Here's the second chapter my fellow fanatics! I hope you enjoy! AND DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!
And a disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter related material! (If only I could steal it though…)
HARRY
POTTER
AND THE STAFF OF VIGOR
~ ~ !!! ~ ~
CHAPTER 2: BACK TO SCHOOL
Harry offered his Aunt a small smile. She frowned at him in return, but for once it wasn't full of disgust with him. Harry had been shocked enough when his Aunt had accompanied him on buying him school supplies. Well, she had stood at the entrance of Diagon Alley while he went off and brought everything he needed. But he was even more shocked when his Aunt had offered to take him to Kingscross station and help him board. He tried not to laugh as Aunt Petunia struggled with Hedwig's cage, an appalled expression on her face as she tried not to gag on Hedwig's smell, which must have greatly offended her. She placed Hedwig's cage on the ground, a little to roughly for both Harry and Hedwig's liking, between platforms Nine and Ten.
"What platform boy? Nine or Ten?" She asked sharply.
"Neither actually. Platform Nine and Three Quarters." Harry tried not to laugh again as his Aunt's eyes widened to the size of saucepans.
"I won't ask." She decided. Harry nodded; agreeing it would be best not too. His magical lifestyle always sent the Dursley's into an unpleasant state. He bent down and picked up Hedwig's cage, ready to board the Hogwarts Express. It was the train that would take him to school.
"I doubt I'm coming home for Christmas," Harry didn't need to ask if he was in fact coming home, "Or Easter."
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you can't." Aunt Petunia scolded softly. Harry, for the first time in his entire time spent living with the Dursley's, sighed in slight regret. He was intrigued to discover more of his Aunts strange behaviour.
"You would prefer it at that school anyway. It's better than when you're at home fighting with everyone." Aunt Petunia sniffed. Harry nearly grinned because it sounded as if his Aunt was apologizing.
"Goodbye then." He was a little embarrassed.
"Yes. Goodbye." Aunt Petunia turned and walked away. She didn't turn back and look at him. This was fine with Harry; he hadn't expected her to.
With a quick glance around him he walked steadily through a wall on the side of platform Nine, landing himself on platform Nine and Three Quarters. He was now in the Wizarding world and felt instantly comfortable.
He began walking towards the train, eager to see Ron and Hermione. He had hardly heard from either these holidays, except for a few brief letters. Harry was about to board when he heard his name being called by a familiar voice.
"Harry! Harry dear!"
He turned to meet the friendly and familiar faces of Mr and Mrs Weasley. Mrs Weasley lunged forward, hugging him tightly.
"Oh Harry! How are you dear?" She asked after letting go. Mr Weasley shook his hand and smiled in greeting.
"Hello Mrs Weasley, Mr Weasley. I'm fine thank you." He looked up at them.
"I cannot say sorry enough that you couldn't come over these holidays Harry dear. I know we promised you could come over! But Bill and Charlie came for a visit and Bill bought his girlfriend for us to meet and the house was just so packed that we couldn't have fit another person. To think what those awful Muggles did to you. Ron said that they weren't letting you out of your room most of the time. Fancy keeping you locked up like you were in Azkaban or something!" Mrs Weasley scowled after her speech.
"It's okay. I'm fine, really." Harry smiled a little; this is why he like the Weasley's so much. They were so caring.
"Yes Harry, terribly sorry. We really are," Mr Wealsey chuckled, "Ron was furious when we told him you wouldn't be able to stay."
Harry smiled for real this time, good old Ron. A bell sounded and Mrs Weasley looked alarmed.
"That means the train is leaving soon dear. You better board." Mrs Weasley hugged him again.
"Molly, let go of the poor boy. You're crushing him." Mr Weasley grinned. Mrs Weasley let go immediately and smiled apologetically.
"We will be seeing you Harry, very soon." Mr Weasley patted him on the back. Harry bid them farewell, slightly baffled at what Mr Weasley meant by 'very soon'.
Aboard the train it wasn't long before Harry found the compartment his friends were in. He opened the door and was greeted by five friendly faces. Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood smiled up at him. Hermione jumped off her seat and hugged him quickly.
"Harry! It's so good to see you!" She smiled. Ron nodded in agreement, a large grin lighting up his freckled face.
"You excited about sixth year?" Neville asked in greeting as Harry sat beside him.
"A little." Harry shrugged. Ron sat down between him and Luna.
"What did you get for you're birthday? Did you like the Quidditch books?" He asked, still grinning at Harry.
"Yeah they were great," Harry didn't think he would ask how Ron paid for them, he didn't want to offend him, "And I got the usual from your mum and this from Hermione."
Harry pulled out the chain Hermione had gotten him from under his shirt. Ron laughed before reaching in under his shirt and pulling out an identical chain, with the exception that it was gold with a broomstick that seemed to be flying on the spot.
"A thoughtful one, isn't she?" Said Ron grinning. Harry saw Hermione blush and pretend to be deeply immersed in a book she was reading.
"Were your holidays all that horrible with those Muggles Harry?" Ginny asked, sounding like her mother.
"Not really, they were okay. Boring, but okay." He replied.
"I'm sorry I didn't owl you, I was awfully busy." She offered him a small smile.
"Busy Owling Dean you mean," Ron ignored the glare he received from his little sister as he turned to Harry, "That's all she did these holidays. You would ask her what she was doing about every hour and it would be same reply, 'owling Dean'." Ron didn't seem to find this as amusing as Harry did. Ginny went a little red before turning to stare out of the window.
"You grew tall these holidays Harry Potter." Luna was reading a magazine upside down and had her wand behind her ear, a spitting image of what Harry remembered her looking like.
"Thanks, I guess." He didn't know how to respond but it didn't seem like Luna would have listened anyway. She seemed to be staring at her magazine the Quibbler; her father was the editor, with a distant and dreamy expression.
"So what did you do these holidays?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione. The group, apart from Ginny who was staring out the window and Luna who only tuned into the conversation to offer a few comments, began to talk animatedly. Harry was in the middle of explaining his Aunts strange behaviour to Ron when he saw Draco Malfoy walk past the compartment door.
"He didn't come in." Harry wondered aloud.
"Who?" Hermione looked up from her book.
"Malfoy. He just walked by but he didn't come in and do his usual…" Harry trailed off.
"Be a jerk and annoy us?" Ron offered.
"Exactly." Harry nodded.
"I saw him before we got on the train. He was just sitting and looking through a book. I dropped my school stuff in front of him…because…because I tripped over my shoelace," Neville went a little pink, he was well known for his clumsiness, "He didn't even say anything. I expected some sort of full fledged Malfoy cruelty attack but he just kept reading."
"Maybe daddy Deatheater being in Prison is getting to him?" Ginny spoke from her position of staring out of the window.
"Decided to join us Gin?" Ron teased.
"Shut up Ron. I'm just saying, maybe he's changed." Ginny sounded annoyed.
"You mean from being a spoilt, selfish, evil Prat who no-one likes and whose mission in life is to torment others to his wits end," Ron put his finger on his chin and bit his lip thoughtfully, "It's a pity. He does it so well."
Neville and Hermione laughed. Harry grinned and Ginny smiled a little. Luna went into hysterics and placed an hand on Ron's arm.
"You're so funny Ronald." She looked at him dreamily, her adoration evident.
"Uh, thanks Luna." Ron's ears went a little pink. Hermione sniffed and rolled her eyes. Harry just grinned, glad to be back to something her found familiar.
"We're nearly at school." Neville noted, looking out the window.
"Yes well, you all better get changed into your school robes." Hermione stated, she was already wearing hers.
"In a moment mother." Ron joked while Hermione glared at him. She suddenly stopped and looked at them shocked.
"OWL results, right now! You guys never told me!" She looked at them accusingly. Harry remembered then that he had told her he would owl her his results.
"Oh." Harry and Ron looked at each other before they both sighed.
"I'm only going to tell you the classes I passed enough to take." Ron said. Harry nodded in agreement.
"Okay, fair enough. I'll do the same." Hermione smiled at him and Ron smiled back.
"I'm going to be doing Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration and Herbology." Ron listed. His mother hadn't been thrilled with the number of OWLs he had gotten.
"I got those as well! Except instead of Herbology I got Care of Magical Creatures. I only just passed Potions." Harry shook his head. He hadn't been surprised. Snape taught Potions and hated Harry with a passion.
"Potions was my highest OWL," Ron muttered before adding after he saw the surprised look on Harry's face, "I'm just as surprised as you mate."
"I'm doing Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures and History of Magic." Hermione said triumphantly.
"That's all the classes you took last year!" Ron exclaimed before adding quietly, "Although who could be surprised?"
"Are you trying to imply something Ron?" Hermione snapped, hearing him.
"No." Ron shook his head quickly, not wanting to fall victim to Hermione's temper.
"So I'm guessing you guys didn't get Prefects again this year?" Harry asked to change the subject.
"No I did." Hermione looked at him.
"Me too." Ron added. Hermione jumped up and squealed.
"The meeting! Oh god! Ron the meeting!" Hermione looked like she was about to faint.
"Meeting?" Ron frowned before jumping up in the same fashion, "The meeting! Hermione! The meeting!"
Harry watched them quickly exit the compartment. Neville was laughing.
"They wanted to see you Harry, especially Ron because he hadn't had you over these holidays. I guess they forgot how Prefects have to go to their own compartment." Neville explained smiling. Harry grinned, he was so glad to be back in the comfort of his friends.
* * * *
The introduction and sorting of the first-years seemed boring and routine now. Although Harry couldn't help smiling to himself as he saw the first-years nervously make their appearance into the Great Hall. One boy in particular caught Harry's attention, mainly because his hair was blue. The small boy stood to the back of the group alone, his arms crossed over his chest in an effort that made himself look unapproachable and unfriendly.
The Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, steadily got up from his seat and the hall fell silent. He smiled kindly at them all through his half moon spectacles and cleared his throat loudly.
"Let's not have any nonsense this year shall we? Let the sorting begin."
Harry waited for the names to be called. The Sorting Hat sung its warning that if 'Bonds are not forged between the Houses, doom is inevitable' and Professor McGonagall began to call the names of the children so that the Sorting Hat could sort them into one of the four Houses; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Soon enough the boy with blue hair had his name called.
"Egon, Edward!"
The boy held his head up high in the air and made his way to the Sorting Hat. He eyed it warily before sitting on a stool so that it could be placed on his head. The boy, despite his blank expression, seemed to be mumbling under his breath. The hat then spoke, not putting the boy in a house but instead talking to him. It had not done this since it had spoken to Harry in his first year when he had pleaded with it not to put him in Slytherin.
"You want to be in Hufflepuff?" The hat asked.
Harry could make out now that the boy was mumbling under his breath 'Hufflepuff'.
"I don't think I can do that." The hat mused.
Edward continued to mumble.
"You do not belong there. I cannot put you in Hufflepuff!" The hat seemed to be getting annoyed.
Edward kept mumbling.
"Are you not listening? You cannot be put in Hufflepuff!" The hat was evidently mad.
Edward didn't stop mumbling.
"I said no! I think I'll put you…in Gryffindor!" The hat finalized. Edward's face dropped and he looked like her might burst into tears, but he controlled himself and raising his head defiantly, made his way to the Gryffindor table where he sat at the very end away from everyone.
"What is with that kid? It's a bloody honor to be in Gryffindor!" Ron exclaimed, looking perplexed. Harry just shrugged and continued to watch the boy throughout the rest of the Feast.
Afterwards Harry left the Great Hall to walk up to the Dormitories with Neville. Ron and Hermione, a little to Harry's dismay, had to lead the Gryffindor first-years up to the common room as part of their Prefect duties so they didn't accompany him and Neville. Ginny had disappeared with Luna, Dean Thomas and Colin Creevey, another Gryffindor.
"I don't feel like classes tomorrow." Whined Neville while they were walking up the stairs. Harry nodded in agreement. He was tired. All his lazing around at the Dursley's had gotten him used to a lifestyle where nothing happened.
"Did you get many OWLs Neville?" He asked. Neville went pink.
"I did okay. I got into Defence Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms and Herbology," Neville hung his head, "My Grandmother wasn't very pleased though."
"Well you like Herbology don't you?" Harry questioned, trying to cheer him up.
"Oh yeah! I want to be a Herbology teacher." Neville smiled a little.
"Really?" Harry could only just hide his grimace. Neville nodded enthusiastically.
"What do you have first tomorrow Harry?" Neville asked, changing the subject.
"Um, Potions I think." Harry mumbled. That would mean class with Slytherin, who were the meanest house, and class with Snape.
"With Professor Snape?" Neville seemed to read his mind, "It makes me kind of half glad I failed Potions. Although mixing the classes will be interesting."
"What?" Harry stopped walking. Neville turned to face him.
"You know? Mixing the classes. Dumbledore explained it. Weren't you listening?" Neville frowned slightly.
"Well not really. I mean, I did at the beginning. But I missed a lot." Harry sighed. The boy with blue hair who seemed determined to be the next Draco Malfoy had distracted Harry too much.
"So you don't know about classes mixing? Or the new DADA teacher? Or the Christmas ball? Or the Dueling Competition?" Neville asked, eyes wide. Harry cursed under his breath; from now on he would listen. He waited patiently as Neville explained everything to him. The classes mixing meant that there would still be classes at different times, except that instead of the classes consisting of two Houses, like Harry's Potions class which was Gryffindor's and Slytherin's, there would be a mix of all four Houses.
"To form better bonds or something." Neville had explained.
The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was for the second time female. Although thankfully this time it wouldn't be like it was with that horrid Professor Umbridge who everyone had hated. Harry remembered noticing this new woman. She had sat next to Snape, unfortunately for her, and had been trying to start a conversation with him. She was fairly pretty; middle-aged with long black hair in a braid, pale moonlight skin and a kind face with big brown eyes. She seemed to be short because when she was sitting the top of her head only came up to the height of Snape's long pointed nose.
"Her name is Professor Treen. She worked in a book store before she accepted the job. Though I heard from someone that it took quite a bit of persuading from Dumbledore to get her to take the job." Neville grinned. Harry smiled back. The DADA position had never held a teacher for more than a year. The job was said to be cursed.
"You mean we're getting taught how to defend ourselves by a Librarian?" Harry mused. It didn't seem very impressive considering their previous teachers had included a Servant of Voldemort, a famous and self-absorbed Wizard, a Werewolf, another Servant of Voldemort disguised as an ex-Auror and a cruel member of the Ministry of Magic who had tried to take over the school.
"It will be different." Neville admitted. Harry knew his friend was glad they would have a non-dangerous teacher.
"And the Ball and Dueling competition?" Harry continued.
"Oh right. Well the Ball is just a Christmas celebration, so you know the drill with that." Neville shrugged.
"Yep. Hermione and Ron will be hell to put up with." Harry groaned, remembering the Yule Ball. Neville laughed before stopping abruptly, his eyes shining.
"The Dueling Competition sounds better than all the others put together! You have to be in it Harry, you would win for sure!" Neville slapped Harry on the back excitedly. Harry's glasses went flying.
"I'm so sorry." Neville wailed.
"It's alright. Just help me find them." Without his glasses everything was hazy. There were people everywhere; Harry could see their blurred outlines. He saw someone bend down a few meters in front of him and then stand up again.
He felt his glasses thrust into his chest. Harry reached up and, relieved, grabbed them and put them back on. Standing in front of him was Draco Malfoy. Neville was next to him and gaping at the supposed school bully.
"Er, thanks." Harry muttered.
"Whatever Potter. It's better you aren't groping around like an idiot, no matter how amusing your asininity is." With that Draco sneered and walked off, leaving Harry and Neville in a state of utter confusion.
* * * *
"I am exhausted!" Hermione moaned coming into the common room later that night, Ron followed close behind. Harry was the only one in the common room as he had been waiting up for them.
"What took you guys so long?" Harry asked, it was nearly midnight. They both looked like they were ready to collapse on the floor.
"That new kid, the one with the blue hair..." Ron paused to think.
"Edward Egon, Ron." Hermione offered, falling onto the couch in front of the fire.
"Yeah, him," Ron frowned angrily, "The one who wanted to be in Hufflepuff because Gryffindor wasn't good enough for him. Well what does he decide to do? Sneak off! Only we didn't know that he had disappeared until we got up here with all the other first-years."
"We did a head count and found we were one short and it was him missing. So we went looking all over the castle for him." Hermione explained in an annoyed tone.
"Got lost a few times too didn't we? Looking for that little brat! And you know where we found him Harry?" Ron fumed.
"Er, the kitchen?" Harry guessed. Ron looked furious.
"No! The bloody Hufflepuff common room. He was hanging out with the kids from there! And they didn't even notice he wasn't one of them." Ron shook his head.
"So where is he now?" Harry asked. Edward hadn't come back up with Ron and Hermione.
"Oh," Ron's face dropped suddenly and he looked a little setback, "We took him to the Head of House."
"You took him to McGonagall?" Harry was surprised. He didn't mind Professor McGonagall. She had always treated him well and had seemed like a nice person, if not strict. When angered however, she was hell too deal with.
"It was Ron's idea." Hermione didn't look too happy about it either.
"You agreed to it!" Ron exclaimed, turning towards her.
"Yes, only because you were so adamant about it." Hermione retorted.
"That's not true. You were just as mad as I was." Ron was now fuming, he clearly did not like being blamed for something he was not proud of.
"I was not just as mad as you were! I was a little chuffed about it but you were furious!" Hermione raised her voice a little, warning him to stop yelling.
"So its all my fault? That kid is probably getting a whole months worth of detention and its you think its all my fault?" Ron yelled, daring Hermione to agree. She opened her mouth as if to say something but thinking better of it settled for standing up and poking Ron sharply in the chest.
"You Ronald Weasley, are a Prat." She turned on her heels and headed up to the Girls Dormitories before turning around and adding quietly, "Goodnight Harry."
"Women!" Ron cried out, his hand going up to rub the tender area where Hermione had poked him.
"Yeah." Harry agreed a little, recounting for a moment his on-off relationship with Cho Chang the previous year.
"You'd think she would have said something to stop me if she disagreed so much. But she's all 'Yes I think we should see McGonagall Ron' and 'Yes he deserves to be punished Ron'. That...that girl!" Ron shook his head.
"I think that's just female's for you mate." Harry offered. Ron looked at him for a moment.
"I spose you're right. I mean, look at you and Cho." Ron voiced his friend's previous thoughts.
"Yeah. That's something I am not in a hurry to repeat." Harry muttered.
"You don't have you're eyes on anyone?" Ron smiled a little. Harry went pink, he wasn't exactly Prince Charming where girls were concerned.
"Not really," He shrugged, "You?"
"Nope." Ron smiled, but the dark red blush creeping up his cheeks told another story.
"Not Luna Lovegood?" Harry teased. Ron's looked shocked.
"No! What makes you say that?" He asked.
"You know how much she likes you!" Harry exclaimed.
"Its just the same thing as what Ginny had on you. She'll get over it." Ron cleared his throat.
"Whatever." Harry grinned at him.
"Well I saw a few girls staring at you at the Feast today!" Ron changed the subject slightly. Now Harry blushed.
"Whatever." He said again, this time without a grin. The two boys were silent for a minute before Ron cleared his throat again.
"Want a game of chess?" He asked. Harry smiled at him enthusiastically.
"Sure." He agreed. They headed upstairs and played in their Dorm room, talking quietly so as not to wake the other people in the room. They didn't fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.