Chapter 9 - Back to Hogwarts
Harry held his breath as the entrance door to the Great Hall began to open gradually, not expecting what his reaction would be to Hogwarts again. Like the previous years, they had been escorted to the castle by the carriages that were driven by thestrals, black winged horses that could be visible only if you had witnessed death. This reminded him of Luna, who could see them as well.
Harry also saw Hagrid beckon the first years to the boats with a strong voice, and he was glad to see that Hagrid had a better appearance than when Harry had seen him at Sirius's memorial. Most of the scars had disappeared, and his skin, once purple, was back to its light color, but one disdainful mark Grawp had left behind was Hagrid's teeth, where two of them were still missing.
As he, Ron, and Neville trotted forward, Harry took in the same looking Hall, with a black starless sky and hazy colored candles glimmering in midair, their misty scents going through Harry's body and nose. Ghosts were floating everywhere with glee, some producing fleeting and screeching noises as they swooshed through the hall, and others were conversing deeply with students. Harry noticed that the people at the tables were cheerful and noisy, but not as much as before.
Several heads levitated up to goggle at him and then exchanged excited whispers that were out of his earshot. A burning feeling was rising in his chest, but he suppressed it by looking around the Hal, pretending to find it fascinating. Then he remembered that Hermione still hadn't-
"Look at them Harry! They're actually smiling at you!" Said Ron from behind him.
Harry's head fell down with a drop. Ron was right, because quite a few people were waving at him gracefully, some were whispering exasperatedly, and the remainder lot were staring vividly at his scar with appreciation. He quickly flattened his bangs down, and waved back nervously, his heart being back to normal.
A considerable amount of students greeted him when they sat down at the Gryffindor table around Seamus and Dean, who were chatting about the Daily Prophet.
"What about it?" Said Harry, avoiding the fact that Parvati and Lavender were looking his way.
"They were saying that Fudge hasn't commented on anything about You-Know-Who for the past month, and-"
Seamus was cut off, because the Sorting Hat had just placed itself on a three legged wooden chair in front of the tables. Its mouth opened wide and words started to come out:
A thousand years ago,
When there was hope in the world,
Four founders joined together
And made a magical school unfurl.
This school was destined to teach
Young boys and girls,
For seven difficult years
And then would become witches and wizards.
I was made to sort you into houses,
Gryffindor: the bravest and boldest
Slytherin: ambitious and power-hungry
Hufflepuff: being the most wisest
And Ravenclaw: intelligent and outwitty
Today, even though I sort you,
Remember this: the power to overcome
Anything is unity and companionship..."
"Where is she?" Ron breathed hoarsely into Harry's ear.
"Who?" Said Harry, even though he knew what Ron was talking about.
"Hermione! You don't think something happened to her? Like Malfoy?"
The Sorting Hat was still chiming its song, while he was pondering about Hermione. What had happened? One second her shoulder had brushed against his own, setting his scar on fire, and then she had touched it, making her eyes shut in concentration for a several minutes...
The staff table suddenly caught his attention. In the middle was Dumbledore, dressed in long blue robes and a bizarre conical hat, showing off a vibrant smile that made Harry warm. On either side of him was Professor McGonagall and a vicious Snape.
But the person sitting next to Snape caught Harry's eye. A lanky woman dressed in white robes was looking out one of the window, with a mystified-but-stern expression. Her eyes resembled two wide slits, and her pale face and long black hair made her represent a tall white swan.
Surely, she couldn't be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, so...?
A ringing applause broke out, and one by one, new children started to approach the chair as Professor McGonagall called out names.
"Ambrose, Caitlin!" She shouted, and a shaking red-haired girl sat down on the chair and seconds later, the Hat bellowed, "RAVENCLAW!"
A warm applause filled the room, and on went the sorting.
The last person was "Wilson, Princet" who got sorted into Slytherin, and then Dumbledore cleared his throat and clinked his goblet noisily.
The rumble in the room disappeared, and Dumbledore beamed at them!"
"Well, another year starts! I welcome the first years, and the old students back! I have a few notices to give out, but first of all, let me introduce our new staff member, Priscilla Evans, who will replace the duty of caretaker, Argus Filch, who has unfortunately retired.
The tall woman Harry had taken note of earlier waved warmly to everyone as the students, as well as the staff clapped. There was no doubt that this witch was widely appreciated, or maybe it was that her appeal was so intriguing, or from the fact that they were free from Argus Filch.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Said Dumbledore, giving Priscilla Evans a merry look. Then he turned hi face towards the students. "NO, I would like to note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to the first years, as well as the rest of the students. Maybe you didn't take me seriously previous times when I informed you this (Harry and Ron exchanged smirks), but this time I am warning you that certain civilians in the Forest will not tolerate your entrance." Dumbledore sighed.
Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to the centaurs, who no longer gave mercy to even Hogwarts students.
"...Quidditch practices will be held on September 20th, and as a safety precaustion, nobody is allowed outside past 8 in the evening."
Muffled groans spread through the Great Hall like poison, shocked at the rule. Harry smirked though, since his Invisibility Cloak would be with him.
Dumbledore continued, "This new curfew is the Ministry's request, and I approved. It is not safe to wander out of the castle at night, and hopefully nobody will break this rule."
Harry could've sworn that Dumbledore had given him a glance.
"Argus Filch has left us his list of Highly Dangerous items on the front door of his office, and the rule remains: if anyone is spotted with these items, there will be punishment."
With new spots of wrinkles on his face and his drooping eyebrows, Dumbledore appeared to be older than ever. But still, he winked gleamingly and said, "Well? Dig in!"
Whopping platters of every kind of food and drink zoomed out of nowhere and rested on all of the tables. With squirming delight, Harry dug in the pumkin pie without a thought.
As he was eating, he noticed that Ron was glaring at Dean with distaste.
"What's up?" Asked Harry, and Ron looked away, "How can she go out with him? Look at him!"
"Huh?"
"Ginny! She's still going out with him!" He breathed so that no one else could hear.
"What's wrong with him?" Said Harry.
But what was wrong with him, he never found out, because a familiar but savory voice spoke from their left, "Mmm..." It was Hermione, settling herself on the bench between him and Ron, completely oblivious to the fact that she had been absent for over an hour.
Harry, who had just gulped a mouthful of apple juice, attempted to make a sound, but Ron beat him.
"Where were you?" He demanded in a garbled voice, with balls of mashed potatoes in his mouth.
Hermione's eyes wer on the fried chicken in front of her, "I went to talk to Lupin." She replied, with a normal voice.
"Yeah? Why?" Said Ron.
"I had to discuss with him about the private lessons he's going to give me." She said, while one of her hands grabbed the chicken and put it calmly against her mouth.
Suddenly, Harry coughed, "What lessons?"
"Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts Lessons."
"Why?" Said Ron, with suspicion in his voice.
Finally, she tilted her head up, and bit off a Chocolate Frog, with an irritated look on her face.
"Because he thinks that I can handle more than the regular classes he's planned for the six years. Now, can you stop badgering me?!" She said loudly, so that now everyone within 10 feet could hear her, but Ron didn't seem to notice.
"But how come when you left-"
"Seamus, what were you saying about Fudge?" Said Harry over his friend's accusing voice. It was obvious that Hermione was not so keen on talking about the subject, and Harry could understand from the numberous times that he had felt that way.
Seamus glanced at Ron and Hermione curiously, "I was saying that Fudge ahsn't appeared anywhere except for work at the Ministry, and they can't fnd him now, he hasn't been showing to work for a week. My mum said that-"
"Dad was telling me about that a while ago!" Cut in Ron, "Some people even think that Fudge is under a spell by the goblins, imagine that, eh?"
Harry felt like a complete fool. He had been residing with the magical for almost two months, but hadn't bothered to even pick up the Daily Prophet to keep up with the news.
"Oh shut up. That's impossible." Snapped Hermione, "Goblins might be powerful, but they would never control a person, especially the Minister of Magic."
Ron was so taken aback that he looked like he was on the verge of Hexing Hermione.
"Then what do you think happened?"
"I'm not sure, but I do know that it wasn't goblins."
Ron rolled his eyes, and muttered under his breath, "Maybe it was an elf."
Harry was now aleep on his four-poster bed, deep in his dreams. A small figure of Professor McGonagall came into view, telling him that she could turn into a ginger biscuit. Then it switched to Luna in front of him, telling him that she had bewitched his Firebolt.
Suddenly, the dream turned shades darker and held onto a deep blue color. He couldn't see anything, but could smell a stale burning odor, and a strong force of dread went through him like wind howling past him.
A muffled groan now entered Harry's ear, and it grew louder. Harry felt cold and alarmed with suspense, and a bursting noise rang out. The cry of a baby was also noticeable.
Again, it changed to vivid reen screen with bee-buzzing that he could hear. A gloomy-blue rectangular room came into view, full with benches and an ancient archway in the middle-
The veil, Harry thought. The archway zoomed in closer and closer.
A lifeless silhouette of a body was visible next to the tattered veil,coered with red stains that appeared to be blood. The scene zoomed in closer, and he saw that the person had something glowing white clutched tightly in their right had. With black untidy hair, torn black robes, and a revealing sharp scar on his forehead, something struck Harry hard like stone. It was him.
Expectedly, the Death Chamber swirled out of view, and came to complete blackness, and he could see no more.
"Harry, you're not eating. What's wrong?" Commented Hermione over breakfast the next morning. Harry had a feeling of heaviness in him, like it would never depart. The flash of him most recent dream was horrifying, and it reminded him of his dead body as a boggart that Mrs.Weasley had once seen. Am I going to end up as the victim...?
He peered out the windows, and the weather surely matched his mood. Furious streaks of rain were hitting the ground like bombs, creating plit-plat noises, and thunder was rumbling down occasionally.
"Nothing. I just had a bad dream." Harry and Hermione were one of the few that were in the Hall in the early hours of the morning. Hemrione said that she needed to get some reading done, and he just wasn't able to sleep, as just seeing himself on the floor in that room...
"What was the dream about?" Asked Hermione, with full curiousity, and having put down her book titled, Numbers: In Advanced about as thick as all of Harry's schoolbooks put together.
"I don't remember." He said.
"How can you not remember? You always remembered your other dreams, right?"
"Yeah, but I forgot this one. Why do you care anyway?"
Hermione seemed to be hurt, but she just eyed him intently and carried on, "It wasn't about the day when Voldemort killed your parents, was it?"
"No, it-why would you think it was that one?" Harry stared at her with an alienlike expression. This question had been too eager, "Ok, what is your secret?"
Hermione put on a frown, "Huh?"
"What aren't you telling us? Why did you just leave the compartment yesterday?"
"I told you, I went to Lupin-"
"Oh come on, Hermione. Maybe that was it, but your went to him for something else too, didn't you?" Said Harry.
"Alright, I'll tell you, but wait 'till Ron comes." Said Hermione, peering over his shoulder.
"No, tell me now-"
"Good morning." Mumbled Ron as he sat down at the table.
Harry turned to her, "Ok. Tell."
Ron yawned, and then gazed at him and Hermione, "How long have you been up?"
Hermione grabbed all of her books and stuffed them hastily in her raggedy bookbad, and then said, "Not that long. Erm...yesterday, when we were on the train, I had a flash... or a vision, I dunno...I saw Voldemort kill you and your mother."
Harry felt like he had been hit with a stunning spell.
"What do you mean when you say you had a vision?" Demanded Ron, now fully awake.
"I don't know," She shivered, "It was like a dream, but I know it couldn't have been. It was like I was there, watching."
He knew what she was referring to, because that's exactly how he visualized it when he had his apparitions.
"But what was that doing in your head?" Said Harry, as normally as he could.
"Lupin reckons it's because I touched your scar and we had a connection."
"Are you serious, or lying?" Said Ron.
Hermione scowled at him, "By the way Harry, has anyone ever touched your scar? Except for you, of course."
"What did you see?" He asked, totally ignoring her question.
"I don't recall that much, but when I touched your scar, I saw Voldemort's body burst through the door, and then....er-your father came in the room and told...told your mother to take you and go...I forget the part in the middle, but after that, Voldemort said to your mum to stand aside and let him kill you, but your mum wouldn't go so...he killed her, and then he said the Avada Kedavra spell, and this green light hit your face, but it just backfired to him, and he just became hollow, a spirit, and something flew away..." Her voice trailed away, and she stared at Harry.
He stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep himself together. Hermione had seen his parents' last moments, but all Harry had heard was his mother and father's frightening voices, he hadn't witnessed the whole scene...
This is too weird...he thought, I just wish I could be somebody else...
"This is all too weird. So, has anyone else ever touched your scar?" Asked Ron very nervously.
Nobody came to mind, because he barely even liked his scar shown to people, so of course nobody would've made contact with it.
"No, not that I can remember."
Hermione started to brush her hair with a comb, and had her back against them, and she was gazing at the ceiling too.
After a while, when the room was almost full, a trail of adverse owls flew through, like swarming butterflies, each one holding a sunshine yellow envelope, and three of them flew towards their direction.
Each one dropped the envelopes onto the table, and Harry, Ron, and Hemrione grasped them. Each one had their own name, and soon they started to rip them open.
With wonder, Harry pulled out a silver piece of parchment and rolled it out.
"O.W.L Results." Hermione breathed, as if a pool of gold had just found its way to her.
On Harry's envelope was written:
Transfiguration: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
Potions: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
Defense Against the Dark Arts: OUTSTANDING
Charms: OUTSTANDING
Herbology: ACCEPTABLE
Astronomy: ACCEPTABLE
Divination: POOR
Care of Magical Creatures: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
History of Magic: POOR
His eyes widened with surprise, because his O.W.L results were definitely higher than he'd expected, especially in Potions. He wondered if Snape had intended to give him Exceeds Expectations or if Dumbledore had stepped in for the matter.
Harry croaked his neck over to Ron's parchment and saw that Ron had gotten five Acceptables, three Exceeds Expectations and Two Poors. Ron's mouth came into a wide smile.
"Not bad." Said Harry.
"Not bad? I expected around 6 Poor O.W.L's and three Acceptables. They did come a little late though."
Immediately, both of them peered at Hermione's scroll, and saw tha she had gotten 'Outstanding' for every subject excluding Ancient Runes', in which she received an 'Exceeds Expectations."
"No!" She shrieked frustratingly. Both Harry and Ron raised an eyebrow, but they couldn't expect any other reaction from Hermione for getting almost perfect O.W.L's
"Oh no, Hermione! Did you fail, dear? Mind if I switch results with you?" Mocked Ron, and went for Hermione's parchment. Hermione slapped Ron's arm and started to laugh.
"What did you get?" Said Hermione, and snatched Ron's paper from his left side.
"That's really good Ron!" She exclaimed, as her eyes went up and down the silver parchment.
"Not as good as you though. I reckon I should start paying attention this year." Said Ron seriously.
Hermione's mouth fell open and then went to touch his forehead, "Are you feeling alright? Is somebody else in Ickle Ronny's head?" She tapped Ron's brain from the side.
A feeling of icy sweat fell over Harry, and stared at his results in front him. The he rolled up the parchment, put it in his bookbag, and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Said Hermione
"Lupin. I'll be back." He answered shortly.
Harry went past the 2nd floor, and then turned up to go to the third floor, and after that he didn't know where he was going because he was thinking intensely, and his chest heaving. Oh stop it, a voice inside him said, they're just friends...
But what about Ron? Another voice spoke from inside, didn't he say that he like Hermione?
Even if he didn't, it was so obvious, the way he got jealous the moment Viktor Krum's name to Hermione's lips, and they were always bickering madly like a married couple...
Did he really like Hermione more than Ron, or was it-
Slam. He had just bumped into someone before realizing it, almost falling to the ground. Harry grabbed a hold of the person, "I'm sorry-"
"It's alright." A dreamy voice spoke. It was Luna.
"Sorry. I had no idea where-"
"I was going," she completed, "Yes, I can see that." Her straggly hair was now straight and drenched wet, along with her wet robes, and had her usual dazed expression on her face.
"Were you outside?" Said Harry, eyeing her mysteriously.
She nodded, "I had to go see Hagrid."
Harry was immensely surprised, "Why?"
"He wanted to know if I would take care of one of his salamanders for a few months, so I went down this morning to tell him I could."
"Oh."
"Well, Bye." Said Luna distantly.
"I have to go down to the common room too." They both walked down together.
"Your schedules are being handed out, and classes will start at 9:00 am." Professor McGonagall announced to the Gryffindor Common Room the next morning, entering with thundering rolls of parchment.
"As you see, not all of you got in the classes you requested, effected by your O.W.L results, but there were exceptions..." She said and gave Harry a quick glance.
Today, he had Double Potions (oh no), Charms, Transfiguration, and Double Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Double Potions first thing in the morning? What had he done to deserve this?
After a moment, he realized something. Snape only took students with an 'Outstanding' O.W.L in his class, so how had he gotten it.
He already knew the answer, but he was peeved. One thing was that Harry didn't want to receive special treatment, and the second was the fact that he would have to continue with Potions. A part of him had been hoping that he wouldn't get in, partially being the reason why he had applied for Potions, if he wanted to become and Auror. Ron hadn't even bothered to sign his name, only scraping an 'Acceptable' in Potions.
An hour or so had passed, when Harry entered Snape's dungeon with Hermione striding alongside him.
Both of them settled in seats in the middle of the room, and Harry was still a little uncomfortable around Hermione since the other day, but he had felt better when he had chatted with Luna down his way to the Common Room. He had talked about his O.W.L results and she had mentioned how she was nervous about taking the O.W.L's this year. She'd also mentioned the new caretaker, Evans, who happened to be her distant aunt.
Harry looked ahead and saw that Snape was hovering his head completely over a jar of purple goo. Its contents were bubbling upwards, and he had the sudden urge to shove the bottle on Snape's slimy face.
A few minutes later, Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle marched in cheeringly except for Malfoy. He caught Harry's eye immediately, and threw him a deadly glare, and he received an equal one from Harry. They took seats right behind him and Hermione, but it was no use changing seats now, Harry thought, since all of them had filled up.
"Settle down." Said Snape icily and got up from his desk to walk around the room slowly.
"Most of you in here have achieved an Outstanding O.W.L in Potions, resulting in being competent enough to carry with Advanced Potions. But first of all, let's get something straight."
"I will not tolerate a student who is slacking up and isn't working up to their potential, especially towards the end of the year, where things tend to get difficult."
"I have an errand to tend to, and I will return in five minutes, and if anyone is doing anything other than potion making, they will pay." Snape eyed Harry loathingly, and continued, "Today, you will make a Drowzy Potion, used to cure hyperness and hyperventilation. Instructions are on the board, and the supplies in front of you. Begin." Snape observed the room a last time, turned, and strided out the door.
Harry's eyes widened as he observed the board containing about 40 steps to the Drowzy Potion.
"What a tough Potion." Sneered a voice from Harry's back, and turned swiftly to see Malfoy whispering rather loudly to Crabbe and Goyle, "Let's just hope Potter doesn't get another D."
All three laughed, and Harry's hands balled into fists. Hermione gave him a warning look, and he tried hard to concentrate on his potion which was now a dark green color.
"Having any more visions, Potter?" Said Malfoy, now directly to Harry, who could feel himself growing hotter by the second. No, a firm voice came into hi head, he's not worth it...
"What is it this time?" His voice was now a mere whisper, so that only Harry could hear, "Dark corridors? Strange curtains? Glowing objects?"
Harry's neck cricked around impulsively, glowering at Malfoy. He knows something.
"What on earth are you babbling about?" Spat out Harry.
"Let's just hope Harry Potter doesn't crack and end up in St.Mungo's."
"At least I won't be in Azkaban, getting my soul sucked out." Retorted Harry quietly.
"Well," Whispered Malfoy, "At least Father didn't 'fall through', if you know what I mean."
Before Harry knew what he was doing, he found himself standing with his wand ready to strike at Malfoy, who was up himself, armed. He could feel everyone's eyes on them, but he didn't care.
"No, Harry!" Said Hermione.
But before he had any time to think, a cold voice rang out, "Potter!"
Snape was back, with a dangerous look on his face.
" I leave this classroom for a minute, and you start fighting. Forty points from Gryffindor. Now sit down before you get detention."
He couldn't believe it. He sat down, and stared angrily at Snape, wishing he could take his face off of the surface of the planet...
Harry held his breath as the entrance door to the Great Hall began to open gradually, not expecting what his reaction would be to Hogwarts again. Like the previous years, they had been escorted to the castle by the carriages that were driven by thestrals, black winged horses that could be visible only if you had witnessed death. This reminded him of Luna, who could see them as well.
Harry also saw Hagrid beckon the first years to the boats with a strong voice, and he was glad to see that Hagrid had a better appearance than when Harry had seen him at Sirius's memorial. Most of the scars had disappeared, and his skin, once purple, was back to its light color, but one disdainful mark Grawp had left behind was Hagrid's teeth, where two of them were still missing.
As he, Ron, and Neville trotted forward, Harry took in the same looking Hall, with a black starless sky and hazy colored candles glimmering in midair, their misty scents going through Harry's body and nose. Ghosts were floating everywhere with glee, some producing fleeting and screeching noises as they swooshed through the hall, and others were conversing deeply with students. Harry noticed that the people at the tables were cheerful and noisy, but not as much as before.
Several heads levitated up to goggle at him and then exchanged excited whispers that were out of his earshot. A burning feeling was rising in his chest, but he suppressed it by looking around the Hal, pretending to find it fascinating. Then he remembered that Hermione still hadn't-
"Look at them Harry! They're actually smiling at you!" Said Ron from behind him.
Harry's head fell down with a drop. Ron was right, because quite a few people were waving at him gracefully, some were whispering exasperatedly, and the remainder lot were staring vividly at his scar with appreciation. He quickly flattened his bangs down, and waved back nervously, his heart being back to normal.
A considerable amount of students greeted him when they sat down at the Gryffindor table around Seamus and Dean, who were chatting about the Daily Prophet.
"What about it?" Said Harry, avoiding the fact that Parvati and Lavender were looking his way.
"They were saying that Fudge hasn't commented on anything about You-Know-Who for the past month, and-"
Seamus was cut off, because the Sorting Hat had just placed itself on a three legged wooden chair in front of the tables. Its mouth opened wide and words started to come out:
A thousand years ago,
When there was hope in the world,
Four founders joined together
And made a magical school unfurl.
This school was destined to teach
Young boys and girls,
For seven difficult years
And then would become witches and wizards.
I was made to sort you into houses,
Gryffindor: the bravest and boldest
Slytherin: ambitious and power-hungry
Hufflepuff: being the most wisest
And Ravenclaw: intelligent and outwitty
Today, even though I sort you,
Remember this: the power to overcome
Anything is unity and companionship..."
"Where is she?" Ron breathed hoarsely into Harry's ear.
"Who?" Said Harry, even though he knew what Ron was talking about.
"Hermione! You don't think something happened to her? Like Malfoy?"
The Sorting Hat was still chiming its song, while he was pondering about Hermione. What had happened? One second her shoulder had brushed against his own, setting his scar on fire, and then she had touched it, making her eyes shut in concentration for a several minutes...
The staff table suddenly caught his attention. In the middle was Dumbledore, dressed in long blue robes and a bizarre conical hat, showing off a vibrant smile that made Harry warm. On either side of him was Professor McGonagall and a vicious Snape.
But the person sitting next to Snape caught Harry's eye. A lanky woman dressed in white robes was looking out one of the window, with a mystified-but-stern expression. Her eyes resembled two wide slits, and her pale face and long black hair made her represent a tall white swan.
Surely, she couldn't be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, so...?
A ringing applause broke out, and one by one, new children started to approach the chair as Professor McGonagall called out names.
"Ambrose, Caitlin!" She shouted, and a shaking red-haired girl sat down on the chair and seconds later, the Hat bellowed, "RAVENCLAW!"
A warm applause filled the room, and on went the sorting.
The last person was "Wilson, Princet" who got sorted into Slytherin, and then Dumbledore cleared his throat and clinked his goblet noisily.
The rumble in the room disappeared, and Dumbledore beamed at them!"
"Well, another year starts! I welcome the first years, and the old students back! I have a few notices to give out, but first of all, let me introduce our new staff member, Priscilla Evans, who will replace the duty of caretaker, Argus Filch, who has unfortunately retired.
The tall woman Harry had taken note of earlier waved warmly to everyone as the students, as well as the staff clapped. There was no doubt that this witch was widely appreciated, or maybe it was that her appeal was so intriguing, or from the fact that they were free from Argus Filch.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Said Dumbledore, giving Priscilla Evans a merry look. Then he turned hi face towards the students. "NO, I would like to note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to the first years, as well as the rest of the students. Maybe you didn't take me seriously previous times when I informed you this (Harry and Ron exchanged smirks), but this time I am warning you that certain civilians in the Forest will not tolerate your entrance." Dumbledore sighed.
Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to the centaurs, who no longer gave mercy to even Hogwarts students.
"...Quidditch practices will be held on September 20th, and as a safety precaustion, nobody is allowed outside past 8 in the evening."
Muffled groans spread through the Great Hall like poison, shocked at the rule. Harry smirked though, since his Invisibility Cloak would be with him.
Dumbledore continued, "This new curfew is the Ministry's request, and I approved. It is not safe to wander out of the castle at night, and hopefully nobody will break this rule."
Harry could've sworn that Dumbledore had given him a glance.
"Argus Filch has left us his list of Highly Dangerous items on the front door of his office, and the rule remains: if anyone is spotted with these items, there will be punishment."
With new spots of wrinkles on his face and his drooping eyebrows, Dumbledore appeared to be older than ever. But still, he winked gleamingly and said, "Well? Dig in!"
Whopping platters of every kind of food and drink zoomed out of nowhere and rested on all of the tables. With squirming delight, Harry dug in the pumkin pie without a thought.
As he was eating, he noticed that Ron was glaring at Dean with distaste.
"What's up?" Asked Harry, and Ron looked away, "How can she go out with him? Look at him!"
"Huh?"
"Ginny! She's still going out with him!" He breathed so that no one else could hear.
"What's wrong with him?" Said Harry.
But what was wrong with him, he never found out, because a familiar but savory voice spoke from their left, "Mmm..." It was Hermione, settling herself on the bench between him and Ron, completely oblivious to the fact that she had been absent for over an hour.
Harry, who had just gulped a mouthful of apple juice, attempted to make a sound, but Ron beat him.
"Where were you?" He demanded in a garbled voice, with balls of mashed potatoes in his mouth.
Hermione's eyes wer on the fried chicken in front of her, "I went to talk to Lupin." She replied, with a normal voice.
"Yeah? Why?" Said Ron.
"I had to discuss with him about the private lessons he's going to give me." She said, while one of her hands grabbed the chicken and put it calmly against her mouth.
Suddenly, Harry coughed, "What lessons?"
"Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts Lessons."
"Why?" Said Ron, with suspicion in his voice.
Finally, she tilted her head up, and bit off a Chocolate Frog, with an irritated look on her face.
"Because he thinks that I can handle more than the regular classes he's planned for the six years. Now, can you stop badgering me?!" She said loudly, so that now everyone within 10 feet could hear her, but Ron didn't seem to notice.
"But how come when you left-"
"Seamus, what were you saying about Fudge?" Said Harry over his friend's accusing voice. It was obvious that Hermione was not so keen on talking about the subject, and Harry could understand from the numberous times that he had felt that way.
Seamus glanced at Ron and Hermione curiously, "I was saying that Fudge ahsn't appeared anywhere except for work at the Ministry, and they can't fnd him now, he hasn't been showing to work for a week. My mum said that-"
"Dad was telling me about that a while ago!" Cut in Ron, "Some people even think that Fudge is under a spell by the goblins, imagine that, eh?"
Harry felt like a complete fool. He had been residing with the magical for almost two months, but hadn't bothered to even pick up the Daily Prophet to keep up with the news.
"Oh shut up. That's impossible." Snapped Hermione, "Goblins might be powerful, but they would never control a person, especially the Minister of Magic."
Ron was so taken aback that he looked like he was on the verge of Hexing Hermione.
"Then what do you think happened?"
"I'm not sure, but I do know that it wasn't goblins."
Ron rolled his eyes, and muttered under his breath, "Maybe it was an elf."
Harry was now aleep on his four-poster bed, deep in his dreams. A small figure of Professor McGonagall came into view, telling him that she could turn into a ginger biscuit. Then it switched to Luna in front of him, telling him that she had bewitched his Firebolt.
Suddenly, the dream turned shades darker and held onto a deep blue color. He couldn't see anything, but could smell a stale burning odor, and a strong force of dread went through him like wind howling past him.
A muffled groan now entered Harry's ear, and it grew louder. Harry felt cold and alarmed with suspense, and a bursting noise rang out. The cry of a baby was also noticeable.
Again, it changed to vivid reen screen with bee-buzzing that he could hear. A gloomy-blue rectangular room came into view, full with benches and an ancient archway in the middle-
The veil, Harry thought. The archway zoomed in closer and closer.
A lifeless silhouette of a body was visible next to the tattered veil,coered with red stains that appeared to be blood. The scene zoomed in closer, and he saw that the person had something glowing white clutched tightly in their right had. With black untidy hair, torn black robes, and a revealing sharp scar on his forehead, something struck Harry hard like stone. It was him.
Expectedly, the Death Chamber swirled out of view, and came to complete blackness, and he could see no more.
"Harry, you're not eating. What's wrong?" Commented Hermione over breakfast the next morning. Harry had a feeling of heaviness in him, like it would never depart. The flash of him most recent dream was horrifying, and it reminded him of his dead body as a boggart that Mrs.Weasley had once seen. Am I going to end up as the victim...?
He peered out the windows, and the weather surely matched his mood. Furious streaks of rain were hitting the ground like bombs, creating plit-plat noises, and thunder was rumbling down occasionally.
"Nothing. I just had a bad dream." Harry and Hermione were one of the few that were in the Hall in the early hours of the morning. Hemrione said that she needed to get some reading done, and he just wasn't able to sleep, as just seeing himself on the floor in that room...
"What was the dream about?" Asked Hermione, with full curiousity, and having put down her book titled, Numbers: In Advanced about as thick as all of Harry's schoolbooks put together.
"I don't remember." He said.
"How can you not remember? You always remembered your other dreams, right?"
"Yeah, but I forgot this one. Why do you care anyway?"
Hermione seemed to be hurt, but she just eyed him intently and carried on, "It wasn't about the day when Voldemort killed your parents, was it?"
"No, it-why would you think it was that one?" Harry stared at her with an alienlike expression. This question had been too eager, "Ok, what is your secret?"
Hermione put on a frown, "Huh?"
"What aren't you telling us? Why did you just leave the compartment yesterday?"
"I told you, I went to Lupin-"
"Oh come on, Hermione. Maybe that was it, but your went to him for something else too, didn't you?" Said Harry.
"Alright, I'll tell you, but wait 'till Ron comes." Said Hermione, peering over his shoulder.
"No, tell me now-"
"Good morning." Mumbled Ron as he sat down at the table.
Harry turned to her, "Ok. Tell."
Ron yawned, and then gazed at him and Hermione, "How long have you been up?"
Hermione grabbed all of her books and stuffed them hastily in her raggedy bookbad, and then said, "Not that long. Erm...yesterday, when we were on the train, I had a flash... or a vision, I dunno...I saw Voldemort kill you and your mother."
Harry felt like he had been hit with a stunning spell.
"What do you mean when you say you had a vision?" Demanded Ron, now fully awake.
"I don't know," She shivered, "It was like a dream, but I know it couldn't have been. It was like I was there, watching."
He knew what she was referring to, because that's exactly how he visualized it when he had his apparitions.
"But what was that doing in your head?" Said Harry, as normally as he could.
"Lupin reckons it's because I touched your scar and we had a connection."
"Are you serious, or lying?" Said Ron.
Hermione scowled at him, "By the way Harry, has anyone ever touched your scar? Except for you, of course."
"What did you see?" He asked, totally ignoring her question.
"I don't recall that much, but when I touched your scar, I saw Voldemort's body burst through the door, and then....er-your father came in the room and told...told your mother to take you and go...I forget the part in the middle, but after that, Voldemort said to your mum to stand aside and let him kill you, but your mum wouldn't go so...he killed her, and then he said the Avada Kedavra spell, and this green light hit your face, but it just backfired to him, and he just became hollow, a spirit, and something flew away..." Her voice trailed away, and she stared at Harry.
He stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep himself together. Hermione had seen his parents' last moments, but all Harry had heard was his mother and father's frightening voices, he hadn't witnessed the whole scene...
This is too weird...he thought, I just wish I could be somebody else...
"This is all too weird. So, has anyone else ever touched your scar?" Asked Ron very nervously.
Nobody came to mind, because he barely even liked his scar shown to people, so of course nobody would've made contact with it.
"No, not that I can remember."
Hermione started to brush her hair with a comb, and had her back against them, and she was gazing at the ceiling too.
After a while, when the room was almost full, a trail of adverse owls flew through, like swarming butterflies, each one holding a sunshine yellow envelope, and three of them flew towards their direction.
Each one dropped the envelopes onto the table, and Harry, Ron, and Hemrione grasped them. Each one had their own name, and soon they started to rip them open.
With wonder, Harry pulled out a silver piece of parchment and rolled it out.
"O.W.L Results." Hermione breathed, as if a pool of gold had just found its way to her.
On Harry's envelope was written:
Transfiguration: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
Potions: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
Defense Against the Dark Arts: OUTSTANDING
Charms: OUTSTANDING
Herbology: ACCEPTABLE
Astronomy: ACCEPTABLE
Divination: POOR
Care of Magical Creatures: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
History of Magic: POOR
His eyes widened with surprise, because his O.W.L results were definitely higher than he'd expected, especially in Potions. He wondered if Snape had intended to give him Exceeds Expectations or if Dumbledore had stepped in for the matter.
Harry croaked his neck over to Ron's parchment and saw that Ron had gotten five Acceptables, three Exceeds Expectations and Two Poors. Ron's mouth came into a wide smile.
"Not bad." Said Harry.
"Not bad? I expected around 6 Poor O.W.L's and three Acceptables. They did come a little late though."
Immediately, both of them peered at Hermione's scroll, and saw tha she had gotten 'Outstanding' for every subject excluding Ancient Runes', in which she received an 'Exceeds Expectations."
"No!" She shrieked frustratingly. Both Harry and Ron raised an eyebrow, but they couldn't expect any other reaction from Hermione for getting almost perfect O.W.L's
"Oh no, Hermione! Did you fail, dear? Mind if I switch results with you?" Mocked Ron, and went for Hermione's parchment. Hermione slapped Ron's arm and started to laugh.
"What did you get?" Said Hermione, and snatched Ron's paper from his left side.
"That's really good Ron!" She exclaimed, as her eyes went up and down the silver parchment.
"Not as good as you though. I reckon I should start paying attention this year." Said Ron seriously.
Hermione's mouth fell open and then went to touch his forehead, "Are you feeling alright? Is somebody else in Ickle Ronny's head?" She tapped Ron's brain from the side.
A feeling of icy sweat fell over Harry, and stared at his results in front him. The he rolled up the parchment, put it in his bookbag, and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Said Hermione
"Lupin. I'll be back." He answered shortly.
Harry went past the 2nd floor, and then turned up to go to the third floor, and after that he didn't know where he was going because he was thinking intensely, and his chest heaving. Oh stop it, a voice inside him said, they're just friends...
But what about Ron? Another voice spoke from inside, didn't he say that he like Hermione?
Even if he didn't, it was so obvious, the way he got jealous the moment Viktor Krum's name to Hermione's lips, and they were always bickering madly like a married couple...
Did he really like Hermione more than Ron, or was it-
Slam. He had just bumped into someone before realizing it, almost falling to the ground. Harry grabbed a hold of the person, "I'm sorry-"
"It's alright." A dreamy voice spoke. It was Luna.
"Sorry. I had no idea where-"
"I was going," she completed, "Yes, I can see that." Her straggly hair was now straight and drenched wet, along with her wet robes, and had her usual dazed expression on her face.
"Were you outside?" Said Harry, eyeing her mysteriously.
She nodded, "I had to go see Hagrid."
Harry was immensely surprised, "Why?"
"He wanted to know if I would take care of one of his salamanders for a few months, so I went down this morning to tell him I could."
"Oh."
"Well, Bye." Said Luna distantly.
"I have to go down to the common room too." They both walked down together.
"Your schedules are being handed out, and classes will start at 9:00 am." Professor McGonagall announced to the Gryffindor Common Room the next morning, entering with thundering rolls of parchment.
"As you see, not all of you got in the classes you requested, effected by your O.W.L results, but there were exceptions..." She said and gave Harry a quick glance.
Today, he had Double Potions (oh no), Charms, Transfiguration, and Double Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Double Potions first thing in the morning? What had he done to deserve this?
After a moment, he realized something. Snape only took students with an 'Outstanding' O.W.L in his class, so how had he gotten it.
He already knew the answer, but he was peeved. One thing was that Harry didn't want to receive special treatment, and the second was the fact that he would have to continue with Potions. A part of him had been hoping that he wouldn't get in, partially being the reason why he had applied for Potions, if he wanted to become and Auror. Ron hadn't even bothered to sign his name, only scraping an 'Acceptable' in Potions.
An hour or so had passed, when Harry entered Snape's dungeon with Hermione striding alongside him.
Both of them settled in seats in the middle of the room, and Harry was still a little uncomfortable around Hermione since the other day, but he had felt better when he had chatted with Luna down his way to the Common Room. He had talked about his O.W.L results and she had mentioned how she was nervous about taking the O.W.L's this year. She'd also mentioned the new caretaker, Evans, who happened to be her distant aunt.
Harry looked ahead and saw that Snape was hovering his head completely over a jar of purple goo. Its contents were bubbling upwards, and he had the sudden urge to shove the bottle on Snape's slimy face.
A few minutes later, Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle marched in cheeringly except for Malfoy. He caught Harry's eye immediately, and threw him a deadly glare, and he received an equal one from Harry. They took seats right behind him and Hermione, but it was no use changing seats now, Harry thought, since all of them had filled up.
"Settle down." Said Snape icily and got up from his desk to walk around the room slowly.
"Most of you in here have achieved an Outstanding O.W.L in Potions, resulting in being competent enough to carry with Advanced Potions. But first of all, let's get something straight."
"I will not tolerate a student who is slacking up and isn't working up to their potential, especially towards the end of the year, where things tend to get difficult."
"I have an errand to tend to, and I will return in five minutes, and if anyone is doing anything other than potion making, they will pay." Snape eyed Harry loathingly, and continued, "Today, you will make a Drowzy Potion, used to cure hyperness and hyperventilation. Instructions are on the board, and the supplies in front of you. Begin." Snape observed the room a last time, turned, and strided out the door.
Harry's eyes widened as he observed the board containing about 40 steps to the Drowzy Potion.
"What a tough Potion." Sneered a voice from Harry's back, and turned swiftly to see Malfoy whispering rather loudly to Crabbe and Goyle, "Let's just hope Potter doesn't get another D."
All three laughed, and Harry's hands balled into fists. Hermione gave him a warning look, and he tried hard to concentrate on his potion which was now a dark green color.
"Having any more visions, Potter?" Said Malfoy, now directly to Harry, who could feel himself growing hotter by the second. No, a firm voice came into hi head, he's not worth it...
"What is it this time?" His voice was now a mere whisper, so that only Harry could hear, "Dark corridors? Strange curtains? Glowing objects?"
Harry's neck cricked around impulsively, glowering at Malfoy. He knows something.
"What on earth are you babbling about?" Spat out Harry.
"Let's just hope Harry Potter doesn't crack and end up in St.Mungo's."
"At least I won't be in Azkaban, getting my soul sucked out." Retorted Harry quietly.
"Well," Whispered Malfoy, "At least Father didn't 'fall through', if you know what I mean."
Before Harry knew what he was doing, he found himself standing with his wand ready to strike at Malfoy, who was up himself, armed. He could feel everyone's eyes on them, but he didn't care.
"No, Harry!" Said Hermione.
But before he had any time to think, a cold voice rang out, "Potter!"
Snape was back, with a dangerous look on his face.
" I leave this classroom for a minute, and you start fighting. Forty points from Gryffindor. Now sit down before you get detention."
He couldn't believe it. He sat down, and stared angrily at Snape, wishing he could take his face off of the surface of the planet...