Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything in the Harry Potter
world, except my plot.
Chapter 1: A New Class
"Move it, mudblood!"
Hermione jumped at the sharp command dropping the book she had been engrossed in. She glared up to find herself looking into the steel gray eyes of Malfoy.
"Oh, look who it is. The son of the Death Eater," she glared, reaching for the book she had dropped.
They stared daggers at each other before each moving their own way, Draco, as usual, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. 'Really,' thought Hermione, 'he is such a jerk.'
"Hey, Hermione," a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts, "wait up."
She turned, a smile painting itself across her features as she watched the tall, lanky form of Harry moving down the hall.
"What did Malfoy want?" he questioned, a cold look crossing his normally warm features.
"Oh, him? Nothing." They walked down the hall heading towards their Charms class. "He was just being his typical jerk self."
"Just checking." Harry ran a hand through his ever unkempt hair. "You know, I am surprised that Dumbledore has let him continue here. What with his father being so involved in everything that happened last year." A fleeting look of pain crossed his face as unwanted memories tugged at him.
"Well, Dumbledore has always been known to believe in second chances," Hermione intoned as her hand reached to push open the door for Professor Flitwick's class.
"I know," Harry murmured, stopping and leaning against the wall. "I just wonder if---"
"Come on, Harry," Hermione interrupted. "Ron is saving us seats, we can worry about this later," she said, reaching up with her right hand to rest it gently on his shoulder. "I know that there is a lot to understand and figure out, but right now, we must focus on our classes. We have to take OWLs this year, remember?"
Harry gently grasped Hermione's right hand and brought it down to cup between his two larger ones, looking down into her warm brown eyes. "Yeah, I know. It's just been a rough summer," he said, a small sigh escaping him. The door suddenly burst open causing both Hermione and Harry to jump.
"Hey, there you guys are!" Ron exclaimed. "Are you coming, or what?"
"Yeah, we're coming," Hermione said, sharing a last look with Harry.
"Boy, Professor Flitwick certainly was excited about teaching us Glitter Charms today," Ron muttered, unsuccessfully attempting to brush the obstinate glitter off his robes. "Geez, I mean, what is the purpose of a Glitter Charm anyhow?"
Harry and Hermione laughed at him.
"Thanks for you support," Ron smirked.
"Oh, Ron," Hermione attempted to muffle her laughter, "we're not really laughing at you, but you do look ridiculous with glitter still trickling out of your hair." At that both Harry and Hermione practically fell to the floor in peals of laughter.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Ron said, performing a quick spell to end the offense trickle of glitter. "May we move on now? I'm starving."
After composing themselves, Harry and Hermione grinned at each other and followed after a still annoyed Ron. They reached the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, took their customary places and began to heap various foods onto their dinner plates.
"What classes are you taking this year, Hermione?" Ron asked, taking a bite of fried chicken. "I mean, besides the eight with us?"
"Oh, you know, pretty much the same as last year. I will be taking Advanced Arithmancy on Thursdays and Fridays, and then all the others with you two," she commented, pausing to pick up a pitcher of pumpkin juice. "I am really looking forward to Arithmancy this year. We will be having a guest professor in our class. From what I've heard, he's brilliant," she answered as she finished pouring some pumpkin juice into her glass.
"Do you know who the new professor is?" Harry asked, passing a platter of poached pears to Neville.
"No," she answered, "but if Dumbledore choose him, he must be good."
"Yeah, 'cause we all know how good Professor Lockhart was," Ron stated, receiving a glare from Hermione and a grin from Harry. Before they could continue their discussion, Professor Dumbledore stood up, the silence in the room occurring almost instantaneously.
"Good evening, students. I hope that you have all enjoyed your first three days back at Hogwarts," he commented. "I also trust that all the first years had very few problems getting to classes on time. I have a brief announcement that I hope will be met with much enthusiasm." His eyes twinkled like stars as he surveyed the room, pausing to catch the eyes of various students.
"We will be adding a new class to everyone's schedule.," he paused as the room broke into groans. Patiently, he put his hand up and waited until all eyes were back on him. "Now, hold on, let me finish," he smiled. "Everyone will be taking a new class to prepare them for a two week long field trip we will all be going on in April. Your prefects will provide more information to you this evening at eight o'clock in your common rooms. Thank you. You may continue your feasting," he concluded, sitting down to enjoy his own feast.
"Are you serious? Another class? He's lost it, he really has!" Ron complained.
"We get the point, Ron!" Hermione interrupted.
"I wonder where we're going to go, on the field trip?" Harry mused.
"I bet it's something really cool," Ron stated firmly, quickly getting caught up in the idea of two weeks out of class, even if it wasn't for eight more months. "Maybe we'll go to Romania and learn how to handle dragons!" he said, wistfully.
"Oh, be serious, Ron!" Hermione huffed. "Dumbledore wouldn't take us to someplace so dangerous."
"Dragons aren't all that dangerous," he countered. "Charlie works with them all the time, and he's."
"Well trained, and eight months is not going to get us 'well trained'" Hermione interrupted.
"Yeah, but he wasn't always," Ron muttered.
"I hope that whatever it is, it's not some silly little romp," Hermione intoned.
"Knowing Dumbledore, it will be a little of everything, don't you think?" questioned Harry.
"You're probably right," Hermione agreed.
Stomachs full, the three Gryffindors stood and moved out of the hall.
"Hurry up, guys. I'm going to try and get some studying done for Arithmancy before the meeting," said Hermione, as they moved amongst the crowds of students.
"You haven't even had the class yet," complained Ron. "How do you know what to study?"
"Well, I'm going to brush up, then," she corrected.
"Yeah, you would do something like that," Ron grumbled.
"What's with you?" she frowned. "Why are you so concerned that I'm going to study tonight?"
"Oh, just ignore Ron," Harry interjected. "He's just feeling guilty because he hasn't even started on tomorrow's Divination homework that was given on Monday."
"Then Ron, you should get out your books and we can study together," she suggested.
"Oh, it's no use trying to get him to do that," Harry said, knowingly.
"And why, may I ask, not?" Hermione asked.
"He's planning on meeting."
"Shut up, Harry," Ron growled.
Harry grinned innocently at Ron.
"Who are you meeting?" Hermione questioned.
"None of your business," Ron grumbled, glaring at Harry once again.
"Are you keeping secrets from me? From your best friend?" Hermione asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Yes! No! I mean.'fairy rings'," he concluded, escaping into the Gryffindor common room as the Pink Lady yawned.
"Ron!" Hermione screeched, giving chase as a bemused Harry followed at a slower pace.
Thirty minutes later, a dejected Hermione sat at one of the tables by the window burying herself in Arithmancy, still fuming about where Ron had disappeared to. Harry was patiently playing Neville a game of wizard's chess, trying hard to not win too quickly. Over the past hour the room had become rather crowed as the students congregated. There was a hushed level of excitement in the room as the many Gryffindors attempted various activities to pass the time.
Ron crept back into the common room just as Dean Thomas, the Gryffindor prefect, entered the room.
"Okay, everyone, pay attention," Dean stated, and the room dropped to a complete silence.
"As Dumbledore announced, next week we will be staring a new class to prepare us for our upcoming field trip. The goal of this class, and trip, is to build inter-house relations in the midst of hard work," he paused to let the groans die out.
"Now, what we are going to be doing is very exciting. But first, let me tell you which houses each year will be grouped with. First years will be with first years, second years with second, etcetera."
"First years, Hufflepuff."
"Second years, Hufflepuff."
"Third years, Ravenclaw."
"Fourth years, Ravenclaw."
"Fifth years, Slytherin."
"WHAT!?" interjected a shocked Ron.
Dean glanced up, glared at Ron, and continued.
"Sixth years, Slytherin."
"Seventh years, Ravenclaw."
"Now, as to where we are going. Dumbledore has procured the use of several sailing ships. You will be given a new schedule to reflect your added class. Classes will only meet once a week. All other information will be given in your class by one of your professors," he concluded, turning to head back to the prefects common room.
"Well, of all the bloody luck!" Ron bellowed, once again. "To be stuck with a bunch of mangy Slytherin's for another dumb class!"
Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement.
Chapter 1: A New Class
"Move it, mudblood!"
Hermione jumped at the sharp command dropping the book she had been engrossed in. She glared up to find herself looking into the steel gray eyes of Malfoy.
"Oh, look who it is. The son of the Death Eater," she glared, reaching for the book she had dropped.
They stared daggers at each other before each moving their own way, Draco, as usual, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. 'Really,' thought Hermione, 'he is such a jerk.'
"Hey, Hermione," a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts, "wait up."
She turned, a smile painting itself across her features as she watched the tall, lanky form of Harry moving down the hall.
"What did Malfoy want?" he questioned, a cold look crossing his normally warm features.
"Oh, him? Nothing." They walked down the hall heading towards their Charms class. "He was just being his typical jerk self."
"Just checking." Harry ran a hand through his ever unkempt hair. "You know, I am surprised that Dumbledore has let him continue here. What with his father being so involved in everything that happened last year." A fleeting look of pain crossed his face as unwanted memories tugged at him.
"Well, Dumbledore has always been known to believe in second chances," Hermione intoned as her hand reached to push open the door for Professor Flitwick's class.
"I know," Harry murmured, stopping and leaning against the wall. "I just wonder if---"
"Come on, Harry," Hermione interrupted. "Ron is saving us seats, we can worry about this later," she said, reaching up with her right hand to rest it gently on his shoulder. "I know that there is a lot to understand and figure out, but right now, we must focus on our classes. We have to take OWLs this year, remember?"
Harry gently grasped Hermione's right hand and brought it down to cup between his two larger ones, looking down into her warm brown eyes. "Yeah, I know. It's just been a rough summer," he said, a small sigh escaping him. The door suddenly burst open causing both Hermione and Harry to jump.
"Hey, there you guys are!" Ron exclaimed. "Are you coming, or what?"
"Yeah, we're coming," Hermione said, sharing a last look with Harry.
"Boy, Professor Flitwick certainly was excited about teaching us Glitter Charms today," Ron muttered, unsuccessfully attempting to brush the obstinate glitter off his robes. "Geez, I mean, what is the purpose of a Glitter Charm anyhow?"
Harry and Hermione laughed at him.
"Thanks for you support," Ron smirked.
"Oh, Ron," Hermione attempted to muffle her laughter, "we're not really laughing at you, but you do look ridiculous with glitter still trickling out of your hair." At that both Harry and Hermione practically fell to the floor in peals of laughter.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Ron said, performing a quick spell to end the offense trickle of glitter. "May we move on now? I'm starving."
After composing themselves, Harry and Hermione grinned at each other and followed after a still annoyed Ron. They reached the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, took their customary places and began to heap various foods onto their dinner plates.
"What classes are you taking this year, Hermione?" Ron asked, taking a bite of fried chicken. "I mean, besides the eight with us?"
"Oh, you know, pretty much the same as last year. I will be taking Advanced Arithmancy on Thursdays and Fridays, and then all the others with you two," she commented, pausing to pick up a pitcher of pumpkin juice. "I am really looking forward to Arithmancy this year. We will be having a guest professor in our class. From what I've heard, he's brilliant," she answered as she finished pouring some pumpkin juice into her glass.
"Do you know who the new professor is?" Harry asked, passing a platter of poached pears to Neville.
"No," she answered, "but if Dumbledore choose him, he must be good."
"Yeah, 'cause we all know how good Professor Lockhart was," Ron stated, receiving a glare from Hermione and a grin from Harry. Before they could continue their discussion, Professor Dumbledore stood up, the silence in the room occurring almost instantaneously.
"Good evening, students. I hope that you have all enjoyed your first three days back at Hogwarts," he commented. "I also trust that all the first years had very few problems getting to classes on time. I have a brief announcement that I hope will be met with much enthusiasm." His eyes twinkled like stars as he surveyed the room, pausing to catch the eyes of various students.
"We will be adding a new class to everyone's schedule.," he paused as the room broke into groans. Patiently, he put his hand up and waited until all eyes were back on him. "Now, hold on, let me finish," he smiled. "Everyone will be taking a new class to prepare them for a two week long field trip we will all be going on in April. Your prefects will provide more information to you this evening at eight o'clock in your common rooms. Thank you. You may continue your feasting," he concluded, sitting down to enjoy his own feast.
"Are you serious? Another class? He's lost it, he really has!" Ron complained.
"We get the point, Ron!" Hermione interrupted.
"I wonder where we're going to go, on the field trip?" Harry mused.
"I bet it's something really cool," Ron stated firmly, quickly getting caught up in the idea of two weeks out of class, even if it wasn't for eight more months. "Maybe we'll go to Romania and learn how to handle dragons!" he said, wistfully.
"Oh, be serious, Ron!" Hermione huffed. "Dumbledore wouldn't take us to someplace so dangerous."
"Dragons aren't all that dangerous," he countered. "Charlie works with them all the time, and he's."
"Well trained, and eight months is not going to get us 'well trained'" Hermione interrupted.
"Yeah, but he wasn't always," Ron muttered.
"I hope that whatever it is, it's not some silly little romp," Hermione intoned.
"Knowing Dumbledore, it will be a little of everything, don't you think?" questioned Harry.
"You're probably right," Hermione agreed.
Stomachs full, the three Gryffindors stood and moved out of the hall.
"Hurry up, guys. I'm going to try and get some studying done for Arithmancy before the meeting," said Hermione, as they moved amongst the crowds of students.
"You haven't even had the class yet," complained Ron. "How do you know what to study?"
"Well, I'm going to brush up, then," she corrected.
"Yeah, you would do something like that," Ron grumbled.
"What's with you?" she frowned. "Why are you so concerned that I'm going to study tonight?"
"Oh, just ignore Ron," Harry interjected. "He's just feeling guilty because he hasn't even started on tomorrow's Divination homework that was given on Monday."
"Then Ron, you should get out your books and we can study together," she suggested.
"Oh, it's no use trying to get him to do that," Harry said, knowingly.
"And why, may I ask, not?" Hermione asked.
"He's planning on meeting."
"Shut up, Harry," Ron growled.
Harry grinned innocently at Ron.
"Who are you meeting?" Hermione questioned.
"None of your business," Ron grumbled, glaring at Harry once again.
"Are you keeping secrets from me? From your best friend?" Hermione asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Yes! No! I mean.'fairy rings'," he concluded, escaping into the Gryffindor common room as the Pink Lady yawned.
"Ron!" Hermione screeched, giving chase as a bemused Harry followed at a slower pace.
Thirty minutes later, a dejected Hermione sat at one of the tables by the window burying herself in Arithmancy, still fuming about where Ron had disappeared to. Harry was patiently playing Neville a game of wizard's chess, trying hard to not win too quickly. Over the past hour the room had become rather crowed as the students congregated. There was a hushed level of excitement in the room as the many Gryffindors attempted various activities to pass the time.
Ron crept back into the common room just as Dean Thomas, the Gryffindor prefect, entered the room.
"Okay, everyone, pay attention," Dean stated, and the room dropped to a complete silence.
"As Dumbledore announced, next week we will be staring a new class to prepare us for our upcoming field trip. The goal of this class, and trip, is to build inter-house relations in the midst of hard work," he paused to let the groans die out.
"Now, what we are going to be doing is very exciting. But first, let me tell you which houses each year will be grouped with. First years will be with first years, second years with second, etcetera."
"First years, Hufflepuff."
"Second years, Hufflepuff."
"Third years, Ravenclaw."
"Fourth years, Ravenclaw."
"Fifth years, Slytherin."
"WHAT!?" interjected a shocked Ron.
Dean glanced up, glared at Ron, and continued.
"Sixth years, Slytherin."
"Seventh years, Ravenclaw."
"Now, as to where we are going. Dumbledore has procured the use of several sailing ships. You will be given a new schedule to reflect your added class. Classes will only meet once a week. All other information will be given in your class by one of your professors," he concluded, turning to head back to the prefects common room.
"Well, of all the bloody luck!" Ron bellowed, once again. "To be stuck with a bunch of mangy Slytherin's for another dumb class!"
Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement.