Chapter 15
"Mia," Harrison sighed. "You do realize naming it S.P.E.W. will make Ron call it 'spew.' And secondly, while I agree that slavery is wrong, house-elves don't want to be freed."
Hermione snorted. "Well, you're right about Ron. And this is why I came to you first. I probably should have done research before starting it. What do you think I should call it?"
"Advocates for Magical Creatures," Harrison said after a pause. "That way we can help people like Moony, too."
"AMC," Hermione said thoughtfully. "It has a nice ring to it. But how about Rights for Exceptional Beings?"
"I like it," Harrison grinned. "We could add two more words that start with E and L-"
"Emendo Lapsus," said a voice, as Blaise appeared out of nowhere. "One of the meanings is to 'Amend an Error.'"
"That would work!" Hermione beamed. "Thank you, Blaise."
"Want to explain why you need that?" Blaise questioned.
Hermione began ranting about the house-elves' unfair situation, about Dobby, and about Muggle slavery stories. Blaise listened with a serious expression.
"...and I think we need to do something about it!"
"I agree," Blaise told them, startling them both. "I understand that slavery is wrong, and that people mistreat house-elves. I hope you're going to use this to help other creatures, too."
"Of course," Hermione agreed.
"We already have a werewolf we can talk to," Harrison added.
"And a Veela and a vampire," Blaise said mildly.
"What-" Hermione began in confusion.
Blaise's eyes flashed amber. Hermione squeaked.
"Cool," Harrison said with interest. Blaise looked amused. "We won't tell anyone."
Blaise nodded in gratitude. "I think your newspaper would be a good place to promote... what are you calling it?"
"Rights for Exceptional Beings, Emendo Lapsus," Hermione told him. "Hmm, maybe 'emendo lapsus' can be our motto or something..."
"REBEL is a cool name," Blaise grinned. "We are, essentially, rebelling against the Ministry with it. I'm glad you didn't do a stupid name, otherwise people wouldn't want to join."
Hermione looked embarrassed, and Harrison snickered. "Her previous choice was Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
Blaise snorted.
"And how did you know it was our newspaper?" Harrison asked.
"Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies." Blaise smiled mysteriously. "But Draco, Pansy, and I would like to help. Pansy is a gossip queen, so she always knows everything; I have a little talent that allows me to eavesdrop; and Draco is a writer."
"Parkinson knows about-"
"She doesn't know who wrote the newspaper," Blaise assured them, "but she probably suspects. She won't care as long as she gets to help."
"We need a place to meet up that isn't the Gryffindor dorm room," Harrison sighed.
"I know where. It's secure and secret, and will give you anything you need," Blaise responded. "The Room of Requirement."
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"This place is cool!" Colin said excitedly, staring around at the huge conference room. There was a magical copier on one side and a case full of Quick-Quotes Quills on the other. In the middle was a huge table at which Hermione, Harrison, the four youngest Weasleys, Colin, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lee, Draco, Blaise, Pansy, and Luna were seated.
"It can really give you anything?" Ginny asked, eyes wide with awe.
"Anything that Hogwarts has," Blaise corrected. "It also won't provide food, but we can call a school elf for that."
"It wouldn't be able to provide food because of Gamp's Law-"
"And we need to know that why?" Ron sighed, earning snickers from most of the group. Hermione glared at him.
Harrison cleared his throat. "Hey, why don't we start the meeting?" Colin immediately turned his eyes to him, eyes shining. "First, in an effort to hide our identities, I want to have codenames. But I also want to have fun with it. Do you guys want a color theme, a god theme, or a Latin name theme?"
"A color theme?" Pansy frowned.
"Like, Ginny would be Red, Blaise would be Gray, etc.," Harrison explained.
"And a god theme?" Draco asked with interest.
"Fred and George would be Loki and Lugh, gods of mischief-"
The twins grinned.
"-Ginny would be Aphrodite-"
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Parkinson would be Pheme-"
"Oh, call me, Pansy, honey," Pansy told him, batting her eyes.
"And what about Latin names?" Hermione interjected.
"Draco would be Argenti, you would be Callidus, and Ron would be Belli," Harrison replied. He paused. "What's your vote, Luna?"
"The Nargles say the Latin names will inspire people to learn Latin," Luna responded serenely, "which all magic is based upon."
"Well, since our newspaper is called The Mage Tribute, let's go with Latin," Lee agreed.
Everyone except Colin voted with Latin names. Colin still thought a color theme was a good idea, so Harrison compromised and called him Rubrum, as red was Colin's favorite color.
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The Mage Tribute
REBEL Against Mistreatment
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"Today," Moody said firmly, "we will be demonstrating the Imperius Curse. I have written to all of your parents swearing on my magic that I will not order you to do anything -- this is just a demonstration of what the Imperius can feel like, and how to throw it off. If your desk contains a paper saying you are dismissed from this exercise, you will not be demonstrated on. I explained to your parents the same thing I've explained to you: while the Dark Lord appears to be dead, there are still magicals out there who will mostcertainly harm you if they can. If you do not want to have this curse performed on you and you do not have a letter on your desk, please raise your hand."
"But you said this curse is illegal!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I've got permission from both the Ministry and Dumbledore to use it on you," Moody said grimly. "I asked Madam Bones; she is much fairer than the rest of them. She understands that you need to learn how to defend yourselves.
"Who doesn't want to be under the Imperius?"
No one raised their hands, but Seamus did have a question. "Sir, why did you ask our parents' permission?"
"Legally, I need both your and your parents' say-so to perform any magic on you, as all of you are minors," Moody said sharply. "Now- we'll go in alphabetical order."
Seamus and Lavender didn't have signed permission from their parents, but there were still several people before Harrison. Of those people, only Draco and Tracey Davis were able to throw off the curse.
Finally, after Parvati returned to her seat, looking slightly dreamy, Moody barked, "Mr. Potter, you're next."
Harrison stood up and walked to the front of the classroom. Moody pointed his wand at him and said, "Imperio!"
A pleasant fog covered his mind. It was as if he were bathing in a sea of clouded ecstasy.
Harrison immediately distrusted it.
There were very few instances in his life that he had felt like this. He was always scared, mistrustful, or tense. Harrison shoved at the peace with all his might, and suddenly he found himself in the classroom again.
"Well done, Mr. Potter," Moody growled, looking surprised. "You fought it. I've never seen anyone throw it off that quickly. Five points to Gryffindor."
Harrison went back to his seat.
"How'd you do that?" Draco whispered, as Moody called Dean up. Harrison shook his head in response.
Once Blaise had returned to his seat, throwing off the curse almost as quickly as Harrison had, Moody said, "Alright, now for the benefit of those who weren't under the curse, would someone explain what it was like? Miss Greengrass?"
"Peaceful but kind of foggy," Daphne Greengrass said slowly. "Like -- like those dreams where you're floating in the air, no worries at all."
"Good description. Five points to Slytherin." Moody ignored the surprised looks from the Gryffindors. "Now, there are many ways to throw off the Imperius, but there are only three ways they most likely did it.
"One, the person is a master Occlumens. An Occlumens uses his magic to put protections around his thoughts. For those of you interested in learning Occlumency, contact me during my office hours.
"The second way someone can throw off the Imperius Curse is if they are a magical creature. Most magical creatures, like vampires, werewolves, and Veela, have built-in protections on their mind, having no need to learn Occlumency."
Harrison spotted Draco and Blaise exchanging glances out of the corner of his eye. Was Draco the Veela Blaise was talking about earlier?
"The third most likely way is abuse," Moody said quietly. Several people whispered in alarm. "Abused magicals have very rarely felt any kind of peace, making them instantly suspicious of the peace the Imperius Curse has. They are also independent and mistrustful of most adults.
"You will not ask Mr.s Malfoy, Potter, and Zabini or Miss Davis how they threw off the Curse. It's none of your business."
Moody waited for them to all agree. Then he said, "Next week, we will be talking about the different types of magic. I would like to remind you beforehand that I will only give an unbiased account of all types of magic, even the ones the Ministry have claimed are illegal.
"Homework: write an essay about how to best fight all three Unforgivables, due next class."
Harrison stood up, but Moody said, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, Miss Davis, please stay behind."
Hermione, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville gave Harrison worried looks, but he waved them on. Pansy, Blaise, and Draco had a short, whispered conversation before Pansy joined Harrison's friends.
Once the classroom was empty, Moody cast a few Anti-Eavesdropping Wards. "I am required to ask if any of you are being abused."
"No," Draco responded. "Mother would have a heart attack if anyone hurt me, and Father is so protective of me that it's rather annoying."
"My parents taught me Occlumency when I was old enough to talk," Davis said.
"You already saw the stupid article about my previous home life," Harrison said sourly. "Remus and Sirius would never hurt me."
Blaise was silent. Then he said quietly, "My stepfathers..." he paused. "Let's just say my mother has had to enact vampire law on every single one of them."
Davis looked outraged and horrified. Draco squeezed Blaise's shoulder.
"Vampire law?" Harrison asked slowly.
"A parent is legally allowed to protect and avenge their child," Blaise answered. "Even with death. The Ministry cannot interfere."
Moody scowled. "Except with the stupid law about vampires not being allowed to date humans."
"Even if they're mates?" Harrison exclaimed. Moody gave him a grim look in response.
"'Stupid' law?" Davis quoted with a smirk. "Used to date a vampire, did you?"
Moody blushed ever so faintly. "Now that is none of your business, Miss Davis. If you see any evidence of abuse, please report it to your Head of House."
"Professor McGonagall doesn't listen," Harrison told him.
"Then tell Professor Snape," Moody deadpanned. "The man may be dour and cold, but he does have a heart. Somewhere."
Draco snorted.
"Professor Snape and I don't really get along," Harrison said hesitantly. The man hadn't spoken to him since school had started. He had looked at him a great deal, guilt and thoughtfulness in his expression.
"Then tell me," Moody said exasperatedly. "Miss Davis, you may go."
Snickering, the girl left.
"If you want an article for that newspaper," Moody said, ignoring the shocked stares from the three of them, "write about Trelawney, Binns, and how no Defense Professor has been able to stay longer than a year."
"How-" Draco began.
"Does Dumbledore know?" Harrison demanded angrily.
"'Course not. He stopped the school having a paper when your parents went to school and when the Dark Lord did," Moody drawled. When he received three suspicious looks, he said, "I don't trust anyone, you three. Especially Dumbledore." He paused.
"What about your old vampire date?" Blaise asked, wriggling his eyebrows.
"Dead," Moody said hollowly.
Blaise stopped smiling. "Sorry."
"No harm done," Moody shrugged. "Now shoo."
Blaise: Umbra (Shadow) (Information Gatherer)
Colin: Rubrum (Red) (Photographer)
Dean: Artifex (Artist) (Illustrator/Comics)
Draco: Argenti (Silver) (Reporter)
Fred: Malem (Mischief) (Information Gatherer)
George: Mahemio (Mayhem) (Information Gatherer)
Ginny: Igneus (Fiery) (Reporter)
Harrison: Secreto (Secret) (Editor)
Hermione: Callidus (Clever) (Reporter)
Lee: Tenebrarum (Chaotic) (Sports Reporter)
Neville: Cor (Heart) (Illustrator)
Pansy: Fama (Fame, Reputation, News, Gossip, Rumor, Report) (Information Gatherer)
Ron: Belli (Strategy) (Sports Reporter)
Seamus: Vinum (Wine) (Comics)