The next few weeks flew in a flurry of parchment and textbooks. Harry thought having free periods would give him time to relax from his extracurricular activities. Instead, it was filled with studying and homework.

Since non-verbal spellcasting seemed to be expected this year, Hermione and Harry organized the first DA meeting the second week of school. They invited everyone this time. Without the need for secrecy, they were able to spread the word to more people and have more regular meetings.

Harry was surprised to see how many people showed up to the first meeting. Some upper classman even showed up to help tutor.

"Hello everyone. Glad you could make it to this meeting. I have a list of spells to start practicing, ranging from easy to advanced." Harry pointed to a few lists posted around the room. "Once you can non-verbally cast the spell three times correctly, move on to the next one." He instructed. "We have a few seventh years here to help, so feel free to ask them any questions. I would help too, but I'm still pretty useless at non-verbal spells." He smiled as several people laughed.

The large group of students separated into smaller groups while the seventh years walked around the room, helping those who needed it.

"I know it's basically studying, but that was pretty alright" Ron said as they made their way back to the common room.

Hermione sighed, "Wanting to do well in your class isn't a bad thing, Ronald."

Ron shrugged.

"I am quite impressed with that list though Harry." Hermione said. "How did you come up with it?"

"I didn't" Harry smirked. "Aileen did it for me. With all the homework and training I'm doing I don't have time for anything else. She doesn't do much for the majority of the day so she offered to help me."

"I'll have to thank her the next time I see her." Hermione said. "It's a perfect way to learn."

"Yeah, too bad our professors can't do it like that. No, they just throw us in and expect us to know how to do these things." Ron pouted.

/

Quidditch tryouts were held for the Gryffindor team that weekend. Harry had to chase off all of the extra people who decided to hover around and gawk at him.

"Oh, lighten up Harry," Hermione chortled, "They just want to have a look at the Chosen One."

"Yeah mate, at least they all believe you now." Ron said as he strapped his pads on.

"I would rather they believed me last year." Harry grumbled. "Or just ignore me all together."

The tryouts went smoothly. Luckily Ron was able to win over McLaggen. Harry was sure that was more to do with Hermione sabotaging the seventh year on his last run.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione hissed when he brought it up to her later.

He smirked, "Of course you don't. Because that would be very improper and you would never do anything like that."

Hermione blushed scarlet and shoved at his arm.

After tryouts, the trio decided to visit Hagrid. They were unable to take his course this year – not that any of them really wanted to – so they decided to drop by.

"I think Hagrid's doing things for the Order." Hermione said as they walked to Hagrid's hut.

"What makes you say that?" Ron asked.

"He's been absent from the Head Table a lot. Nearly as much as Dumbledore." She replied.

Which was true, there were short stretches of time where the Headmaster was not in his usual seat at dinner.

"Whatever it is must be important. Maybe it's like the ring he had. The one from the memory."

"Maybe" Hermione shrugged.

/

After visiting Hagrid, where the trio successfully cheered the half-giant up, they made their way back to the castle. Harry was not looking forward to his detention with Snape; he even had to turn down another invitation from Professor Slughorn.

"You're not missing much Harry" Hermione assured.

"I know, but anything is better than Snape." Harry sighed.

/

While he waited for his detention with Snape, Harry browsed through his potions textbook. The Prince seemed to have created his own spells and Harry was itching to try some of them out. So far, the few that he has tried were pretty useful and the jinxes were brilliant.

As he was examining another spell, he looked over to see Aileen hop onto the table next to him.

"You're getting better at sensing my presence." She said.

"I guess so, I wasn't even paying attention that time." Harry smiled.

She gave him a fond headbutt before turning her attention to the book in his hands. "You should be careful how you practice these spells, Harry."

"Why?"

"You don't know what they'll do. What if something happens that you don't like?"

"That's why I use them on the likes of Crabbe and Goyle. Maybe even Malfoy if I can find him."

"You shouldn't be paying any attention to Malfoy. He's an unnecessary distraction."

"Unnecessary distraction?" Harry gave her an incredulous look. "He's up to something and you just want me to ignore him?"

She rolled his eyes, "I don't know how many times I'm going to have to tell you this." She huffed. "You have your own problems to deal with Harry, leave Malfoy alone."

"Yeah, whatever" Harry replied.

Aileen's eyes narrowed dangerously. She put a paw on the prince's book and it disappeared.

"Aileen" He hissed and tried to grab her.

She easily dodged, "You'll just have to find me after your detention tonight if you want to see your precious book." She made her way to the door, "and don't even think about skipping your detention, or I'll just burn the book."

"Aileen!" He called, but she was already out of the room.

/

Detention with Snape was both boring and disgusting at the same time. Organizing flobberworms without gloves was probably the worst possible thing he's ever done. Unrotten flobberworms were slimy enough, but the rotten ones were accompanied by the most putrid smell imaginable. He practically ran from the room as soon as his detention was over.

On his way back to the common room, Harry stretched his senses to see if he could feel Aileen nearby. He was about halfway back when something pricked the edges of his awareness. He turned left and followed the feeling until he found Aileen sitting primly in the middle of the corridor.

"Detentions over, can I have my book back now?"

"That depends" she said, her tail swishing playfully. "Can you catch me?" she sprinted down the corridor.

"Damn" Harry hissed and ran after her.

It really wasn't fair whenever she decided to play tag. She was much more agile than he was as a cat. Whenever he got close, she would just slip down another corridor. After about 15 minutes of running, he paused to catch his breath. They had made it to the main stairwell, dozens of staircases moving leisurely above their heads. He could see Aileen lounging on one a few stories up.

He ran up the stairs, making sure to keep his eye on her, she was doing the same. He watched as she jumped between staircases as they passed one another and it gave him an idea. When she left his eyeline, he jumped onto the railing and caught a passing stair, quickly heaving himself onto the stair. He did this a few times, always waiting until he was certain Aileen was unable to see him. He kept low below the railing as he crept upwards towards her until they were finally on the same level. Aileen was perched on the railing, looking down, most likely trying to find him. Using all the stealth training Natasha and Clint drilled into him, he slowly and quietly made his way up the stairs until he was close enough to jump and catch her.

"Tag!" He exclaimed once he had her.

"Very good, I didn't see you get up here." She relaxed into his arms.

"Now can I have my book back?" Harry asked, walking back to the common room.

"It's in your bag with the rest of your things." She replied.

"Of course it is." Harry sighed.

"You did really well Harry." Aileen praised. "Your stealth has gotten much better."

"Yeah, not tripping over my feet as much anymore."

/

The trio's Hogsmeade was the most eventful one since Harry's third year. Not only did he find Mudungus Fletcher in the Hog's Head selling stolen goods from Sirius, Katie Bell had been cursed.

"I'm telling you guys, Malfoy had something to do with it." Harry huffed.

"You heard Professor McGonagall" Hermione said, "Malfoy was in detention with her."

"He must have used someone else then."

"I don't know mate." Ron replied, "I can't see Malfoy doing something like that. It wasn't even that good of a plan."

"Since when has Malfoy ever been a great thinker?" Harry said.

The two decided not to argue anymore. They split off once they hit the common room. Harry going towards his trunk where he kept the Marauders Map, checking for Malfoy's location. He was currently pacing in his dorm room. Harry narrowed his eyes, no matter what anyone said, Malfoy was up to something, and he was going to find out.

Kinda short, but I didn't really know where to end it so I just did it here ^-^'
Got some training in though!