"Well, I can't say I didn't see this coming," Harry said nonchalantly.
"So you admit that you broke Mr. Malfoy's wand, then? Evidently you are a true Gryffindor, acting before you think and proudly proclaiming your imbecilic stunts to the world. We'll have you pay for a new wand for Draco as well," Snape sneered, thinking he had caught Harry's confession.
"I'll take this one, Harry," Hermione said. "Actually, Professor Snape, both magical law and the Hogwarts rules agree that Harry was well within his rights to defend himself."
"You're trying to convince me that snapping someone's wand is an act of defense, Granger? What insipid book did you pull that idea from? Even Longbottom mind isn't so feeble that he would try that as an excuse. Now, Potter, you will hand over your wand immediately."
"No he won't," Hermione interrupted, keeping herself calm in spite of Snape's insult. "You haven't even heard Harry's side of the story, yet. You can't confiscate a student's wand without evidence of his guilt in a serious magical offense."
"I have all the evidence I need," Snape said as he moved towards Harry.
"Yeah, we all know that all the evidence you need is for Malfoy to whine about how he's not getting his way. I don't know why I'm bothering with you. I'm going to take this to Professor Dumbledore," Harry boldly said as he pushed past his former potions professor.
"Professor Dumbledore is at a Triwizard meeting. If you're looking for him to save you, he's not available."
"Fine, then, let's take this to professor McGonagall."
"As deputy Headmistress, she is also at the meeting. Face it, Potter, you're going to have to deal with me."
"Actually," Hermione piped up again, "For matters outside the classroom, another professor is allowed to arbitrate in disagreements between a professor and a student in matters involving detention over one week, house point deductions over fifty, and, of course, expulsion and wand confiscation as you mentioned before."
"Let's take this to Professor Moody," Harry said immediately. He could tell Snape was terrified of the ex-Auror. Hurrying towards the Defense professor's office, they left Snape chasing after them. While keeping up a quick-paced jog, he said to Hermione, "Have I told you how much I love you, lately?"
"I think the last time you said it was about five minutes before we got to the castle, Harry," Hermione giggled.
"That was brilliant back there. Thank you so much," Harry said.
"I've been wanting to do that for a while, Harry. You're so lucky you're in the tournament, getting to skip his class and all. He's been picking on me in your place, I think, but he's having a harder time of it because I always brew the potions correctly."
Harry laughed. "Why don't you drop the class too? At the pace we're going, we could be ready for OWLs by the end of this year. Being in Snape's class holds you back, you know."
"Yes, but it'll show up on my grades if I don't do the assignments. And I still need to take the exams."
"Still, I'd love to take the potions OWL a year early if it means I don't have to deal with Snape any more."
They arrived at Moody's office and knocked on the door. Snape caught up to them just as Moody opened the door. "Mr. Potter. What can I do for you?" he asked. His magical eye swivelled towards Snape. "Having some problems with Death Eaters, son?"
"I... have been acquitted..." Snape said stiffly. "This is a Hogwarts matter, Professor Moody," he stressed.
"Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. Maybe if you're willing to chop off your own left arm I'd be more inclined to believe your story. Albus might forgive you, but not everyone's so kind. Now what are you doing with Mr. Potter here?"
"Professor, we need you to arbitrate a disagreement we're having with Professor Snape. He wants to confiscate Harry's wand and maybe expel him."
"He also refuses to listen to my side of the story," Harry added.
"And whose side is he trusting instead?"
"Malfoy's."
Moody let out a low, animalistic growl while staring at Snape with both eyes. It was only then that Harry noticed Moody had had his wand pointed at Snape the entire time. "So, Professor Snape, taking the side of your comrade's son, eh? Still associating with the old crowd, I see. Maybe I should haul you down to the DMLE right now for another night in front of the mirror?"
Harry didn't know what mirror Moody was talking about, but Snape gave a barely perceptible shudder as he replied, "May I remind you that I am not the one on trial here, Professor Moody, and you are no longer an auror."
"Right then, lad. Tell me what happened."
"Basically, during the train trip, Draco tried to break into our cabin several times. He obviously failed," Harry explained as gave a knowing smile to Moody, who taught many of those spells, straight out of the auror's handbook. "At the end of the trip, we guessed he would try to ambush us, which he did. And failed in that, as well."
"You seem to have conveniently left out the part where you snapped his wand," Snape spat, barely holding in his anger.
"Because I didn't. I just cast a shield charm and Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle fell down. I think it was Goyle who snapped Malfoy's wand, by falling on it. Or maybe Malfoy broke it himself when he pulled it out from under Goyle." Harry shrugged.
"You're saying a shield charm knocked them over? Preposterous." Snape glared hatefully at Harry.
"Never big on actually collecting evidence, are you, Severus? No wonder we were losing the last war, with such a shoddy spy working for us... if you really were on our side, that is. There's a very simple solution for this. Potter, give me your wand."
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked cautiously. While he definitely trusted Moody more than Snape, he didn't want to let his wand out of his reach without a very good reason.
"Good to know you're learning, boy. I'm going to cast Priori Incantato, which will show the last few spells cast by your wand." Harry handed over his wand, and the spell revealed the Pushing Shield spell, followed by a few locking spells he had used in the cabin.
"That's it? You only cast locking spells on your cabin?" Moody growled.
"Hermione cast the privacy and detection wards," Harry explained quickly, amused that Moody was taking a keener interest in Harry's DADA skills than dealing with Snape.
"Good. Well, Severus, it seems like Harry here did only cast a shield charm. Now I have to ask why Harry needed to cast it in the first place."
"Well, Malfoy opened up with a disarming charm, and I countered with the shield. After he fell over, he tried casting another spell with his broken wand, but it didn't come out right. What does Tereburere do?"
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