Not Beta'ed yet

Harry and Wayne went to the last car of the train and settled into a compartment in the middle of it. Wayne took out some exploding snap cards for them to play while they waited for the others to arrive. There were only a few other students on the train but more and more were showing up as the minutes ticked down. Susan was the next to arrive followed shortly by Isobel. The time ticked down but still Neville had not shown up.

"So what do you think he forgot?" Wayne asked and then flinched away as his cards blew up.

There was some coughing from the smoke but the other three all spoke at once, "Trevor!" Laughter followed the exclamation.

"I think he needs to just own up and let the pour toad go." As the minutes ticked down to eleven they moved to look out the windows keeping an eye on the platform for their wayward friend. Finally at ten minutes till Neville and his grandmother appeared. Madam Longbottom looked rather exasperated while Neville was indeed clutching his toad. He took his trunk down to storage and they lost sight of him.

Neville appeared at the compartment door a few minutes later, "Sorry guys Trevor." He was cut off by their grins.

"Got away," They said.

Neville grinned sheepishly, "Yeah."

"Nev, I think it's time to let Trevor go find his own home," Susan said as nicely as possible.

Neville looked at the toad in his hands who croaked at Susan's words. Neville flopped down into one of the seats. "I'll take him down to the Black Lake when we get to Hogwarts. I'm starting to think Uncle Algie just got him from a pond on our property."

"Probably," Wayne said and Iz kicked him to shut up. "What?" Wayne complained. Neville cracked a grin and Wayne gave him a wink.

"Boys." Isobel said under breath. Neville put Trevor down in a carrying case and they went back to their exploding snap game. A few minutes went by and the train started moving just as a redheaded family of five kids made it on to the last compartment. The family moved through the car with the two burliest stopping at Harry and his friends' compartment.

"Hiya Harrykins." One of the twins said.

"You look smashing," The other said.

Harry grinned, "Gred, Forge almost miss the train there?" Fred and George were the twin beaters of Gryffindor and close friends of Harrys. Most of the pranks pulled at the castle last year involved the three of them. For some reason Fred and George took Harry under their wings when it came to pranking. Harry had the idea that their mutual hatred of their former Professor Snape had something to do with it.

"Well you see,"

"Percy here couldn't find his,"

"Prefect badge," George finished or at least the twin with the G on his shirt finished. Percy was taller than Fred and George and scowled down at them.

"Yes, I wonder why that was," He moved so that his Prefect badge showed. Those in the compartment and the two youngest Weasleys fought not to laugh. The badge did not say Prefect but Pee-fect. Percy walked off imperiously and everyone broke out laughing. The twins smiled mischievously winked and left the compartment.

"Hey Ron," Neville greeted the other brother who was built more like Percy. He was taller than both Harry and Wayne.

"Neville," He said with a nod. "Harry, Wayne. Good summers?" Ron just sort of blushed at the two girls. At Harry's name the red headed girl with them blushed and looked at Harry quickly before looking down. Harry shared a glance with Wayne who shrugged. Susan and Izzy though shared a knowing look. Harry resolved to ask them later.

"Good. You?"

"Good. Come on Ginny let's find you a compartment." Ron Weasley said leading his sister away. That was the extent of the friendship between the youngest Weasley boy and the others which came about after Harry decked him last year.

"Well Neville you weren't the last one, which should make your grandmother happy." Susan said grinning.

Neville brightened, "Yeah it will if I just remember to tell her." Neville did not have the best memory in the world but it was improving. The train was moving in earnest now and the students settled in for the ride the girls both pulled out books while the boys pulled out a chess board. It was Neville's made of red and white stone pieces.

"Who first?" Neville asked he would go as it was his game but the other player would be between Harry and Wayne.

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Harry asked. Everyone but Wayne looked confused. Wayne nodded.

"Rock, paper, scissors, one, two, three." Harry said as they moved their fists. On three they picked one each Wayne holding out a fist and Harry holding his hand out flat. "I win." Harry grinned.

"What was that?" Susan asked curiously.

"It's a game that muggles play. Rock," he made a fist. "Paper," he held his hand out flat as Harry had. "Scissors," he held two fingers out and made a snipping motion. Rock crushes scissors, scissors cuts paper, and paper covers rock. So rock beats scissors but loses to paper. Scissors beats paper but loses to rock and paper beats rock but loses to scissors." While Neville and Harry played chess, all of them were trying to improve their chess game based on Cyril's suggestion, Wayne played Rock, Paper, Scissors, with the girls trying to teach them. Neville lost the game and Harry started to play Wayne while the girls now taught Neville how to play the hand game.

"Anything from the trolley?" They heard called out from a couple compartments down. They all stopped what they were doing and went for their money. "Anything from the trolley?" Was called again and a little old lady appeared pushing a trolley full of goodies for the students. Harry bought two cauldron cakes and two chocolate frogs. Wayne got a packet of Droobles Best Blowing Gum and a chocolate frog card. Neville bought some Fizzing Whizbees and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Susan and Isobel each got some Pumpkin Pasties and Jelly Slugs. All together they had almost one of everything to snack on.

"Hey guys," Cedric said stopping to see as they were snacking. "How was your summer?" Both Susan and Isobel blushed a little. Cedric was now a fourth year and quiet the handsome boy.

"Good we spent it at each other's places," Susan answered. Cedric was her mentor last year. "How was yours?"

"Good we went to France for a couple of weeks and then I spent the rest of it at Jeremy and Frank's." Jeremy Figg and Frank Knighton were fourth year Hufflepuffs like Cedric. They were nice enough but not really interested in the younger years like Cedric.

"How was France?"

"It was nice and warm and no rain," Cedric said with a laugh.

"Do you get a new mentee this year?"

"Nope every two years is as much as Professor Sprout will allow." Cedric said and winked at Susan. She blushed again and the boys shared a disgusted look. Cedric caught it and laughed. "I'll see you at the feast," he nodded before leaving.

"We should change into our robes," Isobel said checking the time with a muttered tempus spell. The boys left the compartment to change while the girls changed inside. After a few minutes Susan opened pulled the shade and opened the door to let them back in. Within minutes they were pulling into the Hogsmeade station. The students flooded off the train going in two groups. The second years and up went in one direction towards the horseless carriages. The first years followed the largest man at Hogwarts to the boats to take them to the castle.

Harry and his friends looked around the carriages with interest as one pulled away with nothing pulling it. They loaded into one of the carriages and it too moved of its own accord.

"Wicked." Wayne said leaning over to look at where there should be horses. Izzy pulled him back down with a shake of her head.

"So Harry why Lockhart did you find out?" Izzy asked.

"Yeah no one else applied for the job." Harry said remembering the confrontation between Aurora and Aunt Minnie. It was intense both women having tempers. Harry resolved not to make either of them mad if he could help it. "Apparently they think the job is cursed. No one has held it for more than a year for a while now."

They pulled up to the entrance of Hogwarts. They jumped out of the carriage and made their way in. "Ickle second years!" Peeves the Poltergeist was waiting in the entrance hall. He had something in his hands and chucked it at the group.

"Sectum." Harry threw up the shield and the balloon bounced back at Peeves and went through him. The balloon burst and paint was sent all over a portrait.

"Peeves I'll send the Bloody Baron after you," A seventh year Slytherin yelled from behind them as Peeves prepared to throw another balloon. Peeves took off with a cackle.

"Nice spell Potter." The seventh year said walking past them and into the Great Hall. The second years shared a shocked expression and then went into the Great Hall. Neville parted ways from his friends in Hufflepuff to sit at the Gryffindor table. Harry, Wayne, Susan, and Izzy took seats at the Hufflepuff table and prepared for the feast.

They had to wait for a bit while the first years took the boats to the castle. After what seemed like an eternity, thanks to hunger, Professor Flitwick led the mass of first years into the Great Hall. They looked around and around at everything in sight most focusing on the ceiling others on the house banners. It seemed like there were more first years this year. Flitwick lead them up to the front where a three legged stool sat with a hat on it. There was silence and then a wrinkle in the hat opened and a song burst out:

Welcome wee lads and lasses

To Hogwarts castle

Here you'll find the home.

To the brave and bold

To Gryffindor Go.

The loyal and honest

Find Hufflepuff best.

The wise and creative

Dear Ravenclaw takes.

The ambitious and clever

Lord Slytherin quarters

The song finished and the whole school applauded with the first years joining in. Harry turned to his friends, "It's a new song?"

Izzy nodded, "There's a new one every year." Harry hummed his response as Professor Flitwick unraveled the parchment.

"Addison Acker." A small little girl with dirty blond hair stepped forward slowly. She made her way to the hat which Professor Flitwick placed on her head. The hat sat for only a few seconds before yelling out.

"Ravenclaw!" The blue and bronze table burst out in applause and the girl relaxed making her way over to them.

"Albert Allen." A small boy stepped forward and made his way to the hat.

"I don't remember being that small last year," Wayne said to his friends.

He was overheard by a fourth year nearby, "Trust me you were."

"Gryffindor!"

"Hey Harry who are the new teachers," Rodger asked getting his attention.

"Lockhart you know," Harry said nodding at the man, "his picture's on every book of his." Harry said rolling his eyes. He did not like the fact that the man was sitting next to Aurora.

"Old Sluggy," He said nodding to the large man with a walrus mustache. "is next to Professor Meadows." They clapped as Hufflepuff got a student.

Harry's face scrunched in confusion, "I don't know who the women next to mum is," Harry said. The woman was young probably Aurora's age. The two were talking to each other while Lockhart kept trying to bud in but was being kept out by the two women. She looked like the girl next door with an edge with her pretty looks, brunette hair, and purple glasses.

"She's cute," Ollie said with a bit of a dreamy look on his face. Harry nodded his head with a grin. Hufflepuff gained another student as they clapped. Susan and Izzy shared a look.

"Ugh," Izzy groaned and Susan agreed with her.

"Luna Lovegood," Professor Flitwick's voice rang out. A pale blond girl with a dreamy smile on her face glided up to the hat. The hat took some time with her before shouting out, "Ravenclaw!" The girl skipped over to the Ravenclaw table.

"Robert Malarkey." There were some snickers at his last name. The boy just shook his head and moved to the stool. The hat barely touched his head before it shouted.

"Hufflepuff!" The Hufflepuff table clapped as the boy took a seat with the other six first years. Harry started to zone out with hunger and the rest of the sorting happen in a sort of blur as it did for most of the students.

Finally only one first year was the redheaded girl from the train, "Ginerva Weasley!" The girl scampered up to the stool and the hat just touched her hair when it shouted.

"Gryffindor!"

Headmistress McGonagall stood, "Let's eat!" She said and a cheer went up from the students as the tables were filled with food. Harry's eyes zeroed in on the roast beef and he dug in serving himself up a plate of delicious food. Harry was silent as he ate content to listen to the conversations around him. His eyes often found the head table and particular of his mother Aurora and his Aunt Minerva. Both women gave him soft smiles after meeting his eyes. Minerva nodded to her plate telling him to eat up. She still thought he was a bit too skinny.

When the pudding was severed and eaten the Headmistress stood, "I have a few announcements before you are all dismissed. First we have some new teachers this year. First up taking over for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position is Professor Gilderoy Lockhart." The blond man with feathered hair stood and waved imperiously to the cheering students. A minority of the students, Harry and his friends included, looked rather annoyed with the man. "Our new Potions Master Horace Slughorn," Professor Slughorn stood and looked mighty pleased by the thunderous applause he received. Lockhart looked rather put out to be over shadowed. "And finally Professor Binns decided yesterday to move on," chatter went through the tables, "leaving us with an open position. Professor Melinda Winters has agreed to fill the post for us." More applause was given. "Also Screaming Yo-Yos are now on the band item list for the whole list see Mr. Flich's office. Have good term."

The students filed out of the Great Hall with Prefects leading the first years to their new dorms. Harry and his friends made their way to the common room and got their before the first years. They took up seats to welcome the first years with the rest of the older years. They clapped as they were lead in. In was odd for Harry to see how he must have looked last year. Professor Sprout came in and gave them her welcome speech and assigned mentors. Harry noticed one first year Zacharias Smith, if he was correct, looked bored. When the speech was over Harry and Wayne went their support way from the girls to hang out with Rodger and Ollie in their dorm.


Harry and the crew of second year Hufflepuffs made their way to the Charms classroom. Their first class of the year was Charms with the Ravenclaws. The match up always made for a fun if studious class. Professor Flitwick was standing on his customary stack of books, "Good morning second years!" He said in his squeaky voice.

"Good morning Professor Flitwick," The class said back taking their seats.

"So let's have a bit of review to make sure not everything found its way out of your head this summer." There was laughter from the class. "Now the lighting charm who can tell me about it? Miss Fawcet?"

"It lights either the caster's wand or the area depending on the caster's will."

"Excellent and would you perform the charm?"

She nodded, "Lumos." Her wand tip lit up. "Nox," She ended the charm."

"Good. Now let's see you all do it." Flitwick let them practice for a few minutes. He made sure everyone could light up and turn off the light of their wand before moving on. "Now the levitation charm? Mr. Hopkins."

"You can use it to levitate things of all weight. Wingardium Leviosa," He levitated his book up and down."

"Good Mr. Hopkins." He allowed them to practice once more. He then floated locked locks out to the class. "And the unlocking charm? Yes, Mr. Boot."

"It's also known as the thief's friend because it can unlock any lock that has not been spelled against it." Terry Boot demonstrated on his lock. Flitwick gestured for the class to follow his example. When everyone in the class demonstrated the charm correctly Flitwick spoke.

"Five points to both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Now today we're going to have bit of fun. We're going to be learning the paint charm." Flitwick turned to an easel he had set up. "Pigmentum." He traced his wand along the parchment and painted a rainbow and little leprechaun sitting under it. The class whispered in their excitement. "Now the incantation is pigmentum, there are no wand movements for this particular spell. Simply concentrate on the color and thickness you want and say the incantation." He floated out parchment to the students for them to practice. "I want all of you to try and paint the red of the rainbow by the time class is over. Remember to concentrate on the color, let it fill your mind as you say the spell." He let them loose with a grin.

Not even a minute later it became apparent why he was grinning. Terry Boot had gotten paint to come out of his wand, only instead of the fine stream of Flitwick, a huge blast of red paint slushed out and went everywhere as it sprayed the parchment. The class and classroom was soon covered in multicolored paint as the students tested the charm out. Harry though was rather clean, he hadn't attempted the charm yet. He was focusing on the color and trying not to end up soaked in paint. "Pigmentum." Harry said and traced his wand across the page. He got a rather thick line of a murky reddish color.

"Well done Mr. Potter!" Professor Flitwick said observing him do the charm. "Five points to Hufflepuff." Harry grinned. The rest of the class settled down and began to follow Harry's example. Five more students had Harry's results by the end of the class, Susan being one of them.

"Alright wands away!" Flitwick called. "Line up and I'll vanish the paint before you leave." Everyone lined up with their books and bags to get cleaned before leaving for their next class. For the Hufflepuffs it was Herbology. They made their way to the greenhouses Harry leading his three friends through a secret passage that let out in the entrance hall.

"You have got to take me pranking with you this year." Wayne said as they came out of the passage. He was grinning madly at the shortcut.

"I'll talk to the twins," Harry grinned back. He looked at Susan and Isobel, "What about you two? Want to help?"

"No thank you," Susan said easily while Izzy shrugged. Susan was not as fond of breaking rules as Harry and Wayne, came from having the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as her guardian.

"Maybe once in a while, depends on who you're pranking." Isobel said as they started the walk out the castle.

They were the first ones at Greenhouse three. It would be the first time they were allowed into this particular greenhouse. Not long after the other Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors showed up.

"One of these days you're going to have to share your secrets of the castle," Ollie said to Harry with annoyed look. Harry just shot him a grin and a shrug.

"In you go class," Professor Sprout ushered them in. "Welcome to Greenhouse 3 second years." Neville moved to stand by Harry and Wayne. Wayne nodded at him while Professor Sprout welcomed them. "Today we're going to be replotting mandrakes. Now four to a table," She gave them time to move to the tables were two pots were setup for each person. One was filled and had a few leaves sticking out of it, the other was empty. Harry, Neville, Wayne and Seamus Finnegan took a table together. Susan and Isobel took a table with two of their roommates, Megan Jones, and Leanne Brady.

"Who can tell me the property of the mandrake? Yes, Miss Granger."

"Mandrake or Mandragora is plant which roots look like a baby when young. The mandrakes cry when it matures is fatal to anyone who hears it." She said as if reciting a book, which she was.

"Good five points to Gryffindor." She beamed while the rest of the class tried not to vomit.

"Is she always like that?" Wayne asked the two Gryffindors quietly.

"Yeah." Finnegan replied shaking his head in irritation. "Should hear 'er the common room." Neville grimaced she always lecturing the others on doing their homework ahead of time. Or saying it was not good enough.

Professor Sprout banged her wand against a can for quiet, "Now as are mandrakes are still maturing their cry won't kill you. It'll just knock you out for a couple of hours, which is why you wear the earmuffs I've provided for you." There were indeed earmuffs at each table. Lavender Brown seemed pleased to have a pair of pink fluffy ones. Though she said it would clash with her robes.

They put the earmuffs on and Professor Sprout spoke loudly to be heard clearly, "Now grasp your mandrake firmly and pull it straight up." She did so and a dirty looking baby type thing let out a screeching wail that had everyone pressing their earmuffs tighter to their ears. Harry flinched back at the noise as did many others and he looked at his plant as if touching it would lead to nightmares. "Now put him in the new pot, sprinkle some dirt in to keep 'em warm. Chop, chop get to it."

Harry looked at the plant and then at Wayne and then back at the plant. He grimaced and took hold of the stem. He pulled hard and straight up as the plant came out screeching something fierce. Harry thrust the mandrake into the other pot and hurriedly poured dirt on the obnoxiously screaming thing. He went through five mandrakes by the time class was over and like many other he practically sprinted out of the greenhouse to get to lunch and away from the mandrakes.

After lunch the Hufflepuffs troop their way up to the History of Magic classroom. "So what do you think goblins or no goblins?" Wayne asked.

"Merlin let there be no goblins," Harry said as they walked in the classroom. Everyone stopped causing people to run into each other. They looked around the room in wonder, no longer was the classroom dank and dusty and filled with nothing of interest except a blackboard that never changed. Now the room was light and airy with the windows open. Around the room were maps, pictures of famous wizards and witches, famous landmarks, and the most impressive part to the twelve year olds was one wall entirely filled with a completed Chocolate Frog Card Collection.

"Come in don't just stand there," Professor Winters said laughing. "That's the third time that's happened today." She was standing at her desk dressed in stylish robes of purple that matched her glasses. Her glasses had purple metal frames that were thick but managed to look good on her. Her hair was styled into a simple pony tail.

Harry and Wayne both took seats near the front which made Susan and Isobel giggle quietly to themselves. They took seats next to the boys with amused smiles that confused the two males. The Slytherins arrived next and took their seats after entering much like the Hufflepuff horde had. The Slytherins took the remaining seats. Draco Malfoy shot Harry a glare as he took a seat in front of the Hufflepuffs in the very front row. Harry glared back at the blond boy with irritation boarding very closely on hatred. Harry had not forgotten the blond boy's laughter at Borgin and Burkes.

"Welcome to History of Magic. I'm Professor Winters and I graduated from Hogwarts nine years ago. Which means I had Professor Binns for history too. Which also means I avoid goblins at all costs," Professor Winters said with a smile. Both the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins clapped. "Yes. We will unfortunately have some goblins as their rebellions are important but we will only be studying the major ones. Now this year though goblins won't be mentioned at all." Another cheer. "This year will be studying creation stories of different cultures as well as the Ancient Sumerians and the Ancient Egyptians."

"Now I have a syllabus here for you." Seeing some of the blank looks she added, "It's an outline of what we'll be doing this year along with your assignments for the year. Just in case any of you decide you want to start them early." She saw their looks, "yes I know I'm crazy for thinking that." She went on to delve into the classroom rules that she expected the class. By the time she finished the class period was over and the Hufflepuffs had to make their way to another new teacher, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Lockhart.

The room just like the History of Magic classroom was vastly different than it had been with Quirrell. For one there was no overpowering smell of garlic, they all breathed deeply in the classroom for the first time since they came to Hogwarts. The classroom was covered in pictures of Gilderoy Lockhat, including one massive painting that had Gilderoy Lockhart painting a smaller picture of Gilderoy Lockhart. There was a mad rush by the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs to grab the front row seats. Harry looked and Izzy, Susan, Wayne and Neville with a raised eyebrow. They shrugged and the five of them took seats in the back of the classroom. When the fight for the front row was done Megan Jones and Hannah Abbott had one desk followed by Hermione Granger and Justin Finch Fetchly and then the final pair were Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. The rest took their seats as close as they could to the front. Ron Weasley dropped into the seat next to Harry. Wayne and Neville were sharing one desk in the back row leaving Harry with an open seat.

"Can you believe this?" Ron said nodding to those in front. "All over a smiling git. We lost five points in potions because Lavender and Parvati wouldn't stop giggling over him." Ron turned slightly red with irritation.

Harry laughed once and then said, "Have ya' tried to read his books. Full of shite." Harry said with a disgusted look.

"I don't read unless it's assigned or quidditch." Ron said laughing. Their conversation was cut off as the office door was opened and Gilderoy Lockhart came prancing out.

"Welcome, welcome," He said fawning. "I'm your new Defense Against the Dark Arts, Gilderoy Lockhart. Order of Merlin, third class, honorary member of the Dark Arts Defense League, and five time Witch Weekly Best Smile winner but let's not talk about those awards." Harry rolled his eyes. "I have a quick test for you all just to see how well you all read my books." He passed out the test.

Harry looked at it and then at Ron and then at Wayne and Neville. They all shared the same wide eyed look of you've got to be kidding me. The test was full of questions about Gilderoy Lockhart. Such as; what is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color or what is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition. One asked what hair care product Gilderoy Lockhart used.

"Screw this," Harry muttered. He put his name on the test and then shoved it forward refusing to even take the test. He glanced at Ron's test and saw the boy was filling in random answers most of which were not flattering. Harry grinned as he read the answer to the haircare product, Ron put a wig. He looked at Wayne and Neville and saw that Wayne was not answering the questions either instead looked to be practicing the paint charm on the test. Neville was answering but by the smile on the boy's face he figured Neville was answering along the lines of Ron.

He collected the test after about a half hour and tsked at them, "Hardly any of you remembered my favorite color is lilac. Only Miss Granger remembered that I used Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. She also remembered that my greatest desire is peace between all magical races." Harry nearly barfed in his mouth. He was willing to bet Lockhart couldn't name more than five magical races.

He set the tests down on the desk behind him. "Now it's my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to man." He brought out what looked like a covered bird cage. It was rattling and shaking back and forth as if whatever was in it was very eager to escape. "I must ask you not to scream." He pulled back the cover with a flourish.

Seamus Finnegan immediately started laughing, "Pixies." Inside the cage had to be nearly twenty electric blue creatures with large ears and eyes and humanoid bodies. They were shaking the cage and chattering strangely to each other.

"Cornish Pixies." Professor Lockhart said. "They can be devilishly tricky little blighters. Let's see what you make of them." He opened the cage releasing the pixies on the class. They flew out at an alarming speed and immediately started causing chaos. Books and inkwells were being thrown across the room. The students were shouting and running trying to duck out of the way of flying objects. They made for the door but were barred by the pixies. "Oh come now just follow me. Peskipiksi Pesternomi," He said a spell while moving his wand. Absolutely nothing happen except the pixies seemed to get even more out of control. A book was flung across the room and hit Granger in the head. Knocking her to the ground. Lockhart panicked and tried the spell again only for a pixie to sweep down and snap it from his fingers.

Harry flipped his desk over when the book and ink throwing started and backed into the corner ducking down under it when anything flew past him. Wayne and Neville jumped over to join Ron and Harry behind shelter bringing Susan and Izzy with them. It was tight fit but it was better than being totally unguarded. The pixies zoomed around. Harry stuck his head to see a few pixies pull Justin Finch-Fetchly up by his ears and attached to the chandelier in the room. "Shite it's got Lockhart's wand." Harry said ducking back down his voice gravelly with the volume he spoke at.

Other students were diving under desks after Hermione got hit with a book in the head. The pixie with the wand flew up and tapped the chain holding the dragon skeleton. It crashed to the flow with an almighty booming sound. Screams were heard. Harry turned to the others. "On three, freeze them. One, two, three! Petrificus Totalus!" They all popped up from their cover shouting the spell at the nearest pixies. The six spells connected with pixies freezing them and making them fall to the floor. "Again," Harry said. They fired again and hit more pixies. "Move," Harry shouted as the pixie with the wand turned towards them. It fired off a spell with Lockhart's wand. "Protego," Harry shielded whatever it was and fired back, "Petrificus totalus," his spell hit the pixie with the wand causing both the wand and the pixie to drop to the floor. He heard his friends shout their spells finishing off the pixies.

"Get them in the cage," Harry said picking up the wand and pixie leader. He walked to the front and shoved it in the cage. The other second years came out from under their desks looking like they had been through a bad fight. Ink was splattered on peoples' robes. They had cuts from the glass of the ink wells. Some had bruises from books. The room looked even worse with ink splatter, torn pages, and glass from the windows everywhere. Not including the dragon skeleton pieces that were littering the floor, some crushed and broken by the fall.

"Everyone okay?" Harry asked. He got stunned nods from the class. "Granger?" She had sat up holding her head in her hands.

"Ow," was her only reply.

"What is going on in here?" Came the shout of surprise from Headmistress McGonagall as she came in. She had been alerted by Hermes to the situation. She levitated Justin Finch-Fetchly down from the chandelier. She had to step over pieces of dragon bone to enter the classroom.

"Pixies," Harry said.

"All of you who can manage to walk there head to the hospital wing please. Miss Granger can you stand," Professor McGonagall asked as she moved to kneel by the girl.

"Yes," Hermione stood with Professor McGonagall's help.

"Harry see that she gets to the hospital wing. Where is Professor Lockhart?"

"He ran into his office," Izzy said with an annoyed look.

"Here's his wand." Harry handed it over before steadying Hermione Granger.

"Take her, I need to have a chat with Professor Lockhart," From the glare on her face it did not look like it would be a pleasant conversation. Harry and his friends left with Hermione to take her to the hospital wing.


Harry and Wayne stood in their quidditch gear with their brooms. The Hufflepuff quidditch tryout was about to begin and over twenty people turned out for the tryout this year, spurred by their win last season. Cedric and Arthur Rickett were the only two returning players for the year, the others either graduated or wanted to focus on their OWLs and NEWTs. Arthur was a sixth year and the Hufflepuff keeper. He was a burly but tall sixteen year-old with a large wing span and curly dark brown hair. "Listen up!" Cedric yelled and then whistled to get the attention of everyone. "So we only need chasers and beaters this year." A couple of hopefuls groaned and left to go watch in the stands. Cedric shook his head; that detail was on the poster he put up in the common room. Still they had a large amount of people milling about the pitch.

He looked at Arthur and Arthur leaned over whispering something to his captain. Despite the age difference they were the same height. "Right every give me three laps around the field." They took off into the air. Harry and Wayne were near the middle of the pack but Harry soon out flew the rest of the pack and situated himself at the front. He flew with grace and poise that many of the fliers behind him lacked. Wayne eventually made his way up through the pack by dodging in and out of the other fliers but his Comet broom could not catch up to Harry. No one could catch up to Harry. Cedric doubted he could.

"That kid can fly," Arthur said to Cedric.

They all landed some more rocky than the others and Cedric ended up dismissing more than half of the hopeful just based on their flying skills. Ernie Macmillian was one of those that got kicked to the curb early on. They were left with six chaser hopefuls and four beater hopefuls.

"We're going to do the beater's first," He had them take to the air. He floated targets into the air. At first they were stationary. Cedric released four bludgers and set them loose on the targets. Harry and Wayne both were able to hit the stationary targets with speed, accuracy and power. Every time a bludger came near them they smashed it at a target. Harry was easily able to out play the other beaters to the bludgers. Not all of it was his broom in fact most of it was his skill in the air. The Nimbus was harder for school aged quidditch players to handle but Harry did it with ease.

Arthur and Cedric were talking and then Cedric called out, "Fleet you're done." The third year that was trying out flew down from the air. Cedric set the targets to move. Wayne was able to knock a target off its course many times as did Pandit, the fifth year. Wayne had almost as much power as the fifth year. Harry hit all of his moving targets in exactly the same place, the arms of the target.

"Alright you can come down," Cedric yelled. He put his head together with Arthur for less than a minute. "Harry and Wayne congrats mates." Manoj Pandit shook their hands before heading off.

"Chasers get up there," Cedric yelled. He put up some slalom posts and some smaller hoops than the goal hoops for quidditch. Cedric flew up to be even with the posts and said to the first one, "Go." They went through the slalom courses and Cedric dismissed two of the hopefuls. After the third time through three different courses. He then had them slalom through and shoot at the smaller hoops. He sent another chaser packing after that leaving only four remaining. "Artie take the hoops." Cedric yelled to his goalkeeper. Artie took a position between the three hoops. "Ten shoots each." The penalty shots were an interesting event, Artie proved his weight in gold by blocking seven of the forty penalty shots. Penalty shots were always in favor of the taker not the saver.

Cedric called them back down and grinned at Artie giving him a high five, "Nice job mate."

"You know it," Artie said with false bravado. They both laughed before turning to the Chasers who were watching both amused and impatiently.

"Alright so our chasers are going to be James Stebbins," the fifth year step forward and punched the sky saying yes. He was tall and wiry and scored eight out of ten on the penalties. "Ray Summers," he was a fourth year and burlier but shorter than Stebbins with messy dark blond hair. He scored nine out of ten of his penalties. "And Natsumi Suzuki." The Japanese third year was small and fast and scored ten out of ten on her penalties. The girl grinned showing off perfect gleaming white teeth. Harry and Wayne both got dreamy looks on their face for a second before throwing it off. "Congratulations guys our first practice is Wednesday after classes." With that he dismissed them to the locker rooms and Harry and Wayne went in to change before coming out and being met with a bouncing Iz and a smiling Susan.

"Congrats guys! I can't believe you made beater in your second year," Izzy's words tumbled out together as she bounced up and down with excitement.

Susan put a hand on her shoulders to stop her bouncing, "You're going to make someone throw up." Susan said laughing. "She's a little excited. Congratulations." She stepped forward and hugged both boys. Harry and Wayne grinned at their friends with joy.

"You guys totally killed it! The Weasley twins better watch out," Izzy said as they started walking back to the castle. "Ravenclaw's beaters don't stand a chance against you." She had stopped bouncing but was still talking a mile a minute.

"I think she's more excited than we are." Wayne muttered to Harry. Harry laughed gaining a glare from Izzy but she went right back into to talking about quidditch. She talked the whole way back to the common room.

Susan stood in front of her, "Iz!" She said forcefully. Isobel stopped talking and looked at Susan with wide eyes. "We need to work on our Astronomy homework now." They had an essay on the effects of the position of Mars.

"Right." Isobel said and the four Hufflepuffs claimed a table in the corner of the common room. Wayne and Harry but their brooms away and grabbed their stuff and joined the girls at the table. They worked well into the night and then decided around ten it was time to hit the hay, all of them having finished the essay for Professor Sinistra.


The next day found Harry and Wayne hold up in an unused classroom with Fred and George Weasley. The four were planning a prank on Lockhart, Malfoy, and Marcus Flint. They were brewing a hair loss potion. "I can't believe Lockhart locked himself in his office." George said laughing as he added blistercap flowers to the potion.

"The idiot lost his wand ta one of the pixies an' then ran for it," Wayne said shaking his head.

"Aunt Minerva is pissed beyond belief," Harry threw in. "A lot of us were hurt, Granger the worst with a concussion."

Fred snickered, "That sucked for her but blimey it was nice to not have her marching about the common room for a couple of days."

"She's prefect in the making, that one," George added. Fred nodded his head while he was chopping moonroots up.

Harry was leaning over plans for a prank of Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris. They were going to turn Mrs. Norris into a mouse and Mr. Flich into walking rainbow. One would require transfiguration and the other a potion. Harry was looking over the Marauder's Map, a nifty map the twins had that showed where everyone was in the castle and all the secret passages.

"The potion's done," George said with a grin. They bottled it up and then left the abandoned classroom. They used the map to move through the school at night. They avoided Filch at the third floor and moved quietly to Lockhart's quarters. They used the password on the Marauder's Map to enter. "Gilderoy Lockhart." George said.

"Who makes their password their name," Wayne hissed quietly.

"An ego driven prick," Fred replied before shushing him. They sneaked into Lockhart's quarters and Fred and George went to apply the potion to the man's hair. Harry snuck into his kitchen and switched the man's sugar and salt shakers. Wayne found a stack of personalized fan mail photos and drew mustaches on them with the new paint spell he learned. Fred and George came back out and gave the two boys thumbs up and they left Lockhart's quarters.

They made their way down to the dungeons next. The entrance to the Slytherin dorms was an innocuous patch of wall that had a few snakes carved into it, not uncommon to find in the dungeons as it was Slytherin territory. "Pure," George spoke the password after checking to make sure no one was in the common room. They entered the low ceiling room and looked around with appreciation, it was nice common room, though quiet gloomy. They looked at the map and found their way to the boys' dormitory. They stopped first at the second year dorms and easily found the blond hair of Draco Malfoy, he didn't have his drapes closed. Fred sprinkled the potion into Draco's hair and then they snuck back out. They made their way down a winding hallway to the seventh year dorms. Fred and George checked the dorms for charms before entering. They made their way over to Flint and sprinkled the potion on his hair. And then just because they had extra they sprinkled the rest of the potion over every other seventh year Slytherin boys' head. They went back to the second year dorms and did the same before finally leaving the Slytherin dorms. The Weasley twins dropped off Harry and Wayne using the map at Hufflepuff common room before leaving to go back to Gryffindor's common room.

Early in the morning several panic shouts were heard throughout the castle. There was an exodus of Slytherin boys running to the hospital wing only to be told by Madam Pomfrey, after several attempts to fix the missing hair, that there was nothing she could do. They would just have to wait it out. Curiously enough a Gryffindor first year, Colin Creevey, was in the hospital wing with his camera getting treated for nose bleed and was able to snap a picture of the scene. In the weeks to come prints of the photo were going for as high as three galleons a pop.

"Welcome to Potions," Professor Slughorn said as the second year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins made their way into class. The bald heads of the Slytherin boys making nearly everyone giggle. It was their first potions class with Professor Slughorn. Slughorn himself looked like he was having a hard time not giggling himself. Draco Malfoy seemed to have a bit of cone head hiding underneath all his blond hair while his friend Goyle had a lumpy head. Crabbe though looked like he had aged ten years without the hair, bit of a scary look into what his future was.

"In light of today's events I thought we would start by brewing an obscure hair growing potion that was made in the fifteen hundreds." Professor Slughorn said to the laughter of the students. Malfoy was glowering at the Hufflepuffs, particularly Harry and Wayne.

"But first we have to go over some of the ingredients." He went over rat tails, lionfish tails, dragon blood, knarl quills, and Abraxan hairs. "What do Abraxan hairs add to the potion? Yes Miss MacDougal?" He ignored Malfoy's hand for the third time that class. Harry thought it was strange given Slughorn's propensity to gather influential students to himself but then Harry noticed he avoided more than a few Slytherins. Namely Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson.

"They add a thickening agent as well as a base for the hair to grow." Isobel answered.

"Good five points to Hufflepuff." He seemed very pleased by Isobel's answer if his smile was anything to go by. "Now why don't we go ahead and give the potion a try. And when we're done we'll be able to give a try."

Harry and Wayne didn't look very pleased to be brewing a potion that would undo their prank but shrugged and went with it. They got their cauldron on the heat and dropped in the dragon's blood on to the minor heat. Harry stirred the dragon's blood as Wayne chopped the rat tail into the small chunks. Wayne added the rat tail to the cauldron as Harry stirred the blood. The potion turned a vivid green. Harry stopped stirring and let the potion rest and started to crush the quills and lionfish tails together. Wayne prodded at the flame with his wand keeping it at a moderate temperature not letting it get to hot or too cool. Wayne counted down the time and then flicked his wand causing the flames to flare. "Go Harry."

Harry added in the crushed mixture and then stirred the potion counterclockwise six times. They had to wait for five minutes while the potion developed and stir once every minute. Wayne kept the time and Harry stirred at his mark. The potion was a bright blue as it was supposed to be. "Alright we can add the hair," Wayne said as the five minutes counted down. Harry added the hairs to the potion and then stirred counterclockwise eight times while Wayne kept the heat high almost to a boiling point. After the eighth stir Wayne cut the flame immediately and Harry moved the cauldron on to a rest stool. They looked at the board and saw their potion was the correct consistency and color.

"Bugger," Wayne said quietly. Harry nodded, it looked like most of the class had done the potion correctly if Slughorn's praise was anything to go by. Crabbe and Goyle's cauldron though had become a twisted metal contraption.

"My boys what on earth did you do?" Slughorn asked looking at it with wide eyes.

"Well that makes it slightly better," Harry said quietly making Wayne laugh.

Slughorn came over to their potion, "Well done boys, well done." He went around complimenting or telling students where they went wrong and how to improve on the potion next time. It was interesting to have more thrown at the students than 'you're a dunderhead.'

Professor Slughorn returned to the front of the class after taking a some vials from those that he had thought were the best, "Alright my wayward snakes come up to the front and well see if this doesn't do the trick." Draco shoved Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott out of the way and then Goyle and Crabbe did the same. Professor Slughorn's eyes narrowed, "Mr. Zabini followed by Mr. Nott will go first." Draco looked put out and tried to pout but Professor Slughorn remained firmed. Nott and Zabini took the potion and waited. About four seconds later they started sprouting hair. They grew a bit more than a buzz cut but that was it. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle all sprouted the same amount of hair. For Crabbe it looked like his normal hair style but Draco still looked like a bit of a cone head. Harry and Wayne snickered as did most of the Hufflepuffs, Draco's pale blond hair didn't make for much of an improvement.

A/N:

So I had planned for this to be longer than the first story but I'm not sure now. On another note, I got a review that really sorta pissed me off and made me not want to write but I pushed through it.

If you read Si Vis, a short chapter should be posted today or tomorrow.

Thanks for the interest and hope you enjoyed,

AM