Fate's Request: A Harry Potter FanFiction

Exams were a breeze for David, and he assumed even while panicking before each one, Hermione found them equally simple. Following the end of exams and knowing that Hermione would be joining Harry on a trip down to protect the Philosopher's stone any day now left David quite anxious and unable to give his personal studies the usual level of dedication.

He cursed his lack of proficiency at casting the disillusionment charm so he could follow her down there making sure she was alright. Promising himself he would master it during the holidays, he downed a sleeping draught he drifted off to sleep the moment he got into bed.

He awoke the following morning and completed his usual ritual of exercise, shower, visiting Poppy for his potion and short chat about the books she'd allowed him to borrow the week before and headed down to breakfast, but not before noticing the curtains drawn around one of the beds in the infirmary. As he made his way over to the Ravenclaw table, David saw that Harry was missing from the Gryffindor table. Hermione was however there, and he let out a breath of relief as he saw her.

Finishing his breakfast, he got up and started making his way back to Ravenclaw tower, halfway there he heard a faint voice calling his name. Stopping and looking around he eventually saw a bushy-haired Hermione barrelling her way towards him.

"David!" Hermione screamed as she jumped into his arms and gave him a bone-crushing hug.

"Hey! What's wrong Hermione? You alright?" he asked hurriedly.

Without removing her head from his c.h.e.s.t, she replied, "You were right, it was Quirrell that was trying to jinx Harry's broom, not Professor Snape. Quirrell was the one who was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone all along. Harry's passed out in the infirmary but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be alright and is going to wake up soon. I wish you came with us David, I wanted to get you to help us protect the stone, but Harry and Ron said no… and I don't know how to get into Ravenclaw tower."

"Hey, everything turned out alright in the end. I'm glad you're alright. Sounds like there's more to the story… want to find an empty classroom and talk about it?"

"Sure, let's go this way Da-"

Interrupting Hermione before she could finish was one Professor Flitwick, standing there with a smile. "Excuse me Miss Granger, but I'm afraid I need to borrow Mr Cross for a moment."

"Oh… Sure Professor…" she replied, a little sad at being interrupted.

"Mr Cross, if you could please follow me to my office," Professor Flitwick replied, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Okay…" David replied and followed up by giving Hermione an attempt at a reassuring smile.

Seeing this Professor Flitwick stepped in, "You can come along too Miss Granger, I'll just need you to wait outside my office while I speak to Mr Cross."

---

"Please take a seat, Mr Cross," Professor Flitwick told David seriously as they entered his office and shut the door behind them.

"Now Mr Cross… I shall get straight to the point. I have been pondering whether I should teach you duelling during your second year at Hogwarts and potentially beyond," he said shocking David.

Looking honestly quite surprised, David replied, "Did I hear you correctly Professor? Duelling?

"Yes, Mr Cross, Duelling. I'm a former duelling champion myself," he answered with a hint of smugness.

"But why me Professor? Not to mention, what's the point? I am dying," David asked, quite stumped.

"Oh? Dying you say? Is that why you have Professor Snape grudgingly praising your work in potions and from what Poppy tells me you've really exceeded her expectations of what you could learn with no formal teaching in regard to healing. Dying indeed. Not to mention I was quite impressed by your quick thinking and even more so by your ability with your wand in the face of danger Mr Cross, I refer obviously to your encounter with the Mountain Troll in the girl's bathroom. You may not realise this Mr Cross but a first-year dealing with a Mountain Troll in the manner you did, well in any manner is quite amazing," the diminutive Professor explained.

"But I didn't do it alone Professor. I had help," David said, not very confident of his abilities.

"Don't be coy David, and regardless I offer you the opportunity to learn duelling under me next year. I've paid close attention to your grades throughout the year to see if you would be able to handle the extra workload, and truthfully you along with Miss Granger out there are the brightest students I or any of my fellow Professors have ever taught."

"Oh… Okay, yeah I'll do it. I'd love to be taught how to duel by you Professor," David replied, agreeing and not willing to let this opportunity to pass him by.

"Excellent, now here are a few books you should study up on during the school holidays. I will be testing you on them, of course," the Professor explained.

"That's fine Professor... is there anything I should be calling you now that you're going to be teaching me directly?" David asked, having no knowledge of such things.

"I assume you mean the etiquette between master's and disciples? The answer is no Mr Cross, much like how the heads of various ancient and noble houses are no longer called 'lord', the antiquated forms of respect have been done away with decades ago," he explained.

"Just Professor Flitwick then?"

"Yes, that'll do fine Mr Cross," he replied with a smile.

"Since you're going to be teaching one on one, I'd prefer if you called me David, Professor," he added.

His smile growing, Flitwick replied, "I can do that David. Oh, and I'm going to have to request you don't inform any of the other students of said duelling classes… You may inform Miss Granger of course, if she promises not to speak of it to anyone else. You'd best not keep Miss Granger any longer David, I'll speak with you again after the leaving feast."

"Okay, bye Professor, and thanks… for the opportunity," David said, with an awkward nod/bow of the head.

---

"And yeah, that's when the headmaster came, asked me, 'he's gone after him, hasn't he?', and went rushing off to find Harry," Hermione explained, almost finishing her tale.

"And Voldemort was living under Professor Quirrell's turban? Wow, Hermione, this school is a nuthouse…" David said, feeling slight guilt at already knowing the truth but meaning every word.

"I know right? First a troll, then Voldemort? Obviously, they are both related but still! At least next year's going to be normal," Hermione said, having no idea of what was to come.

Following that comment, dread overcame David. Before he arrived at Hogwarts, he had decided to focus on his own personal learning and magical skills without interfering with the predetermined plot until far later.

~Hermione gets petrified… I can't let her be hurt… ~

He'd have to meditate, delve into his memory's with higher levels of occlumency and write down everything he knew was going to happen in the years to come. He was willing to put his friend ahead of himself, he would try to change the events to come.

Taking a deep breath and pretending he wasn't about to have a panic attack David replied to Hermione in a false cheeriness, "Speaking of next year, Flitwick offered to teach me duelling, apparently he's been thinking about it ever since the troll, and after watching how I performed throughout the year, he said I could probably handle the workload and offered to teach me."

"Duelling?! Really?! That used to be an elective at Hogwarts you know, but it was done away with about a century ago…" Hermione replied in awe at the opportunity David had.

"Yes, I did know Hermione," replied David while grinning at her and cheering up a little, "I'm not Ronald and Harry, I have read Hogwarts a History."

Punching his arm playfully she continued, "Do you think he would allow me to come along and watch? I mean it's so interesting! We learn a little about duelling in Defence in later years according to what I've heard, but no formal training."

"I've got another meeting with him following the end of year feast, I'll ask him if you can come join us. But he made me promise not to tell anyone he was offering the class and told me I could tell you about it as long as you promise to do the same… which I probably should have mentioned before I told you all of this…" he replied, unsure if the Professor would allow it or not.

"Oh, don't worry I won't say anything David. Duelling! I'm so excited!" Hermione said, forgetting that the Professor hadn't given his permission yet.

"Yeah, he's given me a few books on the subject, I can send them to you with Fitz when I'm done with them… actually probably better to send King, best not to sending a flaming bird to a non-magical home," he explained, getting caught up in her enthusiasm.

"Are those the books I saw you put into your bookbag after coming out of his office? Show me!"

---

David's rooms were empty that night. He had asked Hermione to look after Nala and sent Fitz away with Mel so he could meditate. Getting comfortable in his bed David crossed his legs, placed his palms on his knees, took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Clearing one's mind was the basics Legillimency and Occlumency. What David needed to do, due to a lack of a pensive was a higher form of the mind arts, he'd have to, in a way, invade his own mind and look upon the memories he had of the coming school years in scrutinisingly close detail.

Using this method, David delved deep into his memories in search of the events to come in the following years.

A couple of hours later David eyes shot open and he ran over to his small table, grabbed a piece of parchment and one of Hermione's lovely quills and began writing down the events that would take place during Hermione and Harry's second year at Hogwarts. As he began to write down the first sentence he stopped, drew his wand from its holster and cast Homenum Revelio. Finding no one in his room other than himself he continued his writing.

Reading over his notes a third time, David grabbed his wand and burnt the parchment to a crisp and immediately began thinking of a plan that would result in no opening of the Chamber of Secrets and still alert Dumbledore to the knowledge that Voldemort had made Horcrux's. This would probably stifle Harry's growth as the wizarding world's saviour to an extent but there was an innocent Hermione at risk here, not to mention the others that could easily die with one small misstep thanks to his presence.

Taking a breath to calm down, he realised… he could create his copy of the Marauder's Map as he had planned, use to monitor Ginny Weasley, thus avoiding her and the Basilisk and being able to keep tabs on Hermione at all times. Intervening whenever she may be in danger.

~But what about the other hundreds of students that could die now thanks to me…~

---

The end of year feast was definitely a grand affair. Probably more extravagant than even the welcome feast. Ravenclaw's were ecstatic, they were rightfully assuming they had won the house cup, beating Slytherin's monopoly on it due to the blue Ravenclaw banners hanging in the grand hall.

David quickly concluded that it was his presence that probably helped Ravenclaw amass enough points to win the house cup rather than Slytherin. But he found himself not really caring about a school competition that pitted the school against each other and caused divides among Hogwarts students. Not to mention the blatant rigging of the House Cup by the headmaster this year, it was slightly depressing to see his fellow housemates so happy while knowing that quite soon Dumbledore would be raining on their parade.

The headmaster stood up from his throne, and started addressing the students with an opening, "Another year gone!"

Rolling his eyes David zoned out and started fiddling with his wand, spinning it between his fingers to distract himself.

Eventually, his attention was brought back by one Albus Dumbledore as he concluded, "- as much to stand up to our friends. I, therefore, award twenty points to Mr Neville Longbottom."

Pandemonium struck the Gryffindor table, as they all cheered and attempted to get a piece of Neville. David caught a glimpse of Hermione celebrating with her fellow Gryffindor's, he soon turned his head towards the staff table and saw Professor Flitwick peering disappointedly at the headmaster. Even Professor McGonagall had a forced smile on her face as she shook hands with Professor Snape.

Looking over and seeing that the headmaster had just ruined the feast for the entirety of Ravenclaw and Slytherin and left the Hufflepuffs with confused expressions as they congratulated the House Cup winners, David's mood was no truly ruined.

Sighing to himself at the headmaster's blatant favouritism and discord he had just sown throughout the school, David got up along with the rest of his House as they walked out of the hall and returned to Ravenclaw tower in a flurry.

Breaking off after chatting with a few of his year mates, David made his way to Professor Flitwick's office to await him for their final meeting of the school year.

---

"You don't seem as disappointed as my other student's at having the House Cup taken from us David," Flitwick said, showing a sad smile.

"I guess I've never really liked the idea of competing with the other houses throughout the year. But I do feel bad for the others, we all did work very hard to get those points. It's a shame what the headmaster did," David responded with a shrug.

"Yes, I'll be having some words with him later… Now, any questions David? How far have you gotten with those books I lent you?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I actually finished Basic Duelling Strategy, sir, I've already practised the footwork mentioned in the book. Haven't actually started firing spells with the forms given…" he answered, lying completely about not using those spells.

"Excellent, while I would love to see what you've been working on, we, unfortunately, don't have much time and our agreement is to begin next term," the Professor explained quickly.

"Right, I've only got one more question for you Professor. Hermione Granger asked if she could accompany me in my classes after I told her about it, sir," David said, keeping his word to Hermione.

"Hmm…" replied the Charms Professor as he thought about Miss Granger's request.

"Well, I think I can handle having another student present. It will be of course be you I will be formally taking under apprenticeship, but I believe I can teach Miss Granger along with you, David. But I'm going to have to refuse any more additions, I simply don't have the time… not to mention this is frowned upon by the ministry and the headmaster…" he explained, a little unsure of himself.

"I won't be asking for anyone else sir, I'll stress again to Hermione how important it is that we don't tell the other students that you are teaching us duelling. She'll understand, I'm sure of it," David said hurriedly, hoping the Professor wouldn't change his mind.

"Very well David, it's about curfew. I'll walk you back to the dorms while you tell me how your potion regime under Poppy is coming. Come along."

---

David spent the train ride to King's Cross station alone, apart from two interruptions. The first was Draco Malfoy, who rudely slammed open his compartment door, noticing only David was inside, sneered and left without closing said door.

It was the last hour of the ride home that David was interrupted yet again, but this one was most definitely a welcome intrusion to his reading.

"Hey David, can I come in?" asked Hermione nervously.

Looking up from his book, David smiled and replied, "Definitely, come in Hermione."

"Thanks," she replied.

Following a lengthy awkward silence, David asked, "So what's up Hermione?"

"Sorry about the House Cup…" she explained while looking considerably distressed.

"You know that I don't care about the House Cup, right?" which Hermione immediately perked up too. Noticing this he continued, "Not to mention you have nothing to apologise for, it was Dumbledore who gave out those last-minute points, not you."

"I know… but it's still really unfair David. You should see the looks Harry, Ron and I have been getting from some of the Ravenclaws…" she said in reply, unsure of herself.

"Yeah, they weren't a happy bunch following the feast. Oh, I spoke to Professor Flitwick about you joining in with me for the lessons, he agreed but really stressed he doesn't have the time to teach anyone else other than the two of us," he expertly said, changing the topic and attempting to change the gloom around Hermione.

Following this was a complete reversal in Hermione's mood and she began grilling David in what else the Professor and he had spoken about.

"Well interestingly enough he did mention how the ministry frowns up teaching Duelling at Hogwarts, but there are no laws against it… So, I guess it's just them trying to poke their noses in where they shouldn't," David added, decided he wouldn't mention that the headmaster also frowned upon it, best to keep that to himself for now.

As their conversation eventually delved into homework and what they would be up to for the summer, the train pulled into Hogwarts. Seeing as her trunk was in another compartment Hermione got up to leave but hesitated at the door. Noticing her hesitation, David decided to be the one who initiated a hug this time around and quickly got up and embraced Hermione tightly.

"I'll send King over with a letter in a couple of days, you can use him to send letters to your other friends as well if you want, no need to ask me. Besides I've got Fitz if something truly urgent comes up," he explained.

Returning his hug with increased vigour, Hermione looked up at him and said, "You'd better David, I'm going to miss you a lot… I get the feeling Harry and Ron aren't the letter-writing types, so I'll be counting on you."

"You got it, expect a letter soon. I'm going to miss you as well. Maybe we can catch up during the summer, but we'll deal with that in our letters," he added, as an afterthought.

"Okay, bye David," mumbled Hermione as she shot off the compartment in embarrassment.

"I can feel you smiling Mel… let's go, I can't wait to be home."

And with a pop, they were off.