Chapter 4:

"Guess you're right. He is always doing something. I've heard rumours in Diagon Alley this year that he's planning to build a defensive army. Very big, I suppose. I'm thinking he's doing it to prevent You-Know-Who from making an attack." Why exactly am I telling Draco just because he said he liked me?

"Hmm." Draco checked the time.

"Well then. I've got some homework to finish for Transfiguration." He stood up and looked around, squinting. Hermione stood up too, and looked around to make sure no one heard their little conversation. Draco smoothed his hair.

"See you around." Malfoy said and headed back to the Slytherin common room.

"Bye then…" Hermione said back, but Draco was already heading out of the library. It was now that the news of this afternoon dawned on her. She sat down, shocked. Should I tell Ron and Harry? But she thought she'd better not, for this would be the last thing they would want to happen to her. With a sigh she drew out the book that she had replaced moments ago and started reading.

*

Sunday morning, and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville headed down to Hagrid's hut to pay him a visit, and see if he's  recovered from the few bites that the Yurdle gave him. Ron looked at Neville hatefully.

"Ah, Neville, I don't think you should come." He said plainly. Neville looked at him with equal hate.

"And whys that, Ron?" He asked, raising his eyebrows and blinking. Ron felt like punching Neville's rabbit teeth.

"Just cause,"

"That's not an answer," Neville rebelled. Ron looked at his friends for help. Harry shrugged helplessly. He knew Hermione would never do anything to hurt anyone's feelings and so he turned back to Neville.

"I know it isn't. I'm just saying, you know, we normally visit Hagrid. We." Ron bent his mouth to one side again. Neville creased his eyebrows and shrugged.

"So? I'm sure he wouldn't mind having another guest,"

"Neville, like I said, only we visit him. Besides, we have some important stuff to discuss with him." Ron looked at Harry and Hermione's face. Neville gave him a rabbit grin.

"Bull crap," Neville continued to walk towards Hagrid's hut. The others followed silently. Ron was angry and hated Neville more then ever. Hermione slowed her pace and walked beside Ron.

"Doesn't matter Ron, it's just a visit to Hagrid's." Ron cracked a smile at Hermione.

When they finally arrived in front of Hagrid's hut Harry knocked three times.

"Who's that?" A voice boomed out.

"It's us, Hagrid, and Neville." Ron quickly told Hagrid. Neville didn't take any notice. In a few seconds Hagrid opened the wooden door and Fang came out, licking Hermione's robes. She smiled and patted the drooling dog.

"Hello! C'min, please. Ah, nevermind the old dog."

The four settled in Hagrid's cozy little hut and watched the crackling fire while Hagrid was busy making them something to eat.

"So, Hagrid, you good again from the bites the Yurdle gave you?" Harry asked. Hagrid came walking back with a tray filled with chipped cups of tea, and stoat sandwiches. Setting it on the table he sat down too.

"Ah, it ain't so bad. Nasty lil' things, they can be. I'm alrigh' though. How've yous been?" He asked, gesturing for each to take a sandwich. No one took a sandwich except for Neville, who took an extra large bite at the beginning. Ron looked at Neville; satisfied that he was scrunching up his face at the awful taste. Hermione's mind was elsewhere.

"We've been okay. Though potions have been a pain lately." Harry stated, and sipped his tea. For the rest of the visit they talked about everything from the plain school subjects to cooking Yurdles.

*

Next morning at breakfast the school was buzzing with talking once again, for the first game of Quidditch this season was going to be held on Wednesday- Gryffindor Vs Slytherin. As the usual swarm of owls swooped in this morning; delivering everyone their packages, the headlines of the morning's Daily Prophet caught Hermione's eye. She nudged Harry, who was eating his bacon.

"Look at this, Harry." She said. Ron poked his head in to get a better view.

It read:

Local Witches and Wizards panic as the Dark Mark is seen this morning in London.  Wizards from the Ministry of Magic immediately arrived at the scene of the crime only to discover a few drunken, gambling Goblins and a piece of parchment with the word 'Pays' written on it. Fortunately Muggles who saw the Mark considered it to be a mere firework.

The Daily Prophet warns all Witches and Wizards to be on their guards at all time; the Dark Lord may be back.

At the bottom of the article was a picture of the shimmering Dark Mark as appeared this morning. Ron gulped and gave Harry a sorry look. Conversation topics around the Great Hall quickly changed from Quidditch to the Dark Mark. Ginny ran over to where Hermione was clutching the Daily Prophet.

"Oh my God, Harry!" She cried, quivering slightly. Harry forked his bacon.

"I'm alright, aren't I?" He said, shoving a piece of bacon in his mouth and washing it down with some wild berry juice. Ginny was almost wheezing. Hermione shoved over and offered Ginny her seat.

"You ought to calm down, Ginny." Hermione said as Ginny dumped herself in the empty seat. Ron read the article again.

"Harry, you best be aware." Was all he said. Harry nodded and reached for the jug of wild berry juice. Professor Dumbledore appeared and stood up, waiting for the students to be quiet. He looked concerned about the news.

"Students, I must say that indeed I am in a state of shock. As for the protection of the people in Hogwarts, I have arranged for Aurors to guard our grounds. As much as I hate to say this, but Hogwarts, once again is unsafe." Whispers erupted and Dumbledore's eyes flashed around the Hall.

"This year's trip to Hogsmeade will be cancelled, and no student is to wander about alone. If caught by Filch the school caretaker, fifty points will automatically be deducted from your house." Filch and Mrs. Norris was standing near the doorway, Filch grinning scornfully.

"For this year's holidays, no one will be allowed to remain at school-" Harry's stomach lurched. Sharing the summer holidays with the Dursleys is bad enough, now he has to spend the Christmas holidays with them too.

 "Lessons will go about as usual, and students must be in their common rooms by no later than seven. That is all I have to say." Dumbledore finished. Hurriedly he swept out of the Great Hall, ignoring the many questions thrown at him.

"Aurors?" Some first years exclaimed worriedly. Harry didn't seem that concerned about the Aurors; but the others were, obviously. His friends immediately began telling him to be watchful and cautious, but he just sat down and flipped through the Daily Prophet gloomily.

Ron looked at him. "Don't worry Harry. I'll ask Mum if you can stay with us during the Christmas break. I'm sure she'll say 'yes'" Ron assured him. Harry instantly felt better.

"And Harry, you should be rreeaallyy careful. Don't go near the Forbidden Forest. I heard there will be lots and lots of Aurors there……" He heard Ginny and a few other Gryffindors blabber on and on about his safety. He decided to ignore the murmurs thrown at him.

"Harry, are you listening to me?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded glumly. The Daily Prophet was filled with articles about the Dark Mark, but a particular advertisement caught his eye.

Order the new Dragoness today!

Are you tired of going to Diagon Alley and trying to find the right broomstick? Well, look no further! You can now order the World's Finest Broomstick to date- the Dragoness. It's yours for only two hundred and twenty galleons! Best price and the best way to buy! Order yours today!

Harry felt a tinge excitement. But he would have to go to Gringotts and take out his money before he could order it. Sighing, he laid the Daily Prophet on the table. The others were still going on about safety precautions.

"Guys, I think we should head off to Divination now." He said. The others nodded and waved a goodbye to Ginny as she herself got off her seat and headed off to class. Malfoy walked behind Hermione, Ron and Harry. Hermione sensed someone following her and glanced around. She nearly tripped when she saw it was Draco.

"H-Hey Malfoy," She said, starting to smile. Ron turned around.

"What are you following us for, Malfoy?" He spat, looking up and down Draco's neat black robes. Malfoy turned to face Ron.

"What's the matter, Weasley? Scared that Voldemort will kill little Potter, leaving you to fend for yourself?" He retorted. Hermione frowned and turned back.

"Piss off, you fuckwit," Ron swore before facing back. Draco's ears turned red with anger. But for Hermione's sake, he didn't say anything more.

Divination was no doubt everyone's least favourite subject. Hermione was attending the lessons again only because it was becoming a more important subject. Professor Trelawney had died last year, killed by a sudden heart attack when foreseeing something in her cup; and it wasn't anything to do with Harry, for once. This year they sat chattering on about the Dark Mark, waiting for their new teacher.

"Welcome all, my students," A female voice came out from out of the shadows.

Quietly, the figure stepped out of the shadows and everyone saw a scrawny woman wearing thick glasses and her dark brown hair tied in a bun. She wore a black, woollen dress and a pair of fuzzy brown slippers. Her eyebrows were thick and bushy, her lips a dark shade of red. She looked as if in her fifties. Ron gulped.

"What's with the fuzzy slippers?" He whispered. Suddenly the teacher stared at Ron with her steel coloured eyes.

"I am Professor Qupid. Your new Divination teacher. Questions, anyone?" Her voice was shaky and she walked with dull thumps. No one said anything; as they were too busy trying to stifle their laughter. Professor Qupid furrowed her hairy eyebrows.

"You, my child." She pointed at Parvati.

"You bring shame among your family." Neville lightened up- for once it wasn't him. Tears welled up in Parvati's eyes. Qupid stopped in front of Harry. Her eyes were like those of Professor McGonagall's- bulgy.

"Beware of the Dark Lord this year, my child. He has already sent his Mark…he is determined for your blood…" She gripped Harry's arm.

"Be brave, my child…" She let go of Harry's arm and continued her pace around the room. Harry didn't exactly believe in all this Divination stuff, and neither did Ron.

"Your Inner Eye must be trained by now…I am sure the late Professor Trelawney must have done so. So, for the rest of this lesson, I want you all to get into pairs, and obtain a crystal ball to see into the future. This term we will be learning much about predicting the future and clearing the fog of your Inner Eye."

She reminded every one of the students of Professor Trelawney. Ron was a pair with Harry, having failed to be with Hermione because Neville was faster than him.

"You go first." Ron said.

"Alright then." Harry looked deep into the crystal ball.

Ron meanwhile was spying on Neville and Hermione. Harry began to see an image form in the crystal ball. He gasped when he saw himself holding a Dragoness, but his expression was unhappy. Harry was confused. Why would he be unhappy if he had got a Dragoness? Shaking his head and adjusting his glasses, he elbowed Ron.

"Your turn, Ron." He edged away from the crystal ball to give Ron a turn. Looking deep into the crystal ball, he saw himself with a flaming face and nodding furiously. Ron screwed up his face.

"What the hell?" He said, tapping the crystal ball.

"What do you see?" Harry asked, cleaning his glasses.

"I-I see myself with a red face, and I'm angry. Bet it's something to do with Malfoy." He concluded, his tone now harsh. Harry bit his lower lip.

 "Well you won't believe what I saw." Harry said. Ron shrugged.

"What did you see?"

"I saw myself holding onto a Dragoness, I was beaming and stuff, but I wasn't happy…"

Harry looked at his confused friend.

"Rrright…so you'll have a Dragoness- which will make you really happy but you won't be happy." Professor Qupid walked past their desk, and met Harry's eye, which was watching her fuzzy slippers.

"Potter, I assume?" She whispered. Harry jumped.

"Yep."

"Wondering why I was wearing these slippers, were you?" She asked, her steel coloured eyes unnerving. Harry swallowed and felt himself turn red.

"No, Professor. I was just wondering about what I saw in the crystal ball." Satisfied, the Professor retreated slowly.

"My dear, what you see in that crystal ball will definitely happen. The owner of the Dragoness, you will be. But how you got it, is unexpected…" In the darkness and the gloom of the room she looked slightly mad. Everyone started looking Harry's way.

"A Dragoness?" The students started whispering. Professor Qupid seemed to forget what she had just said and turned around. Harry put his glasses back on. Ron seemed to look at him with a hint of envy, and everyone else did so too for the remainder of the lesson.

*

"You think Sirius might be giving it to you?" Hermione asked once they came out of Divination.

"I don't know. I doubt that though, he is still hiding after all." Harry replied. Neville stumbled after them; gripping Hermione's left shoulder on purpose.

"Thought I'd lost you there!" He puffed. Ron lashed around to face Neville.

"Stop following us, Neville." He said coldly. Neville stopped his fake puffing and smirked.

"Why don't you stop following us?" Neville snapped. Ron pretended to be threatened.

"Ever since the start of this year, Neville, you have been following us. Who knows what the hell you're trying to do." But Ron did know. Hermione cut in.

"Come on, you two! There is no you or us, okay? Honestly!" She walked faster to catch up to Harry. Ron pushed in front of Neville in the swarming crowd. Neville shoved Ron behind. Surprisingly Ron tripped and fell. The bad thing was, it was Malfoy that he fell back on.

"Turning gay, Weasley? Have no luck with the female kind, is it?" Malfoy smirked, and a bunch of Slytherins started laughing. Ron quickly regained his balance and quickened his pace to get Neville back.

"Weasley's turned gay!" Malfoy shouted, trailed by a roar of laughter. Ignoring them, Ron spotted Neville.

"Neville." He said.

Naturally, he turned around. All he saw was a fist punch him in the nose before he staggered backwards and fell to the ground.

"Ow! What was that for?" He asked, covering his nose. But Ron was fuming. Was this what he had seen in the crystal ball? No. Ron stepped past him to History.

Ron arrived late, but Professor Binns didn't seem to mind.

"Oh never mind coming late to class, after all, I am only a ghost." Ron gave him a look and sat down quickly next to Hermione. She looked at Ron's face. He was red to his neck, and his expression was grim.

"What's wrong?" She asked, concerned.

"Huh? Had a little trouble with Neville, and gave him a punch on the nose." He didn't look at her. Hermione's worry for Ron soon turned to Neville.

"You what?" But Ron ignored her, and continued to listen to Professor Binns drone on and on about the history of The Silver Egg- a magical egg laid by some dragon in Bulgaria.

"Ron, look at me." She said quietly.

"I punched him because he shoved me onto the floor and onto Malfoy, okay?" He told her sternly, without looking at her.

Seeing that Ron was in a rage, she just nodded and kept her mouth shut. A minute later Neville burst into class and slouched into a seat next to Lavender. Professor Binns didn't take any notice of the boy who just burst into the classroom with a red nose. Hermione took a quick glance at Neville and she saw that his normally neat hair was now shriveled, and his nose was turning purple.

"So, the Silver Egg was laid in Africa. Then came along Mr. Toody…" Professor Binns spoke without expression and half the class was practically asleep. Neville made an irritating noise when he breathed in and out. Lavender sighed heavily.

"Please, turn to page 59 of your book. There is the picture of the Silver Egg, and there are the questions. Please begin." The whole class groaned and complained.

"Looks like Professor Binns is in a major depression…" Harry muttered to Hermione.

Everyone picked up their quill and began answering the questions one by one. Except Neville. Professor Binns hovered around the room in a dispirited frame of mind. Spotting Neville, he cleared his throat loudly. Yet he took no notice.

"If I may ask, Mr. Longbottom, why aren't you completing the task I set you to do?" He asked coldly. Neville pointed to his nose.

"Pain." He said simply. Professor Binns set both transparent hands on either side of Neville's desk.

"You know what's pain, boy?" He hissed.

"N-no Professor." Professor Binns nodded slowly.

"Well I'll tell you, Mr. Longbottom. Pain, is when you fall asleep in a classroom and the next day, when you wake up, you find yourself dead!" He spat, his eyes showing possible signs of tears. The rest of the lesson was done in utter silence before they were dismissed.

*

That night, up in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione tried getting Ron and Neville to make up.

"Forget it, Hermione." Harry insisted, watching spit fly from Ron's mouth as he continued to fight with Neville, who was covered in spit. Hermione sighed.

"Stop that! You two are just being like Malfoy," memories of what happened in the library were very vivid, and she still was confused by what he had said. Why did he said he like me?

"He made me fall onto Malfoy!" Ron screamed.

"Yeah, but I didn't know!" Neville defended.

Harry patted Hermione's shoulder before he slumped into a chair and watched the argument helplessly. Hermione walked to the window and what she saw made her feel intimidated. At least twenty Aurors were being directed to guard the Forbidden Forest by Professor Dumbledore, who was gesturing them each a position.

"Harry, look! Dumbledore's arranging for the Aurors to guard the school!" She said to Harry. At least the news that Hermione gave Harry put a stop to Ron and Neville's argument.

"So Vol- You-Know-Who must be near…" Harry murmured.

Sure enough, about twenty Aurors were taking their places in the Forbidden Forest.

Ron edged forward to get a closer look.

"Wicked, I've never seen so many Aurors!" He said. Hermione looked puzzled.

"I don't think normally the Ministry of Magic would keep so many Aurors. I think it's because the Dark Mark must've frightened the Ministry, and so their getting more and more Aurors." Soon they headed out of the Common room and down to the Great Hall.

*

The food was great, as usual, but tonight the Hall seemed drained of life. No one talked much, as Aurors stood at each corner of the Great Hall, watching intently for any weird happenings. Dumbledore was aware of the unusual silence too, and so was every other staff member. The candles which floated above the long tables seemed dull tonight, and the enchanted ceiling showed a cloudy night, promising more rain.

"Why so glum, fickly first-years?" Peeves teased, pulling faces at the first year students who seemed terrified of the Aurors.

"Peeves, I wish you will not intimidate the first years." Dumbledore said. The ghost pulled a sad face at the Headmaster.

"You don't want the Bloody Baron around, do you?" Cho Chang threatened.

Draco Malfoy wasn't listening to what Peeves was up to, but instead he was thinking of his encounter with Hermione back in the library. Poking a forkful of treacle tart into his mouth he began to relive the conversation they had.

"Pass me the trifle, will you?" Pansy asked him. She looked at him when he didn't respond.

"Hello? I asked you to pass me the trifle?" She raised her voice. Malfoy then looked at her.

"You have two hands," Malfoy said before resuming his eating of the treacle tart on his dish.

"You have two hands too Draco, and apparently, your two hands are closer to the trifle then mine!" Pansy snapped. Draco tapped Crabbe on the arm and he immediately passed Pansy the trifle with his porky fingers.

"Urgh, look at your fingers." She cried as she grabbed the plate of trifle off him, leaving Crabbe studying his fingers.

Author's Note: *gasp* A new Divination teacher? A Dragoness? And what's happening with Draco and Hermione? We'll keep you posted… Meanwhile, please REVIEW… We've got the first Quidditch Match in the next chapter!