The Last Sanguimagus

The Great Hall was exactly the same, save for a single, enormous curtain bisecting it neatly down the centre. Professor Marten stood in front of the head table, beaming. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Professor Marten," responded the class enthusiastically.

Ron grinned at Harry. "This is it...our chance to show up the Slytherins!"

"Malfoy's going to wish he hadn't got out of bed this morning," said Harry, looking over at the pale-faced teen, who smirked in return.

"Today's lesson is simple," said Marten. "I will be dividing you into two teams. Each team will have its own flag. You can see the Gryffindors' flag there." He pointed to a table that stood against the middle of the wall. "The object of this game is to retrieve the other team's flag. You have ten minutes to devise whatever strategy you can in order to obtain the flag while defending your own." He gestured to a large hourglass sitting on the head table. "When the sands run out, the hourglass will flash green and emit a whistle. The game will be over at that point, and I will declare a victor. That will leave us another ten minutes to put the Hall back in order."

He hopped down from the dais and gestured with his wand, raising a portion of the curtain. "Nearly everything you've been taught is fair game, of course, and for those with a sensitive temperament"--here he looked at Neville--"rest assured that there is a Floo channel open directly to Madam Pomfrey's infirmary, should that be necessary. Though I should advise you against Unforgiveables," he added drolly. "Anything can be of use, though please try to restrain yourself from casting spells that are purely malicious or destructive. Also, the portion of the Hall containing the head table is off limits. Slytherins, if you please..."

Malfoy grinned malevolently at Harry before stepping through the curtain, followed closely by the rest of the Slytherins.

"Oh, and one more thing before I cast the appropriate charms," said Marten cheerfully. "Whichever team wins will earn fifty points for their House."

Ron whistled. "We could really use that," he said.

"Here we go," said Marten. "You have ten minutes to prepare..." He tapped the curtain with his wand, and it lowered back to the floor. They could hear nothing from the other side now, and Marten gestured again, dropping a new curtain into place that cut off the view of the head table area.

The Gryffindors gathered around Harry expectantly.

"We need to decide who is on the Retrieval team," said Harry. Ron's hand shot up, as did Seamus's. Neville put his hand in the air as well. "Ron, Seamus, you'll come with me." Neville's face fell in disappointment. "Neville, you're in charge of defence. It's your job to see to it that the Slytherins don't get the flag. I'm thinking, we turn the tables on their sides and bring them in close. Any other ideas?"

"We should make the flag difficult to get to as well," said Hermione.

"Let's get a few people rearranging the tables...Lavender?" he said. Lavender and Parvati immediately nodded and took to pulling away the benches from the table, while Dean began to shift the tables onto their sides.

"We could Transfigure the banners into nets," said Hermione thoughtfully, "to prevent them from flying in and grabbing the flag."

"They don't have brooms," said Ron, looking confused.

"There are other methods," she said impatiently. "Malfoy could levitate Goyle, for instance." Ron looked horrified at the idea of Goyle gliding through the air.

"I don't think we'll have enough time," said Harry. "Maybe just one, above the table...that would prevent them from using a Summoning Charm..."

"We just don't have enough time for an anti-gravity mist," said Hermione, looking sad. "We need a few more defensive spells...I'll work on those with Neville." She turned and walked off, leaving Harry with Seamus and Ron.

"So we get in, grab the flag, and get out," said Ron, looking nervous but excited.

"We need a way to get to the Slytherin flag easily," Harry said, thinking.

"A diversion?" said Seamus.

"A head-on approach could work," said Harry. "Two of us could come in from one side, while the third goes in from the other side and takes the flag."

"We could throw a few Stunners and then I could turn Malfoy into a weasel," said Ron longingly.

Seamus laughed. "I'd pay a Galleon to see that."

"We have to be ready for anything," said Harry. "They'll be casting lots of offensive spells...make certain you're ready to cast a Shielding Charm at all times."

Hermione came up again, pointing out the defences they had put in place.

Marten appeared again, smiling broadly. "Just one minute left," he said cheerily. Harry, Ron and Seamus helped move the last of the tables in place as the rest of the Gryffindors took cover inside their makeshift fort. Hermione was shouting out last-minute suggestions until the whistle sounded. Harry, Ron and Seamus readied themselves, keeping to the right side and hoping to have the element of surprise.

The curtain dropped and evaporated into nothingness.

Seamus gasped. Ron cursed.

The other side of the Great Hall was filled with magical white smoke, swirling and undulating. Harry couldn't see anything past the fog.

"What do we do now?" asked Ron.

He heard Hermione's voice, and turned to look. She shouted something he couldn't make out. There was an enormous rush of air, and it filled the Hall, roaring until it had cleaned out most of the smoke. Harry grinned at Ron. "Ready?"

"Let's go!" said Ron.

The Slytherins had done much the same, arranging their side of the Hall with benches stacked precariously on top of each other in the middle of the wall. Several tables were strewn haphazardly about, as if they hadn't had time to finish adding them. Harry couldn't see any of the students. "Let's use the tables as cover," he suggested to Ron and Seamus. They rushed to the first table and hunched down behind it.

It looked clear. Harry whispered a few more instructions to Seamus, and then crept out with Ron to the next table. Behind him on the Gryffindor side he could hear muffled shouting, but didn't dare look back. A red flash of light suddenly erupted, and the table shook resoundingly as a Stunner struck it. Ron gripped his wand tightly, a stubborn look in his eyes.

Harry looked around the edge of the table cautiously, and was almost struck by another Stunner. He paused for a moment and then popped out again. "Reducto!" he shouted, aiming at the makeshift barrier. The bottommost table exploded, and the other tables creaked ominously and then crashed in on themselves. Someone shrieked. "Next table!" hissed Harry. Ron leapt out for a moment and cast a Reductor Curse of his own, sending a few more tables crashing down. "Now!" said Harry.

Seamus came in from the other side, and all three of them went in, casting Full Body Binds, but the only Slytherins left were Pansy and Nott, who were now lying on the floor paralyzed.

"There's no flag!" shouted Ron. "Those ruddy, cheating--"

"No flag?" said Harry in disbelief. Ron was right. The table was empty. "Where are the other Slytherins?"

"They must be attacking our fort!" said Dean.

Harry looked down at Pansy and Nott. They weren't about to tell them anything, being paralyzed. "Let's go!" he said, running back to the Gryffindor side with Ron and Seamus right behind him.

Hermione and Neville stood in front of the last set of tables. Neville had an expression of pure stubbornness on his face, and he stood in front of the flag. Hermione's legs were obviously stuck together from the Leg-Locker Curse, but she was still attempting to cast spells.

"Impedimenta!" shouted Harry, and Malfoy was knocked off his feet. The other Slytherins turned and began to defend themselves. Neville continued to stand in front of the flag, determinedly protecting it.

There was a sudden loud whistle, and Harry dropped his wand arm, panting. "Rictusempra!" said Malfoy. Harry, surprised, barely had time to say "Protego!" before the curse rebounded. There was a quick pause and then Malfoy said "Augeo cranium!"

Harry moved, but not quickly enough, and the curse clipped him. There was a weird feeling, as if his head was suddenly filling with air, and he watched in shock as everything began to distort. Hermione looked horrified. The Slytherins were laughing loudly as Professor Marten strode up.

"Always knew you had a big head," drawled Malfoy, generating even more laughter.

"Oh dear," Marten groaned. "Let's get you to Madam Pomfrey." He took Harry's arm and began to guide him to the fireplace. "Fifty points to Gryffindor!" he announced.

The Slytherins stopped laughing. Pansy made a furious noise. He heard Ron whoop suddenly.

"But no one retrieved a flag!" said Malfoy loudly.

Marten began to manoeuvre Harry into the fireplace after throwing in a handful of Floo powder. It was difficult, because at this point Harry's head was nearly as large as the opening, though it felt as light as air. Harry felt nauseated and shut his eyes.

Marten shouted over his shoulder, "Since neither side retrieved the flag, it is entirely up to my discretion, and I find that the Gryffindors were more organised, both offensively and defensively...they have won this competition!"

Marten gave one last shove, and Harry fell through, landing in the Hospital Wing. He heard Madam Pomfrey cluck disapprovingly as she took his arm and helped him to a bed.

***

Sarah buttered a piece of toast lightly. The students seemed a bit more lively than usual, especially the Gryffindors. She bit into the toast hesitatingly, hoping that she wouldn't be nauseated, and was relieved when she felt fine. A few more bites convinced her that the Strengthening Solution's grip on her was truly gone.

As usual, Sybill's chair was empty, and Silas was carrying on a conversation with Minerva about his classes that week. The Headmaster was at the Ministry, as he had been all week.

"Yes, they've won two competitions already this week," said Silas. "So they're one hundred points ahead."

"Pardon me?" said Minerva. "One hundred points...That's where they came from?"

"The Gryffindors have won two of the Defence competitions, worth fifty House points each," said Silas patiently.

Severus whirled to look at him. "Fifty points each?" he snarled, looking enraged. "What is this nonsense?"

"Silas," said Minerva, frowning, "you can't possibly have been awarding points in that manner."

"Of course I have," he said stiffly. "House points are given or subtracted according to each teacher's discretion."

"Yes, but..." Minerva seemed to struggle for a moment to find the correct words. "Silas, generally points for events have to be agreed upon by the Heads of Houses. Such large point awards...well, I must say that they're usually only given for Quidditch matches, and special competitions, or in very special circumstances."

"This is ridiculous," spat Severus. "Fifty points...preposterous! Only the Heads of Houses give out fifty points--"

"Nevertheless, this was not explained to me," said Silas, "and I cannot see depriving the rest of my students of their due, so I will finish out the competition in the manner in which it was intended."

Severus looked as if he could breathe fire, and Sarah took another sip of tea, watching him. "This is intolerable," he hissed.

"I'm sorry, Severus, but you'll just have to take the matter up with the Headmaster," said Silas, shrugging.

"You could take the points away," suggested Sarah. "I'm certain that the students would understand. After all, I thought that the point of the exercise was to give them practical, hands-on experience in Defence. The points are only a bonus."

Silas turned to face her, his expression unpleasant. "As you are neither Headmaster nor Head of House I would suggest you keep your comments to yourself."

"It's a pity, really, that you don't heed your own advice," she said pointedly.

"My own..." He looked peeved. "As you are the most junior member of the staff, with the most limited timetable, I would think that you would know well your place and stay out of discussions that do not concern you."

"I believe that the awarding and subtracting of points concerns us all," she said neutrally.

"Sarah is correct," said Minerva. "You should have come to us before you began your competition."

"As I have said, I believed points to be the domain of each teacher," answered Silas with a bit of heat. "I did not realise that a committee had to approve each transaction."

"Now you're being unreasonable," said Minerva in an authoritative tone. "I believe that Albus will have a word with you when he returns. Until then, I don't wish to hear any more of this."

Sarah took another sip of tea to hide her smile.