The Phoenix's Prophesy
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 9.
~*~*~*~
"So you ran into Goyle?" Ginny asked softly, the next morning at breakfast. Harry nodded.
"Yeah. He seemed almost...nice...in an ogre-ish type of way." Harry's comment made her giggle. The two of them were some of the earliest students down in the Hall, for two different reasons. Ginny had been woken by one of her dreams, and Harry had been woken by the alarm clock Hermione had given him for his Birthday. Why it had been set to go off so early, he would never know.
"Maybe he was telling the truth...though, Goyle's always seemed like the 'beat-up-a-kid-to-do-my-homework' type of person, not the 'I'll-just-read-a- book-while-I'm-at-it' type of guy." Ginny mussed. Harry nodded.
"I mean, I caused him to be turned into a slug look-alike at the end of last term, but he doesn't even seem to care. Or if he does, he hides it well." Harry chuckled. Ginny nodded and bit into her toast.
"Gin...did Ron tell you about Dumbledore asking me to continue the DADA class?" Harry asked hesitantly. Ginny's eyes lit up.
"OH! Are you? He didn't mention anything to me, but are you?" She asked eagerly, dropping her toast onto her plate in the process. Harry smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Yes. I just need a convenient day for us all to meet. I sort of want to leave it a surprise." Harry murmured.
"All right. Oh, and Harry, have you thought about Quidditch?" Ginny asked gently. Harry sighed and turned to her.
"Ginny, how would you feel about being on the team? I mean, Ron and I are truly the only ones left from the 'official' team, and we are going to need to hold try-outs..."
"And get a Captain." She added. Harry waved a hand.
"That one's easy. I'm going to ask Dumbledore to get Ron to do it."
"RON? THE QUIDDITCH CAPTAIN?!?!" Ginny shrieked. Harry shushed her and nodded.
"Harry, are you crazy? You'd do much better as the Captain..."
"No, Ginny, I wouldn't. I have to much to do already. But Ron, Ron would be perfect. He is a Prefect, he is responsible (within reason), he likes to make up plays...he'd be perfect." Harry insisted. Ginny still looked unconvinced, and Harry sighed.
"Ginny, I have something to tell you. When I was in my first year, I found a mirror call the 'Mirror of Erised'. It showed me my parents, and eager to share my new toy, I showed it to Ron. Instead of seeing my parents in the mirror, like I thought he would, he saw himself as not only Head-Boy, but also the Quidditch captain." As Harry told her this, Ginny's mouth fell open in shock.
"Don't you see? It showed Ron's deepest desire. To outshine all his brothers. To show everyone that he was not just a Weasley, he was a Weasley to be reckoned with. And it's true. Ron has done many things, his brothers would never have dreamed of doing. So have you. Do you understand why I'm doing this, now? I want Ron to get some of the credit for everything he has done for us...for the Wizarding World. Perhaps this will boost his confidence enough to make him believe that he *is* worth something in this world, and isn't just another Weasley." Harry finished his speech, and Ginny was silent for a moment.
"He really has out-bested his brothers, already, hasn't he?" Ginny finally asked softly. Harry nodded.
"But he doesn't realize it. Ron is a talented person. He just needs to see that for himself." Harry assured her. Ginny smiled.
"Harry, you are wonderful, do you know that?"
"Why do you say that?" He asked, blushing slightly.
"You find the good in everyone. You give them the recognition that they deserve, and you are humble as you do it." Ginny murmured. Harry snorted slightly.
"No, I'm selfish. You see, if they get all the credit, attention is diverted to them, and not to me. Thereby, giving me the privacy I want!" Harry laughed. Ginny realized that this was true and began to laugh with him.
"Hey, what's so funny?" Neville asked, coming up behind them and sitting next to Ginny. Harry and Ginny looked at each other for a moment, before bursting into laughter again, causing a very confused Neville to smile nervously.
~*~*~*~
But by the end of the day, Harry's humorous attitude had faded into deep annoyance at a certain Potions Master.
"Mr. Potter, the Relaxation Potion is supposed to be clear. Why is yours yellow?" Snape snapped, glowering at Harry. This was the sixth time the professor had pointed out something wrong with his potion. By now, most of the Slytherins were snickering, though Harry noticed that Goyle was strangely oblivious to the fact that Crabbe was guffawing in his ear. He stayed hunched over his potion, which was shockingly the right color.
"Why don't you answer that, Professor? I'm sure you know." Harry hissed back. Snape's eyes flared and he shot a deadly glare at Harry.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor, for your dirty mouth." Snape spat, before moving onto Neville. But for the first time, he was left speechless, as Neville's potion was also the correct color. Neville shot the professor a sly smile, and then went back to putting his potions things away. Snape looked absolutely confounded, but since Neville was sitting beside a Slytherin, and not Hermione, he couldn't blame Neville for listening to her.
"I want a three foot essay about the effects of this relaxant potion, to be turned in at the start of next class." Snape announced, as students carried their vials of liquid up to his desk. Harry stayed silent on the way back to the Great Hall, while Ron muttered darkly about homework on the first day.
"It is N.E.W.T.'s preparation, after all, Ron." Hermione reminded him, as she dished them up some casserole. Ron shot her a glare, then looked at Harry, who was staring into space.
"Harry? Mate, are you alright?" Ron asked, waving his hand in front of Harry's face. Harry started at the intrusion, and shook the fog out of his mind.
"I'm fine." He muttered, digging into his meal. Hermione glanced over at him, sympathetically.
"Don't take what Snape said, to heart, Harry." She whispered, patting his hand. Harry looked at her, startled.
"Huh? Oh, that. I won't." He muttered, going back to his thoughts. Hermione and Ron shot each other 'looks', and silently decided not to bother him.
But Harry noticed none of this. His thoughts were on the encounter he had had with Goyle the night before, and the fact that Goyle seemed to be actually making an effort to do his schoolwork. Even more shocking was the fact that, while Malfoy, Crabbe, and the other goons were laughing meanly and chattering about this and that, Goyle stayed surprisingly quiet, his gaze on his food. Occasionally, Malfoy would elbow him and laugh at a joke that was just told, forcing Goyle to look up and shoot a week 'ha' for effect. But Harry noticed that even those seemed strained and forced.
Harry's mind wandered back to the classes he had had with the Slytherins that day, and it all turned out the same. Goyle was one of the first, after Hermione, to change his fur slippers into a purring white kitten in Transfiguration. McGonagle had seemed especially surprised about this, considering that Goyle rarely did any work in Transfiguration at all. But something Harry had noticed that she hadn't, was that after she congratulated him and turned away, Goyle had slipped the tiny purring ball of fluff into a pocket in his robes, and would occasionally stroke that area on his robes, almost absentmindedly.
Looking over at the Slytherin table, Harry noticed Goyle's hand going to that same place, and stroking the mound that must have been a sleeping kitten. Why Goyle was keeping it, Harry didn't know, nor was he sure he wanted to. But Harry was sure of one thing.
Something was definitely wrong with the Slytherin, and it didn't seem to be easing any, as the school days dragged on.
"...alright?"
"Huh?" Harry asked, jolted out of his thoughts again. Neville, who was sitting across from him, frowned slightly.
"I was asking if you were alright. You seem to have an infatuation with the Slytherin table, lately. Something you want to share?" Neville asked teasingly. Harry shot him a weak grin.
"Not really. It's just the wood on their table is so...beautiful. The Slytherins don't deserve it. It deserves someone better."
At Harry's sarcastic words, Neville burst out laughing, and the subject was dropped.
~*~*~*~
"Professor, may I make a request?"
It was several weeks after Harry's last meeting with Dumbledore, and there still hadn't been a set time for the first meeting of the class. Dumbledore had called him up to his office to give him a list of people he thought trustworthy to be in the class.
"Go right ahead." The kindly old professor was looking over his list once again, to make sure he had missed no one.
"Quidditch season is coming up...at least, the practices are, and we are going to need a new Captain..." Harry trailed off her, as Dumbledore looked up, smiled, and held up his hand in a silencing motion.
"Yes, I have been informed. But I also sense that you have a particular person in mind?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at this, and Harry smiled.
"Yes. I want Ron to be the Captain. He has good ideas as to plays, and I think the leadership would do him some good." Harry murmured. Dumbledore nodded, looking thoughtful.
"I believe you are right, Harry. Mr. Weasley would do well in that position. I will talk it over with him directly."
"Thanks. And I'd also like to know if Ginny Weasley can keep her place in the team. She's told me that she would rather be a Chaser, and I don't see anything wrong with that..."
"That is fine. The Weasley's do seem to have quite a talent, don't they? Now, as to the newest members of your class..."
Harry smiled as Dumbledore continued, naming several people that he had never heard of, including some first years. But at one name, Dumbledore paused, looking pensive.
"Harry, I would like to bring one last thing up. How do you feel, about Slytherins entering the group?" At Dumbledore's words, Harry started, turning wide green eyes towards Dumbledore.
"Well..." He tried to think of the right words to say.
"...do you think they would be worthy? Because I trust your judgment." Harry finished. Dumbledore looked pleased.
"You may be surprised with some of my choices, Harry. And some of the members of your class could be prejudiced against them, including you." Dumbledore warned. Harry thought about this for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.
"I believe that...Gregory Goyle would be an asset to you."
"WHAT?!?!" Harry shouted, standing up.
"One of Malfoy's...Draco's, henchmen?" He stammered. Dumbledore sighed and put down the list, folding his hands in front of him.
"Harry, first know this. I consider you, not as much a student to me, but an equal. I would never knowingly put you in a position where you have to choose between your beliefs and mine. But let me say this. Mr. Goyle has been through quite a bit this summer...far more than he would ever admit. I am sure you have noticed that he has been pulling further away from his peers, lately?" Dumbledore asked. Harry's eyes narrowed, but he nodded.
"He's actually acting...intelligent." Harry commented, causing Dumbledore raise an eyebrow.
"Yes, well, Mr. Goyle has had plenty of time to study over the summer. His mother was taken to her bed in hysterics earlier in the summer, and his father, as you know, is in Azkaban. It has given him time to think about his choices." Dumbledore continued. Harry wondered why the professor was sharing such confidential information with him, but he soon found out.
"Mr. Goyle finally chose his path of loyalty. He owled me just before school started, asking me for guidance. He has decided to join our forces, as a spy."
It was this information, above all else, that shocked Harry the most. Goyle? Gregory Goyle, the dumb, mindless follower and protector of Malfoy, was going to betray his own people? All right, betray is the wrong word. He was actually willing to go against them, against Voldemort, to work for the side of good? Suddenly, Harry's respect for the other boy skyrocketed.
"How?" Harry asked slowly. Dumbledore smiled.
"He lives in a home where he can get much of his information, easily. He will relay that information back to me, which will in turn, help our cause." Dumbledore finished. Harry thought about this for a moment, then nodded slowly. He didn't know why he was suddenly so trusting of Goyle...after all, it could turn out that Goyle was playing sides and working for Voldemort as well, but somehow, Harry doubted it.
"All right. He may join, if he's willing to face some pretty bad prejudice." Harry consented. Dumbledore nodded.
"There are also some other Slytherins I think would be rather eager to help, as well." Dumbledore then named them off, some Harry had heard of, others he hadn't. It didn't surprise Harry that most of them didn't come from deatheater families, but from families who still went along with the 'whole blood' idea.
After agreeing to the people on the list, Dumbledore assured Harry that he would speak with them as soon as possible, then allowed him to go.
Harry's mind was full as he left the office. It was nearly midnight by now, but this didn't bother him any. He was still thinking about the Slytherin students that Dumbledore had mentioned, Goyle, in particular.
He now knew why Goyle had been acting so strange. To agree to spy on your fellow house members, and hide that fact, must have been very difficult, if not perplexing. And to have to do it, from inside one of the Slytherins most deatheater-active groups of students, that must have been downright nerve-wracking.
"Mer-ow."
Harry was jolted out of his thoughts, and looked down in surprise, to see a tiny white kitten sitting calmly at his feet. Harry immediately recognized it as the kitten Goyle had transfigured from a pair of slippers, and immediately looked around for the proprietor.
"Goyle." Harry said, as he nodded to the seated boy. Goyle was watching him with narrowed eyes, but he looked surprised at Harry's almost-friendly greeting.
"Potter." He grunted, reaching out and picking the kitten up. It gave a happy mew, and curled up in it's owner's arms. Harry didn't know why, but he felt a strange urge to invite Goyle himself, instead of waiting for Dumbledore to do it.
"I've just been to Professor Dumbledore's office." Harry commented, picking his words carefully.
"So?" Goyle asked, playing with some of the kitten's fur.
"I'm sure you remember that group that Umbridge tried to uncover in Hogwarts, last year, don't you?" Harry asked Goyle grunted, and Harry took this as a 'yes'.
"Well, it wasn't fictional. Some of the students did form a group." Harry informed him. Goyle's head shot up, and a pair of surprisingly blue eyes met Harry's green ones.
"They did?"
"Yes. Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and I started it...actually, they got the idea, and got me tangled up in it. We formed a group that teaches the other students spells and hexes that we wouldn't normally learn in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Who taught it?" Goyle asked, showing interest. Harry was surprised, to say the least, but continued.
"I did. And this year, we are continuing the group, with the teachers permission. Only this year, we are also taking on new members."
"And?"
"I was wondering if you would like to join." Harry stated. There! He'd done it. Goyle sat still a moment, looking shocked.
"You want me, a Slytherin, to join? What are you playing at, Potter?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why? Why do you suddenly trust me to keep this secret and join, when just last year, I was trying to destroy the group?" Goyle asked. Harry was again, startled by Goyle's extensive vocabulary, but chose not to show it.
"Because Dumbledore trusts you. And if he has reason to trust you, I don't doubt him." Harry said, watching as Goyle's hands fisted and the knuckles turned white.
"He told you, didn't he." Goyle's voice was dull, and more of a statement, not a question.
"About your choice of loyalties? Yes. But only because I was starting to doubt his sanity when he mentioned you as a candidate for the group." Harry tried to keep a smirk from showing, but to his shock, Goyle broke into a smirk himself.
"You should still doubt his sanity." Goyle's voice held an amused quality in it, that caused Harry to relax and grin.
"Sometimes I wonder. But you still haven't answered my question. I warn you, you will have to face a lot of prejudice and they won't be kind."
"I've not suddenly gone soft, Potter. I realize that I won't be liked...but I suppose I could give it a try, anyway. It could come in useful if anyone ever discovers what I'm doing." Goyle said thoughtfully. Harry nodded.
"Good. Dumbledore will probably call you down, just to verify. There may be other Slytherins joining, but that isn't a sure bet, yet."
"Fine." Goyle said shortly.
"Well, I'd better go. It's late." Harry said. Goyle nodded, stroking the kitten once again. Harry smiled.
"I didn't know you were a cat person."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." Goyle said, standing up and turning to walk away. Harry watched him go, and couldn't help but smile.
Things may not be wonderful in the Wizarding world, but they were starting to get better...at least for now.
~*~*~*~
Three weeks later, an announcement on the Gryffindor message board read this:
//Students:
Delegates from Durmstrang, Beuxbatons, Dormouff Academy, and Salem Academy are due to arrive October 31, at seven o' clock.
Students from 5th to 7th year will be arriving to support their school Quidditch team, and will be expected to stay throughout the remaining school year. Seating during meal-times to be decided.
Hogwarts students are expected to be on their best behavior during this time, and will be expected to show a good example to those staying here. Transgressors will be disciplined.//
Then just below that:
//Gryffindors:
Quidditch try-outs will be held October 16th.
Anyone interested in joining the team, please sign up here, and be at the Quidditch pitch by no later than eight-thirty. Brooms will be provided to those who have none, those who do, please bring your own broom.//
~*~*~*~
"HARRY!"
Harry, who had just come down the stairs from the boy's dorms, looked up at Ron's alarmed yell.
"What?"
"Harry, we don't even have a Captain, yet." Ron panted, looking distressed. Ginny, who was behind him, smiled lightly at Harry.
"Yes we do, Ron."
"We do?" Ron asked, looking confused. Harry smirked.
"You." Harry watched as his friend's face turned from horrified, to shocked, to confused, and finally, amazed.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You're the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Dumbledore told me a few days ago."
"Really? I'm the captain?" Ron's voice was weak with shock and happiness.
"No, Ron. My invisible monkey is the captain." Ginny said sarcastically. But Ron was already floating on cloud nine, and didn't hear her.
"I'm the captain." His voice was distant. Harry grinned, and smacked him on the shoulder.
"Wake up, Ron. You do realize what this means, don't you?" Harry asked. Ron immediately came back to earth.
"A lot. I have to plan practices, make game plans, choose new members..."
"Keep from going nutty?" Ginny suggested, causing Harry to short and Ron to glare at her.
"Harry!"
"What now?" Harry groaned, as Hermione's eager voice penetrated Ron's newest musings.
"Oh, well if that's how you are going to act..."
"No, I'm sorry, Mione'. I just keep getting called, and it's starting to wear on my nerves."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. First Neville wants to know when the first defense class is. Then Dean wants to know if he is still allowed to come. Then it was Seamus, then Ron..."
"I get it. But Harry, isn't Salem Academy the school that your American friend goes to?" She asked. Harry nodded.
"Rose? Yes. She's coming, along with all of her friends, plus some. Jackson's so excited that he can hardly sit still...which, Neville tells me, is not an uncommon occurrence." Harry chuckled. Hermione frowned.
"How did you know?"
"That's what the letter Neville gave me on the train, said. And Neville has known since it was announced at Salem Academy, though Dumbledore wouldn't let him tell anyone." Harry finished. They were silent for a moment, then Ginny piped up with:
"So...when is the class starting up again?"
"After Halloween." Harry said, refusing to tell them any more.
~*~*~*~
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 9.
~*~*~*~
"So you ran into Goyle?" Ginny asked softly, the next morning at breakfast. Harry nodded.
"Yeah. He seemed almost...nice...in an ogre-ish type of way." Harry's comment made her giggle. The two of them were some of the earliest students down in the Hall, for two different reasons. Ginny had been woken by one of her dreams, and Harry had been woken by the alarm clock Hermione had given him for his Birthday. Why it had been set to go off so early, he would never know.
"Maybe he was telling the truth...though, Goyle's always seemed like the 'beat-up-a-kid-to-do-my-homework' type of person, not the 'I'll-just-read-a- book-while-I'm-at-it' type of guy." Ginny mussed. Harry nodded.
"I mean, I caused him to be turned into a slug look-alike at the end of last term, but he doesn't even seem to care. Or if he does, he hides it well." Harry chuckled. Ginny nodded and bit into her toast.
"Gin...did Ron tell you about Dumbledore asking me to continue the DADA class?" Harry asked hesitantly. Ginny's eyes lit up.
"OH! Are you? He didn't mention anything to me, but are you?" She asked eagerly, dropping her toast onto her plate in the process. Harry smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Yes. I just need a convenient day for us all to meet. I sort of want to leave it a surprise." Harry murmured.
"All right. Oh, and Harry, have you thought about Quidditch?" Ginny asked gently. Harry sighed and turned to her.
"Ginny, how would you feel about being on the team? I mean, Ron and I are truly the only ones left from the 'official' team, and we are going to need to hold try-outs..."
"And get a Captain." She added. Harry waved a hand.
"That one's easy. I'm going to ask Dumbledore to get Ron to do it."
"RON? THE QUIDDITCH CAPTAIN?!?!" Ginny shrieked. Harry shushed her and nodded.
"Harry, are you crazy? You'd do much better as the Captain..."
"No, Ginny, I wouldn't. I have to much to do already. But Ron, Ron would be perfect. He is a Prefect, he is responsible (within reason), he likes to make up plays...he'd be perfect." Harry insisted. Ginny still looked unconvinced, and Harry sighed.
"Ginny, I have something to tell you. When I was in my first year, I found a mirror call the 'Mirror of Erised'. It showed me my parents, and eager to share my new toy, I showed it to Ron. Instead of seeing my parents in the mirror, like I thought he would, he saw himself as not only Head-Boy, but also the Quidditch captain." As Harry told her this, Ginny's mouth fell open in shock.
"Don't you see? It showed Ron's deepest desire. To outshine all his brothers. To show everyone that he was not just a Weasley, he was a Weasley to be reckoned with. And it's true. Ron has done many things, his brothers would never have dreamed of doing. So have you. Do you understand why I'm doing this, now? I want Ron to get some of the credit for everything he has done for us...for the Wizarding World. Perhaps this will boost his confidence enough to make him believe that he *is* worth something in this world, and isn't just another Weasley." Harry finished his speech, and Ginny was silent for a moment.
"He really has out-bested his brothers, already, hasn't he?" Ginny finally asked softly. Harry nodded.
"But he doesn't realize it. Ron is a talented person. He just needs to see that for himself." Harry assured her. Ginny smiled.
"Harry, you are wonderful, do you know that?"
"Why do you say that?" He asked, blushing slightly.
"You find the good in everyone. You give them the recognition that they deserve, and you are humble as you do it." Ginny murmured. Harry snorted slightly.
"No, I'm selfish. You see, if they get all the credit, attention is diverted to them, and not to me. Thereby, giving me the privacy I want!" Harry laughed. Ginny realized that this was true and began to laugh with him.
"Hey, what's so funny?" Neville asked, coming up behind them and sitting next to Ginny. Harry and Ginny looked at each other for a moment, before bursting into laughter again, causing a very confused Neville to smile nervously.
~*~*~*~
But by the end of the day, Harry's humorous attitude had faded into deep annoyance at a certain Potions Master.
"Mr. Potter, the Relaxation Potion is supposed to be clear. Why is yours yellow?" Snape snapped, glowering at Harry. This was the sixth time the professor had pointed out something wrong with his potion. By now, most of the Slytherins were snickering, though Harry noticed that Goyle was strangely oblivious to the fact that Crabbe was guffawing in his ear. He stayed hunched over his potion, which was shockingly the right color.
"Why don't you answer that, Professor? I'm sure you know." Harry hissed back. Snape's eyes flared and he shot a deadly glare at Harry.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor, for your dirty mouth." Snape spat, before moving onto Neville. But for the first time, he was left speechless, as Neville's potion was also the correct color. Neville shot the professor a sly smile, and then went back to putting his potions things away. Snape looked absolutely confounded, but since Neville was sitting beside a Slytherin, and not Hermione, he couldn't blame Neville for listening to her.
"I want a three foot essay about the effects of this relaxant potion, to be turned in at the start of next class." Snape announced, as students carried their vials of liquid up to his desk. Harry stayed silent on the way back to the Great Hall, while Ron muttered darkly about homework on the first day.
"It is N.E.W.T.'s preparation, after all, Ron." Hermione reminded him, as she dished them up some casserole. Ron shot her a glare, then looked at Harry, who was staring into space.
"Harry? Mate, are you alright?" Ron asked, waving his hand in front of Harry's face. Harry started at the intrusion, and shook the fog out of his mind.
"I'm fine." He muttered, digging into his meal. Hermione glanced over at him, sympathetically.
"Don't take what Snape said, to heart, Harry." She whispered, patting his hand. Harry looked at her, startled.
"Huh? Oh, that. I won't." He muttered, going back to his thoughts. Hermione and Ron shot each other 'looks', and silently decided not to bother him.
But Harry noticed none of this. His thoughts were on the encounter he had had with Goyle the night before, and the fact that Goyle seemed to be actually making an effort to do his schoolwork. Even more shocking was the fact that, while Malfoy, Crabbe, and the other goons were laughing meanly and chattering about this and that, Goyle stayed surprisingly quiet, his gaze on his food. Occasionally, Malfoy would elbow him and laugh at a joke that was just told, forcing Goyle to look up and shoot a week 'ha' for effect. But Harry noticed that even those seemed strained and forced.
Harry's mind wandered back to the classes he had had with the Slytherins that day, and it all turned out the same. Goyle was one of the first, after Hermione, to change his fur slippers into a purring white kitten in Transfiguration. McGonagle had seemed especially surprised about this, considering that Goyle rarely did any work in Transfiguration at all. But something Harry had noticed that she hadn't, was that after she congratulated him and turned away, Goyle had slipped the tiny purring ball of fluff into a pocket in his robes, and would occasionally stroke that area on his robes, almost absentmindedly.
Looking over at the Slytherin table, Harry noticed Goyle's hand going to that same place, and stroking the mound that must have been a sleeping kitten. Why Goyle was keeping it, Harry didn't know, nor was he sure he wanted to. But Harry was sure of one thing.
Something was definitely wrong with the Slytherin, and it didn't seem to be easing any, as the school days dragged on.
"...alright?"
"Huh?" Harry asked, jolted out of his thoughts again. Neville, who was sitting across from him, frowned slightly.
"I was asking if you were alright. You seem to have an infatuation with the Slytherin table, lately. Something you want to share?" Neville asked teasingly. Harry shot him a weak grin.
"Not really. It's just the wood on their table is so...beautiful. The Slytherins don't deserve it. It deserves someone better."
At Harry's sarcastic words, Neville burst out laughing, and the subject was dropped.
~*~*~*~
"Professor, may I make a request?"
It was several weeks after Harry's last meeting with Dumbledore, and there still hadn't been a set time for the first meeting of the class. Dumbledore had called him up to his office to give him a list of people he thought trustworthy to be in the class.
"Go right ahead." The kindly old professor was looking over his list once again, to make sure he had missed no one.
"Quidditch season is coming up...at least, the practices are, and we are going to need a new Captain..." Harry trailed off her, as Dumbledore looked up, smiled, and held up his hand in a silencing motion.
"Yes, I have been informed. But I also sense that you have a particular person in mind?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at this, and Harry smiled.
"Yes. I want Ron to be the Captain. He has good ideas as to plays, and I think the leadership would do him some good." Harry murmured. Dumbledore nodded, looking thoughtful.
"I believe you are right, Harry. Mr. Weasley would do well in that position. I will talk it over with him directly."
"Thanks. And I'd also like to know if Ginny Weasley can keep her place in the team. She's told me that she would rather be a Chaser, and I don't see anything wrong with that..."
"That is fine. The Weasley's do seem to have quite a talent, don't they? Now, as to the newest members of your class..."
Harry smiled as Dumbledore continued, naming several people that he had never heard of, including some first years. But at one name, Dumbledore paused, looking pensive.
"Harry, I would like to bring one last thing up. How do you feel, about Slytherins entering the group?" At Dumbledore's words, Harry started, turning wide green eyes towards Dumbledore.
"Well..." He tried to think of the right words to say.
"...do you think they would be worthy? Because I trust your judgment." Harry finished. Dumbledore looked pleased.
"You may be surprised with some of my choices, Harry. And some of the members of your class could be prejudiced against them, including you." Dumbledore warned. Harry thought about this for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.
"I believe that...Gregory Goyle would be an asset to you."
"WHAT?!?!" Harry shouted, standing up.
"One of Malfoy's...Draco's, henchmen?" He stammered. Dumbledore sighed and put down the list, folding his hands in front of him.
"Harry, first know this. I consider you, not as much a student to me, but an equal. I would never knowingly put you in a position where you have to choose between your beliefs and mine. But let me say this. Mr. Goyle has been through quite a bit this summer...far more than he would ever admit. I am sure you have noticed that he has been pulling further away from his peers, lately?" Dumbledore asked. Harry's eyes narrowed, but he nodded.
"He's actually acting...intelligent." Harry commented, causing Dumbledore raise an eyebrow.
"Yes, well, Mr. Goyle has had plenty of time to study over the summer. His mother was taken to her bed in hysterics earlier in the summer, and his father, as you know, is in Azkaban. It has given him time to think about his choices." Dumbledore continued. Harry wondered why the professor was sharing such confidential information with him, but he soon found out.
"Mr. Goyle finally chose his path of loyalty. He owled me just before school started, asking me for guidance. He has decided to join our forces, as a spy."
It was this information, above all else, that shocked Harry the most. Goyle? Gregory Goyle, the dumb, mindless follower and protector of Malfoy, was going to betray his own people? All right, betray is the wrong word. He was actually willing to go against them, against Voldemort, to work for the side of good? Suddenly, Harry's respect for the other boy skyrocketed.
"How?" Harry asked slowly. Dumbledore smiled.
"He lives in a home where he can get much of his information, easily. He will relay that information back to me, which will in turn, help our cause." Dumbledore finished. Harry thought about this for a moment, then nodded slowly. He didn't know why he was suddenly so trusting of Goyle...after all, it could turn out that Goyle was playing sides and working for Voldemort as well, but somehow, Harry doubted it.
"All right. He may join, if he's willing to face some pretty bad prejudice." Harry consented. Dumbledore nodded.
"There are also some other Slytherins I think would be rather eager to help, as well." Dumbledore then named them off, some Harry had heard of, others he hadn't. It didn't surprise Harry that most of them didn't come from deatheater families, but from families who still went along with the 'whole blood' idea.
After agreeing to the people on the list, Dumbledore assured Harry that he would speak with them as soon as possible, then allowed him to go.
Harry's mind was full as he left the office. It was nearly midnight by now, but this didn't bother him any. He was still thinking about the Slytherin students that Dumbledore had mentioned, Goyle, in particular.
He now knew why Goyle had been acting so strange. To agree to spy on your fellow house members, and hide that fact, must have been very difficult, if not perplexing. And to have to do it, from inside one of the Slytherins most deatheater-active groups of students, that must have been downright nerve-wracking.
"Mer-ow."
Harry was jolted out of his thoughts, and looked down in surprise, to see a tiny white kitten sitting calmly at his feet. Harry immediately recognized it as the kitten Goyle had transfigured from a pair of slippers, and immediately looked around for the proprietor.
"Goyle." Harry said, as he nodded to the seated boy. Goyle was watching him with narrowed eyes, but he looked surprised at Harry's almost-friendly greeting.
"Potter." He grunted, reaching out and picking the kitten up. It gave a happy mew, and curled up in it's owner's arms. Harry didn't know why, but he felt a strange urge to invite Goyle himself, instead of waiting for Dumbledore to do it.
"I've just been to Professor Dumbledore's office." Harry commented, picking his words carefully.
"So?" Goyle asked, playing with some of the kitten's fur.
"I'm sure you remember that group that Umbridge tried to uncover in Hogwarts, last year, don't you?" Harry asked Goyle grunted, and Harry took this as a 'yes'.
"Well, it wasn't fictional. Some of the students did form a group." Harry informed him. Goyle's head shot up, and a pair of surprisingly blue eyes met Harry's green ones.
"They did?"
"Yes. Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and I started it...actually, they got the idea, and got me tangled up in it. We formed a group that teaches the other students spells and hexes that we wouldn't normally learn in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Who taught it?" Goyle asked, showing interest. Harry was surprised, to say the least, but continued.
"I did. And this year, we are continuing the group, with the teachers permission. Only this year, we are also taking on new members."
"And?"
"I was wondering if you would like to join." Harry stated. There! He'd done it. Goyle sat still a moment, looking shocked.
"You want me, a Slytherin, to join? What are you playing at, Potter?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why? Why do you suddenly trust me to keep this secret and join, when just last year, I was trying to destroy the group?" Goyle asked. Harry was again, startled by Goyle's extensive vocabulary, but chose not to show it.
"Because Dumbledore trusts you. And if he has reason to trust you, I don't doubt him." Harry said, watching as Goyle's hands fisted and the knuckles turned white.
"He told you, didn't he." Goyle's voice was dull, and more of a statement, not a question.
"About your choice of loyalties? Yes. But only because I was starting to doubt his sanity when he mentioned you as a candidate for the group." Harry tried to keep a smirk from showing, but to his shock, Goyle broke into a smirk himself.
"You should still doubt his sanity." Goyle's voice held an amused quality in it, that caused Harry to relax and grin.
"Sometimes I wonder. But you still haven't answered my question. I warn you, you will have to face a lot of prejudice and they won't be kind."
"I've not suddenly gone soft, Potter. I realize that I won't be liked...but I suppose I could give it a try, anyway. It could come in useful if anyone ever discovers what I'm doing." Goyle said thoughtfully. Harry nodded.
"Good. Dumbledore will probably call you down, just to verify. There may be other Slytherins joining, but that isn't a sure bet, yet."
"Fine." Goyle said shortly.
"Well, I'd better go. It's late." Harry said. Goyle nodded, stroking the kitten once again. Harry smiled.
"I didn't know you were a cat person."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." Goyle said, standing up and turning to walk away. Harry watched him go, and couldn't help but smile.
Things may not be wonderful in the Wizarding world, but they were starting to get better...at least for now.
~*~*~*~
Three weeks later, an announcement on the Gryffindor message board read this:
//Students:
Delegates from Durmstrang, Beuxbatons, Dormouff Academy, and Salem Academy are due to arrive October 31, at seven o' clock.
Students from 5th to 7th year will be arriving to support their school Quidditch team, and will be expected to stay throughout the remaining school year. Seating during meal-times to be decided.
Hogwarts students are expected to be on their best behavior during this time, and will be expected to show a good example to those staying here. Transgressors will be disciplined.//
Then just below that:
//Gryffindors:
Quidditch try-outs will be held October 16th.
Anyone interested in joining the team, please sign up here, and be at the Quidditch pitch by no later than eight-thirty. Brooms will be provided to those who have none, those who do, please bring your own broom.//
~*~*~*~
"HARRY!"
Harry, who had just come down the stairs from the boy's dorms, looked up at Ron's alarmed yell.
"What?"
"Harry, we don't even have a Captain, yet." Ron panted, looking distressed. Ginny, who was behind him, smiled lightly at Harry.
"Yes we do, Ron."
"We do?" Ron asked, looking confused. Harry smirked.
"You." Harry watched as his friend's face turned from horrified, to shocked, to confused, and finally, amazed.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You're the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Dumbledore told me a few days ago."
"Really? I'm the captain?" Ron's voice was weak with shock and happiness.
"No, Ron. My invisible monkey is the captain." Ginny said sarcastically. But Ron was already floating on cloud nine, and didn't hear her.
"I'm the captain." His voice was distant. Harry grinned, and smacked him on the shoulder.
"Wake up, Ron. You do realize what this means, don't you?" Harry asked. Ron immediately came back to earth.
"A lot. I have to plan practices, make game plans, choose new members..."
"Keep from going nutty?" Ginny suggested, causing Harry to short and Ron to glare at her.
"Harry!"
"What now?" Harry groaned, as Hermione's eager voice penetrated Ron's newest musings.
"Oh, well if that's how you are going to act..."
"No, I'm sorry, Mione'. I just keep getting called, and it's starting to wear on my nerves."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. First Neville wants to know when the first defense class is. Then Dean wants to know if he is still allowed to come. Then it was Seamus, then Ron..."
"I get it. But Harry, isn't Salem Academy the school that your American friend goes to?" She asked. Harry nodded.
"Rose? Yes. She's coming, along with all of her friends, plus some. Jackson's so excited that he can hardly sit still...which, Neville tells me, is not an uncommon occurrence." Harry chuckled. Hermione frowned.
"How did you know?"
"That's what the letter Neville gave me on the train, said. And Neville has known since it was announced at Salem Academy, though Dumbledore wouldn't let him tell anyone." Harry finished. They were silent for a moment, then Ginny piped up with:
"So...when is the class starting up again?"
"After Halloween." Harry said, refusing to tell them any more.
~*~*~*~