Chapter 5, Flying and canaries
Harry and Neville hurried to the Gryffindor tower to pick up Harry's broom and they walked to the Quidditch stadium, the rest of the 7th years were already there.
"Ah, there are the last two I can start now, I have asked 2 students from each house to help me." Madam Hooch said, while Neville and Harry stood by the rest of the Gryffindors.
"Did you have a nice conversation with Remus?" Ron whispered, Ron had his Nimbus 2003 in his hands. He got the broom for his last birthday from all his friends and family, it was his most priced possessions. He needed the broom because he is the Gryffindor Keeper.
"Yeah, it was very informative, I'll tell you later." Harry whispered back. Madam Hooch gave them a stern look and pointed to the brooms.
"Those without a broom can pick one of the school brooms. After that you go stand by the rest of your house." She said, she walked to Harry and Ron
"If you would please stand there, this will be relative easy for you. You have only 5 people who are not on the Quidditch team, so I want you to keep your eyes on Neville." It had not been a surprise that Ginny, Dean and Seamus had made the team last year, they were all Quidditch crazy. But to everybody's surprise Lavender also decided to try out and she turned out to be very good.
"Gryffindor here please," Harry yelled, all nine of them stood around him. "Ok you three," he pointed to Dean Seamus and Lavender, "if you would help us I would be grateful. I think it a good idea if each takes somebody to help and see how far we can get." The four others quickly choose somebody, Harry had already expected that he would get Neville, but he wanted it. He knew Neville wasn't as bad as everybody including him self toughed. At that moment madam Hooch came to Harry.
"Harry, would you mind to help Anna, because you have the smallest group to teach, so if you want her in your group I would be very happy." Harry nodded and welcomed Anna.
"I'll let Ron work with you, I know Hermione is not a bad flyer and doesn't need much help, so Ron will help you." He said while he pointed to Hermione, who was already up in the air. Harry walked to Neville.
"So lets see if we can get a view of those flying genes from your mother." Neville smiled rather nervously, his knuckles were white.
"First take this position," Harry showed Neville how to hold the broom.
"Ok say up, I will stay beside you to make sure that you can get back to the ground." It turned out Neville was indeed not as bad as everybody expected, he was able to sit safely and fly several rounds before touching down. And all this without falling once the whole lesson. Anna had been an other problem whole together, it turned out she was terrified of heights. The soon the broom got more than three feet of the ground she started shaking, no matter what they tried she refused to go any higher. The rest of the Gryffindor had no problem with flying, Harry was very confident that they all would get there licence, Anna needed to practice a little more.
"Anna, why are you so afraid?" Hermione asked her, the three friends and Anna walked back to the castle.
"I always have been afraid of heights ever since I fell down a tree. My parents never let me near a broom, this was only the third time I sat on a broom. Draco tried to teach me how to fly the first summer I was with them, but I was just too afraid."
"What time will you leave tonight? Do you have time to do your homework with us tonight?" Harry looked at Anna, she was still very white.
"I will ask a professor to escort me tonight, so I can study with you." Anna replied, she slowly got some colour in her face again. That night Harry watched Anna, he was torn and he wanted to deny his feelings. He knew liked her very much, if he looked in his heart he had to admit that he probably was in love with her. But he wanted to know more about her before he would allow her to get close to him.
The evening went by very quickly and before they knew it, it was 9 o'clock the time Anna would be escorted by a teacher. Hermione, Ron and Harry decided to escort her to the Entry Hall. To their surprise Snape stood waiting, he looked very sour.
"Hurry up miss Xavier, I don't have all night." He said with his usual sneer.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Anna said while Snape opened the door for her. The three friends walked back to the common room wondering what Dumbledore threatened Snape with to let him escort Anna out on to the ground.
***
Harry and Ron were on their way to the kitchen, Friday had gone by very fast and it was know just before the start of dinner. They were covered by the Invisibility Cloak both had growth since the first year so the Cloak was barely big enough to cover them. Ron had become more than 6 feet 6 tall. Harry was shorter but at 6 feet 2 still was fairly tall. The House-Elves almost tackled them when they reached the kitchen especially Dobby was very excited.
"Harry Potter sir, what can Dobby do for you." He squeaked, the other House-Elves stood beside him nodding their heads.
"Can we talk to you in private Dobby?" Harry asked, he knew that when they had Dobby on their side it would be easy. Dobby nodded and they walked to a corner of the kitchen.
"What can Dobby do for Harry Potter sir?" He asked almost jumping in excitement.
"Dobby we need to put something into the Slytherin pumpkin juice." Harry said to the House-Elf. Dobby shook his head
"Dobby can't do that Harry Potter sir Dobby isn't allowed to let students do anything illegal."
"Dobby don't worry, it is not illegal we are allowed to play a prank at the Slytherin. Rule 408 from the Hogwarts book of rules says so." Harry said softly to Dobby. The House-Elf still looked worried.
"Dobby you can tell to Dumbledore that we did it if he asks." Harry said trying to convince the House-Elf, "we just want to play a trick on Malfoy." He added in an afterthought, he knew how much Dobby hated the Malfoy family.
"Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter sir? Dobby will allow Harry Potter to do what he wants Dobby would like to see young Malfoy humiliated." Dobby said proudly almost as excited as a few minutes ago. "Even if Dobby has to iron Dobby's hands again."
"What is the Slytherin table." Ron asked he had watched Harry talk to Dobby, he knew Dobby would do anything for Harry.
"Here sir," an other House-Elf pointed to along table it was full with goblets, Harry and Ron quickly walked to it and started to put a drop of the clear liquid in each goblet. After 10 minutes they were ready, the House-Elves watched their every move.
"Is there anything else sir's want?" A young looking House-Elf asked.
"No, we are ready," Harry started to say but Ron interrupted him.
"Yes, I think it is better if we take some pies and things like that with us to the Gryffindor tower." Ron said. Harry looked at him in surprise.
"There is a big change we won't finish dinner tonight and I don't want to go hungry." He whispered to Harry. He turned to the House-Elves again, who gave them two big plates filled with enough food for their complete dormitory.
"I knew you could be smart Ron," hArry said laughing, "but wait that was your stomach talking wasn't it." Ron looked at Harry, pulled out his wand and put a very effective tickle charm on him.
"That is what happens when you insult a Weasley." Ron laughed, his hands in his side, watching Harry panting on the ground. It took Harry five minutes to regain his breath, but then they finally were on their way to the Gryffindor common room to put away the food and the invisibility cloak.
"Did you do it?" Hermione whispered to them, when they came back down to the common room, they both nodded and Hermione smiled, "good lets go and eat I'm starving.' The three friends walked together with the rest of the Gryffindors to the Great Hall. Hermione had a small magic camera with her, so they would have something to remember this by.
The Slytherin table was half full, Malfoy and his cronies were already there, Harry Ron and Hermione took seats opposite of each other, so on of them could keep an eye on the Slytherin table. The hall filled slowly and after ten minutes Dumbledore gave a sign for them to eat. Hermione looked at the Slytherin table, she saw most of them drink their pumpkin juice, Malfoy had not touched his. the three conspirators were getting worried, if he didn't drink in 30 seconds the first would start to change. But than, with only 10 seconds to spare, he finally put his goblet at his mouth and drank.
"He did it," Hermione whispered to them, trying to look inconspicuous. And than all hell broke loose, there were several shouts coming from the Slytherin table. Harry and Ron could no longer contain them self and turned around, the sight that met their eyes was too funny for words. There were several big yellow canaries sitting at the Slytherin table and there were getting more every second. Almost all the teachers were walking to the Slytherin table looking for Canary Crèmes, there were two teachers who after a short inspection turned to the Gryffindor table. The whole Great Hall was filled with laughter, Hermione was taking pictures trying to keep it unnoticed from the teachers. After 2 minutes Malfoy also changed and Harry and Ron could not help to give a high five.
"POTTER," rang through the Great Hall, a very angry looking professor Snape walked to them, behind him walked Remus, who was shacking his head muttering to him self.
"Potter, I know you did it, tell me how." Snape snapped. Harry looked unfazed at the anger of Snape.
"Who says I got anything to do with this?" He asked calmly.
"You are the only one with the resource, Potter. so how did you do it?" Snape looked more dangerous every minute.
"Yes Harry, I would like to know how you did it. we can't find any Canary Crèmes." Remus added.
"First of all, how do you know they didn't eat it in the common room? Perhaps a Slytherin wanted to have some fun." Harry tried to remain calm although he wanted to laugh badly. "Secondly, you said it your self you can't find any Canary Crèmes that means that other ways have been found to turn people in to canaries and the Hogwarts book of rules doesn't say anything about people turning in to canaries."
"I know you did it, Potter and I want you punished for it." Snape said with a vindictive look in his eyes.
"Even if I did it, which I'm not saying, without the Canary Crèmes it is just a joke and according to rule 408 we are allowed to pull pranks on students." Harry said with a big smile. Snape really looked like he would explode, but he didn't say a word and turned around, the crowed parted hastily when he walked by.
"Mister Potter, I would like to have a word with you," for the first time that evening Dumbledore spoke, Harry looked up at the professor, his eyes twinkled like mad. "Oh and perhaps mister Weasley and miss Granger would care to join us. The rest of you can continue their diner." Dumbledore added. The three friends followed the headmaster, Remus also joined them, they walked to the gargoyle protecting Dumbledore office.
"Canary Crèmes." Dumbledore said and the gargoyle jumped aside, "it is a very suitable password, is it no? " Dumbledore laughed while gesturing to the staircase. Inside Dumbledore office they sat down, Dumbledore looked at all three of them.
"Remus already warned me we could expect a canary wave this year." Dumbledore said, "We were wondering how you did it. If you don't mind telling." Harry told the whole story of L'eau de Canari.
"So that's how you turned Sirius and me in canaries." Remus said after he was done laughing. Harry looked at Dumbledore questioning.
"Are you going to punish us?" he asked.
"No, Harry you were right when you told professor Snape that rule 408 applies here. But I do want to make clear that things like this are ok as long as you don't break rule 408, because when you do you will face the longest detention you have ever had." Dumbledore looked sternly at them. "Now go and enjoy the rest of your evening, I trust you brought some dinner from the kitchen this afternoon." Harry nodded, he didn't even wonder how Dumbledore had known it had been them.
"Oh miss Granger, when you develop the photos make sure professor Snape does not see them. I don't think he will appreciate them." Dumbledore said smiling at them just before they closed the door. They walked own stairs enjoying the thoughts of Malfoy as a yellow canary.
