Chapter 25: Zuc Education 

"It appears that there is a connection between the dark Lord's mind and your own, whether he is aware of this connection is for the moment un-clear. Pray he remains ignorant." 

Lucy awoke to the sound of Snape's voice coming from downstairs. She sat up slowly then blinked a couple of times to look at the clock on her bedside table, it was one in the morning. She wished her ears were not so sensitive at night, she really could do with some sleep. 

"You mean, if he knows about it he'll be able to read my mind?" This time the voice of Harry filled her ears and Lucy suddenly understood what was going on; Harry was receiving occulmency lessons. 

"Read it, control it, unhinge it." Snape's voice came again, his voice was fierce and seemed unhappy to be wasting his breath on Lucy's half-brother. "In the past, it was often the dark Lord's pleasure to invade the minds of victims, creating visions designed to torture them into madness..." There was a moment of silence and Lucy could almost feel his gaze making it's way above where her room was. "It seems the same occurs with Lord Zuc, Lucy became a little disorientated when Zuc first started making her see visions." 

Snape began to lecture Harry about how occulmency would help him shield visions and protect his mind from seeing what he didn't want to see...Lucy couldn't wait to get her occulmency lessons, she'd finally be able to get rid of the bad visions that Zuc gave her. 

Feeling curious, she got out of bed and exited her room before walking down a couple of steps of stairs and sitting down. Just so she could see what was going on and Snape and Harry couldn't see her...

"Prepare yourself!" Snape ordered to Harry, he pulled out his wand then aimed it at Harry. "Legilimens!"

Harry was suddenly met with a lot of memories and Snape was looking through them as though looking through a book. He seemed very amused by some of them, he even picked up on Cho kissing Harry. 

"I may vomit," Snape sneered and ceased the spell. 

"That's private!" Harry demanded. 

"What is?" Lucy demanded as she ran downstairs. 

"It appears that Potter has a girlfriend," Snape mocked, dismissing the fact that Lucy was out of bed. 

"Who! Oh tell me who it is!" 

"Miss Chang." 

Lucy snorted and then stepped behind Harry and began rummaging through Snape's potion cupboard, in hopes she'd find something to make her go back to sleep. At last she found a potion that would do the trick. 

"What woke you up?" Snape asked. 

"Harry's screaming," Lucy lied. 

"Hey!" Harry snapped. "You try being interrogated!" 

"Love to, but I'm busy. I want to go back to bed, so if you'll excuse me I'll be heading upstairs..." Lucy headed towards the stairs but just before climbed them she turned to Harry. "Oh, if you don't mind, keep the noise down." 

And with that, she went up to bed.

*      *      * 

All of the Dumbledore's/ Wizarding Army members gathered in the room of requirement late the next day. They chatted amongst themselves cheerfully as Lucy and Harry stood nervously in the centre of the room with a blackboard positioned between them. Lucy twiddled a piece of chalk in between her index finger and thumb as everyone placed down their bags in the usual spot. As the noise of chatting grew louder, Lucy sa this as a perfect opportunity to express her fear to Harry. 

"Harry," Lucy whispered and he turned to her. "Are you sure that this is going to work? I mean...this idea?" 

"I'm sure," Harry whispered back and gave a nod of his head. "We've done the magic, I think it's time to try something different." 

Lucy nodded weakly as the class arranged themselves in a semi circle in front of the blackboard and held their wands out eagerly, excited for the first lesson back after Christmas to begin. They all looked at each other happily then at Harry and Lucy who bore no looks that were happy. Everyone was suddenly confused. 

"Can everyone put their wands away. please?" Harry almost quivered as he asked. The class looked at each other and then began voicing their disapproval all at once. 

"No way! This is not Umbridge's class! I'm here to fight and if we're not doing that I'm never coming to this club again!" Shona pouted and others made noises of approval. 

"It's not like that — " Harry tried to speak but was interrupted by Zachrias Smith. 

"I thought we were learning how to fight, not die!" Zacharias spat angrily. The whole class began yelling at their teachers at once, they were not happy with the rules of their first lesson back. Harry tried so desperately to calm the class but nobody seemed to want to listen to him as they continued to rant. 

"SHUT UP!" Lucy screamed all of a sudden and silence fell over the room as they all stared at Lucy in shock. "You lot are so disrespectful! Myself and Harry have been planning this lesson for you and how do you re-pay us? By yelling and ranting when Harry hasn't even finished his sentence! I am in the right mind to shut down this club and let you all suffer with Umbridge's lessons!" 

The place remained silent as everyone blinked and became wide-eyed. Luckily, Harry killed the silence. "She's not really going to shut down the club, but please just hear us out." 

"I'm interested as to what Harry's going to say," Luna confirmed in her distant voice, Luna, Neville and Hermione seemed to be the only one's who had waited patiently when the rest of the class threw a tantrum. 

"I will be as long as it involves some kind of fighting," Shona rolled her eyes and shoved her wand back in her pocket miserably. 

"It does involve fighting, I can assure you of that. Just as much as using magic. It was completely Lucy's idea, she came up with it the other day and thought it was great to share with you all today." Harry turned to Lucy. "Lucy, if you would." Harry gave her a reassuring smile and then went to stand in the crowd. She gulped. 

Lucy turned around weakly and then held up the piece of chalk she was holding and began writing on the blackboard. When she moved out of the way, everyone saw what she had written. 

"'Lord Zuc'," Fred read out what she had written on the board before anybody else could. "What visions are you seeing?" 

"Have you drunk too much of Snape's wine?" Shona frowned. 

"Nothing and no." Lucy shook her head and stared at her feet, ashamed. "A while ago dad said that I can't defeat Lord Zuc with just magic — " 

"No, you're not going to defeat him at all because you can't!" Zachrias sneered. Suddenly Fred and Shona stalked towards with their wands in their hands. 

"You'll pay for that one, Smith!" Fred growled and was just about to hex him when Lucy stopped him before he could do any damage. 

"Expelliarmus!" Lucy called quickly and caught Fred's wand in her hand. "Wands away please." Fred and Shona walked back to their original places and Lucy slid Fred's wand through her plaited bun. "As I was saying, I need more than magic to defeat Zuc — " Lucy waited for some comment about how she could never defeat Zuc but, none came. So, she bent down and opened her bag which was on the floor, she then pulled out Merlin's sword. She stood up and as she did the room of requirement doors opened, everyone turned around sharply. 

"I heard today's lesson was going to be interesting. So I decided to come along to be educated." Snape said as he strutted forward and joined the class. 

"Get out, Snivels, this is a teenage club!" Shona barked. "Not an old age pensioners club!" 

"I have every right to be here, more so than all of you. After all, I found the room." He said as he stepped to the front of the crowd, near the Weasley twins. 

"You found it?" George asked, he was gobsmaked. 

"And you thought you knew every secret of the castle, Mr Weasley." Snape smiled smugly. "I could tell you a few...now, I believe you are being taught by the other Professor Snape, so show some respect." 

Lucy turned turned awkwardly back towards the board, aware that everyone's eyes were on her now, including her fathers. She took he chalk and pressed it to the blackboard and underlined Zuc's name. She then turned back towards the class on her heels. 

"Now, who can guess what fighting method Zuc might use?" Lucy asked and both Snape and Shona raised their hands. "Apart from the gifted, please." Lucy smiled and Snape and Shona's hands dropped. 

Hermione raised her hand. 

"Yes, Hermione?" Lucy asked. 

"Well, seeing as Lord Zuc is from the medieval islands I considered, a moment ago, what sort of weapons medieval people might use. I came up with the following: archery, sword fighting, magic — unless all witches were drowned or burnt alive, hand-to-hand combat or, if they were skilled, knife throwing." 

"Archery? I've always wanted to be let lose with a bow and arrows," Lucy laughed.

"I can do archery! I did it in muggle school and I was the school's champion!" 

"Alright, Robin Hood, keep quiet." Ron snorted. 

"Anyway, I guess all Hermione's answers are all correct but what I was really after was sword fighting — which Hermione mentioned." Lucy flung Merlin's sword into the wall to the side of her and it lodged itself there. Fred whistled. 

"I am so tempted to make her angry and get her to chop Zacharias' head off." Shona laughed. 

"Don't," Neville warned. "I get awfully nauseaus when I see blood."

"Well, lets get you chucking up — hey, Lucy! The house elves cooked Angus and they're serving him to the Slytherin's tonight!" Fred called. 

"They did what?!" Lucy shrieked. 

"She's so gullible." Shona snorted. 

"Zachrias Smith made the house elves do it!" George yelled. 

"No I didn't!" Zacharias squealed. 

"Enough!" Snape barked. "All of you are so immature!" 

"We're not immature," Shona shook her head. "You're allergic to sarcasm!" 

Everyone laughed at Snape as Lucy went over to the wall and dislodged the sword from the wall and walked back over to the centre of the room and continued her lesson.

"Well, what I propose we do today is get you all practicing today with swords — " Lucy gestured to the crate of swords and everyone nodded eagerly but Snape raised his hand, like a good student.

"Yes, dad?" Lucy asked a little amused. 

"Might I suggest a demonstration? As much as I want McGuire decapitated I cannot afford the same to happen to you." 

"Oh, OK." Lucy agreed and everyone waited patiently as Snape walked forwards and picked up a sword from the crate. He held it up and stepped towards Lucy who held Merlin's sword eagerly. 

"I don't think we need a group of 30 or so children waving swords around and slaughtering each other, do we?" Snape asked. "Now, you will do what you think you have to do to fight me off. When we are finished, I shall correct you on what you've done wrong...and please don't aim for my chest or neck, I wish to live for a little longer." 

"AIM FOR THE NECK!" Shona yelled at Lucy. 

Snape moved the crate of swords and blackboard with his wand and then aimed his sword at Lucy. Lucy held Merlin's sword weakly and Snape took the first move by swinging his sword. Lucy ducked just in time. 

Lucy then swiped her sword towards Snape in retaliation, he used his sword to fight against hers by pushing it away. He did so easily and then the two swung their swords at exactly the same time causing them to clash against each in mid-air. They did so again and again but as they did, Snape forced Lucy back...he was winning. 

'Confidence, Lucy!' Lucy thought to herself desperately. 'Where is it?' 

'You need determination, too,' Lucy could almost hear Dumbledore saying that. 'Then you recieve confidence.' 

They had almost reached the wall when Lucy held her sword up in front of her vertically and repelled against Snape's. He was taken by surprise as Lucy lunged forward and forced Snape back. They reached the centre of the room and Lucy forced her sword against Snape's again. Snape fell to his knees and Lucy was left to continue forcing her sword against his. 

Lucy looked at the class, all their mouths were wide open and they were staring at the girl who had brought her own father to her knees. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Shona said, still in shock. "Merlin's descendant." 

*      *      * 

"Any more Educational Decrees to hang up?" Mr Filch asked Professor Umbridge as he followed her through the corridors like a loyal dog. 

"There soon will be," Umbridge smiled sweetly. "I expect the Minister will have some more to hang up soon." 

"Oh that's good, I do enjoy hanging them up. I love having the smiles wiped off of the students' faces..." 

"I do too, I really do hate children..." 

Umbridge and Filch arrived into the entrance hall, they stood in the middle of it and admired the Educational Decrees which were hung up outside the great hall for all to see. Filch puffed out his chest and hoped so desperately that Umbridge was impressed. 

"All my hard work." Filch hinted as Mrs. Norris circled his feet. 

"Yes, I am so glad that we have a caretaker like you." Umbridge lied and Filch smiled proudly. 

"Glad I could be of assisstance." He said. "I hope to get the whole wall covered, don't you?" 

"Yes, I do. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will find this pleasing...never eyesore." 

"They're not eyesore at all!" Filch shook his head vigorously and glanced at the knights that decorated the entrance hall, he then turned back. But he had to do a double take...were the knights missing something? 

"Mr Filch!" Umbridge barked suddenly. 

"Y-Yes?" Filch spluttered. 

"Were you listening to a word I was saying?" 

Filch gulped. "N-No, ma'am." 

"How dare you make me repeat myself!" Umbridge spat. "I was saying that I confiscated Miss Snape's sword the other day and it has disappeared from my office...do you have any idea of it's whereabouts?" 

"I don't know." 

"I suspect a student did it, the children here are out of control!" 

"Ma'am — " 

"I can't believe Dumbledore puts up with it! I will not have this going on any longer! We will get these students back into line!" 

"Ma'am — " 

"I will not have them misbehaving ever again! If I had my way I'd have them all in detention! Every single one of — " 

"Ma'am." 

"WHAT!" Umbridge shrieked and Filch pointed to the knights. "What? What is it! I am trying to explain to you how terrible these children are and you keep interrupting!" 

"I think whoever is taking these swords is a sword thief..." Filch whispered and pointed to the nearest knight who had his hand raised and was supposed to be clutching a sword...

But there was no sword.