A/N~~My apologies. I got a review saying I messed up in Part 2 when Harry was saying they should go meet "our parents." It was supposed to be "your parents." Spell-check doesn't catch that kind of stuff! On with the story!~~Lady Lelila
Harry Potter~~Year 4
Part 3
Harry timidly knocked on Professor McGonagall's door. "Come in Potter!"
He walked in, "Umm…you wanted to see me Professor?"
"Yes Harry. Please sit down. Now as you know Mr. Wood graduated last year and although you are only a 4th year I thought you would like to be the Captain of Quidditch team."
"REALLY!?!" yelled Harry. Then realizing how loud he had been whispered "Sorry Professor, but I'd love to."
"Good, well now that that's settled, off to the feast you go. Have a good year!"
Harry rushed into the feast and squeezed in between Ron and Hermione. Hermione promptly asked, "What did Professor McGonagall have to say? You aren't in trouble already are you? The term hasn't even started yet, that wouldn't be…"
Harry cut her off saying, "I'm not in trouble." Then in a low voice, "She made me captain of the Quidditch team, but don't tell anyone. I'd like for it to be a surprise."
Ron and Hermione nodded and both hugged Harry. They were so proud of him!
After the feast everyone was so tired that the common room emptied in 20 minutes.
The next day Ron and Harry wandered down to breakfast just in time to meet Hermione for their first class.
"Figures, "grumbled Ron," We have double Potions with Sytherin and Snape!"
Hermione continued, "But then we get a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. "
"Yeah, I hope he's not as dumb as Lockhart!" said Harry. This comment prompted a dirty look from Hermione who had always had a crush on Professor Lockhart.
For once Potions went smoothly. Snape didn't take any points from Gryffindor and didn't give any member of the trio detention. But he did not refrain from his usual belittling of Neville Longbottom, the boy cursed with forgetfulness and clumsiness, and did not avoid praising Draco Malfoy at every juncture.
Next the trio walked apprehensively into the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. They took seats and watched the rest of the class file in excitedly. All of them we talking about how they had a famous Seeker for a teacher and how they hoped he would talk about Quidditch often.
Class started and Professor Dapes had not yet arrived. Five minutes later he strolled in the door and was followed by a floating stretcher containing a vampire that had recently been stabbed through the heart and the wooden stick was poking out of his chest.
"Good Morning class," Dapes said. "I hope you don't mind my tardiness. George here took a little longer than I expected to conquer. Now if you don't mind, I need to put him in my office for a later lesson. Please excuse me for a few moments. Oh and while you are waiting, please open you books to page 5 and read the summary on countercurses. "
The class looked at him amazed and quickly opened their books. Ron leaned toward Harry and Hermione and whispered, "Well, it looks like we won't be discussing a lot of Quidditch today. "
Harry looked a bit dejected, but Hermione looked like Christmas had come early. She waited eagerly in her seat as Dapes walked in.
"Ah thank you so much for waiting. Now before we begin. I do not under any circumstances sign Quidditch cards and I will not under any circumstances discuss Quidditch strategies UNLESS it directly correlates to this class and the lesson I cam teaching." Professor Dapes began. "And now that I have stated what I will not do, let me tell you what I will do. I am here to teach all of you how to defend yourself from the likes of Lord Voldemort and his followers."
Everyone in the room gasped and looked at each other. Dapes had just mentioned the name of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. No one except Headmaster Dumbledore had the courage to mention You-Know-Who. This new teacher must be braver than they thought.
After class, all the Gryffindors had a new respect for Professor Dapes. He was the best teacher they'd had. The whole lesson had consisted of a class discussion about the Dark Arts and how they could effect a wizard's everyday life.
Soon Defense Against the Dark Arts was everyone's favorite class, even the Slytherins. Draco could not find a thing bad to say about Professor Dapes.
A new dilemma faced Harry and the Gryffindor Quidditch team, choosing a new Keeper. Oliver Wood had graduated the year before and so the group made a flyer and posted it up in the Gryffindor common room. Unfortunately no one on the team knew exactly how to pick out a Keeper. Then Angelina suggested that they ask Professor Dapes to help with the final decision. The rest agreed and Harry decided to approach Dapes the next day after class.
After everyone had left chattering excitedly about the rather nasty goblin they had tackled that day, Harry walked up to Dapes and cleared his throat, "Excuse me, Professor?"
"Yes Mr. Potter?"
"I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you, sir."
"Ah, of course Mr. Potter."
"Well, it's about Quidditch. I know you told us the first day that if was not a topic for class, but this isn't class related. You see, Gryffindor has to pick a new Keeper this year and none of us know exactly how to go about it and we were wondering if you could help us with the final decision sir."
"Well, Mr. Potter I WAS hoping to avoid favoring one House over another, but seeing as though you were polite enough to ask and you did remember my warnings about Quidditch from the first day. I believe I will help you out. Let me know the day of the final decisions and I shall be there alright?"
"Thank you so much Professor, "stumbled Harry. " I…I mean the team, really appreciates it."
Harry rushed out of the room to go tell the Gryffindor team.
Dapes smiled. This was his chance.
A/N~~I hope you all are enjoying it. Everybody in the story belongs to JK Rowling, except Darren Dapes and George the vampire. I'm not quite sure where he came from...the depths of my demented mind. Sorry, no Harry and Hermione stuff in this one. Also, thanks for the compliment about sounding like JK. It's a talent to sound like an author, but I don't have an original writing style…sniff~~Lady Lelila