"Potter!" he growled rounding on Harry. "You think you can get away with anything, don't you! Out of bed and bounds every year, but no, this year it will be different. You three aren't getting off that easy! You'll are getting detentions!" 
                              
However, right at that moment, Ginny Weasley showed up at Harry's side.
                              
"Mr. Filch! Peeves is breaking the trophy cases, again," she said panting, as though she ran down to the main hall.
                              
"That thieving, vandalizing poltergeist!" he roared. "I'll take care of you three, later!" 
                              
Without another word, Filch swept off to continue his incessant battle with the school poltergeist. After he left, Harry turned to face Ginny, who recovered instantly and was smiling.
                              
"Thought you'd want out of that," she said, only looking at Harry.
                              
"But won't Filch realize that Peeves wasn't in the trophy room?" Harry asked, grinning.
                              
"Well, not after I sent a few Reductor blasts through the glass cases. That'll keep him busy," Ginny said, with a wide smile on her face, and Harry returned it and then shifted nervously in his place.
                              
"Well, thanks," he said, trying not to smile.
                              
"No problem, Harry, but classes are about to start, so I'll see you later, ok?" she said, looking into his eyes.
                              
"Yeah, later," he said.
                              
After a long moment's pause and neither of them wanting to leave, Ginny gloomily managed to pull herself away and left. Ron and Hermione just watched, trying to make sense of what just happened.
                              
"What was that all about, mate?" Ron said, dumbstruck.
                              
"What do you mean? She just got Filch off us. What else is there?" he said, confused.
                              
"You mean she got you off, Harry," said Hermione, defiantly.
                              
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked, with a raised eyebrow.
                              
"Yeah, what's that supposed to mean?" asked Ron.
                              
"You two are ridiculous, now come on. We're going to be late for Defense Against the Dark Arts," she said, and turned on her heel and led the way to Snape's class. 
                              
Thankfully, they made it there on time for their last Defense Against the Dark Arts class before Easter break started. Snape was his usual cheery self. They started using Animomency with dueling spells, but they only took notes. They were going to start practical application after Easter break. Harry was actually surprised that they did not go over Avada Kedavra, first. He supposed that Snape was saving it for last. Harry was not sure that it was a good thing to look forward to, although it was something he did need to learn, and practice, before facing Voldemort. 
                              
Or maybe I don't need to learn it. How different could it be from the other Unforgivable Curses? he thought. It was only a spell. However, even saying the words had a chilling effect on him. There was no taking the killing curse back.
                              
Snape gave difficult and particular notes for using Animomency when dueling, but Harry concentrated hard and understood it fairly well. Snape then made his usual rounds inspecting the class's notes and commenting on their abysmal quality of work. He did not even look at everyone's notes, either. He just knew. He arrived at Harry's table and sneered, with his lip curling slightly, ready to attack. 
                              
Harry knew Snape's style all too well, and he was certainty going to demand on the spot answers. However, Harry was ready. He was on the edge of his seat, and his mind was going over everything he had learned from reading Occulmency and even what Snape had taught him last year. He looked directly into Snape's eyes, waiting for him. The way Harry saw it, Snape wanted to know if Harry understood it or not. He wanted to probe his mind, but Harry was not going to give him the answer. Even though he did know, this was a test of Harry's ability to keep Snape out.