Strange Potter

Greyback Murdered!

The feared name that has haunted numerous victims of his madness has passed away.

To some, that would seem like a good thing but this reporter learned that he didn't succumb to his injuries by the dangerous entity known as the Hulk, but was murdered in his bed!

That's right readers someone managed to get past the 'guards' and poison the unconscious monster before he could stand trial and face the consequences of his actions.

Why do you ask? That is a very good question. One that we can only demand answers from those who were trusted and failed.

We hope the DMLE will take action against the failed guards who were so easily fooled. Minister Fudge has promised a full investigation into their incompetence.

Rita Skeeter.

"You let that woman undermine my department!" Amelia slammed her paper on Fudge's desk.

"We had to come up with something. The guard should have been more mindful and you know it!"

"Don't put this on me. My men were under the control of the same curse that was used for on 'upstanding' members of the public. As you have argued in the past."

"That is not the point! Your guards failed! Greyback died under their watch."

"Someone with your face deceived them then used an unforgivable! Perhaps we should investigate all your known associates who could have access to you? Whoever it was had to be close." Amelia was hoping just to drag Lucius into this.

"Hem. Hem." Another voice cleared her throat. "You seem to forget your place, Amelia. It's unsavory to speak in such a way to YOUR boss."

"As unsavory as attempting to place the blame on my department?" Amelia stood taller than the woman in pink. "As I remember you advocated for Greyback's immediate death. You also have constant access to our Minister."

"You dare..."

"I speak only the truth. As of now anyone in this building who would have been able to get some piece you." She looked back to Fudge. "Is now under my full investigation."

"I will not allow you to do that! I remind you I can fire you!"

"No, you can't. Now that I am investigating the Ministry itself you would need a 70% majority in the Wizengamot. We both know you don't have it. I would be very careful about following the advice of some individuals who don't have the best of intentions." She glared at Umbridge. "I have placed the guards on leave for the time. Now I have a job to do."

She was barely out the door before Umbridge snapped.

"She can't do that! You need to show her insubordination will not be tolerated!"

"She's right." Fudge rubbed his temple. "Have the papers focus more on Greybacks pack and their upcoming trials. That should give us some breathing room while Amelia does her foolishness."

"She has always been a problem."

"She has her uses, unfortunately. She is good at her job. We'll let her go her way and have any problems fall on her shoulders. If she causes too many...I'm sure you can think of something. You are one of the important people here. The only one I know I can rely on."

A sickening smile came over her face. "My loyalty to you and the Ministry will never falter. I will handle Amelia."

"Is this your entire inventory?"

Snape glared but managed to hold his retort. "I keep a documented supply. Everything on that list is accounted for."

Dumbledore had to be in the room. He just couldn't take the chance Snape's inability to hold his opinion wouldn't bite him.

Wong read over the ingredients. All were accounted for. "Very well." He laid the scroll down and cast some spells in the air.

"What are you doing?"

"Verifying the number with the paper." All the different potion ingredients floated in the air. They flew around and numbers were appearing next.

Snape rolled his eyes. This was a waste of his precious time and patience. It was bad enough he had to deal with children, but now he has to put up with this?!

"The amounts are the same." Wong canceled his spell.

"Excellent." Dumbledore was eager to get this man away from his potion master before something happened.

"Now for your private storage."

"I have no such..." Snape stopped when Wong caused the section of his storage room move. A hidden wall slid in and another shelf full of supplies was behind it. Along with a well-stocked cabinet of various potions.

"Lie to me again." Wong challenged the potion master.

"Wong. It is well known that Severus is a renowned potion master. Of course, he would have a personal area to work on his craft." Dumbledore tried to calm the situation.

"He lied to my face and you still blindly defend him. It's no wonder Grindelwald used you so easily."

That got Dumbledore's anger going. He rarely lost control but that was too far. "The mistakes of my youth are not for discussion!"

"Maybe if you bothered to learn from them, but here you are blindly defending a man who everyone else sees the truth. History repeats itself Dumbledore. Do you think if you are right about him it will absolve you of your failure with Grindelwald? It will not."

Dumbledore gave a long sigh. "You speak as if you were there. You have no idea what transpired or the circumstances behind them."

"She was very thorough in documenting. I know what led to your biggest regret. I know you didn't listen when your brother warned you about Grindelwald months before your fight happened. So you have a history of ignoring things until it goes wrong. Are you making the same mistake here?"

Dumbledore was getting tired of his past being used against him. Can't they see he wasn't the same man he was then? 

Wong went through the ingredients in the hidden room slower than before. Some were not for any class or lesson he could think of. Even the advanced years. He couldn't fault Snape for having them though. Despite his failure as a teacher he was skilled at potions.

"Everything appears to be in order."

"I trust you have wasted enough of my time?"

"You act as if your time means something to me. Just like your self-importance is something I should care about. If you acted like an adult and simply told the truth I could have been done already, but now I'm beginning to understand why Sirius enjoys making your life difficult."

At that hated name, Snape was reaching for his wand. He stopped halfway. It was obvious this man was wanting him to break. To give him more reason to undermine him and Dumbledore. He would give him none. "Are we done?"

"For now. You have all your ingredients counted for and so I believe I can rule out the possibility of a potion being used or you having any involvement."

"If only you listen to actual adults instead of ones like Black. We could have been done much earlier." Snape never could pass up a chance to insult Black or any Potter.

"You should have been in prison because of that mark, but instead you were given a chance to build a better future. Did you? No, you complained and tormented children. Children who lost family due to the man you pledged loyalty to. You were given more freedom than you should have but it wasn't enough for a spoiled man-child like yourself. You grew used to Dumbledore protecting you. You're an ungrateful brat."

"Wong."

"You have no place here." Snape held his head high.

"Neither do you. You do just enough to keep Dumbledore happy. It's not even enough to make me feel conflicted about killing you if I have to."

"You threaten me again..."

"I understand you are not used to being on the receiving end. The only difference is I will go through with it not just sneer."

"That's enough. Wong Severus has been cleared of all involvement by your own admission. Please refrain from threatening my staff."

"I don't make empty threats." Wong shrugged. "I have more work to do." He left them there.

"How long do we have to endure that man?!" Snape let out.

"I understand your frustration. I am feeling it myself, but your attitude is not helping the situation."

"I am being mocked and belittled at every turn by those who should have no authority here!"

"Given how you treat the students you could see it as being treated the same as you treat them." The cursed painting that watched over the classroom spoke.

"Silence you!" Snape's wand was out. "Confringo!"

The figure jumped out of frame as the spell came close but a shield stopped the spell.

Dumbledore sighed as he lowered his own wand. "Did that make you feel better?"

Snape glared and put his wand away. "I can not keep this up, Headmaster. Everyone is pushing me out and risking my life!"

"As rude as that comment was." He glanced over to the painting. "It has merit. They seem to treat you the same as you treat others. Perhaps you should try to be more...civil and less forceful when you are in the same place?"

"So I should just kiss their backsides?!"

"I did not ask you to do that, just refrain from your usual intense self. Just around Stranges group and Mr. Potter perhaps."

"I will not treat him like some pampered prince like Black has!"

"We both know he has never demanded that!" Dumbledore said with such force that even Snape was taken back. "I know you have instigated all the conflicts with him. In class has he ever started any of them? No, just try ignoring him if you must choose."

Snape nodded after a few minutes. Ignoring the brat was probably the best choice. After reading what Wanda could do... Self-preservation was his top priority. 

"I hope we can be free of Strange's sorcerers after the winter break." Dumbledore did indeed. He just didn't know how to feel if they managed to find the Chamber. He had to be the first in there before them. There was a chance Tom hid something down there...

Remus saw the line of people. The big day was here and everyone and anyone were here to see the effect of the cure.

Saint Mungos was packed. Amelia had every spare Auror she could at every entrance and exit. She had the halls lined as well to keep an orderly fashion for the distribution.

Of course, Fudge had to be seen smiling for cameras outside. Strange and the staff had made it clear that there would be no press inside. Some argued that they had a right. Stephen simply said the right of the victim's cursed took more urgency and shut the doors on them.

Remus saw one of the kids he had hoped would come.

"Hey." He smiled at the boy.

"Hi... Thanks for coming to my house and..."

"It's okay. You know Matthew it took a lot to come here today. You're incredibly brave right now."

"I...do you think so?"

"Absolutely. Ready?"

"Will it hurt?"

"A little," Bruce said. "It will feel like a bad case of heartburn for a few seconds. Then you should feel a whole lot better."

The boy looked at Remus who nodded back. He gave Bruce a shaky nod next.

He sat at the seat offered. Very self-conscious that he was the first in line and a lot of people were staring.

"How do we know it will work?" Someone asked. "It's dangerous to just take the 'cure' and hope it held when the moon comes out."

"There's a way to tell. I'm glad you asked." Dr. Strange suggested. He held out his hand and a portal opened. A white orb fell into it.

The assembly gasped in terror.

"I thought you destroyed that thing?!" Sirius shouted.

"I was going to, but since we were so close to this day I thought it would be best to wait until after we can demonstrate that the cure does work."

"What about those who are waiting?!" A woman shouted.

"I won't be letting all of you be exposed." He turned to Wanda. "If you could?"

Wanda nodded and her hands glowed. A small bubble of red formed. It was small enough for a few people but not many.

"Now I need a volunteer to show this is indeed the same orb Greyback had."

"I'll do it." 

Remus recognized the man from the disaster in the alley. The one in rags that was worried about the cost.

"Very well. Please step into the circle."

The man came into the strange bubble. "So what happens when you activate that...thing?"

"The light will only affect those in this controlled environment. It won't breach the magic therefore it won't cause anyone to change outside of it."

"You're certain I won't be able to get out?"

"You will not," Wanda promised. "I have experience with containing the wolf with this magic." She winked at Remus.

Strange made a chair appear and the volunteer sat. He didn't flinch when some magical ropes tied his hands and feet down. He took a deep breath and gave Strange the go-ahead.

The orb activated and many of the people stepped back. Luckily the magic was holding as none of the affected felt the change.

It wasn't the same for the guy inside. His body began to shift and growls escaped his mouth. His face became elongated and drool ran down his sharp teeth. The fur came next before the chair began to shake as he fought the bindings.

Seeing enough Strange stopped the orb. 

The man groaned as the orb turned off. Wanda quickly materialized some clothes on him.

"That was unpleasant."

"Are you alright?"

"Peachy." He got a hand from Remus to stand. 

"I think we're ready for the next part."

Tony nodded and handed the syringe to Bruce. Bruce patted the boy's shoulder before he injected Matthew's arm.

The boy winced as it felt hot. Then it got worse as it moved deeper into him. After a few seconds, the odd heat disappeared and he felt his joints loosen. His sense of smell was off. Usually, he could smell fresh bread from a block away as it came out of the oven over others. Now all he smelt was the room. It was too weak.

"Did...did it work?" He asked.

"Only one way to tell." Stephen held the orb out. "Are you ready?"

"I'll be right here." His mother said beside him as the bubble came around them.

"No! Please mum, I can't... Not with you close..." The boy pleaded.

"Hey." Wanda knelt next to him. "You won't change and if for some reason it doesn't work. You will not hurt anyone. I promise."

Matthew looked to Remus who gave him a comforting smile. He looked back to Wanda and shook his head yes.

The orb lit again and Matthew shut his eyes. He expected the pain of his body shifting and growing, and the scent of blood, but nothing came.

He peaked out with one eye and found the orb floating above him. He looked over his hands. No fur. No claws. 

No change.

"Mum..." Tears were beginning to come out.

The mom held the boy as they both began to cry. Years of nightmares and fear were absolved off them. Matthew would always have the guilt of what he did but now. Now he felt peace. 

Wanda and Remus took the opportunity to use their bodies to shield the mother and son. 

"Well. Who's next?" Tony asked.

The Aurors had to keep the order as everyone's hand went up.

Papers filled the hall as the news of the success of the cure was published. Not just in magical Britain. All the countries had hospitals and various healers admitted the cure.

In just one day it was calculated that the number of werewolves in all magical areas had been drastically reduced.

Only the truly lost and despicable were hiding in the woods hoping to avoid the same fate.

As others were reading Hermione put down the paper and saw it.

Harry was smiling. At first, she thought it was the news of the cure, but Harry wasn't even reading the papers. No, he kept looking at the Great Hall door. Like he knew some big news and hadn't told anyone. It was beginning to annoy her a bit. After a few minutes, she had to ask.

"What has you in such a good mood?"

"What? Can't I just be happy?"

"Of course you can, but you are up to something."

"Who can read minds now?" He whispered back. "Have a little patience, Hermione. I promise you will see what I am saying and be pleasantly surprised."

About ten minutes into the meal the Great Hall doors burst open.

Amelia Bones and several Aurors came marching in. Sirius was with them but so were a few other witches and wizards that others didn't recognize.

"Director Bones." Dumbledore stood. "What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?"

"Nothing pleasant." She said and glared and the man she came for. "Gilderoy Lockhart. You are under arrest for theft, fraud, and illegal memory manipulation."

The whole hall gasped. Some were shocked others were just surprised it was happening in front of them.

Gilderoy felt a new level of dread he never dreamed of when the faces of the wizards and witches he had 'borrowed' the stories from were all looking at him.

Lockhart gave his award-winning smile. "Director Bones this is hardly the place for a joke." He was slowly slipping towards one of the side doors.

"Take another step and I will take off a leg!" An older man stepped forward. "You stole my life, you swindler!"

"My dear sir I have no idea what you are saying or even who you are." He kept moving slowly.

"Stop moving!" Amelia pointed her wand. "Stupify!"

Lockhart ducked and tried to run but somehow his shoes were tied together! Before he could untie them he was hit with three stunners and a body-binding charm for good measure.

"Take this fraud to the ministry and do not let him out of your sight." Amelia put her wand away.  

Harry noticed it was Tonks who the Director was speaking to. She helped the others carry Lockart out but when she saw his shoes she gave a quick smirk to him. He winked back.

The Great Hall was abuzz with this development. As the sound grew Dumbledore set off a firework charm.

"Students to your classes. Those who have defense go to your dorm for the time. Amelia, I believe we should discuss this in my office.

Hermione saw the grin still on Harry's face when the started to leave. "Alright, that was a pretty good surprise."

"Told you."

"That was unacceptable," Dumbledore said as they gathered in his office. 

"I agree. We all made a mistake in letting that man into this school." Sirius sat. 

"Why did you not tell me this was going to happen?"

"We wanted to act fast," Sirius answered. "Those people who were with us did not want to wait. Chances were some were going to come after him and demand more than a pound of flesh. He did steal their lives and take everything from them. Their work, memories, family, you name it. I found some of them living on the street unable to even remember if they had homes."

"This is disturbing," McGonagall said. "He truly did all of this?"

"Wanda helped me return their memories. Everything he is being charged with is facts."

"Sirius, how did you learn of this to begin with?"

"An anonymous tip. I spent the last few months tracking down those who he charmed."

"You could have brought it to me."

"Why? I supported Lockharts hiring. I needed to fix it. When I could gather all the evidence I needed I went to Amelia."

"I find it suspicious you didn't notice that the man you hired was a complete fake." Bones said. "Did nothing tip you off?"

"I had some suspicions however, I had no proof."

"Interesting." She said.

"You have put me in a position." Dumbledore sighed as he tried to get the topic off his actions. "If you would have warned me beforehand I could have prepared a replacement."

"We didn't want to risk tipping him off. You said so yourself that secrets in the castle become well known." Sirius smirked back. He loved using Dumbledore's words against him.

"I did. Did I?" Dumbledore nodded. "I will have to work with the other staff to fill the role until the break. Hopefully, I can find an acceptable substitute."

"That's something I already thought about," Sirius said. "Someone already in the castle and overqualified to teach."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "And who would that be?"

Lockhart a Fraud?! Or the victim of false accusations?

Members of the public this reporter has learned that Order of Merlin holder Gilderoy Lockhart has been arrested!

What did this hero of the people do? Allegedly he stole the work and accomplishments of other wizards and witches. (None who came forward before)

Director Bones and several of these people came to Hogwarts and interrupted the whole school's lunch with these accusations. When Lockhart attempted to explain the situation he was stunned and carried out in full view of all the students. 

Hardly an acceptable way of handling an investigation. Any innocent person in the hall could have been hit!

Has the wizarding world been deceived by fraud or has other frauds attempted to ruin the life of a hero?

This witch won't rest until the truth is discovered.

Rita Skeeter.

That woman is mental. Trying to paint Lockhart as the victim? What has she been smoking?

Harry was expecting the classes to be canceled until further notice with the fraud's arrest but to his surprise, they were expected there.

When he saw the man standing at the front and center he couldn't stop his grin.

As the students filled in and sat the figure turned to them.

"Welcome. I will be your temporary professor for the next few weeks." Wong's stern eyes looked over the children. 

Oh, this will be fun.

"Now I have gone over this 'lesson plan from the previous professor. Other than what a fool looks like did any of you learn anything?"

"How you can easily fool the world with a good publisher," Harry said.

Wongs didn't look pleased with the lack of activities that should have been taught. How could these kids defend themselves if no one was teaching them?  "We have a lot of work to do." 

"How can you teach us?" Draco asked. "My father said that your magic was not compatible with ours."

"He would be correct. The magic I use is drawn from dimensions." Wong formed a glowing ruin in the air. "Different dimensions give different abilities. The more in tune with each one the more you can pull and the more dangerous. There are things in this reality that if I told you, you would run from this room in terror." He let them sweat for a second. "I may not be able to teach you the magic through example but you are fortunate I have experienced your magic."

"Is it possible to learn how to use yours? Has no one in our society been able to?" Lavender Brown asked.

"Do you wish to explode?"

"No..."

"Then I recommend not trying. 95% of all wizards of your abilities ended up that way. The simple term is two combustible magics can not exist in the same manner. Have there been exceptions? Yes. The five that were able to use some of the sorcerer's magic did survive, but their ability was infantile. The only one in history to magically combined the two with a decent level of success was Merlin himself."

"What?!"

Wong looked at the redhead that shouted one simple glare and the boys shut up. "Yes, Merlin was a student for a time. His ability to combine the two was an unheard-of accomplishment. You wonder why he is regarded as THE wizard. That is why."

"How much could he do?"

"Merlin was successful in the use of our sling rings. It's one of the ways he was able to always appear at the right time, but his true power came from a more dangerous dimension. This gave him a type of foresight. Many of his accomplishments came from his ability to accurately predict what would transpire next. How he was always one step ahead of most.

" That doesn't sound too bad."

"That is the problem. Every time you see what's to come it changes because you looked at it. Merlin and others had to walk a dangerous path or risk their minds imploding. With his age, he used it less and less because the danger was too great."

"Wasn't Merlin a Slytherin?"

"No. Merlin never came to this school because he was older than it. The Merlin who was in Slytherin was a child whose parents put a lot of hope on his shoulders by giving him that name."

"But everyone knows Merlin was a student here!"

"Everyone is wrong on which Merlin. Use some common sense. Merlin would have been hundreds of years old by the time the Founders stole this land. Back to the lesson."

"So even the greatest wizard in the world was only able to use a fraction of yours?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. It's unknown how his body was able to maintain its balance. After him, there have only been two others. Neither were able to use the strength he had. They left the Sanctum back to this world."

"So you won't show us how to be sorcerers. What will we learn?"

"How to survive. All of you stand."

They did and their tables and chairs disappeared. 

"The laziness, that is common here, will not be accepted in my class. Do you wish to combat magic? Then you need to be flexible, resilient, steady and prepared for the unexpected. Harry make ready."

The boy stepped to the side away from the others. He knew what was about to happen.

Wong didn't wait he cast a spell directly at Harry.

Harry ducked as the other gasped. His wand whipped out and he cast back. "Stupify!"

Wong spun in the air, the spell flying past him as he threw ropes at Harry.

The class watched in confusion and fear as Harry ducked and jumped around the ropes and different floating circles.

Acrobatics had a big advantage here. Harry knew he could take Wong if he had to but that wouldn't teach anyone anything. 

He managed to get closer to Wong but it became a hand-to-hand combat situation. One he knew he would never will. Wong was bigger, stronger, and had years more experience. The only advantage he had was his limberness and quick reflexes.

His legs gave out when Wong kicked them out from under him. His foot planted on Harry's chest.

"Yield?"

"Do you?" Harry smirked.

Wong looked down and found Harry's wand aimed at his lower bit. "Someone taught you to play dirty."

"No. Just to survive."

Wong huffed but pulled Harry up. He wouldn't show it but he was very proud of the boy. He had learned from his mistakes.

"You're a professor! You can't attack students!" 

"Did age stop Voldemort from attacking Harry? Evil cares for nothing." Wong waved the comment off. "Where did I make a mistake?"

Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"You were overconfident?" She asked hesitantly.

"Correct. My size and training let me believe I had the advantage. While true Harry adapted and used it. Once he was close he knew he would never win a straight fight of fists. Cleverley, he put himself close for an open shot. If I was a true threat he would have had a perfect opening." He bowed to Harry. "Next time I will not be going easy on you now that I know what you might do."

"Then I will have to come up with some new tricks." Harry bowed back.

Wong turned back to the students. A scroll appeared floating next to him. "I have compiled a list of offense and defense spells to will be working with along with proper hand movements. Your wands are...limited and have weaknesses but they are also your primary weapons."

"Some of those are advanced." Hermione read the list.

"Yes, and?"

"Nothing."

Wong went over the spells. All were ones that Harry knew and so did Neville so he used them for the demonstration since he couldn't cast them himself but his eyes checked each of the student's hands and his ears listened to the word. When someone made a mistake he corrected them. 

All the students were split into small teams of no more than three. When one showed to be struggling he stayed with them until they were understanding the instructions.

Harry was also helping since he was at the top of the class and worked with Wong the longest. Even Hermione didn't mind when he went over some of the proper hand movements she had slipped on. She may have considered Harry a friendly rival in most classes but Defense was definitely where she knew he was going to be the winner. That didn't bother her as much as it use to.

Ron was attempting a variation of Protego and had no luck.

"Stop." Wong appeared next to him.

"Ah!!"

"You hand movement. It's way too stiff." He grabbed Ron's hands. "You are cutting through the air not tearing through a jungle."

"What's the difference?"

"Have you ever seen water running down a stream?" Wong used a spell and a projection of a river was under them. "Run your hand up the river."

Ron hesitantly did. He felt the water against him.

"Now down the way the water flows."

"It's easier."

"Exactly. You want magic to work with you. Do not force it. Go with it. Your emotions feed into your spell. Imagine if you were casting to protect someone you care about. Your family for example. Use that feeling to push the spell along the flow."

Several gather and watched the display.

"Harry." Wong pointed to a spot. "Cast a disarming charm at Mr. Weasley. You cast the shield and stop it."

"What?!"

"Do this and you will receive the highest mark you can here. Whatever that is." Wong stood back.

"Ready Ron?" Harry had his wand out.

"...I guess."

"Don't guess. Cast with the flow." Wong told him.

Ron exhaled and nodded. 

"Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!"

The shield came up and stopped the spell. The whole class was shocked. None more than Ron.

"I...I did it!!"

"You did. Now do it again." Wong let a rare smirk appear on his face.

For the first time, all-year students were actually learning the defense. His class was becoming a favorite for some. Even Slytherins were taking in all the information. Draco had not been trashing it as much as some would expect.