Courage

-48-

Book: Courage
Chapter 48
Word Count: 3953

Over the next few weeks, their lessons were becoming more difficult and demanding than ever before, particularly Moody's Defense Against the Dark Arts.

To their surprise, Professor Moody had announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on each of them in turn, to demonstrate its power and to see whether they could resist its effects.

"But — but you said it's illegal, Professor," said Hermione uncertainly as Moody cleared away the desks with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large clear space in the middle of the room. "You said — to use it against another human was—"

"Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," said Moody, his magical eye swiveling onto Hermione and fixing her with an eerie, unblinking stare. "If you'd rather learn the hard way — when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely — fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."

He pointed one gnarled finger toward the door. Hermione went very pink and muttered something about not meaning that she wanted to leave. Hermione would rather eat bubotuber pus than miss such an important lesson.

Moody began to beckon students forward in turn and put the Imperius Curse upon them.

Layla watched as, one by one, her classmates did the most extraordinary things under its influence. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room, singing the national anthem. Lavender Brown imitated a squirrel. Neville performed a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he would certainly not have been capable of in his normal state. Harry was the closest to overcoming it, almost beating the curse. Almost. He had both jumped and tried to prevent himself from jumping — the result was that he'd smashed headlong into the desk, knocking it over. Each of them recovered only when Moody had removed it.

"Lupin," Moody growled, "you next."

Layla moved forward into the middle of the classroom, into the space that Moody had cleared of desks. Moody raised his wand, pointed it at Layla, and said, "Imperio!"

It was the most wonderful feeling. Layla felt a floating sensation as every thought and worry in her head was wiped gently away, leaving nothing but a vague, untraceable happiness. She stood there feeling immensely relaxed, only dimly aware of everyone watching her.

And then she heard Mad-Eye Moody's voice, echoing in some distant chamber of her empty brain:

Jump onto the desk... jump onto the desk...

Layla bent her knees obediently, preparing to jump.

Jump onto the desk.

Why, though? Another voice had awoken in the back of her brain.

Jump onto the desk.

No, I really don't want to, said the other voice, a little more firmly.

Jump! NOW!

I said no! said the voice louder, and it was as if an invisible force had knocked Moody back a step or two from Layla's disobedience under the curse.

Layla began to feel normal again, the effects of the curse wearing off. She felt the empty, echoing feeling in her head disappear, and she realised something. She had done it. She had overcome the Imperius Curse, and she'd been the only one, too.

"Now, that's more like it!" growled Moody. "Look at that, you lot. Lupin fought! She fought it, and she beat it! We'll do it again, Lupin. Do exactly what you just did, and the rest of you, pay attention — watch her eyes, that's where you see it — very good, Lupin, very good indeed! They'll have trouble controlling you!"