I finished the fifth Harry Potter book for the second time, and I decided to write the sixth book. NOTES: I do not own the official Sixth Harry Potter book that has not come out yet, and I don't own books 1-5. Yet. I do not own any of the teachers (yet), except the new DADA teacher. I apologize if I make a few gramatical mistakes, definitely, probably in comma areas. So I'm sorry about that, I don't think that'll effect the story too much though.
NOTICES: If you ever see /blah/ that means it should be in italics. I can't get the italics to show up, even when I use tags. And if you see --- before and after something, then of course, it is beginning something like a dream or a letter and then the ones after it are ending the letter or dream. I hope you won't be extremely confused by this. Thank you for understanding.
-------
Chapter 2. O.W.L.S
With a rush Harry stopped immediately in the front hall of Number 12, Grimmauld place. Surprisingly, he hadn't fallen this time.
"Harry!" Two female voices called in excitement. Four arms clamped over him in hugs, making him almost topple over. He felt bushy, frizzy hair rub against his cheek and saw a glimpse of long red hair. Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger pulled back, smiling at him with a tear in their eyes.
Ginny had gone up a few more inches now and had grown her hair down a bit. Hermione only shot up an inch that he remembered and it appeared she just had a hair cut that hasn't really controlled the frizzyness.
"Oh Harry we missed you terribly!" Ginny sighed and Harry was afraid they'd try and hug him again.
"Harry! How are you?" Mrs. Weasley came in, hugging Harry. Mrs. Weasley was a short, plump woman with long, slightly curly hair. She was very friendly and loving, but when mad, she got mad. She almost would treat Harry like another one of her sons.
"Harry's there? Harry!" Ron called from the living room and ran in skidding to a halt when he saw his friend. Ron Weasley seemed to have stayed the same height (and he was still taller then everyone else!) and he looked about the same. Though he seemed to have more freckles then Harry remembered.
"Hey Ron, I got your letter. You guys really.. changed the place." Harry said, adjusting his glasses and looking around. A lot of the paintings were taken down, including the one of Mrs. Black. "Where's Kreacher?"
"He snuffed it." Ron tried not to grin and Hermione made a `hmph'ing sound. Ignoring her, Ron went on, "Want to see my room? It's a lot more roomy now that Fred and George don't live here. But they and Bill and Charlie are around a lot. `Mione is in Ginny's room and your in mine. Come on, I'll show it to you."
Harry followed Ron to the room he had slept in last summer and Christmas. The second he stepped in, he took a step back. Everything was the same from his burrow house. It was bright orange everywhere, Chudley Cannons, everywhere.
There was a bed against the wall with a Chudley Cannons cover, a table and lamp next to it with pictures of Harry and Hermione, a closet, drawers, and a desk. A small, lower bed was at the other side of the room for Harry.
He put his trunk away and turned to Ron. "So..."
Ron plunked down on his own bed. Discussion was pretty much useless a the moment, Ron was thinking about Sirius and Harry didn't want to talk about him. Ron took a breath and began something that seemed rehearsed, "Harry, what happened with Sirius was not your fault.."
Harry wouldn't look at him. It was his fault and he knew it. If he had never stopped Occlumency, if he had listened to his godfather, if he had listened to Hermione, if he had stayed put, if he had been kinder to Kreacher, if he had talked to Snape more, if he had used his head, if he hadn't acted like a hero.. if.. if..
"Harry? Are you all right?" Hermione came into the room followed by Ginny. "Your crying."
Harry came to his senses, tears were on his cheeks. He looked away from them and rubbed his eyes on his shirt sleeve. "I'm fine." A knot was in his throat again. "I don't want to talk about it." He sighed. Harry could defeat the Dark Lord, win a Quidditch game in the rain, but couldn't face his friends about Sirius.
"It's okay, you don't have to right now." Ginny said quietly, understandingly.
"Lunch is ready!" Molly Weasley, Ron and Ginny's mother chimed from downstairs.
They ate a hearty lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with pumpkin juice. Remus Lupin came down stairs and grabbed a sandwich just when the others had finished.
"Harry! How are you doing?" He asked, taking a large, wolfish bite of the sandwich.
"Fine, just fine. Can I talk to you? Perhaps.. ugh.." He motioned to the hall and then blushed, hating to sound so formal and all.
"Sure, what is Harry?" He asked as they walked out. Up close Harry looked him over. His clothes weren't as shabby, but he had some wrinkles and frown lines, his hair was graying slowly. Harry felt it was all the stress of the Order.
"Well.. it's about the two-way mirror from Sirius." Remus began to open his mouth to speak, but Harry continued, "Sirius had given that to me, and I found it at Hogwarts. I accidentally broke it putting it in my trunk the first time. And then you send it to me." Harry left out the part where he smashed it on purpose.
"Sirius and James put a foolproof charm on it. Sirius had the first one when he.. and I didn't know he gave it to you. So, when one of the Marauders lost the mirror, they could summon it. And when I couldn't find it, I did. So I thought it would be best to give it to you. And I repaired it, of course."
"Oh. What about Peter?" Harry asked worriedly.
"I'm pretty sure only me, James, and Sirius know about them. I had to come in during on of their detentions, and I caught James talking into it to Sirius once." Remus smiled a bit. "Harry it's not your -"
"I don't want to talk about it, sir." Harry looked down quickly.
Remus sighed and looked up at Harry, as if he was about to say something very hard. "You can't lock everything up, Harry. You need to let it out." He looked at Harry's face. "I'll give you time though."
Harry looked down at his trainers. Frankly anywhere other then Remus' face.
The next day was a pretty odd one. Now that Harry was there, he could pitch in with the major work that still needed to be done. During the holidays, Sirius couldn't do much on his own, but four teenagers could together.
In the morning, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny trooped up to the attack to battle all dust and creatures that might be resting there. Surprisingly, the only living thing were spiders. (When Ron found this out, he went down stairs for a very long time to ask his mother when lunch would be ready.) They took a few hours of moving boxes and cleaning away the dust. There was a lot of room when they were done, and amazingly enough, they found out there was a floor.
After lunch, they began the Battle of the Basement. Really, it seemed like being a battle.
The basement was very dark, even with the little light it gave off. Ron refused to go down there until they cleared out all spiders and anything having more the four legs. Ginny had to be mean, because when she said the coast was clear, he came down, and the first box he had picked up had a spider on it. He nearly ran off again, but stopped to give everyone who was laughing a dirty look.
There were a few rats lying around, and a couple of doxies but that was pretty much it. It was more clustered then the attic had been, so they took longer to clean it all out.
Hermione, luckily, had brought a big flash light. "Hey Harry, come look at this!" She called, shining her flash light into a box.
The others came to and looked over Harry and Hermione's shoulders. In the box lay a long sheath. It was an all black sheath, except with silver writing on the front.
"Ep‚e de serpent... What's that mean, Hermione?" Harry asked and everyone looked at her.
"I don't know! We went to France but I only learned a bit. You all know what Serpent means. I think Ep‚e may mean Sword, or shield, or something." Hermione shrugged a bit and everyone grinned. "What's so funny?"
"Hermione Granger! Doesn't know something? Can I get that in writing?" Ron grinned playfully, the others snorted.
"Ron!" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "Harry, why don't you try and pull it out? You handle the swords better then us.."
The others nodded and Harry looked down at the sword. He picked up the handle and felt an excitable shiver down his spine. He was about to take the sheath off when he heard Mrs. Weasley calling.
"Come quick! Your lists and O.W.L.S have come back!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried upstairs and Ginny followed them for her supply list.
On the table were seven letters. Harry picked up the two that were addressed to him. One had the Hogwarts crest, and the other, the letters O.W.L. written in large, green ink.
Harry slowly opened the O.W.L. letter and read his scores.
Charms: E
Transfiguration: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Potions: O
History of Magic: A
Astronomy: A
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Divination: D
O.W.Ls: 14.
"Harry, you got an O in Potions!" Ron slapped him on the back. "I only got an E. Oh wow, way to go Harry. Oh Hermione I knew you'd get an O in everything anyway." Ron shrugged, grinning at them. "I got everything you had Harry, except an E in Potions and Transfiguration was an A. I got 12 O.W.L.S. How many did you get Hermione?"
"I got 20!" Hermione was grinning like mad. "I hope I get to be Head Girl when I'm in seventh year. What's wrong with you Harry?"
Harry was now looking at his list for the school year. He was pale and his jaw was hanging low in surprise. "I-I made QUIDDITCH CAPTAIN!" Excitedly, he read the letter out loud..
---
/Dear Mr. Harry Potter,
Since the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team has graduated,
she and myself have both decided it would be best to had over the position of
Team Captain to you. Your playing for the past four years has been outstanding,
and we will not count the banning from last year against you.
Congratulations and good luck.
- Professor Mcgonagall.
Deputy Headmistress./
---
Three pairs of hands and three girlish voices covered over him and a hand slapped him on the back.
"Harry, I'm so proud of you."
"Good job Harry!"
"I knew you'd be captain!"
"Way to go, mate!"
Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron grinned at Harry and Tonks, Lupin, and Moody all came in to congratulate Harry and everyone on their grades.
"Why don't you kids relax for a bit, go in the living room, yes? I think you've done enough for a day and you deserve a good break." Mrs. Weasley praised them. "Tomorrow I'll take you for your school supplies."
"Oh! Can I come? I'll help chauffeur them around." Tonks said excitedly and Harry could have sworn she winked at him. Mrs. Weasley seemed to have caught the wink but nodded, allowing her to come.
The group of kids took their lists into the living room and sat down on the couch and chairs. Hermione and Harry were rather quiet and wouldn't look at Ron who sensed something.
"What is it?" He asked them quickly.
"Well, Ron.." Hermione said quietly. "You won't be able to attend Advanced Potions or Transfiguration with us. If you want to be an Auror, I think you can still get into another class for Potions and Transfiguration though.."
"Oh." Ron looked at his list and shrugged. "That's okay. Were still going to be in Care of Magical Arts, and the other classes together, right?"
"Oh yeah, of course." Harry nodded. "It's just Potions won't be the same without you.." Harry grinned and Ron grinned right back, both of them snorted.
"Boys." Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes.
"Even if you got a poor grade in Defense Against the Dark Arts, now you have to continue taking it." Tonks appeared in the living room and plopped down on the floor near them. Everyone liked Tonks as one of the best of the Order. Lupin was fatherly and Moody was tough, but Tonks was just spunky but level headed nonetheless.
"What?" Everyone asked, looking surprised. All the teachers tended to have standards and for some of the classes, depending on your year, also had choices.
"Ever since the second war started, the Ministry has been taking extra precautions. So whoever is teaching at your school this year is going to have to teach everyone and have extra classes. Because the professor, not only teaching advanced for years six and seven, but will have to teach all the other students in six and seven in separate classes." Tonks gave an expression that made it seem like she felt sorry for the teacher. Or maybe she could have been trying to change her nose.
"Do you know who the teacher will be?" Harry asked. Now this was a dumb question. Tonks didn't even work there.
"Nope." Tonks shrugged. "What's the book you have to get in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Hermione looked at her list. "Protect and Defend from the Dark Arts by Edgar Woodlend."
Tonks thought for a moment about the book and name then shook her head, "Never heard of it." She tapped her fingers on the floor for a minute then looked at them. "So what do you want to be?"
"I want to be an Auror. Didn't you want to be one to, Harry?" Ron asked, looking at him.
"Yeah, I did." Harry agreed.
"So do I." Hermione piped up and then blushed a little bit.
"You do?" Harry, Ron, and Ginny both looked at her at the same time in amazement. "
I thought you wanted to be a Healer." Ginny tilted her head at her friend.
"Well I did. But the Order and Aurors seems so much more interesting and more helpful. There are plenty of Healers already. Didn't you want to be a Healer, Ginny?"
Ginny nodded and blushed a bit, a trace of a smile on her face. "I've been in Pompfey's so often.."
"Well, you three," Tonks nodded to Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "You'll need to focus on Transfiguration, Potions, and DADA the most. Charms is good, of course. But the other three definitely. Ron, I suggest you try extremely hard in Potions and Transfiguration to get your grades up, and then maybe Mcgonagall and.. Snape are they? Will let you into the Advanced Classes next year, or even this year." Ron looked a bit relieved and a bit nervous.
"Maybe Mcgonagall. But Snape hates me."
Tonks, at the moment, chose to ignore him. "And Ginny, if you want to be a Healer, you'll definitely need to focus on Potions and Herbology. Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts are probably your most important classes of all. Charms would come with that, of course. Especially since most wizards and witches are always using them.."
"Well, since `Mione will always be helping the boys," Ginny gave Hermione a teasing smile, "I can always ask Neville in help for Herbology. And I think I can make it in Potions.."
Tonks smirked at them and then looked at Harry. "Are you going to continue this D.A. thing?"
Harry shrugged and looked at his friends. "I don't know. Last year, I mean the teacher was no help whatsoever. Perhaps we'll have a good teacher this year, I won't. Without the D.A. last year, we would have never gotten past the Death Eaters..." He adverted his eyes to the floor.
"Well, unless this teacher is like Umbridge, I suggest you stop the D.A. With now Quidditch and keeping your grades up, it'll be a lot harder."
Harry blinked and thought for awhile. She was right. Quidditch, grades, and now being team captain would be a lot harder, now. He knew he would have to dedicate himself this year. He looked up at them.
"Don't worry, Harry. We have faith in you! You can do it." Ron encouraged him and the girls agreed.
"Well, with Quidditch, I'm seriously going to be out of practice.." Harry sighed, frowning a bit and looked at Ron. "And I'm not letting you resign." Harry was surprised at how much he sounded like Angelina Johnson, the old Quidditch team captain. Ron and Ginny noticed it to and were smiling.
"See, Harry? Already your sounding like the old captain." Ron pointed out, grinning harder.
"What IS your first game?" Hermione asked, forgetfully.
"I think it's against Slytherin, we always have the first game." Harry said, Ginny and Ron groaned.
"This time, Harry, Ron, keep your head cool if Malfoy dares to insult you. That wart. All he wants to do is get you going, and get you thrown off the teams. Again." Hermione shook her head.
"Malfoy.. Draco Malfoy? Oh he isn't going to be happy this year. His father is still in Azkaban, where he belongs. The Dementers now have to guard the prison more, now. Fudge had a nice long talk with `em. I don't know how much good it'll do, but it's better then having the prison totally unguarded." Tonks informed them. "There will be another trial or two and the Death Eaters that tried to kill you guys might get the kiss, but I highly doubt it. Especially Malfoy."
"Why Mr. Malfoy?" Ginny asked her.
"Because he has money and he can use it in all the right places. But I still think he has to be in prison for a little while longer, before he can even try to get out, even on good behavior."
"I thought Azkaban didn't do bail like muggle prisons did.." Hermione looked at Tonks questioningly.
"Oh they don't. But Fudge, if he wanted, could get Malfoy out of jail. Mr. Malfoy has Fudge pretty much wrapped around his finger. Lucius had been so generous those past few months.. Fudge is pretty money hungry. I wish Dumbledore was running things, but then who would be there to run the school? Professor Dumbledore has been doing a great job." Tonks commented on this approvingly.
"Think he will anytime soon?" Hermione asked.
"Not before school starts at anyway. And even if they do, the Death Eaters will probably be on probation. And if Lucius escapes, he'll have to hide like Sirius did." Tonks said and then bit her lip looking at Harry, who shrugged.
"Hey Harry, tomorrow's your birthday!" Ginny said looking surprised. Harry himself was a little bit startled, he had forgotten that it was his birthday soon.
"Oh yeah. Thanks for the presents you guys gave me, I loved them. And Ron, your pretty good with the wood burner."
Ron shrugged carelessly and Ginny smiled a bit. "Thanks." They said together.
"I'll definitely use yours, `Mione." Harry said. She smiled happily. Molly Weasley's voice called from the dining room.
"Time for dinner!"
.
NOTICES: If you ever see /blah/ that means it should be in italics. I can't get the italics to show up, even when I use tags. And if you see --- before and after something, then of course, it is beginning something like a dream or a letter and then the ones after it are ending the letter or dream. I hope you won't be extremely confused by this. Thank you for understanding.
-------
Chapter 2. O.W.L.S
With a rush Harry stopped immediately in the front hall of Number 12, Grimmauld place. Surprisingly, he hadn't fallen this time.
"Harry!" Two female voices called in excitement. Four arms clamped over him in hugs, making him almost topple over. He felt bushy, frizzy hair rub against his cheek and saw a glimpse of long red hair. Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger pulled back, smiling at him with a tear in their eyes.
Ginny had gone up a few more inches now and had grown her hair down a bit. Hermione only shot up an inch that he remembered and it appeared she just had a hair cut that hasn't really controlled the frizzyness.
"Oh Harry we missed you terribly!" Ginny sighed and Harry was afraid they'd try and hug him again.
"Harry! How are you?" Mrs. Weasley came in, hugging Harry. Mrs. Weasley was a short, plump woman with long, slightly curly hair. She was very friendly and loving, but when mad, she got mad. She almost would treat Harry like another one of her sons.
"Harry's there? Harry!" Ron called from the living room and ran in skidding to a halt when he saw his friend. Ron Weasley seemed to have stayed the same height (and he was still taller then everyone else!) and he looked about the same. Though he seemed to have more freckles then Harry remembered.
"Hey Ron, I got your letter. You guys really.. changed the place." Harry said, adjusting his glasses and looking around. A lot of the paintings were taken down, including the one of Mrs. Black. "Where's Kreacher?"
"He snuffed it." Ron tried not to grin and Hermione made a `hmph'ing sound. Ignoring her, Ron went on, "Want to see my room? It's a lot more roomy now that Fred and George don't live here. But they and Bill and Charlie are around a lot. `Mione is in Ginny's room and your in mine. Come on, I'll show it to you."
Harry followed Ron to the room he had slept in last summer and Christmas. The second he stepped in, he took a step back. Everything was the same from his burrow house. It was bright orange everywhere, Chudley Cannons, everywhere.
There was a bed against the wall with a Chudley Cannons cover, a table and lamp next to it with pictures of Harry and Hermione, a closet, drawers, and a desk. A small, lower bed was at the other side of the room for Harry.
He put his trunk away and turned to Ron. "So..."
Ron plunked down on his own bed. Discussion was pretty much useless a the moment, Ron was thinking about Sirius and Harry didn't want to talk about him. Ron took a breath and began something that seemed rehearsed, "Harry, what happened with Sirius was not your fault.."
Harry wouldn't look at him. It was his fault and he knew it. If he had never stopped Occlumency, if he had listened to his godfather, if he had listened to Hermione, if he had stayed put, if he had been kinder to Kreacher, if he had talked to Snape more, if he had used his head, if he hadn't acted like a hero.. if.. if..
"Harry? Are you all right?" Hermione came into the room followed by Ginny. "Your crying."
Harry came to his senses, tears were on his cheeks. He looked away from them and rubbed his eyes on his shirt sleeve. "I'm fine." A knot was in his throat again. "I don't want to talk about it." He sighed. Harry could defeat the Dark Lord, win a Quidditch game in the rain, but couldn't face his friends about Sirius.
"It's okay, you don't have to right now." Ginny said quietly, understandingly.
"Lunch is ready!" Molly Weasley, Ron and Ginny's mother chimed from downstairs.
They ate a hearty lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with pumpkin juice. Remus Lupin came down stairs and grabbed a sandwich just when the others had finished.
"Harry! How are you doing?" He asked, taking a large, wolfish bite of the sandwich.
"Fine, just fine. Can I talk to you? Perhaps.. ugh.." He motioned to the hall and then blushed, hating to sound so formal and all.
"Sure, what is Harry?" He asked as they walked out. Up close Harry looked him over. His clothes weren't as shabby, but he had some wrinkles and frown lines, his hair was graying slowly. Harry felt it was all the stress of the Order.
"Well.. it's about the two-way mirror from Sirius." Remus began to open his mouth to speak, but Harry continued, "Sirius had given that to me, and I found it at Hogwarts. I accidentally broke it putting it in my trunk the first time. And then you send it to me." Harry left out the part where he smashed it on purpose.
"Sirius and James put a foolproof charm on it. Sirius had the first one when he.. and I didn't know he gave it to you. So, when one of the Marauders lost the mirror, they could summon it. And when I couldn't find it, I did. So I thought it would be best to give it to you. And I repaired it, of course."
"Oh. What about Peter?" Harry asked worriedly.
"I'm pretty sure only me, James, and Sirius know about them. I had to come in during on of their detentions, and I caught James talking into it to Sirius once." Remus smiled a bit. "Harry it's not your -"
"I don't want to talk about it, sir." Harry looked down quickly.
Remus sighed and looked up at Harry, as if he was about to say something very hard. "You can't lock everything up, Harry. You need to let it out." He looked at Harry's face. "I'll give you time though."
Harry looked down at his trainers. Frankly anywhere other then Remus' face.
The next day was a pretty odd one. Now that Harry was there, he could pitch in with the major work that still needed to be done. During the holidays, Sirius couldn't do much on his own, but four teenagers could together.
In the morning, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny trooped up to the attack to battle all dust and creatures that might be resting there. Surprisingly, the only living thing were spiders. (When Ron found this out, he went down stairs for a very long time to ask his mother when lunch would be ready.) They took a few hours of moving boxes and cleaning away the dust. There was a lot of room when they were done, and amazingly enough, they found out there was a floor.
After lunch, they began the Battle of the Basement. Really, it seemed like being a battle.
The basement was very dark, even with the little light it gave off. Ron refused to go down there until they cleared out all spiders and anything having more the four legs. Ginny had to be mean, because when she said the coast was clear, he came down, and the first box he had picked up had a spider on it. He nearly ran off again, but stopped to give everyone who was laughing a dirty look.
There were a few rats lying around, and a couple of doxies but that was pretty much it. It was more clustered then the attic had been, so they took longer to clean it all out.
Hermione, luckily, had brought a big flash light. "Hey Harry, come look at this!" She called, shining her flash light into a box.
The others came to and looked over Harry and Hermione's shoulders. In the box lay a long sheath. It was an all black sheath, except with silver writing on the front.
"Ep‚e de serpent... What's that mean, Hermione?" Harry asked and everyone looked at her.
"I don't know! We went to France but I only learned a bit. You all know what Serpent means. I think Ep‚e may mean Sword, or shield, or something." Hermione shrugged a bit and everyone grinned. "What's so funny?"
"Hermione Granger! Doesn't know something? Can I get that in writing?" Ron grinned playfully, the others snorted.
"Ron!" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "Harry, why don't you try and pull it out? You handle the swords better then us.."
The others nodded and Harry looked down at the sword. He picked up the handle and felt an excitable shiver down his spine. He was about to take the sheath off when he heard Mrs. Weasley calling.
"Come quick! Your lists and O.W.L.S have come back!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried upstairs and Ginny followed them for her supply list.
On the table were seven letters. Harry picked up the two that were addressed to him. One had the Hogwarts crest, and the other, the letters O.W.L. written in large, green ink.
Harry slowly opened the O.W.L. letter and read his scores.
Charms: E
Transfiguration: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Potions: O
History of Magic: A
Astronomy: A
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Divination: D
O.W.Ls: 14.
"Harry, you got an O in Potions!" Ron slapped him on the back. "I only got an E. Oh wow, way to go Harry. Oh Hermione I knew you'd get an O in everything anyway." Ron shrugged, grinning at them. "I got everything you had Harry, except an E in Potions and Transfiguration was an A. I got 12 O.W.L.S. How many did you get Hermione?"
"I got 20!" Hermione was grinning like mad. "I hope I get to be Head Girl when I'm in seventh year. What's wrong with you Harry?"
Harry was now looking at his list for the school year. He was pale and his jaw was hanging low in surprise. "I-I made QUIDDITCH CAPTAIN!" Excitedly, he read the letter out loud..
---
/Dear Mr. Harry Potter,
Since the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team has graduated,
she and myself have both decided it would be best to had over the position of
Team Captain to you. Your playing for the past four years has been outstanding,
and we will not count the banning from last year against you.
Congratulations and good luck.
- Professor Mcgonagall.
Deputy Headmistress./
---
Three pairs of hands and three girlish voices covered over him and a hand slapped him on the back.
"Harry, I'm so proud of you."
"Good job Harry!"
"I knew you'd be captain!"
"Way to go, mate!"
Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron grinned at Harry and Tonks, Lupin, and Moody all came in to congratulate Harry and everyone on their grades.
"Why don't you kids relax for a bit, go in the living room, yes? I think you've done enough for a day and you deserve a good break." Mrs. Weasley praised them. "Tomorrow I'll take you for your school supplies."
"Oh! Can I come? I'll help chauffeur them around." Tonks said excitedly and Harry could have sworn she winked at him. Mrs. Weasley seemed to have caught the wink but nodded, allowing her to come.
The group of kids took their lists into the living room and sat down on the couch and chairs. Hermione and Harry were rather quiet and wouldn't look at Ron who sensed something.
"What is it?" He asked them quickly.
"Well, Ron.." Hermione said quietly. "You won't be able to attend Advanced Potions or Transfiguration with us. If you want to be an Auror, I think you can still get into another class for Potions and Transfiguration though.."
"Oh." Ron looked at his list and shrugged. "That's okay. Were still going to be in Care of Magical Arts, and the other classes together, right?"
"Oh yeah, of course." Harry nodded. "It's just Potions won't be the same without you.." Harry grinned and Ron grinned right back, both of them snorted.
"Boys." Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes.
"Even if you got a poor grade in Defense Against the Dark Arts, now you have to continue taking it." Tonks appeared in the living room and plopped down on the floor near them. Everyone liked Tonks as one of the best of the Order. Lupin was fatherly and Moody was tough, but Tonks was just spunky but level headed nonetheless.
"What?" Everyone asked, looking surprised. All the teachers tended to have standards and for some of the classes, depending on your year, also had choices.
"Ever since the second war started, the Ministry has been taking extra precautions. So whoever is teaching at your school this year is going to have to teach everyone and have extra classes. Because the professor, not only teaching advanced for years six and seven, but will have to teach all the other students in six and seven in separate classes." Tonks gave an expression that made it seem like she felt sorry for the teacher. Or maybe she could have been trying to change her nose.
"Do you know who the teacher will be?" Harry asked. Now this was a dumb question. Tonks didn't even work there.
"Nope." Tonks shrugged. "What's the book you have to get in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Hermione looked at her list. "Protect and Defend from the Dark Arts by Edgar Woodlend."
Tonks thought for a moment about the book and name then shook her head, "Never heard of it." She tapped her fingers on the floor for a minute then looked at them. "So what do you want to be?"
"I want to be an Auror. Didn't you want to be one to, Harry?" Ron asked, looking at him.
"Yeah, I did." Harry agreed.
"So do I." Hermione piped up and then blushed a little bit.
"You do?" Harry, Ron, and Ginny both looked at her at the same time in amazement. "
I thought you wanted to be a Healer." Ginny tilted her head at her friend.
"Well I did. But the Order and Aurors seems so much more interesting and more helpful. There are plenty of Healers already. Didn't you want to be a Healer, Ginny?"
Ginny nodded and blushed a bit, a trace of a smile on her face. "I've been in Pompfey's so often.."
"Well, you three," Tonks nodded to Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "You'll need to focus on Transfiguration, Potions, and DADA the most. Charms is good, of course. But the other three definitely. Ron, I suggest you try extremely hard in Potions and Transfiguration to get your grades up, and then maybe Mcgonagall and.. Snape are they? Will let you into the Advanced Classes next year, or even this year." Ron looked a bit relieved and a bit nervous.
"Maybe Mcgonagall. But Snape hates me."
Tonks, at the moment, chose to ignore him. "And Ginny, if you want to be a Healer, you'll definitely need to focus on Potions and Herbology. Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts are probably your most important classes of all. Charms would come with that, of course. Especially since most wizards and witches are always using them.."
"Well, since `Mione will always be helping the boys," Ginny gave Hermione a teasing smile, "I can always ask Neville in help for Herbology. And I think I can make it in Potions.."
Tonks smirked at them and then looked at Harry. "Are you going to continue this D.A. thing?"
Harry shrugged and looked at his friends. "I don't know. Last year, I mean the teacher was no help whatsoever. Perhaps we'll have a good teacher this year, I won't. Without the D.A. last year, we would have never gotten past the Death Eaters..." He adverted his eyes to the floor.
"Well, unless this teacher is like Umbridge, I suggest you stop the D.A. With now Quidditch and keeping your grades up, it'll be a lot harder."
Harry blinked and thought for awhile. She was right. Quidditch, grades, and now being team captain would be a lot harder, now. He knew he would have to dedicate himself this year. He looked up at them.
"Don't worry, Harry. We have faith in you! You can do it." Ron encouraged him and the girls agreed.
"Well, with Quidditch, I'm seriously going to be out of practice.." Harry sighed, frowning a bit and looked at Ron. "And I'm not letting you resign." Harry was surprised at how much he sounded like Angelina Johnson, the old Quidditch team captain. Ron and Ginny noticed it to and were smiling.
"See, Harry? Already your sounding like the old captain." Ron pointed out, grinning harder.
"What IS your first game?" Hermione asked, forgetfully.
"I think it's against Slytherin, we always have the first game." Harry said, Ginny and Ron groaned.
"This time, Harry, Ron, keep your head cool if Malfoy dares to insult you. That wart. All he wants to do is get you going, and get you thrown off the teams. Again." Hermione shook her head.
"Malfoy.. Draco Malfoy? Oh he isn't going to be happy this year. His father is still in Azkaban, where he belongs. The Dementers now have to guard the prison more, now. Fudge had a nice long talk with `em. I don't know how much good it'll do, but it's better then having the prison totally unguarded." Tonks informed them. "There will be another trial or two and the Death Eaters that tried to kill you guys might get the kiss, but I highly doubt it. Especially Malfoy."
"Why Mr. Malfoy?" Ginny asked her.
"Because he has money and he can use it in all the right places. But I still think he has to be in prison for a little while longer, before he can even try to get out, even on good behavior."
"I thought Azkaban didn't do bail like muggle prisons did.." Hermione looked at Tonks questioningly.
"Oh they don't. But Fudge, if he wanted, could get Malfoy out of jail. Mr. Malfoy has Fudge pretty much wrapped around his finger. Lucius had been so generous those past few months.. Fudge is pretty money hungry. I wish Dumbledore was running things, but then who would be there to run the school? Professor Dumbledore has been doing a great job." Tonks commented on this approvingly.
"Think he will anytime soon?" Hermione asked.
"Not before school starts at anyway. And even if they do, the Death Eaters will probably be on probation. And if Lucius escapes, he'll have to hide like Sirius did." Tonks said and then bit her lip looking at Harry, who shrugged.
"Hey Harry, tomorrow's your birthday!" Ginny said looking surprised. Harry himself was a little bit startled, he had forgotten that it was his birthday soon.
"Oh yeah. Thanks for the presents you guys gave me, I loved them. And Ron, your pretty good with the wood burner."
Ron shrugged carelessly and Ginny smiled a bit. "Thanks." They said together.
"I'll definitely use yours, `Mione." Harry said. She smiled happily. Molly Weasley's voice called from the dining room.
"Time for dinner!"
.