Shadowed Mystery

“Of course practical offensive charms are not my strong suet. Heck charms in general aren’t my forte.” Alyssa had been going on practically all morning about how great Hermione was at charms, and how much better she was at learning those things, and Harry could hardly stand it at that point. Hermione’s eye was twitching a bit as well, and he could see that Draco was considering joining Nevil in the greenhouse, even if her wasn’t good at herbology himself.

“Silencio.” Hermione glared softly at Alyssa, shaking her head with a sigh as Alyssa continued to prattle on without even making a sound. “Alright so they’ve fully just gone fully somewhere else.”

“Alyssa.” Draco took their shoulder, and Harry smiled as they finally seemed to realize they couldn’t speak. “There you go. You were rambling on for a good few hours there, surprised you didn’t lose your voice before Hermione silenced ya.”

“Are you okay? I know that your trying to be positive but you’ve repeated yourself a few times, and while I tuned you out for the most part that was a lot.”

Hermione dropped the charm and Alyssa nodded. “Yeah, sorry if I’m going to far I just want it to be clear I’m not perfect.”

“We know that. That entire ramble showed it quite a bit.” Harry chuckled taking their shoulder. “Is it a bad day or what?”

“I don’t know. I mean I am worried that something might happen, but I know everything is going to be okay. At least in the long run. We just need to be able to figure out who’s being controlled.”

“And that hasn’t been that easy.” Draco admitted with a nod.

“And we will.”

“Yeah, and in the long run this will do everyone some good, I just worry-“ As the group reached the long stage Alyssa fell silent, eye twitching as they took note of Gildroy Lockheart. “Alright I’ll be scanning the crowd for anything suspicious or strange.”

Harry gave a nod as they slipped back into the shadows, just barely avoiding Lockheart’s gaze.

“Gather around, gather around!” Lockheart called, beaconing with his arms for attention. Can you all hear me? Can everyone hear me! Excellent.”

Harry’s chest eased a bit as he took note of Snape on the stage as well, though he seemed uncomfortable around Lockheart.

“Now Professor Dumbledor has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club, to train you all up in case you ever needed to defend yourselves as I have done so on countless occasion. For further detail- see my published books.” Lockheart said making his way up to Snape.

“Let me introduce my partner Professor Snape.” Harry wasn’t sure if he was imagining it but as Lockheart took Snape’s shoulders, he was certain the man tensed quite a bit.  Focusing in Harry tuned Lockheart out, and realized he was right. While Snape was a master at covering his feelings, he could tell that the man was incredibly uncomfortable having Lockheart’s hands on him, returning to normal; if more annoyed, once they were removed.

“What is it Harry?” Hermione whispered as Lockheart prattled on a bit more.

“I don’t know. It could just be general distaste, but Snape seems genuinely uncomfortable with Lockheart. It could be the position of power he was given though.”

“Maybe.” Draco nodded. “I didn’t see anything though.”

“Maybe.” Harry nodded as the two took their places. At this point Snape’s upper lip had taken on a bit of a curl, and Harry couldn’t wait to see Snape put the idiot in his place. “But really knowing what he is capable of getting away with, I can’t help wonder how it stopped.”

Hermione nodded, though it was clear she was paying some attention to what was being said.  While Harry was happy to see that she wasn’t nearly as infatuated with him, there was still a strong pull toward Lockheart that Harry could sympathize with.  He knew about Queen Bee, this was clearly no different.

“On the count of three.” Lockheart called. “One-Two- Three.”

“Expeliarmus!” Snape called, faster and smarter than his opponent. The flash of red hit Lockheart in the chest, hard, sending him flying backwards off the stage. Surprisingly it wasn’t only the Slytherin who cheered, Snape’s smugness momentarily fading to a surprised soft smile. It didn’t last long however as Lockheart pulled himself up, back onto the stage.

“Well there you have it, that was a Disarming Charm! As you see I’ve lost my wand.” He said, putting on a smile, though Harry could see right through it. His ego was hurt, he was just trying to hide it for more attention. As Lavender handed him his wand he winked at her. “Ah thank you Ms. Brown. Now that was an excellent idea, to show them Professor Snape-“ Harry turned to Hermione as her eyes went wide.

“What is it?”

“Detect Thoughts.” She admitted, shaking her head to dismiss the spell. “It… Was bad.”

“Why?”

“Later.’ She hissed. Harry turned his attention back to Snape who looked about ready to murder Lockheart at any given moment. Lockheart at least seemed to pick up on this as he nodded.

“Enough demonstrations! I’m going to come amongst you now and separate you into pairs. Professor Snape, if you would help me.”

As the two  went through the groups Snape got to the three.  “The two Queens can face each other, Miss. Granger you are against Mr. Bulstrode.”

Quickly everyone took their places.

“Face your partners and bow.” Lockheart called, Harry and Draco respectfully.

“Don’t hold back.” Draco pointed and smirked.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He nodded.

“Now we are only going to disarm our opponents, we don’t want any accidents.” Lockheart called. “On the count of three. One-Two- Three.

“Expeliarmus.” Draco was a bit faster on the draw, spell hitting Harry hard in the chest, causing him to stumble. But Harry was good at recovery, and some slight countering. While he wasn’t meant to be faced head on, he knew a few things to gain him an upper hand.

“Rictumsempra.” A flash of white hit Draco who bent over in a fit of laughter.

“I said disarming only!” Lockheart shouted over the heads of the dueling students. Draco could hardly move for the laughter, but as Harry  took a few steps back, Draco made his move, just managing to get a spell out between the laughs. “Tarantallegra!”

Harry’s legs began moving wildly on their own in some kind of quick step.

“Stop! Stop! Lockheart shouted, though it was Snape who actually bothered to do anything.

“Finite Incantantem!” Harry’s legs stopped moving and Draco was able to catch his breath. Many people seemed fairly exhausted but Hermione and Milicent were still going at it, wands long forgotten on the ground. Bulstrode now had Hermione in a headlock, who was whimpering slightly.  Before even Harry could get to the two Alyssa hopped onto the stage, yanking Bultrode back by the hair.

“I think it would be best if I taught you how to defect unfriendly curses.” Lockheart said, studying the aftermath of the duels. “Perhaps a demonstration is in order. Alyssa and Cassiopeia.”

For a moment Snape looked ready to protest but stopped as Alyssa sent him a quick message.

“Very well.” He nodded as the two took their places in the center of the crowd, which separated to give them some space.

“Now Alyssa, when Cassiopeia points her wand at you, you do this.”

Lockheart attempted to do a complicated sort of wiggling motion with his wand, only managing to drop it. Alyssa rolled their eyes, taking a stance across from Malfoy who smirked coldly.

“Three-Two-One. Go!”

Malfoy raised her wand quickly. “Septemsortia.”

Harry’s eyes went wide as a massive black snake shot from the tip of her wand.  Alyssa had immediately somewhat blue screened, clearly mot programed to go to magical responses first.

“I’ll get rid of it.” Snape sounded almost amused as he pulled out his wand, glaring as Lockheart stepped in his way.

“Allow me.” Lockheart brandished his wand at the snake, a small explotion sending it flying ten feet into the air and royally pissing it off.  As it reared for Justin Harry marched forward without a second thought.

“Leave him!” He hissed, glaring slightly at the snake until it stood down, looking up at him with some curiosity. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Justin rush out of the room, Seamus shooting him a dirty look before following. He could hear the crowd whispering and muttering around him.

Quickly Snape blasted the Snake with a spell, causing it to vanish in a puff of smoke, shooting him a confused look, before flicking his wrist to indicate that he should leave. Harry nodded, quickly following his friends out of the great hall.

“Alright, so that went well.” Alyssa rolled their eyes as they reached the base. “Harry people are stupid, as good as what you did was, they are fully turning on you.”

“Were not going through that again, they should have learned their lesson with you.” Harry shook his head then let out a heavy sigh. “But this is a very different situation. People are scared and they want someone to blame. I get that much, but they need to remember that I’m not Slytherin’s descendant.”

“Well due to how ancient- Not the point. You very likely are not his antecedent, or any of the founders defendants. But even if you were somehow that wouldn’t innately make you evil.”

“Tell that to everyone else.” Draco rolled his eyes. “This isn’t going to be an easy one to get out of.”

“The potion is almost done and I got this-“ Alyssa held up a bit of Bulstrode’s hair. “So that’s good. We just need samples for whoever else is going. I would say maybe try to get people in Cassiopeia’s inner group.”

“Of course, but we have some time.” Harry gave a nod. “Now, Hermione. What was it that you detected from Lockheart?”

“He wanted to rape Snape. To sexually get revenge for the humiliation.” Hermione’s voice trembled. “I saw flashes of Remus.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I’m a bit worried about him to be honest.”

“Snape wont let anything happen to Remus.” Alyssa whispered with a small smile. “But… Knowing Snape he probably will let himself be hurt.”

“I know, and that’s part of the issue.” Harry let out a heavy sigh. “Lockheart is a monster in his own right.”

“Monster-“ Alyssa echoed, getting a slightly distant look in their eyes for a moment. “Yeah. I guess your right.”

“You good?” Draco asked, gently hugging Alyssa.

“Yeah, I just have a weird relationship with human/ monster. Ya know? In a way I’m a monster, and you are a monster to some. But I get the meaning. And your right, he is a monster. He became a monster the moment he acted on predatory intent.”

“He’s a pedophile.” Alyssa faltered. “I think that makes him a monster.”

“Parphelia’s like that are mental illnesses. I think if a person is seeking help, and doing everything in their power not to act on them, then they aren’t monsters. They are sick. Lockhart is a monster because we know he’s a rapist who would be willing to prey on children.” Alyssa noted, holding up a finger. “But I can mostly respect that opinion. I just hold mental heath a bit close ya know. So like, people getting help and doing their best to be good people. And actually being good people. They deserve respect.”

“That’s a really good view on things, especially coming from someone who we all suspect was assaulted.” Nevil smiled, carrying in a deep purple cactus looking plant. “What did I miss?”

Quickly the group filled Nevil in on everything and he gave a small nod.

“I didn’t know you could talk to snakes.”

“I don’t very often because I know that some see it an innately evil. And I know it’s going to fuck up the school year for us.”

“That explains why I heard people whispering about a group of ‘bad kids’. Saying that we really were the bad kids, and that we should be watched at all times. It’s rediculous really.”

“You know what no!” Alyssa stood and clapped. “I mean were breacking the rules with Polyjuice anyways. So you know what? If they want to call us the Bad Kids, so be it.”

“Alright, I can get behind that.” Draco nodded.

“Yeah, let them call us the Bad Kids.” Hemione gave a nod and Harry smiled.

“The Bad Kids it is.”