Draco Malfoy sat in the windowsill, looking out over the lawn, toward the lake. He watched as Harry sat with Felicity. He sneered when he saw the kite rise into the air. "That Potter thinks he can have whatever he wants," he said to himself. His Bandywit stood next to him, its face pressed against the cold glass of the window.

"Who is Potter?" asked the Bandywit, whose name Malfoy hadn't bothered to ask. Draco looked at the little creature lazily.

"Potter is that pratt down there sitting with Felicity. Kite indeed- how sappy and unoriginal." His pale eyes lit with jealousy and malice. "Well, then," he said, raising an eyebrow, "I'll just have to show the Great Harry Potter how it's done."

*~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~*

"Did you kiss her?" asked Ron as he and Harry made their way to the west wing, where they were scheduled to take Filch's Apparation class. Harry shot Ron a withering look.

"No, Ron, I didn't kiss her," he said, shaking his head. "I'm waiting for just the right moment." Ron shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, whenever the snogging begins, I'd better be the first to know," he said. Harry just smiled. They met up with Felicity and Hermione once they reached the west wing of the castle, and the four of them headed for the classroom.

"We're taking this class with Slytherins," Hermione said darkly. They all groaned, with the exception of Felicity.

"Why do they insist on putting Gryffindors and Slytherins together so much? Everyone knows we don't get along," Ron said. Felicity shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe that's why they do put you together," she said, "to try to get you all to be civil at least." Ron and Harry looked at each other incredulously.

"Sorry, Felicity," said Ron, "but I doubt we'll ever be friends with the Slytherins." They reached the classroom to find nearly everyone else already seated. They took seats near the front of the class- everyone else had chosen to be as far away from Filch as possible.

The time for class to begin had come and gone, and there was still no sign of Filch. Mrs. Norris, his horrible cat, was sitting on the front desk, staring at all of them with her lamp-like eyes. Suddenly, with a small pop! Argus Filch appeared before them. He had a proud look on his weathered face.

"Welcome to my class," he said, putting great emphasis on the 'my.' He glared around at the class with a look of utmost dislike. This is going to be worse than Snape, thought Harry.

"I know you all hate me," said Filch quietly, "but that don't matter, 'cause I really don't like you very much, either. However, Professor Dumbledore asked me to teach you all the fine art of Apparation and Disapparation, and I intend to carry out his wishes."

At least he was honest. Harry and Ron exchanged disgusted glances. Malfoy and his crew were at their utmost attention, wanting to get started in learning this terrific art. Filch was fumbling with some papers on his desk, grumbling to himself as he did so. Finally, he found what he was looking for.

"This is your first homework assignment," he said gruffly, handing out the papers. Harry read it, frowning. It was nothing but copying chapters from the book. Hermione leaned close to Harry.

"He's giving us busy-work just because he doesn't really know how to teach," she said. Harry nodded his agreement. Mrs. Norris focused her nosey eyes on them.

"Now, first off, I want to say that Apparation is no small matter," Filch said, his arms folded across his chest. "It can be quite helpful, but also quite dangerous. There are many young wizards who were too eager to use this new power, and, not being ready, Disapparated themselves into nonexistence." Several people gasped. "The first step to learning to Apparate and Disapparate is to learn to focus all of your energy into one stream of thought. I want you all to think of something. Think hard." Filch paused as all of the faces around him became contorted with concentration. "Now," he said, "stand up."

There was a loud scraping of chairs as everyone rose to their feet. Filch shook his head. "No, no, no! Sit down, all of you." More scraping of chairs. "That was your first test - which you all failed miserably." Hermione let out a small whimper at this. "If you had all been concentrating as hard as I told you to, you would not have heard me say 'stand up.'"

Hermione was about to protest, when a whirl of gold and blue shot out of Harry's knapsack and rolled about on the floor.

"Shummy!" shouted Harry.

"Orion!" gasped Felicity. The two Bandywits were engaged in a vicious fight. Shummy's little hands were wrapped around Orion's neck.

"I'll kill ye!" Shummy was screaming as Orion struggled to break loose. Harry sprang out of his chair and grabbed the scrapping creatures. Felicity was at his side, her hands on her face in horror. The class watched as Harry pried Shummy's surprisingly tight grip off of Orion.

"What is this about, Potter?" Filch growled as Harry handed Orion over to Felicity. Harry shrugged, Shummy still in his fist.
"I don't know, sir," he said honestly. "I didn't know they were in there." Malfoy was snickering behind his hand.

"Well, I won't have those nasty little things interrupting my class," said Filch. "You and Miss Dizzle go and put them in your rooms, then come straight back to class! I'll have Mrs. Norris accompany you."

Harry scowled at the mangy cat as they made their way out of the classroom. Felicity was stroking Orion's blue hair, trying to calm it. "What's got into them?" she said.

"I dunno," Harry answered. "I wonder when they got into my pack. They must've crept in this morning while I was getting ready." They made their way up the various stairways and passages. Mrs. Norris led the way, turning every now and then to make sure they were following.

"Professor Filch seems to be a little awkward at teaching," Felicity said.

"That's because he's not a professor. He's just the caretaker in the castle, and Dumbledore must've given him this job out of pity," said Harry. "Although, I must say, he is good at Apparating just when you think you're getting away with something."

Felicity shot him a suspicious glance. "And what, Harry Potter, might you have been trying to get away with?" Harry just raised his eyebrows and smiled smugly at her.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Buster-wings," Harry muttered, and she swung forward. Mrs. Norris waited in the corridor- she wasn't allowed in any of the dormitories.

"Well," Harry said to Shummy, "time for you to go back to your cage. I don't need any help getting in trouble from you." They each took their Bandywits up to their rooms, then met back in the common room.

Just then there was a scratching at the window. Harry opened it, and a gray owl flew in, dropping a letter at his feet. It flew out again before he could move. Stooping, Harry picked up the envelope, which was addressed to him.

"That's strange," said Felicity, "I thought mail only came during breakfast."

"That's the only time it's supposed to," said Harry, opening the envelope. The letter read:

Dear Harry,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I have something important to tell you. Lord Voldemort has nearly gotten his full power back. He is no longer weak, and he no longer has to stay in hiding. I hate to say this, but I fully expect him to come after you first. You defeated him, Harry, and he'll want his revenge. I'll be coming on Halloween. I know that is a long time to wait, but it is the earliest I can possibly make it. I'll be disguised as the black dog, of course, and I'll wait for you near the forest, out of sight of the castle. I don't want you to tell anyone about this, because I fear it would endanger us both. Please burn this letter as soon as you read it. Don't worry - I'll see to it that you're alright. Until then,

Sirius

Harry read it several times before tossing it into the fireplace. Felicity was watching him, concerned. She didn't ask what the letter was about or who it was from. She knew that he would tell her if he wanted to. Besides, the look on Harry's face told her she'd be better off not knowing.