A/N: Hey guys this is my first fanfic! Tell me what you think! Be nice…
Ps. Jessie is Jessica... in case you were wondering!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that has to do with Harry Potter unless I bought it, which would be kinda impossible… some characters have come from my own imagination!
Chapter 1 – Starting new things, continuing the old
Harry yawned, sitting in class, only half paying attention in his Transfiguration class while Professor McGonagall talked about producing a proper Bubble-Head charm. His dark, untidy black hair fell over his bright, green eyes, his mother's eyes. They had grown a little bit over the summer and he didn't bother cutting them, since now he had an opportunity to hide his scar, behind his hair, from curious on looking wizards and witches.
It was the first day of class after the Christmas holidays. Of course Harry, Ron, and Hermione had stayed at school to celebrate the holiday, but this time with their new friend Jessica Rylie Smith.
Harry turned his head back looking over to the desk behind him. Jessica sat in her seat pretending to listen to Professor McGonagall speak, doodling on a piece of parchment. Jessie looked up at Harry and smiled. She had dark strawberry blonde, hair with small thin curls. Jessie had transferred to Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry, from her wizarding school in Toronto. Her father had gotten a job at the Ministry of Magic in London. Jessie was also in her 6th year. She went back to writing on her parchment. Harry glanced down at what she was writing. On the parchment she wrote "You bored?"
She pushed the parchment over to the tired-looking, blonde haired boy sitting besides her. She rested her head on his shoulder and watched Neville trod around in the little pool Professor McGonagall had conjured for Neville to swim around in for the little demonstration. Draco Malfoy took the parchment and lazily read what was on it. Harry turned back and looked towards the front of the class, watching Professor McGonagall perform the Bubble-head Charm on Neville Longbottom, a forgetful boy who was placed in Gryffindor.
Jessie and Draco were completely different; it was strange when he had asked Jessie out on a date before Halloween. Jessie was in Gryffindor, with Harry, Ron and Hermione, and of course Draco's in Slytherin. The students didn't know how to react when they found out. Of course a lot of the Gryffindor guys had thought Jessie was just some hot chic from Canada, as did a lot of other guys in the school, including some from Slytherin. Even so, there were some Slytherin students who despised the idea of having Slytherins and Gryffindors mix with each other; then again, those who thought this were Slytherin girls who would have killed to be with Draco. Other boys in the school would have asked Jessie out, but seeing Draco Malfoy doing it, asking out a Gryffindor, when he truly detested Gryffindors, was really uncanny to every one.
Draco quickly scribbled something on the parchment and passed it back to Jessie. Draco had matured enough, to the likes of most girls in the school from all houses including those in Gryffindor. The quidditch team had been good for Draco… then again it's been good for pretty much all the guys on any quidditch team at Hogwarts. Practices and matches have done amazingly well for Harry, Draco and Ron. No longer were they just tall, skinny, lanky boys who played quidditch, but to all girls who cared, they were strong lean, mean quidditch playing machines, and had the muscles to prove it.
In front of Jessie sat Ron Weasley, one of Harry's best friends. Of course Ron was happy with the attention he was getting from girls, especially since he felt like he was in the lime light, and he didn't have to do anything life threatening. He sat on Harry's right, reading "Quidditch Through the Ages" which he had bewitched (with the help from Hermione) to make it look like he was reading the proper text book for Transfiguration. The bottom back of Ron's bright, red hair was covered with lots of tiny, little braids. His hair had also grown a little longer over the years. His mother wasn't pleased with the way his hair was, she was just relieved it wasn't as long as long as Bill Weasley's hair, one of Ron's many siblings.
Jessie sighed. She picked up another little piece of what remained to be unbraided hair, from the back of Ron's head and started to braid. Professor McGonagall's class was boring her students to sleep. Most of the class were half asleep; others were merely trying to find something to do in order to pass the time. Jessie continued to braid what ever was left of Ron's unbraided hair, while he continued to read, barely noticing what has become of his head. Draco rested his head on his arms, quietly sleeping besides Jessie slowly breathing in and out blowing his feathered pen back a fourth, towards and then away from his nose. Neville, too, even though amidst McGonagall's demonstration, was slowly drifting off to sleep, kept quietly pinching himself trying to keep himself awake, or else he'd fell straight into the pool of water he was standing in for the little demo. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas sat behind Jessie and Draco, and were fast asleep. Seamus' head was leaning on Dean's shoulder, quietly snoring, while Dean slept quietly, his head lolling up and down in front of his body. Pansy Parkinson sat in the back corner on the left side of the class room. She had herself occupied, watching a short, stubby little man chase a chicken in the portrait besides her. Every few minutes she'd take a glance at Jessie and Draco and would just glare at Jessie even though she wasn't looking back at her.
Pansy was one of those Slytherins who thought Slytherins should mix with Gryffindors, especially if it was with Draco. Pansy despised having to see Draco with any other girl who wasn't her. Ever since The Yule Ball when Draco had turned to her as a last resort for a date, she's come to fall in love with him.
Harry looked around then class trying to find something that would catch his eye. He heard McGonagall mumble something about the bubble-head charm but completely ignored it, then the scratching of a feathered pen. Harry turned to look around to see who could possibly be awake enough to take notes. But of course, no matter how dreary this was there was at least one person scribbling away with her notes. Harry looked over to his left and watched Hermione Granger as she continued to take notes on the Bubble-Head charm.
Hermione's still the same dedicated, top of every class, witch. Nevertheless, Hermione had changed a bit. She had given up on S.P.E.W., but wasn't completely convinced that all house elves want to work for free. Hermione's bushy long hair was long gone. Thanks to Jessie, she's been able to manage her hair, keeping it controlled and not so messy, without having to spend hours charming it so that it would just stay in place. Now it only took her less than 2 minutes making her hair nice with smooth silky curls, or tops, 4 to make her hair straight. After that Harry seemed to notice Hermione more and more, thinking about her being more than just a friend.
Harry and Hermione had finally gotten together at the beginning of the Christmas holidays, with the help of Jessica. She had helped Harry build up enough confidence to ask Hermione out on a date. Hermione had always loved Harry, ever since they first became best friends in their first year, as a friend. But things started to change, after giving Harry a kiss on the cheek before leaving with her parents at the end of the year, she's always felt like there was just something more. She broke up with Victor Krum over the summer, hoping she'd still have a chance with Harry, but still remaining friends with Victor.
A Hogsmeade trip was scheduled on Valentine's Day. He wanted to take Hermione out again but he didn't know where to go. He spent the rest of the lesson thinking about what he should do. He thought about taking Hermione to that little coffee house just outside the main part of the village but remembered how much he hated the place, and how he didn't want to ever go back.
"Harry Potter! You are requested in the Headmaster's office!"
"Maybe I'll just take her to 'the Three Broomsticks'…" Harry thought scribbling on his parchment.
"Mr. POTTER!" Professor McGonagall said impatiently.
Seamus jumped, distressed from his professor's yell, he accidentally pushed Dean off his chair falling face first into the floor.
"Harry!" Hermione whispered, she placed her hand on his arm.
Harry jumped. "What?" He looked up at Hermione then quickly to McGonagall. "Sorry, Professor!"
"Honestly, Mr. Potter, you ought to pay more attention in class. I know this may be boring to some, but you could still try to look like you're still paying attention." McGonagall shook her head, disappointed looking around her class at all the exhausted looking faces, which were trying to stay awake. All but Hermione looked like they were to pass out the second she turns her back on them. McGonagall looked back at Harry, frustrated with her class. "Any ways…" She sighed. "The headmaster would like to see you in his office."
Dean made a little snort then rolled over, making himself comfortable on the cold, hard floor.
Harry pardoned himself, said goodbye to Ron and Hermione. He stepped over Dean and walked out of class heading for Dumbledore's office.
"Mr. Thomas!" Professor McGonagall walked over to Dean and lightly kicked him off his back, rolling him over so that she could see his face. "Kindly return to your seat."
The class giggled as Dean gradually stood up and walked back to his seat.
Harry walked down the hallway towards the headmaster's office thinking about what he could have done this time, remembering the reasons he had visited the headmasters office previously.
I wonder if he found out I helped stuff the dungbombs in the Prefect Bathroom. Harry thought. He shook his head. He wouldn't just call me down to his office for that… Would he? Harry walked up to the gargoyle statue and said " Phoenix!" remembering the password from his recent visit to Dumbledore's office.
The statue jumped aside and Harry walked on up the stairs. Harry approached the wooden doors and knocked hard on the wood.
"Come in Harry!" Professor Dumbledore said from the other side of the doors.
Harry opened the doors, and then entered the familiar circular room. He walked up to Dumbledore's desk, praying he wasn't in trouble again. Harry noticed someone had already been sitting in the chair across from Professor Dumbledore. As Harry approached the desk he noticed his Potions professor's greasy hair.
Professor Dumbledore looked up from his desk. "Harry please sit." He smiled. He waved his wand and a magical squishy armchair appeared in front of Harry.
As Harry sat down he looked at the occupant besides him and saw Snape, his Potion's professor, examining something on the Headmaster's desk.
Harry looked back at the Headmaster. Dumbledore smiled, "Well Harry, I've called you down today to discuss he fact that your mind is still opened to Voldemort."
Snape flinched at the sound of Voldemort's name.
Dumbledore smiled than continued. "Professor Snape has agreed to continue teaching you how to close your mind, on the condition that you respect your professor's personal life."
Harry held in a laugh, remembering what happened when he had ventured into one of Snape's memories.
"Harry?" Dumbledore said surveying Harry over his half-moon shaped glasses. "Harry, I highly recommend that you take this offer."
"I know Professor." Harry replied. Harry thought about what had happened last year with Sirius, when it could have been easily avoided. "So when do I start?" He asked, looking from Snape to the Headmaster.
"Well we were hoping to start as soon as possible, but since you have a quidditch match in less than a week, we'll start the day after the match." Dumbledore said.
"Okay." Harry said.
Snape sat up straight. "Well Headmaster, if that's all?"
"Yes it is, Severus. You may go!" Dumbledore smiled.
Snape stood up and turned to Harry. "Come to my office the night after the match after diner. If anyone asks, you're terribly failing my class and is in dire need of help." Snape turned and then headed out of the room.
Harry looked back at Dumbledore. The headmaster clapped his hands lightly together. "So Harry, I guess that would be all for now, unless there's something you would like to tell me."
Harry looked up. "Umm, no, Professor." He got up and walked down the steps towards the door but then stopped. He turned around and looked at Dumbledore. "Umm, Professor, about the Prefect bathroom…"
Dumbledore smile. "It has already been fixed. I know I should probably be punishing you but I do have to say, you and your friends did an excellent job, although Fred and George might say otherwise." There was a twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes.
Harry smiled. "Thanks Professor. I guess I'll see you later then." Harry left the office, leaving Dumbledore alone, pondering in the silence.
A/N: tell me what you think! Please review!