Defense Professor because all the best fighting wizards have taught at Hogwarts. And he kind of
Professor McGonagall was nodding firmly.
"Naive," Moody said flatly. "I suppose you all haven't wondered if your Defense Professor set up the whole House of Monroe to be wiped out?"
"
"Our mystery wizard hears about a missing kid from a Most Ancient House of Britain," Moody said. "Steps into the shoes of 'David Monroe', but stays away from the real Monroe family. But eventually the House is bound to notice something wrong. So this imposter somehow prods Voldie into wiping them all out - maybe leaked a password they'd given him for their wards - and then he was a Lord of the Wizengamot!"
There seemed to be a fight going on inside Harry's mind between Hufflepuff One, who'd never trusted the Defense Professor in the first place; and Hufflepuff Two, who was far too loyal to Harry's friend, Professor Quirrell, to believe something like that just because Moody said so.
"What do you want me to do about it, Mad-Eye?" Professor McGonagall was demanding. "I can't -"
"You can," the scarred man said, glaring at her fiercely. "Just fire the bloody Defense Professor."
"You say that
"Yes, and I'm always right!"
"Constant vigilance or no, Alastor, the students must be taught!"
Moody snorted. "Pfah! I swear the curse gets worse every year, as you lot get more and more reluctant to let them go. Your precious Professor Quirrell would have to
"Is he?" Harry couldn't help asking. "I mean, could he
"I check Grindie's cell every two months," Moody said. "He was there in March."
"Could the person in the cell be a ringer?"
"I administer a blood test for his identity, son."
"Where do you keep the blood you use as a reference?"
"In a safe place." Something like a smile was stretching the scarred lips. "Have you considered the Auror Office after you graduate?"
"Alastor," Professor McGonagall said reluctantly. "The Defense Professor
"Yes, his little naptimes," Moody said darkly. "Amelia thinks he stepped into the path of a high-level curse. Sounds to
"You've no proof of that!" Professor McGonagall said.
"That man might as well be wearing a sign saying 'Dark Wizard' in glowing green letters over his head."
"Ah..." Harry said. It didn't seem like an especially good time to ask what Mr. Moody thought of the 'not all sacrificial rituals are evil' standpoint. "Excuse me, but you said earlier that Professor Quirrell - I mean the old David Monroe - I mean the Monroe from the seventies - anyway, you said that person used the Killing Curse. What does that imply? Does somebody have to be a Dark Wizard to use it?"
Moody shook his head. "I've used it myself. All it takes is power and a certain
"But why is it Unforgiveable, then?" Harry said. "I mean, a Cutting Hex can kill someone too. So why's it any better to use a Reducto instead of Avada Kedav-"
"Shut your mouth!" Moody said sharply. "Someone might take it the wrong way, your saying that incantation. You
"Ah," said Harry. "That does seem like an excellent reason to ban -"