Disclaimer: It's J.K.'s world. I'm just testing different scenarios on her characters to see the reaction!
Chapter 11- Howlers and Homework
"Good Morning, boys," Hermione greeted with a smile as Harry and Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table the next morning. Ron grumbled and frowned as he pulled the platter of bacon toward his plate and began piling it on. Harry took a sip of his pumpkin juice as he grabbed the plate of sausages and took a few pieces.
"How can you be so cheerful, Hermione?" Ron asked as he ate his bacon, "It's the first day of classes and we were up late last night."
"Exactly," she replied, "It's the first day of classes. Our advanced N.E.W.T. level classes of all things. This means we will be learning new and interesting things for the next two years. And these classes will decide our futures for us."
"Only you could be excited about learning, and only you would say learning is interesting," Ron grumbled as he stuffed the last piece of bacon in his mouth.
"You know, you should really close your mouth when you eat, Ronald," Hermione snapped as she pulled out her copy of Advanced Ancient Runes, N.E.W.T. Level and began reading.
"Has the mail come yet?" Harry asked, trying to change the subject before his two best friends got into a fight.
"Not yet," Hermione replied without looking up from her book.
"Are you afraid of the howler you'll be getting from Mum?" Ginny asked with a grin as she sat down next to Harry. Harry smiled back and shook his head.
"No, I'm looking forward to it," he joked.
"Now you've gone mental," Ron stated as he stared at Harry, "If you're looking forward to one of Mum's howlers, you must be mental." Harry chuckled as he picked up his goblet and took a sip of his juice.
"No, I just want to have fun this year," he started, "And the more people who see that getting in trouble doesn't bother me, the more fun it will be."
"Have you lost your mind, Harry?" Hermione questioned, "Trouble-making will go on your record, and people will see that you like trouble."
"Don't worry, Hermione," Harry began with a smile, "I know what I'm doing." Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she saw owls swoop into the Great Hall. Harry looked up to see his familiar white owl Hedwig soaring toward him. Sure enough, there was a letter attached to her leg, but it wasn't red.
"Morning, Hedwig," he greeted as he pulled off the letter and handed her a piece of toast. She clicked her beak and took the toast before flying off to the owlery. Just as he decided to open the letter, a tawny owl landed before him with a red howler attached to its leg. Confused, Harry relieved the owl from its duty and watched it fly toward the owlery as well.
"Wait," Ginny asked, "If that letter is a howler from Mum, who sent the other letter?" Harry shook his head and looked at the letter in his hand.
"Whoever it's from, it can wait," Ron announced, "Your howler from Mum is beginning to smoke. Best get it over with before it explodes." Ron gulped hard as he stared at the howler in fright. Harry edged it open and leaned back with a smile as Molly Weasley's voice filled the Great Hall.
"Harry James Potter, how DARE you pull such a prank before school has even started! Using one of Fred and George's creations on your fellow classmates! Someone could have gotten hurt!" Molly's voice screamed as Harry's smile grew. Everyone in the Great Hall stared at Harry in confusion as he leaned back and grinned while Mrs. Weasley's howler continued to lecture him on the dangers of his prank.
"If you put one more toe out of line, so help me I will bring you straight home!" the howler ended before exploding all over the table and leaving a ringing sensation in everyone's ears. Harry looked at his friends and grinned even more as the whole of the school stared at him in shock. Ron's and Ginny's faces were drained of color as they stared at the raven-haired boy. Suddenly, Harry began laughing and soon the whole school joined in his laughter.
"Harry," Ron asked after a few moments, still looking sick and scared, "have you gone off your rocker? You're laughing after getting one of Mum's howlers."
"Don't worry, Ron," Harry stated, "It'll be o.k. It's important that she sent that."
"But why, Harry?" Hermione questioned, "And please tell me you won't be pulling anymore pranks."
"I'm still going to pull pranks, Hermione," he gave, "I have to."
"But why?" Ron pressed.
"I can't tell you that, mate," he replied, "It's secret."
"But-"
"Drop it, Hermione," Ginny interrupted, "If he can't tell us why he isn't going to, no matter how much we ask." Harry shot her a smile before turning back to his other letter. He opened it carefully and smiled at the familiar scroll inside.
"So, who's it from?" Ginny asked, looking over his shoulder at the letter, "Ginger? Who's Ginger?"
"Just someone who started writing me this summer," Harry answered as he smiled at her.
"Are you sure it isn't," Hermione started before looking around and leaning into them, "Are you sure it isn't Voldemort or a Death Eater?" She had dropped her voice to a whisper, but that didn't keep others from noticing them, for the moment that she said the Dark Lord's name Ron piped in with a squeak that echoed across the room.
"Quiet, Ron! People are watching!" Ginny hissed as Harry stared at Hermione.
"Don't worry, 'Mione," he began as he started reading his letter, "I'm being careful in case it is Voldemort."
"Being careful…what do you know about being careful. Pulling pranks, laughing at howlers. Sometimes I think you're not really Harry but someone using Polyjuice," Hermione muttered, but Harry didn't really listen. Instead, his eyes scanned over the letter from his pen pal and a smile broke out on his face.
Dear Harry,
How are you today? How are classes? I know they haven't begun yet, but I thought I would ask them this morning so you could write back tonight. At least it'll give you something to do if you don't have any homework!
I can't believe you pulled that prank last night! Several people from my house discussed it until late last night. I hope you didn't get in too much trouble for it! We were all worried about your punishment. Sure, McGonagall is the head of your house. But everyone knows she's just as tough on you Gryffindors as she is on other houses. Still, it was worth it! I can't wait to see what you have planned next time! There is going to be a next time, isn't there? You can't pull a stunt like that at the Welcome Feast without following it throughout the year!
I'm excited about school starting again! Are you? Mind you, it is my O.W.L. year, and I will have lots of homework this year. But it should be an interesting year all the same! Don't you agree?
Although it has been almost a week since my last letter, I'm going to cut this one short for now simply because your class schedule is going to be handed out soon and your first class will begin shortly after that.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Ginger
P.S. I believe it is your turn to start the hangman game, seeing as you solved my last one so quickly! –G
Harry smiled as he reread the letter before Ginny nudged him in the side.
"Ow!" he cried as he looked at her and rubbed the offended skin, "What was that for?"
"McGonagall's trying to give you your schedule," Ginny answered as she pointed to the deputy headmistress. Harry smiled as he took his schedule from her and looked it over.
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed as he read over his own schedule, "Transfiguration and Double Charms today!"
"At least we get a break after Transfiguration," Harry gave as he looked up at Ron.
"What about you, Hermione?" Ron asked as he looked over her shoulder at her schedule.
"I have the same schedule, Ron," she answered shortly as she pulled her schedule away from him.
"Except for your Arithmancy lesson after Transfiguration," Ginny piped in as she grabbed the bushy-haired girl's schedule and scanned it.
"Ginny!"
"Calm down, Hermione!" Ginny stated as she handed the schedule over, "I just want to see how many more classes than Harry and Ron you have."
"How many?" Ron questioned as he tried to look at Hermione's schedule.
"Just one or two," Ginny explained as she looked over her own schedule, "She's taking Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, but she dropped Care of Magical Creatures." Both Harry and Ron stared at Hermione in shock.
"Hermione," Harry gave with a pained expression, "You dropped Hagrid's class? How could you?" Hermione glared at them before standing from the table and gathering her things.
"Never mind that right now," she shot back, "We have to hurry or we'll be late for class." With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the hall. Harry, Ron, and Ginny followed shortly behind, all three upset over Hermione's schedule.
"What about you, Ginny?" Harry asked as they walked up a staircase, "What's your morning like?" Ginny shrugged as she smiled at Harry.
"Just Charms followed by Transfiguration."
"Hey," Ron called out as they neared the Transfiguration corridor, "Where's Dean? I didn't see him this morning." Ginny shrugged with a forced smile and sighed.
"I don't know," she gave, "I haven't seen him since last night in the common room. Anyway, I should go. I might be late for class myself. What a tragedy that would be." With that, Ginny left the two boys standing in the corridor to the Transfiguration classroom and moved on to her class.
"I wonder where he is," Ron thought aloud as he turned to Harry. Harry shrugged and forced a smile on his face.
"I don't know, Ron," Harry gave, "But we should hurry. McGonagall will not be happy if we're late today, especially after last night's event." He turned on his heel and headed for the classroom with Ron in tow.
"Hey, that's your fault. Not mine!" Ron called out as they neared the classroom door, "If she should be mad at anyone it should be you!" Harry chuckled and walked into the familiar classroom before heading to their usual seats beside Hermione in the back. He and Ron had barely sat down before Professor McGonagall walked up to the front and turned to the class.
"Good morning, class," McGonagall started as she looked out at the students, "and welcome to Advanced Transfiguration. You are here because you proved your skills during your O.W.L. exams for this class. This year will be important as it will help prepare you for the rest of your life. We will be studying the more advanced transfiguration processes for the next two years. Mind you, I will not forgive or excuse any slacking or mistakes." McGonagall continued to lecture them on the importance of accuracy and the theory of Transfiguration until Harry was sure he would die of boredom. Finally, she assigned them their homework and let them out for the day.
"Two feet on the theory of animal transfiguration!" Ron cried indignantly as they left the classroom.
"I know!" Hermione remarked, "Isn't it fantastic?" She chuckled as Ron's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Only you would think homework's fun, 'Mione," Harry commented with a smile, "We should go to the library and study during our free period."
"That sounds like a great idea," Hermione started, "but I still have Arithmancy. I'll see you two later." With that, Hermione started up the staircase to her next class while Harry and Ron headed for the Library.
"You weren't serious about studying," Ron gave as Harry opened the doors to the Library, "I mean, you said that just to keep 'Mione from nagging us, right?" Harry shook his head as he sat down at a table and opened his copy of An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration.
"I was serious, Ron," Harry answered as he pulled out his parchment and a quill from his bag.
"I swear you've gone mental this year," Ron started as he sat across from Harry, "First the pranks, then studying when we could be relaxing. What's gotten into you?" Harry shrugged as he opened his inkwell and dipped his quill in.
"Nothing, mate," he explained, "I just figured we could get this homework out of the way before lunch instead of leaving it until tonight. That way, we can relax tonight instead." Ron eyed him suspiciously before shrugging and pulling out his books, leaving Harry to concentrate on the many thoughts floating in his head.
o-o-o-o-o
The rest of the day had gone just as it had begun for Harry and his friends. Professor Flitwick had lectured them in the beginning of their class on the importance of perfection and concentration of charms before assigning them with loads of homework, much to Ron's chagrin.
"See, it didn't matter if we got our essay for McGonagall done already," he whined as he and Harry headed to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, "we still have Flitwick's essay to do tonight."
"Yes, but it's only a foot on the first three chapters of the book," Harry responded while pulling out a piece of parchment and his quill from his bag, "It shouldn't take us too long to do that." Ron sighed and piled potatoes and a chicken pie on his plate before devouring it in one bite while Harry thought of what he wanted to write in his letter.
Dear Ginger,
How were your first classes of the year? I bet all of your professors lectured you on the importance of your O.W.L.s. That's what they did to us last year. By the end of the day, I wanted them to shut up about the exams because I was starting to get nervous!
My classes were fine. Of course, McGonagall and Flitwick assigned homework. But, luckily I forced my friend Ron to go to the library during our break and write our essays for Transfiguration. Now, we only have a foot on the first three chapters of our Charms book. It shouldn't take too long tonight. Ron says I've gone mental because I want to get my work done right away instead of waiting until the last moment, but I figure it leaves me more time to have fun later on if I don't have any essays hanging over my head.
I can't tell you what my next prank will be, but I can tell you that it will be just as great as the last one! I can't believe I actually pulled off the prank I did last night! I didn't know if the Weasley twin's product would work as well as it did, but I'm glad it was so entertaining to everyone. It was worth the four Sunday detentions I received from McGonagall!
Well, I should get going. Ron and Hermione are almost ready to go back to the Gryffindor Common Room, and I want to finish Flitwick's essay tonight.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Harry
P.S. My hangman game is included. Good Luck!
Harry quickly scribbled out his dashes for the hangman game on a separate sheet of parchment before folding the letter up and smiling.
"What's that, Harry?" Ron asked as he pointed to the letter.
"Just a letter for my friend."
"Harry, I don't know if you should be writing anyone that you don't know," Hermione began, "It could be a trick from a Death Eater or-"
"I know, I know, Hermione," Harry interrupted while rolling his eyes, "But I don't think it's him or his minions. I just have a hunch about this." Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Ron cut her off.
"Just drop it, 'Mione," Ron stated, "It just a letter. A harmless letter. What's the worst that could happen?" Hermione shot him a dark look before gathering her things and standing from the table.
"Well, I'm going back to the common room to work on these essays," she gave before stomping out of the room.
"What's wrong with Hermione?" Ginny asked as she sat down in Hermione's seat.
"She's mad at Harry."
"What did you do this time, Harry?"
"Why do you automatically think I did something wrong?"
"Because you're a guy," she explained as she poured herself a cup of pumpkin juice, "Everyone knows that any time a woman's mad, it's the guy's fault."
"She's mad at Harry for writing a letter to his pen pal," Ron answered as he continued on his dinner.
"So, Ginny," Harry started, trying to change the topic, "how were your classes today?" She sighed as she rolled her eyes and slumped her shoulders.
"Awful!" she gave, "Why didn't you two tell me how much the professors lectured you on the importance of your O.W.L.s! By the end of Potions I just wanted to take the exams and get them over with. I'm already sick of them and I still have all year to go before they occur!" Harry and Ron chuckled as they listened to Ginny's rant.
"Don't worry, honey," Dean said as he sat beside her and across from Harry, "I'll help you pass them. I'll help you study for them so you're prepared when they come." He glared at Harry as he spoke and put his arm around Ginny's shoulders.
"Erm…thanks, Dean," she replied while staring at her boyfriend, "But I think I can manage on my own."
"But that's what I'm here for," Dean remarked as he turned to her, "to take care of you."
"Oh, and why is that?" Ginny began, her face coloring to show her anger flaring, "Is it because I can't take care of myself? Is that it?"
"Of course not," he answered, "It's just that you might not know everything you'll need to know for your exams." At this, Harry and Ron started snickering while they watched Ginny's face turn even redder.
"Are you saying I'm too stupid to study for my exams on my own?"
"Of course not," Dean explained, "It's just that you're a woman." At this, Ginny stood from the table and stormed off to the doors, leaving a confused Dean behind.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Harry and Ron laughed as they stood from the table and followed Ginny out of the Great Hall.
"And I thought I lacked sense about girls," Ron began as they walked into the Entrance Hall, "At least I know better than to say a girl is stupid!" Harry smiled and nodded his head as he looked back at Dean, who was staring at the doors.
"I need to send this letter off before curfew," Harry announced with a wave, "I'll see you later." With that, he headed for the Owlery, wondering what Dean had meant about Ginny's studying and why Dean had glared at him. Whatever it was, Harry knew he would have to get to the bottom of it before too long.
A/N: I know it's a little dry right now! I promise the next chapter will be better! Thanks for reading! Please review!