Chapter 4
The food appears on the table like every year. The first years were surprise and in awe, they were asking a whole lot of question when Nearly Headless Nick came to welcome them, the same question that Ron asked and the ghost answered in the same way, flicking his head of his neck like every year for the newbie. And like always, there's always a new first years asking about the schedule which Hermione happily answered.
"Harry, you should read the rest of the marked page to expect the unexpected, that you don't know about." Like always she was always the one to look something up, but this time it's for Harry.
"After the feast Hermione, I want to eat."
"Fine but you better finish it this weekend." He just shook his head, 'Hermione is too much like a mother' Harry mused to himself.
"Excuse me student" Dumbledore announced "before I forget, this year we will be assigning each 5th, 6th and 7th year student a younger year student as a mentor for the younger student, and also for their safety if there ever is any problems, as you know since the Dark lord have increase his attack. So what I'm asking is that you will help the younger student be more prepared for anything. Anything you do to help will be acceptable. Some of the older student like the 6th and 7th years might have more than 2 younger students. You will be given the name tomorrow during breakfast so do come. Thank you."
The older students were chatting on what gender or who they will get tomorrow. Harry sighed at all of the trouble that he will have, and now he had to add the mentoring with the list, he groan. He flinched when Hermione thrust the book in front of his face. He move his hand to take off his eye glasses but he feel nothing when he grabbed it, remembering that he now don't need it anymore.
Harry opened the book and start with the red mark, where he have left off at earlier in the train;
(Con.)
If you have never met your mate after the day that you came to you inheritance it will be harder to find him/her. It'll be harder to find but once you near that person your sense would lead you to him/her if you're a radius of a mile around or within that person.
It will be harder to determine who your mate is when you narrow him/her down but is near to another person(s) that is looking for their mate also the probability of you following the wrong person is high. You would either smell their scents or feel at home sometime when you are close to them or is within a mile radius on the first 2 months.
He closes the book when he was pulled off of the seat that he was sitting in. He looked up and saw Hermione looking at him, "the feast's over, you better get your butt to the common room. I have to lead the first years to the Gryffindor tower."
"I'm going to see Dumbledore first." Harry got up, went toward the Headmaster's offices. He didn't have time to say or guess the password when the gargoyle spring out of the way for him. Harry just shrug ahs step on the stairs, for it to take him up.
Harry sigh as he lifts his hand to knock on the door "come in Harry." the headmaster called. He twist the door knob and walk in, in the room was Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick(?) Hagrid and some of hogwart's professors.
"Ummm...am I interrupting anything. Professors?" he asked nervously. As all of the Professors, looked at him.
"No, My dear boy. We were just waiting for you." The old man smiled.
"Yes, now can you tell us what's so important that I have to be here?" Snape snarled.
"The thing is that, I want for the staffs to know that Harry wouldn't be paying much attention to the classes that he'll be taking this year."
"And why is that, Albus?" McGonagall asked sternly, she doesn't like it one bit that Dumbledore would let her have a student that would pay less attention to her class. But she is grateful that he would tell her all this before the morning come, she glance at Harry who looked uncomfortable, with all of the professors there to learn something that he would prefer to keep private.
"He will be looking for his soul-mate this year, so it would take a lot out of him, sine that person is much older than him, himself. And he won't be able to control himself when the need is too great for him to concentrate in your classes. Also the possibilities of his mate being here, is unknown; not many student is older than him." Dumbledore explained.
"Is that all?" Snape questioned "It seems that even though he has 'that' to does he will still fail my class one way or the other. Good evening Albus," Snape left the office making his robe billowed after him. Harry almost snorted; he rolled his eye, losing the control. The professors were too busy talking among them to notice him doing that but Dumbledore caught him and give him one of his damn smiles. Harry almost growled, he dislike those smile as much as he dislike the Dursley.
"Professor." Harry interrupted them,
"Have you found any lead for me yet?" Harry demand more then asked the ancient headmaster.
"Ahhh...yes I have." he smile, and with a wave of his wand and a parchment appeared. Dumbledore floated it to Harry, letting him grabbed it.
Harry opened the piece of parchment:
Seamus Finnegan
Justin Finch-Fletchley
Neville Longbottom
Draco Malfoy
Dean Thomas
Ronald Weasley
Blaise Zabini
Vincent Crabbe
"Those are the student here that's older then you Harry." Harry only nodded confused at why Neville's name was on there.
"Sir? Why is Neville on there?"
"He's a few hours older then yourself."
"Thank you Professor Dumbledore, I should be going." Harry said as he left the room. The other professors already left while he was reading the list of 'male' students.
Harry left the office and make his way to the Gryffindor common room, He wonder why the castle was so quite, then it hit him; tonight was the welcome feast and all the student are tire from the train ride and too full to be up and walking. So he slow his pace and enjoy the silence that the castle's giving him right now, he don't want to rush and, not wanting to face Hermione. He stop and open the parchment again and groaned why Ron? I don't want him to be my mate, ewww, he's my best friend well beside Hermione that is. He looked at the paper again, and why did Malfoy have to be older than me? I hate that prat, he's so ergh!! He groaned, this is just not his year, not that any year is his year. Voldemort was enough for him to be worried that the snake face was after him, now he had to add his mate, and the mentor program shit or whatever to the list. By far this is the worst years, next to his fifth year where Sirius died.
In no time he already reaches the fat lady's portraits. "Password?" she asked.
"Wangardium" Harry sighed loud enough for the portrait to open the door. Harry walked into the partially empty common room: only noted that only the 6th, 7th and some new 1st year were up.
"Harry, mate over here." came Ron's loud voice, Harry walked over to their usual seat in front of the fireplace.
"What did you went to see Dumbledore about?" Hermione inquired
"This." Harry pass the parchment at Hermione.
She curiously open it and saw the list with a confused look on her face. "What is it?" she asked.
"The list of people that is possible is my..." Harry trialed off, which Hermione gasped knowingly,
Ron stupidly asked "What is it? And why is my name on it?"
"Oh Harry." Hermione sighed.
"Can someone please tell me what this list is about? I do not appreciate being left in the dark." The red head whine at his friends, though he try to grab hold of Hermione's hand. Who without knowing it move to hand the parchment back.
"That is the list that Dumbledore have made for me, the name on that list are the people who is possible to me my soul-mate." Harry explained to his friend. Ron paled.
"Are you saying that...I-I...could be your...mate?" Ron manages to gasp out. Harry only nodded at him. "Ewwwwwwwwwww." Ron breathed out.
"Agree, I don't want my best mate to be my...mate?" Ron scrunched his face.
"Harry? Do you feel any different about Ronald?" Hermione asked her male friend. Harry just shook his head, Hermione give a sigh of relief. "Good that mean you're not Ronald." Ron grumbled that Hermione would call him by his full name.
"Harry, what did the book said about finding your mate?" Hermione questioned him.
"A little, I would feel like I'm at home, and I'll have a tingle sensation." Harry summarized.
"Good, now use that instinct to help you find that person." She had a disappointed look on her face. Harry summons a quill and crossed out Ron's name on the list. Also all the Gryffindor names as the're sitting around and he felt no difference.
The trio spent the evening talking about how bad it would be to be with any of the people on the list, and it seems that the Person that it might be okay with is mostly Justin, Zabini second and Malfoy running in third place. Soon the room empty out leaving only the three friends left. Hermione finally excuse herself saying that she needs a good night sleep before the school day start. The two boys spend an hour playing chess before turning in. Harry couldn't fall asleep thinking about why his life is so unfair, and how his life would be planned out for his future by other wizards or the immortal being, yeah right! He fell into an uneasy sleep.
--
"...Harry come on, mate. Get up before Hermione came..." Ron stopped when the boy's dormitory bang open a very unsatisfied Hermione walked in.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER." she screeched, Ron moved away, mumbling to himself that never to sleep in during the school day to much. Harry woke with a startle yelped at the loud screech from his female friend and groaned.
"What is it?" Harry asked sleepily.
"Its 8:15, time for breakfast and the mentoring program to start, and I refused to miss it for you. Beside I want to know who I'm to mentor." She snapped, sometime she's even scarrier then a Hippogriff. Harry sighed "Fine, give me ten minutes to get ready." With a satisfy smile the girl left the room.
"Why didn't you wake me Ron?" Harry growled the question out.
"I did, but you wouldn't wake." Harry couldn't complain with that. Harry walked into the bathroom to take care of his business, but didn't take a shower. He was in the common room in ten minutes like he said he would he.
"Who do you think would be yours for the year?" Hermone asked
"I don't care as long as he/she doesn't give me a headache." Harry answer, which didn't satisfy Hermione.
"You, Ron?" Hermione asked getting better at controlling her emotion. After the break up with Ron.
"Same as Harry, but hopes that it isn't one of those midgets." he said earning himself a slap from Hermione.
"Ronald, they are not midgets, if you've forgotten, you were as little as they were in our first year." Hermione pointed out as they sit down on their usual seat in the Great Hall.
Just then Dumbledore stood up at the main table, which was unusual for him, but hey it's the beginning of the school year, which Hermione made Ron shut up so she can hear what Dumbledore's going to say.
"Staff would you please give out the schedule to every student, and the name of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years student to the older years." he said facing the staff. "Student for the requirement of this mentoring program is for the younger years to know the rules and get to know the older year's students. This program is for the whole school so some of you might get younger student from their houses." The Gryffindor and Slytherins groaned the loudest, hoping that they won't get their rival house.