A/N: I'm so very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very sorry for not giving you a new chapter until now! At least now I don't have to translate any more, and can write directly to English. Anyway, I'm not gonna keep you anymore. Here's the sixth chapter!







Chapter 6. Explanations



Harry woke up, but didn't open his eyes. He felt a familiar smell, and that he lay in a comfortable bed.

"The hospital wing," he thought. "I should recognise it..." The bed was so soft that he felt it not all that necessary to get up just yet. He moved to lie on his side, still not having opened his eyes. The sound of something moving reached Harry's ears. He opened his left eye. Next to the Ginny, Ron and Hermione sat.

"Harry?" said Ginny, a concerned tone in her voice. "You feel all right?" Now Harry opened his right eye too, and sat up.

"Yeah, feeling great, Ginny," said Harry. "Okay, do I remember it wrong, or have Cedric now become a ghost?"

"You remember just fine, Harry," said a voice from the other side of the bed before anyone else could say anything. It was Cedric, who'd gone through the wall without Harry noticing it. "Sorry if I scared you."

"It's okay, I was... surprised, that's all," said Harry. Cedric chuckled.

"Guess I could've been more subtle..." said Cedric, and scratched the back of his head embarrassingly. Then he looked over to a bed a few metres away. In it lay the still unconscious Cho. "But you weren't alone to take it that way..." Harry looked at Cho. All the thoughts he had before came back. But now there was more important things to be dealt with. Harry looked at Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

"Could you wait outside?" said Harry. "I have to talk with Cedric." All three nodded, and then left the room, closing the door after them. Harry looked at Cedric again, and was about to speak when Cedric interrupted him.

"Before you start I want to say something," he said. "The only one who can be held responsible for my death is You-Know-Who. Not you, not me. So stop blaming yourself for it, Harry."

"Thanks, Cedric," said Harry. "But I was going to say that the whole walking-through-the-wall thing was a nice entrance. Though, I would've got to that eventually. But how... um... can you be a ghost? I though that people killed by that curse couldn't become ghosts?"

"Well, normally that would be true," said Cedric. "But somehow I got stuck here as a ghost after I hot pulled out of You-Know-Who's wand. Shortly after you had used the portkey to get back, I ended up back here at Hogwarts. I kept to my self and then went to visit Headmaster Dumbledore when all the students had gone home." He paused for a few seconds. "Besides, I had... some things to do... Anyway, feeling better? Think you can walk back to your dorms?"

"Yeah, much better," said Harry and got up. "Guess I'll see you around, huh?"

"Count on it, Potter," said Cedric, smiling. Now Cho started moving in her sleep, and would probably wake up any second. "Could you...?

"Leave you two alone? Sure," said Harry. He walked towards the exit.



Harry explained to the others about how became a Ghost at Hogwarts. No they reached the portrait.

"What's the password?" said Harry.

"Um... hold on..." said Hermione, going trough her pockets.

"You don't know it?" said Harry, surprised. "You're a prefect, didn't you lead the first-years here?"

"No, Professor McGonnagall did it since I wanted to go to the hospital wing to wait for you to wake up," said Hermione, still going through her pockets. "But I wrote it down. It was quite difficult for security reasons..." Now she took out a note. "Here it is! Gnirenoeht!" (A/N: Read it backwards for Fantasy connection ^_^) The lady in the portrait nodded and the entrance opened. They stepped into the common room.

"I'm gonna have serious trouble with that password..." said Ron. Harry chuckled.

"You? With a prefect for a girlfriend?" he said. "Bet you'll know it better than anyone else."

"Oh, but it gets worse," said Hermione. "Because of security the password will be changed a few times during the year, and all we be about as hard as this one." Ron groaned.

"Why me...?" he said, slumping down into an armchair.

"'Cause we all love you so much, dear brother!" said Ginny, teasingly, ruffling his hair.

"Great..." said Ron. "Would you prefer the opposite? Guess I'll be going then..." said Hermione, joking, and started going out of the room. But she didn't get far. Ron, who seemed to have believed that she'd been serious, had thrown himself out of the armchair and over the floor to grab Hermione's legs.

"I didn't mean it like that!" he whined, partly because he'd lost his breath, looking up at his girlfriend with a pleading look. "Don't go!"

"Jeez, Ron..." said Harry. "You really have to begin understanding when people are kidding or not..." A moment later Harry, Ginny and Hermione started laughing. Ron on the other hand looked like he'd just walked into the Great Hall wearing a fluffy pink bath robe: he felt very embarrassed.

"What are you laughing at?" said Lynn, who'd entered through the portrait entrance without them noticing. Ron still had a firm grip around Hermione's legs. Lynn smiled. "Some sort of misunderstanding?"

"You could say that," said Hermione. "Ron, would you mind letting go of my legs, and perhaps stand up...?" Ron did as he was told, still looking embarrassed though. Hermione smiled and whispered something in Ron's ear. The others didn't hear what it was, but whatever it was it made stop being so embarrassed. He nodded eagerly towards Hermione. "Later, dear..."

"Well..." said Lynn, looking at Harry. "While they're planning their late- night activities-"

"Hey!" said Ron, but Lynn ignored him.

"-I would like to say that the reason I didn't come with you to the hospital wing was because of my 'dear' brother..." said Lynn.

"Oh no, what did he do this time?" said Harry.

"Just the same old thing, turning my hair into snakes..." said Lynn angrily. But then she lightened up. "But I got my revenge."

"What kind of revenge?" said Ginny, hesitating a bit. Lynn went over to a cupboard and took out a glass and a jug of pumpkinjuice.

"I beat him up," said Lynn, calmly, and poured some pumpkinjuice into the glass. They others in the room, except Ginny, was a bit stunned. Lynn took a sip of the pumpkinjuice.

"Lynn..." Hermione begun, firmly.

"What?" said Lynn. "He's used to it. It's how it's always been among us kids in my family. If we sisters thought the brothers were too mean: fight. Maybe it's a bit hard on them, since we almost always win." Lynn smiled and took a bit more of the pumpkinjuice.

"Okay..." said Ron.

"It's not like it hurts them all that much," said Lynn. "We don't hit THAT hard. We more like poke them. Didn't I tell you about that time my bigger brother discovered that my bigger sister Joanna was dating Charlie?"

"No, you haven't actually," said Ginny.

"Well, no time like the present," said Lynn and sat down into an armchair. The others sat down too, Ron and Hermione sharing an armchair and Harry and Ginny sat down in the sofa. Lynn took some or of the pumpkinjuice. "Okay, this is an extreme example just so you know. Though it is a good one. Michael was in his seventh year. Joanna was in her fifth year, she was in Rawenclaw by the way. Michael, Bill and Charlie were good friends. One day Bill accidentally happened to slip that Joanna and Charlie had been on a few dates together.

Michael was furious not to have heard it sooner, especially since Charlie was his friend. But also since he saw Joanna as his little sister, not as the fifteen-yearold she was. Well, to make a long story short Michael interrupted Joanna's and Charlie's date. Joanna was... a bit angry at her brother for interrupting her date, babbling about her being 'To young for such things'."

The others exchanged quick glances, smiling, reminded of Mr Weasley's misunderstanding. Lynn continued. "The consequence became that Joanna kicked Michael ass. He lay in the hospital wing for three days." Lynn finishes her story, and took the last of her pumpkinjuice. The others sat still, even more shocked that before. Lynn noticed this. "But as I said, this was an EXTREME example."

"Guess your brother didn't interfere with your sister's business after that, huh?" said Ron.

"Yup," said Lynn and smiled.



A while later Harry, Ginny and Lynn went up to their dorms. Ron and Hermione went to Hermione's personal prefect room. Hermione were planning to do what she'd suggested to Ron earlier, but he seemed a bit absent

"Ron, what is it?" she said. "You seem a bit absent."

"Hm? No, it's nothing..." said Ron. But Hermione didn't give in that easily.

"No, it's something. Come one, tell me," she said. Ron sighed heavily. "This can't be good news..."

"It's Harry, he still have feelings for Cho," said Ron. "And the problem is I don't think he can decide between Ginny or Cho."

"Oh... Do you want me to talk with him?" said Hermione.

"Only if you want to," said Ron. "I was going to talk with him about it, but I just don't know if I can handle it..."

"With Ginny being your sister and all?" said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Ron. "If he hurts her in any way, I'm gonna..." Hermione shook her head, and silenced Ron by putting a finger over his lips.

"You don't to say anything more," she said. "It's okay, we'll work it out." Ron nodded.

"Yeah, you're right, as you often are," he said. Hermione smiled.

"Stop, stop, you're embarrassing me!" she said. Ron smiled.

"Really? Let's see if this have the same effect..." he said, and kissed her.



The following morning Harry woke about half an hour before breakfast. He got up out of bed. Ron was still asleep, a happy expression upon his face. Harry hadn't heard him return the night before, so he had to have entered after Harry had fallen asleep. Harry now went into the bathroom and when he was done he got dressed. Ron still hadn't woken up. Harry prodded him lightly.

"Just a little while longer, Hermione..." said Ron.

"Nope, wrong answer," said Harry. "This is your OTHER best friend." Ron opened his eyes. "It's twenty minutes till breakfast. I'll wait down in the common room."

"Right, I'll se you there..." said Ron, getting up and walking towards the bathroom. A while later he came down to the common room. Harry was in an armchair and Hermione was looking at something on the notice board.

"Good morning," said Ron. Hermione looked towards him and smiled.

"Good morning," she said, and started walking towards him.

"I'll just wait outside then..." said Harry, getting up.

"Okay, we get the point," said Ron. "Come on, let's go." The three of them exited the room.



Down in the Great Hall Ginny, Lynn and Neville were already seated. Lavender and Parvati sat a few seats away, whispering about something with some third-year students. When Harry entered they looked at him and then started giggling. Harry groaned.

"I don't even want to know what they've heard now..." he said.

"Who said anything about hearing?" said Hermione. "They're probably starting some new rumours on their own..." Harry sat down next to Lynn and Neville, and Ron and Hermione on the opposite side next to Ginny.

"You're looking unusually pleased with yourself," said Ron to Neville, who really did look unusually pleased and happy. "Care to share it with us?"

"The mail will be arriving soon," said Neville.

"Yeeaaah... so?" said Ron.

"You know I usually get a package with the things I've forgotten, right?" said Neville. "But this year I've remembered EVERYTHING!"

"That's good," said Ron, and started his breakfast. About twenty seconds later the familiar sound of fluttering wings were heard as the owls entered the hall. Neville just continued eating his breakfast, and therefore the small package fell down upon his head and then bounced down upon the table in front of the VERY surprised Neville. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Lynn tried not to laugh, but couldn't hold it, and started laughing.

"Sorry!" said Ron when he after few seconds managed to stop laughing. "Though you have to admit it's pretty funny!" Neville nodded and gave light smile.

"At least it's not a big package," he said, and opened it. "Oh, my inkbottle!" Now the others calmed down, and looked through their own mail. Lynn smiled broadly when she looked upon one of her letters.

"Well, aren't you glad," said Ginny. "Letter from a admirer?" Lynn gave a slightly angry look, though only in good fun.

"No," said Lynn. "It's from Michael. He's on vacation and I haven't heard from him in a while."

"Vacation?" said Hermione.

"Yeah, he's gotta take time of sometime!" said Lynn. She opened the envelope, took out a letter, read it, and smiled. "He's on Hawaii. He says that it's great there, very warm and much nice things to see." She looked at the others. "With 'nice things' he probably means lots of pretty girls, at least if I know my brother right."She continued reading the letter. "He wishes me a nice term, hoping that all will go well. Hugs, Michael." Now Lynn smiled again. "PS. With 'much nice things to see' I don't mean ONLY Girls. The nature is nice to. DS." Lynn took out a picture that was in the envelope. "Oh my God! Look at his sun tan! Look!"

She showed the others the picture. On the picture there was a long young man, with brown hair, sunglasses and bathing trunks, and with a dark brown sun tan on his body. He was standing on a long, white sand beach, waving once in a while and grinning broadly. In the background the blue green ocean was seen, and a bit away to the right there was a green height, covered in vegetation.

"Almost make you want to catch the nearest portkey to Hawaii," said Harry.

"Really? You'd do that?" said Ginny.

"And miss all Quidditch? Never!" said Harry, grinning broadly.

"Right, that reminds me." said Ron. "Fred and George told me that the selection of the new keeper and the new reserves are on Saturday."

"Good," said Harry.

"And they're choosing a new captain," said Ron. He and the others looked at Harry.

"We'll see how it goes," said Harry. "Besides, I don't know how they choose the captain."

"Well, to get to something more current..." said Hermione. "...Here's the schedule."

"How bad is it?" said Ron. "Please say that we DON'T have double Potions class..."

"We don't know yet how Fonvielle is as a teacher," said Harry. "He might be okay. Or at least better than Snape."

"Let's hope so!" said Ron.

"Here the schedule anyway," said Hermione, slightly irritated. "First class for the day: Potions with Slytherin." Load complaints and groans were heard form the others. "After that it's Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"Yeah!" said Ron.

"Then lunch," Hermione continued. "After that it's Care of Magical Creatures."

"Also a new teacher," said Harry.

"Zemeckare seems nicer than Fonvielle, though," said Ron.

"We'll see," said Hermione. A while later they'd finished breakfast and went of to their classes.



They arrived at Potions with time to spare. Professor Fonvielle wasn't there yet. Malfoy was at his seat, sending evil glares at Harry. Harry didn't want to be worse and gave him some nasty looks back. Ron and Hermione sat down next to each other, and Harry next to Ron. Lynn and Neville sat down next to each other. Though, Lynn didn't seem all to comfortable sitting next to Neville, since he wasn't exactly known for being safe at Potions. Just when everyone had sat down, Professor Fonvielle entered.

"Morning, class," he almost drawled, reminding of Malfoy. "Oh, shit..." thought Harry and Ron. "Good morning, Professor," said the class. Professor Fonvielle raised one eyebrow, almost unnoticeably.

"My, my, such polite students..." he said. "For starters I want to say that I keep the rules in my classes simple. Even though you see my a temporary teacher, you will know that the ones who treat me like that will get some nice little extra duties. I also demand attention and order." Neville began trembling. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, Professor," said the class.

"Good. Let's get started," said Fonvielle. "I'll be back in a moment." He left the room.

"Doesn't seem promising..." said Ron.

"Got that right..." said Harry. The two sighed heavily.

"Come on guys, we haven't got started yet," said Hermione. Harry and Ron didn't say anything. Now Fonvielle entered the room with two sacks in his hands.

"In this there's are gunpowder, a muggle invention," he said, holding up one sack. Now he held up the other one. "And in this one there's pieces of titanium. Now be aware that the gunpowder is explosive." Neville trembled a bit more. "Although, I have taken some security precautions, so the most you will get is a nasty burn." The trembling of Neville lessened. Then Fonvielle explained for the class what to do. Harry and Ron didn't quite get what they where doing, but at least they knew that they were supposed to make a potion with the gunpowder and titanium in it.

Everyone started and things went fine, the potion having the right colour for everyone and all. It even went well for Neville, to Lynn's relief. At least until...

"Um... is it supposed to be that green?" said Neville, when the potion suddenly changed colour form the silver-grey colour it had had before.

"What did you do?!" said Lynn.

"Nothing! I haven't touched, it just happened!" Neville exclaimed. Now the potion started bubbling heavily. "Uh oh..." A small explosion erupted from the cauldron, and a dark green, mushroom-shaped cloud emerged from the cauldron. Once the smoke had disappeared one could clearly see that Lynn's hair had been turned into snakes.

"ARGH!" Lynn exclaimed. "That's twice in twenty-four hours!" Neville opened his mouth to say something, but all that was heard was croaking sound, as if he'd swallowed a toad. Malfoy and the other Slytherins laughed aloud at the whole thing.

"Walsh and Longbottom, what happened?" said Fonvielle, who now had reached Lynn and Neville. "Did you not follow the instructions?"

"I don't know, Professor, we followed the instructions to the letter," said Lynn. Neville croaked and nodded to say that she was telling the truth.

"Well, I have never heard of this side effect when mixing this potion wrongly..." said Fonvielle. "But on the other hand, it can be explained pretty easily, can't it Mr Malfoy?" He looked at Malfoy through the corner of his eye. Malfoy stopped laughing. He was just about to open his mouth protest when Fonvielle spoke again. "Don't try and get yourself out of this. I saw you putting something into their potion when you went to get some extra gunpowder. One of my demands for my classes were order. Thirty points from Slytherin. Report for extra duties tonight at 7 o' clock. Bring gloves." Malfoy looked like he'd been hit with a petrifying charm. All the other students looked a bit shocked too. "Miss Walsh, Mr Longbottom, you are excused to got to the hospital wing. I'll send some work with your friends."

"Thanks, Professor," said Lynn. Neville merely croaked. The two left the room. Fonvielle went over to the his desk, and then turned towards the class. Everyone still looked a bit shocked.

"Is something wrong?" said Fonvielle.

"Um... No, not at all, Professor," said Harry. "It's just that Slytherin's never got points deducted or giving extra duties during Potions before." Fonvielle looked surprised.

"That you say, Mr Potter?" he said. "It surprises me. Despite how my predecessor might have done things, I will not conduct any kind of special treatment during my classes. I believe in giving everyone a change, if they deserve it. Now continue your work everyone." Fonvielle sat down and started writing something.

"Maybe Potions won't be so bad this year after all," said Ron quietly to Harry and Hermione.



The rest of the lesson went by swiftly, without any major incidents. When they were done Harry and the others went to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class room. Harry wanted to talk a little with Lupin before the lesson started. On their way there they ran into Lynn and Neville who now had been fully turned back into their normal selves. The group reached the class room one it was about five minutes left to the lesson. Lupin was writing something on the desk. Harry knocked on the open door. Lupin looked up, and then smiled.

"Hello there, Harry," he said. "Nice seeing you again."

"Likewise, Professor Lupin," said Harry.

"I'm sorry I didn't come and visit you last night," said Lupin, walking out form behind his desk. "I had to take my potion, hope you understand.

"Of course," said Harry.

"You found a better potion?" said Hermione, not managing to contain here curiosity any longer. Lupin smiled again.

"What makes you say that, Hermione?" he said.

"Well, for one you look...." said Hermione. "...look much healthier and more energetic."

"Well spotted, Hermione," said Lupin. "Yes, you're correct in assuming that I have a better potion than before. It's actually so good, that I only have to be away for a day at full moon. In fact, it's nearly the same potion as the old one, but with one important difference.

"And that is?" said Hermione.

"Sugar," said Lupin. Hermione was about to speak, when Lupin interrupted her. "I know that Professor Snape said that it wouldn't work with sugar in it. Apparently, that is not the case. I discovered it by accident. In fact the potion is much more effective now.

"Okay then," said Ron. "Now we know that. Now, Hermione, what was the thing about 'healthier and more energetic'?" He gave Hermione an impatient look.

"What?" she said, looking like a live question mark. Then she realised what Ron was implying. "What?! Ron, I just said it because that's how it IS! Not for any other reason, if that's what you think!"

"Ouch, that hurt a bit," said Lupin in a mock wounded tone.

"So, you say that, Hermione?" said Ron.

"YES, WHAT ELSE WOULD I SAY?!" screamed Hermione.

"WELL, THAT'S A BLOODY GOOD QUESTION!" screamed Ron. The two started arguing. Now it was Lupin who looked like a live question mark.

"Um... have I missed something?" he said a moment later. " You could say that..." said Harry, looking at Lupin.

"Ron and Hermione's an item nowadays," said Lynn, also looking at Lupin.

"Oh, well, that explains it," said Lupin with an amused smile. But now Ron and Hermione went quiet behind Harry, Lynn and Neville, who'd also turned towards Lupin. "Um..."

"Well, that was fast," said Harry, not turning around.

"What went fast?" said Lynn. She and Neville turned around. Ron and Hermione and had started kissing.

"THAT went fast," said Harry, turning around.

"Um... this happens a lot?" said Lynn. "Much too often as I'm in the room..." said Harry and sighed. He took out his wand and pointed towards Ron and Hermione. "Wingardium Leviosa." (A/N: Remember, swish and flick!) Ron and Hermione started hovering in the air, although, they didn't notice it. "Okay, let's try something else." Harry lowered his wand. Ron and Hermione stayed airborne just long enough to release their mouths from each other, and then they landed on the floor with a loud thud.

"Ow!" said Ron. "Couldn't you've tried anything else?"

"Well, making you float in the air didn't work," said Harry.

"Yeah, well, I didn't notice anything until you dropped us," said Ron, standing up.

"You didn't, huh?" said Harry. Now more students started entering the room. "Come on, we better get to our seats." Ron helped Hermione up, and the group sat down as the had the previous lesson, Harry, Ron and Hermione at one desk, and Lynn and Neville at another. Lupin stood in front of his desk, waiting for all students to get to their seats. Some students glanced quickly at him as they entered the room. But Lupin only smiled and waited for everyone.

"Welcome to the first fifth-year class of Defence Against the Dark Arts," said Lupin, once everyone had sat down. "I hope you'll enjoy the lessons this year as much as I will. Today I thought we'd start with questions, and then a discussion about the dark Lord Voldemort's return." Many of the students flinched as he said the name. But Lupin didn't care and went on. "Now, do anyone have some of those questions?" Seamus put his hand up. "Yes, Seamus?"

"It's not my question really, but my mom wanted me to ask," he said. "Um... she's wondering if you are, um... safe?" Seamus looked like he was expecting Lupin to have some kind of fit, almost looking ready to leap up from his seat and run as fast as he could out trough the door. But Lupin just smiled.

"I assume that Seamus mother isn't the only parent asking the same thing?" he said. About half the class, including Neville, nodded. "Write to your parents that there's absolutely no reason for them to be concerned about me. And if they don't take my word for it, they can get the same reassurance from Headmaster Dumbledore." The students seemed happy with this answer, and relaxed a bit. If even Dumbledore backed up Lupin it had to be safe.

"Sorry to even ask, Professor," said Seamus. "But you know how mothers can be..."

"Yes I do, Seamus, and it's quite alright," said Lupin. "It's better to check things too much, than too little." Hermione seemed to grow in her seat at the last part. "What else is concerning my ailment (A/N: Right word?), I'll only be away a day around full moon, so your studies shouldn't suffer from it."



There was some more questions, but they soon went on to the discussion about Voldemort.

"Now, as you all know, Voldemort has indeed returned," said Lupin. Flinching of students again. "Now, Harry, you didn't hear it but Headmaster Dumbledore announced it last night after you'd left. First off I want to tell everyone, as Headmaster Dumbledore did last night, that there's no place safer for you to be than Hogwarts."

"What about spies?" said Dean. "We had a false Moody here last year."

"All necessary precautions have been taken," said Lupin. "You all know of the new passwords, and that they will changed regularly. But there is also many safety measures that you students don't know of. And for the time being it will stay that way."

"Because of the supporters of You-Know-Who in Slytherin, right?" said Seamus.

"First off, Seamus, there are no such people in Slytherin, at least whom which I am aware of" said Lupin. "But yes, it's because we're not entirely sure about which who are supporters of, and perhaps even are helping Voldemort." Students flinching. "More about the safety measures, not even the teachers know of all of them. Only Headmaster Dumbledore knows that. So you're quite safe here from Voldemort." Flinch.

"Does he have to say that name.?" said Ron quietly, being one of the flinching students.

"Ron?" said Harry.

"Yeah, Har?" said Ron.

"Shut up," said Harry.



After the lesson was done it was time for Lunch.

"So far it's a promising year in terms of lessons," said Hermione.

"Mmm," it came from Ron, eating a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"And Malfoy FINALLY got points deducted in Potions!" said Lynn. "I sooooo enjoyed that..."

"What? Malfoy got punished in Potions?!" said Ginny, now sitting down next to Lynn. Harry saw that Malfoy looked towards them, irritated. Harry chuckled.

"Yeah, Fonvielle wouldn't have any of his antics," said Ron. "He gave him extra duties too. Probably something messy." Ron showed a smug smile.

"So Fonvielle seems okay then?" said Ginny.

"Yeah," said Lynn. "Well, he's a lot like Snape, except not such a biased git."

"Okay, that's something..." said Ginny.

"You have Potions tomorrow, right?" said Harry.

"Yeah," said Ginny. "You guys got Care of Magical Creatures next, right?"

"Yeah," said Ron. "You had it this morning, right? How's Zemeckare like?"

"Well... you have to say he's got his own style..." said Ginny, a slight smile on his face.

"Meaning?" said Neville, a bit worried.

"You'll see..." said Ginny.



"So, you've memorised her schedule...?" said Lynn in a teasing tone as the group were on their way to the next lesson.

"Huh?" said Harry.

"Ginny's schedule, you've memorised it," said Lynn. Ron and Hermione quickly exchanged glances. "Or at least I assume you have since you remembered that she has-"

"-Potions tomorrow?" said Harry. "Just remembered someone saying it, that's all."

"Oh, did you now?" said Lynn. Harry went a bit ahead of the group. They went out through a door and down the staircase into the grounds. Lynn caught up with Harry. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that Ginny's changed during the summer..."

"Oh, really?" said Harry.

"You know, looking a bit more grown up, more like her age and such..." said Lynn.

"I really haven't noticed," said Harry.

"Oh, come on Harry, no boy's that blind!" said Lynn.

"Guess I must be," said Harry.

"You're in love with her, aren't you?" said Lynn after a few seconds silence. Harry didn't answer. "If it's Ron being your friend that's holding you back, I'm sure he'll accept it over time." Harry sighed.

"It's not Ron holding me back," said Harry. "It's me..." Now they reached the area for the class. The Slytherins were already there. Harry quickly stepped away from Lynn and stood next to Ron. Lynn gave Malfoy a deadly glare, who gave her a cold glare back. Lynn went over to stand next to Hermione.

"Do you know what's wrong with Harry?" said Lynn quietly. "It's obvious he likes Ginny, why won't he just admit it?"

"Well, about that, Ron told me something last night tha-" said Hermione, but interrupted herself when Professor Zemeckare approached the class. At least they thought it was Zemeckare. He was wearing something that looked liked some sort of a baggy over-all. It was completely sealed, with net covering the face, the net itself attached to a hat.

"Good day, class!" said a loud and friendly voice from inside the net. "Nice to see you all here!"

"Um...Professor Zemeckare, is that you?" said Hermione.

"Aye, of course it's me, why shou- Oh, right! The suit!" said Zemeckare, and took of the hat with the net hanging down from it. "There, now you all don't look as chequered as a kilt either!" He laughed. "Welcome to your first lesson in Care of Magical Creatures, or rather your first lesson in your fifth year. Now I know that you haven't figured me out yet, and that's alright 'cause I haven't figured you out either. As for starters I can tell you that I don't bite. Ya see, that's what the animals are for."

Neville whimpered. "I'm only kidding, boy, calm down! Further on as an introduction I hope we'll have a fun year of classes together. As for today's lesson, I guess a bit curious about why I have this suit on, eh? Anyone care to take a guess what it is?" Ron put up a hand.

"A protection suit," he said.

"Aye, that's right, but for what?" said Zemeckare. Lynn put her hand up.

"Insects?" she said.

"Aye, aye, getting warmer...anyone?" said Zemeckare. No one raised their hand, not even Hermione(!). "Okay then, it's a bee farmer suit!"

"You farm bees...?" said Ron.

"You sort of farm them to get to their honey!" said Zemeckare. "You have the suit to protect yourself from their stings."

"Stings...?" said Neville, nervously.

"Don't worry, it's completely safe, I've taken extra precautions," said Zemeckare. "But these aren't ordinary bees. Since this is Care of MAGICAL creatures, these are giant bees!" At once a steady level of murmuring broke out amongst the group.

"We can't have a lesson with giant bees!" said Malfoy loudly. "They're sting are three inches long!"

"Actually, the stings're about eight inches long when they're not retracted," said Zemeckare.

"Wait a sec, how big are these bees?" said Ron.

"Oh, about three to four feet long. It's different from bee to bee," said Zemeckare.

"Oh, great..." said Ron.

"But as I said earlier I've taken precautions, so there's no need to be worried!" said Zemeckare. "The bees are in a continued area, and the suits are extra strong so that they won't be able to sting ya. And since the bees are a bit strong we have lead boots for you all."

"Why the le-" said Ron.

"So we won't fly of along with the bees..." said Hermione.

"Ah," said Ron.

"That's right, my dear," said Zemeckare, indicating Hermione. "Another thing with the bees are that they're part of a project going on all year. We're going to take care of them and towards the summer, make honey of our own! We are of course going to work with other animals too. But let's get you all suited up and get to work! Come on everybody!" Zemeckare started walking away towards a shed. The group sighed (except for Malfoy who scoffed) and followed Zemeckare.











A/N: Again, so very sorry about not updating until now! I've been so busy with school and all, that I haven't found the time to translate the text into English. But now the chapters will be closer together, and even more so when I finish my other fic "What the hell is a tricorder?". The chapters will probably become shorter though. For those of you also reading WTHIAT, I will have a chapter up soon. I just had to give my fans of this fic some luvin too!

My intention in starting this fic was to get it done before the fifth book was released. Well, now the fifth book is released on June 21st, so my goal looks less likely. But I'll continue my story anyway. It's my version of Harry's fifth year, and it represents how I would like it to be. I would never try to imitate J.K.R.

The new Gryffindor password read backwards is of course theonering (The One Ring) referring to Lord of the Rings.

About Lynn and her sister beating up their brothers: it's there for comic relief mostly. I'm not a huge fan of violence, but on the other hand I don't say no to friendly banter which sometimes can turn ugly...

Making Zemeckare Scottish (which he is unless you picked it up) was a decision I made at last minute. I think it turned out pretty good.



And now, the classic review comments:

caitlin - Thank you! Hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Brittany - Thanks! Well, I've updated now!

Jessika Organa Solo - Yup, he sure is a ghost! Thank you!

dementorchic - Yes, a VERY slow chapter it turned out... Seems this fic fits your favourite type then, huh? Oh, God yes, the love triangle is very much the real thing. I've had it happen to me a few times even, and not with the best of results... Yeah, I didn't do that, since it would be so sudden. IF (and that's a big IF) he should become extra powerful it should be in his seventh year. And now you are able to read more of it!

kat - Well, read on, and thanks!

Angel St. James - Yup, he sure is. Aw, sorry, I can't tell you if he does, since it would give away how the fic ends! I actually think Cho seems okay. I can understand why Harry likes her.



Now, review!







Emher