Part Two: The Picture Behind the Painting
Things began to feel normal after Dumbledore's talk. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were as inseparable as ever. Gretchen and Neville got along amazingly, and it almost seemed as if they had already know each other. Gretchen also got along well with Hermione because, as it turned out, she was a library nerd, too. "But a cute one," Ron said. Ron liked Gretchen. There was no doubt about it. He walked with her in the hall every chance he got and sat by her during Transfiguration even though he had always sat by Harry in the previous years. And to make things worse Gretchen was always avoiding Harry and making excuses not to talk to him when they were together. It just didn't seem fair. All of his friends go along with her perfectly, but she didn't like him at all.
It will all pass, Harry thought, it's just because she's new. But by Friday Harry was becoming annoyed with her. He was in a bad mood during breakfast, and to make a bad day worse, today as the first day of Defense Against Dark Arts and Potions and Divination. He would have some new teacher that he didn't know, a teacher who hated him, and a teacher that told him he was going to die every two seconds. Harry secretly hoped that some one had told her to stop doing that. After what had happened with Cedric last year, it seemed very likely that he could.....Harry didn't want to think about it that early in the morning.
"Well, come on, I don't want to be late on the first day with a new teacher," Hermione said as soon as they were done with breakfast. The three best friends hurried from the Gryffindor table as Hermione dragged them to the class room.
"Ah, welcome," Professor Elestor said as they entered the room. Harry eyed her. She was a tall, slender, women with large brown eyes, long gray hair, and large, bony fingers. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts,'-she eyes Gretchen coldly-, "This year we will continue were you left off with curses, and cover a few creatures I hope, though curses will be our main concern because of the situation with you-know-who. Now, I know that last year you learned about the three unforgivable curses, this year we will be concentrating on those used in duels and other such things. When a witch or wizard attacks, the object is not all ways to kill. Now, open your books to page 231...." The lesson continued like that for the rest of the period.
Harry was bored out of his mind by the end of the lesson. He was almost excited to be going to potions.....then his mind returned to him. Potions. It was taught by Professor Snape, Harry's least favorite teacher, though Professor Elestor was giving him a run for his money. Harry was Snape's least favorite student, and Harry could only imagine how mad he must be now that Harry knew his most incriminating secret. Professor Snape was a former death eater, but only her Ron and Hermione knew that, and of course Dumbledore. In Harry's mind, however, they were about equal, because Snape knew that Harry had helped Sirius, a convicted-innocent-murderer. With that thought something suddenly occurred to Harry. He hadn't heard from Sirius since his birthday.
With that thought gleaming in his mind, Harry found it hard to concentrate on Potions or get mad when Snape picked on him.....but then he noticed that Snape wasn't picking on him. He wasn't picking on anyone, though he occasionally shot a Gryffindor with a dirty look. "Potter, Weasly, Granger, Locus I want to see you after class," Snape said suddenly. So much for a decent potions lesson, Harry thought Grimly, but he knew better then to go against Snape's word, who already had it in for Gryffindor any way.
The bell rang but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Gretchen made no move to leave their seats. Snape looked them all coldly in the eye. "I need your word that your secret will not leave these walls. Not one student here knows that I was a death eater, not even the children of former death eaters. I need to know that you will not reveal my secret."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked at each other in shock. It seemed like the perfect way to get revenge on Snape.....Gretchen shrugged. She was about to say something when her face began to lose it's color and a worry line formed on her forehead. She spoke quickly in a rushed voice, as if she needed to run away from something. "Mother always did suspect you were on the opposite side of the battle." With that she grabbed her books and left very quickly.
Hermione looked at her bewildered, then said, "Well, if Dumbledore trusts you I do, too." She quickly hurried after Gretchen.
"Umm.......," Harry managed. "Well, I see no reason to scare any one." Ron's face went red.
"Harry!" he yelled, but Harry said nothing. Ron rolled his eyes, still angry. "You are so lucky I didn't mention this to Fred and George over the summer." With that Harry and Ron left as well and headed to lunch.
The two boys sat by Hermione as soon as they walked in. "Where did Gretchen go?" Ron asked as soon as he sat down.
"How should I know?" Hermione asked, annoyed. "I'm not her baby sister. By the time I left the class room she was gone. The only thing in the hall was some one's cat."
"Gee, Hermione it was just a question," Ron said defensively. "I wonder..."
"Well, it doesn't really matter," Harry interjected, "She has a life of her own you
know." Ron nodded and took a bite of his pudding.
"You're suppose to save desert for last," Hermione said.
"Relax, Hermione. I'm not braking any sort of rule," Ron said. Hermione shot
him a dirty look and took a bite of her sandwich, muttering something about Ron being
improper. Harry rolled his eyes. Was improper even a word? Of was it unproper? Did he
hear wrong? Maybe he should ask Hermione about the spelling......
"Letters," Harry said suddenly. "I have to go." He quickly finished his meal and
headed towards the hall. He had to find Dumbledore. He had to ask about Sirius,
considering his birthday was at the end of July and it was now September.
"What are you doing here?" said a cold voice. It was Professor Elestor. She peered down at him coldly.
"I was..er....looking for Professor Dumbledore," Harry said. He didn't like the was she was looking at him. It was quiet unnerving.
"And why would he have business seeing you, Mr. Potter? I do hope fame hasn't corrupted you that much," she said.
"It hasn't but...err......," Harry stopped. She would never understand if he told her about Sirius. How could he possibly......
"Well, Mr. Potter, seeking out the Headmaster, who is very busy I might add, is a very serious offense. Let's see...how meny points from Gryffindor?..."
"Wait, Professor Elestor, he was going to come with me," said a voice suddenly. Gretchen emerged from the shadows to Harry's left. "I needed to speak to Dumbledore concerning a personal matter, on which I'm not allowed to talk about, and I was a bit nervous. Harry was kind enough to volunteer to come with me. We were just going."
"I didn't see you walking together?" Professor Elestor said coldly.
"I asked him to meet me here." The Professor nodded hesitantly and then sped away from the two students.
"Thanks," Harry said.
"Yeah, whatever. Well, if we're going to see Dumbledore let's go," she said. She started off and Harry quickly went after her.
"You're really going to see him?" Harry questioned. Gretchen nodded. Harry decided not to question her about it, remembering what Dumbledore had said about letting her be. They arrived at the statue that hid the stair case that lead to the man's office. Gretchen whisper something to the statue and it moved letting Harry and Gretchen through. "He told you his pass word?"
"Just for today," Gretchen said. "My Doctor is waiting for me. We'll just have a short chat and I'll be on my way." Harry nodded.
"Do you know who Sirius Black is?" Harry asked as they climbed the stairs.
"Yes, he was a good man," Gretchen said softly, before she had a chance to stop herself. She lowered her head in shame, though Harry had no idea why.
"I agree," he said. "He didn't kill any one, you know." At this Gretchen raised her head and smiled, shaking her head. Before she had a chance to tell him anything they walked through an open door and into the circular office that belonged to the Hogwarts Headmaster.
"Ah, there you are Gretchen, and I see you've brought a friend as well," said a short round man with balding yellow hair, big fluffy eyebrows (Harry thought they resembled caterpillars), and a large smile. "Have you been doing well?"
"Yes, I'm fine Dr. Parkmen," she said calmly.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore tells me that you've been doing well this week. I hate to cut this meeting short, but I was hoping to have an extra long chat with Yolanda. I think that there's a good chance that she'll be able to get out when she's around twenty-five if she keeps on improving at this rate."
"Give her my best," Gretchen said. "Maybe I could visit her over winter holidays? And the others?"
The round man frowned. "We'll see." With that he smiled, patted her on the head, and quickly left.
"So Harry, what brings you here?"
"Well.....," Harry eyed Gretchen wished she would leave, but she didn't. She lowered her head shamefully and spoke very softly.
"I know he's innocent, Harry, if that's what you were going to talk about. My mother was a death eater, she knew what happened."
"So you know about Pettigrew? And Sirius Black? And my parents and everything?" She smiled softly.
"I told people once when I was four or five," she said, "They thought I said it all because I was nutters. But I think you know it's the truth." Harry looked at Gretchen for a moment and then turned to Dumbledore.
"He hasn't written me in two months and I've been getting worried. Have you heard from him?" Dumbledore just shock his head, saying no.
"I'll write Remus and check up on him. He's bound to know something. Mean while, Sirius can take care of himself. Please, don't get too up set, Harry." Harry nodded
and turned to face Gretchen.
"Hey, where'd she go?" Harry asked.
"I didn't see her leave," Dumbledore said in a tone that sounded for amused then puzzled. "Oh, well. She is a rather odd girl. Now, you should be going, Harry. I wouldn't want you to be late for anything." Harry nodded and quickly left the office. He tried to find Gretchen in the hall, but all he saw was someone's cat sitting on the floor washing it's leg, next to it was Hermione's cat, Crookshanks. It was the strangest looking cat Harry had ever seen. It had a short, black coat with a silver stripe going from it's ears all the way to the tip of it's tail. It also had silver markings at the bottom of it's hind legs, almost like boots, and a star-like mark on it's left hip. Harry would have loved to study it, but he rushed off instead. Like Dumbledore had said, he didn't want to be late.
"Welcome back," Professor Trewaleny said as soon as class started. "This will be
an exciting year for you. First we will be studding meditation, then prophetic dreams-."
"All right we'll get to sleep in class," Ron whispered.
"And then finally we will begin the study of changing the future based on what we have learned. Sadly, my students, this is the last year you will be spending in my class. I will be giving you next years options the lesson after your O.W.L.s are threw. There are meny interesting classes you can take next year. So chose wisely. Now, please take your copy of Unfogging the Future and open to page 157. Please read up to page 159. We will not be doing any meditating this lesson, but I do expect a report on the different ways to meditate that is at least two pieces of parchment long, you may want to make it three pages dear,"-she pointed to Neville-, "it will help when you loss point for
having trouble with actual meditation later."
Harry and Ron took out their books and started reading. Ron seemed to be doing all right, but Harry couldn't concentrate. He was still worried about Sirius, and he was excited about seeing Hagrid.
Ron and Harry met Hermione by the stairs after class. "So, how was ancient
Runes?" Ron asked as they waited for Hagrid to come and escort them to his hut.
"Fascinating. Simply fascinating. My partner and I got the highest points of the
lesson. We took the pre-test for Egyptian Runes in teams. Gretchen and I scored one
hundred and eight percent," Hermione reported.
"Gretchen's in your class?" Ron said. "So, Harry, mind if I drop Divination?"
"Of course not," Harry said sarcastically. "I didn't think you liked her that much."
"Well, Harry, I do. And you don't need act surprised about it just because you don't like her," said Ron. Harry just shrugged.
"She's not as bad as I though she was," he said. "In fact, she's really nice, just kinda shy. I don't know why she's been avoiding me, though. We get along just fine."
Ron looked at Harry and raised his eye brows. "And I thought I liked her."
"I don't like her like her. I just think she's a nice person. Don't worry, Ron, I'm not your competition. But I think Justin is,' Harry said, thinking of the Huffelpuff boy who he could see walking with Gretchen out of the corner of his eye. Gretchen waved to Hermione and she waved back, then the two were gone.
"Where's Hagrid," she said. "Don't you think he should be here by now?"
"I suppose, so," Harry said. "Maybe he's getting tomorrow's lesson ready. Or maybe the third years he's teaching re having a late lesson."
"I hope not," said Ron as he pointed to the sky. "It's about ta rain."
"There he is," said Hermione, pointing to a large figure approaching. He was holding a large pink umbrella over his head, which Harry knew contained his wand. They had snapped it when Hagrid was expelled in his third year. Dumbledore managed to get Hagrid trained as game keeper at Hogwarts. A few years ago when the Chamber of Secrets had been opened, Hagrid's name had been cleared, and the following year he became the Care of Magical Creatures professor. He had almost resigned the previous year when it was discovered that he was half-giant, but after locking himself in his hut for a week he got over it and now was as good as ever.
"'Ellos Harry. Hermione. Ron. It's good ter see ya," he said as he made is way onto the steps. "Let's hurry and get ter me home before this storm starts." Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran up to him and they made their way to his hut. "Tea?" he asked as soon as they arrived.
"Yes, please," Hermione said as soon as they got in. Hagrid grabbed three tea ups and one cup the size of a bucket for himself and poured the tea.
"How yer been?" he asked.
"Good," said Harry. "Schools been going well. Even potions turned out to be okey." Ron nodded in agreement.
"Yes," said Hermione, "and there's a new girl in our classes this year, Gretchen. She's really nice." Hermione eyed Ron, about to say something, then though better of it. "Oh, Hagrid, I wanted to ask you if it's true that we're having a Halloween dance this year?"
Hagrid smiled. "Who told yer 'bout dat?"
"Oh, they told us in Ancient Runes today. My Professor's chaperoning. I can't wait! I was wondering if you could take us to the owlery. I want to invite Victor."
Hagrid chuckled. "I'll take ya tomorrow Hermione." The rest of the visit was cheery. It made Harry feel really great, seeing Hagrid again, that he stopped worrying about Sirius, and he forgot that his first extra Defense Against Dark Arts lesson was after dinner that night. Luckily, Gretchen reminded him, and they made their way towards the class room. Harry wasn't looking forward to it. Professor Elestor didn't like him or Gretchen. She had made that clear in the hall way earlier that day.
The practice turned out to be even more horrible then Harry had thought it would be. Professor Elestor had started the lesson with seventh year materiel. Harry and Gretchen were doing horribly. That made Professor Elestor angry and she assigned both of them to a five page report.
Gretchen was allowed to leave first, Professor Elestor wanted to have a word with Harry after the lesson. "Yes Professor Elestor?" Harry said after Gretchen was out of
sight.
"Don't get involved with types like her, boy. She's bad blood. I know she's already told you her true story, but that doesn't change anything. She's bad blood. Now, go. Hurry to your common room." Harry chose not to respond, but simply left as fast as he could. He thought that Professor Elestor was crazy.
"It's a pretty painting isn't it?" Harry heard Gretchen say. She was looking at a painting in the next hall. Harry walked over to she what she was talking about.
"It's a muggle painting," he said suddenly as he gazed at the still painting over the silver unicorn. Gretchen nodded.
"My mother told me that she and her friends use to hide things behind it. I wonder.....," Gretchen lifted up the frame and an old, gray book came fall out. She picked it up and looked threw it. "Ah, a photo album. And one of a very skill photographer." She showed Harry the book. "You see how all the picture are black and white? And still?" Harry nodded. "That's because whoever took these was skilled enough to capture the heart of the moment, and freeze it time long enough to have a sample of that moment forever. Very beautiful. Would you like to look at it?"
"Sure," Harry said. Gretchen handed him the book.
"Would you mind keeping it for the night? You have your bag of books with you and I don't, so it would look weird for me to be carrying it around."
"Sure," Harry repeated as he turned the pages. "Do you know who these people are?"
"Nope. I think they're friends of my mother. She always told me that her friend Sue was a good photographer. Well, we'd better get going." Harry put the photo album in his bag and they walked to the Common room. It was surprisingly late. Hermione and Ron were already in bed (or so Fred and Gorge said). Harry headed up stairs, too.
After a few hours of tossing and turning, Harry found that he couldn't sleep. He thought about waking Ron, but that would be rude. So, remembering the Photo album he and Gretchen had found, he decided to look at the pictures. He pulled it out and began to look threw it. On page three he founds something he never expected
A/N: I'll try to finish part three by next week end. Enjoy
Disclaimed: I don't own any thing but the plot and the new characters. For a more complete disclaimer see part 1
Things began to feel normal after Dumbledore's talk. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were as inseparable as ever. Gretchen and Neville got along amazingly, and it almost seemed as if they had already know each other. Gretchen also got along well with Hermione because, as it turned out, she was a library nerd, too. "But a cute one," Ron said. Ron liked Gretchen. There was no doubt about it. He walked with her in the hall every chance he got and sat by her during Transfiguration even though he had always sat by Harry in the previous years. And to make things worse Gretchen was always avoiding Harry and making excuses not to talk to him when they were together. It just didn't seem fair. All of his friends go along with her perfectly, but she didn't like him at all.
It will all pass, Harry thought, it's just because she's new. But by Friday Harry was becoming annoyed with her. He was in a bad mood during breakfast, and to make a bad day worse, today as the first day of Defense Against Dark Arts and Potions and Divination. He would have some new teacher that he didn't know, a teacher who hated him, and a teacher that told him he was going to die every two seconds. Harry secretly hoped that some one had told her to stop doing that. After what had happened with Cedric last year, it seemed very likely that he could.....Harry didn't want to think about it that early in the morning.
"Well, come on, I don't want to be late on the first day with a new teacher," Hermione said as soon as they were done with breakfast. The three best friends hurried from the Gryffindor table as Hermione dragged them to the class room.
"Ah, welcome," Professor Elestor said as they entered the room. Harry eyed her. She was a tall, slender, women with large brown eyes, long gray hair, and large, bony fingers. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts,'-she eyes Gretchen coldly-, "This year we will continue were you left off with curses, and cover a few creatures I hope, though curses will be our main concern because of the situation with you-know-who. Now, I know that last year you learned about the three unforgivable curses, this year we will be concentrating on those used in duels and other such things. When a witch or wizard attacks, the object is not all ways to kill. Now, open your books to page 231...." The lesson continued like that for the rest of the period.
Harry was bored out of his mind by the end of the lesson. He was almost excited to be going to potions.....then his mind returned to him. Potions. It was taught by Professor Snape, Harry's least favorite teacher, though Professor Elestor was giving him a run for his money. Harry was Snape's least favorite student, and Harry could only imagine how mad he must be now that Harry knew his most incriminating secret. Professor Snape was a former death eater, but only her Ron and Hermione knew that, and of course Dumbledore. In Harry's mind, however, they were about equal, because Snape knew that Harry had helped Sirius, a convicted-innocent-murderer. With that thought something suddenly occurred to Harry. He hadn't heard from Sirius since his birthday.
With that thought gleaming in his mind, Harry found it hard to concentrate on Potions or get mad when Snape picked on him.....but then he noticed that Snape wasn't picking on him. He wasn't picking on anyone, though he occasionally shot a Gryffindor with a dirty look. "Potter, Weasly, Granger, Locus I want to see you after class," Snape said suddenly. So much for a decent potions lesson, Harry thought Grimly, but he knew better then to go against Snape's word, who already had it in for Gryffindor any way.
The bell rang but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Gretchen made no move to leave their seats. Snape looked them all coldly in the eye. "I need your word that your secret will not leave these walls. Not one student here knows that I was a death eater, not even the children of former death eaters. I need to know that you will not reveal my secret."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked at each other in shock. It seemed like the perfect way to get revenge on Snape.....Gretchen shrugged. She was about to say something when her face began to lose it's color and a worry line formed on her forehead. She spoke quickly in a rushed voice, as if she needed to run away from something. "Mother always did suspect you were on the opposite side of the battle." With that she grabbed her books and left very quickly.
Hermione looked at her bewildered, then said, "Well, if Dumbledore trusts you I do, too." She quickly hurried after Gretchen.
"Umm.......," Harry managed. "Well, I see no reason to scare any one." Ron's face went red.
"Harry!" he yelled, but Harry said nothing. Ron rolled his eyes, still angry. "You are so lucky I didn't mention this to Fred and George over the summer." With that Harry and Ron left as well and headed to lunch.
The two boys sat by Hermione as soon as they walked in. "Where did Gretchen go?" Ron asked as soon as he sat down.
"How should I know?" Hermione asked, annoyed. "I'm not her baby sister. By the time I left the class room she was gone. The only thing in the hall was some one's cat."
"Gee, Hermione it was just a question," Ron said defensively. "I wonder..."
"Well, it doesn't really matter," Harry interjected, "She has a life of her own you
know." Ron nodded and took a bite of his pudding.
"You're suppose to save desert for last," Hermione said.
"Relax, Hermione. I'm not braking any sort of rule," Ron said. Hermione shot
him a dirty look and took a bite of her sandwich, muttering something about Ron being
improper. Harry rolled his eyes. Was improper even a word? Of was it unproper? Did he
hear wrong? Maybe he should ask Hermione about the spelling......
"Letters," Harry said suddenly. "I have to go." He quickly finished his meal and
headed towards the hall. He had to find Dumbledore. He had to ask about Sirius,
considering his birthday was at the end of July and it was now September.
"What are you doing here?" said a cold voice. It was Professor Elestor. She peered down at him coldly.
"I was..er....looking for Professor Dumbledore," Harry said. He didn't like the was she was looking at him. It was quiet unnerving.
"And why would he have business seeing you, Mr. Potter? I do hope fame hasn't corrupted you that much," she said.
"It hasn't but...err......," Harry stopped. She would never understand if he told her about Sirius. How could he possibly......
"Well, Mr. Potter, seeking out the Headmaster, who is very busy I might add, is a very serious offense. Let's see...how meny points from Gryffindor?..."
"Wait, Professor Elestor, he was going to come with me," said a voice suddenly. Gretchen emerged from the shadows to Harry's left. "I needed to speak to Dumbledore concerning a personal matter, on which I'm not allowed to talk about, and I was a bit nervous. Harry was kind enough to volunteer to come with me. We were just going."
"I didn't see you walking together?" Professor Elestor said coldly.
"I asked him to meet me here." The Professor nodded hesitantly and then sped away from the two students.
"Thanks," Harry said.
"Yeah, whatever. Well, if we're going to see Dumbledore let's go," she said. She started off and Harry quickly went after her.
"You're really going to see him?" Harry questioned. Gretchen nodded. Harry decided not to question her about it, remembering what Dumbledore had said about letting her be. They arrived at the statue that hid the stair case that lead to the man's office. Gretchen whisper something to the statue and it moved letting Harry and Gretchen through. "He told you his pass word?"
"Just for today," Gretchen said. "My Doctor is waiting for me. We'll just have a short chat and I'll be on my way." Harry nodded.
"Do you know who Sirius Black is?" Harry asked as they climbed the stairs.
"Yes, he was a good man," Gretchen said softly, before she had a chance to stop herself. She lowered her head in shame, though Harry had no idea why.
"I agree," he said. "He didn't kill any one, you know." At this Gretchen raised her head and smiled, shaking her head. Before she had a chance to tell him anything they walked through an open door and into the circular office that belonged to the Hogwarts Headmaster.
"Ah, there you are Gretchen, and I see you've brought a friend as well," said a short round man with balding yellow hair, big fluffy eyebrows (Harry thought they resembled caterpillars), and a large smile. "Have you been doing well?"
"Yes, I'm fine Dr. Parkmen," she said calmly.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore tells me that you've been doing well this week. I hate to cut this meeting short, but I was hoping to have an extra long chat with Yolanda. I think that there's a good chance that she'll be able to get out when she's around twenty-five if she keeps on improving at this rate."
"Give her my best," Gretchen said. "Maybe I could visit her over winter holidays? And the others?"
The round man frowned. "We'll see." With that he smiled, patted her on the head, and quickly left.
"So Harry, what brings you here?"
"Well.....," Harry eyed Gretchen wished she would leave, but she didn't. She lowered her head shamefully and spoke very softly.
"I know he's innocent, Harry, if that's what you were going to talk about. My mother was a death eater, she knew what happened."
"So you know about Pettigrew? And Sirius Black? And my parents and everything?" She smiled softly.
"I told people once when I was four or five," she said, "They thought I said it all because I was nutters. But I think you know it's the truth." Harry looked at Gretchen for a moment and then turned to Dumbledore.
"He hasn't written me in two months and I've been getting worried. Have you heard from him?" Dumbledore just shock his head, saying no.
"I'll write Remus and check up on him. He's bound to know something. Mean while, Sirius can take care of himself. Please, don't get too up set, Harry." Harry nodded
and turned to face Gretchen.
"Hey, where'd she go?" Harry asked.
"I didn't see her leave," Dumbledore said in a tone that sounded for amused then puzzled. "Oh, well. She is a rather odd girl. Now, you should be going, Harry. I wouldn't want you to be late for anything." Harry nodded and quickly left the office. He tried to find Gretchen in the hall, but all he saw was someone's cat sitting on the floor washing it's leg, next to it was Hermione's cat, Crookshanks. It was the strangest looking cat Harry had ever seen. It had a short, black coat with a silver stripe going from it's ears all the way to the tip of it's tail. It also had silver markings at the bottom of it's hind legs, almost like boots, and a star-like mark on it's left hip. Harry would have loved to study it, but he rushed off instead. Like Dumbledore had said, he didn't want to be late.
"Welcome back," Professor Trewaleny said as soon as class started. "This will be
an exciting year for you. First we will be studding meditation, then prophetic dreams-."
"All right we'll get to sleep in class," Ron whispered.
"And then finally we will begin the study of changing the future based on what we have learned. Sadly, my students, this is the last year you will be spending in my class. I will be giving you next years options the lesson after your O.W.L.s are threw. There are meny interesting classes you can take next year. So chose wisely. Now, please take your copy of Unfogging the Future and open to page 157. Please read up to page 159. We will not be doing any meditating this lesson, but I do expect a report on the different ways to meditate that is at least two pieces of parchment long, you may want to make it three pages dear,"-she pointed to Neville-, "it will help when you loss point for
having trouble with actual meditation later."
Harry and Ron took out their books and started reading. Ron seemed to be doing all right, but Harry couldn't concentrate. He was still worried about Sirius, and he was excited about seeing Hagrid.
Ron and Harry met Hermione by the stairs after class. "So, how was ancient
Runes?" Ron asked as they waited for Hagrid to come and escort them to his hut.
"Fascinating. Simply fascinating. My partner and I got the highest points of the
lesson. We took the pre-test for Egyptian Runes in teams. Gretchen and I scored one
hundred and eight percent," Hermione reported.
"Gretchen's in your class?" Ron said. "So, Harry, mind if I drop Divination?"
"Of course not," Harry said sarcastically. "I didn't think you liked her that much."
"Well, Harry, I do. And you don't need act surprised about it just because you don't like her," said Ron. Harry just shrugged.
"She's not as bad as I though she was," he said. "In fact, she's really nice, just kinda shy. I don't know why she's been avoiding me, though. We get along just fine."
Ron looked at Harry and raised his eye brows. "And I thought I liked her."
"I don't like her like her. I just think she's a nice person. Don't worry, Ron, I'm not your competition. But I think Justin is,' Harry said, thinking of the Huffelpuff boy who he could see walking with Gretchen out of the corner of his eye. Gretchen waved to Hermione and she waved back, then the two were gone.
"Where's Hagrid," she said. "Don't you think he should be here by now?"
"I suppose, so," Harry said. "Maybe he's getting tomorrow's lesson ready. Or maybe the third years he's teaching re having a late lesson."
"I hope not," said Ron as he pointed to the sky. "It's about ta rain."
"There he is," said Hermione, pointing to a large figure approaching. He was holding a large pink umbrella over his head, which Harry knew contained his wand. They had snapped it when Hagrid was expelled in his third year. Dumbledore managed to get Hagrid trained as game keeper at Hogwarts. A few years ago when the Chamber of Secrets had been opened, Hagrid's name had been cleared, and the following year he became the Care of Magical Creatures professor. He had almost resigned the previous year when it was discovered that he was half-giant, but after locking himself in his hut for a week he got over it and now was as good as ever.
"'Ellos Harry. Hermione. Ron. It's good ter see ya," he said as he made is way onto the steps. "Let's hurry and get ter me home before this storm starts." Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran up to him and they made their way to his hut. "Tea?" he asked as soon as they arrived.
"Yes, please," Hermione said as soon as they got in. Hagrid grabbed three tea ups and one cup the size of a bucket for himself and poured the tea.
"How yer been?" he asked.
"Good," said Harry. "Schools been going well. Even potions turned out to be okey." Ron nodded in agreement.
"Yes," said Hermione, "and there's a new girl in our classes this year, Gretchen. She's really nice." Hermione eyed Ron, about to say something, then though better of it. "Oh, Hagrid, I wanted to ask you if it's true that we're having a Halloween dance this year?"
Hagrid smiled. "Who told yer 'bout dat?"
"Oh, they told us in Ancient Runes today. My Professor's chaperoning. I can't wait! I was wondering if you could take us to the owlery. I want to invite Victor."
Hagrid chuckled. "I'll take ya tomorrow Hermione." The rest of the visit was cheery. It made Harry feel really great, seeing Hagrid again, that he stopped worrying about Sirius, and he forgot that his first extra Defense Against Dark Arts lesson was after dinner that night. Luckily, Gretchen reminded him, and they made their way towards the class room. Harry wasn't looking forward to it. Professor Elestor didn't like him or Gretchen. She had made that clear in the hall way earlier that day.
The practice turned out to be even more horrible then Harry had thought it would be. Professor Elestor had started the lesson with seventh year materiel. Harry and Gretchen were doing horribly. That made Professor Elestor angry and she assigned both of them to a five page report.
Gretchen was allowed to leave first, Professor Elestor wanted to have a word with Harry after the lesson. "Yes Professor Elestor?" Harry said after Gretchen was out of
sight.
"Don't get involved with types like her, boy. She's bad blood. I know she's already told you her true story, but that doesn't change anything. She's bad blood. Now, go. Hurry to your common room." Harry chose not to respond, but simply left as fast as he could. He thought that Professor Elestor was crazy.
"It's a pretty painting isn't it?" Harry heard Gretchen say. She was looking at a painting in the next hall. Harry walked over to she what she was talking about.
"It's a muggle painting," he said suddenly as he gazed at the still painting over the silver unicorn. Gretchen nodded.
"My mother told me that she and her friends use to hide things behind it. I wonder.....," Gretchen lifted up the frame and an old, gray book came fall out. She picked it up and looked threw it. "Ah, a photo album. And one of a very skill photographer." She showed Harry the book. "You see how all the picture are black and white? And still?" Harry nodded. "That's because whoever took these was skilled enough to capture the heart of the moment, and freeze it time long enough to have a sample of that moment forever. Very beautiful. Would you like to look at it?"
"Sure," Harry said. Gretchen handed him the book.
"Would you mind keeping it for the night? You have your bag of books with you and I don't, so it would look weird for me to be carrying it around."
"Sure," Harry repeated as he turned the pages. "Do you know who these people are?"
"Nope. I think they're friends of my mother. She always told me that her friend Sue was a good photographer. Well, we'd better get going." Harry put the photo album in his bag and they walked to the Common room. It was surprisingly late. Hermione and Ron were already in bed (or so Fred and Gorge said). Harry headed up stairs, too.
After a few hours of tossing and turning, Harry found that he couldn't sleep. He thought about waking Ron, but that would be rude. So, remembering the Photo album he and Gretchen had found, he decided to look at the pictures. He pulled it out and began to look threw it. On page three he founds something he never expected
A/N: I'll try to finish part three by next week end. Enjoy
Disclaimed: I don't own any thing but the plot and the new characters. For a more complete disclaimer see part 1