Disclaimer: I own nothing. It's all J.K.'s
A.N. Don't worry Tadariada, Sphinx is NOT a Mary-Sue. There never was and never will be a Mary-Sue in my stories. And Gracie, you'll find out what kind of accent Sphinx has later on in the story. I've also made this chapter LONGER * gasp * than most of my other chapters. That's why it's taken me so long to get up. I hope y'all like the chapter!!!
Malena
"Fred have you seen my broomstick?"
"MUM! Where are my socks?"
"Ginny that's my robe!"
"No it isn't!" It was the day that four Weasleys, Harry and Hermione returned to Hogwarts. There was absolute mayhem in the Burrow. People were bumping into other people on the stairs.
"Ron! Get Pig out of the kitchen!"
"Harry did you see where my glove's went?" Mr. Weasley seemed to be the only person who was relaxed.
"We're leaving in ten minutes," Mrs. Weasley yelled at the top of her lungs to the people scurrying around trying to get all of their belongings into their trunks.
Mr. Weasley sipped his coffee and opened the newspaper.
"Arthur, help me with these sandwiches," Mrs. Weasley said. Mr. Weasley groaned and got up from his chair and helped his wife with the sandwiches.
Seven minutes later the trunks were being loaded into a Ministry Car that Mr. Weasley was able to get for the ride to Hogwarts. It had an expanded trunk so all six trunks were able to fit into it comfortably. The twins, Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione all loaded into the backseat, where they fit nicely too. Mrs. Weasley was going to the station with them, as Mr. Weasley had to go to work.
"Now kids," Mrs. Weasley said from the front seat. "I want all of you to behave yourselves this year." She stared pointedly at Fred and George as if you say especially you two. "I want you all to be careful, and to stay on your guard."
"What about 'have fun'?" Fred said.
"That's implied." They chatted happily for the rest of the ride to Kings Cross Station. They loaded their trunks onto carts and wheeled them over to a spot between platform 9 and platform 10.
"Ron, you and Ginny go first," Mrs. Weasley said. The two of them ran toward the barrier, and disappeared.
"Harry and Hermione, you go next," The two of them ran through the barrier and disappeared through the wall.
Over one hundred people were milling around Platform 9 ¾. After the twins came through the barrier they ran off to find their friend Lee Jordan. Ron, Harry, and Hermione chose a compartment and carried their trunks in there. They leaned out of the train window to say goodbye to Mrs. Weasley.
"Bye Mum," Ron said, waving goodbye.
"Bye Ron! Goodbye Harry, Hermione," Mrs. Weasley called.
The twins came into the compartment and said goodbye to their mother as well.
"Behave yourselves!" Mrs. Weasley repeated as the train started to move.
"What? I'm sorry I didn't hear you!" Fred yelled as the train sped away from the platform. Mrs. Weasley waved as they got further and further away. She was nearly out of sight when she Disapparated with a small pop. Ron sat back in his seat and sighed.
Hermione, however, was digging around in her trunk for something. She pulled out the Daily Prophet.
"In all the commotion this morning I didn't get to read it," Hermione explained when she saw Ron and Harry looking at her.
"You read too much," Ron merely yawned. After a few minutes of silence Hermione exclaimed, "There was an attack in Ireland!"
"What!" Harry exclaimed.
"The Order of the Phoenix took care of it," Hermione said, reading the paper. "There were 13 Death Eaters that died, and one Order of the Phoenix agent lost an arm."
"Well, now Fudge can't deny that Voldemort is back," Harry said. "Can I see the paper after you're done?"
"Sure."
A few minutes later Ron had fallen asleep and Hermione had finished reading the paper.
"Here," she said, handing it to Harry. Harry flipped to the article about the Order of the Phoenix. There was a picture of several agents who had fought the Death Eaters.
"Hermione," Harry hissed. "Come here." Hermione went from one end of the compartment to the end that Harry was sitting.
"What is it?"
"Did I ever tell you that I had a dream with the Dueling Master from the Order of the Phoenix in it?"
"No."
"Well, a month or so ago the Dueling Master came to me in a dream, saying thank you for finding her badge."
"You mean the badge you found the day you met Arabella Figg? So?"
"Hermione, this is her," Harry said, pointing to a woman in the picture. It was Sphinx. She was wearing Muggle Clothes with a cloak over it. She reached up and blocked the camera with her hand.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, looking at the picture doubtfully.
"I'm positive! She said that she was glad that I had found her badge instead of someone else,"
"Maybe you just saw her picture in another newspaper or something," Hermione said. "It's illegal for people to dream-hop."
"Dream-hop?" Harry said.
"It's when you enter someone's dreams without their permission. You can only dream-hop under orders from the Ministry."
"But the Order of the Phoenix agents don't follow Ministry rules. Mr. Weasley told us that they highly disagree with the way that the Ministry of Magic is run, so they have their own rules." Hermione looked highly interested and Harry could tell that she was itching to get back to the Hogwarts Library and look up more information about the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry continued to read the paper as Hermione stared out the window. After Harry had finished reading he looked over at Hermione, but realized that she wasn't looking out the window. Her eyes kept flicking to the corner of the room where Ron was sleeping.
"Hermione," Harry said slowly. "Why do you keep looking at Ron."
"What? Oh… Well, why shouldn't I? I mean, he's my friend."
"Mmm hmm," Harry said, raising one eyebrow at her.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"You like him, don't you?" Harry said slyly.
"As a friend, yes," Hermione replied.
"That's not what I meant. You like like him."
"I do not!" Hermione exclaimed, but she blushed red.
"Mmm hmm," Harry said while rolling his eyes.
"Don't 'Mmm hmm' me Harry James Potter," Hermione snapped.
"What's going on?" Came a groggy voice from the corner.
"Nothing Ron," Harry said.
"Whatever," Ron yawned, sitting up and stretching.
"Wanna play a game of Exploding Snap?" Harry asked.
A little bit after noon Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom showed up at their compartment. While the five boys talked spiritedly about Quidditch, Hermione walked off to find Ginny's compartment.
"Did you see the European Cup?" Seamus asked. "Horrible game for England, eh?"
"Yeah, but the Seeker managed to give the Spanish Seeker a black eye," Ron said.
"I wish I could've gone," Neville moaned. "I wish Gran didn't hate Quidditch so much…"
"Right, whatever. Dean, how was your summer…"
"The Hogwarts Express will reach Hogsmeade Station in 10 minutes," echoed a voice down the corridors of the train. Ron and Harry changed into their Hogwarts Robes, while Hermione changed in Ginny's compartment. She returned a moment later, wearing her robes and a shiny Prefect Badge.
"I didn't know that you had been made Prefect," Ron said, eyeing the badge.
"I kept it a secret." Hermione said.
"Leave your trunks on the train, they will be taken up to the school separately…" said the voice again. The hundreds of Hogwarts students loaded out of the train and looked around for the horse-less carriages that would be taking everyone but the first years up to the school.
"Firs' years! O'er here!" Yelled the familiar booming voice of Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid was the gamekeeper and teacher of the Care of Magical Creatures class.
"Hi Hagrid," Harry, Ron, and Hermione yelled. Hagrid waved back, and continued calling the first years toward him.
The three of them and Neville loaded into a carriage, and a few minutes later they started to move up the long drive to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
There was a huge mob outside of the Great Hall, and Professor McGonnagal was letting a few students in at a time. Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Peeves hiding behind a large statue with some sort of object in his hands, and a wicked grin on his face.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione pushed their way to the front of the mob so they wouldn't be around to see what kind of havoc Peeves would start.
The Great Hall was beautiful, as always. Hundreds of candles floated in mid-air over the four house tables and the High table, where the teachers sat. The three of them walked to the table on the far right and sat down. Hermione immediately looked up at the high table.
"Look!" She exclaimed. "There's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Harry and Ron spun around and looked at the table. Talking to Professor Trelawney, and looking very bored, was-
"-Arabella Figg!" Harry said.
"What?" Ron said.
"That's Arabella Figg," Harry repeated. "I didn't know that she was going to be teaching here."
"I hope she's up to it," Ron said. After a few moments the Great Hall was full, and Professor McGonnagal came in carrying a tattered old hat and a three legged stool. She placed the hat on top of the stool and went back to get the first years.
All of the first years were looking extremely scared and nervous. Everyone was staring at the hat and suddenly a rip appeared near the rim of the hat and it started to sing.
(A.N. I am not good at writing lyrics, so just make up what the Sorting Hat sings.)
There was enormous applause as the hat finished its song. The hat bowed to each of the tables, then straightened and was motionless. Professor McGonnagal unrolled a piece of parchment and told the first years that when she called their names they were to go put on the hat.
"Armington Chelesa!" A pale girl stepped forward, put on the hat, and sat down on the stool.
"Hufflepuff!" Yelled the hat a moment later. The table next to the Gryffindor table burst into applause. Callagan, Nelly was the first Gryffindor. Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, greeted Nelly happily.
At the end of the sorting Gryffindor had ten firstyears. Professor Dumbledore stood up after Professor McGonnagal had taken away the stool and hat.
"Welcome new students!" Professor Dumbledore said, a wide smile on his face and his arms spread wide. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm sure that you are all ravenous after that long train ride, so… dig in!"
At that second the platters in front of them were filled with delicious food. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all piled food onto their plates and then started eating their meal. Nearly-Headless Nick annoyed all of them by staring at them mournfully as they cut up their food.
After their plates had been cleared of the last crumb, Professor Dumbledore stood up again.
"Students, after last years events there are some new rules." Professor Dumbledore's eyes flashed in the direction of the Hufflepuff table. "No one will be allowed out of the castle after seven o'clock in the evening. Except for Quidditch players, but the practices will be supervised by Madame Hooch or one of the other teachers."
Harry remembered the last time that Madame Hooch had to supervise the games. It was in his third year when Sirius had first escaped and everyone thought him to be a murderer.
"And furthermore, these objects are not allowed on the Hogwarts grounds…" He named about ten or so items.
"Off to bed now!" Dumbledore cried. "Good night!" All of the students filed out of the room and off to their dorms. Hermione was busy showing the new first years the way to Gryffindor Tower. Ron, Harry, and the rest of the fifth year boys walked quickly up to the tower and into their dorm. Their trunks had been placed at the ends of their four poster beds.
"Some dinner, huh?" Ron yawned as Harry crawled into his bed. Harry didn't have time to reply. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
~*~
"Schedules," Hermione said, passing Harry and Ron schedules the next morning.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing," Ron said, reading the morning block.
"Hey, Harry!" Harry turned around in his seat and saw Angelina Johnson jogging toward him.
"Guess what!"
"What?" Harry asked.
"Professor McGonnagal just told me that I'm Captain of the Gryffindor team!" Angelina exclaimed.
"That's great Angelina!" Harry said, smiling. "You'll do great!"
"I hope so. Anyway, I came to tell you that our first practice is tonight at seven. Madame Hooch is going to be supervising."
"See you then." Angelina beamed at Harry and then went over to Fred and George to tell them the good news.
"I'm happy for Angelina," Hermione said, ladling some oatmeal into her bowl. "She's going to be a great Captain."
"Yeah," Ron said, looking back at his schedule. "Aw man! We have Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins. STILL!"
"And after Care of Magical Creatures we have Divination," Harry moaned.
"You should have quit that like I did," Hermione said smugly. Ron rolled his eyes and finished eating his toast.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was cheerful and covered with pictures of foreign places. There was a small vase of flowers on the desk and the name Professor Figg was written on the board.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took seats in the front row and waited for the teacher to come.
About five minutes after the bell, the class was starting to get rowdy. Hermione was the only person staring at the front of the classroom, her hands folded on her lap. At around ten minutes after the bell, the door opened and Professor Figg came in. Her hat was lopsided and she had many rolls of parchment in her hands.
"Sorry I'm late," She said, walking toward her desk and dumping her load on the desk. Several parchments rolled off the desk, but she didn't seem to notice.
"All right, I'm your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Figg," she said, motioning to the name on the board.
"I am…er… going to start off the class with a bit of a test-"
The class all groaned, except for Hermione.
"It's just to see where you need some work, and what you haven't learned yet," Professor Figg said. "Don't worry, most of the questions are easy." Professor Figg went over to her desk and opened one of the drawers.
"Where are those tests…" Professor Figg asked herself. "Not in this drawer… or this one… maybe-no, they're not in there either…"
After a minute or so of digging through her drawers she finally pulled out a large stack of papers and handed them to Hermione to pass them out.
"Now, no cheating and just do your best," Professor Figg said. "You may begin."
The test took up the whole class session.
"Now, just leave your tests on your desk and I'll er… collect them," Professor Figg yelled over the bell. "Your homework is… er… There is no homework!"
The class gave a cheer and exited the classroom.
"Do you get the feeling that Professor Figg is a little bit…er… disorganized," Ron said as they walked down to the Great Hall for lunch.
"No, where did you get that idea?" Harry said sarcastically.
After lunch the three of them went out onto the slopping lawns and down to Hagrid's cabin. Hagrid was waiting outside with Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's pet phoenix.
"Hello you three," Hagrid said, waving as they got closer.
"Hi Hagrid," Ron said. "Are we learning about phoenix's today?"
"Yeah," Hagrid said, stroking Fawkes on the head. "Better wait fer the Slytherins."
"Oh go on," Ron said, "Start without them." Hagrid gave a soft chuckle but waited for the Slytherins anyway.
Much to Ron, Hermione, and Harry's displeasure Draco Malfoy came to the class first.
"Well, well, well, look who is here," Draco Malfoy drawled, making sure that Hagrid couldn't hear what he was saying. "Potty, Mudblood, and the Weasel." Harry and Hermione held back Ron as he tried to attack Malfoy.
"Shove off Malfoy," Harry said. Draco glared at Harry as they turned toward Hagrid, who had come back over to them.
"Harry, Ron, 'Ermione, why don' you three come and visit me this Saturday?" Hagrid said to them. The three of them agreed and then Hagrid began his class.
It was a rather interesting class. Hagrid explained all about phoenixes and their special powers, such as the ability to carry immensely heavy loads and to have tears with healing powers. Harry knew most of what Hagrid was teaching. In his second year Harry had to escape from the Chamber of Secrets using Fawkes as help.
Hagrid let a group of people hold onto the tail feathers of Fawkes while he flew around a small area. When the bell rang across the lawn Harry, Ron, and Hermione all said goodbye to Hagrid, before leaving. Harry and Ron went to Divination, while Hermione went to Arithmancy.
~*~
The Divination classroom was dimly lit, with some incense burning in the corner of the room. Several armchairs and poufs were positioned around tables. A fire was making it stiflingly hot, and giving off a very strong smell.
Harry and Ron sat down at their usual table in the back of the classroom. A few minutes later, a large, insect looking lady appeared out of the shadows.
"Welcome, my dears," said Professor Trelawney in a mystical sort of whisper. Only Lavender and Parvati replied, saying, "Good Afternoon Professor."
"Today we will be learning about Tarot cards," Professor Trelawney continued. "These cards can see the future, but only if you have the Sight. Now, will you all please turn to page 124 in your book Unfogging the Future…."
Several minutes later they were all given a deck of tarot cards and told to read each other's fortunes.
"It seems," Ron said in a mystical whisper, while turning over the princess card, "That you will meet a HOT girl." Dean and Seamus at the next table snorted with laughter. "But-" He turned over a jester card, "-it will turn out that she already has a boyfriend, but he is a complete jackass."
"My dears, is anyone having trouble reading the cards?" Professor Trelawney called. She slowly approached Ron and Harry's table and took Harry's cards from Ron's hands. She turned one over.
"There is great danger in your path," she said. "After dark there is great danger."
She continued to turn over the cards, which got more and more grave. She finally predicted Harry's death and said, "I am sorry my dear…" Harry gave her a sarcastic smile while she got up and left their table.
Ron looked uneasily at Harry.
"What?" Harry asked. "Do you actually believe that old fraud?"
"No," Rons aid timidly. "It's just that… well- tarot cards are known to be the most accurate of all Divination subjects."
"So, Trelawney has been wrong about this stuff before.
"Yeah…"
After the bell rang all of the Gryffindors went and dropped off their bags and went down to dinner.
~*~
"All right team!" Angelina yelled. The Gryffindor team was crowded around their new captain. "We are going to kick butt this year!"
"Yeah!" shouted the rest of the team.
"All right, next Friday we are holding tryouts for a new Keeper. Although I doubt that anyone will be able to be better than Wood we'll try to find the best! I expect you all to be there to help us choose a worthy Keeper!"
"Yeah!" Yelled the team again.
"Now, let's get flying!"
Minutes later, all six of them were up in the air. Madame Hooch was sitting in the stands of the stadium, along with Hermione and Ron, who had gotten permission from Professor Dumbledore to watch the practice. Harry flew higher than anyone, his eyes darting around, looking for the Snitch.
He spotted Ron and Hermione waving from the stands and he waved back. He went into a sharp dive, took a hand off of his broomstick and caught the Snitch.
"Good going!" Angelina yelled as she flew by him. Harry released the Snitch again and waited a few minutes before going off in search of it again.
"Harry!" Angelina yelled, beckoning him up to her. "I think that you should work on your Wronski Feint for a little bit. I really think that you can-"
Without warning, the unspeakable happened. There was a flash of brilliant green light, and Angelina fell off of her broom.
Harry looked at her in horror, before there was another flash of green light and Harry was knocked off of his broom as well.
A.N. This is not the last chapter!! The next chapter is NOT the last chapter either!!!!!!! You'll just have to read to find out what happens next!!!!!!!! Now, please review!!!!!
Malena