Chapter Three: First Day Back
Harry walked in a little late for breakfast the next day to find the teachers reading out the notices. He ducked as he walked to the Gryffindor table and took a seat opposite Hermione and Ron.
'You're late!' Hermione whispered.
Harry shot a glare at Ron, who looked sheepish.
'Sorry mate, I was up at the quidditch pitch with Ginny.'
Harry shook his head and looked up at the table as McGonagall came over with the timetables. He shoved a piece of buttered toast down his mouth and washed it down with pumpkin juice.
'Harry Potter, Dumbledore would like a word.' Harry looked up just in time to see McGonagall making her way down the rest of the table. He took another gulp of pumpkin juice and made his way to the teacher's table.
'Ah Harry," Dumbledore said, putting his knife and fork down and raising his arms. 'I just wanted to confirm Defence Lessons.'
Harry nodded. 'Of course.'
'I am aware that you are Quidditch Captain Harry, you should be arranging a day that won't clash with other activities.'
Harry nodded. 'Can I come back to you on a day?'
Dumbledore nodded serenely.
Harry nodded awkwardly and turned to go. He was just nearing the Gryffindor table when he caught sight of Mercedes sitting at the Slytherin table beside Malfoy looking thoroughly miserable. So she had been sorted into Slytherin.
She looked up from her plate and their eyes met. Something inside him leapt uncomfortably but Harry stared stonily back at her as he walked, then broke the gaze when he reached the Gryffindor table.
'What was that about?' Hermione said as he sat down.
Harry looked at her, wondering whether she meant Mercedes or Dumbledore. He shook his head. 'Defence Lessons.' he said and picked up another piece of buttered toast.
'We have to make sure it doesn't clash with DA and your Quidditch training,' Hermione said, as if he wasn't able to come to that conclusion on his own.
'I know that.' Harry retorted, taking a swig of pumpkin juice and hoping it would stop his stomach from leaping again as he caught Mercedes's eye again over the rim of his goblet. She was sort of pretty .
'Potter, congratulations of making Quidditch Captain,' Harry looked over his shoulder and saw Ernie Macmillan holding out a hand.
Harry shook it, looking sheepish.
'Well, I hope you do well then .' Ernie said. Harry nodded awkwardly as Ernie walked away.
'What was that about?' Ron stared after Ernie with a frown. 'I tell you, there is something wrong with him.'
'Oh Ron, come on. We've got Herbology with the Slytherins.'
'Slytherins on Monday morning, that's the last thing I need!' Ron moaned, turning to look at the Slytherin table. 'I see Mercedes has been sorted.'
Harry didn't say anything but he noticed Hermione's lips grow considerable thinner when Ron began insulting her.
'Oh be quiet, Ron!' Hermione said, getting up and taking up her bag.
'What do you mean be quiet? She did us in- Oh! You aren't still holding up about yesterday are you? Because that was a load of bull .'
Harry zoned out because his eye had caught Mercedes's again and his stomach was leaping again. He was still staring at her when a wall obscured his vision and broke the gaze. They were now in the Entrance Hall and Ron and Hermione were still bickering. Disgruntled, Harry rushed after them; part of him hoping that Mercedes would be in Herbology with them and the other part of him seriously questioning whether he was feeling sane today because if he recalled correctly, Mercedes was the daughter of the woman who had murdered Sirius Black.
~
Well she had been present in Herbology, though there had been no further looks passed between them as Professor Sprout had put them down to dealing with Wingflappers, animals somewhat similar to bees and in order to do so, they had to wear a dense netted hat.
All throughout the lesson, Harry was painfully aware of the fact that Mercedes was in the same room. He was so disorientated that he mishandled a Wingflapper and got bitten. His hand swelled to the size of a balloon and Harry had to rush to the hospital wing, weighed down by his hand which grew steadily larger by the second.
The end of the day found him thoroughly exhausted. He called a meeting for the Gryffindor quidditch team in the common room.
Ron, Ginny and Harry sat around the fire waiting for the two beaters and chasers to haul themselves over.
'Right,' he said when they had all arrived. 'We need to arrange a proper time for quidditch training at least twice a week. DA members have to keep every Wednesday booked so Wednesday afternoons are out of the question.'
'I have Charms Club on Tuesday afternoons and Sunday evenings to Chess Club.' Sarah Spinnet (chaser) said.
'Yeah,' Alice Reed (also chaser) said. 'And I have Remedial Transfiguration on Sundays anyway.'
Harry looked round at Joe Cloude (Beater) and Walter Cunningham (also beater), then turned to Ron and Ginny. They both shook their heads.
'That leaves up Mondays and Fridays. I don't think anyone would want to give up their Saturdays so how are Mondays and Fridays?'
Everybody nodded. 'But we'll use our Saturdays if it comes down to it.' Ginny said firmly. The team nodded.
'Great. Meeting dismissed.' Harry got to his feet. 'I've got to meet Dumbledore,' he told Ron quietly. 'I'll see you in a bit.'
He was on the verge of climbing out of the portrait hole when McGonagall appeared outside it.
'Potter, it is highly unadvisable to go out wandering the corridors at night unless you want a detention. Please get back inside.'
Harry stepped back feeling slightly stupid and moved aside so she could climb in. He would have to tell Dumbledore tomorrow.
'I'd like to see Hermione Granger,' she announced. The common room fell silent as Hermione put her book down and went up to McGonagall.
'A word please, Ms Granger?' McGonagall said. Hermione nodded and they stepped outside. The din of the common room rose once again.
His plans cut short, Harry sat down where Hermione had been sitting and started on his homework. A moment later, Hermione stormed into the common room and sat on the floor beside Ron.
'What's wrong?' he said. Harry looked up.
'I'm moving out. They've
renovated the Head Prefects' lounge.' She looked miserable.
'What, at least you'll have a room of your own.' Harry said, sitting down next to her.
Hermione looked bitter. 'Malfoy's Headboy.' She said and sighed.
'Oh,' Ron said. 'Well just tell McGonagall you'll stay here.'
'Cant. Already tried. No point.' She got up, packed her bag and went to her dormitory without another word.
Ginny who had been watching the encounter sighed too. 'Poor Hermione.'
Harry and Ron nodded slowly.
A/N: There! That was it, Chapter three, Nothing much is happening yet. Do you have any idea how hard it is to call Draco Malfoy?! He's too hot to be called by his surname! I'm writing another story that sequels the happenings in this one, but its from Hermione's point of view. I've been trying to keep true to the book and see things from Harry's POV, but I really want to write what Mercedes thinks!
Ah well. I'm not getting enough reviews! Maybe my summary is bad. Ah well, I suck at it anyway.
