Daphne laughed. "Yes, and tomorrow's pick on Ernie day and the next day is Harry's turn."
"And when is it your turn?"
"We girls have to deal with you knuckleheads. Isn't that enough punishment?" Padma and Hermione laughed and nodded their agreement with Daphne's statement. For a moment Ron looked like he was going to reply but instead he just sat down on the bench. Daphne took this as an admission of defeat.
"See girls, I told you he could be taught. And you thought he was a lost cause!" This brought the girls another round of laughter as Daphne settled into a seat next to Ron. The red-haired boy pretended to be mad as he turned to Harry.
"I told you all Slytherins were evil." The group started to laugh again except for Ron who winced as Daphne gave him a little jab in the side.
Ron was saved from further retaliation by Moody and Flitwick stepping out onto the stage.
"Now listen up, you lot. I told you all at the beginning of the year that I had one year to whip you all in the shape," Moody announced. "I didn't realize in just how bad a shape Hogwarts students had gotten. The performance of your so-called champions last month was abysmal! Britain once claimed the best, most powerful magical fighters in the world! Our Aurors were known and feared by criminals all over the world. I wouldn't put you waste of wands against a First year from a fourth rate school in Mongolia! "Instead of teaching the best magical students I have a squib making jokes about who really is more dangerous with a wand - a Hogwarts student or a three-year-old! My bet is on the three-year-old!"
Moody was really on a roll. It took Flitwick another five minutes to pull the Defence professor back on the topic. The Charms professor started explaining to the class about the basic rules of duelling in a civilized venue. After explaining the rules, Flitwick started explaining basic duelling exercises and strategies. The last half of the class was spent performing some exercises.
Harry found the class did not live up to the expectations he had put on it. Fred and George had talked about watching a duel between Moody and Snape. The dual had gotten progressively nastier until Flitwick ended it. Fred commented that Moody didn't look like he wanted to stop until Snape was dead. George added that it was an attitude he could live with if it meant no more potions with Snape.
Unfortunately for Harry that first class set the tone for the next few classes. It wasn't until the fourth class that the professors allow the students to start duelling with their classmates. That was when Moody decided to throw a spanner into the works.
"Potter, get up here!" Moody commanded. Harry shared an uneasy glance with Padma before standing and walking forward. Moody scowled down from the platform at Harry.
"I understand your Godfather has taught you a bit of duelling. Well congratulations! You just volunteered to be our sparring partner."
"You mean I have to spar with you?" While Remus and Sirius had given Harry some training he really didn't want to duel with the former Master Auror. While the beast gave Harry some natural advantages he really didn't want to display them in front of half the school.
Moody gave him an evil grin that made Harry really nervous. "No boy. You're going to be the target dummy while I work with all these brats."
"Professor, you can't do that!" Hermione yelled as many of the Slytherin students celebrated amongst themselves. "You can't make Harry face all of us!"
"Oh, I think I can missy. Potter here has the best practical scores in Fourth year Defence along with outside training. I'd bet on him well before that over-bred popinjay Malfoy!"
This comment brought laughter from many of the students except for Harry and Malfoy and his followers. The Slytherins were angry over the slight to their leader while Harry realized the defence professor had just painted the target Harry's chest. Every student wanting to prove they were better than the Boy-Who-Lived was going to get a chance at him now. Harry was sure the pureblood society would be first in line.
Moody turned to Harry and pointed him to a spot on the opposite side of the platform. When the former Auror came near Harry growled, "What do you think you are doing?"
.....
Join my p@treon and read ahead by more than 60+ chapters.
Link : [email protected]/InfinityWeaver
Free members can read the next two chapters for free on my p@treon