Chapter 4: Night Classes

Chapter 4: Night Class

Ron's eyes were flashing with anger, but his face was a sickly pale. Everyone in the compartment was ill at ease, but Ron was just furious.

"How could they? How could they?!" he suddenly burst out as the train started off once more.

"Ron…" Hermione said softly, reaching her hand toward his shoulder.

"Don't. Just don't," he said sharply, brushing it away, "Everyone knows the fear that is spreading everywhere, and they pretend someone was killed!"

"Stupid Slytherin second years," Harry muttered, hugging his legs to his chest, "They thought they'd be so cool."

"Don't dwell on it, guys," Azar said quietly, "No one was hurt. Let's just think of Hogwarts."

"That's not a cheerful thought," Harry said quietly.

The other three looked at him, a little surprised. They didn't ask him about it, though. In silence, the train pulled up to Hogsmeade station.

They all got in one of the carriages, but just as it was about to leave, Neville ran up and asked if he could ride with them.

"Where have you been anyways, Neville?" Ron asked.

Neville dropped his eyes and his cheeks went pink. "No place special."

"Is it the same place you went on our last Hogwarts Express ride?" Azar asked, a grin creeping to her lips.

"Er…uh, well, ye-no…um, maybe."

"Is there a certain special someone you were with?" Hermione cooed.

Neville really went red this time.

"Oh, come off it," said Ron in Neville's defense.

"Okay then. Harry, do you have any special girl in mind?" Azar said, turning the tables.

"What?" Harry's eyes widened.

"Ah, c'mon. There's got to be some girl you like," Hermione wheedled.

"Er…I- oh, pick on Ron, why don't you?"

"Well, duh," Azar said, rolling her eyes, "He likes Hermione. We've seen the evidence of that. Need an answer. You're not getting out of this one, Harry legs."

"Harry legs?! Where in the world did that come from? You can't even see my legs!"

"First thing that came to mind," she grinned, "How 'bout it? You need a nickname, anyways."

"But not 'Harry legs'!"

Everyone was in a much better mood as they walked up the stairs to Hogwarts.

As they walked through the great double doors, Harry said, "No Malfoy. No Peeves. We're actually getting through the doorway without any inter-"

"Potter," came an all too familiar slimy voice.

Harry turned to face Professor Snape. "I'm afraid you shall have to miss the Sorting. You must go to Dumbledore's office immediately."

Harry glanced an apology to his friends, then followed Snape through the halls. Snape walked with such purpose that Harry had to jog to keep up. The silence was eerie, so Harry tried to break it.

"So how's the spying?"

Snape whirled on him. "Never, and I mean never, speak of that! It may seem like a game to you, Potter, but it's my life you're playing with!"

The man turned swiftly back around and continued at a faster pace. Harry stared, gaping. He hadn't meant anything by it, but apparently things weren't going well if Snape was so edgy. They walked on in silence.

"Ice Mice," Snape spat.

Harry quickly followed him up the stairs and through the door and then stopped, a bit taken aback. Not only was Dumbledore in the room, but so were two wizards dressed completely in black and wearing sunglasses. One was extremely tall and skinny, with a sharp jaw line. The other was a bit on the hefty side and had a small mustache that looked like it was groomed every day.

"Harry, sit down," Dumbledore said firmly, "These gentlemen have a few questions to ask you. I assure you it is not to my approval, but the Minister demands it."

Dumbledore looked at the men with something a little stronger than disapproval. They ignored him and walked up to the chair in which Harry was seated.

"We request to speak to him alone," the tall man said in a nasal voice, glancing at Snape and Dumbledore.

"Go to the Sorting, Severus. I'll remain here for the time being."

The man with the mustache looked like he was going to object, but Dumbledore looked him in the eye and silenced the thought immediately. Instead, he turned on Harry. Harry saw his own worried reflection staring back from the man's sunglasses.

"Mr. Potter," he said in a gruff voice, "are you aware of the events that took place on the Hogwarts Express this afternoon?"

"I'm not sure, sir."

"The faked murder."

"Oh. Well, yeah."

"Where were you at the time?"

"In a compartment, with my friends. We were getting our things together when we heard a-"

"How do you make the Dark Mark?" the man interrupted sharply, catching Harry off guard.

"What?" Harry blinked, surprised.

"You do know how to make the Dark Mark, don't you?"

"Of course not. What has that got to do with anything?"

"You'll have to excuse him," the tall man said smoothly, "He tends to jump around without explanation. I assume, then, that you were not aware that the Dark Mark was found over the train car in which the false murder took place?"

Harry's eyes widened. "I had no idea."

"I'm sure," the man with the mustache said with a short laugh.

"You were friends with one Miss Cho Chang, were you not?" the tall man asked.

"Yes, I was," Harry said, feeling his stomach tighten.

"And a bitter acquaintance of a Mr. Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes…sir."

"Both disappeared, I understand."

Harry's jaw went slack. "Well, yeah. But I'm sure Professor Dumbledore knows more about that. He could tell you."

"He already has told us."

"Then why were you asking me?"

"You say you had a meeting with You-Know-Who this previous year?" the tall man went on, ignoring Harry.

"Y-yes. I did."

The man with the mustache sneered. "I'm sure."

"You live with muggles, correct?" the tall man continued.

Harry nodded.

"Do you enjoy living with them?"

"No."

"Aha!" cried the man with the mustache, "So you're a muggle-hater, eh?!"

"What?! No, I-"

The tall man silenced them both with an upraised palm. "You'll have to excuse him, Harry. He tends to jump to conclusions. So, how is your life here at Hogwarts?"

Harry furrowed his brows, unsure of what was going on. "Well, most of the t-"

"Admit it!" the man with the mustache yelled suddenly, "You killed Cedric Diggory in your fourth year, didn't you?!"

Harry's eyes widened and he went pale. Dumbledore stood up sharply, anger flashing in his eyes, and Harry was sure he had seen a couple of sparks fly from somewhere.

"Never, and I say never accuse this boy of any wrongdoing! Out! Both of you!"

The two men decided to give no objection and skulked out. Harry wiped his face with his hands, then pulled them through his hair.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Dumbledore said, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder, "I wasn't even sure why they were here. If I had even thought…"

"It's okay, Professor," Harry sighed, smiling weakly up at him, "I'm a bit used to it by now."

"No one should have to get used to that, Harry. No one should have to go through what you have."

"That's what I get for living, I guess," he grimaced, "Well, I'd better get back to the Sorting."

Dumbledore looked at him sadly. "Yes, I believe that would be best. Try to keep your chin up, Harry. You never know what joys lie just around the corner."

Harry walked through the corridors, each step echoing as he thought to himself.

"But I don't want joys," he muttered, "I just want normalcy."

Harry arrived just as the Sorting finished. Ron and Hermione looked at him questionably, but he said he'd tell them later. As soon as they finished the feast, everyone filed out of the Great Hall.

"Okay, first year Ravenclaws!" Azar called over the crowd, prefect badge gleaming, "Just follow me! With luck, nearly all of us will arrive at the common room safely!"

Harry smiled. Azar had been waiting for this, and was relishing in it. He, however, simply followed the new Gryffindors, letting Hermione lead them through the school. He gave a large yawn as they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and Hermione informed everyone that the password was 'neologism'. He lazily plopped down on a chair right next to Ron.

"What'd I miss at the Sorting?" he asked.

"Not much. Pretty average Sorting."

"Hey, what happened with Dean's sister and Katie's brother?" Harry asked.

"Er…well, Sarah's a Gryffindor, just as Dean said she would be. James went to Hufflepuff, which is strange. All of Katie's family has been in Gryffindor."

Harry was a little surprised. He glanced around, spotting Katie sitting glumly in chair by the fire. She looked like she was about to cry. Hermione soon joined them.

"So, Harry, what'd Dumbledore want?"

"Actually, Dumbledore didn't want anything. There were a couple of guys there; I guess they were from the ministry. They questioned me."

"Oh yeah? What about?"

"That's the weird part. The tall one seemed to be trying to carry on a normal conversation while the one with the mustache kept bursting in saying that I knew how to use the Dark Mark, or the like."

"Sounds a bit off his rocker to me."

"It was just strange. I don't know what they wanted, but the whole thing seemed pointless."

"Well, it's turning out to be an average year," Ron smiled grimly, "Two strange happenings on the first day sounds about right, eh?"

****

When Harry went down to the common room the next morning, he found a small crowd around the bulletin board.

"Hey, what's that about?" he asked, finding Ron and Hermione.

"They're offering a new night class this year," Ron said gloomily, "It's called 'Magic in the Home'. It's about cooking with magic and the like. My mum heard about it beforehand and made me promise to take it."

"And you're not just going to skip it and pretend you took it?" Hermione asked, a bit surprised.

"Are you kidding? She'll probably test me on it, and if I don't know jot…I just don't even want to think about it," he sighed, "Hey, why don't you guys take it with me?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, c'mon. I don't want to be all alone with a bunch of girls…wait. On second thought-"

"I'll go," Hermione said with a bit of force, "I might as well."

"How 'bout you, Harry?"

"Er…I'd always planned on living on microwave dinners," he grinned.

"Oh, c'mon. You can just say my mum forced you to, and people'll believe it. Heck, my mum could get Malfoy to take a course in Muggle Studies if she really tried."

"Okay, I guess I'll go. There's no harm in it, and I could meet a few girls…"

A couple nights later, they were in a large classroom, ready to start 'Magic in the Home'. A fair number of people had come, including Neville, Azar, and, to Harry's dismay, Paravati Patil and Lavender Brown. Harry talked with Azar, ignoring Paravati's attempts to catch his eye. Apparently she had forgotten all about the Yule Ball from two years prior and was once again interested in him. The many rumors that he had skipped the Sorting to have an important meeting with Dumbledore and the Minister may have played a small factor in her peaked interest.

The door suddenly burst open, causing a few people to jump. In walked the professor. Harry could feel his eyes bulge. Ron gaped openly and Hermione covered her mouth with her hands.

"Oh my gosh…" she whispered.

"Who'd've thought…" Ron murmured.

Harry just stared. Out of all the people in the world, this was the last he had expected to walk in.

~*~*~

A/N: Hmmm… Who's the mysterious new teacher, eh? Well, I must admit, I'm not even sure. I've got a few ideas, but I'd like your opinion! (This ought to be fun…) ^-^

Was the murder being a false alarm a big disappointment? I kept thinking of whom I could kill, but decided it was a bit early for all that. This chapter was going to be longer, but…it's not. Yeah, oh well. And I tried to do a bit of good cop/bad cop there with the two ministry guys. Turned out a bit…interesting.

Yeah, well I love reviews! Thanks to all these people:

Sweets: ^-^ I love keeping people up late. Thanks!

Darth Yoda: Hehe…I've turned to the dark side!

Abbey: Evil as you? Impossible! ^-^ j/k

Ravenclaw Filly: Funny thing is, I hate people writing cliffies, then I write them! Thanks. ^-^

Lady Grizabella: Nope, Draco's not dead. Yet.

Jeanne: Er…I didn't hurry as much as I thought I would. ^-^

Allison: Yeah, I realized it was a little too fast. I just wanted to try and grab everyone's attention. ^-^ I can't wait for your fanfics!

Herm: Well, it may have been a bit of a while, but I finally posted it. Thanks!

Well, be excellent to each other!

-Ady