Note: I've been focusing mostly on the Quidditch Tournament over the last
few chapters and I feel that more bits about school are needed. So here it
goes. Hope ya'll like it. Cheers.
The euphoria of qualifying for the Quidditch tournament lasted for most of the week a Harry felt that nothing could go wrong. But he was wrong. Their first lesson was Potions and as Harry was short listed as a student in Snape's class, he had not choice but to go. As Potions was important if Harry wanted to be an Auror in the future, he could not argue about it. But he wished that Snape did not loath him so much.
They were making a Regeneration Solution and Snape as usual went around criticizing everyone except Hermione, who he had nothing to say to as she always managed to concoct the potions correctly. Harry's potion was a tad too thick and he hated the way Snape's lip curled in excitement and triumph. Harry had a bad feeling that he had another 'Dreadful' coming his way.
Things got slightly better as they had Divination next and noticed that Professor Trelawney had changed over the summer. After a nice long vacation, she was no longer the mysterious old bat that they knew but now spoke clearly and thought them things that they now understood. Harry was also pleased that she had not mentioned anything about him having an early death. Things were beginning to look up. Maybe it was the Umbridge fiasco the year before that caused the change in her. Whatever had happened, the change was welcomed by most of the Gryffindors. Only Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had something to say about it. 'I wonder what's wrong with Professor Trelawney; do you reckon she's ill?' Parvati asked Ron. 'Nope, it looks like she finally got some help and allowed us to understand her lessons clearly' Ron replied. Parvati gave him a look that was enough to melt gold before stalking away, muttering to herself in a mad way.
They had lunch before heading for Transfiguration, where Professor McGonagall wasted no time in telling them that the NEWT's were much closer now and that whatever they learned would be beneficial to them in the future. Although Ron found this something to moan about, he was swiftly silenced by Hermione. They then began working on transfiguring their skunk into a flower, but after an hour of fruitless efforts, in which Neville was nearly sprayed by his skunk, everyone except Hermione had managed to successfully do it. Tired, grimy and stinky, they went back to their dormitories to freshen up before heading down for lunch at the Great Hall.
When they were having lunch, Harry looked over at the other house tables. However, he wished he had not done so as he saw Cho Chang and Michael Corner kissing. Although he felt jealous at first, he was now used to it as he knew that he didn't like her anymore. He struggled to join back into the conversation that Hermione and Ron were having. They were discussing about Lord Voldemort. 'I wonder where he is now' Ron said. 'Maybe he is hiding out again, waiting for the most advantageous time to strike. You need to be careful, Harry, he could be anywhere right now, he could even be in Hogsmeade.' Ron had a fearful look on his face, but Hermione was quick to cancel out his theory. 'I don't think Voldemort would be in Hogsmeade, Ron, it's such a common place. He would have been spotted by now if he was hiding out there.' Ron muttered something about the Imperius curse but was not loud enough for Hermione to hear. Harry tucked into his steak and cheese and did not think about Voldemort.
After lunch, they headed for Charms, where Professor Flitwick made them practice spells they had learnt. Neville had by far improved tremendously during the DA lessons and now managed to aim properly at the objects instead of poor Professor Flitwick. Harry and Ron thought this was the reason why he looked much more cheerful than before. It was an interesting lesson and they then headed off for Defence Against the Dark Arts. When they arrived at the classroom, Professor Lupin ushered them into the class and told them to take their seats. He then told them to take out their copies of The Dark Arts. At first they thought that it was going to be the same as the year before when Professor Umbridge prevented them from practicing spells. However, after reading the first chapter, Harry began to see the reason why Professor Lupin told them to read first. The book contained all known dark spells that required a lot of practice and concentration. Harry looked up the book's index and was surprised to find all three Unforgivable Curses listed. He thought that curses as dangerous as these were not bound to be in any book. But he was wrong. When they had finished reading, Professor Lupin told them to take out their wands and try out a few of the spells. The first one was the Strangulation curse, which was a famous method to kill in the past. 'Firstly, the incantation of the spell is restricto. Now on a count of three, we'll all say it together. One, Two, Three!' Shouts of 'restricto' resonated around the classroom. Tiny black leathery coils sprung from their wands. 'Now, since this is the first time you're trying it, your ropes will be small and easily breakable and it will not wrap around your neck but around your body. However, with practice, you will be able to produce the actual thing. Now split up in pairs and try it out on your partners.' Harry and Ron partnered each other and Hermione partnered with Neville. Harry was impressed that Neville was quicker to react and binded Hermione before she said a word. Hermione was bewildered as she didn't now that Neville could react that fast. She quickly broke through the bonds and congratulated Neville, who beamed a rosy red colour. The continued to practice the spells for another hour before heading down for dinner.
During dinner, most of them were talking about the Strangulation Curse. Harry and Ron were having another discussion about the Quidditch tournament which bored Hermione to death. Instead, she struck up a conversation with Lee Jordan. Just as Harry and Ron were about to finish, an eagle owl swooped into the Great Hall and landed in front of Malfoy. He grabbed the letter that was tied to the owl's leg and read it. A nasty smile was visible on his pointed face and he led Crabbe and Goyle read it before pointing at Harry. Harry knew that something bad was bound to happen and that he better watch his back. He turned to Ron and Hermione and told them in an undertone what he had just seen.
After eating their fill, they headed back to the common room where they took the three best chairs before the fire. They sat down and talked until midnight. Then they bade Hermione goodnight before heading up to their dormitory. They changed into their pajamas before getting into their beds. As Harry drifted into a deep sleep, he had a horrendous nightmare.
He was in a dark graveyard, the same one that he had been the night Voldemort returned. Thirty Death Eaters formed a circle around Voldemort, who was giving them orders. 'The time is coming for a great war between the forces of good and evil. Dumbleore and his idiots will fight us and try to eradicate us. But they will fail, for Lord Voldemort has an army of his own. When the time comes, we will reunite with our imprisoned brethren and the world will feel the wrath of Lord Voldemort and his followers.' This statement was followed by laughter and murmuring. 'Master, we crave to know when we will strike', a Death Eater asked. 'In due time, Roth, in due time', said Voldemort, whose eyes glinted in the darkness. 'We will triumph over Dumbledore and the others because we have a weapon that they don't. The Dementors...' At that point, Harry felt that familiar coldness that he knew too well. Hundreds of Dementors appeared from the darkness and assembled themselves in neat rows. 'Behold, the army that will do my bidding.' Lord Voldemort laughed his high, cold laugh and Harry's scar seared with pain as if someone had placed a white hot rod on his forehead.
He screamed out loud, waking the others up. Ron ran to Harry's bed and shook him awake. 'Harry! Harry! Wake up!' Harry woke up with a start and said out loud, 'He's got them Ron, He's got them!'
'Who?', said Ron, who was looking fearfully at Harry.
'He's got the Dementors, Ron, hundreds of them...'
The euphoria of qualifying for the Quidditch tournament lasted for most of the week a Harry felt that nothing could go wrong. But he was wrong. Their first lesson was Potions and as Harry was short listed as a student in Snape's class, he had not choice but to go. As Potions was important if Harry wanted to be an Auror in the future, he could not argue about it. But he wished that Snape did not loath him so much.
They were making a Regeneration Solution and Snape as usual went around criticizing everyone except Hermione, who he had nothing to say to as she always managed to concoct the potions correctly. Harry's potion was a tad too thick and he hated the way Snape's lip curled in excitement and triumph. Harry had a bad feeling that he had another 'Dreadful' coming his way.
Things got slightly better as they had Divination next and noticed that Professor Trelawney had changed over the summer. After a nice long vacation, she was no longer the mysterious old bat that they knew but now spoke clearly and thought them things that they now understood. Harry was also pleased that she had not mentioned anything about him having an early death. Things were beginning to look up. Maybe it was the Umbridge fiasco the year before that caused the change in her. Whatever had happened, the change was welcomed by most of the Gryffindors. Only Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had something to say about it. 'I wonder what's wrong with Professor Trelawney; do you reckon she's ill?' Parvati asked Ron. 'Nope, it looks like she finally got some help and allowed us to understand her lessons clearly' Ron replied. Parvati gave him a look that was enough to melt gold before stalking away, muttering to herself in a mad way.
They had lunch before heading for Transfiguration, where Professor McGonagall wasted no time in telling them that the NEWT's were much closer now and that whatever they learned would be beneficial to them in the future. Although Ron found this something to moan about, he was swiftly silenced by Hermione. They then began working on transfiguring their skunk into a flower, but after an hour of fruitless efforts, in which Neville was nearly sprayed by his skunk, everyone except Hermione had managed to successfully do it. Tired, grimy and stinky, they went back to their dormitories to freshen up before heading down for lunch at the Great Hall.
When they were having lunch, Harry looked over at the other house tables. However, he wished he had not done so as he saw Cho Chang and Michael Corner kissing. Although he felt jealous at first, he was now used to it as he knew that he didn't like her anymore. He struggled to join back into the conversation that Hermione and Ron were having. They were discussing about Lord Voldemort. 'I wonder where he is now' Ron said. 'Maybe he is hiding out again, waiting for the most advantageous time to strike. You need to be careful, Harry, he could be anywhere right now, he could even be in Hogsmeade.' Ron had a fearful look on his face, but Hermione was quick to cancel out his theory. 'I don't think Voldemort would be in Hogsmeade, Ron, it's such a common place. He would have been spotted by now if he was hiding out there.' Ron muttered something about the Imperius curse but was not loud enough for Hermione to hear. Harry tucked into his steak and cheese and did not think about Voldemort.
After lunch, they headed for Charms, where Professor Flitwick made them practice spells they had learnt. Neville had by far improved tremendously during the DA lessons and now managed to aim properly at the objects instead of poor Professor Flitwick. Harry and Ron thought this was the reason why he looked much more cheerful than before. It was an interesting lesson and they then headed off for Defence Against the Dark Arts. When they arrived at the classroom, Professor Lupin ushered them into the class and told them to take their seats. He then told them to take out their copies of The Dark Arts. At first they thought that it was going to be the same as the year before when Professor Umbridge prevented them from practicing spells. However, after reading the first chapter, Harry began to see the reason why Professor Lupin told them to read first. The book contained all known dark spells that required a lot of practice and concentration. Harry looked up the book's index and was surprised to find all three Unforgivable Curses listed. He thought that curses as dangerous as these were not bound to be in any book. But he was wrong. When they had finished reading, Professor Lupin told them to take out their wands and try out a few of the spells. The first one was the Strangulation curse, which was a famous method to kill in the past. 'Firstly, the incantation of the spell is restricto. Now on a count of three, we'll all say it together. One, Two, Three!' Shouts of 'restricto' resonated around the classroom. Tiny black leathery coils sprung from their wands. 'Now, since this is the first time you're trying it, your ropes will be small and easily breakable and it will not wrap around your neck but around your body. However, with practice, you will be able to produce the actual thing. Now split up in pairs and try it out on your partners.' Harry and Ron partnered each other and Hermione partnered with Neville. Harry was impressed that Neville was quicker to react and binded Hermione before she said a word. Hermione was bewildered as she didn't now that Neville could react that fast. She quickly broke through the bonds and congratulated Neville, who beamed a rosy red colour. The continued to practice the spells for another hour before heading down for dinner.
During dinner, most of them were talking about the Strangulation Curse. Harry and Ron were having another discussion about the Quidditch tournament which bored Hermione to death. Instead, she struck up a conversation with Lee Jordan. Just as Harry and Ron were about to finish, an eagle owl swooped into the Great Hall and landed in front of Malfoy. He grabbed the letter that was tied to the owl's leg and read it. A nasty smile was visible on his pointed face and he led Crabbe and Goyle read it before pointing at Harry. Harry knew that something bad was bound to happen and that he better watch his back. He turned to Ron and Hermione and told them in an undertone what he had just seen.
After eating their fill, they headed back to the common room where they took the three best chairs before the fire. They sat down and talked until midnight. Then they bade Hermione goodnight before heading up to their dormitory. They changed into their pajamas before getting into their beds. As Harry drifted into a deep sleep, he had a horrendous nightmare.
He was in a dark graveyard, the same one that he had been the night Voldemort returned. Thirty Death Eaters formed a circle around Voldemort, who was giving them orders. 'The time is coming for a great war between the forces of good and evil. Dumbleore and his idiots will fight us and try to eradicate us. But they will fail, for Lord Voldemort has an army of his own. When the time comes, we will reunite with our imprisoned brethren and the world will feel the wrath of Lord Voldemort and his followers.' This statement was followed by laughter and murmuring. 'Master, we crave to know when we will strike', a Death Eater asked. 'In due time, Roth, in due time', said Voldemort, whose eyes glinted in the darkness. 'We will triumph over Dumbledore and the others because we have a weapon that they don't. The Dementors...' At that point, Harry felt that familiar coldness that he knew too well. Hundreds of Dementors appeared from the darkness and assembled themselves in neat rows. 'Behold, the army that will do my bidding.' Lord Voldemort laughed his high, cold laugh and Harry's scar seared with pain as if someone had placed a white hot rod on his forehead.
He screamed out loud, waking the others up. Ron ran to Harry's bed and shook him awake. 'Harry! Harry! Wake up!' Harry woke up with a start and said out loud, 'He's got them Ron, He's got them!'
'Who?', said Ron, who was looking fearfully at Harry.
'He's got the Dementors, Ron, hundreds of them...'