Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

It was the second week in November and Harry Potter could be found in the Gryffindor Suite going over some runes with Hermione. He liked it when it was just him and her here together. There was no talk of Draco, no talk of the prophecy, only talk of the task at hand, even if they spoke of that.

Harry recalled the last three weeks; in that time he had duel Deatheaters and Tom Riddle, then he had changed himself and Snape into the same phoenix form, the black Shadow Phoenix. There was a week between the change and the change back (that was the day Draco ended their relationship), and then another week passed before Harry invaded Tom's mind, how successful it was, Harry didn't know. Snape had refused to divulge Harry any information without the Headmaster's permission. Normally this would have set Harry off, but this time it seemed to appease him. If it had a truly bad outcome then Severus would have berated Harry for his foolishness. Harry mentally smiled at his and Snape's relationship since his little fiasco with the Dark Lord's mind. The Potions master seemed to look at Harry in a new light. He didn't show it much, but instead stopped the sneering and belittling that usually came with every encounter. Snape even went as far as to give Harry a curt nod when they passed in the corridor on the way to Great Hall.

The ceiling of the Great Hall had begun to change back to it's usual pattern of reflecting the sky above it, though every once in a while it would seem as though the winds were still howling, even though it couldn't be heard. Harry had continued to study pretty much independently and was only attending Potion classes because Godric admitted that this was the one subject that would always belong more or less to a Slytherin. Harry had an odd feeling that Godric just wanted Harry to go back to his normal routine; the way it was before he found the Suite and had the break-up.

As for how the break-up was going, Harry was still very much hurting, but mentally smiled at his accomplishment of acting as if nothing was wrong, and at what Draco had told Ginny about what Snape told him. The one thing that the Dark Lord had ranted about, though he couldn't do much ranting in his state, was how Lucius Malfoy's son was shagging the insufferable Harry Potter. Draco would never be able to go back to the Dark Side without having a very good excuse for leaving it to begin with. The images that Harry had shown Voldemort to cause him pain did exactly what he thought they would; Draco would never be allowed back, even if his father plead on his behalf.

Dumbledore had requested a meeting with Harry three times since the ordeal with Tom, but Harry had yet to see him. There was too much that Harry didn't want to talk about with the old man and thus, he kept putting it off. It actually seemed that the longer he put it off, the more things there was going to be to talk about. It began with his break-up with Draco, then the ceiling, then the trip into Tom's mind. But now, there was the added counter to the Killing Curse that was due in two days when the evaluation was expected to take place. Harry had yet to think of a way to tell Albus how he found the ground information without telling him of the Gryffindor Suite itself. He thought about asking Hermione to lie and tell Albus it was her idea, but thought better of it after Hermione mentioned something about visiting the kitchens after hours and rule breaking. Hermione will always be Hermione.

The training with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Draco was coming along smoothly, though the first few were quite tense. Ron and Hermione, knowing about the break up and pretty much how it occurred, wanted to throttle the young blonde just for showing up. Ginny and Neville mumbled something about feeling the tension, but kept their comments to themselves out of what Harry presumed was fear of an unneeded duel. Luna, for her part, acted totally oblivious to the whole situation. Even though she commented on things now and then, like Harry's intoxicating eyes and how much Draco should appreciate them (this happened after the first time Harry use Legilimency on her), no one stopped to correct her. It just seemed easier to ignore it and continue on with the lesson.

Because they were working every other night for the past few weeks, the whole group seemed pleased that they could now throw the Imperius off after only a few seconds. Harry thought this would only get better as the Occlumency lessons furthered. Ginny, Ron, and Luna seemed to have a knack for throwing it off now. Harry guessed that Luna didn't care what he was telling her to do, Ginny was too stubborn to let anyone tell her what to do, and Ron was too embarrassed to be fooled by the voice...again. Hermione and Neville, however, seemed to be susceptible to the subtle commands of the curse. Hermione seemed to fight it off if told to do something dangerous or that endangered a life of a friend, but Harry had convinced Neville to juggle fire balls with his bare hands twice. After that, the word fire seemed to bring Neville right out of the trance. He and Hermione had learned some very interesting and useful healing charms in those two lessons. Neville never complained. Draco, because he already had practice before the others did, was the first to be able to throw off the curse. It seemed that anytime Harry told him to do something undignified, he would snap out of it and scold Harry. Harry always rolled his eyes and moved on to the next person.

It was now to Occlumency where almost everyone seemed to struggle. Luna did, however, surprise everyone by blocking Harry out of her head the first time he used Legilimency on her. It didn't surprise Harry much, but everyone else seemed a little put off that Harry couldn't get into her head. Harry hypothesized that it had something to do with Luna's carefree attitude, though he never voice this. It wouldn't do well for the other five to walk around with radish earrings talking about magical creatures and conspiracies that didn't exist.

Ginny was the next to surprise them. It seemed she had done a little more than harmless snogging with Michael Corner, because when Harry probed for happy events, he saw a few things he would rather not have. Though his face showed no emotion when Ginny shoved him out quickly, she herself was beat red and embarrassed. Harry never said a word, just complimented her on her success and gave her a wink before moving on to Ron.

Ron, like Draco, didn't seem to be able to block out Harry unless it was a memory that he didn't want anyone to see. Ron took the longest to reach a point where he would shove Harry out no matter what memory was playing in his head. Harry finally moved on to more terrifying memories to give Ron drive, though it seemed that those didn't do a lot either to make him want to shove Harry out. After all, Harry had already seen most of the memories, he was there in ninety-five percent of them: the Devil's Snare, the enlarged chess set, the Chamber of Secrets, the Whomping Willow, the night at the Ministry and the fight with the brains. This made Harry feel a bit guilty, but he shoved it away and told himself that he never forced his friends to go with him on his little adventures, they always volunteered. Instead, he approached Ron at a different angle; he rooted up memories of embarrassment. This seemed to have the desired effect and after a few snogging and second-base-sessions-with-Hermione later, Harry had Ron so afraid of seeing these memories that Ron didn't want Harry in his head at all. Whatever works, Harry thought.

Neville: poor Neville seemed to do the worst. He was so determined that Harry explained over and over again how to block it out. Neville found himself on all fours several times before Harry was even putting power into it. It always seemed that no matter what, Neville's mind was an open book to Harry. At a last attempt to work with it, Harry took an approach he never thought of before. He remembered that Muggles had to use training wheels before actually learning to ride a bike with two wheels, so he did something like this with Neville. Harry also remembered that when he put Draco back into his mind he rebuilt Draco's walls before retreating; so, Harry did this with Neville. He went into Neville's head and built an Occlumency wall then retreated. He told Neville to get a feel for the wall while he worked with Hermione and when he got done he wanted Neville to try and keep the wall erect while Harry tried to break into his mind. Neville agreed and by the time his first ten minute session with Hermione ended, Neville had no problem keeping the wall up. This further reminded Harry that everyone is unique and that one should never assume 'what is good for one is just as good for the other'.

Hermione was actually a funny case. It seemed that she couldn't block Harry out because she didn't know how he was getting in. She couldn't see him doing anything, only feel it. Hermione, being the one to get all information from books and not from experience, had to be given the book that helped Draco before she could put theory into experience. This enthralled Harry actually. How could someone not understand something they feel without reading about it first? Harry now understood why Godric made the mistake that she was a Ravenclaw and not a Gryffindor, she depended too much on theory and not enough on what her body or mind told her. To Harry, gut instinct was almost everything when it came to danger. He told Hermione this and she actually joked about it saying, 'Gut instinct: Never leave home without it!' Needless to say, after a healthy dose of background knowledge, Hermione threw Harry out efficiently. Harry was sure that he could still tear down the walls of any of his friends, but settled on what Severus would be able to do to them. After all, Snape had been hiding his mind from the Dark Lord for over a decade, if he couldn't get into his friend's heads, Voldemort definitely couldn't.

All-in-all, Harry was very happy with the lessons. All six of his friends had done, in a little over three weeks, what it takes years for average wizards and witches to achieve. Harry had to admit though; it was probably because he used a different tact for all of them. This was also probably why some people did better than others in subjects here at Hogwarts. Not everyone learned the same. Before Harry learned Occlumency, he did better and learned more in practical lessons than in textbooks. Where as Hermione was exactly the opposite. Ron lacked drive, Neville lack determination, Ginny lacked reasoning or logic, and Draco lacked leniency. Luna was a person of her own accord, so Harry though she'd never need tact; she was a Ravenclaw after all. Tonight they would be working on wandless magic and Harry was excited that he was going to get to show is friends how to experience another one of his gifts.

"Oh, I can't do this anymore tonight!" Hermione shouted slapping the book closed. Harry jerked out of his thoughts with a jump.

"What?" Harry asked afraid that he missed something before he actually slammed the book shut.

"I can't wait for tonight. I've always wanted to do wandless magic. It seems so free-like. No restraint of aim or a wand, it's just so intriguing," Hermione gushed. Harry had to smile at her enthusiasm.

"Fine, let's go down the Great Hall for Lunch and we'll start early if it's okay with everyone else. I know Draco won't mind, this has been his intention all along. All the training started because he wanted to do better with wandless magic."

"Figures," Hermione said rather rudely.

"What figures?"

"Power. That's why he wanted to learn wandless magic and why he has actually calmly waited for this long, not to mention taken lessons with you of all people. After what he did I don't think you should teach him. He's just using you now," she ranted.

"Fair is fair Hermione. I can't just turn him away after he's been patient this long," Harry reasoned.

"I'm just saying Harry, it's not like he's going to be helping if you ever have to face Deatheaters again. You know that. The whole reason for the lessons was because all of your friends want to help if you ever get put in that kind of situation again. He just wants the benefit of the power it gives him over others, the advantage."

"As true as it may be, I can't turn him away now; he's held out too long."

"Fine, do what you want Harry, but if when the day comes that we'll have to use these lessons and he's on the wrong side of the line, don't expect me to have sympathy for him. Ron and I will hex him into next year. Arrogant Prat," she said harshly. Harry frowned, Snape used to call him the same thing. It seemed ridicules coming from Hermione's mouth.

"I understand," Harry said before they walked into the Great Hall. I think, he added mentally

They made their way to their normal seats at the Gryffindor table and started up a conversation about Quidditch. Not surprising Ron drummed it up.

Harry had handed over the Captain spot to Ron when he became an apprentice. The staff no longer had a problem with it due to Ron being under the Imperius when he cursed Malfoy on the train. Well, maybe Snape had a problem with it, but that didn't affect anyone else's decision...it never did. He did get a lecture from his mum telling him how he should feel horrid for having the feelings to want to hurt someone like that in the first place, but conceded that even the strongest of people couldn't beat off the curse. Harry, as he told McGonagall he would, had bought the whole team new brooms (specially made for their positions) and uniforms for Quidditch. It seemed to brighten the burden of having to replace so many people. Ginny had graciously moved to a chaser spot (that once belonged to Alicia Spinnet) to give Harry his position of Seeker back (even though Ron still made her try out for the spot) and they had added Clarissa McDonald to replace Angelina Johnson who had graduated the year before with Alicia. Katie opted to stay on the team saying that she was going to need an outlet from her Head Girl duties and her N.E.W.T. revising. Andrew Kirke, and Jack Sloper opted to return to their beater positions and Ron was really giving them hell when it came to practice. Ron had actually played practice games on one end for the chasers and made the two beaters pound away with each other at the other end of the pitch. Ron had put out six bludgers and told them they had to keep them from flying at the players on the other end of the field. At first it was a impossible task for the couple (Many of the player saw this right away due to surprise bludgers coming for them), but after much practice, they started to work together getting the bludgers far enough so it took longer to come back and they had more time to deal with the others. By the time Ron actually let them join the mock games; they were thinking on the same page and were nearing Fred and George's status as unstoppable beaters. Harry wasn't sure if they'd really ever make the status that would replace Fred and George, but he hoped. Harry found that he was making the Snitch actually stop when he reached a hand for it and had to convince both Dumbledore and Madam Hooch to let him do a bit of Will Magic on them so that his magic couldn't penetrate the charms that were already placed on the little critter.

The chasers are what surprised Harry the most. Katie, not wanting to be captain due to her already overloaded plate of activates, was shaping up the chasers nicely. Because Ron had to play Keeper, he couldn't really instruct them and tend to the goals at the same time, so Katie ended up training and giving advice on tact and formation. She was demanding enough to be listened to and lax enough for the newbie's to get away with something new. It made a great combination. It was the first time Harry actually witnessed the old and new generation of Gryffindor House Quidditch Players interacting. The rarity of it wasn't lost on him.

Their first game against Hufflepuff was one of the best played. Ron noticed a lot of mistakes, though no one else really did. He went about the next week with his chest puffed up with pride for his team, the team he was directing. The other player laughed at him, though most secretly found just as much pride in it. The game had ended with Harry catching the Snitch after about an hour and the score being fifty to three-fifty. Ron made the excuse that he missed those five goals while shouting at the team. The team let him get away with it because no one wanted to argue during the party afterward, they just shot brief dirty looks at him, Ron didn't seem to notice this; though in truth it could have happened, he did shout a lot that day.

"Oh, by the way you three," Harry said nodding toward Neville, Ron, and Ginny across the table, "Where meeting just after lunch today. Hermione can't seem to wait to start on wandless magic." Ginny and Neville beamed at this, but Ron looked abashed.

"But I was going to take the team out for a practice after dinner. I'll be too exhausted now!" he exclaimed.

"Aren't your practices scheduled?" Hermione asked eyeing Ron. Ron blushed a bit.

"Well, yeah," he stammered but then quickly added, "But if we want to beat Slytherin in our next match we'll have to practice more than twice a week!"

"Oh, shove it Ron! One day won't hurt," Ginny added. Harry had a feeling she was just worn out from all the practice and extra practice.

"Fine, but we're having a three hour practice tomorrow instead of two because of this," he announced imperiously. Neville sniggered at him, not that he noticed, he never seemed to.

"Fine by me," Harry added smiling. It wasn't like he had to due much. He just flew around and waited for the Snitch to make and appearance.

"Oh, yeah, fine for you, the rest of us have to work out bums off!" Ginny chided. Harry gave her a look of mock offends before laughing. Ginny knew how easy the Seeker job was until you actually saw the Snitch. "Yeah, laugh it up Potter," she taunted, "I'm going to banish that Snitch back to the case to you have to look for it forever."

"Well that was dumb. If you were going to do that, you shouldn't have told me about it. Now I know where to look if I can't find it," he said smiling smugly at her.

"Oh, there's more than one way to make you suffer out there tomorrow. I'll have to have a small talk with Jack and Andrew," she said smiling mischievously. Harry cringed. Now he was going to spend the whole practice being chased by bludgers and there was nothing he could do about that. The rest of his friends laughed with Ginny.

"Anyway," Hermione began, "Don't be late to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, I want to get started as soon as possible," she announced. Ron grumbled something, but both Ginny and Neville looked just as excited about it as Hermione did.

"I'll go let Luna know," Ginny said standing and making her way to the Ravenclaw table while Hermione gave Harry a look.

"No, you do it," Harry said guessing she was waiting for him to do the same to Draco.

"Oh, how obvious would that look? The Mud-blood going to talk to Malfoy? You're joking right?" she said sarcastically.

"I'll go!" Ron said getting up but Hermione had already reached across the table and pulled on his arm.

"No you won't Ronald Weasley; we want him showing up!" Hermione said shrilly.

"I'll go," Neville said nervously, they all looked at him astonished.

"Are you sure Neville?" Hermione asked. He nodded and got up.

"Wait!" Harry yelled and Neville turned back around with a confused look. Harry beckoned him to come back.

"What?"

"Just take him this and hand it to him. Don't talk to him," Harry said conjuring a quill, ink, and parchment. He wrote a quick note to Draco and gave it to Neville. Neville seemed to visibly relax at this and nodded.

Harry and the others all rose and went to the entrance of the Great Hall to wait for Neville, Ginny, and Luna to meet up with them. Draco would have to come on his own accord due to him not wanting to be seen with the others, it would make life as a Slytherin hard on him. After the three of them returned, they made their way to the corridor where Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was and went inside to wait on Draco. Moaning Myrtle soon came also.

"Who's in my bathroom...," she started before seeing Harry and the others.

"Hello Myrtle," Harry greeted her efficiently cutting off her tirade.

"Oh, hello Harry," she swooned batting her eyelashes. "Did you come to visit me?" she asked scowling at the others who would impose on her 'Harry Time'.

"Somewhat; we're going down for a practice and I thought we'd come a little early while we waited for Draco so I could see how you were," he lied smoothly.

"You're always so thoughtful," she said smiling. Harry smiled back at but tried not to be encouraging.

"So, how's the squid?" Harry asked just to make conversation. He knew that she regularly took trips out into the lake via pluming.

"As dreadful as ever; all that monster ever does is lounge around and make sure no one drowns. Dead useless he is," she said as she perched on top of the door of the nearest stall.

"Hmm," Harry said as a reply like he was thinking on it. He wished Draco would hurry up. He could see Hermione and Ginny going red in the face trying not to laugh. Neville seemed confused and Ron horrified that Harry didn't just tell the moody ghost to leave. "Any juicy gossip lately? I daresay that I've been told of quiet a few people sneaking down this corridor to have quiet snogging sessions," he said. This was in fact the best place besides the Astronomy Tower to snogg or shag. Filch didn't come down here because he was afraid of upsetting Moaning Myrtle and having Peeves come and taunt him about it; while in the process waking up the castle. They were probably the two loudest ghost Hogwarts had.

"Ohhh," she grinning manically," Oh yes. Tons of those third years are finding this corridor. Why, I just saw Denis Creevy and Kevin Whitby, he's a Hufflepuff," she added doing an excellent impression of Percy Weasley; Harry had a feeling that Myrtle was a Hufflepuff in her time. That was all it took, Ginny let a squeak past her lips.

"And what is so funny!?" Myrtle shrilled. Harry whirled around to see Ginny with a hand firmly clamped over her mouth.

"Stop staring at my bum you two!" he said as if he was offended and turned back to Myrtle while rolling his eyes. He wanted to do anything to derail Myrtles wailing. The comment made the two girls shut up and Myrtle looked scandalized. "If I hear one more comment from those two about my perfect bum I'm going to hex them into next year," he told Myrtle. She nodded drastically.

"In my day we didn't put up with such nonsense. Women were poised and proper, you just ask Minerva McGonagall," she said scowling at the two girls.

"No doubt they could use a lesson in female etiquette," Harry insisted nodding approvingly to Myrtle. The ghost seemed to be happy that Harry was agreeing with her and looked at the girls with a smug smile. Ginny and Hermione were now scowling.

"So Denis is a poofter?" Ron asked bluntly, Harry whirled around.

"Need I remind you...," he started before Ron paled and interrupted him.

"No, no, sorry, I didn't mean...that is... what I meant to say was..."

"Oh, stuff it Ronald," Luna said lazily while studying a faucet to a nearby sink, that just so happened to be the same faucet that was marked as the Chambers entrance.

"Here, here!" said Myrtle agreeing with the dreamy eyed girl. Harry wanted to laugh. It was the first girl Harry had ever seen Myrtle take a liking to.

"Yes, here, here!" a new voice cackled from behind him. Harry spun around and groaned. Peeves had just entered the lavatory. "Oy Miserable Myrtle!"

"Hello Pervs," she answered shrewdly. Peeves cackled at her again.

"No hug for Patriot Peeves today?" the poltergeist said in mock hurt.

"I wouldn't touch you, you slimy excuse for a ghost."

"Ghost? Poltergeist my love," he corrected with a bow, "poltergeist."

"Some poltergeist, aren't you supposed to be scary?" Myrtle taunted lazily, Peeves cackled again.

"Oh no my dear Miserable, pandemonium is my game, yes, yes." He nodded his head as if he approved what he had just said.

"All you do is make racket and unnerve Filch. I'd hardly call that pandemonium."

"You want to see pandemonium? I'll show you pandemonium," he said and started advancing towards Myrtles stall. She wailed making everyone in the bathroom cover their ears, well, except for Peeves who stopped and smiled a devilish smile.

"You stay out of my toilet!" she shrieked. "If you float one foot further I'm getting the Baron!"

"Aw...you take the fun out of everything," he teased.

"Get out of my lavatory!" she shrieked again. Peeves just cackled manically at her.

"I'm hurt Miserable, you don't love me anymore?" he said in mock hurt with his hand over his heart.

"Love! Sure, as much as I love DEATH!"

"Oh, but it supposed to be dead fun being a ghost. Apparently someone hasn't versed you in the ways of an apparition. I'll have to have a talk with the Fat Friar," he said nodding and agreeing with himself again.

"Oh stuff it Peevilish," Luna said again out of nowhere. Everyone including Myrtle and Peeves turned to look at her in astonishment. She was saved by any retort when Draco walked in and announced his arrival as if he were a king.

"I'm here," he said in a dignified voice then shot a scathing glare at Peeves. Peeves looked slightly scared, but puffed up his chest at Draco.

"Malfoy," he said with a curt nod.

"Peeves, out!" Draco barked. Peeves gave him another glare and swooped out of the room cursing. Harry looked at Draco thoughtfully for a moment before he decided he didn't want to know why Peeves listened to him. No doubt it had to do with some Dark Arts spell that Draco knew. "We ready?" Draco asked rocking back on his heels to the balls of his feet with his hands in his pockets. Harry marvelled at how much he looked like Fudge without the brawler hat.

"Right," Harry said slowly tearing his eyes from Draco, "Everyone grab on." He'd been Apperating them down to the chamber in stead of using the sink because he didn't want to leave the chamber open to anyone who may come here to snogg and let their curiosity get the best of them. Everyone did as they were told and in a flash of flames they disappeared and reappeared with a rush on the stone floor of the chamber.

"When are you due for your next burn Harry?" Ron asked while he and Draco set about lighting the torches.

"I'm guessing when my Spell Invention group starts practicing the counter for the Killing Curse," Harry said dryly.

"You don't sound too happy about the counter." That came from Ginny.

"Would you be? I've been nominated to use it first because I have a way of surviving it if the counter doesn't work," Harry said darkly.

"Oh, lighten up!" Hermione piped up, "Today is going to be a good lesson. No mind games!" she crowed joyfully. The others nodded in agreement. The notion was not lost on Harry, they had never before voice their like or dislike of the Imperius and Occlumency lesson.

"So when do we get to hear the Prophecy?" Ron asked returning from lighting the last torch.

"You are completely tactless Ron," Draco said with a grim smile.

"Well, wasn't that the reason for us learning Occlumency?" he asked confused.

"That wasn't the only reason, or have you forgotten that Harry isn't the only one that has enough magic in him to forge a staff," Hermione retorted sternly. Hermione had updated Harry on her progress and it seemed that she was now done shaping it, though she wouldn't give him the slightest hint of what it looked like; she wanted it to be a surprise.

"I thought that was just a perk also," he said with a goofy grin as if he liked riling Hermione up. Harry secretly thought he did.

"Anyway, he'll tell you when he's ready," Draco announced as if it were his decision.

"Easy for you to say, you already know what the bloody Prophecy says," Ron bit back getting irritated.

"Does he act like he wants you to know yet?" Draco challenged. Harry heaved a sigh, but apparently not loud enough for anyone to hear.

"It doesn't matter, we've gone though the training he wanted us to go though, and he has to tell us," Ron demanded but didn't even look at Harry while he said this. Ginny and Hermione did, though Harry only raised a challenging eyebrow his way.

"How the hell do you think you have the right to demand anything Weasel, it's his Prophecy, his life, and his destiny that was dictated by that old bat? He'll tell you when he's good and ready," Draco said with his cheeks starting to tinge red from anger. Harry cleared his throat and they all turned to look at him. There were still echoes throughout the hall from Draco's last comment.

"When have you even cared about what's good for me?" Harry asked looking at Draco. Hermione winced but Ginny and Ron looked smug and victorious. "And as for you," he said turning his attention to Ron who paled considerably at being berated, "I'm not telling anyone a thing until Snape has had a chance to try and rape your mind the way he did mine. Only then will I truly believe that your walls are strong enough to hold what the Prophecy says," Harry finished. Harry's attention was caught by Neville who was nodding vigorously at Harry agreeing. Harry raised an eyebrow at him and he blushed slightly.

"It's just that I know how hard it was for me to learn Occlumency in the first place. I don't want to compromise anything until you're sure we're ready," he said by way of explanation. Hermione beamed at him while Harry gave him a warm smile.

"Thanks," Harry said, "For valuing my judgment."

"I've always valued your judgement; you've never given me a reason not to. After all, what's that Hermione said, 'Gut instinct: Never leave home without it'," he quoted and Hermione's grin went full blown and Neville blushed again.

"Right," Draco said looking awkwardly at Neville, "Shall we begin?" Hermione mumbled something under her breath but apparently only Harry and Luna caught it because Harry frowned and Luna just blinked owlishly. She didn't seem to know what to think about the comment, 'Power hungry snake'.

"Er...Sure," Harry began. "I want everyone to sit down and close their eyes." Draco immediately had a problem with this.

"How is that going to help? We need practical practice for this, not more knowledge. I've read all there is in the Hogwarts library anyway," he said.

"If you shut up and sit down I'll explain how this is going to help. It's the way I learned and it's the way I'm going to teach it," Harry said tersely. Draco huffed but sat anyway.

"Now," he began thinking, "I want everyone to close their eyes and imagine a pool of magic in the centre of their body. Imagine it being gold and in the shape of a sphere. It might be wise to say that it looks like a ball of golden mercury. This is your magical core; you can pull freely from it when ever you need to. When you use a wand or a staff, the magical core of your wand or staff pulls at this pool and channels it out of your body through means of your arm. I want everyone to raise their dominant hand and begin visualizing their pool of magic being channelled through their arm and hand without a wand. Think of your fingers as a magical core, and have the magic come to your finger tips. When it gets that far, think of a spell and visualize your magic that's resting dormant at the tips of your fingers forming the spell and discharging it into existence." No one had a reaction, so Harry continued. "Relax and try not to think of it happening, but try to convince yourselves that you feel it happening." Draco suddenly had a stunner fly out of his hand, and one that was about four times as strong as what he could for before. The first sign of progress, even if it was by Draco.

Luna was next when she let loose a swarm of butterflies that swept through the corridor like they were riding on wind. Harry smiled at her. Her imagination was so well formed Harry was surprised she didn't envision a mass attack such as those locusts formed on crops. Surprisingly, Ron was the next to discharge a bolt of white light, though Harry had no idea what it was supposed to do or be.

"What was the spell Ron?" Ron grimaced a bit.

"Lumos," he said.

"If you're doing something that usually only happens with a wand, such as Lumos or Point Me, try and think of an alternate way of it happening. For example," he said snapping his fingers and making a white orb of light hover above his hand. Ron nodded in understanding and closed his eyes again. "And don't forget to make a slight gesture and mummer the spell, it may help," Harry added as an after thought.

Next up was Ginny who had a bouquet of flowers materialized in front of her hand before she grasped them and gave them a long sniff before sighing. Harry laughed.

"Way to go Gin, try an offensive spell this time, be sure to aim away from everyone else...Ron that orbs a bit too big, you may want to open your eyes to see it," Harry said grinning. The thing was now the size of a foot ball, Ron had apparently not noticed this because he still had his eyes shut as if blissfully unaware of the whole room. When his eyes popped open and he saw it, he beamed from ear to ear, Harry grinned too. "Nice job, by the way," he added.

Around this time Draco let out another stunner that made the hair on the back of Harry's neck stand on end much the same way that Dumbledore's spells did in the Ministry last June. He looked at Draco oddly for a moment before looking away. Luna had been having a go and the Lumos spell and had about six small orbs of light dancing merrily around above her head. She seemed to be directing them as if she were a conductor in front of a band. Harry didn't say anything to her, it would have been useless anyway; she tended to learn what she wanted, when she wanted.

Ginny let out a stunner that was a bit high and clocked ole Salazar Slytherin in the nose. She smiled gleefully at this and Harry had to nod approvingly. Ginny was reluctant to come back down here at first due to Tom Riddle, but Harry eventually talked her into it.

"If it makes you feel better Gin, spout off a few good reductor curses at that old thing, serves him well," Harry said with an approving nod. Ginny got a glint in her eye and stood.

Draco was now using both hands to cast two of the same spells at the same time and as much as Harry hated to admit it, he had a knack for wandless magic once versed properly in the subject. Neville and Hermione had yet to do a simple lumos.

"Neville, what spell are you trying to form?" Harry asked. Neville was now sweating and his eyes were squeezed shut he was concentrating so hard. He let out a breath that he was holding and started panting.

"Stupefy."

"And your feeling yourself channel the magic from the pool in the centre of your body and through your arm and hand?" he asked. Neville nodded. "Then you're envisioning a red light forming at your fingertips then making a small gesture and saying the spell?" Harry asked again, again Neville nodded. Harry put his chin in his hand thinking, Neville was apparently going to need training wheels for this exercise too. He just lacked determination. "Alright stand up and come here." Neville looked slightly apprehensive, but as he said earlier, he always trusted Harry's judgment.

"I'm going to perform something like the Imperius on you, but you won't be able to fight this off, not even Voldemort can," Harry said, Neville didn't wince at the name anymore, apparently Harry had rubbed off on him. "I'm going to tell you what to do and how to feel, then it will most likely happen whether your aware of it or not. I want you to try to pay attention to what you're doing so you can repeat it after I'm done, okay?" Neville nodded again and looked a little nervous. Harry switched into his whispery seductive voice and began to talk into Neville's ear.

"Relax, but stay in your upright position," Harry instructed. He noticed that Neville seemed to go a bit lax under the arms and his shoulders fell slightly. "Raise your right hand," Neville did so. "Listen very carefully and pay attention to how the magic feels. Your magic is in the centre of your soul, of your body. It looks like a ball of golden mercury and is easily channelled though your arm and hand. Channel it and cast a stunner by waving your hand slightly and saying the spell," Harry instructed.

"Stupefy," Neville whispered with a twinge of his hand and a red light flew from his hand and barely missed Draco who was jumping around and casting spells at random. He started to yell something at Neville before he saw Harry give him a glare. He had the good grace to look slightly embarrassed about acting like a small child with a new toy and walked off by himself to play again.

"Remember how that felt, memorize it and to it again," Harry said and Neville repeated the incantation making the stunner slightly stronger. Harry nodded and released Neville. Neville gave his head a shake and Harry a grin before examining his hand like it was the first time he'd seen it. "Continue practicing and I'll come back in a few minutes to see if you've had anymore progress." He then approached Hermione.

"What seems to be the problem 'Mione?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, I just can't get it to do anything," she huffed and shook her hand in a burning fashion. Harry nodded.

"Seeing is believing huh?" he asked. She looked at him awkwardly for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I'm going to do a bit of Will Magic on myself and I want you to watch me. I'm going to make my physical existence invisible and only let my magic show so that you know what it looks like," he said. Hermione looked skeptical but agreed anyway. Harry closed his eyes and then twirled in a circle. His body disappeared and all that was left was a bright yellow glow in the centre of his body. Harry made his hand visible so that Hermione would have a clear picture of the path, then he showed his magic moving from the centre of his chest, across his heart, and into his arm. From there, it moved down into his fingertips and materialized into a blue light. "Relashio," he said clearly enough for her to hear and blue sparks spouted from his finger tips as he wiggled them. "Your turn."

Hermione closed her eyes lightly and held a hand out. Harry had to move because she accidentally pointed it at him, or he hoped it was an accident. She then said, "Lumos," and a large orb the size of a softball formed above her hand. She opened her eyes and beamed at the light that was shining on her face giving her the appearance of some kind of beautiful fairy out of fairy tale book. Hermione took it a step further when she waved her hand upward and threw the orb about fifty feet up in the air where it collided with the ceiling of the hall and burst into sparks of while light. It reminded Harry of one of Fred and George's fireworks. It would be an interesting Christmas Holiday for these seven teenagers.

[Latest edit 3/25/2004 /David305]