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All Settled in?
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The weeks passed and the daily routine settled in before the first month was over. The first years were integrating into their houses well and most of the students liked their new teachers and curricula. Quidditch started up again and Harry was thrilled to be back on the team. Katie Bell had replaced their graduated captain Oliver Wood, and third year Jim Collins joined the team to fill their ranks and take over Wood'S position as Keeper.
"I hand picked him," Wood had said, "And he's lightning quick in defending the hoops!" Jim was quick in his boom and he was a nice guy too. He was a little quiet but Harry supposed it was because he was the new member. All in all, Harry found him to be a great addition to their team. Katie worked the team worked hard at practice and Fred and George made numerous jokes about actually missing Wood's "light" schedules after one particularly grueling session. But, Gryffindor won the first game of the season (against Ravenclaw) so their hard work was paying off.
The arrival of not one but THREE magical giants had caused quite a sir, but Rita Skeeter had seemed to take Hermione's threat to heart and no nasty articles had been written. Harry was somewhat worried about next year however. He'd mentioned to Hermione that she might enlist the help of Dumbledore or McGonagall in helping to keep her in check.
Draco had groused and moped about the school for a week after his father had attempted to get the new students removed and failed. The new Ravenclaw had been trained by her witch grandmother and was making excellent grades. As a part wizard she had a right to be at the school, no matter what Lucius Malfoy said. The other two were also making decent grades and certainly no trouble. The Huffelpuff had found he had a knack with potions and even Snape could be prodded into saying good things about him. The new Gryffindor had struck up friendships with several people outside his own year including Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom and Lee Jordan. The new students were exemplary aside for a few points here and there for snickering in Snape's class Most from the day a bottle of Root Pollen had fallen into a potion and melted Snape's cauldron and the stone floor beneath).
Transfiguration was proving to be a very difficult class, as professor McGonagall had found new and interesting ways to make them work harder. But Harry had to admit he was learning a lot. Hagrid's class was exceptionally interesting as it always was, and Harry was glad his house no longer had that class with the Slytherins, as this year they had class with the Ravenclaws. Unfortunately they still had Potions with the Slytherins and Snape seemed to be more vindictive then all of his previous years combined. Gruffindor had lost almost fifty points by Halloween solely because of Snape. However they had managed to make the loss up twice over in DADA.
The Slytherins were the only house which people quite opposed to their new DADA teacher, but the Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Gryffindors ignored them. Harry and Ron really liked the new teacher, because as fifth years they were now allowed to learn some of the more impressive spells to keep away dark creatures and people. These generally included putting mild and amusing curses on one another and sending miniature fireballs, snowballs, mud-balls, waterballs, (or, in Neville's case, Snot-balls) at targets. In the weeks that followed Professor Stonehoof even brought in members of other magical races to meet her students. She'd invited a hag, a vampire in a special evening class, a heredity werewolf and a dwarf. It was definitely an interesting class and easily one of the most popular despite the work and research she required.
Well, for most people it was a well liked class.
"I had a horse just like her butt when I was younger. It stumbled and went lame and father had to put it down," Draco Malfoy's cold voice echoed across the hall. Several Gryffindors turned and cast glares at Malfoy and the tittering Slytherins at their house table.
"Just ignore them," Hermione said, "If they wish to be small minded, that's their problem, not ours," she calmly sipped her water and her housemates grumbled and turned back to their original conversations.
"Personally I don't see what's so wrong," Ginny frowned at the back of Malfoy's head and gave Goyle a nasty glare. That funny feeling of not-right-ness was back again, but she pushed it to the back of her head. She sighed and picked up her books, "Let's go Lisa, we have transfiguration. Lisa's shoulders drooped as she collected her books and trudged off behind Ginny.
"What's her problem? Ron asked, after his younger sister and the other fourth year had gone.
"She hasn't been able to perform her Animagus transformation all year. The closest she got was turning her hair into feathers," Hermione said sadly, "Actually She's been seeing Madame Pomfrey about it and practicing with professor McGonagall, but she just can't do it anymore."
"Well, that's not good," Harry said. The new girl was pretty nice and had become one of Ginny's good friends. The whole of Gryffindor house had fully accepted her as one of their own, despite Fred and George's occasional teasing "Yank" remarks. Harry was also fairly certain Ron was going to ask Lisa to go to the annual Halloween party with him. So, of course, both he and Ron were sorry to hear she was having difficulty.
"Bummer," Ron, shook his head, "Doubt there's anything we could really do to help, huh?"
"I don't think so," Hermione said, "But I think it helps that none of the other fourth years are having any luck with their Animagus transformations,"
"I thought about doing that least year, but everything go so busy and hectic, and with the tournament and all of that? Maybe I'll try this year," Ron said thoughtfully.
"Ron, it requires a lot of W, O, R, K," Hermione spelled out and Ron made a face at her, "But I'm serious Ron, the Ministry has only recorded Seven Animagi," Ron gave her a look. The three of them, Harry, Ron and Hermione, all knew of at least 4 UN-registered Animagi. Well, three Animagi and one Bug-o-magi as Ron referred to Rita Skeeter (when he was being polite).
"But, I'm serious," Ron stood and collected his books for his next class, "I mean it would be something no one else in my family can do. I mean my older brothers have all distinguished themselves somehow, and Ginny is the only girl. If I became an animagus, that'd set me apart and I'd have done something really impressive and it'd prove to you," he pointed a finger at Hermione, "That I'm not as lazy as you think!" Hermione snorted at that, clearly unable to equate Ron's work ethic with anything other than laziness.
"So, what animal would you turn into," Harry asked. Ron grew thoughtful.
"You know, I haven't thought about it that far. It'd have to be something Bold, and strong and yet smart and proud," Ron's eyes glazed over and Harry and Hermione shared amused glances behind his back.
A very large black dog trotted by the line of trees at the edge of the forest. The dog trotted around some fallen trunks and headed for the edge of town. He made a wide path around the stately manor of the mayor of Hogsmede and headed into the thicker, wilder forest beyond. The dog looked around and made a long circular trip around a peaceful little clearing by a stream. He seemed to be looking for something. Finding nothing, the dog sat in the clearing and waited.
A moment later a tall, old wizard was suddenly there. The dog turned and looked at the man, then wagged his tail.
"Hello Sirius," Dumbledore smiled down at the dog. The dog transformed into a man with a ragged robe and shaggy hair. He was gaunt and his expression grim, but Dumbledore could see relief in the man's eyes. "I was surprised to get a letter from you," Dumbledore admitted and handed the thin man a bag of muffins from the kitchens. Black took the bag and nodded thanks.
"I thought you should know," His voice was gruff and unused to speaking, "I overheard two not so careful DeathEaters. Perrin Jamison and Michael Mardeberry," Black said and took a large bit out of the first muffin,"
"They were two that suddenly came back after Voldemort was defeated the first time," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, and Black nodded and swallowed his bite.
"They were speaking about some of their plans, and they weren't being too careful who they said them around. They were in a small Muggle village just outside of Bristol," Sirius said, "They seemed to be talking about sending something or someone very powerful into Hogwarts. And from what I heard, they'd been successful," Sirius said and began to devour his muffins.
"Interesting," Dumbledore mused, "thank you for this information Sirius, I will inform the other teachers and we will monitor the situation."
Sirius nodded and handed the now empty food sack back to Dumbledore. "Would you tell Harry hello for me and apologize to him. I'm sorry I couldn't see him this visit," Sirus asked. Dumbledore nodded. Sirius turned back into his dog form and trotted out of the clearing. Dumbledore watched him go for a moment, then apparated.
When Dumbledore reached his office he sat behind his desk and gave Fawkes a chocolate fly from Hogsmede. He then tapped the small crystal ball on the corner of his desk.
"Minerva, I'd like to see you when you get a chance," He said. In the smoky globe professor McGonagall's head nodded.
"I'll be right up," she said and the globe's misty interior cleared.
She arrived a few minutes later. "Is everything alright," she asked, taking a seat across from him.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I just had a very interesting conversation," Dumbledore then told her about his conversation with Sirius,
"Do you think it's the new fourth year? One of the new first years? Oh, you don't think Professor Stonehoof, do you? Or one of the Giants?" She asked, aghast. Dumbledore shook his head.
"I am not certain. Not certain at all. I do know it isn't our new professor, but as for the others, I do not. I would like to think not, but I do think we should be very vigilant. Very vigilant indeed."
"Well I suppose having another pair of eyes will help," Minerva offered as she handed a bit of parchment covered in flowing script to Dumbledore. Dumbledore read it and nodded.
"This year keeps getting more and more interesting."
"An entire house of people like Fred and George!?" Ginny gasped in horror. Two of them was bad enough, but nearly fifty!
"Yep," Lisa said as she sipped her morning tea, "you know, I think I'm actually getting used to this stuff. It's definitely much nicer than coffee," she indicated the tea with her free hand.
"I still can't believe it!"
"Oh, they're not all that bad," Lisa said, "The Corvidae, are dedicated to entertainment and fun and the happiness of all. They're the closest thing we have to a muggle performing arts school I think. It's because of their mascot. The native legends describe Raven as a creator and a trickster. It sums them up quite well I think. 'course we're not nearly as segregated as you all are here. We room in mixed company most of the time. One of my last roommates was a Corvidae. Bloody good artist, too. Oh, I didn't just say "bloody" did I?" Lisa asked, and made a disgusted face. Ginny and the other 4th year girls at the table laughed.
"Just watch! Soon you'll pick up the accent and start calling things by their proper names. Like chips and crisps! And lifts and coaches!" Suzannah Smith, another fourth year joked.
"Soon I'll be saying things like "Bugger" and "Wicked" and "Snogging"," she giggled.
The table laughed again as a great Woosh-ing noise sounded above.
"Oh, mail's here," Hermione said as she, Ron and Harry sat at the breakfast table, near Ginny and her classmates.
Hedwig and Pig flew down in tandem, carrying a bulky package between them. It was a bag of cookies for Ron to share with his sister, brothers, Harry and Hermione from Mrs. Weasley. Hedwig took a piece of cookie offered to her by Harry then Hooted and went off to the Owlry. Pig hopped around after being given his piece of cookie by Ron then zoomed out of the window.
"I wonder if I should have given him a bit with chocolate in it. Sugar and hyperactive owl really aren't a good combination," Ron mused.
"I wonder what this is," Lisa muttered to herself. A big barn owl had dropped a small package in her toast. He picked it up and examined the writing on the outside. "Huh," She said and began pulling of the cording which kept the brown paper on, "It's from my parents." The contents of the package was a small dark brown glass bottle with a metal and glass stopper. Written on the outside of the bottle in a neat script, were instructions.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"Some sort of medication my family doctor said I should have," she shrugged, "the note says they already cleared it with Madame Pomfrey," she shrugged again and slipped the bottle into her coat.
That evening at dinner Dumbledore stood and motioned for silence.
"A bit of an announcement. We will shortly be getting a student teacher on Friday. First years can expect to meet her in charms class. Fifth years will meet her in potions. Have a good evening."
The room erupted into conversation as Dumbledore sat back down. He and McGonagall shared a smile. Snape rolled his eyes when he thought no one was looking.
"A student teacher for Flitwick AND Snape?" Ron mused. It was as an unlikely combination as one could possibly hope for.
"Maybe they decided Snape was being too harsh on us during lessons," Harry wondered.
"Or maybe it's a lesson FOR Snape," Hermione arched an eyebrow, her brown eyes glittered. Harry and Ron looked at one another and shrugged.
"Well I know potions will definitely be interesting," Ron muttered.
"Well," at least these pills don't taste all that bad," Lisa said after washing the first green tablet down with a glass of water.
"Have you thought of your questions for tomorrow's guest?" Saina Coldman asked the room in general. Tendrils of red and orange smoke were flowing from her mouth as she spoke. A green tendril was added as she ate another Puff and then passed the bag of sweets to the next girl. Tomorrow, they'd have another guest in DADA and the fourth year girls were all discussing who or what I might be.
"What d'you think it's gonna be?" Ginny asked.
"I heard a seventh year say its gonna be a Lamia," Saina said.
"I heard either Oni or Naga," Suzannah said.
"Well I suppose we'll find out," Gunny yawned and flopped dramatically into her bed. The forth years wished one another good night and went to sleep.