Chapter Six
"The first day of class"
The next morning Harry woke up and put his glasses on. He looked through the curtains of his four poster and saw that Ron, Seamus and Dean were already downstairs, but Neville still snored quietly in his bed. He closed the curtains around his bed and changed into his uniform and robes. Before he left he went over to Neville and shook his arm. "Hey, Neville, I reckon if you want some breakfast you'd better get up soon," Harry said quietly with a smile. "Oh, yeah. thanks, Harry," Neville croaked as he slowly got up. Harry made his way down to the common room and he saw Ron and Hermione talking heatedly. "Hermione, if nothing happened between you and Krum just say so! That's all I want to know, you act as though something happened and as a friend I'm concerned. now tell me!" Ron shouted. "I think your concern is motivated by your jealous hormones, Ron, and I don't think I'll ever tell you what happened over the summer because you don't deserve to know. I swear you act as though I went shagging all across Bulgaria! I'm not like that and you should know it!" Hermione shouted as she went through the porthole and out of sight. Harry looked open mouthed at Ron, who was now the shade of mars. Harry thought that Hermione was quite right about Ron, but Harry was concerned for another reason. he didn't want Hermione to be getting involved with Krum because he was taught at Durmstrang, and it is well known that they focus on learning the dark arts. Harry had seen Krum overtaken by the Imperius curse during the third task of the Triwizard Tournament last year. He thought that if Krum was so easily manipulated that he might be forced into following Voldemort and he didn't want Hermione to be involved with him at all. He looked back to Ron who looked as though he'd been stupefied, and pulled him toward the porthole. Ron and Harry made their way through the hallways toward the marble staircase. Just as they were turning a corner, Malfoy stepped in front of them with Crabbe and Goyle by his side. Harry looked down at Malfoy's chest and saw a shining silver Prefect's badge pinned neatly on the front of his robes. "They made you a prefect? What are they playing at? You're not one of the best students here, Harry and I are far better than you are when it comes to academics. Oh but I guess with that lot you have down in the Slytherin house. you are the best they could come up with." Ron said with a snarl. Crabbe and Goyle grunted at this insult but didn't move in on Ron. Malfoy grinned maliciously at Harry and Ron as he spat, "Jealous, Weasley? Jealous that you weren't able to follow in your older brothers' footsteps?" He stepped closer to Ron with his chest against Ron's and looking him straight in the eye, he was every bit of six feet tall as well. They were nose to nose. "I don't like the tone in your voice, Weasley, I think I will take ten points from Gryffindor for that little outburst.care to make it twenty?" Harry pushed Malfoy away from Ron, as Ron looked like he might kill Malfoy. "Why don't you go find a first year to scare, Malfoy, and leave us alone." "Oh, I was waiting for you to try something, Potter, I think it will definitely be twenty points from Gryffindor now. Poor little Potter, upset that I've finally beaten you at something?" "That's right, Draco, you have finally beaten me at something, but you do realize who our prefects are don't you? Both muggle-born students, Dean and Hermione, you should be able to pride your family with that in mind, eh Malfoy? I certainly know we're proud of Hermione." Harry smiled at Malfoy. "Don't you dare put me on the same level as that filthy little mudblood, Potter! You can make that thirty points from Gryffindor, and never ever compare me to a mudblood again." Malfoy glared at Ron and Harry who had both just pulled their wands out and pointed them at him. If there was one thing they wouldn't tolerate it was Malfoy calling Hermione a mudblood. Malfoy pulled his wand out of his robes and pointed it back at Ron and Harry, they all glared at each other waiting for one another to make the next move. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered stupidly. Just then, Professor McGonagall came around the corner and made them all put away their wands and explain what had happened. "Well, Professor," Malfoy started innocently as Harry and Ron glared at him, "I was just taking away thirty points from these boys for their sharp tongue. I think they've learned their lesson." He smiled his dirty little smile at them both. "Well, in that case, Mr. Malfoy," started Professor McGonagall, "Knowing the history between the three of you, I've spoken to Dumbledore about this as well, as a prefect you will not be allowed to take points away from either of these boys or Miss Granger, unless a teacher is present and it is justified. As it is, ten points will be taken from both Gryffindor and Slytherin for advancing on each other with your wands. That will be all, boys." Harry and Ron smiled at a now scowling Malfoy as they continued their way down to breakfast. As they sat down for breakfast, they noticed that little Patrick Malfoy was sitting at the very end of the table by himself looking very melancholy. Ron shook his head and said, "Can you believe that they would sort a nutter from the Malfoys into our house?" Harry thought that there was obviously something different about this Malfoy, or so it seemed. They began to fill their plates with food as the owls swooped in from above to deliver their mail. Harry looked up, though he didn't really expect anything, nor did he see any sign of Hedwig amidst the other owls, so he went back to his porridge. Suddenly Errol swooped down and landed in a plate of gravy with a splash, a red envelope gripped in his stiff outstretched leg. Several students gasped, they knew exactly what it was. a howler. Ron looked terrified as he pulled the envelope out of Errol's grip. He heaved a sigh of relief and delight when he saw that it was addressed to the twins. He tossed it down a few places at the table where they sat and said, "Here, this is for you lot, from mum," and he let out a laugh that tweaked in the middle from his changing voice, his laugh stopped abruptly and he turned bright red. The twins looked down at the howler and opened it on the spot.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK YOU WERE PLAYING AT? DROPPING A DUNGBOMB IN PERCY'S ROOM! DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THEY ARE TO CLEAN UP AFTER? OF COURSE YOU DON'T, YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER ONE, POOR MR. FILCH HAS TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU LOT ALL THE TIME, THAT POOR MAN DESERVES A RAISE! HOW YOU TWO HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO YOUR SEVENTH YEAR WITHOUT BEING EXPELLED IS QUITE BEYOND ME!" all the kids were laughing around the Great Hall by now, Ron laughing the hardest. "I TOLD YOU DIDN'T I? I TOLD YOU THAT IF YOU MADE A MESS THAT I HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU WOULD SPROUT LEEKS OUT OF YOUR EARS DIDN'T I? WELL DON'T THINK I'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT!" suddenly the twins had sprouted leeks from their ears which made them laugh. "AND PERCY SENDS HIS LOVE." at this, the howler exploded into a Dungbomb that sprayed Fred and George and they had smelly green steam rolling off of them. They weren't laughing anymore, they looked quite stunned. Ron and the rest of the Great Hall were hunched over laughing, some students had orange juice spraying from their noses which made more people laugh. The only people who didn't look amused were Fred, George and Hermione. Harry hoped he never made Mrs. Weasley angry with him. Professor McGonagall had rushed over from the staff table and was now lecturing the twins as she sent them off to the hospital wing to get their smelly leeks removed. The new schedules had just been passed out and Ron and Harry were looking over theirs. Monday: Breakfast, Double Herbology with Ravenclaw. Lunch. Potions with Hufflepuff. Divination. Dinner. Tuesday: Breakfast. Care of Magical Creatures with Hufflepuff. Double Transfiguration with Ravenclaw. Lunch. Double Potions with Slytherin. Dinner. Wednesday: Breakfast. Charms with Slytherin. Defense Against the Dark Arts with Hufflepuff. Lunch. History of Magic with Slytherin. Divination. Dinner. Thursday: Breakfast. Transfiguration with Hufflepuff. Herbology with Slytherin. Lunch. Potions with Ravenclaw. Charms with Hufflepuff. Dinner. Friday: Breakfast. Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw. Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherin. Lunch. Charms with Ravenclaw. Divination. Dinner. "From here we go to double Herbology with Ravenclaws, then we come back for lunch, and then we go to Potions, and from there we have Divination," Harry said as he looked up at Ron and rolled his eyes. "Get this, Ron, we have Potions three times a week, and on Wednesday it's double Potions with the Slytherins." They both made faces. "Must be to prepare us for the O.W.L.s, or something, I don't think McGonagall would torture us like that on purpose. We have Care of Magical Creatures first thing tomorrow, then we have double Transfiguration, I wonder if McGonagall would let me try for animagus," Ron thought out loud.
"I've heard that they do focus a lot on potions for the O.W.L.s," said Hermione as she scooped up another bite of porridge. Harry and Ron both groaned, but for two different reasons. Harry was hoping that potions wouldn't be a large part of the exam. Ron groaned because he was tired of hearing about the O.W.L.s. "It wouldn't hurt you to at least study for the O.W.L.s, Ron," Hermione continued. "Well I don't see the bloody point in it, Hermione. I'm not going to score well anyway, so I might as well be able to blame it on lack of preparation instead of plain old ignorance!" Ron said indignantly. "Oh, Ron, you're not ignorant! You mustn't think that!" Hermione said empathetically. Ron looked blankly at Hermione. At least they're talking civilly thought Harry. "Well, I don't see as it's any of your business how well I score on the exam, is it?" Ron scoffed, he turned to Harry and said, "Divination three bloody times a week, can you believe that? We'll have a lot of faking to do again this term, won't we?" "Faking! Well, Ronald, if you both took something that is an actual magical art, you would have taken Arithmancy. I've learned loads of stuff in that class. And for your information, I refuse to be talked to like I'm not worthy of your company, Ron. I won't stand for it! So, if you don't want me to hang around with you anymore, just say it!" Hermione huffed. Ron looked like he felt really bad about the way he'd been snapping at Hermione lately, but he unintentionally dug himself a little deeper by saying. "Well then tell us what happened with Krum this summer!" he shouted. Hermione looked at him like he was a flobberworm. "I refuse to discuss Viktor Krum with you until you've worked out your jealousy issues, Ron." She said curtly. Ron turned red and opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Harry thought that at least she hadn't slapped him in front of the entire school, even though several Gryffindors were laughing at him. Hermione looked content as though she had won the war at hand, but Harry wished that she and Ron would settle their dispute soon, because he was tired of not knowing whom to comfort after harsh words were spoken. Even though, he thought Hermione had been right on about everything she'd said. The bell rang and they gathered their things and headed down to the greenhouses for their first class of the term. As they arrived they saw Professor Sprout guiding students into greenhouse five. They walked into the greenhouse unsure of what to expect and they sat down on little stools. Hermione gasped as she looked down at the plants that were in front of them.
"Oh, great! If Hermione is afraid of what we're about to be doing in class, I wish I had leeks sprouting out of my ears." Ron groaned. Hermione was completely ignoring Ron now. "They look like bubotubers, I hope that's not what they are, I definitely don't feel like collecting pus on our first day back." "They aren't bubotubers, Mr. Weasley, however they are closely related." Professor Sprout said as she entered the greenhouse. "Today, class, we will be introduced to fibertubers, they have magical fibers inside of them that are quite useful when one is preparing to make a magical patch called a Malenforph. These patches are secretly placed on one's person when they are to be kept track of. For instance, if someone is suspected of being a dark wizard and a malenforph were placed on his robe, the ministry could keep track of that wizard without his knowing. The fibertuber's fibers can also be intertwined within parchment to make maps and such documents that allow authorities to follow a person by watching the document instead of the actual person." So that's how the Marauder's Map works, Harry thought. Professor Sprout went on, "Now, unlike bubotubers, they do not need to be squeezed, but rather peeled." The entire class looked utterly disgusted at the idea of peeling something that looked so much like a big black slug. "Now, this is the difficult part, class, these plants are very squishy and slimy and slippery, if you touch one, your hand will break out in boils very much like with undiluted bubotuber pus. So if you please, pull on your dragon hide gloves and begin peeling your fibertubers and place the fibers in the crates that have been set out for you." The class pulled on their dragon hide gloves and began picking up the fibertubers. Immediately one slipped out of Neville's hand and landed on Parvati Patil. Her twin sister from Ravenclaw, Padma, let out a shrill scream as Parvati's arm busted out with big yellow boils. Parvati stared down at her arm sputtering as tears began to form in her eyes. Neville began to apologize hoarsely with tears forming in his eyes too. This must be the start to a wonderful term, Harry thought dryly. When the bell rang signaling lunchtime, the fibertubers were almost completely peeled. Professor Sprout told them she would finish up as they tracked off toward the castle.
"The first day of class"
The next morning Harry woke up and put his glasses on. He looked through the curtains of his four poster and saw that Ron, Seamus and Dean were already downstairs, but Neville still snored quietly in his bed. He closed the curtains around his bed and changed into his uniform and robes. Before he left he went over to Neville and shook his arm. "Hey, Neville, I reckon if you want some breakfast you'd better get up soon," Harry said quietly with a smile. "Oh, yeah. thanks, Harry," Neville croaked as he slowly got up. Harry made his way down to the common room and he saw Ron and Hermione talking heatedly. "Hermione, if nothing happened between you and Krum just say so! That's all I want to know, you act as though something happened and as a friend I'm concerned. now tell me!" Ron shouted. "I think your concern is motivated by your jealous hormones, Ron, and I don't think I'll ever tell you what happened over the summer because you don't deserve to know. I swear you act as though I went shagging all across Bulgaria! I'm not like that and you should know it!" Hermione shouted as she went through the porthole and out of sight. Harry looked open mouthed at Ron, who was now the shade of mars. Harry thought that Hermione was quite right about Ron, but Harry was concerned for another reason. he didn't want Hermione to be getting involved with Krum because he was taught at Durmstrang, and it is well known that they focus on learning the dark arts. Harry had seen Krum overtaken by the Imperius curse during the third task of the Triwizard Tournament last year. He thought that if Krum was so easily manipulated that he might be forced into following Voldemort and he didn't want Hermione to be involved with him at all. He looked back to Ron who looked as though he'd been stupefied, and pulled him toward the porthole. Ron and Harry made their way through the hallways toward the marble staircase. Just as they were turning a corner, Malfoy stepped in front of them with Crabbe and Goyle by his side. Harry looked down at Malfoy's chest and saw a shining silver Prefect's badge pinned neatly on the front of his robes. "They made you a prefect? What are they playing at? You're not one of the best students here, Harry and I are far better than you are when it comes to academics. Oh but I guess with that lot you have down in the Slytherin house. you are the best they could come up with." Ron said with a snarl. Crabbe and Goyle grunted at this insult but didn't move in on Ron. Malfoy grinned maliciously at Harry and Ron as he spat, "Jealous, Weasley? Jealous that you weren't able to follow in your older brothers' footsteps?" He stepped closer to Ron with his chest against Ron's and looking him straight in the eye, he was every bit of six feet tall as well. They were nose to nose. "I don't like the tone in your voice, Weasley, I think I will take ten points from Gryffindor for that little outburst.care to make it twenty?" Harry pushed Malfoy away from Ron, as Ron looked like he might kill Malfoy. "Why don't you go find a first year to scare, Malfoy, and leave us alone." "Oh, I was waiting for you to try something, Potter, I think it will definitely be twenty points from Gryffindor now. Poor little Potter, upset that I've finally beaten you at something?" "That's right, Draco, you have finally beaten me at something, but you do realize who our prefects are don't you? Both muggle-born students, Dean and Hermione, you should be able to pride your family with that in mind, eh Malfoy? I certainly know we're proud of Hermione." Harry smiled at Malfoy. "Don't you dare put me on the same level as that filthy little mudblood, Potter! You can make that thirty points from Gryffindor, and never ever compare me to a mudblood again." Malfoy glared at Ron and Harry who had both just pulled their wands out and pointed them at him. If there was one thing they wouldn't tolerate it was Malfoy calling Hermione a mudblood. Malfoy pulled his wand out of his robes and pointed it back at Ron and Harry, they all glared at each other waiting for one another to make the next move. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered stupidly. Just then, Professor McGonagall came around the corner and made them all put away their wands and explain what had happened. "Well, Professor," Malfoy started innocently as Harry and Ron glared at him, "I was just taking away thirty points from these boys for their sharp tongue. I think they've learned their lesson." He smiled his dirty little smile at them both. "Well, in that case, Mr. Malfoy," started Professor McGonagall, "Knowing the history between the three of you, I've spoken to Dumbledore about this as well, as a prefect you will not be allowed to take points away from either of these boys or Miss Granger, unless a teacher is present and it is justified. As it is, ten points will be taken from both Gryffindor and Slytherin for advancing on each other with your wands. That will be all, boys." Harry and Ron smiled at a now scowling Malfoy as they continued their way down to breakfast. As they sat down for breakfast, they noticed that little Patrick Malfoy was sitting at the very end of the table by himself looking very melancholy. Ron shook his head and said, "Can you believe that they would sort a nutter from the Malfoys into our house?" Harry thought that there was obviously something different about this Malfoy, or so it seemed. They began to fill their plates with food as the owls swooped in from above to deliver their mail. Harry looked up, though he didn't really expect anything, nor did he see any sign of Hedwig amidst the other owls, so he went back to his porridge. Suddenly Errol swooped down and landed in a plate of gravy with a splash, a red envelope gripped in his stiff outstretched leg. Several students gasped, they knew exactly what it was. a howler. Ron looked terrified as he pulled the envelope out of Errol's grip. He heaved a sigh of relief and delight when he saw that it was addressed to the twins. He tossed it down a few places at the table where they sat and said, "Here, this is for you lot, from mum," and he let out a laugh that tweaked in the middle from his changing voice, his laugh stopped abruptly and he turned bright red. The twins looked down at the howler and opened it on the spot.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK YOU WERE PLAYING AT? DROPPING A DUNGBOMB IN PERCY'S ROOM! DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THEY ARE TO CLEAN UP AFTER? OF COURSE YOU DON'T, YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER ONE, POOR MR. FILCH HAS TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU LOT ALL THE TIME, THAT POOR MAN DESERVES A RAISE! HOW YOU TWO HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO YOUR SEVENTH YEAR WITHOUT BEING EXPELLED IS QUITE BEYOND ME!" all the kids were laughing around the Great Hall by now, Ron laughing the hardest. "I TOLD YOU DIDN'T I? I TOLD YOU THAT IF YOU MADE A MESS THAT I HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU WOULD SPROUT LEEKS OUT OF YOUR EARS DIDN'T I? WELL DON'T THINK I'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT!" suddenly the twins had sprouted leeks from their ears which made them laugh. "AND PERCY SENDS HIS LOVE." at this, the howler exploded into a Dungbomb that sprayed Fred and George and they had smelly green steam rolling off of them. They weren't laughing anymore, they looked quite stunned. Ron and the rest of the Great Hall were hunched over laughing, some students had orange juice spraying from their noses which made more people laugh. The only people who didn't look amused were Fred, George and Hermione. Harry hoped he never made Mrs. Weasley angry with him. Professor McGonagall had rushed over from the staff table and was now lecturing the twins as she sent them off to the hospital wing to get their smelly leeks removed. The new schedules had just been passed out and Ron and Harry were looking over theirs. Monday: Breakfast, Double Herbology with Ravenclaw. Lunch. Potions with Hufflepuff. Divination. Dinner. Tuesday: Breakfast. Care of Magical Creatures with Hufflepuff. Double Transfiguration with Ravenclaw. Lunch. Double Potions with Slytherin. Dinner. Wednesday: Breakfast. Charms with Slytherin. Defense Against the Dark Arts with Hufflepuff. Lunch. History of Magic with Slytherin. Divination. Dinner. Thursday: Breakfast. Transfiguration with Hufflepuff. Herbology with Slytherin. Lunch. Potions with Ravenclaw. Charms with Hufflepuff. Dinner. Friday: Breakfast. Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw. Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherin. Lunch. Charms with Ravenclaw. Divination. Dinner. "From here we go to double Herbology with Ravenclaws, then we come back for lunch, and then we go to Potions, and from there we have Divination," Harry said as he looked up at Ron and rolled his eyes. "Get this, Ron, we have Potions three times a week, and on Wednesday it's double Potions with the Slytherins." They both made faces. "Must be to prepare us for the O.W.L.s, or something, I don't think McGonagall would torture us like that on purpose. We have Care of Magical Creatures first thing tomorrow, then we have double Transfiguration, I wonder if McGonagall would let me try for animagus," Ron thought out loud.
"I've heard that they do focus a lot on potions for the O.W.L.s," said Hermione as she scooped up another bite of porridge. Harry and Ron both groaned, but for two different reasons. Harry was hoping that potions wouldn't be a large part of the exam. Ron groaned because he was tired of hearing about the O.W.L.s. "It wouldn't hurt you to at least study for the O.W.L.s, Ron," Hermione continued. "Well I don't see the bloody point in it, Hermione. I'm not going to score well anyway, so I might as well be able to blame it on lack of preparation instead of plain old ignorance!" Ron said indignantly. "Oh, Ron, you're not ignorant! You mustn't think that!" Hermione said empathetically. Ron looked blankly at Hermione. At least they're talking civilly thought Harry. "Well, I don't see as it's any of your business how well I score on the exam, is it?" Ron scoffed, he turned to Harry and said, "Divination three bloody times a week, can you believe that? We'll have a lot of faking to do again this term, won't we?" "Faking! Well, Ronald, if you both took something that is an actual magical art, you would have taken Arithmancy. I've learned loads of stuff in that class. And for your information, I refuse to be talked to like I'm not worthy of your company, Ron. I won't stand for it! So, if you don't want me to hang around with you anymore, just say it!" Hermione huffed. Ron looked like he felt really bad about the way he'd been snapping at Hermione lately, but he unintentionally dug himself a little deeper by saying. "Well then tell us what happened with Krum this summer!" he shouted. Hermione looked at him like he was a flobberworm. "I refuse to discuss Viktor Krum with you until you've worked out your jealousy issues, Ron." She said curtly. Ron turned red and opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Harry thought that at least she hadn't slapped him in front of the entire school, even though several Gryffindors were laughing at him. Hermione looked content as though she had won the war at hand, but Harry wished that she and Ron would settle their dispute soon, because he was tired of not knowing whom to comfort after harsh words were spoken. Even though, he thought Hermione had been right on about everything she'd said. The bell rang and they gathered their things and headed down to the greenhouses for their first class of the term. As they arrived they saw Professor Sprout guiding students into greenhouse five. They walked into the greenhouse unsure of what to expect and they sat down on little stools. Hermione gasped as she looked down at the plants that were in front of them.
"Oh, great! If Hermione is afraid of what we're about to be doing in class, I wish I had leeks sprouting out of my ears." Ron groaned. Hermione was completely ignoring Ron now. "They look like bubotubers, I hope that's not what they are, I definitely don't feel like collecting pus on our first day back." "They aren't bubotubers, Mr. Weasley, however they are closely related." Professor Sprout said as she entered the greenhouse. "Today, class, we will be introduced to fibertubers, they have magical fibers inside of them that are quite useful when one is preparing to make a magical patch called a Malenforph. These patches are secretly placed on one's person when they are to be kept track of. For instance, if someone is suspected of being a dark wizard and a malenforph were placed on his robe, the ministry could keep track of that wizard without his knowing. The fibertuber's fibers can also be intertwined within parchment to make maps and such documents that allow authorities to follow a person by watching the document instead of the actual person." So that's how the Marauder's Map works, Harry thought. Professor Sprout went on, "Now, unlike bubotubers, they do not need to be squeezed, but rather peeled." The entire class looked utterly disgusted at the idea of peeling something that looked so much like a big black slug. "Now, this is the difficult part, class, these plants are very squishy and slimy and slippery, if you touch one, your hand will break out in boils very much like with undiluted bubotuber pus. So if you please, pull on your dragon hide gloves and begin peeling your fibertubers and place the fibers in the crates that have been set out for you." The class pulled on their dragon hide gloves and began picking up the fibertubers. Immediately one slipped out of Neville's hand and landed on Parvati Patil. Her twin sister from Ravenclaw, Padma, let out a shrill scream as Parvati's arm busted out with big yellow boils. Parvati stared down at her arm sputtering as tears began to form in her eyes. Neville began to apologize hoarsely with tears forming in his eyes too. This must be the start to a wonderful term, Harry thought dryly. When the bell rang signaling lunchtime, the fibertubers were almost completely peeled. Professor Sprout told them she would finish up as they tracked off toward the castle.