Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Zingaro	By : ccino49 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3610 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 30
- 31
- 32
I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe. It all belongs to JK Rowling.

Zingaro

Chapter 31

Paula had the sixth year Slytherin/Griffindors class out in the school grounds. On the quiddich pitch to be exact.
�Right. For the first hour you will team up. Slytherins in groups of threes and fours, Gryffindors in ones and pairs. Yes I know it is unfair, but that is life. When you are being attacked, the enemy is not going to decrease his numbers because he thinks it unfair to outnumber you. Paula shouted at them all. �When the hour is up, the numbers will be reversed. There will be NO unforgivable and NO threats to life. Begin.�
For the next hour she watched as hexes and curses flew wildly, quickly stepping in and healing anyone who was badly injured, but mostly barking orders and making suggestions.

�Stop. Mr Weasley come here.�

Ron Weasley gulped and stepped up to his professor wide eyed. �Err, Professor?�
�You will duel with me now, the rest of you lower your wands, wait by the castle wall, and watch.�
�When you are ready Mr Weasley.�
�Um.� He squeaked as he faced Paula. Ron had no idea why she�d singled him out like this, he must have done something really wrong but he didn�t have time to worry about it now. He had to fight his Professor and she was bloody fast.
Ron narrowed his eyes and held his wand in front of him, if he was going to die, he at least intended to try and get a few good stunners in first.. After nervously sending a few low level hexes at her, all of which she avoided, he dodged most of what she sent at him then sent a sectumsempra at her. This was quickly followed by a fierce stinging hex and a Levi corpus. Even as she disappeared from his view he aimed his wand over his shoulder and without looking he shouted �Expelliarmus� then spun ready to fire another spell.
�YES. I knew it.� Paula shouted after appearing behind him again. �That class, is called forward thinking, pre-guessing your enemy, studying them and learning their moves. For weeks Mr Weasley has been watching my every move, no matter who I duelled with, he watched, took mental notes. Today he strategised, thought ahead and used what he knew of my mode of operation. Well done Mr Weasley, I will be more cautious of you in the future. Thirty points to Gryffindor.�
Ron stared at her amazed. He�d thought she wanted to make an example of him, but to show him up, not make him look good. He grinned sheepishly at first, then his smile progressed to one that spread from ear to ear.
�That�s not fair, he didn�t even hit you with that last spell.� Draco Malfoy complained.
�No Mr Malfoy, but he was mighty close. Only the fact that I am his teacher and know his own moves so well prevented that from happening. Had I been say � a Death Eater, I would have been flat on my back, minus my wand.�
Ron was on cloud nine for the rest of the week. Never in all his five and a half years at Hogwarts had he earned that many points in the classroom.
Paula did the same with each class for three days, rooting out the strategists, the forward planners, the watchers. In all there were eleven of them, ranging from fifth year to seventh. These students were asked to take advanced defence lessons in their own time. She promised to teach them things above any level the Ministry aurors used and privately planned to ask Eggy for a special dispensation to teach dark magic to these students. They would be fighting dark magic and the only way they could defeat it was to know exactly what they were up against.
�Come on Eggy. Think about it, when these kids leave Hogwarts, you�ll have a crack team of ready made aurors. Most of them could already give your aurors a run for their money, but Death Eaters know magic that even the Ministry do not teach. These kids have something the others do not, they have minds that are attuned to battle. They are all reasonably quiet kids, they do not go looking for trouble and none will turn to the dark. I know, I have read them. Give it some thought Eggy and let me know, soon.�
Egbert Minnings was not surprised when Paula put her request to him personally, but Merlin�s socks, how was he supposed to clear it without causing a big �who-hah� with the Ministries magical control department. He sighed. �Paula why do you always have to give me mountains? For once, just once, could you not bring me a tinsy wincey little hillock?�
Paula smiled and gave him a hug. �You know me Eggy, if a jobs worth doing.�
�Marry me?� He asked as she made her way out.
Paula left without answering and he dropped his head into his hands, wondering how the hell he was going to get round the latest obstacle she had set him. �The things I do for you woman, I would do for no one else.� He mumbled to himself.
�What�s he doing here?� Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione when they entered the defence classroom for the first class of the day and found Professor Snape sitting next to Professor Vance on Thursday morning.
�I dunno, but I hope none of us have to duel him.� Ron replied.
�If we do, you�re the most likely candidate Ron.� Hermione told him knowingly.
Ron looked horrified. He paled considerably and sunk as low as he could into his seat.
�Alright, settle down. Professor Snape will be sitting in on classes for a couple of days. As most of you know of his expertise in the art of defence, you should not be surprised that he wishes to see how well you are doing. Mr Malfoy, Mr Longbottom.�
The two boys stepped forward, one with a confidant, arrogant air about him, the other a bundle of nerves.
Paula stood in front of Draco. �Do your worst Mr Malfoy.� She knew he would anyway.
Paula stepped up to Neville and spoke so only he could hear. �Stop trembling Mr Longbottom, you know as well as I that you can take him down. Forget Professor Snape, forget your grandmother. You are fighting for your life, for you parents, and for your friends, remember that and you will be fine.�
She stepped back to stand beside Severus. �The rest of you, behind me and no talking, otherwise you will find yourselves being used for target practice. Minus your wands.� She added, noticing several of them had their wands gripped firmly in their hands.
They class obeyed. They knew she was not making idle threats. Most of them at one time or another had been magically stuck to the wall and used as a target for minor hexes when they were not paying attention or were ridiculing a student from their opposing house.
Severus raised an eyebrow when the class obeyed without question. He wondered if she would actually do what she threatened.
�Professor Snape, if you would not mind standing back a little while I erect the shields.�

�Professor Vance, I hardly think I need to be protected along with your students. I am quite capable of protecting myself.� He told her dryly.
�My class, my rules.� She told him quietly.
Severus stood back a little, a scowl on his face as he watched her wave her wand. This was the first time he�d seen her use it, normally when they were alone she would use wandless magic.
�Begin.� She shouted at the two young men.
Severus was unable to keep his stoic expression as Neville and Draco whizzed, dove and rolled around the classroom firing, blocking, and dodging hex after hex. Nor could he believe the speed, level and strength of the spells they were using.

Longbottom especially took him by surprise. The boy who alone had botched up more potions than the rest of his year, was now duelling like a skilled professional and it was an impressive sight to see.
After ten minutes and without a word, Paula accio�d their wands. The boys did not bat an eyelid, instead circling each other then fighting hand to hand. No matter how many punches, kicks or throws they took, the boys continued fighting, both equally matched as far as Severus could tell.
�Stop.� Paula shouted and the two boys instantly broke apart, bowed to each other and faced their Professor, waiting further instruction.

�Professor Snape, any comments?� Paula asked.
�Not as yet, no.� He replied. This could have been a fluke after all, or perhaps Longbottom merely had a talent for defence and she�d picked out the best two in the class to impress him.
As the morning wore on however he was forced to admit that any one of these students could give him a run for his money were he to be pitched against them in a duel.
�I am impressed. I noticed you did not include Weasley in your show today. Any particular reason, or is the boy as much of a dunderhead in this class as he is in potions and you were afraid he might show you up?�

�You will see Mr Weasley fight, but at a later date. Their will be several others you will notice do not take part in class duelling, those you will watch along with Mr Weasley if all goes well. I will tell you no more for the moment Severus.�
He scowled as they headed for lunch, Severus to the Great hall and Paula to her wagon.

TBC
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Zingaro