Chapter 3
During dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood up once again and tapped his goblet with his fork for attention. "Students, may I add another rather important issue that has just popped into my large brain," he winked, "Due to the difficulty in hiring a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the Hogwarts staff has decided to cancel the class this year. Your parents have been notified of the recent change. During the time at which you are intended to attend DADA, you shall receive free time to complete homework or lounge in your common rooms. Thank you." He sat back down.
The Great Hall began buzzing. Harry could hear oddments of conversation around him. "Oh, wow! A whole hour free to do whatever we like!" "Ah, it's not unanticipated no one would fill up the position..it's obviously jinxed!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione were deciding among themselves what to do.
"We could always visit Hagrid..haven't talked to him in a while," Harry suggested.
"How about we just hang around in the common room and play chess and nap..catching up on the sleep we missed?" Ron said with a bit of a grin on his face.
"OR," Hermione said with a glare at Ron, "We could prepare for our UPCOMING NEWTS, which we DEFINITELY need studying for." At which Harry and Ron both tried to suppress their groans by stuffing large quantities of pound cake into their mouths.
That night, after the feast, however, Harry was perplexed to see Professor McGonagall rushing toward him. "Potter, if you'll come with me, please," she said with a rather somber look upon her face. Harry looked at Hermione and Ron, who both shrugged. He had no choice but to follow Professor McGonagall.
Much to Harry's astonishment and dismay, she led him to Dumbledore's office. What have I have possibly done now, Harry thought. Professor McGonagall led him into the room, turned on her heels, and walked away briskly, leaving Harry to look ahead at the desk, which was occupied by none other than Dumbledore himself.
"Harry, have a seat," he said amiably, gesturing to the cushioned chair beside him. Harry sat down cautiously. "You are aware, Harry, of the rising of Lord Voldemort." Harry nodded. "Nothing has happened in the past two years, since the Triwizard Tournament, in fact. However, Harry, I must express my concerns. I have heard many rumors and talkings from reliable sources that he may be plotting some sort of.. revenge. I wanted to let you know, Harry, that you should always be cautious. Although little can harm you on the grounds of Hogwarts, please do be wary of your circumstances." He stood up, indicating the end of his talk. Harry was suddenly reminded of Professor Moody's "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Harry thanked Professor Dumbledore, who smiled warmly at him as he left.
What was this supposed to mean? Harry thought as he walked aimlessly through the halls. Voldemort was after him again? Harry tried to dismiss all these thoughts from his head as he walked back to the Gryffindor common room where Ron and Hermione were waiting for him anxiously.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern. "What happened?"
"Yeah, are you in trouble or something?" Ron added.
Harry shook his head. "Nah, Dumbledore just wanted to tell me to be cautious because Voldemort might be planning something again. He said-" Harry was cut off as Seamus rushed into the room.
"Ron! Ron! There's a chess tournament in the Great Hall between Gryffindor and Slytherin! It's private, and only the players are allowed to go in! A couple of kids in sixth year set it up without the Professor's knowing. They want to prove once and for all that Gryffindor has the brains that Slytherin lacks. They're rooting for you to go in, Ron! C'mon!" Ron's face flushed with embarrassment at the thought that everyone wanted him to win. This attention was rarely shown to Ron. He turned to Harry and Hermione and said, "Well, I guess I better go then. Wish me luck. And Harry, don't worry about it. When I come back from the game, we'll talk over all the ways that piece of rubbish could get to you." With that, Ron left.
Harry sank into a sofa, Hermione sat down softly at his side.
"Harry, I don't think you should worry about it right now," she said gently, patting his arm.
"Who me? I'm not worrying about it!" Harry said, with a nonchalant attitude. Hermione laughed at his act.
"C'mon Harry, you can't beguile Ron and me. We know when you're troubled. Just don't think about this yet. I don't think anyone will bother you soon. I just don't want you to end up wasting your time thinking over something that's inevitable and you can't help. There's other things to spend your time on, like Quidditch.." she said, trailing off.
And you, Harry thought.
"Thanks, Mione..I know what you mean. It's not really important at the moment. Besides, I think Dumbledore just wanted to warn me, so I won't think about it, okay?" He smiled at her. She grinned encouragingly at him.
"Good. I want to make our last year memorable..not filled with thoughts that can ruin dreams. You, Ron, and I may be separated next year when we go off to our own jobs..oh Harry, I'll miss you so much!" She snuggled against him, tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
Harry leaned down. "Hermione, it's only the beginning of the year! We have plenty of time together left..and I don't think we'll really leave each other next year. We'll always keep in touch and visit! Let's think happy thoughts!" Harry said cheerily.
Hermione laughed through her tears. "You're right, Harry. Planning to beat Slytherin in Quidditch again?" She laughed and leaned back on him again.
This was where she belonged, Hermione thought. It felt so..RIGHT to be in Harry's arm. Even if they shared nothing but a platonic friendship, she felt comforted somehow, to be surrounded by arms that could protect her.
Just then, the common room swung open and Neville walked in.
Thanx SOOOOO much to all my kind reviewers.. (
ColletteTook, hp4eva, Stoneheart, SweetWater, and Kylara704!!!!! THANKS! LOVE YOU ALL!!
Keep reviewing.. I want at least 20 reviews before Chappie 4!!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
!
!
!
!
!
*
During dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood up once again and tapped his goblet with his fork for attention. "Students, may I add another rather important issue that has just popped into my large brain," he winked, "Due to the difficulty in hiring a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the Hogwarts staff has decided to cancel the class this year. Your parents have been notified of the recent change. During the time at which you are intended to attend DADA, you shall receive free time to complete homework or lounge in your common rooms. Thank you." He sat back down.
The Great Hall began buzzing. Harry could hear oddments of conversation around him. "Oh, wow! A whole hour free to do whatever we like!" "Ah, it's not unanticipated no one would fill up the position..it's obviously jinxed!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione were deciding among themselves what to do.
"We could always visit Hagrid..haven't talked to him in a while," Harry suggested.
"How about we just hang around in the common room and play chess and nap..catching up on the sleep we missed?" Ron said with a bit of a grin on his face.
"OR," Hermione said with a glare at Ron, "We could prepare for our UPCOMING NEWTS, which we DEFINITELY need studying for." At which Harry and Ron both tried to suppress their groans by stuffing large quantities of pound cake into their mouths.
That night, after the feast, however, Harry was perplexed to see Professor McGonagall rushing toward him. "Potter, if you'll come with me, please," she said with a rather somber look upon her face. Harry looked at Hermione and Ron, who both shrugged. He had no choice but to follow Professor McGonagall.
Much to Harry's astonishment and dismay, she led him to Dumbledore's office. What have I have possibly done now, Harry thought. Professor McGonagall led him into the room, turned on her heels, and walked away briskly, leaving Harry to look ahead at the desk, which was occupied by none other than Dumbledore himself.
"Harry, have a seat," he said amiably, gesturing to the cushioned chair beside him. Harry sat down cautiously. "You are aware, Harry, of the rising of Lord Voldemort." Harry nodded. "Nothing has happened in the past two years, since the Triwizard Tournament, in fact. However, Harry, I must express my concerns. I have heard many rumors and talkings from reliable sources that he may be plotting some sort of.. revenge. I wanted to let you know, Harry, that you should always be cautious. Although little can harm you on the grounds of Hogwarts, please do be wary of your circumstances." He stood up, indicating the end of his talk. Harry was suddenly reminded of Professor Moody's "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Harry thanked Professor Dumbledore, who smiled warmly at him as he left.
What was this supposed to mean? Harry thought as he walked aimlessly through the halls. Voldemort was after him again? Harry tried to dismiss all these thoughts from his head as he walked back to the Gryffindor common room where Ron and Hermione were waiting for him anxiously.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern. "What happened?"
"Yeah, are you in trouble or something?" Ron added.
Harry shook his head. "Nah, Dumbledore just wanted to tell me to be cautious because Voldemort might be planning something again. He said-" Harry was cut off as Seamus rushed into the room.
"Ron! Ron! There's a chess tournament in the Great Hall between Gryffindor and Slytherin! It's private, and only the players are allowed to go in! A couple of kids in sixth year set it up without the Professor's knowing. They want to prove once and for all that Gryffindor has the brains that Slytherin lacks. They're rooting for you to go in, Ron! C'mon!" Ron's face flushed with embarrassment at the thought that everyone wanted him to win. This attention was rarely shown to Ron. He turned to Harry and Hermione and said, "Well, I guess I better go then. Wish me luck. And Harry, don't worry about it. When I come back from the game, we'll talk over all the ways that piece of rubbish could get to you." With that, Ron left.
Harry sank into a sofa, Hermione sat down softly at his side.
"Harry, I don't think you should worry about it right now," she said gently, patting his arm.
"Who me? I'm not worrying about it!" Harry said, with a nonchalant attitude. Hermione laughed at his act.
"C'mon Harry, you can't beguile Ron and me. We know when you're troubled. Just don't think about this yet. I don't think anyone will bother you soon. I just don't want you to end up wasting your time thinking over something that's inevitable and you can't help. There's other things to spend your time on, like Quidditch.." she said, trailing off.
And you, Harry thought.
"Thanks, Mione..I know what you mean. It's not really important at the moment. Besides, I think Dumbledore just wanted to warn me, so I won't think about it, okay?" He smiled at her. She grinned encouragingly at him.
"Good. I want to make our last year memorable..not filled with thoughts that can ruin dreams. You, Ron, and I may be separated next year when we go off to our own jobs..oh Harry, I'll miss you so much!" She snuggled against him, tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
Harry leaned down. "Hermione, it's only the beginning of the year! We have plenty of time together left..and I don't think we'll really leave each other next year. We'll always keep in touch and visit! Let's think happy thoughts!" Harry said cheerily.
Hermione laughed through her tears. "You're right, Harry. Planning to beat Slytherin in Quidditch again?" She laughed and leaned back on him again.
This was where she belonged, Hermione thought. It felt so..RIGHT to be in Harry's arm. Even if they shared nothing but a platonic friendship, she felt comforted somehow, to be surrounded by arms that could protect her.
Just then, the common room swung open and Neville walked in.
Thanx SOOOOO much to all my kind reviewers.. (
ColletteTook, hp4eva, Stoneheart, SweetWater, and Kylara704!!!!! THANKS! LOVE YOU ALL!!
Keep reviewing.. I want at least 20 reviews before Chappie 4!!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
!
!
!
!
!
*