Chapter 3 - Accidents Happen
On arriving in the common room the Griffindors saw their new owlery. A big glass wall had been built along part of the wall in the common room where the windows were with a door for students to go in and out of. "Right first years, off to bed" said Hermione. "Oh give them a break," said Ron, they've only just got here, let them look around the place". "No Ron, Professor McGonagall said they had to go straight to bed" said Hermione and without waiting for him to say anything else, she ushered the first years up the winding staircase. "Is it me?" said Ron "or can you see Hermione turning in to a female Percy?" Harry grinned and sat down in one of the big armchairs. It was good to be back at Hogwarts. The next day things started to go downhill at breakfast. Ron had already had a go at Hermione for taking her duties way to seriously, because she told off one girl for not wearing her hat properly, so the atmosphere was less than rosy. Also when they arrived at the Griffindor table, Seamus Finnigan handed them their new timetables and to every 5th years dismay they discovered they had double potions first thing. "Great" said Ron. Having to sit with the Slytherins for 2 hours on a Monday morning, it's enough to make anyone go off their breakfast". But as Harry noticed, Ron seemed to eat enough breakfast, in fact by the time they reached their potions classroom, Ron was complaining he was feeling ill! "Well, here we are again," said Professor Snape. " I see there are still the same dunderheads in my class as I had 5 years ago" His eyes flicked towards Neville and back. "This year is the most important year for you in my class. Your owls are fast approaching, however many of you." at this point he looked at most of the Griffindors "have no idea, what it takes to make a good potion and I highly doubt I will be able to teach you". Harry and Ron both glanced at Hermione to see how she would take this news, however she didn't react at all. "Strange" said Ron later that day, "if it told Hermione she wasn't good at anything, she'd probably hex me!" That evening Professor McGonagall came to find Harry in the common room. "Potter, Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you. If you could make your way to his office ASAP please. He will be waiting for you". Harry got up and left the common room, then he walked the familiar route to Dumbledore's office. It wasn't until he reached the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance that once again he realised didn't know the password. However he didn't have long to ponder on what he should do because the stone gargoyle suddenly sprang aside and the sight of Dumbledore's phoenix Fawkes greeted Harry. Then with a whoosh Fawkes flew back up the moving walkway that led to Dumbledore's office. Harry stepped through the opening and the gargoyle sprang back in to place, he then stepped on to the walkway and travelled up to Dumbledore's office. Two minutes later he stepped off the walkway and knocked on he office door. The door was instantly pulled open and Hagrid, Hogwarts Gamekeeper and one of Harry's greatest friends stood there. "Hello Harry, 'oped I'd be seein' you soon, b' got bad news I'm 'fraid". Harry walked in to the office and Dumbledore stood in front of him, with Fawkes on his shoulder. "Hello Harry, I'm afraid I do call you here with bad news. You may have guessed the added security on the castle is for your safety, and Fawkes guarding the entrance to my office is another precaution. He will only let in those who are to be trusted, there will be no more passwords, at least not at present". "Professor, what is the bad news?" asked Harry. "Harry, you remember at the end of last term I sent Hagrid and Madame Maxine on a mission? Their mission was to get the banished giants on our side before Voldermort got to them. However there was an accident at the ministry and Fudge attempted to stop their trip. This resulted in Voldermort reaching them first and now we have no hope with them. We still have the Dementors on our side, but how long that will last I don't know." "Accident, that was no accident." interrupted Hagrid "What.?" Harry asked. "Harry you don't need to know what happened" said Dumbledore as if reading his mind, "and Hagrid accidents happen. What matters now is keeping the Dementors on our side, which is hopefully being taken care of as we speak. Now Harry we don't know what will happen, so we want you to keep out of trouble. Do you understand? Do not wander off alone or go anywhere without telling anyone where you are going". "Yes Professor". "You may go now Harry". It was a very subdued Harry that walked back to the Griffindor common room that evening, and he wasn't even cheered up to see that Ron had rounded up all the first years he could and was now teaching them ways of annoying Hermione.
On arriving in the common room the Griffindors saw their new owlery. A big glass wall had been built along part of the wall in the common room where the windows were with a door for students to go in and out of. "Right first years, off to bed" said Hermione. "Oh give them a break," said Ron, they've only just got here, let them look around the place". "No Ron, Professor McGonagall said they had to go straight to bed" said Hermione and without waiting for him to say anything else, she ushered the first years up the winding staircase. "Is it me?" said Ron "or can you see Hermione turning in to a female Percy?" Harry grinned and sat down in one of the big armchairs. It was good to be back at Hogwarts. The next day things started to go downhill at breakfast. Ron had already had a go at Hermione for taking her duties way to seriously, because she told off one girl for not wearing her hat properly, so the atmosphere was less than rosy. Also when they arrived at the Griffindor table, Seamus Finnigan handed them their new timetables and to every 5th years dismay they discovered they had double potions first thing. "Great" said Ron. Having to sit with the Slytherins for 2 hours on a Monday morning, it's enough to make anyone go off their breakfast". But as Harry noticed, Ron seemed to eat enough breakfast, in fact by the time they reached their potions classroom, Ron was complaining he was feeling ill! "Well, here we are again," said Professor Snape. " I see there are still the same dunderheads in my class as I had 5 years ago" His eyes flicked towards Neville and back. "This year is the most important year for you in my class. Your owls are fast approaching, however many of you." at this point he looked at most of the Griffindors "have no idea, what it takes to make a good potion and I highly doubt I will be able to teach you". Harry and Ron both glanced at Hermione to see how she would take this news, however she didn't react at all. "Strange" said Ron later that day, "if it told Hermione she wasn't good at anything, she'd probably hex me!" That evening Professor McGonagall came to find Harry in the common room. "Potter, Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you. If you could make your way to his office ASAP please. He will be waiting for you". Harry got up and left the common room, then he walked the familiar route to Dumbledore's office. It wasn't until he reached the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance that once again he realised didn't know the password. However he didn't have long to ponder on what he should do because the stone gargoyle suddenly sprang aside and the sight of Dumbledore's phoenix Fawkes greeted Harry. Then with a whoosh Fawkes flew back up the moving walkway that led to Dumbledore's office. Harry stepped through the opening and the gargoyle sprang back in to place, he then stepped on to the walkway and travelled up to Dumbledore's office. Two minutes later he stepped off the walkway and knocked on he office door. The door was instantly pulled open and Hagrid, Hogwarts Gamekeeper and one of Harry's greatest friends stood there. "Hello Harry, 'oped I'd be seein' you soon, b' got bad news I'm 'fraid". Harry walked in to the office and Dumbledore stood in front of him, with Fawkes on his shoulder. "Hello Harry, I'm afraid I do call you here with bad news. You may have guessed the added security on the castle is for your safety, and Fawkes guarding the entrance to my office is another precaution. He will only let in those who are to be trusted, there will be no more passwords, at least not at present". "Professor, what is the bad news?" asked Harry. "Harry, you remember at the end of last term I sent Hagrid and Madame Maxine on a mission? Their mission was to get the banished giants on our side before Voldermort got to them. However there was an accident at the ministry and Fudge attempted to stop their trip. This resulted in Voldermort reaching them first and now we have no hope with them. We still have the Dementors on our side, but how long that will last I don't know." "Accident, that was no accident." interrupted Hagrid "What.?" Harry asked. "Harry you don't need to know what happened" said Dumbledore as if reading his mind, "and Hagrid accidents happen. What matters now is keeping the Dementors on our side, which is hopefully being taken care of as we speak. Now Harry we don't know what will happen, so we want you to keep out of trouble. Do you understand? Do not wander off alone or go anywhere without telling anyone where you are going". "Yes Professor". "You may go now Harry". It was a very subdued Harry that walked back to the Griffindor common room that evening, and he wasn't even cheered up to see that Ron had rounded up all the first years he could and was now teaching them ways of annoying Hermione.