ааааааааWith a violent, serpentine lunge, Norberta spun, her entire body trailing behind her head and her open, snapping jaws. Grawp was yanked entirely off his feet, refusing to let go of the chain. He landed with an enormous, muddy thump and slid along the wet grass, pulled by Norberta's wild thrashing.
аааааааа"Everybody inside!" Hagrid yelled, shooting out both arms protectively. "It's a Wargle I got from Viktor Krum, and Norberta's just daft about it. It got loose a few days ago, but I figured it'd be halfway back to Bulgaria by now. Grawp! Hold 'er down! Don' let go, no matter what!"
ааааааааThe ground shuddered as Norberta thundered after the yellow creature, pulling Grawp along behind her. Great muddy streaks tore up the hillside in their wake. None of the students had budged. James stared at the spectacle, wide-eyed, unsure if it was amusing or frightening. The Wargle was about the size of a cat but canary yellow and with four fluttering wings. A long, tufted tail trailed behind it, whipping the air. James thought the creature looked almost impossibly cute. Norberta thrashed and leapt, snapping her jaws wildly, barely missing the fluttering, swooping shape. Thumping along behind, Grawp was heroically pulling himself up the chain, trying to reach Norberta's neck.
аааааааа"That's it, Grawpy," Hagrid cheered, beginning to trot uncertainly out onto the hilltop. "I'll grab 'er tail if I can. You get 'er by the neck! Oh!"
ааааааааThe Wargle suddenly angled upwards, streaking into the sky beyond Norberta's reach. With a massive flourish, the dragon unfurled her wings and brought them down with a single, thunderous thrust. She leapt off the ground, roaring and pulling Grawp with her.
аааааааа"I thought she couldn't fly!" Graham exclaimed. The students began to shuffle nervously backwards, moving toward the relative shelter of the barn.
ааааааааAs if sensing a hiding place, the Wargle arced downwards again, angling toward the crowd of students. Norberta thrashed her wings and lunged. She was amazingly fast for her size despite her injured wing. Students scattered in all directions as her shadow darkened the sky overhead. Hagrid ran back and forth, arms outstretched, as if he meant to catch the enormous dragon.
аааааааа"Hold on, Grawp!" he called to his half-brother, who swung gamely from the chain lead, leaving a trail of mud gobbets. "You've got 'er! Don' let go!"
ааааааааNorberta roared again, struggling to stay airborne. Her tail thrashed as she flapped, striking the chimney of the barn and obliterating it to flying bits of stone. The Wargle circled in a panic. Finally, the yellow creature seemed to sense that Norberta couldn't properly fly. It swooped upwards, aiming for the distant clouds.
аааааааа"Grawp!" Hagrid called suddenly. "Shield! She's going to flame!"
ааааааааNorberta gave one last thrust of her massive wings, stretched out her long neck, and roared. This time, the roar produced a long stream of blue-white flame. Heat blasted out over the hilltop. James felt it ripple through his hair. And then, with a reverberating thump, the dragon landed on all four claws. Grawp came down right next to her. He was covered in mud and bits of grass, but he instantly leapt up and threw his arms around the great dragon's neck, holding her down. The dragon didn't seem prepared to attempt flight again. She raised her head full length, jaws wide open. A moment later, a small black shape tumbled out of the sky, trailing smoke. It fell straight into Norberta's gullet and she swallowed audibly.
ааааааааHagrid shook his head. "Shame 'bout that," he said. "Wargles is hard to come by. I warned 'er, I did. Ah well, so long as nobody's hurt. Grawpy, are yeh all right, then?"
ааааааааGrawp tentatively let go of the dragon's neck, and stepped away, still holding the chain lead. He glanced back at Hagrid. "Grawp got mud in nose," he said ponderously.
аааааааа"Sorry 'bout that, Grawpy. Let's go ahead and put the old girl back in 'er pen, eh?" He turned back to the students, his face red and imploring. "It's prob'ly best if we, er, kep' that between ourselves, if yeh don' mind."
ааааааааJames glanced aside at Trenton, who had earlier threatened to write his parents about Hagrid's rather frightening menagerie.
аааааааа"That," Trenton said, noticing James' look, "was totally bloody awesome."
ааааааааAs James and Ralph were heading back from the barn, they passed the greenhouses where Professor Longbottom's first-year Herbology class was just letting out. James spied Scorpius.
аааааааа"I'll see you at lunch, Ralph," James called as he trotted away. "Places to go, people to see."
ааааааааRalph didn't reply, and James knew why. The bigger boy knew what James was up to. Scorpius heard James coming and stopped, turning back.
аааааааа"I wondered when I'd be hearing from you, Potter," he said, staring up at the low clouds.
аааааааа"Yeah, well, I wanted to talk to you about Defence Club."
аааааааа"Of course," Scorpius smiled thinly. "Come to talk me out of teaching the hardcore spells, did you?"
аааааааа"Actually, no," James replied. "I've been thinking about it. I can't stop you from showing people what you learned from your family, and besides, if people don't learn those things from you, they'll learn them from Corsica and Goyle. I came to you becauseЕ"
ааааааааJames couldn't quite bring himself to say it. He knew Rose's advice had been right, but he just hadn't known when or where he was supposed to use it. Now he did. Finally, he took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "I came to ask for your help."
аааааааа"My help?" Scorpius replied suspiciously. "With what?"
аааааааа"With getting Tabitha and the rest under control," James answered. "Look, you know it even better than me. They don't want to learn jinxes and hexes and curses to fight the bad guys. They just want to use them to be bullies and get power over people. The Defence Club was supposed tobe a way for people to learn basic fighting spells and techniques, but I think it can be even more than that. I think we can use it to practice the things Professor Debellows is teaching us about how to be real fighters. We can practice the ArtisDecerto techniques he's showing us and get really good at them. Then we can put those skills together with the spells we've already learned, and later, when everyone is ready to know how to use themЕ," James gulped, "you can teach the Unforgiveable Curses, if you still want to."
аааааааа"Let's see if I understand this," Scorpius said. "You started the Defence Club because you didn't like the fact that Debellows wasn't teaching any defensive magic. And now you want to turn the club into a place to practice the silly stuff that he is teaching us?"
ааааааааJames sighed. "Yeah, all right, you make it sound totally stupid. But that's pretty much the truth of it. Either way, if Corsica and Goyle and even Albus keep coming to the club and killing the target dummies, they're just going to push for the Unforgivable Curses and bypass everything else. Maybe some people can handle knowing the Unforgivable Curses, but not everybody can. And definitely not without learning the basics first."
аааааааа"So kick them out," Scorpius shrugged. "You run the club. You decide who's in it. It isn't my problem."
аааааааа"I can't just kick them out," James said, exasperated. "Anybody who wants to come to the club can. But you know how to talk to them! It was totally brilliant the way you handled them last club meeting. Your family understands the way Slytherins think! I need you to help keep them from taking over."
ааааааааScorpius narrowed his eyes. "Just because my father convinced me to help get you through the Mirror of Erised, doesn't mean I'm your mate, Potter. I teach your club because I want to, not because you asked. Who are you to decide who gets to know the Unforgivable Curses or not?"
ааааааааJames stared at Scorpius thoughtfully. "I don't think you even believe that yourself," he said. "You're just trying to make me mad at you, and I don't even know why. If you thought everyone who wished should be able to learn the Killing Curse, you'd have taught it last class, or letCorsica and Goyle do it. Instead, you spent your time distracting everybody with stuff like the Levicorpus jinx. Admit it or not, you agree with me, Scorpius."
аааааааа"You're delusional, Potter," Scorpius said, turning on his heel. "Why would I agree with you?"
аааааааа"Because," James called, watching the pale boy walk away, "you're also a Gryffindor. And I think the Sorting Hat knew what it was doing."
ааааааааScorpius didn't stop. He simply continued to walk away, heading toward the castle. James watched for a moment, then sighed and followed. He could only hope that despite Scorpius' attitude, he'd at least think about what James had asked.
Eventually, Albus told James how it had happened.
ааааааааThursday evening came and Tabitha, Philia, and Albus were on their way to the gym for Defence Club. While they were still several corridors away, Scorpius met them coming from the other direction.
аааааааа"Just turn around and walk with me," he said in a low voice, trying to put his arms around both Tabitha and Albus.
аааааааа"Remove your hand or pick it up wherever it lands," Tabitha said, pointing her wand at Scorpius' wrist.
аааааааа"Touchy, touchy," Scorpius replied, pulling his hands away. "And here I am trying to help you."
ааааааааAlbus scoffed. "As if we needed your help, you prat."
аааааааа"Believe it or not, I am indeed saving you a bit of bother," Scorpius growled, looking Albus in the eye. "Your brother's little club is about to be disbanded, and I don't expect it will go well for those who are in attendance when it happens."
ааааааааPhilia's face was etched with suspicion. "What do you mean?"
аааааааа"Some concerned individual has alerted Professor Debellows that students are being taught defensive magic and curses, all in an effort to undermine his teaching technique. They also allowed it to slip that some students have even been seen practicing the Killing Curse."
ааааааааTabitha studied Scorpius' face. "How perfectly devious. But tell me, why would you do such a thing?"
аааааааа"Did I say it was me?" Scorpius asked innocently.
аааааааа"He's lying," Albus said. "He wouldn't do that to his housemates."
аааааааа"You might want to step aside a moment," Scorpius said, glancing down the corridor. Voices were approaching quickly. Debellows stalked around the corner, herding Rose ahead of him. She looked extremely worried.
аааааааа"So you and James Potter are responsible for this, eh?" Debellows said gruffly. "He's the son of the Ministry's Head Auror, is he not? I should have known he'd be trouble. I understood that there were three of you, though."
аааааааа"Well," Rose quavered, "there are, in a manner of speaking. I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore. You'll see for yourself soon enough."
ааааааааAs Debellows and Rose passed Scorpius, she gave him a wilting look. Scorpius grinned crookedly.
ааааааааAs they swept on, Albus glared angrily at Scorpius. "Why would you do that to my brother?"
аааааааа"Is this how you repay me for my warning? I guess blood is indeed thicker than water, isn't it?"
аааааааа"Why, Scorpius?" Tabitha asked. "You're only making things harder for yourself with your housemates."
аааааааа"My housemates are a bunch of arrogant sissies," Scorpius growled. "They don't have the spine to learn real magic. It became obvious to me last week thatyou lot are the ones I need to partner with. Yes, yes," he said, raising his hand as Philia opened her mouth, "I'm a Gryffindor. What do names mean? If names meant everything, little Albus would have to duel to the death with both of you. Slytherins and Potters have always been mortal enemies, haven't they? Obviously, we're past that, and for good reason. I'm not asking to be a member of your silly Fang and Talons club. I am merely suggesting that perhaps we start anew club, and perhaps it meet in the Slytherin casting range, where we can feel free to practice whatever we wish in secrecy."
аааааааа"And you'd deign to teach us?" Philia demanded, smiling grimly.
аааааааа"I think not," Scorpius answered. "The fact is I'd not be able to attend regularly. Besides, I imagine it as more a group practice session. We can all learn from one another, and no one will be there to tell us what we shouldn't know. Iwould, however, require access to the Slytherin quarters. It seems like small payment for today's favor. Besides, as you implied last week, Tabitha, my family does have a rather long Slytherin history."
аааааааа"You little rat," Philia said. "All this just because you hate that you've been made a Gryffindor."
аааааааа"Having a ring key does not make you a member of Slytherin House," Tabitha said, tilting her head and smiling. "No Gryffindor can be allowed free access to our quarters. HoweverЕ I suspect we can come to an agreeable arrangement."
аааааааа"That's all I ask," Scorpius answered brightly. "And now I should be running along. It will look rather suspicious if I am not there when the hammer falls on James' little club. We'll chat soon."
ааааааааTabitha, Philia, and Albus watched Scorpius turn and trot off in the direction that Debellows had led Rose.
ааааааааA few minutes later, Scorpius passed the closed doorway of the gymnasium. He could see through the pebbled glass window that it was dark inside. He stopped and listened. A moment later, he heard voices further down the corridor, echoing. He followed the sounds, turning left at the next passage. It opened onto a high hall with windows on one side. James and Rose stood with Debellows in the center of the marble floor. They were all staring straight up, craning their necks. Debellows had his wand upraised, aiming it carefully. Overhead, Ralph hung by his ankle, suspended high in midair.
аааааааа"We were just trying it out," James explained. "It's called the Levicorpus jinx. I didn't know it'd take a counter-jinx to get him back down again."
аааааааа"Hold on, Ralph!" Rose cried, wringing her hands in a parody of worry.
ааааааааDebellows shook his head disgustedly. "This is exactly the reason I do not teach defensive magic to younger years," he snapped. "No concept whatsoever of the consequences. It's a good thing you didn't accidentally learn the Bat-Bogey Hex. That was a favorite in my day.Liberacorpus!" Debellows flicked his wand and Ralph spun upright. A moment later, he drifted clumsily to the floor.
аааааааа"Whoa," Ralph said shakily. "Dizzy."
аааааааа"I apologize, Professor Debellows," Scorpius called from the doorway. "It's my fault. I learned that jinx from my grandfather. I should've known better than to show anyone how to do it. I've certainly learned my lesson."
аааааааа"I should hope so," Debellows said gruffly. "If I was a less gracious man, I'd subtract points from whatever your houses are, but I'll take your word for it that it'll never happen again." He pocketed his wand and turned to Rose. "You interrupted a perfectly good pipe, I'll have youknow, young lady. But never mind. Are there any other magical mishaps I might address before I return to my quarters?"
ааааааааAll four students shook their heads enthusiastically.
аааааааа"Thank you, Professor," Rose said breathlessly. "It really is a pleasure to see someone of your stature at work."
аааааааа"Well," Debellows replied, smoothing his robes, "of course, I understand. Good evening, students. And like I said, don't call me 'Professor'. The name's Kendrick."
аааааааа"Kendrick," Rose said, as if enthralled with the very syllables. "Thank you, sir. Goodnight."
ааааааааWhen Debellows finally left, Scorpius came alongside Rose, James, and Ralph. "I think I'm going to be sick," he said.
аааааааа"I'll say," Ralph agreed. "You were supposed to act appreciative, Rose. Not like you worshipped the ground under his feet."
аааааааа"It was nothing," Rose replied as if she'd been complimented. "I mastered that technique years ago with my father."
ааааааааJames grinned. "You're a little scary, Rose. Come on! Let's get to the gym. Scorpius, how'd it go with Tabitha, Philia, and Albus?"
аааааааа"As well as planned," Scorpius said, shrugging. "They believed my story the moment they saw Debellows march past. They won't be back."
ааааааааJames reached the door to the gym first. He yanked it open and stepped inside, lighting his wand. In the darkness, the club members sat in groups, whispering excitedly. They looked up as the four entered.
аааааааа"All right," James said, holding his wand over his head. "Hi, everybody. Like I said a few minutes ago, we have an announcement today. After last week, there was a lot of talk about learning the three Unforgivable Curses. Scorpius is the teacher, so what we learn is up to him. But before we get to anything really scary powerful, we're going to get better at what wedo know, and spend some time practicing the techniques Professor Debellows has been showing us in D.A.D.A."
аааааааа"Why in the world would we do that?" Nolan Beetlebrick said, standing up. "I thought the whole point of this club was to learn the stuff he wasn't teaching us."
ааааааааScorpius answered, "The point of this club is to learn defensive techniques and become the best at them as we can. Some of you just want to learn a few quick incantations and curses? Be my guest. But if you think you'll be able to duel half as well as the rest of us after we've mastered the kind of skills Debellows showed us the other day, I think you'll end up very disappointed."
ааааааааRalph surprised James by speaking up. "I know it isn't very exciting to practice all the drills and exercises Debellows has showed us. That's why we're going to keep working on the spells and magic too. But James is right. We have to learn it all together. It's the only way we'll really be the best we can be. But maybe some of you aren't happy with that. If so, remember it's just a club, not a class. You can go anytime you want."
ааааааааNolan Beetlebrick was still on his feet. He saw that everyone was looking at him. He shuffled his feet a little. "So who's going to be teaching us thisArtis Decerto stuff? Him?" he exclaimed, pointing at Scorpius. "I doubt his grandfather taught him any of that."
аааааааа"No," James said, glancing at Scorpius. "We have another teacher for that. He didn't learn it himself, but he'll be working alongside someone who knows it very well. Together, they'll be leading that part of the club from now on."
аааааааа"Yeah?" Beetlebrick said, putting his hands on his hips. "And who's that?"
аааааааа"Me," a voice answered. Beetlebrick jumped and took a step backwards as two ghosts flitted through the wall next to him. "And her."
ааааааааJames smiled as Cedric moved into the center of the room, emanating his own soft light in the dark space. Next to him, the Grey Lady floated gently.
ааааааааBeetlebrick sat down on the floor again, staring in awe at Cedric and the tall, pale woman.
ааааааааRose cleared her throat. "Maybe it'd be helpful if you explained a little background, Cedric."
ааааааааCedric glanced back at Rose and nodded. "Of course," he said to the assembled club members. "I'm Cedric Diggory, and I guess you all know who she is. This is the Grey Lady. She says she'd prefer that I not tell any of you her real name. But the point is she knows Artis Decerto. Apparently, it was common for ladies to learn the defensive arts in her time, andЕ well, her mother thought it might be very helpful for her to bevery well-trained."
ааааааааThe Grey Lady spoke in a thin, faraway voice. "I was tutored under the very best teacher of martial magic in the world. He confided that I was one of his most gifted pupils."
ааааааааMost of those in the room had seen the Grey Lady flitting morosely around the halls, but few had ever heard her voice. Graham Warton raised his hand tentatively. "Who was it that taught you Artis Decerto, Miss?"
ааааааааThe Lady looked at him and tilted her head slightly. "My father. He invented the art."
аааааааа"Look," Beetlebrick said, "I don't mean any disrespect, but I have to ask. If you were all that great at dodging spells and curses like Debellows did the other day, then how did you end up getting killed so young?"
ааааааааThe Grey Lady seemed unperturbed by Beetlebrick's question. She opened her ghostly shawl, revealing the front of her dress. An ugly knife wound stained the dress, still as red as the day it had been inflicted. "As you can see," she answered, "it wasn't a spell that killed me."
ааааааааJames leaned toward Rose. "You've got your wish, Rose," he whispered. "We've got a woman teaching us Artis Decerto after all."
аааааааа"I'm really enjoying the new stuff we're learning in Defence Club, James," Cameron Creevey said as he followed James down the stairs late Saturday morning. "Whoever would have thought that the Grey Lady had a seventh-degree mastery of martial magic! She always seemed so calm and feeble, didn't she? And with Cedric Diggory's ghost helping her teach, I mean, wow! Who would have thought it!"
аааааааа"Yeah, Cameron," James said, walking as fast as he could. "I'm glad you like the club."
ааааааааThey passed a group of older students by the main doors, all of whom were dressed in jeans and jumpers or jackets, babbling excitedly. Professor McGonagall stood at the head of the queue, accepting and inspecting the small parchments each student handed her.
аааааааа"Yes, yes, Mr. Metzker, no point in making a show of it," she said as Noah flourished his permission slip. "Off you go. And if I catch you with any more of those awful Peruvian ballistic beans, it'll be more than deducted House points, I can assure you. Who's next?"
аааааааа"Pity you can't come, James," Damien called as James pushed past the queue, heading out into the courtyard. "Hogsmeade weekends being only for third-years and older, you know." He waggled his eyebrows and grinned. Sabrina elbowed him in the stomach.
аааааааа"I wishI could go to Hogsmeade," Cameron said wistfully, staring after the departing students. "Still, I'm sure there's a very good reason younger years can't go."
аааааааа"Yeah," James said, stopping at the courtyard gate and turning to the younger boy. "Well, anyway, Cameron, I'm sure you have other things to do today. Don't let me keep you."
ааааааааCameron shook his head happily. "No, actually, I don't have a thing to do. I was sort of hoping thatЧ"
аааааааа"James!" Rose called, panting as she ran across the courtyard to meet him. "Ralph's coming. He insisted on borrowing a Sneakoscope from Trenton Bloch, the blighter. That warning from Zane's sure got him on high alert, especially today, sinceЕ er. Hi, Cameron."
аааааааа"Hi, Rose," Cameron grinned cheerfully. "What's going on?"
ааааааааRose glanced at James, frowning a little. "Oh. What? Nothing. You know. Saturday this-and- that. Same as usual. Boring, really."
аааааааа"What's your friend Ralph need a Sneakoscope for?"
ааааааааJames put his arm around Cameron, trying to steer him back toward the front entrance. "You know, Cameron, today would be a great day to practice up on some drills and exercises. The gym's open all day. I bet you could even find some other club members to join you."
аааааааа"Well, why don't you three join me?" Cameron said, ducking under James' arm. "Since you don't have any plans yourselves."
Rose cleared her throat. "It isn't that we don't have any plans exactly, Cameron. They're just, erЕ"
"Secret," James interjected, at exactly the same moment that Rose said, "Boring."
аааааааа"Secret, er, boring plans," James went on, nodding. "Club stuff. Scheduling and counting members andЕ andЕ"
аааааааа"And planning field trips!" Rose added, brightening.
аааааааа"We're going to go on a Defence Club field trip?" Cameron asked, furrowing his brow.
аааааааа"Sure," James replied. "It's a secret, so keep it to yourself. But we're going to go to, erЕ"
аааааааа"Er," Rose chimed, "the Forbidden Forest, with Hagrid, to practice Artis Decerto against someЕ"
аааааааа"Some centaurs!" James supplied. He nodded. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
ааааааааCameron looked vaguely puzzled. "Centaurs know Artis Decerto?"
аааааааа"Sure," Rose said confidently. "They practically invented it. I mean, they didn't really invent it, obviously, but practicallyЕ Anyway, it's a big secret, so don't tell anyone about it yet, all right?"
аааааааа"Hey, everybody," Ralph said as he approached, shouldering his satchel. "We're all ready to goЧ"
аааааааа"To Hagrid's," James interrupted, nodding at Ralph fervently. "To talk about the field trip. Yeah, I suppose he'll be expecting us any minute. So, anyway, see you around, Cameron."
ааааааааCameron looked at James, Rose, and Ralph in succession, his eyes slightly narrowed, then he smiled cheerfully. "Yeah! Sure. I'll keep it a secret. I've never seen a centaur in person. That'll be excellent!"
аааааааа"Centaurs?" Ralph said, turning to James. "You never said anything aboutЧ"
аааааааа"Cool!" James interrupted. "Yeah, thanks, Cam. Hush-hush, right? See you later."
ааааааааCameron nodded and backed away. Finally, he turned and headed back toward the castle entrance.
аааааааа"What in the world was all that about?" Ralph asked as the three students ran around the corner of the gate.
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