"Harry! Time to get up! We have to go to school today!" Ron said shaking Harry awake. Harry opened one eye.
"What time is it?" He asked groggily. Ron rolled his eyes.
"That doesn't matter! Just get up!" He said and shook Harry harder.
"Okay, okay! I'm up! I'm up!" Harry cried and wriggled out of Ron's grip. Just let me get dressed and I'll be ready to go…" He yawned.
"Yeah right…" Ron said sarcastically and left the room so Harry could change. Harry sat up and looked out the window. A clear summer's day met his tired eyes. He blocked the light from his eyes and got dressed. Stretching and yawning he left the room and headed down the stairs. Hermione joined him.
"G'morning Hermione," he said and yawned again.
"My aren't we chipper this morning!" She said cheerfully.
"Mmm Hmmm." Harry said and sighed. Hermione laughed.
"I can't wait for school to start!" she said.
"You read to much." Came Ron's voice from behind them.
"So I've heard." Hermione said and shook her head in annoyance. Ron shrugged and went on the other side of Harry.
"Why are you so tired?" Ron asked. As if on cue, Harry yawned.
" I don't know," He said.
"You can sleep on the train." Hermione said.
"Not likely. It's too noisy. I'll sleep on the way to Kings Cross." Harry said.
"I can't wait for school to start again!" Hermione said again. Ron flashed an evil smile at Harry and looked over to Hermione.
"You read to much." Ron and Hermione said together.
"You tell me that to much." Hermione said. Harry laughed. " Ah. He does know how to laugh. For a moment I thought you'd forgotten how."
"Hey! I resent that!" Harry retorted. Hermione shook her head again.
"Whatever. I'm hungry. I wonder what's for breakfast…" Ron said. Harry shrugged and Hermione didn't answer.
"Hurry up you three! We'll be late for the Taxi if you keep dawdling like that!" Mr. Weasley called from the front porch. They ran down the rest of the stairs.
"What, no breakfast?" Ron said when they got outside.
"No! Where are your things you two?" Mr. Weasley said looking at Harry and Ron.
"Upstairs," Harry said.
"No. Don't go and get them, it takes to long. Accio trunks! Accio Hedwig! Accio cage!" He cried and waved his wand. There was a considerable amount of hooting and banging and then all of the things Mr. Weasley summoned burst out of the door. "Very effective." He murmured.
Harry fell asleep in the Taxi, despite the squeeze. Their driver was very interested in where they were going and it took awhile to convince him that they were going to a boarding school. It seemed he had memorized the train schedule and claimed no train was leaving. Hermione was still debating with the man when Harry's eyelids drooped and he fell to sleep. He was a little startled when he was awoken about three hours later. Harry looked around the cab to see what had caused it but saw nothing out of place.
"What time is it?" Harry asked. The cab driver looked back at him.
" Nine o'clock mate." He said.
"How long until we get to London?" Harry asked. It suddenly occurred to him that he sounded like a toddler, pestering his parents, as Dudley had done in his earlier periods of life. Come to think of it, he still did.
"About an hour." He said and looked back to the road.
"Thanks," Harry said. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and burst out laughing for the second time that morning. Hermione had fallen asleep also, and her head was resting on Ron's shoulder. Ron was sitting stiff as a board, looking strait ahead.
"She just fell asleep." He said, feeling Harry's eyes on him. "And put her head down. I don't want to wake her up…" He said trying to explain.
"The perfect couple," Harry teased. He pretended to take a picture. Ron swatted his hands down and Hermione stirred in her sleep. Her eyes flickered open.
"Are we there yet?" She said and yawned.
"Nope. Still got an hour." Harry said to her. "Comfy?" He added before he could stop himself.
"What? Oh-" She jerked her head off of Ron's shoulder, blushing madly. "Sorry." She murmured. Ron blushed to. An odd sort of glazed expression crossed his face.
"It's okay." He said and turned his head to look out of the window. Ginny, who was in the front seat started to snore. Ron's strange expression immediately turned into an evil grin. He sort of stood up and reached a
hand over the front seat.
"Ron! Don't do it!" Hermione said harshly but was smiling all the same. Ron plugged Ginny's nose. She grunted and opened her eyes.
"You!" She snarled. For a moment it looked like she was going to punch him.
"Now kids, no rough housing in this cab!" The driver said. Everybody fell silent. It was the first year that Ron's parents hadnt accompanied them to the Hogwarts Express.
When they got there Harry paid the man and gave him a tremendous tip. They thanked him again and entered the station. It was very crowded, as usual and they worked there way through the crowd until they reached the barrier between platform nine and ten.
"Harry and Ron, you two go first." Ginny said. Harry nodded and they walked over to the barrier and pretended to lean against it. They fell though it and looked around them. The scarlet steam engine gleamed down at them. Hermione and Ginny came up behind them.
"We are really early!" Hermione said checking her watch. It was only ten o'clock; the train wouldn't leave for another hour.
"We can get good seats! Let's go up into the front so we can get all the refreshments first!" Ginny said. " Oh hi, Gwen!" She suddenly cried, waving to a girl Harry suspected she was friends with. A tall brunette girl ran up to them, beaming.
"Ginny!" She said. They hugged. "I haven't talked to you for the longest time. Hermione!" The girl said seeing Hermione. She gave her a hug to. "Who are your friends?" She asked looking at Harry and Ron.
"I'm sure you've met them?" Hermione said. Gwen shook her head. "Oh this is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."
"Harry Potter? I have always wanted to meet you!" She cried shaking his hand vigorously. "I bet you get this a lot don't you? Screaming fans?" She said. Harry didn't know what to say.
"Uh- yeah." He said finally.
"You're on the Quidditch team-" She said.
"Yes." Harry said.
" I was thinking I might go out for it this year. Are there any openings?" She asked sweetly.
"Four. We need two beaters, a keeper and a chaser." Harry said, beginning to like this girl a little more.
"Are you the captain then?" She asked. Harry shook his head.
" We don't have a captain anymore." He said.
"Oh well, I'll bet it'll be you. You did such an awesome job with that Horntail." She said kindly.
"Thanks." Harry said bitterly.
"Common, Ginny! I saved us seat in the back car!" She said and yanked Ginny away. "It was nice meeting you guys!" She called behind her. Hermione waved and then they went up to the train to find a good seat. They found a compartment near the front of the train and sat down in it heavily.
"I am so tired." Harry said and yawned.
"Well go to sleep then!" Hermione said.
"I don't want to. I might miss part of the conversation." Harry said.
"Whatever." Hermione said. " I wonder who'll be our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher this year."
" Maybe Lupin'll come back." Ron said hopefully.
"Not likely Ron. With our luck, it'll be Snape." Hermione said.
"God, I hope not. That would just be awful." Harry said.
"Wouldn't be worse than he already is in Potions." Ron said.
"It would be really ironic, that's for sure." Harry said.
"Why's that?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Learning Defense against the Dark Arts from a Death Eater," Harry said.
"He was a Death Eater, Harry. His name was cleared. But I do see your point." Hermione said thoughtfully.
" Malfoy's name was cleared to, but he still works for Voldemort. It doesn't matter if their names were cleared or not." Harry said. Nobody said anything for a long time.
"Oh look, there's Neville!" Hermione said suddenly. She stuck her head out of the window and waved.
Neville waved back, beaming at her. Over a half an hour more and more people they knew arrived at the station and stopped in to say hi. Harry noticed that most people had become considerably warmer to him after the last few days of their last year.
"Hey, I wonder whatever happened to Malfoy and his two gorilla sidekicks?" Harry said.
"Maybe they died." Ron said bitterly. Hermione shot him one of her famous don't-joke-about-things-like-that look.
"Give him a break Hermione, he was only kidding," Harry said and rolled his eyes.
"Well I hoped everybody stomped on them hard." She said, ignoring Harry's words.
"That's the spirit, Hermione!" Ron said enthusiastically. Harry sighed. It was going to be one of those days. Over the past month Harry had been quite amused with Hermione and Ron. They were almost constantly flirting and it was obvious to everybody that they had huge crushes on each other. They just wouldn't admit it to anyone. Harry sat back into his seat to enjoy the show.
"Hermione, how is it that you haven't become a Prefect?" Harry said. Hermione smiled.
"Oh but I have! I'd just rather hang out with my friends then sit in the middle of the train, doing nothing, and not talking about anything interesting." She said. "I was so surprised when I got my pin, I mean I've gotten in trouble so often, I was surprised I made the cut." She pulled a little silver pin with a P on it and brandished it at them. Ron rolled his eyes.
"You read to much." He said plainly. Hermione almost looked hurt this time.
"Stop telling me that Ron, it's getting really old, really fast." She said. Ron looked at Harry and shrugged.
"Okay, okay!" He said. "Hey look! We're moving and I didn't even notice!" Hermione looked to the heavens and threw up her hands in exasperation.
"You're pretty thick, you know that Weasley?" Came a cold drawl from behind them. "Stupid and poor. My, my that's not a good combination."
"Malfoy, leave us alone," Harry said without even turning around.
"Ah! The sun has spoken!" He said sarcastically. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled dumbly. Harry whipped around to face him.
"Har, har Malfoy, you just keep getting funnier every year!" Harry snapped back to him. Malfoy glared at him. "Your face might stick like that you know," Said Harry, seizing the opprotunity.
"You are quite the comedian to, Potter." Malfoy said.
"Yes but I'm not as good as you. I don't have monkeys that follow me around, like you do." Harry said. Hermione and Ron laughed.
"A wizards duel, Potter. Right now." He said coldly.
"No thanks. I've had enough of those for awhile I think." Harry said quickly.
"Oh really? I don't care! Common Potter, or do you already know you'll loose?" Malfoy said.
"Remember what happened last year on the train when you went to far?" Harry said. This time it was Harry who went to far.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Malfoy yelled. Harry's wand, which he had been twiddling in his hands jumped out of his hands and landed in Malfoy's. Hermione screamed and Ron made a move that looked like he was going to tackle him. Harry held up a hand to silence them.
"Well Malfoy, you can hardly consider it a duel if I don't have my wand. Give it here," Harry said calmly and held out a hand.
"I'm going to hurt you now, when you are un-armed. We'll call it pay back time, eh?" Said Malfoy, and evil smile on his face. He raised his wand high above his head and took a deep breath.
Harry had no idea what he was doing; all that he knew was that he was doing something. He raised up his wand. A small group of people had crowded around the two young sorcerers. There was a crack, like the sound of a whip and something was burning just above his outstretched hand. Harry brought his hand down and looked at it. A small fireball about the size of a large golf ball was levitating five inches out his hands. Some people screamed. Harry vaguely wondered how it had got there, but didn't dwell on the thought.
"Malfoy, give me my wand, now. Otherwise, face the consequences." Harry said and glared at him. Malfoy dropped Harry's wand on the floor, stunned. The fire went out with another crack. "Leave us alone, Malfoy. Get out of here." He said coldly.
"We'll continue this duel later Potter, don't you worry." Draco said before disappearing out of the compartment. The crowd moved away slowly back to their own seats. Harry took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Some of the anger that had built up inside him went away.
"Well that was exiting, was it not?" Harry said. Ron gave him a nervous smile.
"What was that fire thing?" He said. Harry shrugged.
"I have no idea, but it worked so I'm not to worried about it." Harry said.
"Have you ever done it before?" Ron asked lightly.
"Nope. Look at my hand, though. I don't think I'll be doing it again." He said. The palm of his hand had
been covered in ash and smelled like over cooked chicken.
"Nasty," Hermione said looking at it. "Sanato" She said and pointed her wand at Harry's hand. It wiped the ash and the smell off of his hand. "That was really weird, Harry." She said.
"Wasn't it though?" He said. "But it scared the crap out of Malfoy, eh?" He chortled.
"It scared the crap out of me to," She said plainly. "How did you do that?"
"You got me," Harry said and shrugged. "I wasn't really thinking when it happened."
"Did you say something?" Ron asked.
"No."
"I thought I heard another language escape your lips, but I might have been hearing things." Ron said.
"I don't know any different languages though!" Harry said.
"You know Parseltounge!" Hermione said.
"I can only speak that language in the presence of a snake though." Harry said.
"I didn't know that!" Ron said.
"Yeah." Harry said. "And there isn't a snake in the compartment is there?" Hermione and Ron shook their
heads. "Exactly."
"Harry, your wand is still on the floor." Hermione pointed out.
"Oh yeah, I guess I should get that before somebody steps on it, huh," Harry said and got out of his seat again. He walked into the middle of the isle and bent over to pick it up. Harry heard the compartment door slide open. A girl giggled.
"Ooh! Cute butt!" She said and slapped it. Harry quickly straightened up and felt himself go red. He turned around to see who had done the deed. "Harry!" The girl said. Harry looked down and saw Cho Chang. The pretty girl smiled and before Harry knew what was happening, her lips were pressed up against his. He went rigid and his eyes were wide.
"Hi, Cho," He said against her lips. Her hands, Harry suddenly realized were slung around his neck and Harry felt his own hands on her waist. They fell into the kiss a little more heavily now that this awkward moment was over. His eyes shut closed and so did hers. Neither of them knew what was happening, but they both knew they liked it. She broke the kiss.
"So you'll go out with me then?" She asked sweetly. Harry was taken aback.
"Uh- sure?" He said pretending to be calm.
"Great! See you later, Harry!" She said and kissed him on the cheek and left the compartment. Harry saw Cho's friends congratulating her through the glass window on the door. Harry shoved his wand into his pocket and sat down again.
"Whoa there killer! What was that all about?" Ron said, grinning at the stunned look on Harry's face.
"I guess I have a girlfriend," Harry said letting the last two minutes sink in.
"Well that was interesting. I got to see one of my friends make out with some girl he hardly knows…" Hermione said.
"Hermione! They are going out, now you know." Ron said, coming to Harry's rescue.
"Even so!" She said indignantly. "What were we talking about before she came in and shoved her tongue down Harry's throat?"
"Touchy, touchy!" Ron murmured to Harry quietly.
"I heard that, Ron!" Hermione snapped. "Back to that fireball thing."
"What about it?" Ron said. Hermione put her hands on her hips.
"You know what I'm talking about! That doesn't happen all he time, you know!" She said. "Maybe you should tell Snuffles about this, Harry!"
"Snuffles? Why would he care? I mean, I'm not hurt or anything. I bet there are other people who can conjure fire without a wand. I'll bet you two could." Harry said pointing at them.
"If only we knew how," Ron said. "When are there going to be tryouts for the team, Harry?"
"I don't know. You'll have to check with McGonagall on that one Ron. I never even had to try out." Harry said, glad Ron was changing the subject.
"Yeah, but you were lucky aren't you?" Ron said.
"I wouldn't go that far," Harry said.
"You are lucky, and you know it! Famous, smart, and good at flying, what haven't you got?" Ron said. Harry knew he was just trying to be nice, but he had missed a few important details.
" I haven't got parents. That's one thing I haven't got." He said heavily.
"But even so! You're rich! Look at me!" Ron said, desperately trying to cheer him up.
"I'm not rich, Ron, but it was a nice try." Harry said. Hermione looked at him with pity in her eyes. "And I have about forty people who would love to see me dead. I wouldn't exactly call that lucky, would you?"
"No, I wouldn't." Ron said thinking about it. "Okay, moving on to the next subject."
"Hermione, have you talked to Krum lately?" Harry asked her. She looked up from her book.
"Oh, no not really. We sort of 'broke-up' when I left." She said.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Well he was three and a half years older. And I just didn't like talking about Quidditch all the time it got really old. Hint, hint, hint." She said looking at Ron and Harry. Harry laughed out loud. "So I broke it off. We're still really good friends though."
"Friends with benefits, then?" Ron said and raised an eyebrow. Hermione punched his shoulder lightly.
"Just friends." She said. Here we go again, Harry thought as Ron and Hermione started one of their flirting fests. He watched them both as they took turns blushing and said things Harry would have never dreamed possible to come out of their mouths. Eventually Harry fell asleep.
"Harry! Wake up! Wake up!" Somebody hissed in his ear. When he opened his eyes he saw nothing but darkness. The lights in the train had been extinguished.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure, because I can see Hogsmeade out the window. Maybe we've broken down?" Hermione said.
"A magical train? Not likely." Ron said.
"And I'm guessing it's not going to be Dementors." Harry said.
"Maybe they are just testing our wits or something," Hermione said.
"By turning off the lights?" Harry said.
"Just a guess!" Hermione said. "Hey look, were moving again!"
"Why haven't the lights come on again?" Ron said.
There was a heavy bump. They all looked around the compartment.
"Hey, why are the lights off in here?" Came Ginny's voice.
"Why? Aren't they off on the other sections?" Hermione asked.
"No, only this one. Hey look they're back!" Ginny said as the candles lit again.
"That's strange. I wonder what happened!" Hermione said curiously. Harry, Ron, and Ginny shrugged.
"Technical difficulties I guess." Harry said.
"I guess so." Ron said. "Oh look were in Hogsmeade! Finally!" The train slowed to a stop in the little town. They headed out side to meet the horseless carriages. They climbed into one and were shortly joined by Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor fifth year boy. They shut the door and their carriage started to move.
"How was your summer Neville?" Harry asked him.
"Oh it was fine thanks. How was yours?"
"Pretty good," Harry said. Neville's front pocket squirmed and his toad Trevor, jumped out onto the floor. All four of them bent in to grab him and they bumped heads.
"Ouch!" Ron said and rubbed his forehead. Harry did the same. Neville took Trevor in his hands and scolded him. Harry wondered if this did any good, but didn't question it.
The castle came slowly into view and Harry felt like, at long last he was home. They made their way through the large front doors and into the great hall. Harry never remembered it looking so cheery and welcoming. All of the teachers sat at the front table looking at their students as they came in. Harry scanned the table for their new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. Somebody pushed him.
"Come on Harry, lets find a seat." Ron said. They took seats in the middle of the Gryffindor table and looked at their empty plates hungrily. Harry looked back up at the teacher's table and scanned it again. A tall young woman smiled and waved at him from the table. She looked very familiar. It was Fluer Delacour. Harry waved back.
"Ron, its Fluer! Or I guess Professor Delacour, now! She's the new teacher!" Harry hissed into Ron's ear. Ron looked up at the table and did the smallest of double takes when he saw her. "She can't be the Defense teacher! She fainted when somebody put the Cruciatus Curse on her. That can't be good."
"She did?" Hermione said, startled. "Not that I would blame her, but aren't those teachers fearless? Like Moody was?" Harry choked on his spit.
"Are you okay?" Ron said and slapped him hard on the back.
"What? Oh…yeah." Harry said. Harry had never really mentioned to Ron and Hermione that the Professor Moody they knew had been a fraud. "Well she's really nice, so at least we won't have to worry about that." Harry said, to cover up the tense moment.
"Look at the first years!" Hermione said and giggled. "They look so scared!" Harry looked over at the little eleven-year-olds. They were glancing around the room nervously and some were twiddling their thumbs. Harry laughed.
"I'll bet you were scared to, Hermione," Harry said.
"Nah. I was ready for it." She said. "I read about the sorting ceremony in Hogwarts, A History. Ron, don't even tell me I read to much." Ron's mouth snapped shut.
"I was scared," Ron said. "I thought I was going to be sorted into Slytherin. I think I would have quit school if I had been. What about you, Harry?" Harry swallowed hard. Harry didn't answer.
Harry, Ron and Hermione applauded politely as each boy of girl was sorted into the different houses and burst into cheers and screams when somebody was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Amelia Graham," Called Professor McGonagall. A short girl with black hair glasses and green eyes ran gracefully up to the stool and crammed the hat onto her head. She sat there for quite some time before the hat had made up its mind.
"GRYFFINDOR!" it bellowed. The table exploded into cheers as the girl made her way down from the stool. She sat down next to Harry.
"Congrats," Harry said to her and smiled. She smiled back.
"You must be Harry Potter," She said looking at him.
"Yeah, I must be," Harry said. She laughed and stuck out a hand. Harry shook it.
"Nice to finally meet you. I'm Amelia Graham." She said. Harry nodded to show he heard her. Her friends started to show up next to her and Harry went back To Ron and Hermione.
"What were we talking about before this?" Harry asked. Ron was to busy half gazing at Hermione to answer. Hermione said nothing to.
"Food." Ron grunted suddenly as piles of food appeared before their eyes. Harry helped himself to mashed potatoes, steak, broccoli and a goblet full of pumpkin juice.
"That's all your going to eat?" Amelia said looking at his plate.
"Yeah," Harry said, resisting the urge to say 'what's it to you?' Amelia herself had loaded her plate down with almost everything at the table.
"Are you going to be able to eat all of that?" Hermione said looking at her with wide eyes. Amelia shook her head and started to eat. Harry heard Hermione mutter, "Slave labor."
"What was that, Hermione?" Ron said.
"Slave labor," Hermione admitted.
"If you start that again, you realize I might just have to kill you!" He joked. Hermione missed the humor in his voice.
"Don't say things like that, Ron." She said and elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"Ouch! That hurt! I was only kidding Hermione! Geez," Ron said and started to eat again. The food eventually disappeared from the serving dishes and everybody started meandering to their separate common rooms. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were some of the last people to leave.
"Harry!" somebody called from behind them. Harry spun around and found that he was face to face with Cho for the second time that day. "I thought I'd missed you!" She said and looked up into his eyes.
"Hey, I'll meet you guy's at the common room. Hermione, what's the password?" Harry said to them.
"Honey butter," Hermione said and ran to follow Ron down the hall.
"Harry, now that we're alone," Cho said. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. Harry was startled and stumbled back a few steps before returning her kiss. He wasn't used to this at all. Cho had a knack for catching Harry of his guard. They stood there in the middle of the hall for a second that seemed to be an eternity, kissing. Half of Harry wanted to keep holding Cho, and the other half was petrified of being caught. Harry opened his eyes a little to make sure that this wouldn't happen. Somebody was walking down the hall, but Harry found he hardly cared. Being here with Cho made him feel safe for some reason and he wanted to keep this feeling for the rest of his life.
"What're you two doing-oh," Somebody said from the other end of the hall. Harry and Cho pulled apart quickly and looked at the person who had seen them. It was Ginny Weasley.
"You're good at walking in on people kissing aren't you Ginny?" Harry said, a grin on his face. Cho also had a grin on her face.
"It's an unfortunate habit of mine." She said. The empty hall rang with their laughter.
"Well Harry, I think I'm going to go to bed now. Don't watch Ginny. You have virgin eyes still." Cho said and gave Harry another kiss. "See you in the morning." She said and took off down the hall.
"G'night Cho!" Harry called after her. He turned back to Ginny and they walked down the hall.
"I didn't know you two were dating!" She said.
"Yeah, she asked me today on the train." Harry said. Ginny nodded. "Aren't Hermione and Ron funny?" He asked her. Ginny grinned.
"I know! Aren't they horrible? Those two flirt all the time and are to thick to realize that they love each other." She said.
"You should have seen them on the train this morning." Harry said and looked heaven wards. "I could have killed them both."
"I hope they hook up soon, or I might just die." Ginny said. They reached the fat lady and entered the common room. A small crowd lingered around the fire. Harry and Ginny worked their way up to the crowd and Harry was a little surprised to see that Ron, Hermione and the new first year, Amelia in the center. The crowd parted when they came through. Harry found a seat next to Hermione. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Amelia looked over at him and her face cracked into an evil grin.
"Looks like somebody got some action," She said.
"Wha-?" Harry said and laughed. "How would you know?" She gestured to him to come closer.
She cupped her hands around his ear and whispered, "You have a hickey." Harry quickly slapped a hand over his neck and went back to his seat. He felt himself go red. He wondered where this girl got the nerve to say that to him, but then realized that she had been placed Gryffindor, the house that stood for bravery. She smiled sweetly over to Harry.
"I think I'm going to go to bed now. G'night everybody." Amelia said and stood up to leave. The rest of the Gryffindor first year girls followed her up the stairs, giggling. The crowd slowly drifted away back to their own seats once she had disappeared.
"That was easily the weirdest conversation I've ever had." Hermione said.
"Why's that?" Harry asked. Hermione pointed to Harry and then at the stairs leading to the girls dorms.
"Carbon copies." She said plainly.
"What she's trying to say is that girl is your double Harry. She even looks exactly like you, not to mention she acts like you to." Ron said.
"The little sister I never had?" Harry said sarcastically.
"Exactly." Hermione said.
"So is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Harry asked.
"It's neutral." Hermione said, shrugging. "We start classes tomorrow, I want to get a decent amount of sleep. Good night." She yawned and stood up.
"I think I should sleep to," Harry said. Ron nodded. They headed up to their rooms.
"That girl, Amy or whatever her name is- you have to be related. Your so alike it's not even funny." Ron said from behind the curtains around his bed
"That's impossible Ron, and you know it." Harry said walking across the room to his own bed.
"How is it impossible?" Ron said thickly.
"All of my relatives are dead, except the Dursleys! If I had some other living relative I would be living there." Harry said, shaking his head with exasperation.
"Oh yeah. G'night Harry." Ron said and Harry heard his head hitting the pillow. Harry sat down on his own bed. He was to tired to get up and change into his pajamas and so he just pulled off his robes and his shoes and fell asleep in his clothes.
He woke up earlier than everybody in his dorm and quickly pulled on his robes that he had been wearing the previous night to get warm. He headed down the stairs into the common room.
"Harry! You're up!" Somebody said from one of the tables. Harry scanned the room and found himself looking at Katie Bell and Alicia Spinet, the remaining members of the house Quidditch team. Harry went over to them and pulled up a seat.
"What's up?" Harry said.
"We need to have a meeting." Alicia said, her arms folded on the table. Katie nodded.
"What about?" Harry said.
"Team captain." Alicia said. "We've been up for a long time discussing it."
"So who is it?" Harry asked.
"Well we need to run it by you. We were just going to wake you up." Katie said.
"Tell me already." Harry said.
"You," Katie and Alicia said together.
"Me? Captain? Are you serious?" Harry said.
"Yeah. After three years on the team you've only lost us one game, one game. I think it's a sign or something." Alicia said.
"And you are so good at flying," Katie added. "We think you'd do a good job."
"Please?" Alicia said sweetly. How was he supposed to say no to that puppy face?
"Oh-" He moaned. They looked at him with big eyes. "Oh alright." Alicia clapped her hands together excitedly.
"Great!" She cried and threw her arm around him. Katie did the same. They beamed at Harry.
"When should we have try-outs for all of our missing positions?" Harry asked.
"That's up to you," Katie said.
"Okay but I'm going to need help you know." He said. "When is our first game?"
"We have awhile," Alicia said.
"Good." Harry said. They sat back in their seats and began to talk about the different people they thought should try out for the team. Harry didn't even notice that Ron was standing right behind him, until he started to talk.
"Not cheating on Cho, are you Harry?" He said quietly. Harry just about jumped out of his skin, but didn't show it.
"No, we're having a meeting." Harry said and spun around to face him.
"Not Cho Chang? You're not going out with her are you?" Katie asked.
"Yes, I am going out with her," Harry replied.
"Well just don't be nice to her in our games. We want to get that cup!" Katie said.
"Have you found a new captain, then?" Ron said. Alicia and Katie pointed to Harry, who blushed.
"Him." They said in unison. Ron grinned.
"I thought he was going to end up being the captain sooner or later." He said. "Harry let's go down to breakfast. I'm starving."
"Okay. Are we done here?" Harry asked the two girls. They nodded.
"We'll arrange try-outs later." Katie said. Harry and Ron crossed the common room and over to the portrait hole, pausing only to let Hermione to catch up.
"I heard that you're the new captain!" Hermione said as soon as she was near enough.
"News travels fast." Harry said, surprised.
"Alicia Spinet just told me as I ran past her." Hermione said. Harry shrugged. "We get our new schedules today."
"Yeah, I want to see what the new teacher is like." Ron said. "Professor Delacour."
"Now Ron, no flirting with the teachers." Hermione teased.
"What's it to you, if I decide to?" Ron said. Hermione blushed and thought about it for a moment.
"I would be embarrassed for you," She said finally. Harry sighed. They reached the great hall and took seats. Somebody tapped Harry on the shoulder. Harry spun around, thinking that it would be Cho, but he was sorely mistaken. It was Professor McGonagall.
"Potter I need to speak with you." She said sternly. She walked away. Harry stood up and followed her.
"First day of school and already in trouble?" Malfoy called from the Slytherin table. Harry pretended to not hear him and caught up to his professor.
"I'm not in trouble, am I?" He said when they were out of earshot. She laughed out loud.
"Hardly. I have two things to discuss with you. Here is your Schedule for this year." She said and handed him a piece of parchment. Harry looked at it. Something caught his eye.
"Professor, I think there is a mistake on this. It has me signed up for Advanced Defense against the Dark Arts. That can't be right." Harry said and pointed to the spot after lunch for that day.
"No mistake. That's why I wanted to talk with you. Because of your- your circumstances you have been bumped up into that course. Any questions?" Harry shook his head. " And next, I need to discuss plans for Quidditch tryouts. How about two Sundays from now?" She asked. Harry's heart lifted. He thought for sure that he was in for it.
"That's fine with me." He said. She scribbled a note on a piece of parchment and handed it to him.
"Good. You are dismissed to breakfast." She said and pointed towards the door. Harry left the room looking at his schedule. Only very smart seventh years took that kind of advanced class, did they really expect Harry to keep up? It didn't look like he had a choice. He went back into the hall and sat down heavily at the table.
"What did you do this time?" Hermione asked lightly.
"Nothing. I didn't get into trouble." Harry said
"Well then, what's the problem?" Ron asked.
"They signed me up for Advanced Defense against the Dark Arts." Harry said, scowling at the piece of paper in his hand.
"Let me see that." Hermione said and snatched the schedule out of his hands.
"Hmmm. Look on the bright side Harry, you have a free period when we have to be in regular Defense classes." She said eventually.
"No, you must have read that wrong Hermione. I still have to go to regular Defense classes."
"Well, you got to drop Divination, didn't you?" Ron said. That cheered Harry up a little. "That means I'm the only one left! Darn it!" Harry ate in silence listening to Ron and Hermione bicker over nothing. Hermione realized in the end that this conversation was going nowhere with Ron and went back to talking about school.
"What do we have first?" She asked.
"Potions." Harry groaned. Ron's face fell to.
"Looks like Harry's going to have one really fun day!" He said very sarcastically. The bell rang for students to start heading to their classes. Hermione, Ron and Harry left the great hall and headed down the stairs into the potion's dungeon. What they found there was quite a shock.
Instead of the usual drab, plain stone walls, it was covered in various hanging herbs and spices that were letting out a pleasant smell. Even the candles seemed brighter and more cheery.
"Welcome, students!" Came a woman's voice from the corner of the room. Harry, Ron and Hermione whipped around and saw Fluer Delacour sitting at her desk. "Harry! So nice to see you again." Professor Delacour said in her French accent. Harry noticed that some of the Slytherin boys were hanging around her desk, blushing and mumbling questions like, 'can we get you anything Professor?' Harry laughed and pointed at them. Hermione burst out laughing to as Ron walked across the room, struck by her bewitching beauty. She was part Veela and sometimes she turned on the charm factor that was running in her blood a little to high. Harry sighed and took a seat down next to Hermione.
"I totally thought she was going to be our new Defense teacher!" Hermione said in an undertone to Harry.
"Totally?" Harry asked, making an impression of a valley girl.
"Totally!" Hermione said, doing the same. Harry grinned. Professor Delacour cleared her throat for attention. The class fell instantly quiet.
"Today we will be working on a sleeping potion." She said. Malfoy's thin face was wearing an evil smile.
"And if anyone uses it out of this classroom, they will face expulsion of this school." She added delicately.
"So if you would all listen to me, I will go over the procedure." They listened as Fluer went over the
ingredients, taking notes on her well-prepared speech. When she was done, they unpacked their things and started mixing up their ingredients. She walked down the isle, looking at everybody's different potions. She stopped dead at Malfoy's and stirred it around.
"This is much to thick, Draco. You need to go over to the sink and add some water. If you used that one on a person, they would be asleep for months. Work on it." She said and moved on. When she got to Harry's table she stopped again and stirred Harry's. "Perfect. I'm going to give you extra credit for that Harry. Everybody else's is much to runny." She said and scribbled it down on a piece of parchment that she had in her hands.
"That's favoritism, that is!" Hermione said. Ron nodded.
"And only because you were a fellow champion in the Triwizard Tournament!" Ron said.
"Well, there isn't much I can do about it. Anyways, if I get a better grade in this class, it cant be that bad." Harry said. At the end of class Harry and the others dumped the contents of their cauldrons into a very large sink and left the dungeon.
"That was painless." Ron said as they headed up the stairs. "What's next?"
"Care for magical creatures." Hermione said from memory.
"Oh, I wonder what were going to be doing this time? Basilisks?" Ron said.
"So funny I forgot to laugh. Ha. Ha. Ha." Harry said bitterly. Ron grinned widely, missing the sarcasm. Hagrid met the class at his tiny house. They all sat down on the soft grass. Hagrid beamed down at them all and pulled out a large crate of what seemed to be mice. Harry looked at them more closely and saw that they were not mice at all. They had long rat like tails and pointy ears like mice, but they were a strange pale purple color and they had wings.
"Oh! They are so cute! What are they, Hagrid?" Lavender said looking at them.
"They're called Smimies. They are like bats 'cept that they can see. We will be looking after them for the first month or so of term." He passed out the Smimies to the class. They fluttered around their heads and nipped their fingers. They were quite loveable. "All righ' you lot, you are going to feed 'em these corn husks. They only eat the husks while they're babies, as they are now. They grow to be as large as a small cat, but we won't be keeping them that long." Hagrid said as the class tried to persuade the Smimies to stop flying and eat their food. They didn't want to. Eventually they had to grab the little creature out of the air and force it to come back to the ground where they ate their food. Harry thought it had been a very enjoyable lesson.
"Hagrid's gone to better animals ever since that Skeeter cow caught him," Hermione said as they walked back to the castle for lunch.
"Yeah. These ones don't explode or anything!" Ron said. Harry's hand gave an involuntary twitch. They went up to the castle and ate lunch, still discussing the lesson.
"What do we have next?" Ron asked. Harry dove into his book bag and scanned his schedule.
"I have defense." He said flatly.
"Okay then I must have Divination and Hermione, you must have Arithmancy." Ron said wisely. Hermione nodded. They pushed out their chairs and left the great hall and stood in the slowly filling corridor. They said goodbye and headed in their separate ways. Harry took off down the hall and went into the Defense against the Dark Arts room. He looked around scanning the room for anybody that he knew. A bunch of girls waved to him from the far corner. Harry looked at them and realized that it was Cho Chang and Katie Bell and a few girls he had never seen before. He went over to them slowly, feeling slightly intimidated. Cho grabbed his hand and yanked him over there. Some of the girls giggled. She didn't let go of his hand.
"Sit down, Harry." Cho said sweetly. Harry sat down at one of the desks. Harry couldn't see Cho's face, but all the girls went into fits of giggles again. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know what she had done. He found out soon enough when she sat down on him.
"Well, hello there," Harry said, startled. The girls giggled again. Harry scrunched up his nose. This was embarrassing. Cho didn't seem to notice this, and kissed him on the tip of the nose. The world dissolved around him, and all he saw was Cho. He heard girls giggling as he closed his eyes as they fell into a kiss.
"Potter, get a room." Said a cold voice from above them. He came back to earth with a bump and they pulled away from each other. Professor Snape sneered down at them his eyes dancing with a strange joy. "Miss Chang," He said and walked to the front of the classroom. He rapped his wand on the desk to get attention. "Attention!" He barked. The class fell silent. Harry looked around him at the rest of the members in the class. He didn't recognize most of them, but he could tell that it was a mixed class with people from every house in it. Snape started the lesson with a harsh speech about messing around in his class. Harry half listened to it, thinking more about getting out of the class. Harry was almost to the point of falling asleep when Cho elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"Harry, we're starting the lesson." She hissed.
"The Patronus is a very complicated spell that we will be working on for awhile." He was saying. "Now who can tell me what the Patronus is?" Many people raised their hands, but Snape overlooked them. "Potter." He sneered. Harry sat up strait in his seat.
"What, Professor Snape?" He said without thinking.
"Why don't you tell the class what a Patronus is." Snape said. He had a way of being able to tell when you weren't listening.
"What? Oh-" Cho pointed at a page in her book, but Harry didn't need it. "The Patronus is like a kind of anti Dementor curse." He said. Snape looked stunned.
"Correct," He spat, deprived of not getting Harry into trouble. Cho looked like she was choking back a laugh. "Now turn to page three hundred and ninety two of your books and take notes of what I am saying." Everybody rummaged around in their bags looking for parchment as Snape started to speak. Harry took notes half-heartedly because he already knew all about the Patronus, including how to do it. Snapes lecture stopped twenty minutes later. "Now I would like everybody to try doing the Patronus. As this is a very complicated spell, I am expecting no body to get it at all during the first month or so." Harry put his notes away and got comfortable in his chair. Little wisps of dusty smoke appeared out of all the wands in the class and Harry found himself struggling to stay awake. He inhaled a long deep breath and let it out slowly. His eyes shut and he fell asleep. He was dreaming that he went home to the Dursleys and found that Dudley had become thin and handsome. Somebody elbowed him hard in the ribs again. Harry snapped open his eyes and found himself face to face with Snape. He sneered maliciously at Harry.
"You're in for it this time, Harry!" Katie Bell mouthed in the other side of him. Harry felt that she was right.
"Since Potter has been paying so close attention," He said loudly. The whole class turned and looked at them. Some of the Slytherins sniggered. "He is going to let us see his Patronus. That is if he can manage it." He added. Harry was resisting the urge not to smile.
"Are you sure, Professor?" He said innocently. Snape's cruel grin got wider on his face.
"Yes, Potter, I'm sure." He said.
"Really? I think you might be let down." Harry said, biting his lip.
"That would be the point, Potter." He said a little quieter. "Quit stalling, Potter! Show us!" Harry shrugged and thought hard of a happy memory. His mind quickly shot to spending the summer with his two best friends.
"Okay, here goes. EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He called. At once a large stag burst from the tip of his wand and started circling the classroom, in search for a Dementor. The class applauded. Harry almost bowed, but one look from Snape made him change his mind.
"Potter," He snarled apparently in a horrible mood. "Where did you learn to do that?"
"Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, sir." He said quickly. Snapes face contorted into a look of disgust.
"Yes. Of course." His face was very red. "Class dismissed." Harry didn't like where this was going, because Snape had let them out an hour and a half early. Harry started to edge towards his seat at the back of the room. "Potter, stay behind I want to have a word with you." Harry obeyed and stayed back after the class. Snape was pacing back and forth behind his desk, mumbling things that Harry couldn't hear.
"Professor? You need to speak with me?" Harry said meekly, getting bored.
"Potter, I'm keeping an eye on you," He said finally.
"Yeah you are, for Voldemort." Harry said under his breath.
"What was that?" He snapped.
"Nothing." Harry said.
"Liar. Tell me what you said." He said, narrowing his eyes.
"You said you were keeping an eye on me, and I said that you were keeping an eye on me for Voldemort." He said plainly, as if this was obvious.
"What are you talking about, Potter?" He said coolly, but Harry saw fear lurking behind his eyes.
"I know that you're taking notes on me, Professor." Harry said. A spasm of fear contorted Snapes face.
"How did you know that? I've told nobody!" He said quickly.
"I have my sources." Harry said.
"Like who?" He barked.
"Like me, for one." Harry said. Snape didn't answer him. Harry could tell he was thinking about this.
"You are dismissed." He said. Harry grabbed his things and left the room. Cho was waiting for him outside.
"How'd it go?" She said.
"I didn't even get detention!" Harry said. She gave him a high five.
"Why does he hate you so much?" She wondered.
"It's like a family thing. He hated my dad so in turn, he hates me, to," Harry.
"That's not very fair, is it?" She said.
"No, but there isn't much I can do about it." Harry said and shrugged.
"You sure showed him with that Patronus!" She said and laughed. Harry joined her. "The look on his face! Even the Slytherins were laughing."
"Cho, why did you get put in that class?" Harry asked.
"Oh, that class is full of people who are at risk. My dad's an Auror, so is Katie's dad. And well it's obvious why you're at risk." She said. Harry nodded.
"I didn't know that." He said. " I just thought it was for smart people. That's why I was confused, why would I be stuck in a smart person class?"
"You are to smart." She said.
"Not as smart as the rest of the class." Harry said. She nodded slowly.
"Hey, I need to get a start on my homework Harry. See you later!" She said when they got to the stairs. Harry gave her a little peck on the cheek and she returned it and then disappeared down the stairs. Harry started heading up the stairs and up to the portrait of the fat lady. He gave her the password and entered the common room. He didn't expect to see anybody there, least of all Hermione, but there she was sitting by the fire, twiddling her wand.
"What are you doing here?" He said when he reached her. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Professor Vector was sick so we had a free period." Hermione said.
"And you're not in the library?" Harry said.
"I wasn't in the mood to read."
"That's a first!" Harry said unable to think of a time when Hermione hadnt been in the mood to read. She smiled at him sarcastically.
"Do you have any food? I'm starving!" She said.
"We just ate like forty-five minutes ago!" Harry said. She shrugged. "Yeah, I think I have some chocolate frogs in my trunk."
"Well, lets go get them!" She said and stood up. Harry was a bit taken aback at her behavior but followed her up the stairs into his room. "I'll let you dig in your trunk." She said and pointed at it.
"Oh gee. What a privilege." Harry said and popped open the trunk. He let out a strangled cry and jumped backward three feet. A large snake was coiled up inside of his trunk, and started hissing madly at Harry.
"What is it?" Hermione said, startled. Harry looked from the snake to her and then back again.
"It's a snake." He said, but it was to late, he was using Parseltounge. Hermione looked like she had been frozen, she was so white.
"They told me you were a Parseltounge but I wasn't to sure if I believed them." They snake said. Harry recognized it.
"Nagini," Harry hissed. "What are you doing here?"
"A warning to a friend?" It said. Harry narrowed his eyes.
"When only last year you were going to end up eating me? Are you sure it's not just unfinished business?" Harry said skeptically. "You work for Voldemort." The word Voldemort came out in perfect English.
"I come bearing a message." Nagini said, ignoring him. "You are the heir, you are the one. You have a power that nobody has told you about. They are going to try to use it against you. You must train hard if you wish to live." The snake said. Harry had no idea what Nagini was saying, it made no sense. Ron appeared in the doorway.
"What's going on?" He said.
"Snake was in Harry's trunk. I heard the word- Volde-You-know-who." Hermione squeaked.
"What? How would you know? He's talking in Parseltounge," Ron said.
"Came out in English." She said. Harry kept his eyes on Nagini.
"You must work on your skill or all will be lost." The thing hissed. Harry was getting mad at this snake. Her 'message' made no sense.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Harry screamed and stamped his foot in anger. His hiss echoed down the stairs.
"I am only delivering a message." Nagini said
"Who sent it?" Harry hissed.
"I am not at liberty to tell, sir. I am sorry." She said. "Now I must go and return to where I belong."
"I am the heir? What does that mean?" Harry asked her.
"Dumbledore. He will know." She said and slithered out of the room.
"GET THAT SNAKE!" Harry yelled in English. Ron and Hermione jumped and looked at him, apparently lost for words. "Fine, I'll get her myself," he said took off down the stairs after Nagini. He heard footsteps behind him that meant that Hermione and Ron were following. He entered the common room, were everybody was screaming and yelling, all standing on the tables and chairs. Harry heard the screams of snake and instantly knew that Nagini was near. He scanned the room, looking for her. Nagini was slithering around a table, where a scared looking Parvati Patil was standing.
"Help!" She was screaming very loudly. "Help!"
"Stop right now, Nagini!" Harry hissed much louder than planned for. The few people that were in the common room stopped dead and looked at Harry with fearful eyes. The snake froze. Harry walked over to it and picked it up with some difficulty. "Where do you think you're going?" Harry said to the snake very quietly. A crowd was building around them, looking intently at Harry and the huge snake.
"Home," It replied.
"Not until I'm done questioning you," Harry hissed.
"I have told you all I needed to tell. I must go now." She said and with a snap she disappeared into thin air.
"H-Harry?" Hermione stammered, looking from him to the place where the snake had been.
"I have to go see Dumbledore," Harry said and broke through the crowd.