Title: Time Warp: Year One
Author: Laen
Chapter: (2) Back to Hogwarts
Summary: Harry goes back to Hogwarts, meets Ron and Hermione, and gets into a fight with Malfoy
Disclaimer: All characters below belong to Joanne K. Rowling; the idea of Harry going back in time came from Back to the Future.
Author's Note: New chappie! Quick huh? I'll just say I got a few reviews telling me to update, FAST, so I thought, what the heck! Why not? Don't worry; I plan for this chapter to be about the same size as the first one. Not too long, and not too short~ and remember, READ AND REVIEW! It helps me with my writer's block and allows me to update faster!
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Harry woke at five o'clock the next morning and was too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. He got up and pulled on his jeans because he didn't want to walk into the station in his wizard's robes—he'd change on the train. He checked his Hogwarts list yet again to make sure he had everything he needed, saw that Hedwig was shut safety in her cage, and then went to Dudley's room to wake him up.
"Just another five minutes mum..." Dudley groaned as Harry shook his cousin awake.
"Wake up Dudley! It's five thirty in the morning! The sun's up already!" Harry said as his cousin groaned unhappily.
"It's five thirty in the morning and you're awake, are you mad?" Dudley asked in disbelief as Harry laughed happily.
"Come on, we can practice some karate moves before I leave for Hogwarts—god knows when I'll have another lesson. Come on!" Harry pleaded as his cousin rolled off his bed and headed towards the bathroom.
"Meet you in the back yard by the green house in twenty minutes." Dudley muttered as Harry nodded, and hurried off towards the kitchen to begin cooking breakfast.
He knew he probably woke everyone else in the house with the smell of the delicious food, but he was in too good a mood to be upset when Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon yelled at him. True to his word, Dudley appeared in the kitchen twenty minutes later, and immediately headed outside to get ready for their 'training session'. As they practiced their moves, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia watched.
"Go Dudley! Show him whose boss!" Uncle Vernon shouted as Harry ducked one of Dudley's punches with ease.
"My Dudley's all grown up." Aunt Petunia sobbed as both Harry and Dudley struggled not to burst out laughing.
After around forty-five minutes, they stopped, and went inside to eat their breakfast. When they were finished, Harry and Dudley hurried upstairs to get Harry's trunk into the Dursley's car. Uncle Vernon was driving, although he was sitting on a small pillow to make sure he didn't squish his tail.
They reached King's Cross at half past ten. Dudley helped Harry dump his trunk on to a trolley and wheeled it in to the station for him; and at the same time, looking for the right Platform.
"There's platform nine—and platform ten. Where's platform nine and three quarters?" Dudley asked as Harry smiled at him.
"I'm supposed to walk straight at the barrier between the two platforms. If we actually had a platform nine and three quarters, I'm sure the muggles would get confused." Harry explained as Dudley nodded.
"Well, I guess I'll see you next summer." Dudley said unhappily as Harry shook his head.
"Maybe not. I can come back from Christmas and Easter Break." Harry said as his cousin lightened up immediately.
"Really? That'd be great!" Dudley stated as Harry chuckled.
"Well... I'll see ya then." Harry said as he held his hand out to shake his cousins, not knowing what else to do.
"I'll miss you Harry, I'm sure mum and dad will too—they're just too scared to say it." Dudley said as he shook Harry's hand and gave him a quick hug.
"Bye then." Harry said as he grabbed his trolley, and pushed it towards the barrier between platform nine and platform ten.
"Good bye Harry!" Dudley shouted just before Harry ran through the barrier.
'See ya Dudley.' Harry thought to himself as he closed his eyes, and he went through the barrier.
A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sigh over head said Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought iron archway where the ticket box had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three Quarters on it. He had done it. He was back in the Wizarding world again.
Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to each other in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his trolley off down the platform in search of an empty seat, knowing that the last compartment at the end of the train was empty.
He quickly shrunk the trunk, and stuck it into his pocket, before going into the compartment with Hedwig. Within a few minutes, Harry heard a familiar voice outside speaking.
"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet!"
"Great idea though, thanks Mum."
"It's not funny. And look after Ron."
"Don't worry; ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."
"Shut up." Ron's familiar voice cried out in annoyance.
Harry immediately looked out the window with a giant grin on his face. It was the Weasley! A loud whistle suddenly sounded, and the three boys clambered on to the train. They leant out of the window for her to kiss them goodbye and Harry watched as Ginny began to cry.
"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."
"George!"
"Only joking, Mum."
The train began to move. Harry saw Mrs Weasley waving and Ginny, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with the train until it gathered too much speed, and then she fell back and waved.
The door of the compartment suddenly slid open and the youngest redheaded boy came in.
"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing to the seat opposite Harry. "Everywhere else is full." Harry shook his head and the boy sat down.
"I'm Ron, Ronald Weasley. Who're you?" the redhead asked as he held his hand out in front of him.
"Harry Potter." Harry replied as he grasped Ron's hand and shook it, ignoring the shocked expression on Ron's face.
"I don't see your scar though." Ron said as he looked at Harry weirdly.
Harry removed a tissue from his pocket, and wiped the cover up from his forehead, to show Ron his scar.
"So that's where You—Know—Who—?"
"Yes," said Harry, "the only thing I remember is my mum screaming and a burst of green light though."
"Wow," said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few moments, then, as though he had suddenly realised what he was doing, he looked quickly out of the window again.
"Are all your family wizards?" ask Harry, who wanted to become friends with Ron again as quickly as he could.
"Er—yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him.
"So you must know loads of magic already." Harry said as Ron shook his head slightly.
"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "What are they like?"
"Horrible—well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle were—my cousin's a lot nicer now. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers." Harry stated, remembering what he had said when he had first met Ron.
"Five," Ron corrected. Harry noticed he looked very gloomy. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left—Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really gunny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand and Percy's old rat."
Harry's face turned a bit pale as Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat grey rat, which was asleep.
"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff—I mean, I got Scabbers instead."
Ron's ears went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much, because he went back to staring out of the window.
"You're lucky. The Dursley's gave me Dudley's old clothes and I ended up getting old socks and a coat hanging for my birthday." Harry said as Ron looked up at him in disbelief.
"...and until Hagrid told me, I didn't even know anything about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort—"
Ron gasped.
"What?" asked Harry, as he suddenly remembered people were scared to speak the dark lord's name.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. "I'd have though you, of all people—"
"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name." Harry cut in immediately, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn... I bet I'm the worst in the class."
"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough."
While they had been talking, the train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past.
Around half-past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and asked, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
Harry got up to his feet, and walked over there, ignoring Ron's muttering about he'd brought sandwiches.
Harry bought three boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, a dozen Chocolate Frogs, and a bit of everything, knowing that Ron was probably starving.
Ron stared as Harry brought it all back in to the compartment and tipped it on to an empty seat.
"Hungry, are you?" Ron asked.
"Not really, I've never tasted any of these. Got any idea what they are?" Harry asked as he held up a pack of chocolate frogs. He had to stick to the conversation he and Ron had five years back, if he could remember half of it.
"They're not really frogs, are they?" Harry asked as Ron shook his head.
"No," said Ron. "But see what the card is, I'm missing Agrippa.
"What?"
"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know—Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect—famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy."
Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, had a long crooked nose and flowing silver hair, beard and moustache. Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore.
"So this is Dumbledore!" said Harry.
"Don't tell me you'd never heard of Dumbledore!" said Ron. "Can I have a frog? I might get Agrippa—"
"Help yourself, I'll never be able to finish all of this myself anyways." Harry said as he turned the card over and began reading:
Albus Dumbledore, currently Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern
times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his
defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945,
for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's
blood and his work on alchemy with his partner,
Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys
chamber music and tenpin bowling.
Harry turned the card back over and saw that Dumbledore's face had disappeared. Next, he went to open a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
"You want to be careful with those," Ron warned Harry. "When they say every flavour, they mean every flavour—you know, you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a bogey-flavoured one once."
Ron picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully and bit into a corner.
"Bleaaargh—see? Sprouts."
They had a good time eating the Every Flavour Beans. Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, and sardine and was even brave enough to nibble the end of a funny grey one he knew was pepper.
The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers and dark green hills.
There was a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy Harry had passed on platform nine and three quarters came in. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"
"No, but sit down and eat something. I'll help you find it right now. What's your name?" Harry asked, already knowing what the boy was going to answer.
"Neville, Neville Longbottom." He said as he sat down next to the pile of treats.
"I see. I'm Harry Potter." Harry said as he held his hand out to shake Neville's hand.
"And I'm Ron Weasley." Ron said as he too held his hand out to shake Neville's hand.
"Wow, I've heard of you from my grams. You're famous!" Neville said as he shook Harry and Ron's hands in excitement.
"Fame doesn't come easy. There's always a price to pay." Harry whispered with a sigh. Which caused Neville and Ron to shut up.
"Anyways, let me find that toad for you." Harry said as he took his wand out, he had just raised it when the compartment door slid open again. And a girl stood there.
"Oh hey Neville—have you found your frog yet?" she asked as Harry froze in his actions, staring at her.
Hermione.
For a few seconds, Harry blanked out, in his mind, memories flashed by, and he shut his eyes for a moment to think about them.
"Excuse me—are you doing magic?" Hermione's voice suddenly shook Harry out of his thoughts.
"Yea." He replied as a smile appeared onto her face. She sat down.
"Let's see it, then." She said, waiting eagerly.
"Accio Neville's Toad." Harry whispered as he flicked his wand, a few seconds later, a toad went zooming into the compartment and into Harry's hands.
"Here you go." Harry said as he handed the toad to Neville, who looked at him happily.
"Wow that was good! I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me too. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard—I've learnt all our set books off by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough—I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"
She said all of this very fast, and as she did, a smile appeared onto Harry's face.
"I'm Ron Weasley." Ron muttered, stunned that she had learnt all the set books off by heart.
"Harry Potter." Harry said as he held his hand out politely waiting for a handshake.
The moment Hermione made contact with his hand, Harry felt a small shock flow through his body, and his smile widen.
"Are you really?" asked Hermione, "I know all about you, of course—I've got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Hall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I?" asked Harry, still staring at Hermione in a trance.
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do either of you know what house you'll be in—"
"Gryffindor." Harry cut in immediately, "I'm sure all of us will end up there. Ron—don't look like that, you won't get placed in Slytherin. None of us will—I hope anyways."
"What do you mean—you hope?" Neville asked curiously.
"I reckon You-Know-Who transferred some of his magic over to me when he gave me this ruddy scar." Harry said as he showed Neville and Hermione his scar.
"I'm able to speak to snakes. It's kind of freaky. I'd probably drop dead of the sorting hat placed me into Slytherin." Harry said gloomily as Ron, Neville and Hermione all gasped.
"You can talk to snakes?" Ron asked as Harry nodded slightly.
"Not that fun. Unless I'm stunk in the middle of the jungle and there's evil snakes all around trying to kill me—then I'd be able to stop them." Harry chuckled.
Harry's bad joke seemed to have lightened the mood, and the frown on the three first year's faces all disappeared.
Suddenly, the door to the compartment slid open yet again, and three boys entered it. Harry recognized them as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"Hello—Harry Potter." Draco said as Harry stood up.
"Malfoy." Harry replied as Hermione, Ron, and Neville followed his actions.
"This here's Crabbe and this is Goyle." Draco introduced as he pointed to his bodyguards.
"I see." Harry said as Malfoy ignored him and continued to speak.
"And of course, you know me. Draco Malfoy."
Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.
"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles and more children they can afford." Draco said as he turned back to Harry.
"You'll soon find out some Wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." Draco stated as he held his hand out to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't bother to take it.
"I understand what you mean by some Wizarding families being better than others. Just by what I see right here. I'm sure Ron's family is a million times better then yours. After all, they didn't stoop to the level of becoming death eaters." Harry said in a cold voice as Draco's cheeks turned slightly pink.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riff-raff like the Weasley and that Hagrid and it'll rub off on you." By the time Draco had finished, Harry noticed that Ron's face had turned as red as his hair.
"Say that again." Ron whispered.
"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered as Neville whimpered, and Hermione shook her head at him.
"Unless you get out now Malfoy, you and your friends will be spending the first few days at Hogwarts in the hospital wing." Harry threatened as Malfoy snickered.
"But we don't feel like leaving, do we boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some."
Goyle reached towards the Chocolate Frogs by Ron and Neville, and before Ron could do anything, Harry sprung forward and elbowed Goyle across the jaw with his right elbow. He spun around and held his fist out to punch Malfoy, but stopped only inches away from his face. As Goyle cried out in pain, gasps of shock could be heard from everyone else in the compartment.
"I'm warning you Malfoy. Out." Harry whispered in a dangerous tone as Draco glared back at him angrily, before taking a step back, and walking away. Draco's two body guards followed, and Harry closed the compartment once again before sitting back down.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron cried out as Hermione gave Harry a look.
"You're going to get in trouble for fighting even before we get there!" she muttered as Harry shook his head.
"Malfoy would never admit to getting beat up by me. Anyways, if I didn't kick him out, he'll be insulting you next." Harry explained as Hermione looked at him curiously.
"Why would he insult me?" she asked as Harry sighed deeply.
"I met him down at Diagon Alley around a month ago—he thinks that wizards and witches who aren't pure bloods shouldn't be allowed to go to Hogwarts." Harry noted.
"Pure bloods—"
"People who come from a Wizarding family." Neville explained.
"I think we're going to arrive at Hogwarts soon—we'd better get into our robes." Harry said to Ron, who nodded. Hermione and Neville left the compartment, and within a few seconds, Ron and Harry were both already in their long robes.
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately." A voice echoed through the train. Harry took his trunk out of his pocket, and enlarged it.
Ron and Harry both crammed their pockets with the last of the sweets, and joined the crowd thronging the corridor.
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Harry heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years! All right there, Harry?"
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
"C'mon, follow me—anymore firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!" and Harry smiled at the reactions of the students.
The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, point to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione all sat in the same boat.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, "Right then—FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out on to rocks and pebbles.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" asked Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last on to smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here? You here, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fitted the whole of Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right—the rest of the school must already be here—but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common-rooms.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
She left the chamber. Harry sighed.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Hermione asked Ron.
"Some sort of test, I think. My brother Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." Ron replied.
A few seconds later, Harry heard the people all around him gasp, scream, and jump in fear. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to five him a second change—"
"My fear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost—I saw, what are you all doing here?"
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to lead, Harry got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Ron behind me, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Harry felt the butterflies in his stomach, the last time he had felt this way was—when he was sorted. He felt excitement flow through him as they entered the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upwards and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts, a History."
Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched an frayed and extremely dirty. Aunt Petunia wouldn't have let it in the house.
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth—and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to Harry. "I'll kill Fred; he was going on about wrestling a troll."
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah."
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause—
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Harry could see Ron's twin brothers catcalling.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin. Then Professor McGonagall called "Finch-Fletchley, Justin" up, who became a Hufflepuff. "Finnigan, Seamus" was next, and he sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. Ron groaned.
Neville was sorted into Gryffindor, and when it got to Malfoy turn, the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed "SLYTHERIN!"
Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself. There weren't many people left now.
"Moon" ..., "Nott" ..., "Parkinson" ..., and then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil" ..., then "Perks, Sally-Anne" ..., and then, at last—
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like hissing fires all over the hall.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited.
"Ah... Mr. Potter... Not your first time here is it?" said a small voice in his ear. "Hm... I wonder how that happened. Anyways, better not waste any time. I see you're supposed to be in GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. He took off the hat and walked towards the Gryffindor table with a huge grin on his face. He noticed that he was getting the loudest cheer yet. Percy got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, "We got Potter! We got Potter!" Harry sat down across from Hermione.
Harry barely paid attention to the end of the sorting, until he realized Ron had just been sorted into Gryffindor. Then he began clapping like mad as Ron sank into the chair next to him.
"Well done, Ron, excellent," said Percy Weasley pompously across Harry as "Zabani, Blaise" was made a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the sorting Hat away.
Albus Dumbledore had got to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
He sat back down. Everyone clapped and cheered as Harry chuckled. Food suddenly appeared in front of him, and he immediately dug in and ate hungrily. As nearly headless Nick floated by, Harry continued to eat, not bothering to join in on the conversation he already knew so well of.
For the next half an hour or so, everyone talked and ate. Finally, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again, and the hall fell silent.
"Ahem—just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Harry listened as a few people laughed, and questions flowed around waiting for answers, but he kept silent the whole way through.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore as he gave his wand a little flick, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high about the table and twisted itself snake-like into words.
"Everyone pick their favourite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"
And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with some filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase. After what seemed like five minutes of walking, they stopped at the end of a corridor, where a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress hung.
"Password?" she asked.
"Caput Draconis," said Percy, and the portrait swung forwards to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it—Neville needed a leg up—and found themselves in the Gryffindor common-room. After Percy directed them all to their proper dormitories, Harry fell onto his bed and quickly fell asleep.
The next day, when Harry woke up, whispers, pointing, and staring followed him throughout the castle from class to class. Harry had helped all of the Gryffindors out quite a lot by showing them to the correct classrooms, ignoring all the questions people threw at him about how he knew the way.
The first few days passed easily for Harry, and he had a hard time not falling asleep in class, but he surprised all of his teachers when he answered their questions correctly after being caught half awake. Friday came quite quickly, and double potions with the Slytherins arrived sadly.
Harry had received a letter from Hagrid that morning asking him to come to his hut in the afternoon, and he replied with a simple yes. Then he headed off towards the dungeons for potions class.
Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the register, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new—celebrity."
Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word—like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort.
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching their mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper to death—if you aren't as big as a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Silence followed this little speech, and Harry waited for Snape to explode on him.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"It makes a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death." Harry answer immediately, before Hermione even had a chance to raise her hand. Snape's face twitched when he heard this.
"Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" he asked next.
"It's a stone taken from the stomach of a goat that can save you from most poisons." Harry replied, once again, giving more information then he needed too, causing Snape's face to twitch again.
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape asked next as a small smile appeared onto Harry's face. He was expecting this.
"There is no difference between monkshood and wolfsbane, they're the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite." Harry said as he noticed many Gryffindors around him smile happily.
"Well? Why are you all copying that down?" Professor Snape cried out as there was sudden rummaging for quills and parchment.
Later on in the class, Snape had placed them all into pairs, and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. Harry, who was working next to Neville and Seamus, began whispering instructions to Neville, who had no idea what to do.
By the end of the potions class—an hour later, all of the Gryffindors had a perfect potion, while half the Slytherins were being lectured. Gryffindor hadn't earned any points, while Slytherin had earned around ten for being 'educated'.
Next, Ron and Harry went to Hagrid's hut to have tea with him. Harry listened in on Hagrid and Ron's conversation on Charlie's work with dragons while he picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cosy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringotts' goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault had in fact been emptied that same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your nose out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts' spokesgoblin this afternoon.
Harry kept silent for the rest of the afternoon, and only spoke when he was questioned. He knew what was in there. He knew who was trying to steal it. But he didn't bother to talk, at all.
*****
The following week, Gryffindor and Slytherin had the wonderful pleasure of learning how to ride a broom together. Harry had been looking forward to flying more than anything else, since he knew he would be placed onto the Quidditch team after the lesson.
It was that morning, that everything started according the plan... or... history, you could say.
A barn owl brought Neville a small package from his grandmother. He opened it excitedly and show them a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke.
"It's a Remembrall!" he explained. "Gran knows I forget things—this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns read—oh..." his face fell, because the Remembrall had suddenly glowed scarlet, "... you've forgotten something..."
Neville was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when Draco Malfoy, who was passing the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall out of his hands—causing Harry and Ron to jump to their feet. They were half hoping for a reason to fight Malfoy—especially Harry, but professor McGonagall, who could spot trouble quicker than any teacher in the school, was there in a flash.
"What's going on?"
"Malfoy's got my Remembrall, Professor."
Scowling, Malfoy quickly dropped the Remembrall back on the table.
"Just looking," he said, and he sloped away with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
At three-thirty that afternoon, Harry, Ron and the other Gryffindors hurried down the front steps into the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns towards a smooth lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.
The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Harry had heard Fred and George Weasley complain about the school brooms, saying that some of them started to vibrate if you flew too high, or always flew slightly to the left.
Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" she barked. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
Harry glanced down at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles.
"Stick our your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "and say 'Up'!"
"UP!" Everyone shouted.
Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the few that did. Hermione Granger's had simply rolled over on the ground and Neville's hadn't moved at all.
"Hermione—" Harry whispered as the girl looked up at him, "just say up, not in a commanding tone, I mean... normally you know?"
Hermione gave him a confused look before replying.
"What do you mean? Just say up?" the moment she had finished the sentence, the broomstick flew up into her hands. She stared at it in surprise, then looked back at the grinning Harry and thanked him.
"No problem." Harry replied happily.
Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips. Harry and Ron were delighted when she told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle—three—two—"
But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.
"Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle—twelve feet—twenty feet. Harry saw his scared white face look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and—
WHAM—a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay face down on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher until Harry pulled his wand out and shouted "Accio". He then turned to Madam Hooch, who was bending over Neville, her face as white as his.
"Broken wrist," Harry heard her mutter. "Come on, boy—it's alright, up you get."
She turned to the rest of the class.
"None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say "Quidditch". Come on, dear."
Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him. No sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?" he said as the other Slytherins joined in.
"Shut up Malfoy," snapped Parvati Patil.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. "Never though you'd like fat little cry babies, Parvati."
"Look!" said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching something out of the grass. "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it up.
"Give that here, Malfoy." Harry said loudly as everyone stopped talking to watch.
Malfoy smiled nastily.
"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect—how about—up a tree?"
"How about you give it here or I'll smash your face in like I promised on the train to Hogwarts?" Harry threatened, but Malfoy had leapt on to his broomstick and taken off. A smile appeared onto Harry's face when he saw this.
"Come and get it, Potter!" He shouted as Harry mounted the broom and got ready to kick off.
"No!" shouted Hermione Granger, but Harry had already left the ground speeding towards Malfoy, who was shocked at how good Harry could fly.
"Give it here Malfoy—or I'll knock you off that broom" Harry shouted as Malfoy sneered.
"Oh, yeah?" Malfoy said, but he was beginning to look worried.
Harry shot towards him, and punched him hard in the ribs as he flew by, causing Malfoy to gasp out in pain. He made a sharp about turn and held the broom steady. A few people below were clapping.
"No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck, Malfoy." Harry said as Malfoy's face turned grim.
"Catch it if you can, then!" he shouted, and he threw the glass ball high into the air and streaked back towards the ground.
Harry sped forward, leaning downwards and gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball—wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of people watching—he stretched out his hand—a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently on to the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist.
"HARRY POTTER!"
A smile appeared onto Harry's face, although Professor McGonagall was running towards them. He got to his feet, and handed the Remembrall to Ron.
"Give that to Neville, I don't think I'll be able to." He said as Ron's face darkened.
"Never—in all my time at Hogwarts—"
Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, "—how dare you—might have broken your neck—"
"But I didn't." Harry cut in, before everyone began to talk.
"It wasn't his fault, Professor—"
"Be quiet, Miss Patil—"
"But Malfoy—"
"That's enough, Mr Weasley. Potter, follow me, now."
Harry caught sight of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, but merely smiled back at them happily, causing them all to frown in confusion. Harry followed Professor McGonagall in silence, waiting to meet Wood.
Finally, they stopped outside Professor Flitwick's classroom.
"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?" Professor McGonagall asked as Oliver Wood stepped through the door looking confused.
"Follow me, you two," said Professor McGonagall, and they marched on up the corridor, Wood looking curiously at Harry.
"In here."
Professor McGonagall pointed them into a classroom which was empty except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the blackboard.
"Out, Peeves!" she barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, which clanged loudly, and he swooped out cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and turned to face the two boys.
"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood—I've found you a Seeker." Professor McGonagall said as Wood's expression changed from puzzlement to delight.
"Are you serious, Professor?" he asked as the transfiguration professor nodded.
"Absolutely, the boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?"
Harry nodded silently.
"He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive," Professor McGonagall told Wood. "Didn't even scratch himself. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."
Wood was now looking as though all his dreams had come true at once.
"Ever seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes—" Harry cut in before Professor McGonagall had a chance to speak.
"You're the captain of the Gryffindor team aren't you?" he asked as Oliver nodded.
"He's just the build for a seeker, too," said Wood, now walking around Harry and staring at him. "Light—speedy—we'll have to get him a decent broom, Professor—a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven, I'd say."
"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in the last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks..."
Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses at Harry.
"I want to hear you're training hard, Potter, or I may change my mind about punishing you."
Then she suddenly smiled.
"Your father would have been proud," she said. "He was an excellent Quidditch player himself."
*****
"You're joking."
It was dinner time. Harry had just finished telling Ron what had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. Ron had a piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it.
"Seeker?" he said. "But first year never—you must be the youngest house player in about—"
"—a century," said Harry, shovelling pie into his mouth. He felt particularly hungry after the excitement of the afternoon. "Wood told me."
Ron was so amazed, so impressed, he just sat and gaped at Harry.
"I start training next week," said Harry. "Only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."
Fred and George Weasley now came into the hall, spotted Harry and hurried over.
"Well done," said George in a low voice. "Wood told us. We're on the team too—Beaters."
"I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch cup for sure this year," said Fred. "We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant. You must be good, Harry, Wood was almost skipping when he told us."
"Anyways, we've got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school."
"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week. See you."
Fred and George had hardly disappeared when someone far less welcome turned up: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?"
"Probably around December, for Christmas holiday." Harry smiled as Draco glared at him.
"I doubt that—"
"How about you get out of my face before I beat the crap out of you Malfoy?" Harry threatened as Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward, fists ready.
"I'd take you on any time on my own," said Malfoy. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only—no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"
"Of course, just wondering if you'd chicken out—if you want a true Wizard's duel, how about one in front of the whole school? I can make arrangement with Dumbledore—so we can duel tonight after dinner in the Quidditch fields—in front of the school." Harry said as Draco's face paled.
"Go ahead." He whispered as Harry turned around, and headed over to the headmaster.
"Excuse me Professor Dumbledore—but are we allowed proper wizard duels at Hogwarts? Ones that are watched over by the staff, and school?" Harry asked as Dumbledore looked back at him curiously.
"Of course—there are a few rules to the school duels though—the three unforgivable curses aren't allowed." Dumbledore explained as Harry nodded and turned back to Malfoy, who was still standing there staring back at him in shock.
"Draco Malfoy has just challenged me to a duel. He was suggesting a duel for tonight around midnight, but that would be after hours. So I was just wondering if we could duel after dinner, in the Quidditch field." Harry said Dumbledore smiled.
"Of course, I would like to see how well the first years have advanced to." He said as he stood up to speak to all the students.
"Everyone, I have just received some news. Those who have nothing to do this evening after dinner time, feel free to come down to the Quidditch field. We are having an official Wizarding duel between Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. Although a few rules do apply. The duel ends when the first wizard falls, not when the first wizard dies. You understand that right?" Dumbledore asked as Harry nodded.
"Very well, we will be looking forward to this evening's duel." Professor Dumbledore said as everyone in the Great Hall began to whisper and talk. Harry walked back towards Draco, who looked like he was about to faint from shock.
"See you on the battle field. No seconds. Good luck." Harry whispered as the Slytherin took a few steps back slowly, before glaring at him.
"Yes, good luck indeed Potter. You'll need it." He said as he smirked at Harry, before walking away.
"Harry! Why'd you do that? We don't know enough magic yet!" Ron said as Harry sat back down at the table.
"I know a few spells that can knock him off his feet for a while." Harry said as he took a bite of his cold pie.
"Harry—what you did... that was pretty smart." Harry looked up to see Hermione Granger standing there.
"Thanks." Harry said as Ron mumbled something along the lines of "Can't a person eat in peace in this place?"
"It's a lot better then wandering around the school at night—since I won't lose Gryffindor any point if I'm caught. Not to mention if Malfoy backs out, he'll look like an idiot." Harry smiled as Hermione sat down beside him.
"That's brilliant." Hermione said as she helped herself to a piece of pie.
The evening came quite quickly, and when Harry stepped onto the Quidditch field he noticed that nearly everyone in the school was here. There wasn't a seat that hadn't been taken in the stands. There was even people standing on the fields since there wasn't enough space.
Suddenly, Dumbledore's loud voice was heard throughout the stadium.
"Students, please take your seats... Harry Potter, and Draco Malfoy, please take your positions on the field. The duel will begin in three minutes. As you all know, this duel will have no seconds. The teachers and I have decided that whoever wins this duel will earn their house one hundred house points. Also, we will be able to see how well the first years have advanced in the last few weeks."
Harry hurried onto the field, and heard a cry of loud cheering come from the stands, and a bit of booing from the Slytherins. Harry watched as Slytherin walked onto the field, the Slytherins cheered, but it was covered by the booing from the remaining three houses.
"Scared Potter?" Draco asked as Harry sneered at him.
"You wish."
Two minutes until the duel...
One minute...
It had begun.
Draco had started by using a disarming spell, which Harry ducked easily before using his spells.
"Expelliarmus!" he said in barely a whisper as Draco ducked the spell by rolling out of the way. Cheering could be heard from the Slytherins, but Harry was just warming up.
"Rictusempra!" Harry shouted as Draco flew backwards and landed with a crunch.
"Come on Potter, is that the best you can do?" Draco asked as he struggled to get to his feet.
"No, that was only a starters meal." Harry said as he smirked at the first year.
"Tarantallegra!" Draco shouted as Harry ducked the curse and threw a few more curses at him.
"Furnunculus! Densaugeo! Diffindo! Reducto!" Harry shouted as four different spells, curse, and hexes were shot off towards Draco, who made quite a attempt to duck them all, but failed.
He fell to the ground once more, but struggled to get back onto the ground.
"Surrender? Malfoy?" Harry asked as Draco got to his feet.
"Never." He whispered as he held his wand out to attack.
"Impedimental—"
"Stupefy!" Harry finished as Draco fell back onto the ground for the last time, unconscious.
"And the winner is Harry Potter! Gryffindor has just earned themselves one hundred house points. Congratulations! And Mr. Potter, good choice of spells." Dumbledore said as the whole stadium burst out cheering.
"Way to go Harry!" Ron, Neville, and half the Gryffindor house shouted as they ran towards him, purposely stepping on Malfoy in the process.
"Nice going!" Percy said as Harry smiled back.
"How did you know half those spells though? You're not supposed to learn those until you're in your fifth year." Percy said as Harry ignored him.
"You know something no one else does Potter..." Percy whispered to himself. "And I'll find out what it is, if it's the last thing I'll do."
*****
A/N: Hope you like that chapter! It took me SIX HOURS TO WRITE! About the same amount of time as the last chapter. But since the weekends are over, the next update might be on Saturday or something. But keep reviewing and it might be earlier! Answers to reviews are below, and please, REVIEW!
*****
swordmaster mage- If Harry doesn't go through the first five years at Hogwarts somewhat similar to what he had gone through originally, Voldemort may end up not coming back, and for all he knows, his feelings for Hermione might disappear.
Yokiyen- Ah... you shall see... you shall see... ^^ Harry is going back to the Dursleys for Christmas though.
Siripiritus- *Grins* Why thank you for that review! It completely lightened my day! Don't worry, I have that habit too, I'm trying quite hard to break it at this moment.
knot2be- You're not the only one who reviewed about that, I'm gonna go back and change that later... to whatever belt comes after white. Is it yellow? I'm not sure... I'll have to check with my friends later.
Ametyst- Well, if you look up, you'll see that I'm going to change it someone soon, I've no idea when, but I'll try
TatraMegami- I've read quite a few fanfics where Dudley was nice, so I though... why not? ^^ and I'm sure that this new chapter has answered your question about Harry acting average or being smart~
Lmill123- I admire the friendship that Harry, Hermione, and Ron have, and I don't plan on ruining it anytime soon. Although Harry will be siding with Hermione a lot more then usual
Jade- Same thing I said to TatraMegami, I've read fanfics with Dudley being nice, so I thought I might as well throw that in. After all, I'm sure Harry'll do anything to avoid being 'caged' in during his next summer.
Thanks to those who reviewed: PrincessSkywalkerOrgana, LdyKiya, Anton, Nicoletta, potter-man1, MerlinHalliwell, Nightwing 509, Devonny, Assur-2, Genesis
Author's Note: Sorry for being a day late! I've got a pro-d day tomorrow, meaning no school, so I'm hoping to update a chapter on all my stories, with the exception of this one, since it takes six hours to write one chapter. I'll update chapter three on either Saturday or Sunday, at the latest Monday. My internet's been kinda screwed, so I've got no idea. Anyways, REVIEW!