And she won't find out here?" Draco asked darkly.

"Of course not," said Harry. "They don't expect students to know such things, so they don't put up wards."

"Really?" now Draco looked surprised.

"Really," answered Harry and got up. "Listen, it's late, I need to get back."

"Oh, is it past your bed time already?" teased Draco.

"No, but it's past your."

Draco glared and Harry laughed.

"Good try." Draco got up from his chair. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes," Draco nodded. "We need to clear out some details."

Harry nodded. "Good night, then."

"Good night."