Harry had his first Potions lesson of the year with Snape the next day in which Snape pointed out to the class, whilst looking directly at Harry, that if anyone fell behind in the work he would not hesitate to remove them from the course.
When Harry and Hermione met Ron in the great hall for lunch Ron was beaming
"McGonagal just asked me to be Gryffindor Quidditch Captain" He said excitedly. Harry grinned, although he would have loved to be captain, he knew Ron would do a much better job.
"We're going to have try outs on Saturday" He continued "We need two new chasers"
"Congratulations Ron, Charlie just told me your news." Talitha said as she was passing by "If you need any help just ask" she added quietly
"Thanks" Ron replied
"Harry, can I have a word please?" Talitha asked just as Draco Malfoy walked past
"What have you been up to now Potter? Got another detention already" Malfoy sneered.
"I don't think that's any of you're business, Mr. Malfoy" Talitha told him "That'll be 10 points from Slytherin for butting in" Malfoy just stood staring in amazement
"And close your mouth Malfoy, you look like a fish" Talitha added as she walked off. Harry and Ron sniggered. Hermione stared hard at the book she had in front of her trying not to laugh. Harry got up and followed Talitha out of the hall. By the time he caught up with her she was laughing out loud
"I can't believe you did that" Harry laughed
"I couldn't resist" Talitha told him "Anyway, I just wanted to know how your Potions lesson went"
"It was ok"
"And Snape"
"Well. He wasn't nice to me but no worse than he usually is" Harry told her.
"Good. I'll see you this afternoon in class then"
Harry headed back to the hall where Ron and Hermione were looking what lessons they had that afternoon.
"It's got to be the best afternoon ever" Ron said "Care of Magical Creatures with Charlie and then Defence Against the Dark Arts"
"Wait till you see what Charlie's got planned before you say that" Ginny called over "We had him this morning. He's nearly as bad as Hagrid in what he determines as dangerous"
"What did you do in your lesson?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not telling you, it'll spoil the surprise" Ginny laughed.
"As long as it isn't Dragons" Harry said, thinking back to the Triwizard tournament.
Ron, Harry and Hermione walked out into the grounds after lunch and down to Hagrids hut where they were to meet Charlie and the rest of their class. Charlie was there already waiting with a very large wooden crate.
"Is it me or does that look big enough to hold a dragon" Ron asked Harry.
"Don't say he's actually brought a dragon in. He is as bad as Hagrid" Harry replied.
"At least we know that Charlie can handle a dragon" Hermione said.
It turned out that the crate didn't contain a dragon but a griffin, a rare creature which is half lion and half eagle. Charlie went on to explain how Griffins are good protective creatures and they have the ability to see invisible creatures
After the lesson they made their way to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class room.
"OK the last lesson was a bit of fun but today we are going to start on the serious stuff" Talitha told the class "Although this class is called Defence Against the Dark Arts, I think that the only way you can ever really defend yourself against something is by knowing as much as you can about it. So we are going to start this year by learning about dark magic, how it works and what sort of thing you are likely to see being used by Dark wizards. We will also look at counter-curses to these and also advanced curses and hexes. You need to be aware of what you might come across out there and be prepared for the worst" Nearly everyone in the class were looking round at each other partly excited about this and partly nervous.
"Right if you can take out your Dark Arts books and turn to page nine we are going to look at the Astrangulare curse to start with." Talitha wrote the word on the blackboard while she continued talking "This is probably one of the worst curses there is that hasn't been classed as an unforgivable curse. There is however very heavy penalties for using it. Can any one tell me what it does?" Hermione's hand shot up. Talitha's back was still to the class.
"Hermione" she said without looking round. Ron and Harry both let out a small laugh.
"It's the choking curse" Hermione answered.
"Exactly, when this curse is performed, the recipient will feel their throat tighten to a point where they can not breathe. This can result in death if it is performed for long enough. The counter-curse is Aspirare which allows you to breathe. Now who can tell me the main problem with this" Talitha glanced around the room "Ron"
"Erm, you can't breathe"
"Yes and"
"So you, erm, can't say the counter-curse"
"Spot on, so you have to say the counter-curse very soon after the curse has been put on you"
At the end of the lesson Talitha set them their homework which was to read about the caecus curse which is used to blind someone. They left the classroom after the lesson unsure as to whether it had been exciting or scary.
"Bloody Hell" Ron said as they walked done the corridor "She was starting to sound like Moody with all that preparing for the worst and everything"
"Well she does seem to know Mad-eye quiet well so maybe she's been taking tips from him"
"She's right though, we can't expect to be able to fight stuff we don't know about" Hermione added.
When Harry and Hermione met Ron in the great hall for lunch Ron was beaming
"McGonagal just asked me to be Gryffindor Quidditch Captain" He said excitedly. Harry grinned, although he would have loved to be captain, he knew Ron would do a much better job.
"We're going to have try outs on Saturday" He continued "We need two new chasers"
"Congratulations Ron, Charlie just told me your news." Talitha said as she was passing by "If you need any help just ask" she added quietly
"Thanks" Ron replied
"Harry, can I have a word please?" Talitha asked just as Draco Malfoy walked past
"What have you been up to now Potter? Got another detention already" Malfoy sneered.
"I don't think that's any of you're business, Mr. Malfoy" Talitha told him "That'll be 10 points from Slytherin for butting in" Malfoy just stood staring in amazement
"And close your mouth Malfoy, you look like a fish" Talitha added as she walked off. Harry and Ron sniggered. Hermione stared hard at the book she had in front of her trying not to laugh. Harry got up and followed Talitha out of the hall. By the time he caught up with her she was laughing out loud
"I can't believe you did that" Harry laughed
"I couldn't resist" Talitha told him "Anyway, I just wanted to know how your Potions lesson went"
"It was ok"
"And Snape"
"Well. He wasn't nice to me but no worse than he usually is" Harry told her.
"Good. I'll see you this afternoon in class then"
Harry headed back to the hall where Ron and Hermione were looking what lessons they had that afternoon.
"It's got to be the best afternoon ever" Ron said "Care of Magical Creatures with Charlie and then Defence Against the Dark Arts"
"Wait till you see what Charlie's got planned before you say that" Ginny called over "We had him this morning. He's nearly as bad as Hagrid in what he determines as dangerous"
"What did you do in your lesson?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not telling you, it'll spoil the surprise" Ginny laughed.
"As long as it isn't Dragons" Harry said, thinking back to the Triwizard tournament.
Ron, Harry and Hermione walked out into the grounds after lunch and down to Hagrids hut where they were to meet Charlie and the rest of their class. Charlie was there already waiting with a very large wooden crate.
"Is it me or does that look big enough to hold a dragon" Ron asked Harry.
"Don't say he's actually brought a dragon in. He is as bad as Hagrid" Harry replied.
"At least we know that Charlie can handle a dragon" Hermione said.
It turned out that the crate didn't contain a dragon but a griffin, a rare creature which is half lion and half eagle. Charlie went on to explain how Griffins are good protective creatures and they have the ability to see invisible creatures
After the lesson they made their way to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class room.
"OK the last lesson was a bit of fun but today we are going to start on the serious stuff" Talitha told the class "Although this class is called Defence Against the Dark Arts, I think that the only way you can ever really defend yourself against something is by knowing as much as you can about it. So we are going to start this year by learning about dark magic, how it works and what sort of thing you are likely to see being used by Dark wizards. We will also look at counter-curses to these and also advanced curses and hexes. You need to be aware of what you might come across out there and be prepared for the worst" Nearly everyone in the class were looking round at each other partly excited about this and partly nervous.
"Right if you can take out your Dark Arts books and turn to page nine we are going to look at the Astrangulare curse to start with." Talitha wrote the word on the blackboard while she continued talking "This is probably one of the worst curses there is that hasn't been classed as an unforgivable curse. There is however very heavy penalties for using it. Can any one tell me what it does?" Hermione's hand shot up. Talitha's back was still to the class.
"Hermione" she said without looking round. Ron and Harry both let out a small laugh.
"It's the choking curse" Hermione answered.
"Exactly, when this curse is performed, the recipient will feel their throat tighten to a point where they can not breathe. This can result in death if it is performed for long enough. The counter-curse is Aspirare which allows you to breathe. Now who can tell me the main problem with this" Talitha glanced around the room "Ron"
"Erm, you can't breathe"
"Yes and"
"So you, erm, can't say the counter-curse"
"Spot on, so you have to say the counter-curse very soon after the curse has been put on you"
At the end of the lesson Talitha set them their homework which was to read about the caecus curse which is used to blind someone. They left the classroom after the lesson unsure as to whether it had been exciting or scary.
"Bloody Hell" Ron said as they walked done the corridor "She was starting to sound like Moody with all that preparing for the worst and everything"
"Well she does seem to know Mad-eye quiet well so maybe she's been taking tips from him"
"She's right though, we can't expect to be able to fight stuff we don't know about" Hermione added.