When they reached Hogwarts, a storm was heavily under way. Harry
walked out
of the train and started up to the carriages which the thestrals pulled. He
could hear Hagrid yelling, "See you at the castle if the boats make it
across!"
Harry looked at the storm and knew that Hagrid wasn't making a joke. . . .
He got into a carriage with Ron and Hermione. They filled Ron on what had happened on the train. He was very shocked, though more in awe than anything else.
"Wandless magic, Harry? Y'sure? That's-that's-wow! Dad told me a bit about it once . . . said it was really rare, and only about fifteen people could do it this whole century! 'course that doesn't count Apparating and stuff, but it's a really big gift!"
The carriages pulled them slowly up the road and past the winged boars, coming to a rest at the front doors of Hogwarts.
Outside it was still storming very hard, and the three of them got soaked trying to get inside.
When they finally got in, Professor McGonagall motioned to him and Ron to come to her office.
"As you both know," she started, "you will be receiving advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts classes this year. They will be taking place on the third floor every Monday, and your regular Defense Against the Dark Arts will be cancelled. This goes for all of you who received an O on your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. and wish to receive Auror training. Now, go to the feast, and if I may say, do not boast it; there are only a few who got in."
As Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall, they saw Flitwick removing the Sorting Hat, a thousand-year-old hat that quartered all the newcomers to Hogwarts every year in a process called Sorting, which involved putting the hat on and having it look inside your head until it decided where to put you. Harry remembered the fright it was when he was sorted.
He and Ron took seats on the Gryffindor table next to Hermione and Ginny. Harry sat down as Dumbledore stood up and began the start-of-term speech.
"Welcome, all of you, to a new year at Hogwarts. I have a few announcements to make before we delight in the delicious delectables our good kitchen has provided us with.
"This year, Defense Against the Dark Arts shall be a little different than what you are all used to. Second Years and up will be receiving anti- dementor lessons, and sixth and seventh years, as usual, will have the option of Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry fell into a daze and was staring at the storm strewn ceiling, which was pouring magical rain on the students, which fortunately evaporated a few feet before it reached the low-floating candles that hung around the tables.
Then Dumbledore said, "Tryouts for the Quidditch teams will take place next Monday. This year, though, Quidditch practice cannot run past seven o'clock, due to the possibility of attacks on the school. Now, though, I advise you to put all these thoughts at the back of your minds, and concentrate on the food in front of you." He spread his arms wide.
Magically, all the empty trays were suddenly filled with food. As Harry pulled some roast chicken and potatoes, ketchup, and a few other choice foods the house-elf cooks had concocted, Ron leaned over to showed him what looked like a marble that was constantly changing color, and said, "Look what Fred and George gave me from there joke shop, this thing that you put in your food to make it taste like whatever you want. See, this piece of turkey?"
Harry took the piece.
"Now, put the marble in it."
Harry did so, and thought, turn it into vanilla ice cream. He took a bite of the turkey and realized that it had gone all cold and tasted and felt exactly like ice cream.
"Wow!" he said.
Ron patted him on the back. As Harry leaned over to eat, Ron did it again. As he took a bite, Ron did it again.
"Cut it out!" Harry said sharply.
"What, mate? I haven't touched you."
"So who was patting me on the back so much?"
"Oh that? That was Weasleys' forever pat. If I hold it and pat you on the back, it taps you every time you move. Pretty cool, huh? Fred and George have some really neat things. I'll take it off, though.
"I only brought a few to the table, but I have loads in my trunk upstairs. Like there's one that shakes your hand tighter and tighter until you tickle it. It's not dangerous, of course, it shakes your hand and then, even if your hand brakes, it heals it when it stops. . . ."
That night, Harry dreamt of Sirius falling through a piece of paper, while Bellatrix laughed, then he dreamed that Malfoy had cornered him and Hermione and had hurt her, Harry took out his wand and was about to curse him, when he woke up.
At breakfast that morning, Harry looked at his schedule and realized that he had Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts that afternoon.
"Hey Ron," said Harry over his cereal, "I wonder who teaches Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. Maybe it'll be someone from the Order!"
"Yeah," said Ron, "that would be really cool. Bet it's not Tonks though, she's way too clumsy, but don't tell her I said that," he added under his breath.
After breakfast they had Transfiguration. Harry spent it trying to transfigure his rat into a tortoise, which he easily accomplished (thanks to Derek, of course) but Harry tried making it seem like hard work so now one got too suspicious.
After they ate lunch, Harry and Ron went to their first Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson (Hermione had chosen not to go for some reason, though she had been accepted into every class).
When Harry walked into the room with Ron, he was in for more than one shock. First of all, the teacher sitting at the desk was — Dumbledore. Second of all, it looked the same exact as his office, four floors above. It even had Fawk's perch, empty at the moment, several whirring silver contraptions and portraits of previous headmasters lining the walls above them.
"Good morning," said Dumbledore, "I have decided to teach you the skills of Occlumency and Legilimency myself, as opposed to Professor Snape, who has volunteered for it the past twelve years. These two magics are just about the only things that will not come up on your N.E.W.T.s next year. However, since Lord Voldemort — " there was a collective shudder in the room, but he continued as though he had not noticed "— is a master of these magics; I think it is advisable to learn them, too.
"Now — Occlumency is, as some of you must already know, is the defense of the mind against outside attackers. Legilimency, also called mind reading by Muggles, is the attack from one person to another's head, allowing him to make him recall certain memories, and see them with the victim, and read parts of their mind, which is why the Muggles call it that.
"But that is magic so obscure, so deep, that we shall definitely not be learning it this year, and we might not even learn it next year. Now, I think we shall begin our first class with a few demonstrations. Mr. Potter, up here, if you please,"
Harry got off his seat, which was near a black cabinet that Harry was pretty sure contained the Pensieve, and walked to Dumbledore's beautiful desk.
"Now, Harry," said Dumbledore, "you have been taught Occlumency before by Professor Snape, so you must have a clue, at least, as to how to block me from penetrating your mind. We'll give it a try then, Harry. On the count of three,"
Harry started to empty his mind of all thoughts and stared blankly at the desk in front of him.
"One, two, three, Legilimens!" cried Dumbledore.
Harry's world suddenly became a mixture of memories. Dudley's face flashed before him, his piggy eyes popping with sneering pleasure, then changed to Hagrid telling him that he was a wizard, then changed to Cho's face, eyes bright with tears, and Harry thought, no, I don't want you seeing that. Get out of my mind. Get out! OUT!
Dumbledore's face suddenly swam before him. It was smiling broadly. "Well done, Harry." he said, "I'm very impressed. You forced me out with your mind and did not let me see anything at all."
Harry was stunned— even with Derek's lessons, he had not been able to block a thing, but Dumbledore hadn't seen anything? At all? What about his memory of Cho crying, which had enabled Harry to block him in the first place? And why did Cho keep bringing him help with his Occlumency?
Like last year, when I stopped Snape from looking at us together in the D.A. room . . . Harry thought. The lesson continued with Dumbledore teaching them how to block their minds, and giving them homework that they should write an essay on Occlumency.
After the lesson, Harry and Ron were sought out by Katie Bell.
"I've been made Captain of the Quidditch team," she told them, "Our tryouts are today; we're missing both Beaters again and a Chaser as well."
When Harry and Ron looked confused she said, "Sloper and that other idiot, what's-his-name- well, anyway, they've left the team, good thing too, so I don't need to kick them off now.
"Right now we have Ginny and I as Chasers, Ron as Keeper, and you as Seeker, Harry. So we need two Beaters and a Chaser."
"What time are the tryouts gonna be?" asked Ron.
"About, well, let's say right after dinner, okay?"
"Fine with me," said Ron. Harry nodded in agreement.
Harry looked at the storm and knew that Hagrid wasn't making a joke. . . .
He got into a carriage with Ron and Hermione. They filled Ron on what had happened on the train. He was very shocked, though more in awe than anything else.
"Wandless magic, Harry? Y'sure? That's-that's-wow! Dad told me a bit about it once . . . said it was really rare, and only about fifteen people could do it this whole century! 'course that doesn't count Apparating and stuff, but it's a really big gift!"
The carriages pulled them slowly up the road and past the winged boars, coming to a rest at the front doors of Hogwarts.
Outside it was still storming very hard, and the three of them got soaked trying to get inside.
When they finally got in, Professor McGonagall motioned to him and Ron to come to her office.
"As you both know," she started, "you will be receiving advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts classes this year. They will be taking place on the third floor every Monday, and your regular Defense Against the Dark Arts will be cancelled. This goes for all of you who received an O on your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. and wish to receive Auror training. Now, go to the feast, and if I may say, do not boast it; there are only a few who got in."
As Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall, they saw Flitwick removing the Sorting Hat, a thousand-year-old hat that quartered all the newcomers to Hogwarts every year in a process called Sorting, which involved putting the hat on and having it look inside your head until it decided where to put you. Harry remembered the fright it was when he was sorted.
He and Ron took seats on the Gryffindor table next to Hermione and Ginny. Harry sat down as Dumbledore stood up and began the start-of-term speech.
"Welcome, all of you, to a new year at Hogwarts. I have a few announcements to make before we delight in the delicious delectables our good kitchen has provided us with.
"This year, Defense Against the Dark Arts shall be a little different than what you are all used to. Second Years and up will be receiving anti- dementor lessons, and sixth and seventh years, as usual, will have the option of Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry fell into a daze and was staring at the storm strewn ceiling, which was pouring magical rain on the students, which fortunately evaporated a few feet before it reached the low-floating candles that hung around the tables.
Then Dumbledore said, "Tryouts for the Quidditch teams will take place next Monday. This year, though, Quidditch practice cannot run past seven o'clock, due to the possibility of attacks on the school. Now, though, I advise you to put all these thoughts at the back of your minds, and concentrate on the food in front of you." He spread his arms wide.
Magically, all the empty trays were suddenly filled with food. As Harry pulled some roast chicken and potatoes, ketchup, and a few other choice foods the house-elf cooks had concocted, Ron leaned over to showed him what looked like a marble that was constantly changing color, and said, "Look what Fred and George gave me from there joke shop, this thing that you put in your food to make it taste like whatever you want. See, this piece of turkey?"
Harry took the piece.
"Now, put the marble in it."
Harry did so, and thought, turn it into vanilla ice cream. He took a bite of the turkey and realized that it had gone all cold and tasted and felt exactly like ice cream.
"Wow!" he said.
Ron patted him on the back. As Harry leaned over to eat, Ron did it again. As he took a bite, Ron did it again.
"Cut it out!" Harry said sharply.
"What, mate? I haven't touched you."
"So who was patting me on the back so much?"
"Oh that? That was Weasleys' forever pat. If I hold it and pat you on the back, it taps you every time you move. Pretty cool, huh? Fred and George have some really neat things. I'll take it off, though.
"I only brought a few to the table, but I have loads in my trunk upstairs. Like there's one that shakes your hand tighter and tighter until you tickle it. It's not dangerous, of course, it shakes your hand and then, even if your hand brakes, it heals it when it stops. . . ."
That night, Harry dreamt of Sirius falling through a piece of paper, while Bellatrix laughed, then he dreamed that Malfoy had cornered him and Hermione and had hurt her, Harry took out his wand and was about to curse him, when he woke up.
At breakfast that morning, Harry looked at his schedule and realized that he had Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts that afternoon.
"Hey Ron," said Harry over his cereal, "I wonder who teaches Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. Maybe it'll be someone from the Order!"
"Yeah," said Ron, "that would be really cool. Bet it's not Tonks though, she's way too clumsy, but don't tell her I said that," he added under his breath.
After breakfast they had Transfiguration. Harry spent it trying to transfigure his rat into a tortoise, which he easily accomplished (thanks to Derek, of course) but Harry tried making it seem like hard work so now one got too suspicious.
After they ate lunch, Harry and Ron went to their first Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson (Hermione had chosen not to go for some reason, though she had been accepted into every class).
When Harry walked into the room with Ron, he was in for more than one shock. First of all, the teacher sitting at the desk was — Dumbledore. Second of all, it looked the same exact as his office, four floors above. It even had Fawk's perch, empty at the moment, several whirring silver contraptions and portraits of previous headmasters lining the walls above them.
"Good morning," said Dumbledore, "I have decided to teach you the skills of Occlumency and Legilimency myself, as opposed to Professor Snape, who has volunteered for it the past twelve years. These two magics are just about the only things that will not come up on your N.E.W.T.s next year. However, since Lord Voldemort — " there was a collective shudder in the room, but he continued as though he had not noticed "— is a master of these magics; I think it is advisable to learn them, too.
"Now — Occlumency is, as some of you must already know, is the defense of the mind against outside attackers. Legilimency, also called mind reading by Muggles, is the attack from one person to another's head, allowing him to make him recall certain memories, and see them with the victim, and read parts of their mind, which is why the Muggles call it that.
"But that is magic so obscure, so deep, that we shall definitely not be learning it this year, and we might not even learn it next year. Now, I think we shall begin our first class with a few demonstrations. Mr. Potter, up here, if you please,"
Harry got off his seat, which was near a black cabinet that Harry was pretty sure contained the Pensieve, and walked to Dumbledore's beautiful desk.
"Now, Harry," said Dumbledore, "you have been taught Occlumency before by Professor Snape, so you must have a clue, at least, as to how to block me from penetrating your mind. We'll give it a try then, Harry. On the count of three,"
Harry started to empty his mind of all thoughts and stared blankly at the desk in front of him.
"One, two, three, Legilimens!" cried Dumbledore.
Harry's world suddenly became a mixture of memories. Dudley's face flashed before him, his piggy eyes popping with sneering pleasure, then changed to Hagrid telling him that he was a wizard, then changed to Cho's face, eyes bright with tears, and Harry thought, no, I don't want you seeing that. Get out of my mind. Get out! OUT!
Dumbledore's face suddenly swam before him. It was smiling broadly. "Well done, Harry." he said, "I'm very impressed. You forced me out with your mind and did not let me see anything at all."
Harry was stunned— even with Derek's lessons, he had not been able to block a thing, but Dumbledore hadn't seen anything? At all? What about his memory of Cho crying, which had enabled Harry to block him in the first place? And why did Cho keep bringing him help with his Occlumency?
Like last year, when I stopped Snape from looking at us together in the D.A. room . . . Harry thought. The lesson continued with Dumbledore teaching them how to block their minds, and giving them homework that they should write an essay on Occlumency.
After the lesson, Harry and Ron were sought out by Katie Bell.
"I've been made Captain of the Quidditch team," she told them, "Our tryouts are today; we're missing both Beaters again and a Chaser as well."
When Harry and Ron looked confused she said, "Sloper and that other idiot, what's-his-name- well, anyway, they've left the team, good thing too, so I don't need to kick them off now.
"Right now we have Ginny and I as Chasers, Ron as Keeper, and you as Seeker, Harry. So we need two Beaters and a Chaser."
"What time are the tryouts gonna be?" asked Ron.
"About, well, let's say right after dinner, okay?"
"Fine with me," said Ron. Harry nodded in agreement.