NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: Undercover
By the next day rumors were swirling about what had happened to Professor Moody. Most seemed to agree that he and Harry Potter had fought each other, but who won and why they were fighting varied from story to story. Harry's insistence that he had been fighting Barty Crouch Jr and not Professor Moody was usually met with confused reactions since no one really had any idea who Barty Crouch Jr was, and the few who did thought he was already dead. For the rest of that week Defense Against the Dark Arts was being taught by Professor Snape, as he had done the previous year during Professor Lupin's absences. This, of course, prompted disappointed groans from three quarters of the school and excited cheers from the rest.
Aurors had come and taken statements from him and Alastor Moody concerning what had happened. They promised to look into it before they left, but a week later the Ministry had done nothing and no mention of it had been made in the Daily Prophet. Obviously, someone was trying to cover up what had happened. The only relevent article that Harry had seen was one announcing that Barty Crouch Sr was giving up his position in the Ministry and retiring. Harry had a strong hunch that Barty Crouch Sr was not going to be heard of again, either because he was in hiding or because his son had murdered him. Once again Harry was frustrated at the wizarding world's corruption and inability to face the truth. He wasn't surprised that no one believed him, he was a future dark lord in their eyes after all, but they had ignored the warnings of Mad Eye Moody. If the Ministry and Prophet wouldn't listen to one of the most respected Aurors ever who would they listen to? 'Maybe it would be better if we got rid of them both and started over.' Harry had thought in his frustration.
Harry had learned that the Greengrass family's first reaction to the articles against Daphne was to buy a significant piece of the newspaper. According to Daphne, they now owned seven percent of the Daily Prophet which was enough to get them never to mention the Greengrasses in a negative light ever again but not enough to have their star writer fired. Rita Skeeter's downfall would not be so easy, it seemed. Daphne's father, Daniel Greengrass, was meanwhile checking up on rumors that Rita Skeeter had a secret and illegal method of getting stories. No one seemed to be willing to say exactly what it was so far but the angered father was determined to find out.
Dumbledore had assured Harry that he had his own search for Crouch Jr going on, but they had not had any luck tracking him down. Likely, they decided, he was already back with Wormtail and Voldemort wherever they were hiding. And so, since nothing could be done, life returned back to normal. Or as close to normal as it could get.
...
Harry patiently waited for Charms class to end. Ever since seeing Professor Flitwick duel Barty Crouch Jr he had wanted to talk about it with his professor. Harry was still in awe of the speed and aggressiveness which the small man displayed during the fight and wondered if that was something he could learn. Finally, Professor Flitwick dismissed the class with a note that their essays on the Patronus Charm were due the next period. Harry grinned at that and wondered if he could get extra credit by producing one. As the rest of the class left Harry remained seated and when the room was almost empty he approached the desk where Professor Flitwick was still gathering his things.
"Hi, Professor. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry asked.
"Certainly, Harry. How are you feeling?"
"I'm great. It took a few days for the soreness to wear off but I feel normal again now." Harry explained truthfully. One thing he had not known about the Cruciatus curse until he experienced it was that the pain seemed to stay with you even after the spell was lifted. There were potions that could dull the pain, but only time could get rid of it completely.
"Excellent! Now, what can I help you with?" Professor Flitwick asked.
"Well, I've been thinking about the fight with Crouch Jr. I did ok, right up until the Crucio, but when you started fighting he didn't stand a chance. How were you able to move so fast and cast so many spells?"
"Ahh, I see. Harry, my proficiency in dueling is due to a combination of my own natural talents and decades of practice. I am sorry to say that there is no secret trick that will enable you to do it in a short amount of time. But I can help you to get started if you would like." Professor Flitwick offered.
"That would be great!" Harry said enthusiastically. "I'd really like to be able to move as fast as you did."
"That is one thing I can not teach." Flitwick answered. "It is not a spell that makes that possible. It is a natural skill that can be done without a wand, much like Animagus transformations or Metamorphmagus changes. I am what's known as a Curromagus, which is basically a witch or wizard that is able to use magic to boost their natural speed and reflexes. We are quite rare, although not as rare as Metamorphmagi, and a person is either born one or not. There is no way to become one."
"I see." Harry answered, the disappointment clear in his voice. "I guess that means I'm not one."
"It is unlikely, but still possible. The differences usually do not become clear until a wizard is a little older than you are now. I was 16 before I discovered the ability, although even before that I was aware that I had very good reflexes. If I were to suspect that anyone in this school might be a Curromagus I would suspect you, Harry."
"Really? Why?" Harry asked with a look of confusion on his face.
"Mainly because of the way I've seen you act during Quidditch. Your success in that sport is not due solely to your abilities to fly a broom, but in the speed with which you are able to react to Snitch as it changed directions. It is quite impressive, Harry, and one reason among many I wish you had been sorted into Ravenclaw." the small professor explained with a chuckle. "Wait and see, Harry. Perhaps you are a Curromagus, perhaps not. Either way you should remember that there is more to dueling than simply magical power. Honestly speaking, one day you will be a far more powerful wizard than I."
"Do you really think so?" Harry asked uncertainly.
"Of course. You are stronger than most, while I am merely average." Flitwick admitted.
"You have to be better than average, sir. I heard you were a duelling champion, that's far from average."
"Ah but you missed the point, Harry. What I meant was that I am not capable of putting as much power behind my spells as many other wizards are. Because of that it is much wiser for me to avoid spells in a fight rather than trying to shield against them. Due to my size and Curromagus talents I am uniquely capable of doing this." Flitwick explained.
"OK, I think I understand that. But how were you able to cast spells so quickly? Was that just another part of the Curromagus abilities?" Harry asked, surprised to be learning so much.
"Partly, but not completely. I utilize a talent that any witch or wizard can do but only professional duelers ever bother to master. It is a way of linking spells together so that your wand never stops moving. In order to link two spells together the last wand movement of the first spell must be the same as the first wand movement of the second spell. If they are, you can do the movement once when casting one spell right after the other. For instance, what is the last movement in the disarming charm, Expelliarmus?" Flitwick asked, reverting back to his teaching attitude.
"A full clockwise spin." Harry answered confidently.
"Correct! And what spell can you think of that begins with a clockwise spin?"
Harry had to think about that for a few seconds, but finally remembered one. "The body bind curse does."
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