Albus stared as Filius directed Hagrid into placing a rather plain slate-topped side-table beside his desk. After a moment, Filius gave his approval and Albus put down his quill.
"Filius," He began, "Not that I mind gaining more space to put my things, but I don't recall asking for a new table."
"Oh, it's more than a table." Filius grinned as Hagrid stepped back to watch. "Hagrid's got one in his hut, but his is set for the grounds outside Hogwarts."
"Verra useful already." Hagrid rumbled happily. "Caught the Weasley Twins tryin' ta sneak inta the forest."
Albus gave the table a curious, albeit bemused look and Flitwick produced his wand.
"Let me activate it." He said and tapped his wand against the middle of the small table. An instant later, the table began to glow, then from it, a mostly-transparent image of Hogwarts rose, small points of light in different colours moving around or congregated in various rooms.
"Filius?" Albus queried and the Charms Teacher chuckled.
"It's a full map of Hogwarts, Albus. As Headmaster, you get to see where all the students are, except when they're in their common rooms or the bathrooms. Just there, see?"
Albus watched a blue spark enter one of the bathrooms and vanish, the bathroom gaining a hovering number 1. A second blue spark entered soon after and vanished while the number changed to 2.
"The common rooms have a similar aspect to them." Flitwick continued as Albus rose from behind his desk and moved round for a closer look. "However, each Head of House can see the positions of the students in their own common room, it is the bedrooms and bathrooms that are number-only. If you want to zoom in, use a low-powered lumos to zoom in and tap the table to zoom back out again. Blue are Ravenlaws, red for Gryffindors, brown are Hufflepuffs and green are Slytherins. The teachers and staff are gold while any visitors are silver and if you tap any dot with the wand, their name will appear around them, like this."
Flitwick's wand poked one of the three dots in the representation of Albus' office and a golden ring formed around it with the name Filius Flitwick easily readable as it rotated for a moment, then faded.
"Fascinating." Albus mused. "Why, this could revolutionise discipline in the school."
"Yes and no." Flitwick shrugged. "You see, only the Heads of House, the Deputy Headmistress and the Headmaster are getting map-tables that track students and mine, for instance, only shows me where my Ravens are, unless someone uses a spell against them, in which case I can see that person also."
"Mine only shows the people outside Hogwarts but on the grounds." Hagrid supplied. "Still verra useful."
The map suddenly flickered out and was replaced with a two-foot tall image of Professor Snape.
"Severus?"
"Albus." The image of Severus said with a nod. "This is useful. I see you… and Filius and Hagrid. Are they in the office with you?"
"They are." Albus confirmed. "But… what?"
"Potter brought this table to me and explained it doubled as a way to talk to other teachers." Severus shrugged. "You hold your wand to the table and state who you wish to call, the call ends when you say the words End Call."
Severus' image winked out, being replaced by the map again and Hagrid laughed, his mirth echoing through the office.
"That was annoying." Severus grumbled as he reappeared. "Anyway, this means that it'll be easier for us to pass messages to each other. I have a communication stone in my potions lab and Potter is giving the other teachers communications stones for their offices. His spirit-guardian Jorel apparently created them at his request. I've given Ravenclaw ten points for mine."
"It will certainly speed things up." Albus agreed. "Why, we won't need to spend as long in meetings or sending students to find each other."
"The thought had occurred to me." Snape agreed. "I have a lesson about to begin. End call."
Snape's image was replaced once again by the three-dimensional map and Albus looked at Filius.
"Please, tell me more about this interesting invention."
"It's actually something that we're testing for the new company, Evans Enterprises." Filius started, then he caught Albus' startled look. "That's right, Albus. Harry named it after his mother. I think it's one of the reasons that Severus approves of it. Now, you'll note that the image of Hogwarts doesn't quite match how it is in reality, that's because the map had to be changed a bit to make the passageways make sense. The rotating brackets show where corridors and stairs connect completely different areas of Hogwarts…"
Albus moved back to his chair as Filius explained how the newest tool to help keep track of the students of Hogwarts worked and how to use it to best effect.
At the very least, it would give them a chance of avoiding another Custard Incident…
.
"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. My name is Narcissa Malfoy, although you will refer to me as Professor during class, and I will be doing my best to teach you how to protect yourselves." Narcissa stated as she regally paced across the front of the classroom. "Once you leave Hogwarts, you will face many threats ranging from the annoying, such as stinging hexes, to the truly dangerous such as someone targeting you as part of a Blood Feud. Some would have you simply rely on the Aurors charging in to save you, but they need to know you're in trouble before they can do so and then they need to get there in time which they rarely do.
"The Ministry of Magic has a special map that shows the use of magic. If you are in an already-magical place such as Diagon Alley or Stonehenge, those sensors will not pick it up. If you are in a Muggle area such as Little Whinging in Surrey, the sensors will pick up even a Lumos. Yes…?"
"Hermione Granger, Professor." Hermione said as she lowered her hand. "You mentioned already-magical places, would magical households count? Especially those with protective wards?"
"Very good, Miss Granger, it does indeed and two points to Ravenclaw for logical deduction." Narcissa gave her a nod of approval. "And yes, that does allow some families to bend the rules on out-of-Hogwarts magical practice somewhat. Most of those tend to cover themselves by paying for a Tuition License so that they can ensure their children are not lagging behind or teach them Family Magic. Can anyone give me an example of a family known to have unique magics… yes?"
"Ron Weasley, Professor, and the Potters."
"Very good, Mr Weasley, two points to Gryffindor for a correct answer. Of course, given how dramatic Lord Potter's usage of it was, I think everyone knows about that particular Family Magic. Do you wish to comment, Lord Potter?"
"Thank you, Professor." Harry said, fighting down a blush at being singled out. "I didn't know how good Lockhart was, so I went for something that I knew he wouldn't have seen before and thus wouldn't know how to counter."
"An excellent tactical decision on your part, Lord Potter." Narcissa agreed. "Of course, the problem with using it as you did is that others will now be trying to duplicate it, but then again, that is true of any publicly-revealed Family Magic. Quite a few of the spells we rely on these days were once Family Spells that were duplicated."
Narcissa let everyone consider it for a long moment before continuing.
"I look at you all and I see the future. Too many have died and I wish for that to end, so I am here to teach you to survive. Now, if someone is about to attack you with a spell, what action can you take? You have an idea?"
"I do, Professor… I'm Padma Patil and negotiation is usually a good first step."
"Negotiation is indeed a good step, but only as long as the person you believe is about to attack you is willing to listen." Narcissa gently countered. "If someone is about to attack you, then they are usually beyond the point where they will pay attention to anything you say, but two points for an intelligent answer. Anyone else? You?"
"Seamus Finnigan, Professor. My father believes that a strong offense is the best defense."
"An interesting viewpoint and if you are fast enough to seize the initiative, then yes, it can be." Narcissa allowed. "Of course, if someone is attacking you, then you will probably be trying to defend yourself first, but yes. Counterattacking is one way of defending yourself. Four points. Anyone else? Yes?"
"Moira McTaggart, Professor, and retreating out of the line of fire would be my choice."
"And a very sensible one it is too." Narcissa said, her voice causing the few students sniggering to shut up. "If you are not there to be hit, the spell cannot harm you. Five points for a very sensible answer.
"Now, since I got most of the answers I wanted, let me list them in reverse order of use. Negotiation relies on either you having an obvious advantage or the other person being sensible. If they are attacking you, then it's obvious that neither is the case. Shielding is a passive defense and there are spells that shields do not stop, so shields by themselves are useful only for the short term. Counterattacking can drive off your attacker, but it also means that you are likely to take at least some injury and, should your attacker be far stronger than you, you will lose.
"Finally, evasion. At the very least, circling round your attacker or dodging from side to side will make it less likely that he will hit you unless he resorts to area-effect spells which take both longer to cast and use more magic. Running away is a fairly good idea, but simply turning and running is an invitation to get hexed in the back. Cover and concealment are vital if you are retreating, unless you are able to Apparate or use some of the other movement skills.
"Now, I know you were expecting to actually learn a few spells, but that can wait until next week, or this weekend for those interested in learning how to Duel from our resident Dueling Master. For now, though, let us discuss the need to be aware of your surroundings. Can anyone list three different ways to leave this room, for instance?"
.
.
"So, why did you invite me to your room?" Hermione asked curiously as Neville finished putting his books back onto his bookcase.
"Because I have something for you both." Harry said, picking up a box from his bed and opening it. "Hermione, you know how most electrical devices fail around magic? Well, this is a technomagic watch… with extras."
Hermione accepted the watch and carefully put it on, noting how the watch-strap automatically tightened around her wrist. Turning her hand slightly, she smiled at the sight of the digital readout.
"It's more than just a watch." Harry said as Neville put his own time-piece on and Hermione caught a glimpse of the second hand sweeping round on it. "It's got a multi-function display. Digital and analogue, just place your finger against the screen and state your preference."
"Analogue." Hermione said, then she stared at the three hands on the screen. "Digital? Wow."
"It also has a map function." Harry said, pulling his wand out and placing it against the edge of his own watch. "Map, full."
Both Hermione's and Neville's eyes widened as a two-foot-high translucent image of Hogwarts formed.
"It'll show you anyone nearby and you can use it to plot courses to where you want to go. Map, route to astronomy tower."
A line of flashing blue dots extended from the white diamond that marked Harry's location, going through several passages before ending at the top of the tallest tower.
"Analogue." Harry commanded and the map vanished, leaving Hermione staring agape at the empty space where it had been. "It also acts as a telephone or portable floo so we can talk wherever we are, although they're currently on private setting, so you won't receive any calls from people you haven't pre-approved. Hermione, I sent your parents one each too and your watch is preset with links to theirs. Oh, these are the deluxe versions, they've got the map and stuff whereas your parents only have the time and comm bits. Neville, I sent your gran a pocket-watch version… ah, it looks like she's calling."
Neville stared at his watch, which was shaking slightly on his wrist, then touched it with his other hand.
"Hello?"
"Neville? Is that you? Can you hear me?"
"It is, Gran, and I can." Neville said with a smile as Harry and Hermione quietly left the room to give him privacy.
"Thanks, Harry." Hermione managed and Harry grinned.
"Look, why not head off and find somewhere so that you can talk to your parents. I'm sure they'd appreciate an upd-aaack!"
Hermione's hug lifted him off the ground, then he found himself staggering as she vanished down the stairs.