Oh my gosh! You guys actually think I would abandon this story! Not a chance, you people have to put up with me for a while yet! Anyway, sorry for the long delay. You see, I had it completely typed up during Christmas and was going to update it when suddenly the power went out due the snow storm! I lost everything and had to start from scratch. I was so mad (especially since that was going to be your Christmas present...(sniff)). It took me forever to rewrite it, especially with school back. Sorry it took so long, I haven't given up, Honest!
Well, I doubt you want me to babble on all day so here's the update!
"Thought speech"
Paseltounge
'Letter writing.'
"Regular Speech"
'Thoughts'
0000
By the way, I'm skipping the second, third, and forth day, as there really isn't anything interesting going on.
0000
'Dear Ginny.
Things are great here. Lessons are practical but interesting and I'm having a lot of fun with my familiars and friends Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, and your brother, Ron. I've been sorted into Slytherin and it doesn't seem to bother Ron, but are you okay with it? Anyway, from what I can tell so far (It's only my fifth day) McGonagall is strict but just, Quirell stutters far too much to be normal, Binns will put you to sleep within the first five minutes, Flitwick is a really good dueler (don't' ask), Sprout and Neville get along famously, and Grubbly-Plank really knows what she is doing. Other then that and the fact that the Potter's are complete morons (sorry, if you're a fan), nothing much has happened yet. I'll update you again next week.
Sincerely
Harry Halisio
Harry placed his quill back in the ink as he finished the letter and stood up. Picking up the parchment, rolling it up, and tying it, Harry exited the library and made his way up the owlery.
Walking out into the crisp September air, Harry looked around and, upon locating his snowy white familiar, walked over to her. Hedwig, who was resting next to a dark brown barn owl, spotted him and gave a soft hoot before flying over and landing on his wrist.
"Hey girl, you doing alright?" Harry murmured fondly to the beautiful owl. Hedwig gave another hoot and rubbed her head against his head as he stroked her feathers. Harry smiled and plucked a treat out of his pocket, letting her nibble on it.
"Girl, do you think you can deliver something to someone for me?" In response, Hedwig hooted again and carefully plucked the rolled up letter out of his hand and upon hearing the name "Ginny Weasley", flew off into the sky and out of sight.
Harry stood by the railing, watching her until she was out of sight, before smiling and walking back inside and up to the Gryffindor tower. Taking a shower and getting dressed, Harry slipped Merlin's Staff into his belt before heading down to the Great Hall.
Upon arriving there, he found his friends sitting at the Ravenclaw table, obviously debating something. Rowan, who was curled on the table near Ron, looked up as he arrived causing the others to notice.
"Hey Harry, where have you been?" Neville asked curiously.
"In the library writing my penpal. What's going on?"
"We're betting on how many points Chase can loose Gryffindor in the first ten minutes and how long it takes him to blow up a caldron. Want to join us?" Draco said casually.
"Sure, I bet 20 on the first and 35 on the second."
"You four are absolutely ridiculous! Betting on the failure of a student!" Hermione snapped at her male companions. Neville and Ron had the courtesy to look guilty but Harry merely raised an eyebrow and Draco crossed his arms and leaned back slightly.
"With good reason." Draco said as the bell rang. "And if you don't believe that then just wait and see."
With that finishing the conversation the five friends rushed off to the dungeons. Entering the classroom Harry glanced around at the many desks and rows before choosing one in the middle near the wall. As the tables sat three people each Harry sat with Draco and Ron while Hermione and Neville sat at the table next to theirs with a shy looking Ravenclaw named Margaret Moons.
The rustling of clothe was what first alerted him of the man's arrival. Raising his head and fazing out the rest of the class Harry wasn't all surprised when the heavy oak door of the damp, humid potions classroom was thrown open and the black haired Professor strode in, cloak billowing gracefully behind him.
"There will be no wand waving, or silly incantations in this class."Professor Snape drawled as he reached the front of the class and turned around to face them. "As such, I do not expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art of this potion making. However for those select few." At this he looked toward the Slytherins. "Who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."
Harry raised an eyebrow at this but decided not to comment. Then Snape's gaze fell on someone a couple of tables behind Harry's and his eyes narrowed.
"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not. Pay. Attention."
At this Harry heard a small yelp and couldn't help but roll his eyes as he turned around in time to see Chase hastily shove something into his pocket. From the corner ofhis eye though, Harry saw Snape straighten a little.
"Chase Potter. Our new celebrity." Snape said slowly, a smirk alighting his face. Harry almost felt sorry for his twin.
Almost.
"Tell me, what would I get if I added the Powdered Root of an Asphodel to an Infusion of Wormwood?"
Chase blinked. "Umm, a potion?"
"You don't know? Let's try again. Where would you look if I told you to find a Bezoar?"
"In a Potions classroom."
"Wrong. What is the difference between Monkswood and Wolfsbane?"
"Uh, one plant's taller?"
Snape smirked in satisfaction. "Incorrect. Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it Mr. Potter."
Harry smirked and silently commended the young Vampire. He couldn't have done it better himself. Snape glanced toward him and noticed the smirk.
"From the look on your face, Mr. Halisio, I take it you know the answers? Care to share with the class?"
Harry nodded. Being proficient in elf magic Harry was able to use one of his mind magics to speed up his reading abilities. Because of this he was able to finish all of the school books for every subject in every year in a week. Come to find out wizard magic was incredibly simple and easy to understand. Unfortunately, though, even though he understood how to interpret and use wizard magic he still had to stay at the school because his wizard magical core (he had three magical cores; wizard, elf (which he had developed after being around elves and their magic for so long) and Ancient, which he had gotten from the awakening of his Lestran side since Lestrans had powerful magics of their own) needed to be around wizard magic for a few years (seven) so that it could be completely stabilized. So Harry was stuck here, knowing everything and getting board out of his mind, all because his stupid wizarding magic. Irony was a bastard.
Luckily for him though, because of his photographic memory he was able to remember everything he had ever read. That included all the Potions books.
"Infusion of Wormwood and Powdered Asphodel Root create a powerful sleeping potion called the Draught of Living Death, which is named because of its peculiar effects of slowing down a person's breathing and heart beat so that they appear to be dead. A Bezoar is found in the stomach of a goat and can save a person from most poisons. And Monks wood and wolfsbane have no difference besides the name; they are the same plant. It is also called Aconite by Muggles."
Snape raised an eyebrow. "And what do I get if I add Bromswitch with Henarice?"
"A type of sleeping potion nicknamed 'Sand Man' because of its ability to put you right to sleep."
"And Ratenal and Talenious?"
"You can't mix those two, they're incompatible with each other."
By this time Snape's other eyebrow had joined the first. "Twenty points to Slytherin." he stated calmly. "It's nice to know someone bothered to read their books." At this he shot Chase a look before writing the potion they were to make on the board.
30 minutes later Snape was checking all the potions to see where they were at. He made a face at some of the potions but when he got the their group they were placing the last finishing touches on the potion, and Hermione, Neville and the Ravenclaw were cleaning up.
Snape sniffed the potion and gave it a stir before nodding. "This is a fine first potion" he stated.
"We find that if you read and listen to the directions, it's not that hard. If you don't, well..." Harry looked down at his watch and counted down to one with his fingers.
At that moment Chase's cauldron exploded, covering his entire group head to toe in green goop.
"That happens." Harry finished. Snape gave him a strange look.
"How did you know when it would happen?"
Harry shrugged. "I read in the book that if you add Rooks Root before taking the cauldron off the fire the unstable combination would mix and cause the cauldron to blow 5 minutes and 24 seconds later. So when I saw him add it that way, it was simple to start timing it. Come to find out the book had it down to the second."
"I see what you mean. 20 points from Gryffindor!" Sanpe said shouting the last part before turning and walking away, but not before giving Harry a strange look. Harry looked toward Draco and smirked, showing him his watch.
"You owe me five Galleons."
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"Man, I couldn't even pronounce the name of the potion let alone make it." Ron sighed as they exited the potions laboratory and headed toward the Great Hall for lunch. Ron had mostly help cut up the ingredients for the potion. Harry glanced at him.
"I don't know why you're complaining; it's just like cooking."
"My point exactly; I can't cook."
They had reached the Great Hall by the end of his sentence. Harry and Draco lead them over to the Gryffindor table where Ron promptly filled up his plate and started munching down. Hermione gave him a disapproving look.
"You can't cook, but you sure can eat. You would think the two things went hand in hand." Draco remarked casually. Ron shot him a look but slowed down all the same. Harry rolled his eyes and looked toward his brother's group, who were sitting a little ways away from them. He raised an eyebrow as he saw Seamus Finnigan flicking his wand at his goblet. Neville glanced up to say something before following his gaze.
"Ron, what is Seamus trying to do to that glass of water?" Neville asked aloud.
Ron glanced over before shaking his head. "Turn it into rum. He actually managed to make tea yesterday, before-"
Just before he finished his sentence an explosion sounded through out the Great Hall, making Hermione and a few others jump. Harry held in a snort as Seamus and Chase, who was sitting next to him, were covered from the waist up in black soot.
"Well, I guess the answer is obvious." Ron finished with a shrug, a smile on his face. Just then a sound of wings reached them and they all looked up as hundreds of owls filled in from the roof of the Great Hall.
"Ah, mail's here." Ron exclaimed as the owls flew over the tables and dropped letters and packages to the students below. Neville got a package with a see through sphere called a Remembrall while Harry smiled and watched in curiosity as Hedwig headed toward him and landed on his out stretched arm.
"Hey girl. Safe journey?"
Hedwig chirped and extended her leg where, to Harry's surprise, a letter rested. Harry took it and offered her some of his breakfast which she gladly excepted. Looking over the letter Harry raised an eyebrow as he realized it was from Ginny. Huh, he didn't expect to her from her for another day or so. Ron glanced up from the newspaper and letter he was holding.
"Hey, who's the letter from?" he asked curiously. Harry debated it for a minute before shrugging; Ron would find out eventually anyway.
"It's from your sister, Ginny. She's my pin pal."
Ron froze before looking at Harry suspiciously. "How do you know my sister?"
"I met her at Kings Cross when she literally ran into me. She seemed really nice and really curious about Hogwarts so I agreed to write her since she mentioned that her brothers don't really have the time to."
At this Ron had the courtesy to look guilty before mumbling something undistinguishable and going back to his letter. Harry and Draco exchanged glances before Harry shrugged. Just then Ron crumpled the letter he was reading and sighed while throwing it over his shoulder. He expressed indifference when his friends gave him a curious look.
"I don't know why I read those letters anymore. It was pretty much the same as the last one; how I shouldn't be hanging out with you guys, how I'm a disappointment to the family, how I should befriend the' boy who lived', blah, blah, blah. I swear, the only ones not disappointed in me in my family are the twins."
"Ron, that's horrible! You don't have to hang out with us if it's ruining your relationship with your family!" Hermione said slightly aghast. Ron shrugged.
"Who I have as friends is my business and I'm not going to let my family dictate my life because they are incredibly biased." At the strange look everyone was giving him he held up his hands. "What?"
"It's just strange hearing that from you when you had the same opinion not so long ago." Draco stated flatly.
"Yeah, well, I've been hanging out with you guys since we got here so I guess you kind of rubbed off on me. Besides, you and Harry are both Slytherins and I don't see anything wrong with you. So I don't see their problem."
"Why do they want you to stay away from us?" Neville asked quietly.
"They think you guys are going to get me into dark magic or something."
Harry shook his head with the others and turned back to the letter in his hand. Opening it he smiled at the neat hand writing.
-
Dear Harry,
I have to admit, I was surprised to hear from you. Mom nearly blew up though, when she found out the letter was from you. Something about the corruption of two of her children. I had to sit through an entire lecture on how Slytherins are evil, blah, blah. It got annoying after a while. It's good to hear that you are friends with my brother. He needs someone to watch his back. And it's okay with me that you are a Slytherin, I'm not biased like my family. Your clases sound really interesting, I can't wait to start next year.
Sincerely
Ginny
P.S. I got a question. I noticed that you and Ron were friends with Draco Malfoy. Is he really the pompous jerk my parents make him out to be?
-
Harry smiled and at Ron's questioning look, handed him the letter. Ron read it and smiled.
"I stand corrected. The only ones not disappointed in me in my family are the twins and Ginny."
Hermione sighed and picked up Ron's newspaper, flipped it open, and disappeared behind it. Neville and Draco also read the letter, the later snorting at the parent's idiotically and the question at the bottom. After a few minutes however the silence was broken by a gasp a little ways away from them.
"This is the vault my dad and I visited before going to Hogwarts!" Chase exclaimed. Harry raised an eyebrow and exchanged glances with Hermione, who had peered over the paper at the comment, before Hermione flipped to the front of the paper and laid it flat on the table.
On the cover was a picture of a few goblins arguing in front of a vault. Hermione skimmed the article before glancing up.
"Listen to this 'Believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown Gringots goblins that were acknowledging the breech insisted that nothing was taken. The vault in question number 713 was in fact emptied earlier that very same day.'"
"Well, somebody has been busy." Draco remarked looking at an apple in his hand. "I wonder what was in the vault that they were willing to go to Azkaban for."
Hermione looked up. "Azkaban?"
"Wizard prison." Draco, Neville, and Ron answered simultaneously. Harry and Hermione exchanged glances again before Harry pulled out his schedule.
"Next we have... Flying with Madam Hooch and... Oh, joy, Potter."
"The Potters seem to hate you for some reason." Neville remarked.
"Yeah, it's the fact I don't kiss the ground their son walks on. They're probably also the ones telling Ron's parents what a 'horrible influence' I am."
Ron looked up at this. "You're probable right."
After a few more minutes talking about idiotic parents the five friends finally departed for their flying lesson. Upon walking onto the field the group noticed brooms littering the lawn in four rows. Quickly picking a row the five walked up beside the brooms and waited.
Five minutes later when all the first years were there Madam Hooch and James joined them.
"Good afternoon class." Madam Hooch said walking down one of the aisles. The students all chorused 'Good afternoon Madam Hooch' as she reached the front of the group. Turning toward them she placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, what are you waiting for. Everyone step up to the left side of their broom stick. Stick your right hand over the broom and say 'up!'"
Everyone did so and Harry wasn't surprised when his broom shot straight into his hand at the first command. A few others did it as well including Draco and Neville but people like Hermione, Ron, and Chase were having trouble. At one point Chase shouted 'up' in an annoyed manner, which his broom promptly responded to by shooting up and hitting him straight in the nose, causing those around him to snicker. That is, until James shot them a glare. Harry and his friends ignored it.
"Now that you got a hold of your broom I want you to mount it. And grip it tight."
At this point Harry really wished to use his own broom, which was shrunken in his pocket. How people could ride the things without a certain part of their anatomy hurting really was a mystery.
"When I blow my whistle I want each of you to kick off from the ground hard, keep your broomstick steady. Then I want you to lean forward slightly, then touch back down. One, two-"
At the sound of the whistle Harry kicked off the ground and hoovered. Squishing down the urge to spread his wings and shoot out into the sky Harry looked around at the other students.
A slight humming and vibrating from Merlin's Staff was all the warning Harry had before Neville suddenly shot straight into the sky. Harry shoved down his panic and focused on following where the Staff was trying to tell him to go. Finding the source of the Staff's distress Harry's eyes narrowed.
James was looking to the sky in amusement as Neville was tossed around. Under his cloak Harry could see James's wand pointed toward the sky.
Shooting James such a glare Harry focused all his mind and expanded it, searching until he found the bright red aura.
'Kestrel!' Harry thought, pushing power into that one word. Immediately he felt Kestrel respond, a chirp sounding in his mind as she started toward him.
Focusing back outward Harry was about to say something to James when Chase suddenly ran into his father to avoid getting hit by Neville as he zoomed low to the ground and by the class. Madam Hooch had taken out her wand but had to literally had to leap out of the way to avoid getting hit as well. James was knocked off balance and his concentration was broken, causing the spell, which no longer was being directed, to go haywire.
To everyone's shock Neville was then slammed against the castle wall, right on a slight protruding brick. A sickening crack sounded through out the courtyard making Harry clench his teeth; Neville had broken his arm. Giving James a murderous glare Harry took out his wand, but before he could do anything, to his horror, the broom tilted upside down sending Neville, who couldn't hold on with one broken arm, plummeting toward the ground.
The teachers tried to stop his descent but he was falling to fast and the spells couldn't reach him in time. Realizing this Harry focused all his mental power into a mental scream.
'KESTREL!'
Suddenly as they watched a ball of fire appeared out of nowhere and shot toward Neville, catching him 6 feet from the ground. With a chirp Kestrel materialized from the flames, her claws gripping the back of Neville's robes as she slowly lowered him to the ground. When he was safely on the ground and being examined by Hooch and a slightly guilty looking James, Kestrel flew over and landed on Harry's shoulder, rubbing her head against his as if to ask if he was okay.
Harry sighed in reply and stroked her feathers. "Thanks girl. I owe you one."
Kestrel chirped again and sang a few notes to calm the tense atmosphere down. When everyone was calmer Kestrel left to go back to her hunting and Hooch and James picked the now unconscious Neville up and carried him toward the castle.
"Everyone is to keep their feet firmly on the ground while we take Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing, understand. If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will be out of Hogwarts before they can say Quiddich." Madam Hooch said strictly as the trio disappeared into the castle. Harry watched them go and sighed.
"Did you see his face?" Chase's voice sounded and Harry turned around to see his brother tossing something clear and round up and down. Neville's Remembrall. "Maybe if the fat lub had given this a squeeze he wouldn't of had to fall on his fat ass."
"Give it here, Potter." Ron said stepping up. Chase turned toward him.
"No." Chase said calmly as he mounted his broom. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find. How about the roof?" At that he shot up into the air, albeit a little wobbly, and hoovered, tossing the Remembral up and down.
"What's wrong Weasley? Fit beyond your reach?"
Ron went to mount his broom but Harry cut him off.
"I'll do it." Harry said in a 'no arguing' voice. Hermione walked up to him.
"Harry, don't. You heard what Madam Hooch said. Besides, you don't even know how to fly!"
Harry ignored her and promptly flew into the air. Out of all of them he was the only one who knew how to really fly. So this was rather simple. Though he still wished he could us his own broom or wings.
Reaching Chase's height Harry brought his broom to a stop a little ways away from him.
"Give it here Chase, or I'll knock you off your broom."
"Have it your way then." Chase said smirking. Then to Harry's horror he drew back his arm and threw the glass sphere with all his might toward the castle.
Letting his instincts take over Harry leaned down and pushed the broom, shooting after the sphere. The speed the broom was going was no where near what he could go with his wings, but he pushed it all the same and, with a 360 turn and a dive, he caught the Remembrall inches away from the brick castle wall.
Immediately he heard the roar of cheers coming from behind him as he lowered himself to the ground. When his feet touched he was instantly tackled by several people.
"Harry Halisio!"
Harry jumped at his name and turned toward the castle. Snape approached them with McGonnagal on his heels. Harry sighed.
After a good 15 minutes of trying to explain (All of Slytherin and Ravenclaw and some of Hufflepuff and Gryfindore vouching for Harry) the two teachers concluded the story ( the true one this time) and gave Chase detention. Harry was then taken by Snape to Flint and given the Seeker position on the Slytherin team (you know the story).
When Harry finally got out of Snape's office he sighed and turned to go down the hall; only to get a face full of fur and feathers.
"Rowan! Hedwig! What's wrong with you two?"
Hedwig promptly ignored him in favor of pecking at him. Rowan on the other hand calmly jumped aside. Harry figured out why rather quickly as his was thrown on his back. Looking up Harry's eyes met Stephano's, who was now sitting on his chest with a smug expression. At this point Hedwig landed on the floor and ruffled her feathers, giving Harry a frustrated look.
"Okay you guys! What's wrong!" Harry said exasperated.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? You scare us to death with a desperate mental shout to Kestrel and you ask us what's wrong? We thought you were dying or something!" Rowan said coming into his view. Harry looked at her.
"You guys heard that?"
"Of course we heard it! You had Stephano, Hedwig, Ebony, and myself going crazy trying to find you. And it didn't help that we suddenly lost contact with Kestrel!"
'That was probably when she fire transported.' Harry thought briefly.
"Sorry to worry you guys. It was just Neville was in danger and I automatically reacted."
Hedwig bristled and shot him a murderous look, but relented and walked over to give him a slight nip on the ear.
~That bird was especially going haywire. I think she thinks of all of us as her hatchlings.~ Ebony's voice sounded from above him, causing Harry to look up from his place flat on his back on the floor and spotting the serpent's face about a foot from his own.
~I think so to. She's such a mother hen~ Harry said fondly. Ebony nodded as Stephano got off of Harry's chest and allowed him to sit up.
"You still deserved that." Stephano said flatly while licking his paw innocently. Harry shot him a glare but sighed when Stephano only looked back in amusement, unaffected. Rubbing the back of his head, Harry stood and sighed again before walking down the hall to find his friends, his familiars on his heels.
Come to find out they didn't have the Dueling class until next semester so Harry and his friends had that hour as a study hour. By the end of the day though (which they had spent in the library at Hermione's coaxing) the group was exhausted and literally fell into bed for the night.
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"Good morning sleeping beauty! It's absolutely gorgeous today, isn't it?"
Harry groaned and rolled over onto his back and blinked. "...Vincent?"
"Who else has such a charming voice like mine."
Harry rubbed his eyes and glanced at his clock; only to groan. 5:30 shone back in neon numbers.
"Did you and Rowan conspire about waking me up early in the morning or something?"
"What, she did it too? We must be kindred spirits."
"God forbid."
"Anyway, you ready for your weekly lessons?"
"... you're kidding, right?"
"Nope."
Harry groaned and pulled the covers over his head. Though after about a minute Vince started singing '100 bottles of beer on the wall', which promptly had him out of bed within a second.
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"Harry? HARRY!"
Harry's head shot up from on top of the table and he blinked, then smiled sheepishly at Hermione, who was standing next to him, foot tapping on the floor.
"Sorry, what was that?"
Hermione sighed and sat down on the bench at the Slytherin table next to Harry. Draco and Ron, who were currently sitting across from him, smirked and looked back down at their food as he yawned. Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"Long night?"
"No, early morning."
"When did you wake up?"
"5:30."
"5:30?"
"I blame the bottles of beer." Harry responded, ignoring the strange looks and raised eyebrows directed towards him.
"Anyway." Ron said straining the word and giving Harry a strange look. "We were thinking about visiting Neville today if Madam Promfey will let us."
Hermione instantly brightened. "That's an excellent idea Ron! Let's go!"
The boys shot each other amused glances, but got up all the same and headed out of the Great Hall.
"Who ever thought of putting the Hospital Wing on the very top floor had a crude sense of humor." Ron said as they climbed their third set of stairs. Harry, Draco, and Hermione nodded but before anyone could say anything the stairs they were on suddenly swung away from the wall, causing them to grip the rails to prevent from falling.
"What's happening?" Ron asked in shock. It was Hermione that answered.
"The staircases change, remember?"
When the staircase came to a stop they all bolted to the next floor to avoid the staircase moving again. Upon reaching it they walked in, only to pause.
The entire floor was covered in dust and cobwebs, which clung to horrifying looking statues and torch columns. Blinking Harry raised an eyebrow. The designer of this place had a strange sense of humor.
"Does anyone feel like, we're not supposed to be here?" Ron asked looking around.
"We're not supposed to be here. This is the third floor! It's forbidden!" Hermione answered. Suddenly the torch nearest to them flared to life causing Harry's friends to back up.
"Let's go." Draco said. Harry shrugged (he had seen much scarier places) and turned with the others; only to came face to face with Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat.
They froze before Hermione and Ron said "It's Filch's cat" (Hermione) and "Run!" (Ron) simultaneously. Harry didn't get the point but turned on his heel and sped down the corridor all the same.
"Get to that door!" Draco shouted. They all ran up to it and Ron pulled at the handle, only to have it not budge.
"That's it. We're done for." Ron said. But before Harry could do anything Hermione pushed past him.
"Oh, move over. Alohamora!" she said pointing her wand at the lock. The door immediately sprang open and with a simple "Get in!" from Hermione they were all inside.
"Alohamora?" Ron said questioningly.
"Standard book of spells, chapter seven."
Instantly the three crowded around the key hole while Harry sighed and looked around the room. Only to freeze.
"Filch is gone." Draco said straightening.
"He probably thinks this door is locked." Ron remarked.
"It was locked". Hermione corrected.
"And for good reason." Harry added flatly.
The trio froze as they looked to where he was looking. Harry watched in mild interest as the Cerberus slowly awoke and yawned, showing its teeth. Harry, of course, had already seen a Cerberus before as one of his Vampiric teachers back at his school had one for a pet, but the others weren't as lucky. Before he could tell them that making loud noises was one of the stupidest things you can do they all opened their mouths.
And screamed.
Harry mentally sighed as the Cerberus reacted. Moving swiftly out of the way of its deadly jaws when it launched toward him, Harry left the room with his friends and helped them shut the door and lock it. Then the group hurried off the floor and up toward the Hospital Wing, where Ron and Hermione told a wide eyed Neville what had happened. After about a half an hour later Harry, Neville, and Draco were able to get the two to calm down
"What do they think they're doing? Keeping a thing like that locked up in the school!" Ron finally sighed while plopping himself onto the end of Neville's bed.
"You don't use your eyes do you?" Hermione said sharply. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?"
"I wasn't looking at it's feet! I was a little too preoccupied with it's heads, or perhaps you didn't notice. There were three!"
Hermione gave him a look. "It was standing on a trap door. Which means it wasn't there on accident. It's guarding something."
"Guarding something?" Draco said looking up.
"Yes, now if you guys don't mind, I'm going to the library before any of you guys come up with another clever idea to get us killed. Or worse, expelled." At this she promptly turned on her heel and left the four boys looking after her. Then Ron sighed and rubbed his head with the palm of his hand.
"She has got to sort out her priorities."
The other three nodded.
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Sorry, it's not as long as usual but I really wanted to get it up tonight so you guys wouldn't have to wait anymore. And I got a few questions.
I was surprised about the fact that some of you guys completely shot down the idea of a Harry/Ginny pairing. So I've decided to let you guys have a choice about the pairing. If it's okay with you to have a H/G pairing review and put H/G somewhere into the review. If you want a different pairing them say which one you want and I'll tally up the votes. I have to warn you though, no Yaoi pairings. I don't mind reading them, but I absolutely such at writing them.
Also I need you guys to vote on this too; should I make Dumbledore and co the bad guys or stick with Voldemort and co as the bad guys?
R and R please!
