Harry woke up and stretched out his arms, yawning. His immediate thought was What day is it? Wednesday.I am not going to be Sirius's test dummy for jinxes again. It's somebody else's turn. Then Harry remembered that he didn't have to go to class.
He would be touring that Anthony kid around. He was still asleep in Neville's bed. Of course Neville wouldn't use it for several months so it was Anthony's in the mean time.
When Harry looked through his curtains and saw that Anthony Ron, Seamus, and Dean left Harry said goodbye to them. Anthony still wasn't awake.
Finally Harry went over and told him to wake up. He was a heavy sleeper and had to be told several times and in a loud voice. When he was finally roused Harry waited impatiently for him to get dressed.
"Come on, we're going to stop and have breakfast before I show you the classes. We're already late."
"Okay, I'm ready," he said as he put a final touch of gel in his hair.
Harry led him down to the Great Hall where the last of the students were finishing their breakfast before class. When they were done eating, Harry led Anthony up to the room where Defense Against the Dark Arts was. He knocked on the door before going in. When he opened it he saw Sirius using Ron as an example for the Jelly-Legs Curse. Ron's legs, now wobbling beneath him were not supporting him and the class laughed as Ron clutched Sirius's desk for support.
As Sirius performed the counter-curse he looked up and saw Harry.
"Si-"
Sirius gave him a meaningful stare.
"Professor Black, this is Anthony Bordeaux. He'll be joining all the classes starting tomorrow."
"It's nice to meet you, Anthony. Harry, stop by my office later to find out your homework assignment and the work you're missing. Now class."
Harry and Anthony left.
"What did you start to say back there?"
"Huh? Oh. I was calling him by his first name."
"You're allowed to do that? We never call the teachers by their first names. It's disrespectful."
"No, we don't either. It's just, he's my godfather so I'm not quite used to calling him Professor Black yet. What classroom do you want to see next?"
"Potions."
"You're not going to like this. It's down in the dungeon, but come on." Harry led Anthony down to the potions classroom and knock on the door. He did not open the door but waited until Snape came out and opened it.
"Potter! What do you want?" he barked.
"Professor Snape, this is Anthony Bordeaux. He is going to be joining our class this year."
"Nice to know," he sneered. "Now get out, Potter! I have a class to teach!" Snape slammed the door.
"He's not very friendly, is he?"
"No. I didn't expect him to be. I'll take you to Transfiguration."
"Why was there a ghost in there with the students?"
"That must have been the Gryffindor first years. One of them is a ghost but she wants to take classes anyway."
"Who teaches Transfiguration?"
"Professor McGongall. She's fair alright, but she's strict. She's the Head of the Gryffindor House and she is the Deputy Headmistress if for some reason Dumbledore is ever gone." After being shown the Transfiguration room (second year Slytherins were there) Harry showed Anthony the Hospital Wing.
"Why don't we go inside?"
"I really rather wouldn't."
"Why not?"
"I've been there a number of times. Besides, our class should be in Herbology by now. We have double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. Let's go out on the grounds to see the greenhouses. Professor Sprout teaches Herbology there."
"What's he like?"
"She. Professor Sprout is Head of the Hufflepuff House. Here are the greenhouses. Looks like they're in Greenhouse 2. Come on in." Harry opened the door and heard the sound of hedge clippers. "Sounds like they're pruning the cat blossoms. Can't you hear the hissing?" The cat blossoms did not like to be handled.
After Anthony was introduced to Professor Sprout, the two of them went across the grounds to Hagrid's hut.
"Hagrid? Don't you have to call him professor?"
"No. But he's not here now. Professor Lupin is filling in for him."
"Who's he?"
"Lupin taught Defense Against the Dark Arts in our third year. He's Renata's uncle."
"Renata?"
"The blonde girl at the dance last night, she sat at our table."
"Who?"
"The one I danced with."
"Oh. Her," he said with disinterest.
"Yeah, her mum taught Defense Against the Dark Arts last year. That's why she transferred here." "Where's her mum now?"
"Teaching at Durmstrang."
"Why didn't Renata go with her?"
"She didn't want to have to transfer schools again. I don't think Lupin's got a class right now so we can talk to him." Harry knocked on the door. Fang came rushing out barking. He nearly knocked Harry over in his excitement. He was licking his face exuberantly. "Easy!" Harry patted Fang on the head until Lupin came out.
"Harry, how are you? Shouldn't you be in class?"
"No, Professor. I've got the day off to show Anthony around the school."
"That's good. Nice to meet you, Anthony."
Anthony was backing up slightly as Fang came nearer to him.
"Fang! Come here. Fang, back off," commanded Lupin.
"Get over here, Fang," Harry ordered. The boarhound did come to stand between Harry and Lupin. "Let's go see the Quiditch field. I'll talk to you later, Professor."
"All right, Harry. Stay out of trouble."
After the Quiditch field Harry brought Anthony back inside for a quick stop in the library, then they went down to the Great Hall for lunch.

"Hey, Ron."
"Hi."
"You look tired, did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah, just fine." He rubbed his leg.
"Oh, the jelly-legs curse. Still weird even after the counter-curse."

"I know how that is. Remember that first lesson when Sirius used the Leg-Locker curse on me? My legs were stiff all day."
"I wish Sirius didn't have to test the curses in order to show us the counter-curses and blocks."
"I thought you weren't supposed to call him by his first name?"
"Most people aren't. And we aren't supposed to in class. But it's different for us."
"How?"
"It just is, Anthony."
Hermione changed the subject, "So where are you going after lunch?"
"Charms, History of Magic, Divination, and I think that's it."
"The library?" asked Hermione.
"Did that."
"The Hospital?" snickered Renata.
"Did that too."
"Quiditch field?"
"Been there.
"Then I guess Flitwick, Binns, and Trelawny are the only ones left to see."
"Yeah. Trelawny, my favorite," Harry rolled his eyes.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Anthony.
"Whenever we get around to predictions she always predicts my death," sighed Harry.
"Isn't that kind of morbid for a teacher?"
"It's annoying, that's what it is."
"Lunch is over. We're going to Flitwick's first so we might as well walk with you." Harry talked to Ron while Anthony was saying something to Hermione. When they got to the Charms classroom, Harry introduced Professor Flitwick to Anthony before heading off to go to History of Magic.
Anthony was clearly startled to see Professor Binns. Harry hadn't mentioned that the Professor was a ghost. They didn't stay there for introductions.
"Come on, Trelawny's room is up in the North Tower. Are you sure you want to meet her?"
"Yes."
"Alright," Harry sighed as he changed direction. "North Tower is this way." By the time they were halfway to the North Tower, Harry had begun to sink into his own thoughts. He was therefore extremely startled when a voice shouted at him.
"Come ye now and fight! I've seen ye eyeing the maiden in that painting yonder! I shall defend her honor!"
"Huh? Sir Cadogan, give it a rest. It's me."
"My good sir, I did not mean to disturb your meditations. I was reprimanding that fellow with you who was looking at my lady in the golden frame across the hall."
Harry's gaze shifted from Sir Cadogan, the knight in the painting nearest to them, to concentrate it on a picture of a pretty girl across the hallway. He then looked at Anthony who seemed utterly confused.
"What did I do wrong?"
Harry whispered, "This knight is mental. Just a second." He raised his voice and turned to Sir Cadogan. Harry attempted to copy Sir Cadogan's manner of speaking. "Er-My good Sir Knight, my friend here was merely looking around. He has never been here before."
"Alright. Carry on then, good sirs." He sheathed his sword (which he'd been waving about clumsily) and returned to the task of trying to mount his horse, which had begun to chew lazily on the grass.
After they were out of hearing distance, Anthony asked, "Who was that?"
"Sir Cadogan. He's crazy."
"Obviously."
"He guarded the Gryffindor Tower for a while in my third year."
"Why?"
"No one else wanted the job. Then he was fired."
"Why not? And why was he fired?"
"Those are both really long stories but the short of it is everyone thought Sirius wanted to kill me. We're almost at the classroom. Here's the landing, up ahead." When they reached the landing, the silver rope ladder descended automatically.
"I'm supposed to climb that?" he asked incredulously.
"Everyone else in the class does." Harry climbed the ladder easily and climbed back down. Harry steadied the ladder as best he could while Anthony climbed. Twice. He fell the first time and had to start over. He only barely made it to the top on the second time. Harry followed.
Once in the room Harry's eyes took a few seconds to focus. The room was stuffy, hot, and as perfumed as ever. The students were working with palmistry and examining each other's hands.
Professor Trelawny was bending over one of the students' hands and pointing out to the others at the table. Notice how long the lifeline is. You have a long life ahead of you, young man."
Harry muttered, "How come he's got a long life ahead of him but I've got the shortest lifeline she's ever seen?" Professor Trelawny always winced at his hands when they studied palmistry.
Professor Trelawny spun around, her orb-like eyes fixed on him. "Destiny! It is all written in the stars, what was, what is, and what will be!"
Harry turned to Anthony, trying not to laugh, but Anthony wasn't there. Anthony was bent over one of the student's books.
"So this is my happiness line?"
"Yes, a good long one."
"And this would be my lifeline?"
"Yes, impressive. A long life ahead of you."
"Professor Trelawny, this is Anthony, he is going to join our class."
"I look forward to it. You seem eager to learn?"
"Oh, yes. I didn't take Divination at Beauxbatons."
"You should reconsider it when you go back. I perceive a strong aura around you."
"We should be going," said Harry. Harry went down the ladder first and steadied it so Anthony could come down.
"Why didn't you want to go there? That was fascinating. Marvelous."
"You wouldn't think so if she kept saying you were going to die and flinching when she looked at you."
"But you're not dead, are you?"
"Not yet. She's batty. She's been predicting my death for the last three years. Eventually she'll be right, seeing as everybody dies."
They went back to the common room. Anthony started going over to talk to other students. Harry left on the pretense that he had to find out from Sirius about homework. He was really interested in looking for Ron and Hermione. He was ready to talk to his friends instead.
Harry found Ron bitterly walking by himself.
"What's the matter?"
"If I see him anywhere near Hermione-"
"Who?"
"That new guy. You saw him talking to Hermione all last night and on the way to Charms."
"So?"
"Don't you see? It's Krum all over again."
Ron had a point. Krum had just waltzed in here from another school, and then he had asked Hermione to the dance, then he talked to her and hung out with her whenever he could. But Harry saw no reason to upset Ron further.
"Look, I'm sure it won't be that bad. Know what he told me? He likes Divination. Seriously! Hermione'll be laughing in his face the instant he asks if she wants to read tea leaves or something."
"I guess you're right. But if he starts hanging around the library, he's in trouble."

Over the next two weeks the Quiditch team continued their hard training and finally, the fateful Saturday was arriving. The day Gryffindor would play Ravenclaw.

Harry spent that Friday night pacing in the common room out by the dying fire. Eventually Harry sat by the fire, consumed by his thoughts. They aren't ready for this! The Chasers don't communicate. The Beaters are always in each other's way. They're all going to be humiliated tomorrow. I'm going to be humiliated tomorrow. Harry put his head in his hands.
It may have been an hour later, or just a few minutes but whenever it was, Harry felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I knew you'd be down here. Don't worry about tomorrow."
"How did you know?"
"Know that you'd be down here, or know that you were worrying about the match?"
"Both."
"Harry, you've been preoccupied about the match for days. Let me guess: you came down here, paced for a while, then decided to quietly worry while you sulked in that chair."
"How did you know? If you were reading my mind again-"
"Of course I wasn't. I know you, so I know what you're thinking just by the way you're sitting there. The match will be fine."
"You should have let me move practice up to five times a week."
"Nothing was stopping you from adding the extra practice to the schedule."
"Nothing except your threat to leave the team if I added more practices."
"True," she shrugged.
Renata was not a disposable team member. Harry couldn't afford not to have her on the team anymore. There were few enough good players on his team this year and there wasn't another decent Keeper to replace her.
"Go upstairs, Harry. You need rest."
"I can't sleep. My team is going to go out there and get slaughtered." He pointed outside in the direction of the Quiditch field. "They'll be the laughing stock of the school. We'll be the laughing stock of the school." He started pacing again.
"Harry, how can you expect the team to be any good if you don't have faith in them? These are your players. Ginny, Dennis, Jeffery, Claire, Daphne, this is their first game. If you don't believe in them, who will? The Ravenclaw team expecting to win that match and the other Ravenclaws in the stands? What about the Slytherins, are they going to cheer your team on? Harry, if you aren't going out there tomorrow with confidence in those rookies out there with you, how are they going to play to your standards? If that's the case then I don't think I want to be on your team. If you don't have confidence in them and you don't believe in them then how do you expect anyone else to believe in them? Or them to believe in themselves? You're going upstairs. You are getting some rest and in the morning I want you to have faith that those rookies are going to do their best out there."
"Renata, what if their best isn't good enough? What if my best as a Captain wasn't good enough?"
"Then I guarantee that I will personally beat up anyone who dares to laugh at our team." She wasn't joking. "Madam Pomfrey will have her hands full with kids with broken arms and black eyes. If Malfoy laughs I'll break his legs too."
"I'm not going back up there. I won't be able to fall asleep. The match."
Renata took something out of her pocket. "I thought I might need this. Sit." She pressed down on his shoulder until he lowered himself into the chair and was firmly seated. "Drink this."
Harry sniffed the open vial. He recognized the scent. "That's a sleeping draft."
"You don't think I know that?"
"I'm not drinking it." Harry closed his mouth like an insolent child that wouldn't take his medicine.
"Yes, you are." Without any warning or further argument, Renata pinched his nose and held the vial in front of his mouth. "If you want to breathe, you've got open your mouth."
Around 40 seconds later Harry opened his mouth but Renata emptied the potion into it before he could shut it again.
"Any minute now, you'll fall asleep. I'll be right back."
Harry never saw her come back.

When Harry woke up he couldn't remember where he was. Then he saw the fireplace in front of him. He peeled off a blanket that he didn't remember putting on and got off the chair. He went up to his room to get dressed.
Harry took out his Firebolt from his trunk and crept back downstairs. If he was lucky he'd get to the field without anyone knowing he was missing. Harry, unfortunately, had no such luck.
As he crossed the Great Hall and neared the doors to leave it he heard a voice.
"I told you he'd pull a stunt like this. Harry, get back here right now."
Harry turned to see Renata and Hermione look at him with sour expressions. "Harry, come sit down or we'll be forced to hex you."
"What do you want?"
"Harry, you're at least going to eat some breakfast before going out there."
"I've got to go do warm up laps."
"If you tire yourself out now, you'll be useless in the game."
"Besides," added Hermione. "You're not stepping outside without eating something. It's not healthy; you need your strength so you've got to eat something."
"I can't eat. Too nervous."
"Harry, what did I tell you about that last night? Don't you believe in them?"
"Of course I do but-"
"Then stop it and sit down before we have to tie you to the chair."
"No."
Hermione told Renata "Let me handle this." Hermione raised her wand and before Harry realized what Hermione was doing, she had shouted, "Accio Firebolt!"
The Firebolt sped out of Harry's hand and into Hermione's outstretch arm.
"Very neatly done, Miss Granger." The voice didn't belong to any of the three students standing there.