Note: I admit that chapter 6 was a little mundane but I'll try my best on
this one. Enjoy!!!
Harry woke up the next day and got dressed before heading down for breakfast. He sat in between Ron and Hermione, who were conversing. As they ate, Harry told them about his meeting the night before. As expected, both thought that he was wrong to have lashed out at Hagrid. Harry already knew that and told them that he wanted to apologise. He stared at the teachers table, looking for Hagrid, but he was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he may see Hagrid during class.
Hermione passed around their timetables and they glanced at them. They had double Potions which was followed by double Divination. 'Perfect', Harry thought disgustedly. 'What a way to start the new year by having Snape's lesson first and then followed by Trelawney's.' Seeing no sense in grumbling about it, the three of them set of for the dungeons.
They were met by the Slytherins, who were taking Potions with them. Harry couldn't believe his bad luck. This was the third year that the Gryffindors and the Slytherins were having Potions together. Harry wondered who planned the timetable. He had a nagging feeling that Snape had a part to play in it. They quickly chose their seats at the very back of the class, preferring to stay as far as possible from Snape and the Slytherins. When Snape entered the dungeon, the class went deathly quiet. 'You have been chosen to study Advanced Potions that will help you to pass your N.E.W.T. in the seventh year. If you make it...' Snape chose that moment to smile fiendishly at Harry, who looked him straight in the eye and tried his best not to look away. Snape finally continued. 'As you know, Potions is essential in most magical careers and you have to obtain at least an E to pass. I caution you that the next two years will be extremely strenuous and if you wish not to continue, you should leave now.' Nobody left the classroom. Everyone just stared at him intently. 'I thought so' he said in a malicious voice. 'Take out your quill and parchment and copy this down.' He said. The class spent the next hour and a half taking down notes. When the bell finally rang, Harry and Ron said goodbye to Hermione before heading to the Divination classroom.
Due to the incident involving Professor Trelawney and Professor Umbridge the year before, Professor Trelawney decided that she needed a vacation and promptly left Hogwarts. Firenze was to take over until she had returned.
Harry and Ron joined the group of sixth-years outside the classroom. They were all chatting away, anticipating the arrival of Firenze. They didn't have to wait long. A clomping sound announced his arrival and he herded them into the classroom.
Once they were seated, he began the lesson. 'Welcome back for another year of Divination. As you all know, Professor Trelawney has gone on holiday and will not be back until next year.' This statement garnered a mixed response from the sixth-years. Ron and Harry smiled at each other, Parvati and Lavender looked shocked and Seamus and Dean simply shrugged. 'Please take out your copy of The Eye of the Centaur and turn to page three. We will be doing theory work for the first half of the year and will progress to more advanced work in the second half.' Within minutes, the entire class was engrossed in the book, which told of the centaurs uncanny ability to read the future from the heavens. When the bell rang to signal lunch, all of them had a hard time putting the book down. However, with much persuasion from Firenze, the reluctantly filed out of the classroom, grumbling.
While they were having lunch, Ron and Harry were called upon by Professor McGonnagal, who told them that Quidditch training was to start on Friday, which was three days away. This was pretty unusual as they normally didn't start training until it was late October. When they asked the Professor why they had to start training so early, they got an answer that neither of them expected. 'There will be a Quidditch Tournament later this year that will involve Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. As you may remember, they played in the Tri-wizard Tournament two years ago.' At that, Professor McGonnagal fell silent, no doubt remembering that the tournament also brought about the death of Cedric Diggory and the return of Lord Voldemort. 'They will be arriving on the twenty-first of November and the tournament will begin in January. The tournament will consist of nine teams, three from each school. Only six teams will progress from the first group phase. The quarter-finals will see the remaining six teams play each other. From that round, only four will progress. The semi-finals will be drawn to see who will play who. The two winning teams will make it to the finals where they will have to face each other. The prize is a solid gold trophy and ten thousand galleons in prize money.
When the Professor had finished, Harry and Ron were speechless. Finally, Ron found his voice and blurted out 'brilliant, bloody brilliant.' Professor McGonnagal smiled at that statement. 'You will have three months to prepare for this contest. The three Hogwarts teams will be selected by holding a preliminary round that will involve all four houses. The top three houses will win and progress into the tournament. Do train as hard as you can, boys, but do not neglect your schoolwork. Remember, the N.E.W.Ts are nearby.
Harry and Ron ran back to the table and were telling Hermione about the tournament when Malfoy and his cronies showed up. 'Think you can take the pressure of the competition, Potter?' Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly behind Malfoy. Harry coolly retorted, 'think you can catch the snitch, Malfoy? Or are you blinded by your enormous ego?' The Gryffindors burst out in laughter. Malfoy turned pink. 'You better watch out, Potter, because you're gonna get it.' Harry didn't care about Malfoy's mind games. He wanted Hogwarts to win the tournament even if it meant cooperating with Malfoy. They finished lunch and headed for Transfiguration where Professor McGonnagal made them strain their brains trying to remember what they had learnt the last five years in Hogwarts.
After that intense lesson, they headed for dinner. Harry wanted to visit Dobby in the kitchens but he had too much on his mind that he totally forgot about it. They returned to the common room where Harry and Ron talked about the Quidditch Tournament until it was past midnight. They then headed to bed, their eyes heavy from fatigue. Harry was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Harry woke up the next day and got dressed before heading down for breakfast. He sat in between Ron and Hermione, who were conversing. As they ate, Harry told them about his meeting the night before. As expected, both thought that he was wrong to have lashed out at Hagrid. Harry already knew that and told them that he wanted to apologise. He stared at the teachers table, looking for Hagrid, but he was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he may see Hagrid during class.
Hermione passed around their timetables and they glanced at them. They had double Potions which was followed by double Divination. 'Perfect', Harry thought disgustedly. 'What a way to start the new year by having Snape's lesson first and then followed by Trelawney's.' Seeing no sense in grumbling about it, the three of them set of for the dungeons.
They were met by the Slytherins, who were taking Potions with them. Harry couldn't believe his bad luck. This was the third year that the Gryffindors and the Slytherins were having Potions together. Harry wondered who planned the timetable. He had a nagging feeling that Snape had a part to play in it. They quickly chose their seats at the very back of the class, preferring to stay as far as possible from Snape and the Slytherins. When Snape entered the dungeon, the class went deathly quiet. 'You have been chosen to study Advanced Potions that will help you to pass your N.E.W.T. in the seventh year. If you make it...' Snape chose that moment to smile fiendishly at Harry, who looked him straight in the eye and tried his best not to look away. Snape finally continued. 'As you know, Potions is essential in most magical careers and you have to obtain at least an E to pass. I caution you that the next two years will be extremely strenuous and if you wish not to continue, you should leave now.' Nobody left the classroom. Everyone just stared at him intently. 'I thought so' he said in a malicious voice. 'Take out your quill and parchment and copy this down.' He said. The class spent the next hour and a half taking down notes. When the bell finally rang, Harry and Ron said goodbye to Hermione before heading to the Divination classroom.
Due to the incident involving Professor Trelawney and Professor Umbridge the year before, Professor Trelawney decided that she needed a vacation and promptly left Hogwarts. Firenze was to take over until she had returned.
Harry and Ron joined the group of sixth-years outside the classroom. They were all chatting away, anticipating the arrival of Firenze. They didn't have to wait long. A clomping sound announced his arrival and he herded them into the classroom.
Once they were seated, he began the lesson. 'Welcome back for another year of Divination. As you all know, Professor Trelawney has gone on holiday and will not be back until next year.' This statement garnered a mixed response from the sixth-years. Ron and Harry smiled at each other, Parvati and Lavender looked shocked and Seamus and Dean simply shrugged. 'Please take out your copy of The Eye of the Centaur and turn to page three. We will be doing theory work for the first half of the year and will progress to more advanced work in the second half.' Within minutes, the entire class was engrossed in the book, which told of the centaurs uncanny ability to read the future from the heavens. When the bell rang to signal lunch, all of them had a hard time putting the book down. However, with much persuasion from Firenze, the reluctantly filed out of the classroom, grumbling.
While they were having lunch, Ron and Harry were called upon by Professor McGonnagal, who told them that Quidditch training was to start on Friday, which was three days away. This was pretty unusual as they normally didn't start training until it was late October. When they asked the Professor why they had to start training so early, they got an answer that neither of them expected. 'There will be a Quidditch Tournament later this year that will involve Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. As you may remember, they played in the Tri-wizard Tournament two years ago.' At that, Professor McGonnagal fell silent, no doubt remembering that the tournament also brought about the death of Cedric Diggory and the return of Lord Voldemort. 'They will be arriving on the twenty-first of November and the tournament will begin in January. The tournament will consist of nine teams, three from each school. Only six teams will progress from the first group phase. The quarter-finals will see the remaining six teams play each other. From that round, only four will progress. The semi-finals will be drawn to see who will play who. The two winning teams will make it to the finals where they will have to face each other. The prize is a solid gold trophy and ten thousand galleons in prize money.
When the Professor had finished, Harry and Ron were speechless. Finally, Ron found his voice and blurted out 'brilliant, bloody brilliant.' Professor McGonnagal smiled at that statement. 'You will have three months to prepare for this contest. The three Hogwarts teams will be selected by holding a preliminary round that will involve all four houses. The top three houses will win and progress into the tournament. Do train as hard as you can, boys, but do not neglect your schoolwork. Remember, the N.E.W.Ts are nearby.
Harry and Ron ran back to the table and were telling Hermione about the tournament when Malfoy and his cronies showed up. 'Think you can take the pressure of the competition, Potter?' Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly behind Malfoy. Harry coolly retorted, 'think you can catch the snitch, Malfoy? Or are you blinded by your enormous ego?' The Gryffindors burst out in laughter. Malfoy turned pink. 'You better watch out, Potter, because you're gonna get it.' Harry didn't care about Malfoy's mind games. He wanted Hogwarts to win the tournament even if it meant cooperating with Malfoy. They finished lunch and headed for Transfiguration where Professor McGonnagal made them strain their brains trying to remember what they had learnt the last five years in Hogwarts.
After that intense lesson, they headed for dinner. Harry wanted to visit Dobby in the kitchens but he had too much on his mind that he totally forgot about it. They returned to the common room where Harry and Ron talked about the Quidditch Tournament until it was past midnight. They then headed to bed, their eyes heavy from fatigue. Harry was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.