Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related names and places are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers!
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Harry sat in his usual seat in Transfiguration. He watched Hermione and Ron apprehensively. They had taken to completely ignoring each other's presence. Ron sat to his left and Hermione sat on his right.
"Welcome to N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration. I must say I was impressed with the results this class managed to achieve in Transfiguration on your O.W.L.'s. Now that you are in your sixth year it is time to move on to more complex forms of transfiguration. Today we will be practicing turning a desk into an animal."
Everyone was very excited about this. They had all been dying to try it since first year when McGonagall had turned her desk into a pig.
The first half of class was spent learning the theory behind the spell. It sounded very hard and even Hermione looked apprehensive about it. At last they set to work.
"Alright, now, be careful. I only want you to try and produce something small. We don't want some large ferocious beast rampaging about the room."
Harry turned to his desk and concentrated, trying to think of an animal. He decided to attempt a turtle. He wanted something he could catch easily, if his spell actually worked. He looked directly at his desk and pointed his wand. "Animans." The desk began to wobble. It did not, however, begin to take the form of a turtle. The desk began to sprout thick black fur. Harry stood back in horror; before him sat the exact replica of Padfoot. Hermione, Ron, and McGonagall stood perfectly still. Finally McGonagall moved forward and waved her wand; the shaggy black dog became a desk once again.
"Ver...very good, Potter. Take ten points for Gryffindor. Students don't usually manage a...perfect result the first time." Her voice was shaking slightly. Then with a grim smile, she patted his shoulder and walked away.
"Was that...?" Hermione began softly.
Harry shook his head. "I was trying for a turtle. I don't know how that happened." Harry didn't attempt the spell again during class.
By the time the bell rang, Hermione held a cat that looked remarkably like Crookshanks. Ron had nearly managed to produce what looked to be the beginnings of an owl. At the sound of the bell; Professor McGonagall dismissed them while waving her wand and returning all of the desks to normal.
"Potter, might I have a word with you?" When Hermione and Ron hesitated, she said, "You two may go ahead, I'm sure Harry will catch you up."
Hermione and Ron disappeared into the corridor and Harry stood in front of McGonagall.
"Professor, I didn't mean to make a dog; I was trying..." Harry began, but McGonagall held up her hand.
"I know you weren't. That isn't what I want to talk to you about, though. As you know, when Umbridge was removed from this school so were her ridiculous decrees. That also goes for any sort of restrictions she placed on students."
"Does this mean I can play Quidditch again?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Yes, it does. Now, there is something more. I have offered Miss Bell the position of captain on the team, but she refused. Since she is in her final year, she wants to devote as much time as possible to studying. She wants to remain on the team however. Harry, I am offering you the position as captain. You've been on the team since your first year, and you are an excellent player. So, will you accept?"
Harry stood staring for a moment, then a slow smile spread over his face. "Of course I'll take it!" He could have hugged McGonagall.
"Very well then. It will be your duty to set up and announce a time for try-outs. I think you are in need of two chasers and two beaters. Just let me know when you would like to book the pitch."
Harry hardly remembered making his way down to the courtyard to meet up with Hermione and Ron. Ron sat on a bench, talking to Ginny.
"Hey, where's Hermione?" Harry asked, barely containing the urge to pop with his excitement.
"She's got Arithmancy now, remember? What did McGonagall want? Was it about the desk...?" Ron was cut off quickly by Ginny.
"Harry, what's going on? I've haven't seen you this happy in ages." Ginny asked, looking at him strangely.
Harry stood in front of them, grinning. "Guess who the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain is."
Ginny and Ron looked at each other. "You're joking! Is that what McGonagall wanted then? Well congratulations mate!" Ron was beaming.
"Congratulations Harry. We'll be unbeatable this year!" Ginny said.
Harry got quite a shock when she jumped from her seat, looking at her watch. "Oh dear, I'm gonna be late for Potions. That overgrown bat is going to throw a fit!" And then quite suddenly she hugged Harry. "Congratulations, again! Make sure to let me know when try-outs are!" She shouted over her shoulder while running back into the castle.
Harry sat next to Ron on the bench, looking a bit dazed.
"Well, it's official." Ron said in an awestruck voice.
"What's official?"
"The world has gone completely upside down. My sister is actually speaking to you and Hermione is completely ignoring my existence."
"Alright, now are you going to tell me what's happened between you and Hermione? You're both acting strange."
Ron's ears went pink and he picked up his bag. "There's nothing going on. She's just acting like an insufferable...well she's acting like a girl."
Harry was confused. "Um, Ron...I thought you figured out she was a girl back in fourth year. Don't tell me you've forgotten."
"Don't bring that up! I know she's a girl! Haven't you noticed that she has really started acting like one lately? Since when has Hermione cared what she looked like, and since when did she start talking to that Macmillian idiot?"
Harry had no idea what Ron was going on about. "Ron, I'm really confused. She's known Ernie for nearly six years; she was bound to talk to him. Why are you so upset about it? And I haven't noticed a difference in Hermione at all."
"Well, look at her really closely next time you see her, tell me if you see a difference." Ron walked back towards the castle. "Come on, I need to work on that spell a bit."
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Hermione finally appeared at lunch, this time walking in with Justin Finch-Fletchley. She was laughing and Justin seemed to be telling her a very funny story. Harry looked very closely at her, just as Ron had said. At first he didn't notice anything. Then small changes began to appear. His largest shock came when Hermione laughed and tossed her hair back over her shoulder. He had always seen Parvati and Lavender do that, and it always annoyed him.
Harry turned, wide-eyed, to Ron. Ron was taking a drink of pumpkin juice but set his goblet down. "See what I mean? Does that look like our Hermione?"
"What's with her? She looks like the Patil twins got hold of her!" Harry exclaimed. "I mean, it isn't bad, she just doesn't seem like herself."
Hermione stopped by the table to grab a sandwich from a plate, and then said she had to do some research in the library.
"Hermione, wait a moment! Sit down; I want to talk to you." Harry said pulling out a chair next to him.
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and sat in the chair. "Alright, I'm here. But please make this quick, I want to start on my paper for Professor Vector."
Ron snorted. "Is that what they're calling it these days?" His words were barely audible.
Hermione, who could hear almost everything, rounded on him. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Ron was about to respond scathingly, but Harry stomped his foot in time. "Nothing Hermione, he's just a little cranky..." He broke off throwing a nasty, meaningful look at Ron. "Look, there's something different about you. Since when have you started hanging around Ernie and Justin?"
"Well, they are in the same year as us Harry. And they are really nice, I like talking to them. Ernie is a prefect after all. Why does it bother you so much?"
"It doesn't bother me; it's like I said, there's something strange about you now." Harry said.
Hermione looked at him and then at Ron. She dropped her head for a second and then looked back up at Harry. "I'm sorry, I known I've been a bit on edge lately. I really don't understand it myself. I guess I'm just worried about everything that's been going on." She then turned to Ron. "Ron, I'm sorry for yelling at you last night. And this morning and then again out in the courtyard. Forgive me?" She smiled sweetly at him.
Ron tried his best not to smile back, but it was useless.
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They arrived a few moments early for Defense Against the Dark Arts. They weren't the only ones, but the sight was one of amusement. All the boys had gathered around the door, fighting for the position of getting in first. The girls had gathered off to the side, whispering and giving the boys very dirty looks.
"Wonder if she's in there?" Ron asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Hermione gave an irritated sniff and turned to join the group of girls. Harry and Ron talked with Neville, Dean, Seamus, and the other group of Ravenclaw boys. They all jumped as the door opened.
"Well, come in class. You can't very well learn defense spells standing out in the corridor!" A breathy, sweet sounding voice issued from somewhere in the classroom.
As one, the group of boys moved into the room and began a silent fight for the seat nearest to where their pretty, blonde professor sat. Seamus and Terry Boot managed to gain the front desk with Harry and Ron to their right.
Professor Bombeck stood up behind her desk and smiled at them all. "Welcome class. I see you've all chosen your seats." She laughed. "Well, I'm very sorry to disappoint you, but we are going to do things a bit differently. After reviewing your O.W.L. scores, I have partnered each of you with someone who ranked close to you. So if you would all collect your things, I'll assign you partners and seats."
With a lot of groaning and muttering, everyone picked up their bags and stood up.
"Alright we'll start in this row." She pointed at the row in the very back of the room. "Alright, Miss Granger and Mr. Potter will be here." She pointed at the first double desk. She continued pairing. "Mr. Longbottom and Miss Brocklehurst." Harry saw Mandy give Neville a pitiful look and then sit next to him. "Miss Turpin and Mr. Finnigan. Mr. Boot and Mr. Thomas. Miss Brown and Miss Parvati Patil. Mr. Corner and Mr. Goldstein. And last, but certainly not least, Mr. Weasley and Miss Padma Patil."
Harry could have laughed out loud at the look on Ron and Padma's face. They hadn't exactly spoken since the Yule Ball disaster, but now it was obvious that neither was pleased with this seating arrangement.
"Now that we are all settled into our seats, I'd like to talk to you before we begin our lesson. This class had some of the highest scores I have ever heard of on the O.W.L.'s in Defense. After a bit of asking around, I found out that many of you participated in a Defense group last year. A quite illegal one at the time, but no doubt highly successful. Professor Dumbledore informed me that nearly everyone in this class was a part of this society and that its leader is sitting right here in front of me. Mr. Potter, would you stand up for a moment?"
Harry stood. He could feel the heat rise in his face. Professor Bombeck walked back to her desk and retrieved a piece of parchment.
"Mr. Potter is one of the few students in Hogwarts history to have received a perfect score in Defense Against the Dark Arts on the O.W.L.'s. So, I must say that if you were going to learn defensive spells from anyone; I'd say that Mr. Potter here was an excellent teacher. You may resume your seat Harry." She turned and picked up her wand from the desk. "Well, you all know the sort of world we are living in now. I have spoken to Professor Dumbledore and we have both agreed to throw this ridiculous 'Ministry approved curriculum' out the window." And she did exactly that. She held up what looked to be a small booklet of parchment with a Ministry seal on the front and threw it out the window. The entire class gasped.
"None of that garbage will do you any good if you should come face to face with a Death-eater. You will not only learn how to use magic to defend yourselves in this class, but you will also learn defensive maneuvers that are usually reserved for Auror training."
She fell silent as little whispers broke out all over the room. "Defensive magic isn't always about knowing the right spell at the right time. You must be aware of your surroundings at all times. You must be able to tell friend from foe. Your enemy will not always be the one to jump out and start attacking you. You must find him before he finds you."
Harry and Hermione looked at one another. Professor Bombeck was beginning to sound a bit like Moody, without the yelling of course.
"Alright, I want you to work in your pairs on this. I'm going to come around and watch you." Professor Bombeck swept the desk to one side of the room and the class got into their pairs. "I just want you to practice a few of the spells you have learned in your past five years here. I want to see how much you remember."
Harry and Hermione worked on every spell they could remember. Harry was just about to try to break through Hermione's protection charm when he felt eyes on him. He turned to see Michael Corner positively glaring at him. Harry raised an eyebrow in his direction. Anthony Goldstein walked closer to Michael and whispered something. Whatever he had said must have brought Michael around; he turned back to Anthony and began working again. Harry had just turned around to ask Hermione if she had noticed Michael's behavior, when he saw her scowling deeply at something over his left shoulder.
Harry turned to see Ron and Padma, apparently having quite a good time working together. Every time Padma would try to curse Ron, he would pull some grotesque face at her and she would double up with laughter.
"Miss Patil and Mr. Weasley, please concentrate on the task at hand." Professor Bombeck said, amused by Ron's antics.
Harry turned back to Hermione, laughing at Ron. But Hermione still looked highly upset over the whole matter. "Oh Hermione, come on. At least Padma is speaking to him and not trying to curse his head off after what happened in fourth year."
Hermione seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was in; she turned on Harry. "Why should I care if he's making a prat of himself in front of her? Why should I care if she's giggling like some idiotic school girl?" She snapped; her tone unlike any Harry had ever heard her use.
Harry kept looking over his shoulder every now and then to see Michael throwing him nasty glares. Finally the bell rang, and Professor Bombeck called to them as they all hurried out the door. "Next class we will get down to learning spells!"
Ron rushed up to walk with Hermione and Harry. "That woman is a bit off, isn't she? Seems cool enough, though."
Hermione sniffed and Ron gave Harry a questioning look. Harry just shook his head.
"Oh, Harry, did you tell Hermione the good news?"
Hermione looked at Harry. "What good news?"
Harry grinned. "McGonagall offered me the spot of captain on the house team. Katie didn't want it."
Hermione squealed. "Oh Harry, that's wonderful! You must be so happy! Well we should have a really good team this year."
They talked about it until they reached the entrance to the library. Ron stopped. "Well, looks like this is my stop." Hermione suddenly became cold and quiet again. Ron didn't notice. "You know, I've been dreading having to go in here, but I've only thought of something. While I'm in here in the peace and quiet, you two will be stuck down in the dungeons with Snape and Malfoy. I am definitely getting the better end of the bargain here."
By the end of the Potions lesson, Harry and Hermione would whole-heartedly agree with him.
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Much to Harry's displeasure, Gryffindors still had Potions with the Slytherins. He and Hermione made it down to the dungeon where they had Potions with five minutes to spare. As Harry rounded the corner, he was shocked and surprised to see Neville standing at the door waiting.
"Neville! You are in N.E.W.T. Potions?" Hermione asked, disbelievingly.
Neville's face flushed pink and he nodded. "It seems as long as Snape isn't hovering over me, I'm actually quite good at Potions. I got an O on my exam." He beamed as if nothing had pleased him more.
The Slytherins arrived at last. The only two sixth years that hadn't apparently gotten into Snape's class were Crabbe and Goyle, which didn't surprise Harry. The both of them had as much sense as a door knob.
Harry, Hermione, and Neville sat in the back of the class, trying to avoid Snape as much as possible. But, for some reason Snape pretended not to notice them. He started the class with his usual threats and foul temper.
"Well, I see that some of you managed to put what I've taught you to use. Although, I am surprised that some of you even managed to stand your cauldron up the right way during your examination." At this he threw a contemptuous look back towards Neville.
After taking notes, Snape set them to mixing up a Levitating Potion. As Harry was measuring out his dried billywig stings, Snape bent down over his cauldron. He began to speak in only a whisper.
"I don't know how you managed to get into this class Potter, but let me assure you that I will be keeping a close eye on you. If your grades falter in the slightest in my class, I will have you thrown out. Do you understand me?"
Harry nodded, trying to choke back the sensation to hit Snape as hard as he could. He hated Snape more than ever. Harry had never thought it possible to hate one person so much.
The rest of the class passed by without trouble. It wasn't until they were leaving, that Draco Malfoy finally made his presence known. The class was crowding around the door, ready to get back into the sunlit corridors above, when Malfoy grabbed Harry by the arm.
"I promised you that my father would escape Azkaban, didn't I? I also promised that you would regret sending him there. Well he got out, and now I'm going to be sure you pay for what you did. When I'm done with you, you are going to wish that you had died back in the Ministry along with that excuse for a man you called your godfather." Malfoy's voice was colder than it had ever sounded.
Harry had grabbed Malfoy's robes with his free arm. Hermione whispered, "No, Snape will have your head." She pulled Harry and Malfoy apart and pulled Harry out the door by the strap of his bag.
Harry was fuming. When they emerged back into the sun filled Entrance Hall, Hermione finally let go of him. His jaw was clenched and his hands curled into fists.
Hermione stared him down. "Do you want to get expelled? If Snape had caught you fighting Malfoy, he would have gone mad. He already wants you thrown out of his class." She stopped when Harry gave her a look. "Oh, believe me I heard Snape's little speech to you. And you are not going to give him a reason to throw you out! Not as long as I can help it."
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He was still angry as they made their way up to Gryffindor Tower to drop off their things before dinner. Ron was already in the common room, waiting for them. Harry only glanced at him before storming up the stairs and throwing his bag not his bed. When he came back down, he saw Ron watching him apprehensively. Hermione had no doubt told him what had happened after class.
Harry sat quietly throughout dinner. Ron and Hermione had obviously called another truce, because they were being perfectly friendly to each other. Then a sudden thought hit Harry.
"Hermione did you see Michael Corner today during Defense?"
"Well, of course I saw him. We are in the same class." She said, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"I mean, did you see the way he was looking at me? He kept glaring at me. All during class, he was looking at me as if he wanted me dead."
Ron laughed. "Well it's probably because he knows that you and Cho dated."
At Cho's name, Harry slapped his forehead.
Hermione looked alarmed. "What is it Harry? Does your scar hurt again?"
"No. Bugger, I completely forgot that I'm supposed to meet her after dinner." Harry slammed his head onto the table.
"You're meeting Cho Chang after dinner? Why?" Ron said laughing as Harry banged his head a few more times.
"I don't know really. She just came up to me last night and asked me if I would meet her."
Hermione laughed too. She grabbed a handful of Harry's collar and pulled his head away from the table. "So that's what she wanted with you last night? She came up to me while I was trying to get that first year off the train and asked where you were. I saw her come over to the table last night."
Harry pushed the food around his plate, dreading having to talk to Cho. Finally, Hermione elbowed him. "There she is, Harry. She just left. You might as well go and talk to her and be done with it."
Harry nodded and, knowing he couldn't put it off any longer, got up from the table and left the Great Hall. He went out into the Entrance Hall, but didn't see Cho anywhere. He opened the oak doors and went outside. The sun was beginning to set and the sky had a faint pinkish glow. The air was cool and Harry wished he had his cloak. It whipped around him, lifting his hair and making goose bumps rise on his arms.
As he drew closer to the lake, he saw someone sitting on the bank. It was Cho. She was sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring blankly over the scene before her. Not wanting to startle her, he called her name while he was still a good distance from her. She turned and waved at him. Harry watched her stand and brush the grass and dirt from her backside.
Harry swallowed as he got close to her, remembering what had happened the last time they had been alone together.
"Thanks for coming Harry. I've wanted to talk to you for awhile, but with everything that happened at the end of last year..." She stopped when she saw his eyes cloud over. "Well, I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry about the way things ended between us. I'm really sorry about snapping at you over the whole Marietta thing. And I wanted you to know that Michael and I are over. He was just..."
Harry held a hand up to stop her. "Look, Cho I don't care about you and Michael. I really don't need any sort of explanation about the whole thing. I do accept your apology, though. I hope we can still be friends."
Harry noticed a strange look in Cho's eyes. She was smiling in a weird sort of way. Harry stared at her for a moment, then she started coming closer to him.
"I don't just want to be your friend, Harry." And with that, she grabbed the front of his robes and pulled him towards her. Before he knew what was going on, she was kissing him...again.
It took a few seconds before his mind registered what was happening. He pushed her off of him. She was breathing hard and her eyes still held a manic glint.
"Look, Cho, I don't think you get it. I don't like you that way."
Cho smiled, it was that same devilish smile she had worn earlier. "Harry, you might think you don't, but deep down I know you still want me. And that was just to show you that I'll be waiting for you when you finally realize it." She brushed her hand against his cheek and turned back towards the castle.
Harry stood, gaping after her for a few minutes. Eventually he sank down by the lake and took to staring out across it. What was going on around here? Harry remembered Ron's words from earlier.
"It's official; the world has gone completely upside down."
