The Seers' Truth: A Broken Beginning

Chapter 16

A.D.A.D.A.

Ginny awoke on Friday, looking forward to the day. The dreamless sleep potion that Madam Pomfrey gave her really did help Ginny to sleep, but Madam Pomfrey refused to give her more than two doses.

Today was almost the beginning of the weekend and Quidditch practice all week had been just awesome. She couldn't wait for the longer practice on Saturday morning. She felt like it was playing at the burrow with the twins as Beaters and Ron as the back up Keeper. Lyle Applegate really was an awesome Keeper though and she liked him in spite of Ron being a little put out about not making the first string team.

She decided to skip breakfast. The day began with her first ADADA class and she couldn't sleep a moment past the six hours the light dose of dreamless sleep potion gave her.

Samara was up early as usual.

"May I borrow your broom again?" she asked Ginny

"Sure," Ginny answered absently, as Samara climbed out of the window and mounted the broom from the ledge, just outside of Gryffindor tower to take the shortest possible route straight to the owlery. McGonagall would be furious if she knew, so Ginny and Samara were keeping that little stunt secret from Hermione. They didn't want Hermione to feel compelled to report them.

On each of the last two days, Samara had thrown on her clothes and was off before breakfast to the owlery to play with Aggie, her new owl. Samara had finally, after much searching through name books in the library, given it the unlikely name of Agamemnon. Ginny couldn't say a whole lot about the name even though she didn't like it since she had named Pigwidgen and Samara said she should have known he would get the nickname Pig.

Ginny tried to convince Samara that owls were not so much pets as working animals. All the attention she gave that owl was going to spoil it. Samara replied that after its past experience it needed some spoiling. Anyway, she told Ginny she had written a letter to her Grandma Lori and was going to see if Aggie would actually deliver it to a Muggle address.

"Of course he would," Ginny assured her. "Owls found you when you got your Hogwarts letter, didn't they?"

Ginny ran her fingers through her hair and tried to decide whether or not she should wear Muggle make up to Advanced Defense. She decided against it and simply pulled her hair back in a tight ponytail.

Then she settled in her favorite overstuffed chair in the common room to read the first few chapters of her Advanced Defense book yet again.

Ginny had some misgivings about ADADA. Of course, everyone's telling her she shouldn't take it only strengthened her determination. If only Snape wasn't the teacher. Anyone would be better than Snape. She wished Lupin was still the Defense teacher, but she was stuck with Snape. Well, she thought with resolve, time for class. She gathered up her books and headed to the dungeon.

===

The other students filed into the class. Edward sat beside her.

"You decided to take this then?" she asked.

"I'm here."

The rest of the class was less reassuring. Draco and his gang, Pansy and her gang, along with several other Slytherins that Ginny didn't know. Ethan, Edward's brother, who sat on the other side of Edward immediately, engaged him in conversation. Ginny felt extremely uncomfortable, especially when Snape's black, unfathomable eyes fell on her.

"I've already asked most of the Slytherins why they want to take this class. I have not asked our visiting Gryffindors. No doubt it's their inherent bravery," he sneered as if that were a bad thing. "Miss Weasley?"

Ginny stood and started to answer Professor Snape.

"Address your classmates," he said.

This was infinitely harder. "I want to learn more about Defense. I've done some--um--well--" She didn't know how to say it without making herself look extremely stupid. There was a long silence as she tried to get her thoughts together and failed. "I think it's a fascinating subject," she concluded weakly.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for your lack of preparation for my class," said Snape.

"Please, may I try again?" asked Ginny.

Snape nodded, "But if you don't have a considerably better answer, I would think you are grossly unprepared for class, which warrants a detention along with the 10 points."

Ginny nodded. She should have known he wouldn't let her get away with that sort of half answer. She took a deep breath, and plunged forward. Her voice was shaking with nerves when she started to speak, but it soon gained strength, "When I was a first year, I was pretty stupid--"

Several Slytherins sniggered. "Only when she was a first year?" mumbled one of the Slytherins that she didn't know, but she ignored him and kept talking.

"Some of you probably know I opened a diary and it possessed me. The feeling of helplessness that I felt when I couldn't fight it anymore was more appalling to me than--than anything. I couldn't fight it. I didn't know how. I want to learn how. I don't ever, ever want to be that defenseless again. Nothing is more horrible than being helpless."

As she looked around at the Slytherins, she found, to her surprise, that some of them understood. She could sense their understanding and agreement. A few of the girls were nodding. To her horror, tears had crept into her eyes, but she dared not brush them away or even blink. Perhaps the Slytherins would just think her eyes were shining with passion.

"Be seated Miss Weasley.

"Mister Edward Lestrange."

"I don't know what my brother told you about his reasons for coming to this class. Aside from thinking that Professor Snape is such a brilliant teacher. --"

Some the Slytherins groaned. Ginny got the feeling that if they could have thrown rotten fruit in front of Snape at that comment they would have.

"Get on with it," growled Snape.

"My family has a predominance of Dark Wizards. I don't see how I can fight it. It's in my blood and yet, I think I have to try. I want to be myself. Not some copy of anther Dark Wizard. I have plans for my life and no one, not even Lord Voldemort, is going to make me give them up. I will never kiss the hem of anyone's robe," he said with vehemence.

"An admirable sentiment," said Snape, "but not very healthy, don't you think? If you intend to oppose the Dark Lord and survive, you need to be a little more covert, I think. Even so, it is a dangerous pastime. A very dangerous pastime.

"Take out your books and turn to page 28."

Professor Snape walked around the room as he spoke. His dark eyes missed nothing. Revealed nothing. Ginny shivered. She wondered for the tenth time what she was doing in this classroom.

She knew he didn't want her here--her or Edward. He practically told them he expected this to be his own little Slytherin Class, but they were here to spoil his plans. She opened a clean parchment and wrote at the top:

ADADA, and then, Professor Snape, the date, September 9, 1994 and Page 28.

"We are skipping the first chapter on dueling," Snape said. "We'll cover it in regular defense class and if you are forced to duel a powerful wizard, most of you are probably doomed anyway. The best thing to do is not get yourself in that situation.

"You should see several variations of protective wards that can be done with wands and without. The ones with wands are obviously the stronger wards; however, they can be done without a wand. Obviously, the power increases with the number of wizards doing the casting. I know most of you have been using wards to protect your personal possessions here at Hogwarts, but these wards are not for possessions, they are to be used on your person. For that reason, if any wizard, other than yourself is involved in the spell, you must be certain of his or her loyalty to you because betrayal will unravel the entire ward. It is not a pretty sight," Snape growled, his eyes bearing into several Slytherins in the front row.

"We will pay particular attention to the Reflective Wards at the bottom of the page. This book limits the ward so that if the enemy casts Crucio, only a paralyzing spell will be reflected. To make the spell completely reflective, you need to change the following . . ." Snape continued for a few moments explaining the intricacies of changing the spell while Ginny frantically took notes.

Crucio? She thought. Did he mean The Cruciatus Curse? An Unforgivable curse? If someone was hit by his or her own spell being reflected, could you go to Azkaban? No one else asked, and by the time Ginny got caught up with the notes, Snape was on to a new topic.

"Please note that now we are going to go outside to practice this spell," he said. "It is easier for beginners to pull power from the earth when they are standing on it rather than in a dungeon. Some of you will need to start bare footed, but we will see how that goes once we are outside. I know some of you have done this--well--since before your were allowed to have wands--but this review is unavoidable. We do have some beginners," he sneered, looking directly at Ginny. "We will try not to leave you too far behind."

Snape hardly looked like he cared if he left the Gryffindors behind. It was obvious he was teaching this class for his Slytherins.

"Before we go outside, remember the most important part of drawing the power is releasing," Snape continued.

Ginny thought about Samara and her book. She knew how to do this type of magic. It couldn't be that hard. She'd show Snape. She was a good as any Slytherin--better.

"Release must be done in the same quantity as the drawing," Snape said. "Do not try to rush things. Take only small amounts at first, until I can check your work to be sure you are releasing completely. It's dangerous if you don't--" Snape stopped talking suddenly.

++

He looked directly at her. "Roll up your parchments, please," he said.

Something had happened in the classroom, but Ginny didn't know what. Several of the Slytherins were gritting their teeth and most were very pale. Blaise Zambini looked frightened out of her wits and Pansy Parkinson reached across the aisle to hold Lauren Avery's hand. Ginny glanced at Edward, but he didn't look at her. His eyes were riveted on Snape.

Snape steepled his fingers and stared at her. Ginny felt as if a wayward snitch had invaded her stomach. "I believe--I will tell you why you are really here," he said softly. "You are here because our Dark Lord wanted a time when you, as the future of pureblood wizards, could be called together," Snape paused. "I am not your teacher. He is.

"And he calls--"

Ginny choked. "I think I should just drop this class," she started to stand. "I--"

"Sit down."

She sat, but her hand automatically reached for her wand.

"And don't be stupid," said Snape dryly. "Which of us would you curse?" He motioned around at the class, many of whom were now clutching their left arms, but were still perfectly capable of holding a wand.

Ginny's hand left her wand and she stared at him miserably.

"She could come with us," Draco suggested through clenched teeth. "A little sport."

Pansy Parkinson gasped and Draco looked at her. Something passed between them in that look, but Ginny didn't know what it was.

Ginny fervently wished she were anywhere but here. "I could just forget this little conversation," Ginny squeaked, "and take another class instead."

"No," said Snape, "I'm afraid that taking another class now is impossible. There would be questions. Dumbledore would want to know why you are dropping Advanced Defense when you were so excited--practically drooling--to take it."

"Professor," Greg Goyle panted. Beads of sweat had broken out on his brow. "Please, can we go?"

"Mr. Goyle, if you cannot handle a little discomfort for your Lord, what kind of Death Eater will you be? Acknowledge that the pain is there, and then put it behind you."

"I can't," Goyle whimpered.

"Very well then, outside. All of you. Leave your parchments here."

Ginny looked at him in horror, but stood.

"I don't know how to Apparate," Draco confessed softly to Snape. In a detached sort of way, Ginny noticed that Draco was practically skipping along beside Snape.

"Neither do most of your classmates," said Snape. "There is a portkey hidden in the Forbidden Forest."

Ginny weighed whether it would be possible to run. Maybe when they got near the Forbidden Forest--but she never got the chance. As they were passing some of the trees that usually shaded students who liked to study outside, Snape paused. "Here is where we separate," he said. He noticed several of the Slytherin girls edging away. "Wait," he commanded, and then he turned to Ginny.

"OBLIVIATE!"

"SOMNUS!"

++

Ginny was sitting under a tree. She had a splitting headache and Snape was bending over her. "Are you alright, Miss Weasley?"

"My head," she complained.

"Understandable," Snape pulled her to her feet. "Try again," he said.

"Try what?"

"Pull the energy from the earth, and let it trickle down you fingers and back into the ground. Next time you feel that you are getting too much, stop pulling and just release, you silly girl."

Ginny tried, but absolutely nothing happened.

Snape sighed. "You will have to try harder, Miss Weasley," he said. "We are out of time. I'd suggest that you practice with Miss Avery or Miss Parkinson," he paused. "No one else," he said.

Raising his voice to address the rest of the class, he spoke, "All of you go back to the classroom and pick up your books, then go directly to your next class, we're running a little late. I have no intention of writing all of you notes of excuse."

Once they were back in the room, Ginny started to gather her books when Snape appeared at her desk with a potion in hand. "For your headache," he said. "And Miss Weasley, you need a lot of practice pulling energy from the earth and releasing. You are quite pitiful at it. I'd suggest you study with Miss Avery or Miss Parkinson. Both are quite adequate at releasing the magic and could help you if you get into trouble. Do not try to do this alone. If you pull too much power from the Earth, you will be over-whelmed."

"Yes Sir."

She took the potion without a second thought. It was only when she was halfway to the greenhouse that she realized how odd it seemed for Snape to be that nice. Anyway, why didn't he send her to Madam Pomfrey for the headache potion? There had to be an ulterior motive.

==

Harry watched Ginny walk into Herbology as he pulled on his Dragon Hide gloves. She didn't look ragged from Advanced Defense. In fact, she looked rather happy and well rested. Maybe Advanced Defense was good for her. He, of all people, understood how frustrating and frightening it was to be unprepared. Maybe he should have taken Advanced Defense himself. No, he just couldn't handle that much of Snape.

Anyway, Advanced Charms should prove very interesting. He could hardly wait to start his homework. He had to find an innocuous item to act as a portkey. Strictly speaking, though, making a portkey was an enchantment, a series of interconnected charms.

Harry brought his attention back to Herbology and his Devil's Snare seedpods. It was hard to imagine Devil's Snare as a healing plant, but Professor Sprout said that very minute amounts in a tincture were used in several poison antidote potions. They bound to several well-known poisons and venoms, allowing other plants to be used as an emetic. Well, that made sense. The vines certainly bound to Harry, Ron and Hermione fast enough when they encountered it in first year.

Harry started to rub his eyes and thought better of it. With the clumsy dragon hide gloves, he could scratch his eyes and who knows what Devil's Snare in his eyes would do. Instead he rubbed his face on the sleeve of his robe.

"Be careful not to break the pods," Neville warned. "The syrup around the seeds will ruin your gloves."

Harry nodded. "Done that before have you?" asked Harry.

"Twice."

The class continued without incident.

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