Ron blinked as he walked out into the bright sunshine on the grounds, a change fom the dusty room he had been in.
"Ron! Where have you been? We've been looking all around for you!" called Hermione from near Hagrid's cabin.
"C'mon, we're gonna be late." Harry said seriously.
The tall, red-headed young man walked down the hill to meet his friends, his shadow still taller than Harry's, but not the way it used to be. When Harry was short...those fun, happy times seemed so long ago. Oh, they still had fun...when they weren't reminded of their lives. It was rare occasion to be wandering the passages at night, pretending they were the Bloody Baron as they hid under the invisibility cloak. Even Fred and George were subdued, and that was saying something.
Hermione had grown too, and matured as well. Still the same in her attitude, but she had relaxed. These days, though, they needed her supreme knowledge of magic.
Hagrid smiled to them as they walked towards him. "First day back! Fine day 'or classes, isn't it? My, you've gro'n...I 'member back 'n yer first year, oh, how nervous you 'll were, 'specially you, 'Arry. "
They smiled back, they could remember it as well. A few years ago, even though it seemed like many, they had had Hagrid's first Magical Creatures class. They could remember stupid Draco's complaints, and what led to a small disaster. Of course, even Hagrid might be willing to admit he'd rather have to worry about the loss of Buckbeak than his own life...
But Ron couldn't keep his concentration during class, even if they were learning to work with Opalis, dangerous (of course) snake-like creatures with two heads. His mind kept going back to the riddle. Even if any conections seemed stupid, he was going to bring it up with Harry and Hermione tonight in the common room.
"Ron! Where have you been? We've been looking all around for you!" called Hermione from near Hagrid's cabin.
"C'mon, we're gonna be late." Harry said seriously.
The tall, red-headed young man walked down the hill to meet his friends, his shadow still taller than Harry's, but not the way it used to be. When Harry was short...those fun, happy times seemed so long ago. Oh, they still had fun...when they weren't reminded of their lives. It was rare occasion to be wandering the passages at night, pretending they were the Bloody Baron as they hid under the invisibility cloak. Even Fred and George were subdued, and that was saying something.
Hermione had grown too, and matured as well. Still the same in her attitude, but she had relaxed. These days, though, they needed her supreme knowledge of magic.
Hagrid smiled to them as they walked towards him. "First day back! Fine day 'or classes, isn't it? My, you've gro'n...I 'member back 'n yer first year, oh, how nervous you 'll were, 'specially you, 'Arry. "
They smiled back, they could remember it as well. A few years ago, even though it seemed like many, they had had Hagrid's first Magical Creatures class. They could remember stupid Draco's complaints, and what led to a small disaster. Of course, even Hagrid might be willing to admit he'd rather have to worry about the loss of Buckbeak than his own life...
But Ron couldn't keep his concentration during class, even if they were learning to work with Opalis, dangerous (of course) snake-like creatures with two heads. His mind kept going back to the riddle. Even if any conections seemed stupid, he was going to bring it up with Harry and Hermione tonight in the common room.