That night Harry told Ron and Hermione what Dumbledore had told him, and
about Snape's interruption.
"A camel?" asked Ron.
"Theavolos," said Hermione. "Oh Harry, that's horrible."
"I don't even know who he is," admitted Harry. "Dumbledore just told me he was bad."
"He's been involved with nearly every powerful dark wizard there ever was. Some people think he might even be the devil."
She shivered, and Harry felt goosebumps crawling up his arm.
"But surely he can't be worse than Voldemort," but Ron's voice cracked as he said it.
"Theavolos has amazing power, they say he can do almost anything, except use his power by himself. He only works through other Wizards." Harry sat quietly for a moment and digested what Hermione had said. To Harry's surprise it was Ron who spoke up.
"We'll just have to stop him," he stuck out his chin stubbornly. "Harry, you face Voldemort almost every year and come through alright. Now you've got Dumbledore on your side, and Sirius, Remus, Arabella, Mrs. Figg and Hermione and I behind you. We'll just have to beat him, that's all, you won't fail now."
Harry felt a surge of gratefulness to his red headed friend. Ron had dispelled every single fear Harry had felt. He had promised to himself that he would stop Voldemort, and would, Theavolos was not going to stop him.
***
The next morning at breakfast Harry's good mood failed him, his first class in the morning was divination, and after lunch double potions with the Slytherins. Ron groaned as Hermione passed him the fifth year schedule.
"Trelawney AND Snape in the same day? What do they think they are playing at with these schedules. We'll never make it through our first day."
"Trelawney might be right when she predicts my death today, a pretty safe bet with potions this afternoon." harry said glumly
Hermione sighed, "Harry, Professor Snape isn't trying to kill you, and you two wouldn't have to put up with Professor Trelawney if you had just-"
"Taken muggle studies, like you. We know Hermione." Ron said rolling his eyes.
Hermione looked like she was going to say something but Harry jumped up quickly.
"Well Ron, we better get going or we'll be late. Bye Hermione, see you after class," and he dragged Ron away quickly.
***
Dumbledore shook Snape gently on the shoulder.
"Severus, your class starts in an hour."
Snape opened his eyes slowly. He had fallen asleep at his desk, and he had big bags under his eyes as well as a red line on his forehead that the was the result of resting his head on a pen. He looked at the headmaster for a few seconds as if he had forgotten who the man was, but then his eyes widened in shock.
"An hour! I've still got to-" Snape jumped up, but Dumbledore put a firm hand on Snape's shoulder.
"It's all done. You may want to clean yourself up and have a quick breakfast, but Sirius and I prepared the classroom for your first lesson."
Snape headed in to the classroom to inspect. After a very thorough examination from corner to corner he nodded grudgingly
"Everything seems to be in order Headmaster."
"Now Severus, you've got a long day ahead of you, I suggest you go and get ready."
Snape started towards the door but stopped at the threshold.
"Thank you Albus." He said without turning around, and after a second long hesitation continued out the door.
Dumbledore smiled.
***
Harry's feet felt like they had lead in them on his way up to divination. Obviously Ron felt them same way, and the boys arrived at class with barely enough time to collapse into beanbags around the same table.
"Welcome back," said an airy voice said as Trelawney melted out of the shadows. "I hope you all had a good summer, for it might have been the last summer for some of you."
There were a few gasps and Trelawney gave Harry a pointed stare. Harry yawned.
"I am going to start you on a very important, but often overlooked form of divination today," Trelawney continued ignoring Harry. "Bird entrails..."
It was Ron's turn to gasp in horror. "Did she just say what I think she said?" he whispered to Harry.
Harry looked around the room, even Lavender and Pavarti, who were normally listening to every word Professor Trelawney spoke as if her words were the key to salvation, were staring with horror at her words. "I think she did," replied Harry.
To the class's amazement Professor Trelawney pulled out a bin full of dead birds.
"I have been very busy collecting birds this summer, but you must be very careful with the one you are working with or we may run out. Everyone come up and pick out a bird." Harry looked at Ron, whose eyes were bulging.
"She can't be serious."
"She's serious alright."
No one in the class moved, but this didn't seem to phase Professor Trelawney, she started walking around to each of the tables handing out not only a bird but a knife and a plate to each student. Once finished she took a bird and a knife for herself and went back to the front of the room.
To the classes surprise she started to demonstrate the precise cuts they would be making to open up their birds. Harry felt that Trelawney's airy voice didn't quite match the words coming out of her mouth
"Start at the throat, and make one long cut..."
After she was done explaining she motioned for the class to begin. For a few seconds no one moved. Then to everyone's surprise Neville Longbottom started gutting his bird. Not to be outdone by Neville, Seamus and Dean followed Neville's example. Soon the whole class had begun cutting open their birds. It wasn't until the intestines sloshed out of his birds belly that Harry felt truly sick. Beside him Ron had gone completely pale.
"Good, now that you have all finished that part turn your books to page 157 for the key to interpreting your entrails."
It was too late to go back now, Harry pulled out his book and opened the page. It was bad enough having to cut the bird open, but looking for signs out of it's internal organs was horrid. The only thing that went right was that halfway through the lesson Pavarti almost got sick, and Professor Trelawney had no time to predict Harry's death. But by lunch time no one from class was hungry.
Hermione sat across from Harry and Ron eating, while they picked at their food, both unable to get the bloody plates out of their mind.
"What's up you two? How come you aren't eating?"
Ron gulped and shook his head, so Harry told Hermione about divination. To Hermione's credit she confined her amusement at the story with a well hid, smug smile.
"Well you better at least try to eat, we've got potions next, you'll need your strength."
Ron groaned and Harry chanced a glance up at the head table. Snape was there, looking particularly nasty today. Harry groaned inwardly in agreement with Ron. Could today get any worse?
But as most people who think such things Harry found out that things can always get worse, and frequently they do. As he took a seat in the back of the dungeon classroom with Ron and Hermione, Snape stalked in the room, his expression was set in a foreboding scowl and a look of general disgust at the entire class. Not even the Slytherins could get on Snape's good side today. He started the lesson without a word by writing up a summary on what the should have learned over the summer about drying potions. Then he wrote up the ingredients and growled at them to start.
Harry watched as the potions master sat down at his desk and started reading a pile of parchment on his desk, making occasional notes.
"Come one Harry, we better start, this is going to take ages," Ron poked him in the back.
Harry reluctantly started collecting the ingredients for the days potion. To the surprise of the class Snape didn't say an entire word until the end of class. Hermione leaned over at one point and asked Harry if he though Snape was sleeping. But five minutes before class was done Snape stood up suddenly and announced that everyone should be done now.
"And now we will test some," Snape's eyes darted menacingly around the room. Potter, you first."
Harry waited bravely as Snape brought a wet rag up to Harry's caldron. Harry help his breath as Snape ladled a bit from his caldron onto the rag. Instead of drying the rag turned purple and the potion started to burn a hole in the middle.
"Potter, I suppose you added powdered unicorn horn instead of shredded hoof," Snape was snarling at Harry.
"But, professor," said Hermione from beside Harry. "You wrote on the board..."
"Silence!" said Snape, looking irrate. "Ten points from Gryffindor for Harry's mistake, and twenty because Miss Granger can not HOLD HER TONGUE!"
"But Professor," Hermione tried bravely again. "Just look at the board."
"ENOUGH! Detention Miss Granger, and ten more points from Gryffindor. Class dismissed."
No one could get out of the class room fast enough, but Harry noticed Snape standing very still in front of the board, his head in his hands.
That night at dinner a much calmer Snape sat at the head table. He didn't talk to anyone, but the look of hate for the world was decidedly absent. Harry couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Snape this afternoon.
***
"I wrote it wrong headmaster. I didn't think it was possible. What if I had written that they use goat hair instead of goat whiskers. The whole room would have exploded, they could have been seriously hurt- I-"
Dumbledore held up his hand. "That's quiet enough Severus, you are overworking yourself that's all. No harm done, just get some rest."
Snape looked into Dumbledore's eyes, and Dumbledore saw a haunted look in his eyes.
"There's more? Surely not tonight..."
"Tonight," said Snape softly.
Dumbledore waited a moment before speaking. "Well then I suggest getting some rest before tonight then."
"Yes headmaster."
And with that Snape headed out the door.
***
The next day Harry had care of magical creatures. He, Ron and Hermione left early, hoping to talk with Hagrid before class started. They found him tending some colorful looking birds who seemed to be singing, but no sound was coming out of their mouths.
"Hagrid, are those Fwoopers?" Ron asked curiously. "I had an aunt who forgot to put the silencing charm on her one month and went completely insane."
"That's right Ron. We shouldn' 'ave any problems with that 'ere," Hagrid smiled down at them. "'ow was yer summers?"
They talked with Hagrid for a long time until the rest of the class started filing across the grounds over to Hagrid's hut.
"What did you do over the summer?" Harry asked Hagrid.
"Well I- er- took a trip. Traveled, I did. Picked up these birds too."
Harry was going to ask another question but Hagrid quickly rounded everyone up to begin the lesson.
The lesson was one of the better ones Hagrid had given. The Fwoopers were a beautiful bird who's song made people go crazy. The class got to feed the Fwoopers and pluck a few of it's feathers, which were used for fancy quills. The only blotch on the lesson was Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who snicked through the lesson, while shooting nasty looks and Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry had to stop Ron from plucking all the feathers out of his bird. Ron was about ready to jump on Malfoy, and Hermione saw this and put a hand on Ron's arm.
"Pay attention to what you are doing!" she whispered to him as Ron accidently pulled on his Fwoopers ear and the bird gave a silent screech.
"Be glad you aren't gutting them," said Harry to Ron and that brought a smile to his friends face.
"Right, I'd hate to see what Trelawney would do to these birds," and Ron started laughing hysterically.
Luckily for everyone Draco decided to give Ron his distance and he and Ron managed to make it through the lesson without killing each other.
"What do we have next?" asked Harry as they waved goodbye to Hagrid after class.
"Defense against the Dark Arts," said Hermione. "Lets hurry up so we can get good seats.
Hogwarts had five different defense against the dark arts teachers over the last few years, and people were starting to say the job was cursed. In fact after the last teacher had spent the school year locked up in his own trunk there were rumors that no one would want to take the job, and that Dumbledore would have to teach the classes.
How Dumbledore had convinced Penelope to take the job Harry didn't know, but he was sure it would be an interesting year, and wondered if quidditch defenses would be one of the topics they would discuss. Nothing, however, prepared Harry, Ron or Hermione with what met their eyes as they walked into the classroom.
"A camel?" asked Ron.
"Theavolos," said Hermione. "Oh Harry, that's horrible."
"I don't even know who he is," admitted Harry. "Dumbledore just told me he was bad."
"He's been involved with nearly every powerful dark wizard there ever was. Some people think he might even be the devil."
She shivered, and Harry felt goosebumps crawling up his arm.
"But surely he can't be worse than Voldemort," but Ron's voice cracked as he said it.
"Theavolos has amazing power, they say he can do almost anything, except use his power by himself. He only works through other Wizards." Harry sat quietly for a moment and digested what Hermione had said. To Harry's surprise it was Ron who spoke up.
"We'll just have to stop him," he stuck out his chin stubbornly. "Harry, you face Voldemort almost every year and come through alright. Now you've got Dumbledore on your side, and Sirius, Remus, Arabella, Mrs. Figg and Hermione and I behind you. We'll just have to beat him, that's all, you won't fail now."
Harry felt a surge of gratefulness to his red headed friend. Ron had dispelled every single fear Harry had felt. He had promised to himself that he would stop Voldemort, and would, Theavolos was not going to stop him.
***
The next morning at breakfast Harry's good mood failed him, his first class in the morning was divination, and after lunch double potions with the Slytherins. Ron groaned as Hermione passed him the fifth year schedule.
"Trelawney AND Snape in the same day? What do they think they are playing at with these schedules. We'll never make it through our first day."
"Trelawney might be right when she predicts my death today, a pretty safe bet with potions this afternoon." harry said glumly
Hermione sighed, "Harry, Professor Snape isn't trying to kill you, and you two wouldn't have to put up with Professor Trelawney if you had just-"
"Taken muggle studies, like you. We know Hermione." Ron said rolling his eyes.
Hermione looked like she was going to say something but Harry jumped up quickly.
"Well Ron, we better get going or we'll be late. Bye Hermione, see you after class," and he dragged Ron away quickly.
***
Dumbledore shook Snape gently on the shoulder.
"Severus, your class starts in an hour."
Snape opened his eyes slowly. He had fallen asleep at his desk, and he had big bags under his eyes as well as a red line on his forehead that the was the result of resting his head on a pen. He looked at the headmaster for a few seconds as if he had forgotten who the man was, but then his eyes widened in shock.
"An hour! I've still got to-" Snape jumped up, but Dumbledore put a firm hand on Snape's shoulder.
"It's all done. You may want to clean yourself up and have a quick breakfast, but Sirius and I prepared the classroom for your first lesson."
Snape headed in to the classroom to inspect. After a very thorough examination from corner to corner he nodded grudgingly
"Everything seems to be in order Headmaster."
"Now Severus, you've got a long day ahead of you, I suggest you go and get ready."
Snape started towards the door but stopped at the threshold.
"Thank you Albus." He said without turning around, and after a second long hesitation continued out the door.
Dumbledore smiled.
***
Harry's feet felt like they had lead in them on his way up to divination. Obviously Ron felt them same way, and the boys arrived at class with barely enough time to collapse into beanbags around the same table.
"Welcome back," said an airy voice said as Trelawney melted out of the shadows. "I hope you all had a good summer, for it might have been the last summer for some of you."
There were a few gasps and Trelawney gave Harry a pointed stare. Harry yawned.
"I am going to start you on a very important, but often overlooked form of divination today," Trelawney continued ignoring Harry. "Bird entrails..."
It was Ron's turn to gasp in horror. "Did she just say what I think she said?" he whispered to Harry.
Harry looked around the room, even Lavender and Pavarti, who were normally listening to every word Professor Trelawney spoke as if her words were the key to salvation, were staring with horror at her words. "I think she did," replied Harry.
To the class's amazement Professor Trelawney pulled out a bin full of dead birds.
"I have been very busy collecting birds this summer, but you must be very careful with the one you are working with or we may run out. Everyone come up and pick out a bird." Harry looked at Ron, whose eyes were bulging.
"She can't be serious."
"She's serious alright."
No one in the class moved, but this didn't seem to phase Professor Trelawney, she started walking around to each of the tables handing out not only a bird but a knife and a plate to each student. Once finished she took a bird and a knife for herself and went back to the front of the room.
To the classes surprise she started to demonstrate the precise cuts they would be making to open up their birds. Harry felt that Trelawney's airy voice didn't quite match the words coming out of her mouth
"Start at the throat, and make one long cut..."
After she was done explaining she motioned for the class to begin. For a few seconds no one moved. Then to everyone's surprise Neville Longbottom started gutting his bird. Not to be outdone by Neville, Seamus and Dean followed Neville's example. Soon the whole class had begun cutting open their birds. It wasn't until the intestines sloshed out of his birds belly that Harry felt truly sick. Beside him Ron had gone completely pale.
"Good, now that you have all finished that part turn your books to page 157 for the key to interpreting your entrails."
It was too late to go back now, Harry pulled out his book and opened the page. It was bad enough having to cut the bird open, but looking for signs out of it's internal organs was horrid. The only thing that went right was that halfway through the lesson Pavarti almost got sick, and Professor Trelawney had no time to predict Harry's death. But by lunch time no one from class was hungry.
Hermione sat across from Harry and Ron eating, while they picked at their food, both unable to get the bloody plates out of their mind.
"What's up you two? How come you aren't eating?"
Ron gulped and shook his head, so Harry told Hermione about divination. To Hermione's credit she confined her amusement at the story with a well hid, smug smile.
"Well you better at least try to eat, we've got potions next, you'll need your strength."
Ron groaned and Harry chanced a glance up at the head table. Snape was there, looking particularly nasty today. Harry groaned inwardly in agreement with Ron. Could today get any worse?
But as most people who think such things Harry found out that things can always get worse, and frequently they do. As he took a seat in the back of the dungeon classroom with Ron and Hermione, Snape stalked in the room, his expression was set in a foreboding scowl and a look of general disgust at the entire class. Not even the Slytherins could get on Snape's good side today. He started the lesson without a word by writing up a summary on what the should have learned over the summer about drying potions. Then he wrote up the ingredients and growled at them to start.
Harry watched as the potions master sat down at his desk and started reading a pile of parchment on his desk, making occasional notes.
"Come one Harry, we better start, this is going to take ages," Ron poked him in the back.
Harry reluctantly started collecting the ingredients for the days potion. To the surprise of the class Snape didn't say an entire word until the end of class. Hermione leaned over at one point and asked Harry if he though Snape was sleeping. But five minutes before class was done Snape stood up suddenly and announced that everyone should be done now.
"And now we will test some," Snape's eyes darted menacingly around the room. Potter, you first."
Harry waited bravely as Snape brought a wet rag up to Harry's caldron. Harry help his breath as Snape ladled a bit from his caldron onto the rag. Instead of drying the rag turned purple and the potion started to burn a hole in the middle.
"Potter, I suppose you added powdered unicorn horn instead of shredded hoof," Snape was snarling at Harry.
"But, professor," said Hermione from beside Harry. "You wrote on the board..."
"Silence!" said Snape, looking irrate. "Ten points from Gryffindor for Harry's mistake, and twenty because Miss Granger can not HOLD HER TONGUE!"
"But Professor," Hermione tried bravely again. "Just look at the board."
"ENOUGH! Detention Miss Granger, and ten more points from Gryffindor. Class dismissed."
No one could get out of the class room fast enough, but Harry noticed Snape standing very still in front of the board, his head in his hands.
That night at dinner a much calmer Snape sat at the head table. He didn't talk to anyone, but the look of hate for the world was decidedly absent. Harry couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Snape this afternoon.
***
"I wrote it wrong headmaster. I didn't think it was possible. What if I had written that they use goat hair instead of goat whiskers. The whole room would have exploded, they could have been seriously hurt- I-"
Dumbledore held up his hand. "That's quiet enough Severus, you are overworking yourself that's all. No harm done, just get some rest."
Snape looked into Dumbledore's eyes, and Dumbledore saw a haunted look in his eyes.
"There's more? Surely not tonight..."
"Tonight," said Snape softly.
Dumbledore waited a moment before speaking. "Well then I suggest getting some rest before tonight then."
"Yes headmaster."
And with that Snape headed out the door.
***
The next day Harry had care of magical creatures. He, Ron and Hermione left early, hoping to talk with Hagrid before class started. They found him tending some colorful looking birds who seemed to be singing, but no sound was coming out of their mouths.
"Hagrid, are those Fwoopers?" Ron asked curiously. "I had an aunt who forgot to put the silencing charm on her one month and went completely insane."
"That's right Ron. We shouldn' 'ave any problems with that 'ere," Hagrid smiled down at them. "'ow was yer summers?"
They talked with Hagrid for a long time until the rest of the class started filing across the grounds over to Hagrid's hut.
"What did you do over the summer?" Harry asked Hagrid.
"Well I- er- took a trip. Traveled, I did. Picked up these birds too."
Harry was going to ask another question but Hagrid quickly rounded everyone up to begin the lesson.
The lesson was one of the better ones Hagrid had given. The Fwoopers were a beautiful bird who's song made people go crazy. The class got to feed the Fwoopers and pluck a few of it's feathers, which were used for fancy quills. The only blotch on the lesson was Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who snicked through the lesson, while shooting nasty looks and Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry had to stop Ron from plucking all the feathers out of his bird. Ron was about ready to jump on Malfoy, and Hermione saw this and put a hand on Ron's arm.
"Pay attention to what you are doing!" she whispered to him as Ron accidently pulled on his Fwoopers ear and the bird gave a silent screech.
"Be glad you aren't gutting them," said Harry to Ron and that brought a smile to his friends face.
"Right, I'd hate to see what Trelawney would do to these birds," and Ron started laughing hysterically.
Luckily for everyone Draco decided to give Ron his distance and he and Ron managed to make it through the lesson without killing each other.
"What do we have next?" asked Harry as they waved goodbye to Hagrid after class.
"Defense against the Dark Arts," said Hermione. "Lets hurry up so we can get good seats.
Hogwarts had five different defense against the dark arts teachers over the last few years, and people were starting to say the job was cursed. In fact after the last teacher had spent the school year locked up in his own trunk there were rumors that no one would want to take the job, and that Dumbledore would have to teach the classes.
How Dumbledore had convinced Penelope to take the job Harry didn't know, but he was sure it would be an interesting year, and wondered if quidditch defenses would be one of the topics they would discuss. Nothing, however, prepared Harry, Ron or Hermione with what met their eyes as they walked into the classroom.