Harry Potter And The Unexpected Friend

"An excellent suggestion, and the one I was hoping you would remember. So using one movement but two incantations it is possible to quickly disarm and bind an adversary."

"Wow, that sounds really useful. Why doesn't everyone use that technique?" Harry asked.

"It takes practice to learn the skill well enough to get to the point where the increase in casting speed is noticeable, and most people that aren't professional duelers have no reason to learn it. Beginners often create what are called chains of linked spells and practice the same ones over and over so that they can use them in a duel. The problem with this is that an advanced dueler will see the first spell in the chain and know what is coming after it. Masters of the technique are able to create chains as they cast." Flitwick explained.

"You're a master, aren't you?" Harry asked with a knowing smile on his face.

"I am. And it took me decades to reach this point. If you want to improve you must practice, Harry. I have seen how easy the spells in this class have become for you, so you must be studying ahead of time. Tell me, how far ahead are you?"

"Either finishing sixth year or starting seventh in Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense. I guess I have been practicing almost non-stop since my name came out of the Goblet of Fire." Harry admitted.

"Your dedication shows. If I may make a suggestion though: don't neglect practice on casting speed, accuracy, and curse dodging. They are just as valuable as the number of spells you know and how strong you can cast them." the small professor advised.

"Thank you, Professor Flitwick. You've given me a lot to think about."

"Good luck in the tournament, Harry. I'll be cheering for you."

"Thanks! Bye, Professor." Harry said happily and turned to walk out the door. He had underestimated how much he could learn from his Charms professor and wondered what the other professors could teach him that wasn't normally discussed in class. The ultimate source of information would likely be Professor Dumbledore, but he always seemed to be busy with something although Harry still didn't know what the Headmaster's job really entailed. Professor Flitwick had given him some good ideas, though. Harry's dedication to improving himself had not wavered. In fact it was stronger now that he had tested himself against Crouch Jr and come up lacking. 'That won't happen again.' Harry thought to himself, strangely hoping for another chance to fight Barty Crouch Jr.

...

In another part of the castle, Draco Malfoy was plotting his revenge and thinking about his nemesis Harry Potter. He had disliked Potter since the day his offer of friendship had been rejected in favor of the blood-traitor Ron Weasley who Potter apparently wasn't even speaking to now. Over the years he and Potter had fought constantly, causing his dislike of the other boy to grow. This year had by far been the worst of them all.

When the Triwizard Tournament was announced Draco had loudly announced that he would have entered the tournament if it were not for the age line. The other Slytherins had nodded and agreed that he would have easily won it. His interest in the tournament would have ended there if Potter had not found a way to trick the cup and get into the tournament. After that everyone started asking him why he hadn't snuck into the tournament when Potter had been able to. It was yet another humiliation he had to endure at the hands of his rival. Worse than that was when Potter had shown up to the Yule Ball with Daphne Greengrass who was easily the prettiest girl in Slytherin. And as the prettiest Slytherin she was supposed to be his. Draco had approached her several times but been turned down each one. Pansy Parkinson, his date to the Yule Ball, didn't seem to understand why he was so angry when Potter and Greengrass showed up. Draco did not feel the need to explain himself to her.

The final insult had been finding Potter sitting at the Slytherin table and then causing him to get detention. It was all Potter's fault, just like everything bad that happened to him. His dominance in the school should be unchallenged, but Potter had prevented that. And so, Harry Potter would pay the price for his crimes against him. And if he couldn't get to Potter directly, he would have his revenge through Greengrass. She had also shown herself to be a thorn in his side and so deserved it.

'But how should they be punished?' was the question now on Draco's mind which was now drawing a blank. As he struggled to formulate a plan he grew more frustrated and angry, once again blaming everything on Harry Potter. 'You will pay, Potter!' his mind screamed, 'One way or another you will pay.'

...

Hermione finally found Daphne in the library after looking for her for almost an hour. 'Funny,' Hermione thought, 'that the last place I look for her would be the first place people would look for me.' As Hermione approached she saw that the other girl with with a couple of books open writing an essay. Daphne didn't look up until Hermione had sat down at the across the table from her.

"Hermione?" Daphne asked as she noticed her. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong really." Hermione answered, although obviously something was on her mind. "What are you working on?"

"The essay McGonagall assigned about the Third Law of Transfiguration. Looks like I only have four inches left, actually. Is that why you're here?" Daphne asked, still not sure why the other girl was talking to her. Daphne and Hermione had slowly moved from polite to somewhat friendly when interacting with each other during the practice sessions with Harry, however this was the first time that either of them had sought out the other away from that situation.

"No." Hermione answered and then leaned in towards Daphne, speaking softly so as not to be overheard for the next part. "It's about our training with Harry." At this Daphne puts down her quill and looks towards Hermione curiously.

"What about it?"

"I didn't tell Harry because he'd just say I was being ridiculous." Hermione started, seemingly very reluctant to admit whatever it was she was thinking about. "I'm not as strong you two, and I don't think I will ever be able to keep up with either of you." she admitted.

"That's not exactly true, you know." Daphne said thoughtfully. "There are some spells that you can do as good as Harry, maybe even better. You were the first one to pick up on those battlefield healing charms and the best with them."

"Maybe, but all of my attack spells are weak." Hermione said sadly. It was then that Daphne noticed tears in the other girl's eyes just waiting to be shed. "I just want to be able to help out Harry when he needs me, but I feel so useless."

"I know for a fact that Harry does not think you are useless. He depends on you more than you know." Daphne reassured her.

"He did. But not anymore, he depends on you now."

"I guess so, but my relationship with Harry is a lot different than yours." This response finally drew out a small smile from Hermione.

"And what exactly is you relationship with him?" she asked with a little grin.

"Let's stick with talking about you. You know that I am not trying to replace you, or ruin your friendship with him right?" Daphne asked.

"I know that, and I am not really afraid of losing Harry's friendship anymore. We've patched things up well enough. I just want to find a way to make myself useful. Every year Harry manages to get himself into some kind of trouble and most times he has had me and Ron to back him up. But Ron's gone now and Harry's problems seem to be getting bigger and more dangerous. Both of you have improved so quickly, I just wonder if he will even need me around."

"Don't be daft, Granger." Daphne said with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "Surely you didn't miss the lesson where we were told that all witches and wizards seem to have some branches of magic they are better at than others. So battle spells aren't your thing, who cares? Figure out what your good at and keep trying to improve."

Hermione seemed to think about that for a moment and then gave a little nod in agreement. "I suppose you're right. If nothing else I will be there to help him research whatever he is going to face. Thanks Daphne, I needed to hear that."

"Sure." Daphne shrugged and then went back to her essay. Hermione recognized that as the end of their conversation and left the table so that Daphne could get back to her essay. Hermione didn't know why she had originally thought it would be a good idea to ask Daphne about her worries but was glad she did. As she walked out of the library Hermione's mind was racing as it tried to think of ways to objectively determine what branches of magic she was best at. Pictures of charts and graphs showing the results of her experiments were already popping up in her head.

....

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