"Uhm, now that that's out of the way, we should probably get on writing the invitations," Neville said. He gently grasped the squirming baby fern they were potting and placed it into the hole in the soil Harry had prepared. "We only have two more weeks."
"You got your list?" Harry shovelled soil around the roots of the fern and made a satisfied sound. "Mine is ready, but if you could look it over ... I don't want to cause a national incident by accident."
Neville laughed quietly. "Of course. Let's meet toworrow after school's out?"
Reassured that things were progressing nicely, they left Madam Sprout's class and headed to DADA, where Professor Lupin was already waiting for them.
"Since we're having the Patronus Club on the same day as one of our two periods per week, I've decided to dedicate this class to theory so you'll still have some enthusiasm left for the club," Lupin said after he'd taken roll.
Malfoy raised his hand and drawled, "Professor, is the club even needed if Black's in Rome? The Ministry will call the dementors off any day now, won't they?"
The whole class swivelled back towards Lupin expectantly.
Lupin vaguely lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "We can't be certain that the Ministry will act with haste in this matter, I'm afraid. Right now, the dementors are still stationed around the school, and Quidditch practice is still suspended to protect the players from their influence. I, and indeed the whole faculty, would feel infinitely better if you do not quit for the time being."
"None of us will be able to cast that spell if even the seventh years are struggling," Malfoy persisted. Scowling at Harry, he added, "And Potter doesn't count."
Professor Lupin calmly leaned against his desk and said, "Some of you are already able to produce a mist, which is very good for such young witches and wizards. Even managing that much could buy you precious seconds to run away, or call for help. Besides that," and he smiled slowly, "being able to cast the Patronus Charm would earn you a significant amount of extra points in the practical portion of your OWL test. Now, please open your books on page 115 and get some parchment ready for notes. Our topic today is the kelpie, a man-eating water spirit native to Britain's streams and lakes ..."
Harry studiously wrote his notes, telling himself that he wasn't avoiding his classmates' sneaky looks. Not exactly, anyway, he sighed to himself. All this talk about mentorship is making me paranoid.
To cool off, Harry fled to an unused classroom immediately afterwards and took out his Transfiguration textbook and his notes on the Switching Spell. He only had two days to learn the spell and find out how to teach it effectively to the others of his group.
"But what to switch?" he wondered. He looked around but only found a lone piece of chalk under one of the dusty benches. "I guess my old quill will have to do. Sorry, quill." Harry set the chalk and the slightly ragged looking quill next to each other onto the nearest table. "But first the wand movements and incantation ..."
He let his holly wand shoot from his wand holster, catching it easily, and took a deep breath. Half a dozen times he practiced the wand movements, before he felt ready to speak the words.
"Haec obiecti avertas," Harry murmured. Already there was warmth tingling in his fingers. He smiled, surprised. "Alright. Haec obiecti avertas."
The tingling grew a little stronger, and with it Harry's confidence. He spoke the words another couple of times, just to make sure he got them right, and then he dared raise the wand and cast the spell at the far away wall of the room.
"Haec obiecti avertas!" he called.
White light shot from his wand and crashed into the wall with a dull hiss. Right after, several of the bricks blurred and a dry, crunching sound assaulted Harry's ears.
"What the ..." Cursing, Harry ran over and looked at the displaced bricks. The mortar around them had broken, and the whole wall was looking decidedly less stable than before. "Shite." Harry felt the colour drain from his face. His hands schook as he babbled, "Uh, finite incantatem!"
The bricks grudgingly switched back, but the damage remained, making Harry feel like a complete idiot. Now he knew why Professor McGonagall had insisted on having a ghost supervise their practice. "Damn it. Er, Romy? Do you have a minute, please?"
The elf appeared promptly, her hands dusty with flour, and stared at the compromised wall. "What has Master Slytherin done now?" she asked with a little tut.
"I didn't know this would happen," Harry said, feeling quite miserable under her judgemental stare. "It was my first attempt at the Switching Spell. I'm sorry. I'll repair it, but I need help because I don't know how. Can you please help me?"
"Romy can do it," she said, "but Master Slytherin better not practice on Hoggywarty's walls anymore. Master Slytherin be rather too powerful for it." She leaned a little closer and lowered her voice. "Hoggywarty be having feelings. Elves not be liking it if Hoggywarty be hurt."
"Oh god, really?" Panicking, Harry put a hand to the cool stone. "I'm really sorry, Hogwarts. Please forgive me."
"It not be on purpose," Romy consoled him. She snapped her little fingers and the wall was once more whole. "Switching Spell should only be used on loose objects. Walls be very bad for it, if they not already be broken."
"Yes, I get that now." Blowing out a huge breath, Harry leaned his head against a brick. "I feel really stupid."
"Master Slytherin be knowing better, now." Romy cocked her head. "Romy be making apple turnovers. Romy be bringing some for Master Slytherin, with extra elf berries in the filling."
"Do I really deserve that, after being so dumb?" Harry sighed. He patted the wall again in apology.
"Hoggywarty not be angry," Romy squeaked. "But Master Slytherin be needing nourishment after doing much magic."
She popped away and Harry trudged back to the table with his two objects. "I guess I'd better practice with you now. Please don't blow up."
He still needed a moment to collect himself and try again. To his chagrin, but definitely not to his surprise, the chalk and quill only became fuzzy for a moment before settling back into their original forms.
"I had a scare," he murmured. "But that doesn't mean I don't have the magic to do this spell. Professor McGonagall said all I have to do is believe." Harry huffed a little. "Only now I have to believe in myself."
Which was, in all honesty, much harder than believing in magic; Harry didn't need Healer Williams insight to know that he had to thank the Dursleys for that. And yet there was that warmth inside of him, that little flame that had carried him through Dudley's mean temper tantrums, and his aunt and uncle's unfair treatment. Even before Hogwarts Harry had known that he could be good at school, if only he were allowed to show it. Heck, he was good at many things, including cooking, and cleaning, and gardening.
"I can do this," he told himself again. "You won't blow your stuff up. Come on." After another deep breath, Harry quietly said, "Haec obiecti avertas."
A much softer shot of white light left the tip of his wand and enveloped the piece of chalk and the quill. Again their edges blurred, this time for a longer moment, before snapping back to their sharp outlines.
"Better," Harry said with satisfaction.
He tried half a dozen times more, his voice quiet, almost a murmur, and his wand movements small. Sometime around quarter past five, a tray with tea and two hot, fragrant apple turnovers appeared on the table next to his.
"Thanks, Romy," Harry said softly.
The turnovers were delicious and went so well with the tea that Harry ate all of it, heedless of the dinner that was to follow in little more than an hour.
Once his treat was gone, Harry decided to leave the Switching Spell alone and get a start on the Vanishing Spell. He began with reading the instructions and taking notes on that, moving on to the particulars afterwards to give himself a soft ending to his study period.
He still had half an hour before dinner would start, and so he asked Betty to pop him to the Come and Go Room for some rest, and maybe some conversation with Healer Williams. It had only been two days and he was already missing the snakelings fiercely.
oOo
Harry's Wednesday started as well as could be expected after two satisfying Floo calls the night before. Talking to the four snakelings had been relaxing in a way Harry could hardly explain, even to himself, even if the golden female seemed much more invested in Brady now, barely moving from her perch around his neck. If anything, Harry was happy for the healer, since he'd been taken with the little death adders from the start.
The other talk had indeed been with Sirius, and while they had discussed the public revelation about their status as parent and child for a bit, the far more interesting information had been the tutor Harry would be getting for History, and that he man would start immediately. Unlike Tuva, however, that tutor had made it clear that he wouldn't be accepting other students, preferring to deal solely with Harry's education.
Harry felt both relieved and a little resentful, mostly because he had made good use of the free periods during Friday afternoons and would have to adjust a bit to deal with his Gringotts correspondence.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked during breakfast. "You're so quiet."
"Nothing, I'm just going to meet my new History tutor later. I have no idea what to expect, so ..."
"You'll be fine," she said encouragingly. "And just think about how good your classes will be. Do you think you'll go on field trips?"
"I'll find out, I guess." Harry poked at his sauteed mushrooms. "I'm sorry I can't invite you along this time. Sirius said it's an exclusive contract."
"That's alright, it's your tutor," Hermione murmured. "By the way, there's been no response to my reducing the Hogwarts tuition. Have you heard anything about it yet?"
"No, sorry," Harry replied. "Maybe the teachers don't want to rock the boat?"
"It's been several weeks now," she argued. "That sort of fraud demands a reaction. I'll contact Gringotts later, see what they have to say about it, and whether they want to involve the aurors."
"You have a tutor for History?" Ginny asked, artlessly inserting herself into the conversation. "I'm so envious. Binns is so hung up on the goblin rebellions, it's ridiculous."
"As I said, I can't invite anyone," Harry said shortly.
"Oh, I got that. But maybe you could let me, everyone, really, know what books he'll have you read? Maybe give out your assignments, so we'll know what to focus on?"
Before Harry could reply, Lavender rounded on her. "It's crass to ask for favours, Weasley. Your classes are not Harry's concern. If you want work sheets and assignments, get them yourself from other schools, or via the international school committee."
"But it's unfair that we have to suffer Binns' boring lectures, and Harry's right here. It's stupid to send international owl post and pay for stuff when he can just make copies for us," Ginny argued, earning herself a few hesitant nods from the people around them.
"He's not going to sponsor you, or anyone else, just because you feel entitled to his things," Parvati said plainly. So plainly, in fact, that several of the older years were sucking in their breaths and staring. "If you want to have a better teacher, do someting to get Binns fired. You know, like we're already doing."
Ginny's freckled face turned a hot shade of red. "It's not like that. I'm just fed up. We're all fed up. And you can dislike Ron all you want, but he's right. No one has gotten Binns fired so far, and I don't see how we could achieve that feat." She turned her beseeching eyes back to Harry. "It's just a few copies, Harry. It's for all of us. Please help us out."
Lavender shook her head and Hermione's grip on Harry's knee was tight.
"Sorry," Harry said stiffly. "The contract is exclusive. It'd be better if you looked elsewhere."
"But Harry!"
"Leave it be, Ginny," Parvati snapped. "He's not going to drag you along, and it's not his problem in any case. Have your parents send a complaint, like we all did."
"You're turning into a stuck up git, Harry," Ginny said accusingly, completely disregarding Parvati. "We're your friends, aren't we?"
"Oh, that's a low blow, Weasley," Angelina Johnson said as she munched on her toast. "You won't be friends much longer if you insist on mooching off the poor guy."
"Yeah, it's a little pathetic," Seamus said unapologetically.
Thankfully the bell rang for class, causing everyone to get up from their seats. Harry stuck close to Hermione and allowed her to steer him through his morning. She didn't have to say anything - it was clear to them both that Ginny had indeed started a new campaign to better her position.
Harry's lunch was cut short by a quarter hour when a house elf appeared by the table to lead Harry to his new History classroom, where Professor McGonagall and a slender man in his thirties awaited him.
"I apologize for asking you here before lunch was over," Professor McGonagall said. She nodded towards her companion. "This gentleman is Harmon Irvine, your tutor for History of Magic. I trust that your father has informed you that he'd be arriving today?"
"He did, Professor." Harry offered his hand for a shake. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Irvine."
"Likewise, Mr. Potter." Irvine presented a roll of parchment. "My employment contract, signed by Lord Black and countersigned by Gringotts, for your inspection and approval."
Knowing better than to wave away that proof of identity, Harry took the parchment and read it through. He took note of the strict clauses and the written form of the vows Irvine had given, but he didn't feel as uncomfortable as he had with Healer Williams' contract.
"Thank you, sir, I approve," Harry said and handed the glowing contract back. "I'm looking forward to our classes ... and the field trips Sirius has approved. Which is pretty awesome, so thanks for thinking of them."
Pleased, Irvine inclined his head even as Professor McGonagall harrumphed.
"Don't you tease your friends with those excursions, Mr. Potter," she warned. "And please try to convince your friends to leave the matter of the complaints against Professor Binns to me. It might not seem like it, but I'm working on it."
"Really?" Harry asked hopefully. "We were just talking about it before I came here. Some people are, er, worried about their tuition."
"Yes, really, and it's understandable that they are concerned. As I said, it's all well in hand." She sternly looked at Harry for a moment longer and then took her leave to teach her own class.
Irvine went to the teacher's desk and pointed at the table right across from it. "Since it's just the two of us, you may sit here. I've already reviewed what you've learned so far. Frankly, I'm appalled at the quality of the teaching at Hogwarts and I'd prefer it if you simply forgot the nonsense that ghost has been spewing. It's far easier to start over and do it right than try to correct it."
"I can't say I hate the thought," Harry admitted. "Er, can I keep the textbook, or do I have to get a new one? And, er, will I be able to take the OWL on time?"
"You can keep it," Irvine said, "but you'll need several supplemental texts, as well as some work journals to get up to speed. The international OWL is nothing to sneeze at. I already gave the list to your father, he'll take care of it. Now, why don't we begin your tutoring by outlining what you'll need to learn to sit your OWLS. There are several mandatory topics; however, as you'll be excused from the exams, we can map out our own timeline during which we'll cover the relevant material."
"I'm looking forward to it. Before I came to Hogwarts, I had already read half of my History book. Magic and the people were so fascinating in it. Compared to that, class with Binns was a huge disappointment," Harry admitted.
"Never fear, my tutoring will be demanding and you'll have a lot of work to do to catch up, but I promise that it'll be anything but boring," Irvine said. He took off his robes and rolled up the sleeves of his starched shirt. "Now, let's pin all our topics to the board here. They'll be a visual reminder of all we have to study, and once a topic is exhausted, you'll get to mark it as done."
One after another, Harry and Irvine pinned something like large playing cards to the pin board. Irvine readily named all the depicted events and people, his knowledge effortlessly teased at but never overwhelming. Next to Merlin and Arthur and several other famous witches and wizards of Britain there were also themes from mundane history, and many historic events from all over the world.
"Britain may be an island," Irvine said after they were done and Harry was looking at all the colourful pictures in quiet fascination, "but people would do well to remember that it is still part of the world, and that events in Sumatra or South America have impacted British history just as much as events here have impacted other countries and peoples. You're just beginning to look at that rich tapestry of human development, but soon you'll discover the many connections that have shaped the world into what it is today."
"I can't wait," Harry said honestly, finally tearing his gaze away from a dark-skinned witch in colourful but skimpy clothing and a large albino snake around her shoulders that was dancing through a dying fire. "Where do we start?"
Irvine smiled broadly as he clapped his hands. "Why, at the beginning, of course."
oOo
Harry's mind was still busy with his History class and the homework assignment Professor Vectra had handed out when he met Neville for their walk around the grounds.
"We can wait until tomorrow if you've got other things on your mind," Neville offered generously. "One day won't hurt us."
"Nah, it's alright. Mr. Irvine is just so ... interesting." Harry shrugged helplessly. "I just wish I didn't have to forget two whole years of history; Mr. Irvine said that this waste of our time is bordering on criminal."
"Well, it is criminal, if Binns' subpar teaching costs every student a thousand galleons a year, give or take." Neville pointed to a fallen tree. "Should we sit down to compare our guest lists?"
They both got their lists out and started a fresh master list with every name they had both put down. Most of them were mutual friends and acquaintances, with Harry petitioning for Zabini's inclusion and Neville for the admittance of several older Hufflepuffs Harry didn't know well, but who were friendly with Neville due to a mutual liking for Herbology. The one thing Harry didn't think he could tolerate was Albus Dumbledore on Neville's list.
"I completely understand," Neville said, grimacing slightly. "In truth, I don't want him there either, but that's where it gets a little political. We could just not invite any of the professors and be done with it ..."
"But that'd feel wrong," Harry sighed. "Except for Dumbledore and Snape, they're all decent, and I liked talking to them at Hermione's birthday party."
"Yes, just so. Fact is that Dumbledore is an exceedingly powerful figure in our country. Snubbing him would send a signal," Neville said carefully. "Just like snubbing everyone else because of him would send a signal."
"Why, though? We agreed to keep it private," Harry countered with a frown.
"And it would be, as far as unwanted guests are concerned. However, our ritual is magically binding, and a public record would be crafted within the Ministry, with a list of all the witnesses. It's just something magic does, we can't influence it. Therefore, if the whole faculty but Dumbledore were invited and attending, there would be questions," Neville explained. "There are always people questioning things. You know this better than I do, unfortunately."
"And I hate it," Harry grumbled. "Fine, Dumbledore can come if he must. Though I guess we'll have to address our invitation to the faculty as a whole, instead of individual invites."
A sly grin crept onto Neville's lips. "That's where we can get petty. It won't be public record how we invite our guests, just who was invited and in attendance. Sending Dumbledore and Snape a form letter and everyone else a nice, hand-written card ... well, that should tell him clearly enough that he's not really wanted."
"That's brilliant," Harry said, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. "We'll do it."
"Too bad your dad can't come," Neville offered.
"And your parents," Harry replied quietly. "But we'll have pictures, and we can tell them all about it afterwards. I'd honestly also like to invite my Gringotts manager, because he was really helpful this summer, but, well. I don't need people asking questions." A thought crossed his mind then, and he asked, "Hey, do you think ... do you think that Dumbledore will try to keep us from doing this, if he comes? Can he?"
"Not without coming across like a huge prick, if you'll pardon the language." Neville sounded very sure of that. "It's family business and he has no right to interfere. Especially since your dad is out in public now, and everyone knows that Dumbledore's not your real magical guardian."
"Okay, but what if the headmaster still tries to stop us?" Harry insisted. "Your grandma really cut him to the quick, he might not want her to have even more power over him as my kin."
At that, Neville broke out into genuine laughter. "Can you imagine, though? She'd just put him in his place again."
"Oh, right. That's probably true. Godbrother bonding and a show. It has a certain ring to it." Harry relaxed a little. "What about the ghosts? Do they count as faculty?"
"Yes, probably. Let's exclude Peeves, though, he really doesn't deserve an invitation."
"Definitely not," Harry agreed quickly. "How about the house elves? They're already helping, and they're really always good to us."
"True, but there are a lot of elves at Hogwarts," Neville mused. "We'd need extra food just for them, and a bigger winter garden."
"They're good in small spaces, and making the winter garden bigger shouldn't be a problem," Harry reminded him. "Let's ask Romy, she'll know what we'll need to make it happen."
Neville, ever kind, promptly agreed and they called the elf for a conversation.
To say that Romy was thrilled to have her clan included, and to have their elf needs considered to actually make it a party, was too tame a word. Always the one to exude calm and poise, at least for a house elf, she did her best to emulate Dobby at his most emotional and dissolved into happy tears, eagerly hugging both boys before promising that she and her kin would make everything they needed for their party happen.
"Talk to Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati," Neville told her, holding the small elf's vibrating form so she wouldn't unintentionally pop off. "They're already helping us plan for the human stuff. Who knows how far they've come already."
"Romy will, kind Neville Longbottom sir," Romy blubbered, eyes nearly glowing with excitement. "Romy be so happy! Romy be going right now."
With that, she popped right out of Neville's grip, leaving the two boys grinning at each other.
"I love those guys to pieces," Harry confessed. "They're awesome."
"They really are," Neville agreed. "And their happiness is catching, can you feel it?"
"Always." Harry lowered his voice. "I don't understand how magicals can mistreat them so, when it can be like this." He raised his hand, basking in the tingling feeling of rushing magic and something akin to euphoria under his skin. "People are stupid."
They both enjoyed the glow for a few more moments, and when the clarity returned, Neville reluctantly said, "That's everyone accounted for, then, right? Now we just need to find a good place for the winter garden and leave the rest to the girls and the house elves."
"If you've got a place figured out, I'm game," Harry told him. "All I care about is that everyone who wants to come can find it easily, and that it's got a good energy for our ritual."
"Actually, I do have a spot. I can show you?" Neville offered shyly.
"Sure, come on. We still have half an hour or so until lunch."
Harry contentedly followed Neville to a spot quite close to the Forbidden Forest. Lots of autumn flowers were still in bloom on the meadow, the Black Lake well visible from there, and Hogwarts towering over the grounds at the side like a huge, benevolent sentry.
"It's perfect," Harry said, turning around himself once and inhaling the tangy autumn air. "Let's show this to Romy so she can get started on setting things up."
As if she'd been listening in, Romy appeared for all of a second before vanishing again, leaving the boys chuckling about her enjoyment of the whole thing.
Since things were effectively out of their hands for now, they slowly trekked back to the castle. Neville offered to have the invitations printed, if Harry agreed to fill in the names of the guests by hand, which he readily did.
"Wednesdays are always so short," Harry groaned when they were back in the castle. "I need to practice my spells for Transfiguration and I haven't gotten anything done today."
"There's a bit time after dinner," Neville said. "It's not great, but we could practice together, if you like."
"Yes, fantastic. Thanks!"
Since they had Astronomy later that night, they didn't bother climbing up to Gryffindor Tower to drop their book bags and instead found one of the classrooms Professor McGonagall had designated for their practice. As soon as they had closed the door, the Bloody Baron appeared, face as grim as ever, and the silvery blood stains on his robes nearly vibrant in the dim torch light.
"Thanks for keeping watch, sir," Neville said politely.
The Bloody Baron said nothing.
"What spell did you get?" Harry asked, placing his notes on the desk before him.
"The Draconifors Spell," Neville sighed. "It's hard, and it isn't even especially useful."
"Why not?" Harry wondered. "Dragons are fierce, aren't they?"
"Not transfigured dragons," Neville said. "They're small, and if you've done shoddy work, they can't even breathe fire or fly."
"Well, then you simply won't do shoddy work," Harry said. "Just imagine, your very own pet dragon! How cool would that be?"
"How's the Switching Spell coming along?" Neville asked, eager to drop the subject. "And Malfoy? He still not helping?"
"What do you think?" Harry asked with an eye-roll. "Parvati's complained to Professor McGonagall so he can't show up later and just demand a portion of their work to present."
"Can you show me?" Neville abandoned his textbook and stepped up to Harry's desk. "Here, you can have a knut to switch."
Harry placed his old quill next to the knut and let his wand slip into his right hand. "It's coming along, but I have no idea how to actually teach the spell. But, this is the wand movement ..." He demonstrated a couple of times. Then he called, "Haec obiecti avertas!"
The spell erupted from Harry's wand and engulfed both the knut and the quill eagerly. Unlike yesterday, their outlines blurred rapidly until both objects were little more than dark mist, and when the light dissipated, the knut and the quill had changed places.
"Wow!" Neville exclaimed. He took up the quill-turned-knut and inspected it. "Looks real to me."
"According to the book it's the real thing," Harry explained. "Although I'd be sceptical, even if the spell is supposed to be permantent." He grinned wryly. "I'll replace your knut and ask my manager at Gringotts whether it really is a knut."
"Should be interesting," Neville agreed, grinning back. "I want to try. Can you show me the wand movement again? And what was the incantation? Heck objectis avertis?"
They worked until dinner was well underway and hurried back to the classroom when it was over. Hermione, who was in the same group as Neville, joined them eagerly, and it was under her patient tutelage that at least Harry managed to transform an old chair into a sufficiently recognizable dragon before they had to run up to the Astronomy tower, with Neville being reassured that he'd be able to do it as soon as he had his new wand.
oOo
Thursday was almost as full a day as Wednesday had been, but Harry was glad about it. Dumbledore had received quite a few letters during breakfast, almost none of which to his taste it seemed, and Snape had glowered at Harry during all of lunch. Tuva's smug presence next to him at the head table clearly didn't help and Harry had rarely been more glad to get that piece of Voldemort out of his head than now. Snape's hatred of him might have dropped him otherwise.
After class, Harry spent another half hour practicing the Switching Spell and then went to find the others of his Transfiguration group to go over the material they had collected.
It turned out that being the first person to watch their presentation was something of a dubious honour. Harry was able to ask a lot of questions that enabled the others to refine their parts, but he was also in the unenviable position to deal out some well-meaning criticism.
"I'm sorry, this went on longer than we thought," Ernie said as they finally walked to a classroom for the practical part. Another group was already occupying a corner, with the Fat Friar watching attentively. "Will the spell be very hard to do?"
"Nah," Harry said, and it was true. As long as none of the others experienced the stupidity and ensuing self-doubt he had brought upon himself, the spell was indeed very doable. "You'll do just fine."
"Even me?" Goyle muttered, raising his chin a little defiantly.
"Why not?" Harry gestured the large boy over to the table he had chosen and told him to draw his wand. "I think we know now that you're not actually dumb. Also, you do okay in class. Let's take my knut and Parvati's hair tie to switch around ... Now look, it's easy: wave, swish, loop, and flick. And now you."
Goyle hesitantly mimicked the wand movement, and did it as often as Harry demonstrated. After the third time, Parvati and Ernie joined in. They all knew the incantation already, but for safety's sake Harry decided to let them go one after the other.
Parvati went first and very nearly managed on her first try.
"Did you see that?" she squealed. "I almost had it! Can I try again?"
The boys let her and celebrated with her when the switch actually happened on her second try. Ernie was so excited that he begged to go next, and while he needed a few more attempts, it didn't take long at all for him to master the spell.
Finally it was Goyle's turn, and Harry said, "See, that wasn't hard at all. Malfoy is just a big coward."
Goyle scrunched up his nose. "He'll be trouble."
"Isn't he always?" Parvati said carelessly. "Now stop prevaricating, we're determined to have all of us managing the spell tonight."
"You know how it's done," Harry encouraged him, demonstrating with his finger. "Wave, swish, loop, and flick. Haec obiecti avertas."
Goyle copied the movements with his wand the second time around, mumbling the spell. The objects on their table became fuzzy around the edges, but didn't change. "See, I'm bad at this."
"It didn't work because you mumbled," Parvati told him and Ernie nodded. "Again."
"I don't mumble." Huffing, Goyle tried again, this time a bit more energetically.
"Yes, you do. And you hold your wand too stiffly, even I can see that. It's a slim stick, not a beater's baton." She boldly tapped his hand with her wand to get him to losen up. "Try now."
Goyle tried again and again, all the while letting Parvati rib him. It didn't take long for good-natured Ernie to join the fray, and even Harry couldn't resist after Goyle took notable care not to fall back on mean insults.
"It's been half an hour," Goyle finally declared. "I'm done for tonight."
"Hm." Harry exchanged a look with Parvati and Ernie and grinned. "Fine. Although I didn't think you were actually afraid of me, Goyle."
"Excuse me?" The boy's face held such a flabbergasted look that Parvati couldn't help her giggle. "I'm not afraid of you, Potter. Why would you think that?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because Malfoy calls me Perfect Potter, and that smacks of insecurity?" Harry nearly laughed about Goyle's goldfish impression. "Well, he's not wrong, obviously, since I did manage to teach the other two the spell, but you must be seriously afraid to fail."
Goyle's jaw dropped even further.
"You broke him. He's definitely afraid," Ernie teased.
"Poor Goyle, hung up on Malfoy's dumb hearsay," Parvati laughed. She wrapped her arms around Harry's shoulders and squeezed him slightly. "We're not afraid of him, and look! We can do our spell. It was no problem at all."
"That's ridiculous," Goyle finally managed to grind out. "There's absolutely no correlation."
"But can you afford to believe that?" Ernie asked, looking faux-concerned. "We only got three more nights to help you get it right. It might take longer if you need to get you over your fear of Harry, so-"
"I'm not afraid of Potter!" Goyle cried, cheeks aflame in a ruddy flush of temper.
"Mmh, I'm not convinced," Harry taunted. "Why don't you prove it?"
Snarling, Goyle whipped his wand around and barked, "Haec obiecti avertas!" at the knut and the hair tie.
With a sharp snap the objects switched places, and Goyle's amazed expression stayed on his face all the way through dinner.
oOo
On Friday, after yet another gripping History class, Harry spent his free period in the Come and Go Room going over his journals. Sharptooth had nothing for him to deal with, merely a report about the snakelings (as entertaining and demanding as ever), and about a first guest visiting the guest house in France, a magical painter of some renown. The house elves' hopes were high that he'd enjoy his stay and recommend their service to others because there were bored with only one wizard to pamper and spoil.
There is, however, the matter of your mail, Sharptooth closed the entry in their journal. The vault I designated for your post is already overflowing. Your father's impending trial in Rome has the world in an uproar, and people are very interested in his circumstances as a result. Since he's doing all of this for you, well. Let's just say that your entanglement with Tom Riddle is once more a topic of speculation. Your lawyers will send form letters in reply and only involve you if the content of a missive warrants it. Do not worry that this will impact your schooling in any way.
It also falls to me to inform you that a letter from Mr. Finch was scheduled to reach you on Tuesday. Since he hasn't received an answer yet, he'll report the mail theft to Madam Bones. I think we both know who is responsible, so brace yourself for unreasonable demands upon your time. Stay strong and refuse any and all meetings without your legal representation. There's nothing, nothing at all, that Dumbledore can threaten you with.
Keep your claws sharp and your foes crushed beneath your feet,
Sharptooth
Steward to the Potter Family
Senior Account Manager
"Huh, Dumbledore actually did that," Harry said, closing the journal. For a moment, he stared at it, not sure whether he was even surprised or not. "Seems like things will get interesting now."
End of part 15