All in all, Harry and Ron were glad to see the weekend come. Hermione, on the other hand, looked severely disappointed. She had found Potions lessons fascinating and sat on the edge of her seat during Transfiguration. To Ron's horror, Hermione had even created magical study flashcards (that squirted a nasty green liquid at you when you got questions wrong) to help her prepare for the O.W.L's. This was something she took very seriously.
"Besides the N.E.W.T's this is the most important exam of our lives and I don't know about you, but I want good marks!" she snapped Friday evening as she took out her cards.
"Hermione," Ron said, as if speaking to a child. "Exams aren't until June...it's barely September."
But Hermione didn't seem to hear him. She was wondering aloud if Hogwarts offered any O.W.L preparation classes.
"I'm not helping her study," said Ron, turning onto Harry. "I'm not encouraging weird behavior. Up for going to Hagrids?" Harry hadn't seen Hagrid since last term--he was very keen on seeing him. "Yeah," Harry nodded. "Lets go."
"You coming Hermione?" Ron asked hopefully.
Hermione furrowed her brow, and laid her cards down. "Yeah, yes I will," she said. "Do you think we'll need the Invisibility Cloak?"
"Nah," Ron said, without even looking at Harry. "It's hardly dark out, we're allowed to see him."
And they climbed out of the portrait hole, leaving Harry walking behind them a bit glumly.
"How's Percy now that Crouch is--well," Hermione said.
Ron's face suddenly lit up. "He's been shunted into the Office of Mooncalf Welfare!"
"Mooncalf welfare? But they never have anything to do with the Ministry," Hermione said. "Percy must not be too pleased."
"Yeah," Ron had a glazed, happy look on his face. "Yeah, Mooncalf Welfare."
They were walking on, talking. Harry noticed, with a pang of resentment, that Ron and Hermione had strode right past the Entrance Hall and were going through a passageway. Harry frowned as he watched them walking, and talking quietly, feeling quite sure that they wouldn't miss him. Gritting his teeth, Harry turned sharply, almost running into a suit of armor, as he walked outdoors, into the cool autumn air, and began to walk across the grounds to Hagrids hut.
The giant pumpkins, which Hagrid grew in preparation for Halloween, were new and barely the size of the average pumpkins Muggles would carve. Harry could see candles glowing through the windows of Hagrid's hut, but Harry had to knock three times before Hagrid finally opened the door, looking surprised. Harry noticed there were ink stains on his gigantic fingers.
"'Arry!" Hagrid said, his face lighting up. "How are yeh, thought you'd never see me!" Hagrid held the door open for Harry, who had to blink a couple times. Tons of papers and envelopes were lying on the table in Hagrid's one room cottage, as well as jars of ink and several quills. A tawny owl was in the corner, hooting quietly.
"Er--," Harry said, but Hagrid didn't say anything about the odd appearance of his hut.
"Where's Ron and 'Ermione?" Hagrid asked again. Underneath his wild black hair, Harry saw Hagrid's eyebrows furrow.
"Er," Harry said once again. "They're taking a walk."
"Ah," said Hagrid wisely. "Would yeh like some of me stoat sandwiches?"
Harry shook his head, he'd had too much experience with Hagrid's cooking. "Just some tea then?" Hagrid said once again.
"Yeah, that'd be good," Harry said, trying to catch a glimpse at what the papers said without appearing to be nosing into Hagrid's business. While Hagrid was busy boiling some water, Harry saw the top of the page, the ink still wet, glistening in the candlelight.
To the Confederation of...
"What're yeh doin?" Hagrid whipped around, a pinch of tea leaves in one hand, and enormous tea mug in the other.
Harry turned bright red. He felt horrible for poking into Hagrids business...but still he couldn't help thinking "the Confederation of what?"
"Sorry but it's 'Ogwarts business, 'Arry. And dead boring too. I'd tell yeh if I could," Hagrid set down his tea mug and began gathering the papers, Harry feeling rather abashed. He also couldn't help remember last time Hagrid had Hogwarts business, he'd been procurring the extremely valuable Sorcerer's Stone. Harry seriously doubted that this "business" was dead boring.
"Now," said Hagrid briskly. "Yeh want sugar with yer tea?"
"Er--a bit," Harry said and watched as Hagrid dumped the equivalent of a jars worth of sugar into Harry's tea.
"How are things up at the school, 'Arry?" Hagrid asked, sitting down at the enormous table with Harry.
"All right," Harry answered honestly. "Things are hard because the O.W.L's are coming up but everything's really fine. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is insane, and Snape's gone did you know that?"
"Yeah, but he's comin back," Hagrid said. "Don't get your 'opes up 'Arry."
"You know why he's gone?" Harry asked shrewdly.
Hagrid suddenly began to be immersed in his tea. "That's between Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid muttered.
Harry got the feeling that Professor Snape seemed to be doing Hogwarts business too. Could Snape have gone back to Voldemort and began his double agent role again? How could Dumbledore trust him?
"Now then, tell me about this Gingle," Hagrid said, allowing Harry to vividly describe Professor Gingle, from his enormous glasses, to Seamus and the Jelly Neck Hex.
When Harry returned to the common room, Hermione and Ron were one of the last ones there, sitting by the fire giggling. Hermione's O.W.L flashcards were forgotten by the fire.
"So you came back?" Harry said, looking down on them. Hermione suddenly stopped giggling and looked up at Harry. "Oh Harry!" she said. "Oh, we're so sorry, we just went straight past the entrance hall and then decided to come back here for some studying--"
"Looks like you were studying to me," Harry said gruffly. He felt somewhat disgusted.
"Are you mad or anything?" Ron asked. His face was very red.
"No," Harry said a little too quickly. No, he wasn't mad--he just felt awkward and uncomfortable. Hermione and Ron? "I think I'm going up to bed," he said finally, and began to march up the stairs, followed quickly by Ron.
"We aren't--there isn't anything going on," Ron said quickly. "We just started talking, and then studying a bit."
"Yep, ok," said Harry, he kept walking.
Ron stood behind him, motionless on the stairs. Harry felt a pang of guilt, but changed into his pajamas and drew the curtains around his four poster bed, all thoughts of Hagrids mysterious letters driven out of him mind.
"Neville Longbottom!" Professor McGonagoll snapped in the middle of a particularly difficult Transfiguration class, Monday morning. "In order to get more than two O.W.L's you need to know something about human transfiguration. If you cannot even transfigure your hair to another color it looks like you won't be getting very far."
Neville looked up, his hair, which was supposed to have been transfigured to a pale blonde, was now pink with green stripes. "Honestly," Professor McGonagoll said under her breath, and transfigured Neville's hair back to it's normal state. "I'm sorry Longbottom, but fifth years are most tedious to teach. Preparing students for the O.W.L's is incredibly important."
Harry was surprised he hadn't been yelled at. His own hair (which he was supposed to transfigure so it was as red as Ron's) was now a funny shade of blonde.
By the time the class let out, nearly everyone, except for Hermione, of course, had to go up to McGonagoll to have their hair changed back to it's normal shade. McGonagoll sighed heavily, and muttered something about failing the O.W.L's. "For homework write a detailed essay on transfiguring your hair's texture! Make it 4 feet and 6 inches long! Due tomorrow!"
"Due tomorrow!" Ron groaned. "That'll take all night on top of what Trelawney and that Dingle gave us! Plus we have to research the stupid Love Potions and..."
"You're depressing me," Harry said as he began to pack his bag. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were acting as if nothing had happened, but everything was a little funny, and Ron wouldn't meet Harry's eye. At least, Ron and Hermione weren't speaking, or giggling but instead were acting incredibly polite and formal toward one another.
"Potter, a word please," Harry heard McGonagoll say. "Go on," Harry said to Ron and Hermione. "I'll meet you in the hall." Hermione nodded and she and Ron left, waiting outside the classroom. Much to Harry's relief, he could hear no giggling.
Harry expected McGonagoll to deliver a lecture on his hideous performance on hair Transfiguration. Instead McGonagoll bestowed a rare smile upon Harry and said, "As head of Gryffindor house, it's my duty to choose the Gryffindor Captain of the Quidditch team. After giving this serious thought, I've decided to appoint you Captain of the Gryffindor team--now before you celebrate let me tell you this comes with many obligations. You need to arrange Quidditch trainings, decide what tactics to use, choose new players..."
But Harry was lost in his thoughts. Quidditch captain! He, Harry was the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team--it was too wonderful to think about. What would everyone say? Maybe...just maybe Cho would pay Harry some attention now.
"Would you like to be Captain?" Professor McGonagoll asked finally.
"Of course I would!" said Harry eagerly.
"Now you'll need to book the field for practice--and please, Potter, train hard. I want to see another Gryffindor victory." She smiled at him once again, and held the door for him. Harry met Ron and Hermione outside. When he told them the news Ron's jaw dropped and Hermione squealed and hugged him.
"Ooh, Harry, this is wonderful!"
"But--but, you're only a fifth year! Why didn't they choose one of the seventh years?" Ron asked still gaping.
"Dunno--you reckon Fred and George'll be mad?" Fred and George played Beaters for Gryffindor.
"Course not," Ron said. "You think they could decide tactics and stuff? Nah, they just like hitting things."
Harry grinned. Then he remembered suddenly--Gryffindor needed a new Keeper--and that meant, he, Harry would have to appoint one.
"Besides the N.E.W.T's this is the most important exam of our lives and I don't know about you, but I want good marks!" she snapped Friday evening as she took out her cards.
"Hermione," Ron said, as if speaking to a child. "Exams aren't until June...it's barely September."
But Hermione didn't seem to hear him. She was wondering aloud if Hogwarts offered any O.W.L preparation classes.
"I'm not helping her study," said Ron, turning onto Harry. "I'm not encouraging weird behavior. Up for going to Hagrids?" Harry hadn't seen Hagrid since last term--he was very keen on seeing him. "Yeah," Harry nodded. "Lets go."
"You coming Hermione?" Ron asked hopefully.
Hermione furrowed her brow, and laid her cards down. "Yeah, yes I will," she said. "Do you think we'll need the Invisibility Cloak?"
"Nah," Ron said, without even looking at Harry. "It's hardly dark out, we're allowed to see him."
And they climbed out of the portrait hole, leaving Harry walking behind them a bit glumly.
"How's Percy now that Crouch is--well," Hermione said.
Ron's face suddenly lit up. "He's been shunted into the Office of Mooncalf Welfare!"
"Mooncalf welfare? But they never have anything to do with the Ministry," Hermione said. "Percy must not be too pleased."
"Yeah," Ron had a glazed, happy look on his face. "Yeah, Mooncalf Welfare."
They were walking on, talking. Harry noticed, with a pang of resentment, that Ron and Hermione had strode right past the Entrance Hall and were going through a passageway. Harry frowned as he watched them walking, and talking quietly, feeling quite sure that they wouldn't miss him. Gritting his teeth, Harry turned sharply, almost running into a suit of armor, as he walked outdoors, into the cool autumn air, and began to walk across the grounds to Hagrids hut.
The giant pumpkins, which Hagrid grew in preparation for Halloween, were new and barely the size of the average pumpkins Muggles would carve. Harry could see candles glowing through the windows of Hagrid's hut, but Harry had to knock three times before Hagrid finally opened the door, looking surprised. Harry noticed there were ink stains on his gigantic fingers.
"'Arry!" Hagrid said, his face lighting up. "How are yeh, thought you'd never see me!" Hagrid held the door open for Harry, who had to blink a couple times. Tons of papers and envelopes were lying on the table in Hagrid's one room cottage, as well as jars of ink and several quills. A tawny owl was in the corner, hooting quietly.
"Er--," Harry said, but Hagrid didn't say anything about the odd appearance of his hut.
"Where's Ron and 'Ermione?" Hagrid asked again. Underneath his wild black hair, Harry saw Hagrid's eyebrows furrow.
"Er," Harry said once again. "They're taking a walk."
"Ah," said Hagrid wisely. "Would yeh like some of me stoat sandwiches?"
Harry shook his head, he'd had too much experience with Hagrid's cooking. "Just some tea then?" Hagrid said once again.
"Yeah, that'd be good," Harry said, trying to catch a glimpse at what the papers said without appearing to be nosing into Hagrid's business. While Hagrid was busy boiling some water, Harry saw the top of the page, the ink still wet, glistening in the candlelight.
To the Confederation of...
"What're yeh doin?" Hagrid whipped around, a pinch of tea leaves in one hand, and enormous tea mug in the other.
Harry turned bright red. He felt horrible for poking into Hagrids business...but still he couldn't help thinking "the Confederation of what?"
"Sorry but it's 'Ogwarts business, 'Arry. And dead boring too. I'd tell yeh if I could," Hagrid set down his tea mug and began gathering the papers, Harry feeling rather abashed. He also couldn't help remember last time Hagrid had Hogwarts business, he'd been procurring the extremely valuable Sorcerer's Stone. Harry seriously doubted that this "business" was dead boring.
"Now," said Hagrid briskly. "Yeh want sugar with yer tea?"
"Er--a bit," Harry said and watched as Hagrid dumped the equivalent of a jars worth of sugar into Harry's tea.
"How are things up at the school, 'Arry?" Hagrid asked, sitting down at the enormous table with Harry.
"All right," Harry answered honestly. "Things are hard because the O.W.L's are coming up but everything's really fine. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is insane, and Snape's gone did you know that?"
"Yeah, but he's comin back," Hagrid said. "Don't get your 'opes up 'Arry."
"You know why he's gone?" Harry asked shrewdly.
Hagrid suddenly began to be immersed in his tea. "That's between Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid muttered.
Harry got the feeling that Professor Snape seemed to be doing Hogwarts business too. Could Snape have gone back to Voldemort and began his double agent role again? How could Dumbledore trust him?
"Now then, tell me about this Gingle," Hagrid said, allowing Harry to vividly describe Professor Gingle, from his enormous glasses, to Seamus and the Jelly Neck Hex.
When Harry returned to the common room, Hermione and Ron were one of the last ones there, sitting by the fire giggling. Hermione's O.W.L flashcards were forgotten by the fire.
"So you came back?" Harry said, looking down on them. Hermione suddenly stopped giggling and looked up at Harry. "Oh Harry!" she said. "Oh, we're so sorry, we just went straight past the entrance hall and then decided to come back here for some studying--"
"Looks like you were studying to me," Harry said gruffly. He felt somewhat disgusted.
"Are you mad or anything?" Ron asked. His face was very red.
"No," Harry said a little too quickly. No, he wasn't mad--he just felt awkward and uncomfortable. Hermione and Ron? "I think I'm going up to bed," he said finally, and began to march up the stairs, followed quickly by Ron.
"We aren't--there isn't anything going on," Ron said quickly. "We just started talking, and then studying a bit."
"Yep, ok," said Harry, he kept walking.
Ron stood behind him, motionless on the stairs. Harry felt a pang of guilt, but changed into his pajamas and drew the curtains around his four poster bed, all thoughts of Hagrids mysterious letters driven out of him mind.
"Neville Longbottom!" Professor McGonagoll snapped in the middle of a particularly difficult Transfiguration class, Monday morning. "In order to get more than two O.W.L's you need to know something about human transfiguration. If you cannot even transfigure your hair to another color it looks like you won't be getting very far."
Neville looked up, his hair, which was supposed to have been transfigured to a pale blonde, was now pink with green stripes. "Honestly," Professor McGonagoll said under her breath, and transfigured Neville's hair back to it's normal state. "I'm sorry Longbottom, but fifth years are most tedious to teach. Preparing students for the O.W.L's is incredibly important."
Harry was surprised he hadn't been yelled at. His own hair (which he was supposed to transfigure so it was as red as Ron's) was now a funny shade of blonde.
By the time the class let out, nearly everyone, except for Hermione, of course, had to go up to McGonagoll to have their hair changed back to it's normal shade. McGonagoll sighed heavily, and muttered something about failing the O.W.L's. "For homework write a detailed essay on transfiguring your hair's texture! Make it 4 feet and 6 inches long! Due tomorrow!"
"Due tomorrow!" Ron groaned. "That'll take all night on top of what Trelawney and that Dingle gave us! Plus we have to research the stupid Love Potions and..."
"You're depressing me," Harry said as he began to pack his bag. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were acting as if nothing had happened, but everything was a little funny, and Ron wouldn't meet Harry's eye. At least, Ron and Hermione weren't speaking, or giggling but instead were acting incredibly polite and formal toward one another.
"Potter, a word please," Harry heard McGonagoll say. "Go on," Harry said to Ron and Hermione. "I'll meet you in the hall." Hermione nodded and she and Ron left, waiting outside the classroom. Much to Harry's relief, he could hear no giggling.
Harry expected McGonagoll to deliver a lecture on his hideous performance on hair Transfiguration. Instead McGonagoll bestowed a rare smile upon Harry and said, "As head of Gryffindor house, it's my duty to choose the Gryffindor Captain of the Quidditch team. After giving this serious thought, I've decided to appoint you Captain of the Gryffindor team--now before you celebrate let me tell you this comes with many obligations. You need to arrange Quidditch trainings, decide what tactics to use, choose new players..."
But Harry was lost in his thoughts. Quidditch captain! He, Harry was the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team--it was too wonderful to think about. What would everyone say? Maybe...just maybe Cho would pay Harry some attention now.
"Would you like to be Captain?" Professor McGonagoll asked finally.
"Of course I would!" said Harry eagerly.
"Now you'll need to book the field for practice--and please, Potter, train hard. I want to see another Gryffindor victory." She smiled at him once again, and held the door for him. Harry met Ron and Hermione outside. When he told them the news Ron's jaw dropped and Hermione squealed and hugged him.
"Ooh, Harry, this is wonderful!"
"But--but, you're only a fifth year! Why didn't they choose one of the seventh years?" Ron asked still gaping.
"Dunno--you reckon Fred and George'll be mad?" Fred and George played Beaters for Gryffindor.
"Course not," Ron said. "You think they could decide tactics and stuff? Nah, they just like hitting things."
Harry grinned. Then he remembered suddenly--Gryffindor needed a new Keeper--and that meant, he, Harry would have to appoint one.