Chapter 25
No Title

"McGonagall thinks your broom is cursed?" Hermione asked, the next day at breakfast.

"Madam Hooch does, at least," Harry said, shrugging.

Harry had just told Hermione and Ron about the letter he received from Professor McGonagall the previous day. He was going to tell them sooner, but by the time he had returned to the Common Room after visiting Ginny, Ron and Hermione had gone to do their Head Boy and Girl duties.

"But is she completely sure, I wonder?" Ron asked, "I mean… the Comet 720 does have its flaws."

"Ron, you were there," Harry said, "You saw what it did."

"Yeah, I did see it," Ron said, "And to me, it just looked like a broomstick with some flaws. I mean… besides, who would want to curse you, Harry?"

"Well, my first guess would be Death Eaters," Harry said, "But there couldn't be any here at Hogwarts."

"How in the bloody hell could your broom get cursed anyway?" Ron asked, "Hasn't it been in your dormitory since we arrived here?"

"Yeah, up until I took it out to practice," Harry said, "I mean… it isn't like someone could come up to my dorm and curse it, is it?"

"I don't know," Hermione said, "I haven't exactly trusted the magical defenses on our Common Room as of late. The Fat Lady still hasn't been found, and until she does, we are going to have a big hole in the wall for a door."

"Yeah, but only Gryffindors could get in, Hermione," Ron said, "Professor McGonagall told us that."

"No Gryffindor would curse my broom," Harry said.

"Unless they were under the Imperius Curse," Hermione said.

Harry sighed and stood up. Any of this could be true, but he didn't want to hear any more of it. He walked off out of the Great Hall before Ron, Hermione or Ginny could say any more. He then walked outside onto the grounds. He continued to walk and before he knew it, he was at the shore of the Hogwarts Lake. Looking down at his reflection, he could see the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. He put a hand to it, half-expecting it to start burning… but it did not.

"I thought this whole fiasco was over!" Harry yelled, picking up a rock and throwing it into the lake.

Voldemort was long gone; his body was probably rotting at the bottom of the lake. Harry thought his troubles would be over the minute Voldemort was gone. The curse on his broom, for Harry was sure that it was cursed, had to mean something. Was someone plotting revenge on him?

Harry turned around, expecting to see a Death Eater walking toward him, their wand pointed at him. But he was alone. Everyone was in the castle…

"Oh bloody hell!" Harry said, slapping a hand to his forehead.

Lost in thought, he had forgotten about the first class of the day. He looked at his watch and sighed. Class had already begun ten minutes ago. Ginny, Ron and Hermione were probably wondering where he was, and making up excuses to Professor Browne for his absence.

"Well I can't go now," Harry said.

And he sat down on the shore of the lake. He glanced over at the Quidditch Pitch, where he could clearly see three of the rings. Would he be allowed to fly the Comet 720 again? Or would he have to settle with one of the school's brooms? At this moment, he really missed his Firebolt. When he was on that, he felt like no one could beat him. Now he felt vulnerable, even if he was going to be able to fly the Comet 720 again.

He wrenched his eye-sight away from the Pitch and looked out onto the lake. The Giant Squid was swimming in the center of the lake, batting his tentacles at birds as they flew around. Harry smiled as he remembered the first time he was on the lake: floating in one of the rafts, looking at Hogwarts for the very first time. It seemed so long ago; another lifetime.

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Thirty minutes later, Harry got up and headed back to the castle. He headed for the second floor where the Transfiguration classroom was. When he reached the classroom, a voice rang out.

"There you are!" a voice said.

Harry turned around. Ginny, Hermione and Ron were walking toward him.

"Where have you been, Harry?" Hermione said, "We were worried about you!"

"I went outside for some fresh air," Harry said, "And by the time I remembered I was supposed to be in Browne's class, it had already been in session for ten minutes."

"Well, there was nothing to miss," Ron said, rolling his eyes, "Lectures and we have to write a three-page essay. Don't ask me to remember what it is on."

"Old-School Magic, Ronald," Hermione said, sighing, "Apparently Browne has heard of Sectumsempra."

"He isn't expecting us to show him what it does, is he?" Harry asked.

"Of course not!" Hermione said, "Come on, let's get into the classroom. Or are you planning on skipping Transfiguration too?"

"Okay, I am sorry for skipping Defense against the Dark Arts," Harry said, "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Hermione said nothing, but just walked into McGonagall's classroom. Harry followed her in with Ron and Ginny.

"Ah, Potter, there you are," McGonagall said at her desk, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Harry shrugged and walked up to McGonagall's desk.

"Did you get my letter?" McGonagall asked.

"Yeah," Harry said, "I will be in your office after dinner."

"Is there anything you would like to tell me now?" McGonagall asked.

Harry paused. He knew Hermione, Ron and Ginny were all looking at him, but he didn't look over his shoulder.

"Nothing right now," Harry said to McGonagall.

McGonagall looked at Harry, frowning. Harry wondered if McGonagall was skilled in Legillimency, because he thought she might have been trying to look in his mind.

"All right," McGonagall finally said, "You make take your seat. I expect you to be in my office after dinner. No later than seven-o-clock."

Harry nodded silently and walked to his seat. When all the students had arrived, McGonagall stood up and pointed her wand at a stack of paper. She muttered some words and the papers flew around the room to their respective owners.

"These are the results of your quizzes from last Monday," McGonagall said, once all the papers had arrived in front of the students. "I have decided what the majority of you seem to have trouble with. The first subject of the term will be Human Transfiguration."

Some of the students cheered.

"All right, settle down," McGonagall said, "We will begin today with Facial Transfiguration. Let me assure you that this is very difficult. How about I show you what I mean? Let's see… Mr. Weasley, come up here, please."

Ron hesitated and walked up beside McGonagall.

"If you could change anything about your appearance," McGonagall asked Ron, "What would it be?"

Ron shrugged.

"You don't know?" McGonagall asked.

"Haven't thought about it," Ron said.

"Very well," McGonagall said, "I have a better idea."

She turned to the rest of the students.

"Does anyone have any suggestions of what they would like to see changed on Ron's face?" she asked.

"His eye color," Hermione spoke up quickly.

"What is wrong with my eye color?!" Ron asked.

"Now, now, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said, "This is just for fun. What color would you like them to be, Miss Granger?"

"Cat's eyes," Hermione replied.

A few of the students, including Harry and Ginny, laughed.

"Good choice," McGonagall said, "Eye color can be particularly difficult to change, but with a bit of practice you can achieve it."

She turned back to Ron.

"Now, Mr. Weasley," she said, "I need you to hold completely still. Do not worry, this will not hurt. Now, I am not going to say the incantation. The only reason is that I do not want any of you to try it without mastering it. I really don't need to see one of my students in the Hospital Wing because they have gone temporarily blind from attempting this!"

Ron groaned.

"Oh, don't fuss!" McGonagall said to Ron, "Haven't I said that this will not hurt?!"

She took out her wand and pointed it at Ron's face.

"Now, please do not move," she said.

She muttered a long incantation under her breath and suddenly one of Ron's eyes turned bright yellow and then the other one did the same. The students applauded.

"It worked?" Ron asked.

"See for yourself," McGonagall said.

A mirror appeared in thin air and Ron grabbed it. He looked into the mirror and grinned.

"Can they stay this way?" Ron asked, "I kinda like it."

"Your eye color will change back to its original color in an hour or so," McGonagall said, "You may return to your seat."

Ron returned to his seat and McGonagall spoke up again.

"Now," she said, "Please get out your Advanced Transfiguration books and turn to chapter 15, on page 157 entitled The First Step to Facial Transfiguration. I want you to read the chapter and write a one-page essay on it. It will be due on Wednesday."

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Professor McGonagall wasn't present at dinner, which meant that she was probably waiting for Harry in her office. Harry downed a quick dinner and headed for McGonagall's office.

It took ten minutes to get to the door of Professor McGonagall's office. Harry knocked on the door when he arrived.

"Come in," McGonagall said.

Harry opened the door and walked in, shutting the door behind him. He then noticed that Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick were in the room as well.

"Have a seat please," McGonagall said, pointing to the chair in front of the desk.

As Harry walked closer, he noticed his Comet 720 lying on McGonagall's desk. He sat in the chair and McGonagall spoke up.

"I do not want this to take very long," McGonagall said, "And I know you probably don't either, Mr. Potter. So how about we get straight into it. Yesterday afternoon, Madam Hooch came to my office and told me that your broomstick had been cursed. She had taken it to Professor Flitwick who had examined it thoroughly. It didn't take long for him to realize that your broom had been cursed. Various curses had been placed on the broom and Professor Flitwick assures me now that your broomstick is now fine."

"Great!" Harry said, "Does that mean I will be getting it back?"

"I think it will be okay," McGonagall said, "But first I want to ask you a few questions. Do you have any idea who would want to place a curse on your broomstick?"

"Well," Harry said, "Me and my friends were talking about it. They suggested that a Death Eater might have done it, but as far as I know, it would have been impossible."

"A Death Eater?" McGonagall asked, "Yes. They would seem like the type to do it. I mean… they might want revenge on you for ridding the world of Voldemort."

"But it would be impossible for them to place a curse on my broomstick," Harry said, "Before I came here, it was locked away in my room at the Burrow. And it has been in my dormitory since I got here. Has a Death Eater been spotted on the grounds or in the castle?"

"Of course not," McGonagall said.

"I didn't think so," Harry said.

"But there is still the fact that your broomstick was cursed," McGonagall said, "Do you have any other ideas of what might have happened?"

"Not really," Harry said.

"Well, I would love to say that your broomstick has been safely away in your dormitory," McGonagall said, "But there is always a chance that someone might have placed a curse on it while it was in there."

"Professor," Harry said, "I don't think any Gryffindor would do that. Though there was something Hermione said."

"Yes?" McGonagall asked.

"Professor," Harry said, "Are you completely happy with your security charms that were placed on the Gryffindor Tower. I mean… with the Fat Lady gone, there is a big hole for a doorway."

"I have had my doubts," McGonagall admitted.

"Do you know where the Fat Lady's portrait is?" Harry asked.

"Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, "If I did, she would be guarding the Gryffindor Tower at this very moment."

"Well, those were all the ideas I could think of," Harry said, "If a Death Eater didn't get into the castle, then it must have been someone inside the castle with a way to get into the Gryffindor Tower."

"I will do an investigation," McGonagall said, "I have one more thing I must ask you. Do you feel that you need an escort around the school for the time-being?"

"An escort, Professor?" Harry asked.

"Yes, for protection," McGonagall said, "Obviously, someone is trying to do some harm to you. I don't want to scare you, but that is the truth. If you do need an escort, I am sure someone would love to volunteer."

"No," Harry said, "I am all right."

McGonagall looked at Harry the same way she did earlier in the day. Harry felt for a second time that she might have been trying to use Legillimency on him.

"All right," she said, "But if I, or any of the Professors, feel that you need the escort, I will have to assign one to you."

"Okay," Harry said.

"You may go unless there is anything else on your mind," McGonagall said, "Don't forget your broomstick.

Harry shook his head and stood up. He took the broomstick.

"Be sure to get that essay done, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, as Harry walked toward the door, "I would hate to fail you. I know how much you want to be an Auror."

"Yes, Professor," Harry said.

He walked out of the office and closed the door. As he headed back to the Common Room, a part of Harry was very happy to get his broom back, but another part was wondering if Professor McGonagall wasn't telling him everything.

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Chapter done! Hope you liked it!

I have many ideas for the next chapter. Hope it get it up by middle of next week.

Feedback would be welcomed!