Chapter Sixteen
"Studying with Dumbledore"
A week after Harry, Ron, and Hermione had given Malfoy the Veritaserum, Professor McGonagall kept Harry after transfiguration class. "Professor Dumbledore has told me what you and Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger did to Mr. Malfoy last week." McGonagall said with a frown. "I think it was a very sneaky and underhanded thing to do, Potter." "Ah, but Minerva," Dumbledore spoke as he entered the room, "If they are going to fight dirty, we might as well fight dirty too. To keep things fair, you know." He winked at McGonagall. "I suppose you're right, Albus. After all, we would have sent all those innocent children into Hogsmeade, oh what a disaster would have awaited them!" she put a handkerchief up to her nose and she shook her head in disgust. "Harry, we are going to be helping you with your apparation lessons. I convinced Cornelius Fudge to make an exception in your case. We will have lessons in the shrieking shack in Hogsmeade every evening after dinner." Harry nodded. "In the mean time, Harry, I want you to read this book." He pulled a scruffy old book out of his robes and handed it to Harry. Harry looked down at the cover and read 'The Art of Apparating'. Harry nodded and promised to meet with Professor Dumbledore at the whomping willow under his invisibility cloak immediately after dinner. Harry took the rest of the day off from classes and stayed in his dorm to read the book that Dumbledore had given him. He was going to miss double potions, so Ron was going to tell Snape that Harry was sick. He knew he would still probably get into trouble in the next potions class but he really wanted to prepare himself for the apparation lesson that evening. At five thirty, Harry went down to the Great Hall and had dinner. "Curious," Harry heard a menacing voice say. His eyes widened as he looked behind him. It was Snape. "Curious, Potter, how you've miraculously recovered since this afternoon. I will take twenty points from Gryffindor for your absence and you will spend Saturday in the potions dungeon to catch up on what you've missed today. Is that clear, Potter?" Harry shook his head. "Sorry, but on Saturday, Gryffindor has a Quidditch match, Professor." He stared innocently up at Professor Snape who was scowling. "Fine, Potter, then you will spend Sunday in the potions dungeon. That is all." And Snape swept up to the staff table. Harry and Ron stuck their tongues out at him as he left. Hermione shook her head at their immaturity. After dinner, Harry went out into the entrance hall. When no one was looking, he slipped himself under his invisibility cloak and sneaked out onto the grounds. He made his way down to the whomping willow and waited for Dumbledore. Soon Dumbledore strode out to the tree and said hello to Harry. Dumbledore, Harry thought, must be able to see through the cloak, as he was still hidden beneath it. Dumbledore waved his hand at the tree and went to the trunk and pressed down on a knot that was at the bottom of the trunk near the roots. Harry made his way over and ducked into the passageway, followed by Dumbledore. Hidden in the tunnel, Harry took off his invisibility cloak. He and Dumbledore walked to the shrieking shack and went into one of the larger dusty rooms. Harry thought it must have been the den at some time. "Harry, have you read any of that book I gave you?" Dumbledore asked. "Yes, Professor, I've brought it with me too." Harry said as he pulled the book out of his robes. Dumbledore nodded. "Please turn to page fifteen, Harry, we will start there." He watched as Harry turned to page fifteen. There was a diagram showing a person disapparating and apparating back into place. Harry studied it closely as Dumbledore explained the properties of apparating. He explained the physics and chemistry of it all, and then explained the magic performed during apparation. Then Dumbledore gave several examples by apparating across the room and back. Harry was scribbling notes on a piece of parchment. "Now, now, Harry, it's not necessary for you to take notes. There will be no exam on this, I want you to pay close attention to what we are doing not to what I am saying." Then he asked Harry to try to apparate. "N-now, p-Professor? But it's just-," Harry stammered. "No buts, Harry, I want you to get the feel of it. You are a much stronger wizard than you give yourself credit for. Now, I want you to focus on apparating over to that empty box. All right?" Harry nodded. He closed his eyes and thought hard of arriving at the empty box across the room. When he opened his eyes he was standing in the same place as before. He frowned. "If you try too hard, it will only be harder, Harry. Now, don't just imagine yourself next to the box, I want you to feel that you are next to the box. Give it a try." Again Harry closed his eyes. First he imagined that he were next to the box, then he felt as though he were there. He felt around him in his mind, there was the box on the ground, the creaky floor beneath him, the ratty curtain flapping next to his arm, the moonlight from the window on his face reflecting in his glasses. He opened his eyes and he was standing next to the box. "I DID IT!" Harry cried excitedly. "Professor! I did it!" Dumbledore smiled at him and crossed the room to shake his hand. "Good job, Harry. That will be all for this lesson. We will pick up here tomorrow night. Now let's go back to the castle." They made their way back through the tunnel and up through the passage way at the whomping willow. Professor Dumbledore pressed the knot long enough to Harry to get out of the branches reach, then he waved his hands again and crossed the grounds to Harry. When Harry reached the Gryffindor common room, he had a big grin on his face. He received odd looks from Ron and Hermione who were doing their homework at one of the tables. He sat down next to them and whispered, "I did it, I apparated! It wasn't very far, but I did it!" Hermione and Ron smiled with admiration. When Saturday came along, Harry had the entire Quidditch team up and down at breakfast bright and early. Like always, Hermione, Ginny, and Colin Creevey had come along. To Harry's delight Cho was waiting for him in the Great Hall. She crossed over and asked if she could sit with them at the Gryffindor table. They made room for her and she sat down next to Harry. They were playing Hufflepuff today. They had gone to watch Hufflepuff play Slytherin the week before and caught their first glimpse of Hufflepuff's new seeker. It was a tall third year boy, who had light brown hair with golden blonde highlights, he was a little bit over weight and he had an old shooting star broomstick. Harry thought this was excellent, because the boy's size would slow him down even more on that old broomstick. After breakfast, the team made its way down to the locker rooms. Cho kissed Harry good luck, as Hermione did to Ron, and the girls made their way up to the stands. Harry pulled out the large parchment with the enchanted Quidditch player dots, and showed the team a couple new plays he had seen in his book that Hermione had given him for Christmas. He tried to impress upon the team the importance of a win in this match, because if they won, they would play Slytherin for the Quidditch cup. Once the team was excited enough, they made their way out to the pitch. They mounted their brooms and flew out above the stadium. The players took their places as Madam Hooch released the bludgers and snitch. Then she threw the Quaffle up into the air, mounted her broom and rose into the air. Harry watched his chasers while he waited to catch a glimpse of the snitch. Ron had scored eight times by the time Harry saw the snitch. It was hovering very low to the ground. Harry looked up to see if the other seeker had seen the snitch and saw that the boy was looking in the complete opposite direction. Harry shot down as fast as he could. He chased the snitch low on the ground and then followed it straight up vertically into the air. The other seeker had caught on and was trailing quite a few yards behind Harry. Harry followed the snitch around Dennis Creevey and through each of the three goal hoops, then he trailed it along the stands. He grinned at Cho as he passed. He really could have caught the snitch at any time, but he was letting Ron score as many as he could, letting Ron get some of the glory before Harry ended the game. After Ron scored thirteen times, Harry accelerated a bit and easily caught the snitch. The crowd roared with cheers and applause. The Gryffindor team surrounded Ron and Harry and hugged them joyously. Harry heard Lee Jordan shout in the background, "Gryffindor beats Hufflepuff by a score of two hundred and eighty points to thirty!" The crowd cheered even louder. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team went back into the locker room and celebrated. Harry reminded them that Slytherin wouldn't be that easy to beat and that they would have to practice everyday until the cup match. They all groaned, but agreed, they all wanted to win the cup as badly as Harry did. The Gryffindors celebrated all afternoon until dinnertime. Before Harry went down to dinner, he stuffed his invisibility cloak under his robes. The lessons had been going very well. He was able to apparate all over the shrieking shack now, and he didn't have to close his eyes in concentration anymore either. Dumbledore told him he was coming along very nicely. He ate a hearty dinner and went out into the entrance hall. Before he could slip under his invisibility cloak, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle came walking out into the entrance hall too. "Well, well, look who it is. It's the wonderful, amazing, famous, good looking, outstanding, Harry Potter." Malfoy spat. "You said it, Malfoy, not me." Harry said with a smile. Malfoy scowled at him. "I'm so sick of your cockiness, Potter. One of these days, probably sooner than you think, things are going to backfire on you." Malfoy said. "Oh, Potter, you rotter, you've gone and made a friend!" sang Peeves loudly as it echoed off the high ceiling. Malfoy sneered up at the poltergeist. "Shut up you stupid ghoul!" Malfoy yelled. "We are not friends!" "Oh, look! It's baby Draco! He's come out to play. I'm so glad, I so hoped to play with an insufferable little git today," Peeves sang cheerfully. Then he reached behind his poltergeist back and pulled out a water balloon. Before Malfoy could move, Peeves threw it at him and it splattered all over his silvery-blond hair. "PEEVES! YOU IDIOT!" Malfoy shouted as he shook his hair. Harry sniggered. Snape came running into the entrance hall. "What's going on here!" he yelled, then he looked at Harry. "No doubt Potter is behind all this!" Harry's mouth hung open. "Come with me, Potter, we need to discuss your punishment." Peeves cackled and heaved another water balloon at Snape, it hit him directly on top of his greasy head. "PEEVES! THAT'S THE LAST STRAW! I'M GOING TO GET THE BLOODY BARON!" With that, Snape rushed into the Great Hall to retrieve the Bloody Baron. The Bloody Baron was the Slytherins' house ghost, and the only person, place, or thing that could control Peeves besides Dumbledore. Malfoy glowered at Harry before he stalked away followed by Crabbe and Goyle. Quickly before he could be interrupted again, he slipped under the invisibility cloak and went out to the whomping willow. Dumbledore was waiting for him this time. Harry slid out from beneath the cloak, "I'm sorry I'm late, Professor.first there was Malfoy and then Peeves and then Professor Snape." he trailed off. They went into the passage way and through the tunnel to the shrieking shack. "Since you've mastered the shrieking shack, Harry, we are going to try something new this evening. I've Okayed it with all of the shop owners in Hogsmeade. Tonight you will be apparating into Honeydukes, the Three Broomsticks Pub, and Zonko's Joke shop." Harry nodded. After an hour, Harry had mastered apparating to the three different places in Hogsmeade and back to the shrieking shack. So, Dumbledore feeling a little excitement with Harry's success, decided to let Harry apparate into Diagon alley. "Okay, Harry, I want you to apparate to Flourish and Blott's and apparate right back here to me." Harry nodded with excitement. With a popping noise, he was gone. He looked around his new surroundings. It was a dusty old bookstore, Harry recognized as Flourish and Blott's. Before the storekeeper could ask whether or not he could help Harry, Harry disapparated and reappeared next to Dumbledore in the shrieking shack. Dumbledore clapped for Harry. Dumbledore decided that they would only practice once a week from now on. It was time to start planning a defense for when the students would next visit Hogsmeade.
A week after Harry, Ron, and Hermione had given Malfoy the Veritaserum, Professor McGonagall kept Harry after transfiguration class. "Professor Dumbledore has told me what you and Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger did to Mr. Malfoy last week." McGonagall said with a frown. "I think it was a very sneaky and underhanded thing to do, Potter." "Ah, but Minerva," Dumbledore spoke as he entered the room, "If they are going to fight dirty, we might as well fight dirty too. To keep things fair, you know." He winked at McGonagall. "I suppose you're right, Albus. After all, we would have sent all those innocent children into Hogsmeade, oh what a disaster would have awaited them!" she put a handkerchief up to her nose and she shook her head in disgust. "Harry, we are going to be helping you with your apparation lessons. I convinced Cornelius Fudge to make an exception in your case. We will have lessons in the shrieking shack in Hogsmeade every evening after dinner." Harry nodded. "In the mean time, Harry, I want you to read this book." He pulled a scruffy old book out of his robes and handed it to Harry. Harry looked down at the cover and read 'The Art of Apparating'. Harry nodded and promised to meet with Professor Dumbledore at the whomping willow under his invisibility cloak immediately after dinner. Harry took the rest of the day off from classes and stayed in his dorm to read the book that Dumbledore had given him. He was going to miss double potions, so Ron was going to tell Snape that Harry was sick. He knew he would still probably get into trouble in the next potions class but he really wanted to prepare himself for the apparation lesson that evening. At five thirty, Harry went down to the Great Hall and had dinner. "Curious," Harry heard a menacing voice say. His eyes widened as he looked behind him. It was Snape. "Curious, Potter, how you've miraculously recovered since this afternoon. I will take twenty points from Gryffindor for your absence and you will spend Saturday in the potions dungeon to catch up on what you've missed today. Is that clear, Potter?" Harry shook his head. "Sorry, but on Saturday, Gryffindor has a Quidditch match, Professor." He stared innocently up at Professor Snape who was scowling. "Fine, Potter, then you will spend Sunday in the potions dungeon. That is all." And Snape swept up to the staff table. Harry and Ron stuck their tongues out at him as he left. Hermione shook her head at their immaturity. After dinner, Harry went out into the entrance hall. When no one was looking, he slipped himself under his invisibility cloak and sneaked out onto the grounds. He made his way down to the whomping willow and waited for Dumbledore. Soon Dumbledore strode out to the tree and said hello to Harry. Dumbledore, Harry thought, must be able to see through the cloak, as he was still hidden beneath it. Dumbledore waved his hand at the tree and went to the trunk and pressed down on a knot that was at the bottom of the trunk near the roots. Harry made his way over and ducked into the passageway, followed by Dumbledore. Hidden in the tunnel, Harry took off his invisibility cloak. He and Dumbledore walked to the shrieking shack and went into one of the larger dusty rooms. Harry thought it must have been the den at some time. "Harry, have you read any of that book I gave you?" Dumbledore asked. "Yes, Professor, I've brought it with me too." Harry said as he pulled the book out of his robes. Dumbledore nodded. "Please turn to page fifteen, Harry, we will start there." He watched as Harry turned to page fifteen. There was a diagram showing a person disapparating and apparating back into place. Harry studied it closely as Dumbledore explained the properties of apparating. He explained the physics and chemistry of it all, and then explained the magic performed during apparation. Then Dumbledore gave several examples by apparating across the room and back. Harry was scribbling notes on a piece of parchment. "Now, now, Harry, it's not necessary for you to take notes. There will be no exam on this, I want you to pay close attention to what we are doing not to what I am saying." Then he asked Harry to try to apparate. "N-now, p-Professor? But it's just-," Harry stammered. "No buts, Harry, I want you to get the feel of it. You are a much stronger wizard than you give yourself credit for. Now, I want you to focus on apparating over to that empty box. All right?" Harry nodded. He closed his eyes and thought hard of arriving at the empty box across the room. When he opened his eyes he was standing in the same place as before. He frowned. "If you try too hard, it will only be harder, Harry. Now, don't just imagine yourself next to the box, I want you to feel that you are next to the box. Give it a try." Again Harry closed his eyes. First he imagined that he were next to the box, then he felt as though he were there. He felt around him in his mind, there was the box on the ground, the creaky floor beneath him, the ratty curtain flapping next to his arm, the moonlight from the window on his face reflecting in his glasses. He opened his eyes and he was standing next to the box. "I DID IT!" Harry cried excitedly. "Professor! I did it!" Dumbledore smiled at him and crossed the room to shake his hand. "Good job, Harry. That will be all for this lesson. We will pick up here tomorrow night. Now let's go back to the castle." They made their way back through the tunnel and up through the passage way at the whomping willow. Professor Dumbledore pressed the knot long enough to Harry to get out of the branches reach, then he waved his hands again and crossed the grounds to Harry. When Harry reached the Gryffindor common room, he had a big grin on his face. He received odd looks from Ron and Hermione who were doing their homework at one of the tables. He sat down next to them and whispered, "I did it, I apparated! It wasn't very far, but I did it!" Hermione and Ron smiled with admiration. When Saturday came along, Harry had the entire Quidditch team up and down at breakfast bright and early. Like always, Hermione, Ginny, and Colin Creevey had come along. To Harry's delight Cho was waiting for him in the Great Hall. She crossed over and asked if she could sit with them at the Gryffindor table. They made room for her and she sat down next to Harry. They were playing Hufflepuff today. They had gone to watch Hufflepuff play Slytherin the week before and caught their first glimpse of Hufflepuff's new seeker. It was a tall third year boy, who had light brown hair with golden blonde highlights, he was a little bit over weight and he had an old shooting star broomstick. Harry thought this was excellent, because the boy's size would slow him down even more on that old broomstick. After breakfast, the team made its way down to the locker rooms. Cho kissed Harry good luck, as Hermione did to Ron, and the girls made their way up to the stands. Harry pulled out the large parchment with the enchanted Quidditch player dots, and showed the team a couple new plays he had seen in his book that Hermione had given him for Christmas. He tried to impress upon the team the importance of a win in this match, because if they won, they would play Slytherin for the Quidditch cup. Once the team was excited enough, they made their way out to the pitch. They mounted their brooms and flew out above the stadium. The players took their places as Madam Hooch released the bludgers and snitch. Then she threw the Quaffle up into the air, mounted her broom and rose into the air. Harry watched his chasers while he waited to catch a glimpse of the snitch. Ron had scored eight times by the time Harry saw the snitch. It was hovering very low to the ground. Harry looked up to see if the other seeker had seen the snitch and saw that the boy was looking in the complete opposite direction. Harry shot down as fast as he could. He chased the snitch low on the ground and then followed it straight up vertically into the air. The other seeker had caught on and was trailing quite a few yards behind Harry. Harry followed the snitch around Dennis Creevey and through each of the three goal hoops, then he trailed it along the stands. He grinned at Cho as he passed. He really could have caught the snitch at any time, but he was letting Ron score as many as he could, letting Ron get some of the glory before Harry ended the game. After Ron scored thirteen times, Harry accelerated a bit and easily caught the snitch. The crowd roared with cheers and applause. The Gryffindor team surrounded Ron and Harry and hugged them joyously. Harry heard Lee Jordan shout in the background, "Gryffindor beats Hufflepuff by a score of two hundred and eighty points to thirty!" The crowd cheered even louder. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team went back into the locker room and celebrated. Harry reminded them that Slytherin wouldn't be that easy to beat and that they would have to practice everyday until the cup match. They all groaned, but agreed, they all wanted to win the cup as badly as Harry did. The Gryffindors celebrated all afternoon until dinnertime. Before Harry went down to dinner, he stuffed his invisibility cloak under his robes. The lessons had been going very well. He was able to apparate all over the shrieking shack now, and he didn't have to close his eyes in concentration anymore either. Dumbledore told him he was coming along very nicely. He ate a hearty dinner and went out into the entrance hall. Before he could slip under his invisibility cloak, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle came walking out into the entrance hall too. "Well, well, look who it is. It's the wonderful, amazing, famous, good looking, outstanding, Harry Potter." Malfoy spat. "You said it, Malfoy, not me." Harry said with a smile. Malfoy scowled at him. "I'm so sick of your cockiness, Potter. One of these days, probably sooner than you think, things are going to backfire on you." Malfoy said. "Oh, Potter, you rotter, you've gone and made a friend!" sang Peeves loudly as it echoed off the high ceiling. Malfoy sneered up at the poltergeist. "Shut up you stupid ghoul!" Malfoy yelled. "We are not friends!" "Oh, look! It's baby Draco! He's come out to play. I'm so glad, I so hoped to play with an insufferable little git today," Peeves sang cheerfully. Then he reached behind his poltergeist back and pulled out a water balloon. Before Malfoy could move, Peeves threw it at him and it splattered all over his silvery-blond hair. "PEEVES! YOU IDIOT!" Malfoy shouted as he shook his hair. Harry sniggered. Snape came running into the entrance hall. "What's going on here!" he yelled, then he looked at Harry. "No doubt Potter is behind all this!" Harry's mouth hung open. "Come with me, Potter, we need to discuss your punishment." Peeves cackled and heaved another water balloon at Snape, it hit him directly on top of his greasy head. "PEEVES! THAT'S THE LAST STRAW! I'M GOING TO GET THE BLOODY BARON!" With that, Snape rushed into the Great Hall to retrieve the Bloody Baron. The Bloody Baron was the Slytherins' house ghost, and the only person, place, or thing that could control Peeves besides Dumbledore. Malfoy glowered at Harry before he stalked away followed by Crabbe and Goyle. Quickly before he could be interrupted again, he slipped under the invisibility cloak and went out to the whomping willow. Dumbledore was waiting for him this time. Harry slid out from beneath the cloak, "I'm sorry I'm late, Professor.first there was Malfoy and then Peeves and then Professor Snape." he trailed off. They went into the passage way and through the tunnel to the shrieking shack. "Since you've mastered the shrieking shack, Harry, we are going to try something new this evening. I've Okayed it with all of the shop owners in Hogsmeade. Tonight you will be apparating into Honeydukes, the Three Broomsticks Pub, and Zonko's Joke shop." Harry nodded. After an hour, Harry had mastered apparating to the three different places in Hogsmeade and back to the shrieking shack. So, Dumbledore feeling a little excitement with Harry's success, decided to let Harry apparate into Diagon alley. "Okay, Harry, I want you to apparate to Flourish and Blott's and apparate right back here to me." Harry nodded with excitement. With a popping noise, he was gone. He looked around his new surroundings. It was a dusty old bookstore, Harry recognized as Flourish and Blott's. Before the storekeeper could ask whether or not he could help Harry, Harry disapparated and reappeared next to Dumbledore in the shrieking shack. Dumbledore clapped for Harry. Dumbledore decided that they would only practice once a week from now on. It was time to start planning a defense for when the students would next visit Hogsmeade.