Disclaimer: I don't own any of 'em, so don't get the FBI on my case.
The summer, however quickly, had actually passed quite nicely. Now Harry was sitting in the car with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and the twins on their way to King's Cross Station. The Weasleys had set a record by not forgetting anything, so it appeared they were actually going to be quite early.
They all walked through the barrier on a second nature. They now only had to board the train. The clock struck quarter till, and Mrs. Weasley figured it would be best if she placed them on the train and headed back herself.
"Now, all of you," she said, eyeing them, "be good. No trouble," she said with a specific glance at the twins, "no missing me too much," she said looking at Ginny fondly, "and be very, very careful." She looked last at the three friends with a very worried look. "Promise me." They knew her comment was directed at them.
They all nodded and she hugged them and bid them farewell. They finally boarded the train. Ginny found Colin Creevey as well as Neville Longbottom and went to sit with them. Fred and George found Lee Jordan and went to sit with him. Now the threesome was left alone.
They walked down the halls of the train and found an empty compartment. Hermione, however, appeared very worried for some reason or another.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked. Now he looked worried.
Instead of answering, Hermione turned to Harry and asked, "You did write to Sirius, didn't you?"
Harry nodded in reply.
"When was that?" She seemed to be very deep in thought about something, but very alert at the same time.
"About two weeks ago, I'd say."
"Two weeks, eh? And still no reply." she muttered to herself for a few moments with a furrowed brow.
"Hermione, are sure you're all right?" Ron asked again.
"Oh! Oh, yes." And in a moment, she was her old self once more.
"Whatever," came Ron's reply. "Weird as usual."
"Ron!" She jabbed him in the elbow.
"What?" He grinned.
As Hermione buried her nose into one of her brand-new spell books (Mrs. Weasley had taken them all to Diagon Alley), Ron and Harry started to talk about school.
"I'll make you a bet," Ron said. "By third week, Seamus and Lavender are making out."
"That's no bet, I agree all the way," Harry said.
"I think he's.well, you know. With Lavender, I mean."
"I wouldn't be surprised of she let him," Hermione suddenly said, looking up. She can be such a slut, Lavender."
"Looking forward to seeing those roommates, aren't you, Hermione?" Harry said.
"Oh, you've no idea," she replied haughtily, and returned to her book as though the matter was officially closed.
"I'll tell you one person I'm not looking forward to seeing," Ron said. "Malfoy."
Almost as if on cue, Malfoy threw open the compartment door with his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle, at his side. "Well, lookee here," he drawled.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry gave his almost automatic answer.
"Why, Potter, what do you think of me?" he said with an obviously false look of hurt. "Surely two friends as close as you and I don't need a reason to visit." His look transferred to a malicious grin.
"Oh, get over yourself, won't you?" Hermione had snapped her book shut and was now standing with the others.
"Shut up, bitch," Malfoy snapped.
Ron looked just about ready to pounce, but Harry held him back. "I swear Malfoy," Harry muttered, "one more word."
But Malfoy wasn't paying attention. He was focused on Ron. "What Weasley? Defending the poor little Mudblood whore? Don't you see that even if you want her, you're so poor you could never afford her prices?"
Now Harry was forced to physically restrain Ron, and this was hard as Ron was several inches taller than he. "Malfoy, shut the hell up or I'll hex you." Harry tried to be as calm as possible while imposing the threat.
"Oh, Potter, Potter, Potter.tsk, tsk, tsk," Malfoy shook his head in mock disappointment. "You think just because you somehow managed to escape the wrath of the Dark Lord you know everything. Well, think again." Malfoy leaned in to whisper, "Because he's back. And he's out to get all of you."
It was hard to tell what happened first. Perhaps it was Hermione, who hit Malfoy with a spell so hard that he was thrown backwards out of the compartment. Then Ron must've tackled Malfoy to the floor, Harry managing to pull him off fast enough to lean in himself and say, " Don't you ever fucking do that again." He slammed the door , infuriated.
Hermione was astounded. "Harry. I've never seen you say things like that before!"
Harry shrugged. "I don't normally like to curse.unlike some people." His eyes traveled to Ron, whose fists were still clenched and was facing the door with a maddened expression.
"If I ever get my hands on him." Ron muttered.
Hermione, who was sitting next to him, put a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. You know Malfoy. He's just." Unable to find a word, she shook her head. Harry noticed her hand did not leave Ron.
The rest of the trip went without interruption. The feast at the Great Hall was delicious, as always, and afterward, Harry and his friends retreated to the Gryffindor Common Room. They sat down for a brief moment, and finally Hermione broke the silence.
"You're sure you don't want to tell Dumbledore about the dream?"
"Yes," Harry said, impatience starting to take over. Luckily, she dropped it there.
"I have to go to bed," she said. She quickly kissed Harry on the cheek (he had by now gotten used to it, and no longer turned pink in the process). Then she went to kiss Ron, and Harry noticed it took just a moment longer. Ron blushed a furious shade of red to match his hair, and Hermione called goodnight from up the stairwell.
Finally, Harry knew he had to ask. It had been bugging him for weeks, and he was honestly sick of it.
"Ron, do you like Hermione?"
He saw Ron give him a blank look and swallow before screwing up his face. "No! Ew! Gross! She's Hermione! Our best friend Hermione! Are you kidding me?"
"Good," Harry said, "because I thought that-"
"Well, I don't," Ron said quite huffily.
Against his better judgment, Harry decided to believe him.
`The first few weeks at Hogwarts went by very quickly. Potions was as usual a nightmare, and Ron and Harry continued to test their creativity in their Divination predictions. With last year's Professor Moody officially retired, Dumbledore had been forced to find a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. However, something had happened because the teacher wasn't quite here yet, so they all got that off as a free period. Hermione, however, kept them plenty worried, what with her tension about this year's O.W.L.s and all. She was doing as much studying as humanly possible, and never wasted a minute's time to try to get Harry and Ron to do the same.
"I don't understand how missing one game of Exploding Snap to review some Charms would kill you!" she cried.
It was late in the afternoon, and the trio was loafing around the Gryffindor Common Room. As it turned out, Ron and Harry were not playing Exploding Snap, but wizard's chess, while Hermione's nose was caught in a book. Harry wondered why he even bothered playing anymore; Ron always won.
"Oh, calm down, Hermione!" Ron said with a nonchalant wave of the hand. "The O.W.Ls are months off. Months. We've got plenty of time."
"Yes, you'll say that now, but don't come to me when you two are stuck cramming the night before!"
Just then, Harry heard the door of the portrait hole opening and closing again. Neville Longbottom followed by the twins walked into the Common Room, all with excited looks on their faces.
"Guess what?" Fred asked, headed straight for the three.
"What?" Harry and Ron asked both instantly and simultaneously. Hermione did not even look up from her book.until Fred said the next line.
"We've seen the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"
Suddenly Hermione was hit with a list of questions. "Have you had a class with him yet? Is he good? Is he tough? Is he horrid? What can I do to pass his class, d'you think?"
The twins chuckled, and George said, "Before you continue, you should know: it's not a 'he'. It's a 'she'."
Just as Harry's jaw was starting to droop, George said, "And Good Lord, is she hot!"
On first instinct, Ron said, "What does she look like?"
Harry noticed Hermione's brow furrow and eyes glare, but luckily the twins didn't notice. Fred just said, "You'll see soon."
Suddenly Neville, who looked like he was going to explode any minute yelled, "And she's an American!"
Hermione let out a more than audible gasp, and Harry's jaw was really dropping now.
"How do you know?" Ron asked.
"Overheard her talking to Dumbledore in the hall. Seems her name is Ms. Harper," said George.
"At least she's single," Fred remarked, grinning devilishly. The twins and Neville walked off, leaving behind three shocked fifth-years.
"America," Hermione said under her breath. She ran a hand through her hair, obviously shocked. "But why doesn't she teach at an American school?"
"Because there are none, all right?" was Ron's automatic response to shut her up.
Hermione seemed oblivious to his annoyed state. "But there must be. I know I've read about one somewhere." Without answering, she began to gather her things, then left.
"Library," Harry and Ron said together. It was no surprise.
"I wonder what the new teacher looks like." Ron said dreamily into space.
Harry thought for just a moment. A new teacher from America? Well this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was bound to be interesting. Then again, they always were.
So the plot thickens.well, formulates really , but you know. I promise, this is only the beginning. Hold onto your hats, because something big is coming up. Remember, I want to hear what you have to say.
The summer, however quickly, had actually passed quite nicely. Now Harry was sitting in the car with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and the twins on their way to King's Cross Station. The Weasleys had set a record by not forgetting anything, so it appeared they were actually going to be quite early.
They all walked through the barrier on a second nature. They now only had to board the train. The clock struck quarter till, and Mrs. Weasley figured it would be best if she placed them on the train and headed back herself.
"Now, all of you," she said, eyeing them, "be good. No trouble," she said with a specific glance at the twins, "no missing me too much," she said looking at Ginny fondly, "and be very, very careful." She looked last at the three friends with a very worried look. "Promise me." They knew her comment was directed at them.
They all nodded and she hugged them and bid them farewell. They finally boarded the train. Ginny found Colin Creevey as well as Neville Longbottom and went to sit with them. Fred and George found Lee Jordan and went to sit with him. Now the threesome was left alone.
They walked down the halls of the train and found an empty compartment. Hermione, however, appeared very worried for some reason or another.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked. Now he looked worried.
Instead of answering, Hermione turned to Harry and asked, "You did write to Sirius, didn't you?"
Harry nodded in reply.
"When was that?" She seemed to be very deep in thought about something, but very alert at the same time.
"About two weeks ago, I'd say."
"Two weeks, eh? And still no reply." she muttered to herself for a few moments with a furrowed brow.
"Hermione, are sure you're all right?" Ron asked again.
"Oh! Oh, yes." And in a moment, she was her old self once more.
"Whatever," came Ron's reply. "Weird as usual."
"Ron!" She jabbed him in the elbow.
"What?" He grinned.
As Hermione buried her nose into one of her brand-new spell books (Mrs. Weasley had taken them all to Diagon Alley), Ron and Harry started to talk about school.
"I'll make you a bet," Ron said. "By third week, Seamus and Lavender are making out."
"That's no bet, I agree all the way," Harry said.
"I think he's.well, you know. With Lavender, I mean."
"I wouldn't be surprised of she let him," Hermione suddenly said, looking up. She can be such a slut, Lavender."
"Looking forward to seeing those roommates, aren't you, Hermione?" Harry said.
"Oh, you've no idea," she replied haughtily, and returned to her book as though the matter was officially closed.
"I'll tell you one person I'm not looking forward to seeing," Ron said. "Malfoy."
Almost as if on cue, Malfoy threw open the compartment door with his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle, at his side. "Well, lookee here," he drawled.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry gave his almost automatic answer.
"Why, Potter, what do you think of me?" he said with an obviously false look of hurt. "Surely two friends as close as you and I don't need a reason to visit." His look transferred to a malicious grin.
"Oh, get over yourself, won't you?" Hermione had snapped her book shut and was now standing with the others.
"Shut up, bitch," Malfoy snapped.
Ron looked just about ready to pounce, but Harry held him back. "I swear Malfoy," Harry muttered, "one more word."
But Malfoy wasn't paying attention. He was focused on Ron. "What Weasley? Defending the poor little Mudblood whore? Don't you see that even if you want her, you're so poor you could never afford her prices?"
Now Harry was forced to physically restrain Ron, and this was hard as Ron was several inches taller than he. "Malfoy, shut the hell up or I'll hex you." Harry tried to be as calm as possible while imposing the threat.
"Oh, Potter, Potter, Potter.tsk, tsk, tsk," Malfoy shook his head in mock disappointment. "You think just because you somehow managed to escape the wrath of the Dark Lord you know everything. Well, think again." Malfoy leaned in to whisper, "Because he's back. And he's out to get all of you."
It was hard to tell what happened first. Perhaps it was Hermione, who hit Malfoy with a spell so hard that he was thrown backwards out of the compartment. Then Ron must've tackled Malfoy to the floor, Harry managing to pull him off fast enough to lean in himself and say, " Don't you ever fucking do that again." He slammed the door , infuriated.
Hermione was astounded. "Harry. I've never seen you say things like that before!"
Harry shrugged. "I don't normally like to curse.unlike some people." His eyes traveled to Ron, whose fists were still clenched and was facing the door with a maddened expression.
"If I ever get my hands on him." Ron muttered.
Hermione, who was sitting next to him, put a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. You know Malfoy. He's just." Unable to find a word, she shook her head. Harry noticed her hand did not leave Ron.
The rest of the trip went without interruption. The feast at the Great Hall was delicious, as always, and afterward, Harry and his friends retreated to the Gryffindor Common Room. They sat down for a brief moment, and finally Hermione broke the silence.
"You're sure you don't want to tell Dumbledore about the dream?"
"Yes," Harry said, impatience starting to take over. Luckily, she dropped it there.
"I have to go to bed," she said. She quickly kissed Harry on the cheek (he had by now gotten used to it, and no longer turned pink in the process). Then she went to kiss Ron, and Harry noticed it took just a moment longer. Ron blushed a furious shade of red to match his hair, and Hermione called goodnight from up the stairwell.
Finally, Harry knew he had to ask. It had been bugging him for weeks, and he was honestly sick of it.
"Ron, do you like Hermione?"
He saw Ron give him a blank look and swallow before screwing up his face. "No! Ew! Gross! She's Hermione! Our best friend Hermione! Are you kidding me?"
"Good," Harry said, "because I thought that-"
"Well, I don't," Ron said quite huffily.
Against his better judgment, Harry decided to believe him.
`The first few weeks at Hogwarts went by very quickly. Potions was as usual a nightmare, and Ron and Harry continued to test their creativity in their Divination predictions. With last year's Professor Moody officially retired, Dumbledore had been forced to find a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. However, something had happened because the teacher wasn't quite here yet, so they all got that off as a free period. Hermione, however, kept them plenty worried, what with her tension about this year's O.W.L.s and all. She was doing as much studying as humanly possible, and never wasted a minute's time to try to get Harry and Ron to do the same.
"I don't understand how missing one game of Exploding Snap to review some Charms would kill you!" she cried.
It was late in the afternoon, and the trio was loafing around the Gryffindor Common Room. As it turned out, Ron and Harry were not playing Exploding Snap, but wizard's chess, while Hermione's nose was caught in a book. Harry wondered why he even bothered playing anymore; Ron always won.
"Oh, calm down, Hermione!" Ron said with a nonchalant wave of the hand. "The O.W.Ls are months off. Months. We've got plenty of time."
"Yes, you'll say that now, but don't come to me when you two are stuck cramming the night before!"
Just then, Harry heard the door of the portrait hole opening and closing again. Neville Longbottom followed by the twins walked into the Common Room, all with excited looks on their faces.
"Guess what?" Fred asked, headed straight for the three.
"What?" Harry and Ron asked both instantly and simultaneously. Hermione did not even look up from her book.until Fred said the next line.
"We've seen the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"
Suddenly Hermione was hit with a list of questions. "Have you had a class with him yet? Is he good? Is he tough? Is he horrid? What can I do to pass his class, d'you think?"
The twins chuckled, and George said, "Before you continue, you should know: it's not a 'he'. It's a 'she'."
Just as Harry's jaw was starting to droop, George said, "And Good Lord, is she hot!"
On first instinct, Ron said, "What does she look like?"
Harry noticed Hermione's brow furrow and eyes glare, but luckily the twins didn't notice. Fred just said, "You'll see soon."
Suddenly Neville, who looked like he was going to explode any minute yelled, "And she's an American!"
Hermione let out a more than audible gasp, and Harry's jaw was really dropping now.
"How do you know?" Ron asked.
"Overheard her talking to Dumbledore in the hall. Seems her name is Ms. Harper," said George.
"At least she's single," Fred remarked, grinning devilishly. The twins and Neville walked off, leaving behind three shocked fifth-years.
"America," Hermione said under her breath. She ran a hand through her hair, obviously shocked. "But why doesn't she teach at an American school?"
"Because there are none, all right?" was Ron's automatic response to shut her up.
Hermione seemed oblivious to his annoyed state. "But there must be. I know I've read about one somewhere." Without answering, she began to gather her things, then left.
"Library," Harry and Ron said together. It was no surprise.
"I wonder what the new teacher looks like." Ron said dreamily into space.
Harry thought for just a moment. A new teacher from America? Well this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was bound to be interesting. Then again, they always were.
So the plot thickens.well, formulates really , but you know. I promise, this is only the beginning. Hold onto your hats, because something big is coming up. Remember, I want to hear what you have to say.