Thicker Than Water: Year Six

Chapter 10 - Nose to the Grindstone

Harry awoke on his first morning of classes, pulled back his hangings, and automatically glanced over towards Ron's bed. It had been slept in - the covers were rumpled and a t-shirt lay on top - but there was no sign of Ron.

Dressing quietly so as not to wake the still sleeping Dean and Seamus, Harry went to wash then headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. When he walked in, he saw Ron at the far end of the table, in an animated conversation with Hermione. Harry decided it was a good time to clear things up with them, and walked over to where they sat.

As he approached Ron looked up and, seeing who it was, shot Harry a venomous look. Before Harry could say anything, Ron was pulling Hermione's arm as he rose to leave the table.

"Wait!" Harry called out, but Ron turned his back and started taking rapid strides towards the entrance of the Great Hall. Hermione looked up at him, gave a sympathetic look then hurried out to catch up with Ron. She brushed by Ginny who was just entering the Hall for breakfast.

Ginny had a puzzled look on her face as she glanced back over her shoulder. She then glanced towards the table, and her expression turned to one of concern. Ginny walked up to Harry, and said kindly, "Don't mind my brother, he's just dealing with some.... issues. I'm Ginny Weasley, by the way, in fifth year. Welcome to Gryffindor!"

"Some welcome!" Harry grunted, looking out the doors of the Hall.

"Yeah, well, Ron's lost a friend this summer, and he's been touchy about everything lately. Hope he isn't taking it out on you, a newcomer! Anyway, don't worry about him, there's lots of great people in Gryffindor." Ginny pulled Harry down into the seat beside her, and began helping herself to toast and eggs, still talking to him. "Have you figured out what classes you're taking?"

Harry concentrated on giving Ginny vague answers that matched his persona as Leo. He didn't intend to deceive her, but had planned on telling Ron and Hermione the truth first. Before long, they were joined by several other upper-year students, including Lavender who was still checking him out, and Neville, who was telling Ginny about the fifth-year curriculum in Herbology.

By the time he had finished breakfast, Professor McGonagall was walking the length of the Gryffindor table, handing out class timetables. Harry was still feeling down about Ron's rejection as he accepted the paper. Professor McGonagall leaned over and said, "Mr. Evangy, if you would be so kind, the Headmaster would like to speak with you after breakfast about scheduling remedial sessions. He informs me that your previous curriculum did not include all the course work that we have covered as a prerequisite for our sixth year courses."

Still dejected, Harry said, "I'm ready to go see him now," and Professor McGonagall led him out of the Great Hall and walked him part of the way to Dumbledore's office. She pointed down a hallway and said, "Continue until you reach the stone gargoyle. The password is licorice sticks."

Harry trudged up to the Headmaster's office. The door swung open as he stepped up, and he entered to find Dumbledore seated behind his desk. Remembering the last time he was here - after the battle at the Ministry and Sirius' fall through the veil - Harry felt an involuntary shudder. He could sense various witches and wizards in the portraits studying him obliquely, though they all pretended to be otherwise occupied when he turned to look at the walls.

"I take it your return to Hogwarts has been thus far uneventful?" Dumbledore asked, interrupting Harry's thoughts. Harry gave a small nod, and the old professor went on, "We've taken the liberty of arranging your schedule, Harry. Do the selected courses meet with your approval?"

For the first time since Professor McGonagall had given him the schedule, Harry took notice of the piece of parchment in his hands. Scanning the timetable, he saw that he was signed up for six courses: Defence Against the Dark Arts; Transfiguration; Potions; Charms; Herbology; and Magical Creatures.

"You haven't got the prerequisites for Arithmancy or Ancient Runes, and your Astronomy and History OWL-examination marks were not very good," continued Dumbledore, looking down at a copy of Harry's timetable on his desk. "However, if you would prefer, you could change your electives to either Muggle Studies or Divination."

At the thought of enduring more lessons with Sybil Trelawney, Harry shook his head vigorously. He replied, "No, no: these courses look just fine!"

"Please note the free period on Thursday mornings. We will arrange some extra training for you at those times - with Remus Lupin, Bill Weasley or myself, depending on the topic and our availability," Dumbledore said. "You will also be seeing Remus and Nymphadora Tonks every other weekend at the Manor, to tend to your cosmetics. Aside from defence and duelling, is there anything you'd like particular instruction in?"

Harry thought for a moment then asked anxiously, "Well, sir, could I learn how to apparate?"

Dumbledore drummed his fingers on the desk, studying Harry minutely. He finally spoke, "It's a good idea for you to know how to apparate. On the other hand, if you are taught, I need your word that you will not abuse the knowledge and depart on any.... unsupervised excursions."

Tensing up, Harry felt a wave of fury at the rebuke and wanted to shout that going to the Ministry of Magic last June had not simply been an unsupervised excursion. But he controlled his anger, took a deep breath, and said slowly, "I promise, sir, not to abuse your trust."

"I have complete faith in you, Harry," said Dumbledore, giving him a penetrating look. "I ask that you have some faith in me, and in the Order of the Phoenix. If there is anything, anything at all, you would like to talk about, please don't hesitate to seek my confidence or at least talk to Remus or Bill."

Harry nodded, just as a cuckoo from a large clock on a shelf behind Dumbledore began squawking. Dumbledore looked over in surprise and said, "It appears I'm making you late for classes on your first day back. Off you go, Harry. But do be careful to keep your identity concealed, excepting your closest friends, of course."

Nodding again, Harry bid the Headmaster adieu and quickly left the office, relieved to get away. He was only five minutes late for Charms, and muttered that he was new to Hogwarts and had gotten lost. Professor Flitwick told him to get one of the other students to guide him around, as Harry slipped into a seat beside Seamus. He was pleased that he didn't lose any points. The tiny Professor went on to describe the year's curriculum, which included rudimentary healing charms, and a section that would complement the spells they learned in their Transfiguration class.

Transfiguration came next, with Professor McGonagall sternly lecturing the students on the difficulty of performing the advanced animal transfigurations they were expected to learn that year. She emphasized that these were the backbone for the seventh year NEWT curriculum, which included human transfigurations and complex switching spells.

"In addition, the theory behind advanced animal transfigurations will be invaluable to those of you studying apparition after your seventeenth birthdays. The harder you work on mastering these spells, the less likely you are to splinch yourselves during your first attempts at apparating."

The class shuddered at the thought. Harry made a mental note to read ahead in his transfiguration textbook, especially as he was going to begin apparition lessons soon.

After class, Luna managed to find Harry in the hall outside of Transfiguration. She fell into step beside him as he headed to lunch, and said conversationally, "Bit of a rough summer, wasn't it?"

Harry was taken aback, not knowing whether she somehow recognised him or was just acting strange around the new boy. He answered, "Err.... yeah, well, it was okay."

"Mine was a bit down at the beginning," Luna went on. "But Daddy and I had a really good time in Sweden, we saw some marvellous things! No Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, I'm afraid."

They reached the Great Hall, Harry completely at a loss as to how he should address her. He managed to come up with what sounded like urgh. Luna continued to walk with him to the far end of the Gryffindor table. Harry pointed at the table and said, "Uh.... lunch."

Luna gave a wide smile that lit up her face, and looked straight at him. "It's really nice to see you again - it's Leo, isn't it?" After the slightest pause, she turned and walked off to the Ravenclaw table.

Harry sat down and mechanically loaded his plate, confused and preoccupied. His best friends and roommates didn't know him through his disguise, but Luna? She had walked right up and spoken to him as if it were a normal conversation and he, a normal Harry. She's probably just fallen for Leo and was being odd as usual, he told himself. But his mind insisted that her words had been too direct and personal.

Neville walked over and sat down beside Harry. He greeted him, and reached over to pile lunch onto his plate. After taking a few bites, Neville asked Harry conversationally, "Are you in the Defence Against the Dark Arts class? Our fist one is this afternoon."

Harry nodded distractedly, and Neville began to wonder aloud who would be teaching the class this year. He filled the supposed newcomer in on the "curse of the DADA teachers," telling Leo about the amazing turnover since his first year at Hogwarts.

Dean, who sat nearby, quipped, "Based on recent history, we'll probably get either an insane lunatic who works for You-Know-Who or a completely ineffectual self-satisfied nutter. My favourite was Lockhart, for sure!"

"Yeah, only then we'd have to compete with the prof for the girls' attention! No thank you, I'm glad I'm not taking Defense again this year, not after the hell of that Umbridge woman last year... I only wish Harry were still around, that D.A. group was amazing!" said Seamus.

Harry looked uncomfortably down at his uneaten potatoes, but Neville was staring at Seamus with interest. Ginny sat down a few seats away, and Seamus began to ask her which fifth year courses she was taking. Dean was looking at her intently, but she just ignored him and continued the off-the-cuff conversation she was having with Seamus.

It was finally time for Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Harry walked over with Neville and Dean. They were seated on one side of the classroom, as other Gryffindor and Ravenclaw sixth years filed in. Hermione sat herself at the front of the class and Ron - who had been stuck to her side since they got back to Hogwarts - sat down at the desk beside her. The noise level in the room began to rise, when the time came for class to start but no teacher had appeared yet.

The door suddenly opened, and a gust of air ushered in their new professor. He looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp.

Stepping up to the front table, he placed a worn briefcase down with a decisive clunk. He then looked up at the students, turning his head to meet every eye. He introduced himself in a gruff but tired voice, "My name is Aryeh Panthera, I will be your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. From last term's OWL grades and the Headmaster's report, I understand you have not all received uniform defence training, and I fully intend to remedy that situation. Please line up on one side of the classroom, and I will begin with a quick assessment of your skills and the overall level of the class."

The students shuffled into a line as the old professor cleared the desks to the opposite wall with a flick of his wand. Mandy Brocklehurst, who was first in line, stepped up when Professor Panthera indicated a spot in the centre of the class.

"Okay, just relax now. I'll send a few hexes your way, and we'll see what you can do," Panthera said in a slow, raspy voice. "On the count of three..."

Mandy was able to block the first two hexes he sent her way, but reacted too slowly on the third and was hit by a jelly-leg curse. Muttering "finite incantatum," the professor stepped over to his desk and scribbled a note next to her name.

He then proceeded to test each of the other students in line, adding more complicated hexes or extra instructions when he met with good responses. Hermione, midway along the line, stepped up for her evaluation. She reacted quickly, and was able to block four spells fired in quick succession at the end of her turn.

"Very good," murmured Panthera, as Ron took Hermione's place. Ron blocked two curses, dodged another, and put up a shield for the fourth. His co-ordination was off, though, and Panthera managed to hit Ron's side. As Terry Boot reached out a hand to help Ron off the floor, the old professor said sharply, "You've got good reflexes, Mr. Weasley, and some power behind your shield - now all you have to do is bring the two together!"

When Neville's turn came, a few Ravenclaws exchanged amused looks, expecting Panthera to flatten him in seconds. Neville, however, was able to block several curses, including a few powerful ones that Panthera shot quickly at him.

"Try throwing a few curses back my way," Panthera encouraged him, while sending a leg-lock at Neville. Neville shielded and quickly shouted back, "Expelliarmus!"

The old professor moved lazily out of the way and returned the same spell, which Neville was also able to dodge. The test went on for another half a minute before Panthera put down his wand and gave a satisfied nod. Several students gave Neville admiring looks while a few Gryffindors clapped him on the back as he resumed his place in the line.

Harry stepped up next and gave the professor his name, "Leo Evangy."

"All right, Mr. Evangy," Panthera said, directing a piercing gaze at him while whipping off a stunner. Harry blocked it and - quidditch reflexes kicking in - had to stop himself just as he was about to return the hex. The professor lifted his wand and shot an arc of light at Harry, who simultaneously cast a shield around himself and moved sideways to avoid it.

Remembering that he was supposed to appear a mediocre defence student in his Leo-guise, Harry had to muster all his energy to keep from responding too quickly to the next couple of curses that flew at him. It was very difficult: after fighting Voldemort at the senior Riddle's graveside and battling Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic, reactive duelling was instinctive to Harry, who counted it as a survival skill.

"Send a couple my way, boy," the patient professor continued, aiming a body bind at him. Harry blocked then deliberately fumbled his wand, misdirecting an Inebrius-hex about a foot to the left of Panthera.

The professor lifted his wand, signalling the end of the evaluation and said to him, "I think you can do a little better than that - we'll certainly have something to work on as the year progresses."

Only Dean and Padma Patil remained to be tested. When they were through, Panthera waved to the students to stand in a circle around him. "Not too badly done, but none of you would have lasted too long in a real duel..."

Harry silently begged to differ, thinking back to his friends' quick performances at the fight at the Ministry.

"...and we'll be focusing on duelling, and practical defensive techniques this term. Next term, we'll be developing a holistic recognition of dark magic. You'll be taught to identify somebody who is under the Imperius curse, and the theory behind Legilimency and other forms of mind control. For now, I would like you to research five effective responses to physical-limitation curses. Please be prepared to discuss these in our next class, when we'll start applying the defensive spells."

When he finally dismissed the class, the students had a lot to talk about. Panthera's approach was both academic and practical; the lesson plan sounded interesting, but he himself was not deemed to be the most dynamic of instructors. Nonetheless, after some of their experiences with Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers, the general consensus among the sixth year students was that Panthera was okay, and that his year at least wouldn't be a write-off like last year had been.

*

The following day brought Harry face to face with Hagrid for the first time since his return to school. Instead of Care of Magical Creatures, the sixth- and seventh-year course name had lost a couple of words and was now just called Magical Creatures. Harry was surprised that the first class of each week would be held in an ordinary main-floor classroom.

He walked in, hoping for a sign or flicker of recognition from Hagrid, but the big man just waved him into the classroom with all the other students. Being coolly ignored by his large friend just made the pit of loneliness caused by Harry's disguise sit heavier in his stomach.

He was relieved, at least, that Malfoy wasn't standing with the knot of Slytherins at the far side of the classroom, having apparently dropped the class. Ron was there - without Hermione, to Harry's surprise - but gave Leo a wide berth and stood talking to Seamus.

"This year's Magical Creatures class is gonna be a bit different. The Headmaster wants yer to get meeting with some of the intelligent creatures and beasts, so that's what we'll be doing," explained Hagrid to the assembled students.

He went on to tell them that every Tuesday's class would be discussion and assigned readings about the life and history of a different creature. On Thursdays, they would actually be meeting and interviewing the creatures as a group, in an appropriate setting. Their final grade would be based on short reports about each of the creatures, and one significant research paper to be written about the creature of their choice.

Over the year, they would be introduced to Centaurs, Veela, Merpeople, Goblins, House-Elves, Werewolves, a vampire and a giant, among others. The last two caused quite a stir, as many of the students turned and began whispering to one another about the dangers involved.

Hagrid concluded, "You'll be needing ter read up on Centaurs fer next week. I'm sure yeh all remember Firenze from last year; he'll be coming in to talk with yeh about his kind. Oh yeah, and if yeh want to arrange a personal interview with one o'them creatures fer yer research paper, just come an see me: you'll be needing somebody to supervise yeh during yer meetings."

Harry left the room still feeling badly that Hagrid had met him as a stranger. On the other hand, he was glad that Dumbledore had chosen Magical Creatures for him, and that he had decided to stay in the class. The curriculum sounded too good to be true, and he couldn't wait to see Hermione's face when she found out what they would be studying in the class she had dropped. Then Harry's face fell as he remembered that he hadn't yet told her who he was, and debated about cornering her alone - when she wasn't with Ron - and telling her the truth.

Thinking of his friends, Harry went to spend a quiet free period alone in the owlery writing a joint letter to Ron and Hermione. They still didn't realise he was at Hogwarts, and would be worried if they didn't hear from him. Harry kept the letter deliberately short and vague, but concluded by stating that he missed them and sending his best to Ginny. Signing it simply From Me, Harry sealed the scroll and tied it to the leg of a horned owl. He then wandered over to a sleeping Hedwig, gently stroked her feathers and talked to her a bit. The snowy owl opened one eye and gave him a few reassuring hoots and affectionate pecks before returning to her slumber. Feeling a bit better, Harry went off to face lunch with his stranger-friends, and then the dreaded Double-Potions class afterwards.

*

Harry walked into the dungeon apprehensively and took a seat beside Parvati, who had waved him over when he arrived. He looked around and saw sixth-year students from all four houses, though the class was about the same size as it had been in previous years. Hermione walked in and sat beside Susan Bones; Harry guessed that Ron, like him, had not received the Outstanding mark prerequisite for taking the course. Malfoy was sitting at the far right, beside what looked like a very bored Theodore Nott. Harry half expected that Malfoy would start hexing his partner, who had become the sixth year prefect; Malfoy lost the post after his avid support of Umbridge in the previous year. Nott was obviously no fan of Malfoy's, but as Crabbe and Goyle had both dropped the class, Malfoy had a limited number of Slytherins to sit with.

Harry asked Parvati about her classes, and she began talking about her favourite - Divination - describing Professor Trelawney in reverential tones. He listened sceptically until Snape swept into the dungeon with his usual impatient scowl and turned to address the NEWT-level Potions class.

"Obviously, those of you still in this class are here because you have some aptitude at brewing Potions. The NEWT curriculum is gruelling and, if at any point in the year I find you unprepared for classes and unfamiliar with the potions-ingredients, you will be asked to leave. Many of the concoctions you will be working on are highly toxic if improperly administered and prepared. I will not therefore be giving second chances: if there is any fooling around or cutting corners, you can leave sooner than later, and save us all the misery of attending to your mistakes."

At that point, Snape took a role-call of the students present, and his eyes lingered momentarily on Harry when he came upon the unfamiliar name. He then collected summer essays (except for Harry's who, as a supposed exchange student, hadn't written any), and began to ask questions. Harry groaned at the inevitable, as Snape turned his first question on him.

"Mr. Evangy, what is the difference between the Draught of the Living Death and a Comatose Concoction?" asked Snape.

Harry was glad that he had read all the extra potions material recommended to him at the Manor over the summer. Stumbling over the first few words, he suddenly found that the answer wasn't so difficult to recall. "Well, uh, the Draught of the Living Death is more potent, locking the drinker into an endless sleep while keeping their essential bodily functions intact. The Comatose Concoction is easier to awaken from, and can be used medicinally."

Snape goaded him further, asking, "In what way is the Comatose Concoction better adapted for medicinal usage?"

Harry mentally flipped through the pages of the chapter on healing-potions and came up with the answer. "The Comatose Concoction can be dose altered to induce a sleep-like trance for a short duration. This allows healers to engage in invasive procedures for set lengths of time."

The potions-master nodded and said coolly, "One point to Gryffindor," before turning to test Ernie MacMillan on the properties of crushed lace-wigs.

Relieved to have lost Snape's attention, Harry sat seemingly-attentive, all the while wondering why it had taken him over five years and a complete physical transformation to earn a single point for Gryffindor in potions class. This line of thought left him in a bad mood by the time Snape announced the week's readings and dismissed the class. As he was getting ready to go, Snape came over and stood beside his desk. Parvati threw him a sympathetic look as she squeezed past and left the dungeon.

"A word, Mr. Evangy. I understand that your education in America followed a somewhat different curriculum than we do at Hogwarts. Since I insist on only the highest standards for my NEWT-level classes, I will have to evaluate your knowledge of potions," Snape said.

Harry was about to tell him that he had received assurances from the Headmaster that his background was adequate, when Snape put a hand up to stop him from talking. The potions master then continued. "I am sure your knowledge of the field will suffice, as you proved yourself able to answer my questions earlier. However, I still require assurances that your answers were not simply a fluke, and that you have a solid understanding of the subject. I have therefore prepared an exam for you to work on outside of class time. You may consult textbooks, but please do not ask assistance of your fellow students. I expect the exam back by start of the next class. Your continued participation in this class will depend on your mark."

At that, Snape handed Harry a roll of parchment and gave him a brief nod before sweeping out of the dungeon. Harry left as well, reluctantly accepting that Snape's logic in giving him the exam was fair. The thought that Snape had treated him decently and with respect for his potential knowledge of potions made Harry seethe with anger.

For five years, the potions master had treated Harry like a fool, intimidating and humiliating him before students and staff alike. Last year, when Snape should have been teaching him occlumency, he used the sessions as further opportunity to attack and belittle Harry.

Harry's obvious success at occlumency and legilimency when Bill was his mentor over the summer proved to him that his lack of success with Snape was certainly not his own fault. Now that he was Leo, an unknown and untried mind, the professor was fair and willing to give him a chance to prove himself; a chance that Harry felt he had never had from the man.

Harry had half a mind to tear up the parchment Snape had given him, and walk away from potions class forever. Then he thought of the potion that Wormtail had used to resurrect Voldemort at the end of his fourth year. He could be sure that Voldemort's knowledge of potions remained that much more superior to his own, and did not want to find himself an unwilling participant in any more of his enemy's concoctions again. Besides, his chances of being accepted for training as an auror depended on completing this course.

Still wearing a scowl, Harry stormed into the library and found a seat at a table near the back. He unrolled the parchment Snape had given him and decided that, since he was going to remain in the potions class, he wasn't going to present Snape a huge target or give the professor any chances at renewed hostility. Pulling out his ink and quill, Harry reluctantly turned his attention to the first question and thought, this is going to be a long evening.