Harry Potter and the Flying Squad (01) - Sahits

emember this - a Dementor isn't human, and it cannot scale its attacking power. So it cannot
surrender either ... A Patronus - your Patronus - fights only as hard as necessary. So if the
opponent cannot bend, can only break, it will be broken."
Harry was silent for some time, chewing on that. Then he asked, "Can we discuss this a little
more?"
"Certainly." Lupin smiled. "It puts us right into today's lesson. Harry, what do you know
about fighting?"
Harry swallowed the quick reply that had come up, remembering just in time that Lupin
wouldn't ask him a stupid question. Thinking harder, he saw his assumption confirmed -
beneath the surface, this question held some trapdoors.
So his first answer was chosen carefully. "Fighting needs two opponents." After another
moment, he added, "And it needs something to fight with."
Lupin had waited silently. Now he nodded, apparently satisfied by the answer. His next
question sounded as simple as the first. "Opponents and weapons. Is this enough?"
"No. They must have a reason to fight." Harry felt as if his answers were building a dam
against the rising flood of Lupins questions, except that soon he would be out of supply.
"Something else?" Lupin's face was expressionless.
"Hmm - yes, of course. The opponents must have the intention to fight. Otherwise, either they
would live in peace, or one would chase the other."
"Very good so far ... Now they fight." Lupin paused, as though giving the two imaginary
opponents time.
His next question came like a shot. "Who's going to win?"
"The stronger one ... Er - no, the better one."
"Really?"
Lupin's face had lost the blank stare. It looked as if he had cornered his prey. "Why didn't
Voldemort win against you?"
"Because ..." After a moment, Harry continued, "One reason is, I had some protection, but I
know that's not what you want to hear ..."
Checking his teacher's face for confirmation, he saw only raised eyebrows, making clear that
Lupin had his own opinion about what he wanted to hear.
Only he didn't hint at at, and so Harry, somewhat helplessly, finished, "... I have some feeling
of what I could say, but I can't put it into words."
Quite unexpectedly, Lupin beamed. "Excellent, Harry ... I'm here to put it into words. Listen
to me, and be prepared for a little monologue."
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