A week before Christmas, the roster was once again circulated for people
who were staying at Hogwarts to sign. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred and
George all put their names down to stay. Fred and George had to owl a
letter to Mrs Weasley, promising they'd actually do some work studying for
the N.E.W.T.S, otherwise she wouldn't have let them stay. The other four
however, enjoyed their Christmas holidays, engaging in snow fights with the
other houses, and drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire. Hermione and
Ron were once again a kind-of-couple, which involved them occasionally
holding hands and kissing. Harry and Ginny remained friends, but were very
flirty toward each other. The Christmas holiday was an enjoyable one. For
the first time ever, the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team was staying at
Hogwarts over Christmas, so they were able to get in a few extra training
sessions, as well as having a few games against other mix-matched inter-
house teams. Hermione actually proved herself a pretty good Chaser, and Ron
was skilled as a Keeper. But theses surprising traits still didn't' keep
the official Gryffindor team from winning each and every game.
The Christmas feast was once again and enjoyable affair. Prof. Williamson entertained everyone with stories of her travels, and Dumbledore shared his humorous stories about early Quidditch. The short days began to grow longer after Christmas, and before the school knew it, the snow was melting, and grass was beginning to show. Spring was upon them, meaning that the school year was starting to draw to a close. One day, after a particularly hard DADA lesson, Harry wrote to Sirius, asking his opinion on the best way to kill a Grindylow.
You see Sirius, even though Williamson is a good teacher, she didn't explain killing a Grindylow too well, and I think I'm the only one who knows a way to get outside help. So if you and Lupin could maybe get back to me with some ideas, the whole grade would be appreciative. By the way, did you know that Prof. Williamson has been to Australia?
Harry added a few other minor details to his letter and sent it off with Hedwig.
At Lupin's house
"See, I knew she couldn't teach!" Sirius sounded extremely victorious.
"Just because she didn't explain something well, doesn't mean she can't teach. I'm sure the children were confused at my teaching as well" Remus was once again being the voice of reason. Sirius ignored him, and instead wrote a letter, explaining in great detail, his opinion about the best way to kill a Grindylow. After he had finished, he gave the letter to Lupin, so he could add a bit Harry, I agree with everything Sirius said, except that you could cut out the entire action of shaking it until it's eye's roll back to knock off it's senses, and pushing it deeper to confuse it. Simply using an Impediment jinx on it will slow it down enough to easily allow you to kill it.
I hope all is well with you, we should try to meet up when you're next in Hogsmeade.
Lupin.
Sirius gave Remus a dirty look when he read Lupin's addition, but said nothing, and tied the letter to the leg of Hedwig, sending her flying back towards the anxious students at Hogwarts.
The O.W.L.S were afst approaching now, and the 5th year had to put their minds into gear. Of course, Hermione breezed through all their prep work, but Harry and Ron were still struggling somewhat. The week before the exams, nearly all 5th years could be found studying madly in the common rooms, library, around the lake, the Great Hall, anyplace that they could sit with a book. Black rings started appearing around the eyes of some particularly studious pupils, and the tempers of others appeared to reach their breaking point. Fred and George were also studying for N.E.W.T.S, so the five of them would often head off to the library together. Hermione was always on hand if help was needed, and Ron definitely took advantage of her wisdom.
"So, this potion only needs baneswolf if it doesn't turn orange after 5 minutes?" he asked her one day. This of course, launched Hermione off into a tirade about Potions, and Ron copied down every word she said. Fred and George were starting to become very pale and tired. Their eyes were saggy, and their eyelids were heavy, but they didn't give up. Finally, on the day before the exams were to begin, Hermione allowed them all to take a break.
"It'll clear your head!"
Hermione, Ron and Harry took off on a walk around the grounds, while Fred and George went for a fast spin on their broomsticks. On their walk, Harry remembered about Hagrid's cabin. They hadn't been down there all year.
"I hope he's back soon!" Harry said. Hermione nodded.
"He's trying to get help from the Giants" Ron explained. This was meet by strange looks from Harry and Hermione.
"My dad works at the Ministry of Magic, you get to know these things!" Ron laughed.
"I can't believe that we haven't heard anything from Voldemort all year" Hermione was starting to get worried.
"Maybe they've tracked him down, or he's getting weak again" Harry said hopefully. He'd actually managed to push all this Voldemort stuff to the back of his head, but this conversation was just drudging it up again.
"LOOK!" Hermione suddenly pointed toward the pumpkin patch next to Hagrids, and in the fading twilight, Ron and Harry could just make out the form of a shaggy black dog "Sirius!" Harry ran toward him. Sirius transformed and put a finger to his lips.
"Shhhhh, do you want people to know I'm here?"
"Sorry," but Harry couldn't help but be happy to see him. Sirius grinned.
"I thought I'd come by to wish you lot well with your O.W.L.S. . I remember doing them a long time ago." Sirius got a far-off look in his eye. Hearing the chattering around him, he shook off the memory and instead concentrated on Harry.
"How's Lupin?" Harry pressed.
"Oh, he's well. They've made so many advances in potions to help him. I just concoct one for him a day before the full moon, and he drinks it in the morning. He doesn't transform, but he still feels very weak, hopefully, it'll get better in time." Sirius filled them in.
"Right, and how are you?" Hermione asked meaningful.
"Well, if you're asking how I am feeling, I'm great. And if you're hinting about me being here for any other reason than wishing you luck, forget about it!" Sirius grinned.
"I told you, I'm fine, and I'm over this thing with Anya, err, Prof. Williamson. OK?" Harry nodded at Sirius's words. Hearing Fred and George's voices in the distant, Sirius looked around worriedly.
"Best I'm off then. Bye Harry!" and with that he changed back into a shaggy dog and trotted off. Just in time too, because the twins chose the very next moment to come wondering around the other side of Hagrid's cabin.
"Ready to hit the books again?" Fred smiled. Ron and Harry gave him rude looks and sighed heavily, but Hermione nodded her head enthusiastically.
The Christmas feast was once again and enjoyable affair. Prof. Williamson entertained everyone with stories of her travels, and Dumbledore shared his humorous stories about early Quidditch. The short days began to grow longer after Christmas, and before the school knew it, the snow was melting, and grass was beginning to show. Spring was upon them, meaning that the school year was starting to draw to a close. One day, after a particularly hard DADA lesson, Harry wrote to Sirius, asking his opinion on the best way to kill a Grindylow.
You see Sirius, even though Williamson is a good teacher, she didn't explain killing a Grindylow too well, and I think I'm the only one who knows a way to get outside help. So if you and Lupin could maybe get back to me with some ideas, the whole grade would be appreciative. By the way, did you know that Prof. Williamson has been to Australia?
Harry added a few other minor details to his letter and sent it off with Hedwig.
At Lupin's house
"See, I knew she couldn't teach!" Sirius sounded extremely victorious.
"Just because she didn't explain something well, doesn't mean she can't teach. I'm sure the children were confused at my teaching as well" Remus was once again being the voice of reason. Sirius ignored him, and instead wrote a letter, explaining in great detail, his opinion about the best way to kill a Grindylow. After he had finished, he gave the letter to Lupin, so he could add a bit Harry, I agree with everything Sirius said, except that you could cut out the entire action of shaking it until it's eye's roll back to knock off it's senses, and pushing it deeper to confuse it. Simply using an Impediment jinx on it will slow it down enough to easily allow you to kill it.
I hope all is well with you, we should try to meet up when you're next in Hogsmeade.
Lupin.
Sirius gave Remus a dirty look when he read Lupin's addition, but said nothing, and tied the letter to the leg of Hedwig, sending her flying back towards the anxious students at Hogwarts.
The O.W.L.S were afst approaching now, and the 5th year had to put their minds into gear. Of course, Hermione breezed through all their prep work, but Harry and Ron were still struggling somewhat. The week before the exams, nearly all 5th years could be found studying madly in the common rooms, library, around the lake, the Great Hall, anyplace that they could sit with a book. Black rings started appearing around the eyes of some particularly studious pupils, and the tempers of others appeared to reach their breaking point. Fred and George were also studying for N.E.W.T.S, so the five of them would often head off to the library together. Hermione was always on hand if help was needed, and Ron definitely took advantage of her wisdom.
"So, this potion only needs baneswolf if it doesn't turn orange after 5 minutes?" he asked her one day. This of course, launched Hermione off into a tirade about Potions, and Ron copied down every word she said. Fred and George were starting to become very pale and tired. Their eyes were saggy, and their eyelids were heavy, but they didn't give up. Finally, on the day before the exams were to begin, Hermione allowed them all to take a break.
"It'll clear your head!"
Hermione, Ron and Harry took off on a walk around the grounds, while Fred and George went for a fast spin on their broomsticks. On their walk, Harry remembered about Hagrid's cabin. They hadn't been down there all year.
"I hope he's back soon!" Harry said. Hermione nodded.
"He's trying to get help from the Giants" Ron explained. This was meet by strange looks from Harry and Hermione.
"My dad works at the Ministry of Magic, you get to know these things!" Ron laughed.
"I can't believe that we haven't heard anything from Voldemort all year" Hermione was starting to get worried.
"Maybe they've tracked him down, or he's getting weak again" Harry said hopefully. He'd actually managed to push all this Voldemort stuff to the back of his head, but this conversation was just drudging it up again.
"LOOK!" Hermione suddenly pointed toward the pumpkin patch next to Hagrids, and in the fading twilight, Ron and Harry could just make out the form of a shaggy black dog "Sirius!" Harry ran toward him. Sirius transformed and put a finger to his lips.
"Shhhhh, do you want people to know I'm here?"
"Sorry," but Harry couldn't help but be happy to see him. Sirius grinned.
"I thought I'd come by to wish you lot well with your O.W.L.S. . I remember doing them a long time ago." Sirius got a far-off look in his eye. Hearing the chattering around him, he shook off the memory and instead concentrated on Harry.
"How's Lupin?" Harry pressed.
"Oh, he's well. They've made so many advances in potions to help him. I just concoct one for him a day before the full moon, and he drinks it in the morning. He doesn't transform, but he still feels very weak, hopefully, it'll get better in time." Sirius filled them in.
"Right, and how are you?" Hermione asked meaningful.
"Well, if you're asking how I am feeling, I'm great. And if you're hinting about me being here for any other reason than wishing you luck, forget about it!" Sirius grinned.
"I told you, I'm fine, and I'm over this thing with Anya, err, Prof. Williamson. OK?" Harry nodded at Sirius's words. Hearing Fred and George's voices in the distant, Sirius looked around worriedly.
"Best I'm off then. Bye Harry!" and with that he changed back into a shaggy dog and trotted off. Just in time too, because the twins chose the very next moment to come wondering around the other side of Hagrid's cabin.
"Ready to hit the books again?" Fred smiled. Ron and Harry gave him rude looks and sighed heavily, but Hermione nodded her head enthusiastically.