~ I have added this Fanfic to my Patreon. If you'd like to read advanced chapters, feel free to check it out!
~ I'm planning to increase the number of advanced chapters to +50 this weekend!
~ I've edited some of the previous chapters to remove anything you might consider "cringe" or "unnecessary." I'll continue reviewing them from time to time!
~ Very soon, we'll return to releasing two chapters daily, including bonus privileges for Power Stone contributions
<><><><><><><>
No one said a word—not only did they all realize they had much to learn, but they also knew Moody was fond of spouting off questions designed to trip them up, then teaching them how wrong they were. This was one of his less than subtle attempts.
"Good. The first thing to be aware of is how little you know. I have been an Auror for more than fifty years, and I can tell you that I am still learning.
"You have all put your best effort into these sessions, and I must tell you I have been impressed with you all—high praise from me, I can tell you. You are all competent, and even gifted, and I know that you will continue to do well."
He stopped walking around the room and stood in front of them, fixing his gaze upon them sternly. Or at least his real eye was fixed on them—the false eye whirled this way and that, seemingly at random as it usually did. "However," he continued, emphasizing the word, "though you may be very competent, you will never improve if you do not continue to practice. Returning to Hogwarts is not an excuse to slack off—constant practice will be necessary to retain all that you have learned and improve.
"I will not be at Hogwarts this year—I have other tasks to accomplish. You can still enlist the assistance of the Headmaster, and though you may not know this, your Charms Professor was quite the duelist in his day. In addition to this, Miss Delacour and the two elder Mr. Weasleys," he nodded to the elder students, "also have at least two more years of schooling than the rest of you—use their knowledge and set up a time when you can all practice together. Remember what I taught you, and you will do well.
"And above all," he suddenly thundered, "you must remember and practice constant vigilance!"
The twins shared an amused grin, while others of the group fought valiantly to keep their own from their faces. Of course, this did not go unnoticed by their trainer.
"Mr. Potter!" he barked.
"Yes, Auror Moody?"
"Do you know who the Death Eater children at Hogwarts are?"
Harry thought for a moment before replying. "I know some. There's Malfoy, of course, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Pucey, Zabini, probably Parkinson, the Greengrass sisters… Heck, all of Slytherin house could likely be included."
Moody's answering smile was positively feral.
"That's an assumption, Potter. The fact is that though some of the group you just mentioned were almost certainly Death Eaters, to paint the whole house with the same brush is incorrect. Remember this lesson—you must always be vigilant, but do not assume.
"Weasley!" he continued. "Who are the Death Eater spawn in Gryffindor house?"
The incredulous expression on Ron's face was priceless. "But… but… there are no children of Death Eaters in Gryffindor!" he sputtered, appearing highly offended.
"Are you certain? What evidence do you have? Were you at the Death Eater trials at the end of the first war? Can you see into the minds of your classmates and read their intentions?"
Though he continued to sputter, Ron could say nothing in response. Harry glanced around the room, noting the looks of speculation on most of the faces. It was the general opinion in his house that Gryffindors were "good," while Slytherins were "evil." Most of those in the other houses seemed to occupy a position somewhere in between the two. But now that Harry thought of it, why should it be so? He had learned long ago that very few things were black and white—qualifying people in that matter was remarkably short-sighted, and inherently dangerous.
"What then, is Gryffindor house too noble to house Death Eaters and their children?"
Harry was hesitant to speak up, but he knew to what Moody was referring, and thought it would make a good object lesson. "What about Pettigrew?"
Moody's eyes pierced Harry—though the false one continued to gyrate insanely—and he stepped back with a grimace. "Pettigrew! Very good, Mr. Potter."
"What do you think, Mr. Weasley?" Mad-eye demanded of Ron. "Still think that everyone in your house must be lily white?"
Appearing thoughtful, Ron shook his head.
"And well you should not. Anyone can hide who they truly are. In fact, it is the truly cunning ones you must watch carefully. The Slytherins are known and can be a problem, even though they are mostly milksops who are not as dangerous as their parents were. But it is the Death Eater sympathizers in the other houses who you truly must beware of."
"Even if no one in your house is an actual Death Eater, can you be certain that none of them are under the Imperius curse?"
Suddenly, Moody spun and launched a stinging hex at Neville. Neville, though he had often been considered to be a duffer, in actuality had very quick reflexes, and he had snapped off a Protego in time to absorb the stinging hex before it could hit him. Moody had been doing this the entire time they had been taking lessons from him, and they had all become proficient by this time in protecting themselves from his random attacks.
<><><><><><><>
~ If you like the story, please leave a review!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power
Stones]
~ (Soon +50) Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Nehafanfic