A/N: JKR owns all of these characters, I own the plot only. I'm of course
still poor and making no money off of this.
Chapter 5
Shifty Schedule
For the first time in quite awhile, the fifth year students from all four houses all shared one thing in common that day at lunch. They all wondered if there was any possible way that time could pass any slower. Harry considered the possibility that he was caught up in some sort of broken time turner that was forcing him to live through this lunch period over and over again.
None of them felt like eating very much (except Crabbe and Goyle of course). They all seemed to be trying to will the other students to leave the Great Hall early so they could find out about their new classes.
"What's wrong?" George asked his younger brother while throwing his arm around Ron and embracing him in a brotherly way that seemed to make Ron very suspicious. He tensed up but didn't say anything yet.
"Yeah, you three look like someone just asked you to bake a birthday cake for Snape," Fred chimed in. "Out with it now --- come on."
"It's hard to explain," Harry offered.
"What?" George asked. "Don't tell me you three really did bake a birthday cake for Snape."
Harry shook his head. "Of course not."
Fred wore a mock frown. "Well that's too bad. George and I have some original ingredients that we're dying to try out. They're real doozies but we can't bring ourselves to try them on any Gryffindors. So then, if you lot ever do bake a birthday cake for Snape you'll let us know won't you?"
"Sure," Harry agreed.
Fred brightened. "Excellent. Well then. Back to my little bro here and his problems. If that's not it then what is it?"
"Nothing," Ron said. "We're just anxious to find out what these new classes are all about."
"I know I am," Hermione contributed finally putting away her quill, closing her notebook and paying full attention to the conversation. "Think about the possibilities. Maybe we're going on a fieldtrip to a museum or even better --- a library." Everyone that was listening groaned loudly.
She continued, "Just think about what we could do with extra lessons. Maybe they're going to start an advanced Ancient Runes class. Or better yet," she was definitely on a role now. Ron and Harry rolled the eyes but remained silent. They knew there was no stopping her now.
She continued, "Maybe an advanced Arithmency class. Oooohhhh I really hope it's an advanced Arithmency class. Fred, George, Lee, did anything like this happen to you in your fifth year?"
"Nope. But then again most of the professors here don't trust George and me enough to try anything out of the ordinary. So anyway, there's a new joke that's been going around the Quidditch Pitch lately. Did you all hear the one about the hag, the one armed wizard and the Potions Master? No? Well, the three of them walked into a bar and the bartender said--- "
"WEASLEY!"
Professor McGonagall had walked up behind the Gryffindor table in time to hear the beginning of the joke that Harry now realized was probably going to be in questionable taste. Actually, the more he thought about it he realized there was no question at all – it would definitely be in bad taste.
Fred donned his most angelic face that no longer fooled anyone. "Yes Professor? And may I say that you're looking particularly lovely today in your robes. Are they new? How can we help you today?"
"You can help me by cutting out the nonsense Mr Weasley. You're not fooling anyone and you know better than to try that innocent look with me. Potter, Granger, Weasley, Ronald Weasley that is!"
When she knew she had their full attention she continued. "I just came by to remind you all that the fifth years were to stay here after the meal for news from the Headmaster about your new courses."
Ron answered, "We know Professor McGonagall. We can't think about anything else. You wouldn't care to give us any hints would you?"
"No I most definitely would not Mr Weasley. Honestly, you're becoming more like your brothers every day."
"WOOHOO!" the twins were cheering and hollering.
"That was not intended to be a complement," she quickly quipped but Professor McGonagall almost gave herself away as the Gryffindors could detect a slight upturn of her lips that almost betrayed her amusement at the Weasley twins. She quickly turned her back on her students and went back up to the Head Table.
The fifth year Gryffindors soon fell silent again each lost in his or her own thoughts about the upcoming announcement.
The twins tried in vain to cheer up their younger friends. None of the 5th years even laughed when Neville accepted a chocolate frog from Fred Weasley, which turned him into a mummy for a few seconds. Ron seemed to feel a little better after looking around at the other tables. "Look at Malfoy." Ron urged his two best friends elbowing them in their sides.
"He's missing that usual smug smirk that makes me want to vomit. I guess even he didn't know about these new classes."
Hermione seemed to think about this for a minute. "Do you think that means that Dumbledore didn't tell the Ministry about them? I mean, Lucius Malfoy seems to find out everything that Fudge knows. The Tri-Wizard Tournament was supposed to be a huge surprise and Malfoy knew about that."
"I don't know." Harry said. "The way that everything ended last year it wouldn't surprise me if Dumbledore didn't tell Fudge about this. There are times that I still can't believe how naïve Fudge is about the whole thing. But as for the rest, I guess I don't really care one way or the other about Malfoy or his Death Eating father; I just hope we get to find out soon."
Ron took this opportunity to launch into his own tirade about how dark the Malfoys are, were and would always be. Hermione became inwardly reflective and didn't say anything else during the meal. Finally just when Harry thought that he couldn't stand it any more, the time came. The rest of the student body had finally left the Great Hall. The bell had rung signifying the start of afternoon classes.
No one was talking when Dumbledore rose to speak. Only he and the four heads of the houses remained with the fifth years now.
"I trust you all are as anxious as I am to get going on these exciting announcements so I'll jump right in. As you all already know, you will be starting two new classes this year. However, I am forced to tell you that we can only rearrange the schedule to make room for one new one so I'm afraid you will each be required to drop one of the electives you signed up for in the third year."
"YIPPPPEEEE!"
Dumbledore smiled as the cheer came from the group. "Now now. I'm sure you all don't mean that. Think of the effort that your professors put in to your education before you are so quick to criticize." The twinkle behind his glasses took all of the sting out of his admonition.
At the news of being forced to drop an elective, Hermione was one of the few, if not the only student to be disappointed. All the rest of the students were still sporting a fairly large smile at the thought of getting rid of one of their classes, despite Dumbledore's earlier words. Ron and Harry knew exactly which of their elective classes that they'd be dropping, and if she was a true seer so did Professor Trelawney. Neville always hoped he'd be allowed to drop Potions but it looked like this wouldn't be the year he could do that either.
"Now I daresay that some of you have asked the older students about this new schedule," he scanned the students and saw more than one nod. "But none of them told you anything about it did they?" Again he searched and saw a few students slowly shaking their heads.
"Well that's because we didn't do this with them. As a matter of fact you all are the first students in over 150 years to have these opportunities and I encourage you to remember that throughout the year. This will be as enormous a responsibility as it is amazing an opportunity." Dumbledore paused here to let his message sink in to the young witches and wizards.
Harry realized his own mouth was wide open and turned to find Ron and Hermione's the same way. The thought of them doing something this different for the first time in one and a half centuries was staggering. Harry was just starting to wonder why the Headmaster didn't seem as excited about this as he normally would when the elder wizard began speaking again.
"You all know that trouble faces us in the not too distant future," he lowered his voice and spoke earnestly. Harry forced himself not to look at the Slytherins. After all, he reckoned, it would not do at all to start a fight right now in front of the Headmaster and all four heads of houses.
"We need to teach you all things that other graduates before you, thankfully, didn't need to learn. I wish it could be said that none of you needed to know these things either, but I cannot in good faith say that. Because of the unique challenges facing you, you will each have two new classes. The first class is called Advanced Magic. In that class you will learn advanced spells that we've never taught at Hogwarts before. I will not go into any great detail because you will learn more from your professors and we have other business to be getting on with but I will give you one example of a spell that you will be learning. You will all learn how to Apparate."
At this announcement almost everyone in the Great Hall was uncontrollably excited. Neville was nervous as usual and Harry had to admit that it was probably a justifiable nervousness on his part. Everyone had heard stories of wizards or witches who had nasty permanent effects after getting this one particular spell wrong. To Ron and Harry's delight, Crabbe and Goyle were also looking more than a little pale at the thought of having to Apparate. They pointed this out to Neville but it didn't seem to calm him down any.
"Now, as to the other class because I'm sure you're all anxious to learn about it. That will vary from student to student. I prefer to think of it more as an independent study. One at a time if you would please come up to the staff table and put on the Sorting Hat, you'll find out what your other class is going to be."
Almost all of the students now did seem to be a little nervous. They weren't exactly scared like in their first year when some of them thought the Sorting Hat would bewitch them or nip their heads off or something like that. Harry distinctly remembered Ron saying that his brothers told him that the sorting would hurt. But even though they didn't have any of those same fears, there was still an unknown element and Harry would just as soon get it over with.
Just like what had happened at the very beginning of their first year; Professor McGonagall stood up, unfurled a roll of parchment, and called "Abbott, Hannah!" forward.
No one was talking as she got up and timidly walked to the staff table. She sat in the chair by the hat, put it on, and waited.
A/N – I know this is a little short but it seemed like a good place to break off for lunch. If anyone has any ideas or comments, please pass them along.
Chapter 5
Shifty Schedule
For the first time in quite awhile, the fifth year students from all four houses all shared one thing in common that day at lunch. They all wondered if there was any possible way that time could pass any slower. Harry considered the possibility that he was caught up in some sort of broken time turner that was forcing him to live through this lunch period over and over again.
None of them felt like eating very much (except Crabbe and Goyle of course). They all seemed to be trying to will the other students to leave the Great Hall early so they could find out about their new classes.
"What's wrong?" George asked his younger brother while throwing his arm around Ron and embracing him in a brotherly way that seemed to make Ron very suspicious. He tensed up but didn't say anything yet.
"Yeah, you three look like someone just asked you to bake a birthday cake for Snape," Fred chimed in. "Out with it now --- come on."
"It's hard to explain," Harry offered.
"What?" George asked. "Don't tell me you three really did bake a birthday cake for Snape."
Harry shook his head. "Of course not."
Fred wore a mock frown. "Well that's too bad. George and I have some original ingredients that we're dying to try out. They're real doozies but we can't bring ourselves to try them on any Gryffindors. So then, if you lot ever do bake a birthday cake for Snape you'll let us know won't you?"
"Sure," Harry agreed.
Fred brightened. "Excellent. Well then. Back to my little bro here and his problems. If that's not it then what is it?"
"Nothing," Ron said. "We're just anxious to find out what these new classes are all about."
"I know I am," Hermione contributed finally putting away her quill, closing her notebook and paying full attention to the conversation. "Think about the possibilities. Maybe we're going on a fieldtrip to a museum or even better --- a library." Everyone that was listening groaned loudly.
She continued, "Just think about what we could do with extra lessons. Maybe they're going to start an advanced Ancient Runes class. Or better yet," she was definitely on a role now. Ron and Harry rolled the eyes but remained silent. They knew there was no stopping her now.
She continued, "Maybe an advanced Arithmency class. Oooohhhh I really hope it's an advanced Arithmency class. Fred, George, Lee, did anything like this happen to you in your fifth year?"
"Nope. But then again most of the professors here don't trust George and me enough to try anything out of the ordinary. So anyway, there's a new joke that's been going around the Quidditch Pitch lately. Did you all hear the one about the hag, the one armed wizard and the Potions Master? No? Well, the three of them walked into a bar and the bartender said--- "
"WEASLEY!"
Professor McGonagall had walked up behind the Gryffindor table in time to hear the beginning of the joke that Harry now realized was probably going to be in questionable taste. Actually, the more he thought about it he realized there was no question at all – it would definitely be in bad taste.
Fred donned his most angelic face that no longer fooled anyone. "Yes Professor? And may I say that you're looking particularly lovely today in your robes. Are they new? How can we help you today?"
"You can help me by cutting out the nonsense Mr Weasley. You're not fooling anyone and you know better than to try that innocent look with me. Potter, Granger, Weasley, Ronald Weasley that is!"
When she knew she had their full attention she continued. "I just came by to remind you all that the fifth years were to stay here after the meal for news from the Headmaster about your new courses."
Ron answered, "We know Professor McGonagall. We can't think about anything else. You wouldn't care to give us any hints would you?"
"No I most definitely would not Mr Weasley. Honestly, you're becoming more like your brothers every day."
"WOOHOO!" the twins were cheering and hollering.
"That was not intended to be a complement," she quickly quipped but Professor McGonagall almost gave herself away as the Gryffindors could detect a slight upturn of her lips that almost betrayed her amusement at the Weasley twins. She quickly turned her back on her students and went back up to the Head Table.
The fifth year Gryffindors soon fell silent again each lost in his or her own thoughts about the upcoming announcement.
The twins tried in vain to cheer up their younger friends. None of the 5th years even laughed when Neville accepted a chocolate frog from Fred Weasley, which turned him into a mummy for a few seconds. Ron seemed to feel a little better after looking around at the other tables. "Look at Malfoy." Ron urged his two best friends elbowing them in their sides.
"He's missing that usual smug smirk that makes me want to vomit. I guess even he didn't know about these new classes."
Hermione seemed to think about this for a minute. "Do you think that means that Dumbledore didn't tell the Ministry about them? I mean, Lucius Malfoy seems to find out everything that Fudge knows. The Tri-Wizard Tournament was supposed to be a huge surprise and Malfoy knew about that."
"I don't know." Harry said. "The way that everything ended last year it wouldn't surprise me if Dumbledore didn't tell Fudge about this. There are times that I still can't believe how naïve Fudge is about the whole thing. But as for the rest, I guess I don't really care one way or the other about Malfoy or his Death Eating father; I just hope we get to find out soon."
Ron took this opportunity to launch into his own tirade about how dark the Malfoys are, were and would always be. Hermione became inwardly reflective and didn't say anything else during the meal. Finally just when Harry thought that he couldn't stand it any more, the time came. The rest of the student body had finally left the Great Hall. The bell had rung signifying the start of afternoon classes.
No one was talking when Dumbledore rose to speak. Only he and the four heads of the houses remained with the fifth years now.
"I trust you all are as anxious as I am to get going on these exciting announcements so I'll jump right in. As you all already know, you will be starting two new classes this year. However, I am forced to tell you that we can only rearrange the schedule to make room for one new one so I'm afraid you will each be required to drop one of the electives you signed up for in the third year."
"YIPPPPEEEE!"
Dumbledore smiled as the cheer came from the group. "Now now. I'm sure you all don't mean that. Think of the effort that your professors put in to your education before you are so quick to criticize." The twinkle behind his glasses took all of the sting out of his admonition.
At the news of being forced to drop an elective, Hermione was one of the few, if not the only student to be disappointed. All the rest of the students were still sporting a fairly large smile at the thought of getting rid of one of their classes, despite Dumbledore's earlier words. Ron and Harry knew exactly which of their elective classes that they'd be dropping, and if she was a true seer so did Professor Trelawney. Neville always hoped he'd be allowed to drop Potions but it looked like this wouldn't be the year he could do that either.
"Now I daresay that some of you have asked the older students about this new schedule," he scanned the students and saw more than one nod. "But none of them told you anything about it did they?" Again he searched and saw a few students slowly shaking their heads.
"Well that's because we didn't do this with them. As a matter of fact you all are the first students in over 150 years to have these opportunities and I encourage you to remember that throughout the year. This will be as enormous a responsibility as it is amazing an opportunity." Dumbledore paused here to let his message sink in to the young witches and wizards.
Harry realized his own mouth was wide open and turned to find Ron and Hermione's the same way. The thought of them doing something this different for the first time in one and a half centuries was staggering. Harry was just starting to wonder why the Headmaster didn't seem as excited about this as he normally would when the elder wizard began speaking again.
"You all know that trouble faces us in the not too distant future," he lowered his voice and spoke earnestly. Harry forced himself not to look at the Slytherins. After all, he reckoned, it would not do at all to start a fight right now in front of the Headmaster and all four heads of houses.
"We need to teach you all things that other graduates before you, thankfully, didn't need to learn. I wish it could be said that none of you needed to know these things either, but I cannot in good faith say that. Because of the unique challenges facing you, you will each have two new classes. The first class is called Advanced Magic. In that class you will learn advanced spells that we've never taught at Hogwarts before. I will not go into any great detail because you will learn more from your professors and we have other business to be getting on with but I will give you one example of a spell that you will be learning. You will all learn how to Apparate."
At this announcement almost everyone in the Great Hall was uncontrollably excited. Neville was nervous as usual and Harry had to admit that it was probably a justifiable nervousness on his part. Everyone had heard stories of wizards or witches who had nasty permanent effects after getting this one particular spell wrong. To Ron and Harry's delight, Crabbe and Goyle were also looking more than a little pale at the thought of having to Apparate. They pointed this out to Neville but it didn't seem to calm him down any.
"Now, as to the other class because I'm sure you're all anxious to learn about it. That will vary from student to student. I prefer to think of it more as an independent study. One at a time if you would please come up to the staff table and put on the Sorting Hat, you'll find out what your other class is going to be."
Almost all of the students now did seem to be a little nervous. They weren't exactly scared like in their first year when some of them thought the Sorting Hat would bewitch them or nip their heads off or something like that. Harry distinctly remembered Ron saying that his brothers told him that the sorting would hurt. But even though they didn't have any of those same fears, there was still an unknown element and Harry would just as soon get it over with.
Just like what had happened at the very beginning of their first year; Professor McGonagall stood up, unfurled a roll of parchment, and called "Abbott, Hannah!" forward.
No one was talking as she got up and timidly walked to the staff table. She sat in the chair by the hat, put it on, and waited.
A/N – I know this is a little short but it seemed like a good place to break off for lunch. If anyone has any ideas or comments, please pass them along.