22. Classes and Quidditch
Harry awoke early the next morning, accustomed to waking early to work or train. He showered and dressed, first changing his Auror robes to match his new Gryffindor ones. He walked to the Great Hall by himself as the others were still sleeping. The Great Hall was empty this early in the morning, and since it was only the first day of classes, no students were frantically working on a homework assignment due in first period. Automatically, Harry walked to his spot at the Gryffindor table and helped himself to eggs and sausages. Harry had forgotten how good the food at Hogwarts was, and he failed to notice the odd looks he was getting as people filed into the Great Hall. Finally, Harry looked up when he felt Hermione standing beside him with surprise and, he thought, anger in her eyes. All of a sudden, Harry realized where he was sitting.
"Erm, hello. Hermione, right?" he asked, trying to be as nonchalant as possible when trying to pretend that you don't know your best friend.
"Yes, that's right," she said coldly. "I'm sorry, but that spot is reserved."
Harry felt his cheeks redden. He fumbled an excuse, then gathered his things and sought refuge by Neville. Hermione gave one last look at him before sitting down and turning her attention to breakfast.
"Sorry about that Sean," Neville said. "Hermione's a bit sensitive about that seat. We shoulda warned you last night."
Sean looked at Neville, Dean, and Seamus, who sat across from him. He saw this as opportunity to get Harry Potter out of the way. "Alright guys," he said, trying to look indignant. "Last night you guys got uncomfortable whenever that 'old classmate' was mentioned, and now this. What's going on?"
Dean looked at Neville. "You tell him; you knew him better."
"I did not! You guys always talked about Quidditch together!"
"Yeah, but you were with him in the Department of Mysteries!"
"Alright, enough!" Harry cried out. "Will someone, anyone, tell me what's going on?"
Lavender and Pavarti approached, drawn by the yelling. "What's all the fuss about?" they asked.
"Sean wants to know about, er, our former classmate," Dean said.
"You guys didn't tell him about Harry yet?" Pavarti asked, a slight rebuke in her voice.
Seamus shook his head. "We were, um, deciding who would tell him."
"Ugh! Boys!" Lavender said. "I'll tell him." The boys shifted sideways and made room for Lavender and Pavarti. "Ok, do you know who Harry Potter is?" she asked Harry.
"Of course I know who he is. He beat Vol-You-Know-Who when he was a baby, and he got that award last year."
"Yeah. Well, he was a student here until last year. Then he left, and no one's heard from him since."
"Oh yeah, I remember reading about how he disappeared." Harry felt a bit odd talking about himself like this.
Lavender nodded, "that's right. It was pretty sudden, and he didn't even say goodbye. Ron and Hermione were his best friends." Dean then told Lavender and Pavarti how Hermione kicked Harry out of his seat. Lavender nodded. "I think they're still taking it a bit hard, Hermione more than Ron. But then again, Ron was never the most sensitive of guys," she said with a shake of her head.
"I am soooo super-sensitive!" Ron said, as he walked up to them and sat next to Lavender. "My ears are burning. Are you all talking about me? All good, I hope" he asked with a grin.
"We were telling Sean about Harry. He accidentally sat in Harry's old seat and Hermione bit off his head."
"Ah ok. Well, no worries, you didn't know, mate. I'll talk to Hermione and straighten it all out. She's alright underneath that tough exterior," he said with a wink before leaving and sitting across from Hermione.
"Alright, I get it," Sean said. "Don't sit in Harry's spot. Anything else?"
"No, that's about it," Pavarti said. "So," she said, changing the subject, "I hear Harrogate has some kind of museum that's also a spa?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, the Royal Pump Room," he said, and the conversation turned away from the topic of Harry Potter. Schedules were handed out, and Harry was told about school life at Hogwarts, like which Professors were strict ("McGonnagal definitely, but she's fair") and which classes were the worst ("Snape is awful! He hates Gryffindors, and we always share Potions with the Slytherins"). Harry acted interested in everything they told him, but he couldn't help a twinge of guilt as he remembered Hermione's face when she saw him sitting in his old place.
******************************
Harry looked at his schedule as he followed the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors. This year would be tough, even if he weren't so far behind. Fortunately, the morning went quickly. The first class was Charms with Ravenclaw. The class started with a quick review of what was covered last year, and although many of the spells were unfamiliar, Harry was able to perform them all. He was pleased with his practical application and hoped the theory part would come as easily. After lunch, Harry walked over to Greenhouse #3, where he listened intently to the review session. It went by too quickly for Harry's tastes, and he scribbled the names of various plants furiously on his parchment, planning to look them up later in the library. After lunch, Harry followed his fellow Gryffindors to the dungeons for the class he was looking forward to the least: Potions.
Harry found a seat near the back by himself. He was new, and he didn't know who to pair up with. To his surprise, he saw that Hermione wasn't sitting with Ron; instead, she was with Lavender and Pavarti, which left Neville and Ron together and Dean and Seamus. When Dean saw Harry by himself, he motioned him over, and Harry sat alongside them. As Harry waited for class to begin, he felt something out-of-place. He soon realized what was missing: Malfoy wasn't taunting him. Harry looked at the Slytherin side of the classroom and noted with happiness that none of them were giving him a second look. Seconds later, Snape made his customary entrance into the dungeon, barging through the door. He looked around, catching each and every student in his gaze. Harry cleared his mind and strengthened his mental shields, for after his occlumency lessons, he knew Snape was trying to get a general read on his students.
"Well," he said. "Looks like the beginning of our last year together. For some," he said, looking at Neville and Hermione in turn, "I shall be glad to be rid of. Others," he said, looking at Malfoy in particular and the Slytherins in general, "I will miss. Let's get started and see how much knowledge you've managed to lose over the summer."
Like the other teachers, Snape briefly reviewed the materials from last year, but in typical Snape-fashion: with scathing remarks and tension-filled moments. He went around the room throwing out questions, leaving the hardest and most obscure for the Gryffindors (except for Hermione, who he had by now given up on trying to find a question she couldn't answer). Harry wasn't sure how he felt about Snape. For sure, the deep loathing was still there, but it had dissipated somewhat as Snape hadn't insulted him as usual. Plus, whenever Harry felt his anger build, he could remember the sight of Snape's body flying across the library, for that always brought a smile to his lips. To Harry's dismay, though, and despite all the studying over the summer, he couldn't answer a single of Snape's questions correctly. After his third failed attempt, Snape looked at him in disdain.
"Mr. Harrington, wipe that smile off your face. I understand that you're previous education came from trade schools," Snape said, practically spitting out the word trade, "but your lack of knowledge, even for a Gryffindor, astounds me! Tell me, what is the last potion that you studied?"
Harry thought hard, trying to remember the last potion he read about and truly understood. "Um…the Strengthening Draught, sir."
Snape scoffed. "The Strengthening Draught? We covered that in winter term last year." Snape shook his head in derision. "I sincerely hope your potion-brewing skills far exceeds your potions knowledge, or else I will have another Neville Longbottom on my hands." Harry looked at Neville, who turned a bright pink. "Well, due to your obvious deficiencies, I'm going to have to re-arrange the class slightly. Mr. Harrington, you will be paired with Miss Granger. Hopefully some of her know-it-all-ness will rub off on you and kill two birds with one stone."
Harry remembered why he hated Snape so much as he packed his bag and took the empty bench that Snape indicated. In his mind, Snape had just landed in a heap by the library entrance. Seconds later, Hermione sat next to him, and Harry could almost feel the icy chill radiating from her body. He turned and smiled at her, but was ignored completely. Harry sighed and turned to watch Snape; his only saving grace was that it wasn't a double-class. After the final bell rang, Harry finished his notes on the Potion they were brewing, and then turned to talk to Hermione, intending to apologize. All he saw, however, was her back as she walked away, purposely ignoring him. Harry frowned; it would be a difficult year if his best friend continued to ignore him. Neville, who was sitting at the desk nearest him, placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about her, Sean. She'll get over it. She's really great, once you get to know her. C'mon, it's time for dinner," he said cheerily. Harry nodded and followed the rest of the students to the Great Hall.
******************************
Overall, the first week of classes went by smoothly for Harry. It was a wonderful feeling being absolutely unremarkable. Harry was used to the attention he got whenever he walked the halls, and it was initially unnerving for Harry to walk around without anyone paying him any heed. He soon got used to it, and he reveled in it. Harry quickly found that he was behind in many classes, but fine in others. He was dreadfully behind in classes like History of Magic and Potions. But in other classes, Harry found his studying over the summer and his increased magical potential made-up for the missing months. In Transfigurations, he was able to perform the spells that Professor McGonnagal assigned the class, and he was actually bored in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The Professor, Justin Clarke, was the same professor as last year; he was the first Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to last more than a year during Harry's stay at Hogwarts. Clarke covered many curses and counter-curses that Harry had already studied.
Friday night arrived, and after dinner Harry slumped into an armchair. He was careful not to sit in his usual chair and make Hermione even angrier with him. It was a tough week in that area; he hadn't exchanged two words with Hermione outside of Potions, and even then, it was strictly limited to the task at hand. He sighed heavily, thinking of the mounds of homework that awaited him. Harry was used to spending many long hours in the library that first week, as all the professors piled on the homework so that the students "could be prepared for NEWTs." It was like fifth year over again, except Harry didn't have to waste time in detention with Umbridge. Instead, he had to spend extra hours in the library trying to catch up on his Potions and History classes. Dean, Neville, and Lavender provided a great deal of help, but Harry still spent long hours studying alone.
"Tough week, eh?"
Harry looked up at the smiling face of Ron. He couldn't help but smile back at his old best friend. "Yeah, these classes are running me wild. Are we going to have this much homework the whole year?"
"Pretty much," Ron replied, taking the chair next to him. Neville ambled by on his way up to their room, and Harry noticed Ron shoot a look in his direction.
"hey, what's that all about? Neville's a good guy, isn't he?" Harry asked.
Ron followed Neville progress up the stairs before turning back to Harry. He sighed. "Yeah, I suppose he is. But he's got this…this…thing for my sister!"
Harry grinned and placed a sympathetic hand on Ron's arm. "Tough being a big brother, huh?"
Ron nodded, then grew excited. "Hey, so what are you doing tonight? Want to take a fly around the Quidditch pitch so I can see how good you are?"
Harry shook his head. "I'd love to, but I gotta look up a lot of those ingredients that Snape used in class. I haven't heard of most of them," he said dejectedly.
"Well in that case, how about one game of wizard's chess before you start studying?"
"Sure," Harry said, and then they set up a board. As they played, the Dean and Seamus joined them, mostly interfering with their game with conversation, but Harry didn't mind; he didn't expect to beat Ron anyways. Eventually, Lavender and Pavarti joined them as they shared stories; Harry telling modified (and sometimes completely made-up) stories about his old school, and listening to his own adventures from his Housemates, though it was interesting to hear them from another point of view. Harry was quite impressed with himself, even if he knew that there was a lot of exaggeration taking place. Hermione entered the common room from a meeting Head Boy/Girl meeting with the staff, and shot Ron a dirty look when she saw him playing chess with Harry. Ron rolled his eyes before getting up to talk to her, which gave Harry a chance to excuse himself and trudge to the library.
Finally, Saturday arrived, and with it, Quidditch try-outs. When Harry agreed to try-out for the House team, he knew immediately that he couldn't use his old Firebolt. It would be too much of a coincidence, plus it was be hard to explain how the Leonard's could afford a Firebolt when they couldn't afford Hogwarts. So, Thursday night when everyone knew he would be in the library, Harry took out his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map and took the familiar tunnel to Hogsmeade. There, after transforming his cloak to a nondescript black, Harry purchased a Comet 260, which was modestly priced. Harry returned to Hogwarts and put his new broomstick away before returning to the hours of studying ahead.
It was a cool autumn day for the Quidditch try-outs, a slight breeze in the air. Harry arrived at the Quidditch pitch with his Comet over his shoulder. He stood in the back, a little uneasy among all the potential candidates who didn't know him, even if he knew them. After standing about nervously for a moment, the current team arrived. Ron led the way with, to Harry's great surprise, Hermione by his side, chatting away. Once they arrived, Hermione quickly called them to attention and explained the try-out procedure. Harry inched his way until he was next to Ron, who was talking to Ginny. He waited until they were finished, then he nudged Ron and asked quietly, "Is Hermione on the team?"
Ron looked confused, and then thought he understood. "Oh, that's right, you weren't here last year. When I was became captain, there wasn't a lot of time left to prepare for the next match. Hermione helped me out a great deal to organize things and draw-up plays, and I practically begged her to help out this year too. But don't worry, I won't let her dislike of you keep you off the team," he said reassuringly.
"But, but I thought she didn't like Quidditch."
"How did you know that?"
Harry flustered a moment, "oh, er, well, Lavender or Pavarti told me, I don't remember."
Ron nodded in acceptance, and then leaned his head in closer. "To tell you the truth, she doesn't like it all," he whispered, "but she's really doing it for Harry. Harry Potter, I mean. It was his favorite sport." Ron looked up. "Try-outs are about to begin. Ready?" he asked with a grin.
Harry nodded and walked to where the other candidates were standing, but his mind was stuck on what Ron had said. Hermione was doing it for him. The thought made him happy, but at the same time he began to wonder what impact his leaving had on her. The Hermione who spoke to him coldly the first morning and ignored him ever since, who helps out with Quidditch is not the one he remembered. Then he heard his name called, and Harry put those thoughts aside and turned his attention on the Snitch. Harry mounted his broom and took to the skies. He instantly noticed the difference between the Comet 260 and his Firebolt: the Comet was less responsive, slower, and a little less of a smooth ride. It was still a good broom, and with Harry's natural flying skills, it would perform admirably. The first few minutes in the air were slightly awkward for Harry. He hadn't played a game of Quidditch in almost a year, and it took him a few moments to remember how to be a Seeker. But it came back quickly, and soon enough Harry went zooming after the Snitch, beating his competition to it every single time. It soon became apparent to all that Harry was a very good, perhaps great even, Seeker, better than Ginny (who was more than happy to be replaced and go back to being a Chaser), but he was, of course, not as good as the legendary Harry Potter.
"That was brilliant Sean!" Ron exclaimed, looking gleeful. The other team members congratulated Harry on being the newest Seeker, and even Hermione complimented him, although her smile didn't reach her eyes. But overall, Harry was pleased and looking forward to the Quidditch season.