Prologue: Harry, Hermione, and Ron are now in there 5th year at Hogwarts.
In they're 4th year Harry killed Voldemort, ensuring that he would never
come back to power. Of course that doesn't mean someone else might come
to power……..
Chap. 1
Hermione hurried down the large hallway. It was only the first
day of the term and she was already going to be late for a class. If only
Ron hadn't wanted to talk to her. Well, a lot of good it would do her now.
He hadn't even shown up.
"What did he want to tell me?" She thought to herself.
"It must have been important or else he wouldn't have asked me to meet
him in the great hall, but maybe it wasn't. After all, he didn't even show
up. Sent Harry to tell me he couldn't come. Harry wouldn't tell me what
it was about either." She was not very happy at this. Harry had come
and told her that Ron couldn't come and that she'd better hurry to class
if she didn't want to be late. He wouldn't say why he couldn't come either,
or what he wanted to talk to her about.
Lost in thought she almost went past the transfiguration classroom.
She hurried in the door hoping that Professor McGonagal would be in a good
mood.
" And what do we owe this honor to Miss Granger? Have you decided
to join us at last?" Hermione couldn't miss the sarcasm in Professor McGonagal's
voice.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I got lost."
" Well, be careful you don't get "lost" anymore." Professor McGonogal
said with some amusement.
"Yes, Professor. I won't." Hermione could hardly believe her
luck. Professor McGonagal must be in a very good mood.
"Oh, and that would be 5 points from Gryffindor." No such luck.
Later……
"Gold snap" The fat lady swung revealing the entrance to the Gryffindor
common room.
"Hey, Hermione. Where have you been?" Harry and Ron were sitting
in front of the fireplace playing wizards chess.
"In the library. I wanted to pick up some bedtime reading." She
walked over to them and sat down. "Who's winning?"
"Ron, of course," said Harry glumly. "Want to take over for me?"
" No, thanks, I'll just watch." She wondered if she ought to
ask Ron what he had wanted to talk to her about earlier. She had a feeling
though that this wasn't the right time to bring it up.
"Hey, guys. Want to have some fun?" Fred and George strolled
over to where Ron, Harry, and Hermione were sitting. Even though they were
in their 7th and last year at Hogwarts they were still the same fun, nutty,
troublemakers.
" What do you mean by 'fun'?" Ron knew better than to trust his
two older brothers.
"Oh, we were just thinking about going down to the kitchens to
have some fun with the house elves…."
" You really shouldn't be so mean to the house elves you know…"
Hermione said somewhat under her breath.
"Well are you coming our not?" The twins started to leave.
"I think I'll go write a letter to Sirius. I haven't talked to
him in a while"
" Um, I think I'll just sit in here for a little while…." Ron
kicked Hermione discreetly, and gave her a meaningful glance.
" I think I'll stay here to" she said hurriedly. "I have some
homework that I still need to do."
"You have homework already?" the twins were incredulous.
"It's extra credit" she stared challengingly at them.
"Whatever. Sell you chaps later" and they left the common room.
"Do you really have an extra credit assignment already, Hermione?"
Ron questioned her.
"No."
" Um, do you want to go somewhere a little quieter so we can
talk?" Ron glanced around the crowded noisy common room.
"Sure." They left the room and casually walked down towards Hagrid's
cottage. Both of them felt the slightly uncomfortable silence.
"So, um, what did you want to talk to me about?" Hermione casually
asked.
"I'm sorry I didn't meet you this morning," Ron said at the same
time.
"Oh, it's alright."
" Um, ah, why don't we sit down over here, and talk" Ron motioned
to a tree a few feet away."
"Okay"
There was a brief silence.
"Uh, what I wanted to talk to you about…" Ron stuttered uncertainly.
"Well, what was it?" Hermionce tried not to sound to annoyed
and curious.
"Uh, I was just going to ask…. Uh…what classes are you taking
again this year?" To himself Ron thought, "Why did I just say that! She'll
think I'm stupider than she already does! What is wrong with me! Why can't
I just ask her?" He became so distracted with his thoughts that he almost
missed her reply.
"Herbology, Transfiguration, Potions, History of Magic, Defense
against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Study of Ancient Runes….You
asked me that at breakfast. Have you already forgotten?" She sounded slightly
suspicious.
"Oh! Um, yeah. You know I have a terrible memory!" Ron turned
slightly red.
"Yeah." Hermione stared at him but didn't say anything else.
She glanced at her watch. "We'd better get back to the common room soon.
We'll get in trouble if we stay outside to much longer."
"Yeah, I don't want to run into Filch or Mrs. Norris" They headed
back toward the castle.
The next morning Dumbledore rose and commanded everyone's attention.
"As many of you know Professor Snape has kindly been filling
in as our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher as well as remaining to
be our Potions Master. He will however not have to continue with his kindness
for we have found a new Defense against the Dark Arts Master…." The hall
broke out in buzzing conversation at this. "May I continue?" The hall fell
silent. " May I introduce Professor Mallony. I trust you will give her
a warm welcome." A tall, thin woman stood up. She had flaming auburn hair
and I long tired, but strict face. She surveyed the room glancing at everyone
with an appraising stare. After a moment she sat.
" Is that the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher? They
must have been really desperate!" Ron stared Professor Mallony doubtfully.
"For your information, they were desperate. And she happens to
be very qualified." Hermione spoke somewhat coldly. " Haven't you ever
heard of her? She's quite famous actually."
" And how do you know so much about her, Miss Know-it-all?" Ron
wondered to himself why she made him so angry.
"If you had read the book that you were supposed to read over
the summer maybe you would know." "Why did he have to be so aggravating?"
Hermione shook her head angrily and hurried to get her books for her first
class.
"Have you asked her if she's still with Krum yet?" Harry looked
at Ron. They were getting ready for bed.
"Well, not exactly…" Ron turned a bright shade of red and looked
at the floor.
"What do you mean, 'not exactly'? Have you asked her or not?"
Harry sounded exasperated.
"Uh, no."
"You haven't asked her yet?!" Harry stared incredulously at him.
"How can you not have asked her?"
"Ummm…." Ron gave him a sheepish look.
"Promise me that you'll ask her tomorrow. I'll tell her to meet
you in the great hall after breakfast. Be there." Harry gave Ron what he
thought was a menacing look.
"Okay, okay. Tomorrow after breakfast in the great hall."
The next morning….
"He'd better show up this time," Hermione said to herself. She
was waiting the great hall after breakfast. Harry had told her to meet
Ron here this morning. She had been skeptical at first but Harry promised
that Ron would show up this time. She glanced up from her thoughts to see
Ron coming from one way and Draco Malfoy, sidekicks and all, coming from
the other way. "This could be trouble," she thought worriedly.
"Hey, Hermione. I was wondering if I could ask you something…"
Ron looked at her questioningly.
"Hey weasel. Talking to your girlfriend." Malfoy had arrived.
"Hey flying ferret. Who let you out of your cage?"
"Who you asking?" Malfoy glared at Ron.
"Could both of you stop, please?" Hermione's plea went unheard.
"You, or are you too stupid to understand English?" That was
going a little too far. Nobody called Malfoy stupid and got away with it.
Malfoy brought up his wand and raised it menacingly. Ron did the same.
Luckily for both of them Professor Mallony came into the hall just then.
"And what do you too think your doing?" Her voice was low and
raspy.
"Sorry, Professor Mallony." Both boys looked truly sorry.
"You'd better be sorry, and all of you had better be getting
to class, or you'll be late. And I don't think that lateness is well received
here."
"Yes, Professor." Malfoy went to potions, and Ron and Hermione
left for Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.
"Today we will be learnin' how to take care of Gobblesnaps. They're
mighty inter'stin' creatures, but ya have to know the basics. Firs' of
all, never feed them too much. They get bloated and pop. Secon' of all,
never say mean things 'bout them to their faces. Thir' of all, always tell
'em that you love 'em. They eat worms. That's a right, worm. Big, grubby,
slimy worms." Hagrid said that last sentence with some relish.
"You mean we have to actually touch those things?" Justin Finch-Fletchley
looked slightly nauseous at the mention of worms and the sight of the gobblesnaps.
The Gobblesnaps were a murky brown color, long, fat, and had spikes coming
out of its head. If it was green it might resemble a tomato worm.
"Of course ya have to touch them. How else'd you feed 'em?" Hagrid
stared at him unbelievingly.
Justin muttered what could have been a "never mind" and left
the subject alone.
After Lunch Hermione had Defense Against the Dark Arts. She was
very nervous because it would be her first class with Professor Mallony.
"At least we don't have Snape anymore," she thought to herself
as she walked into the classroom.
"Good, you're all here." Professor Mallony glanced around the
room. "Before we begin there are a few things you ought to know…."