"Intrepidus Draconis," a Gryffindor prefect stated clearly to the Fat Lady.
"Neville's going to have a right hard time trying to remember that one!" Ron mentioned as the portrait swung open and everyone climbed through the hole.
The trio found their favorite squishy armchairs next to the fire and talked. At first it was just about the O.W.L.s they'd received that summer, but after the common room had finally cleared out except for them, Ron asked, "What do you think of our new Professor Raginoth?"
"She seemed nice. I hope she'll be able to teach us well." Hermione answered. "Harry?"
Harry was staring into the flickering flames and answered without looking up, "I don't know yet. She could be evil for all I know. I'm just glad that Umbridge woman's gone. And she doesn't work for the ministry, Dumbledore would have mentioned that. But there is just something off about her. I think I've seen her before I just don't know where..."
Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks before Hermione said, "I don't know Harry, her name didn't ring a bell. But I suppose she could have changed it, I just don't know."
Harry gave a fake yawn, "I'm tired, I think I'm going to call it a night."
"Okay, I'll be up in a bit. 'Night" Ron replied as Harry got up and walked past them to the staircase that led to the boys' dormitory.
When Harry was disappeared from view and they heard the dormitory door slam shut Hermione let out a big sigh and put her chin in her hand to hold it up.
"I don't know how to make him happy. I've seen him smile about twice since he showed up at the Burrow."
"'Mione, you've got to give it time. Harry's been through a lot these past few years. It's too much to have to deal with for a teenager. He'll be happier once he's out on the Quidditch field playing, I'm sure of it." He gave her a reassuring smile before continuing, "All we can do is try to make it the best year possible." He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze before saying, "I think I'll turn in too. It's sure to be a trying day tomorrow. Sleep tight."
Hermione smiled at him and watched him walk slowly up the staircase. She let out a sigh of relief and sank lower into the deep blue of the armchair, and she drifted off.
-----
"Oy! Hermione! Wake up. What're you doing down here?"
Hermione woke with a start, "Harry! Don't do it! They work for him!"
"Shh, it's okay 'Mione. It was just a dream." Came Ron's soothing voice.
"It wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare!"
"Funny, 'cause you looked so peaceful." Dean said.
Ron squatted to the floor so his head was level with hers. "What happened? Are you okay? Do you remember?" he looked truly concerned.
"I can't really remember much but it all looked so familiar..." she said, a little confused.
"It's okay, it wasn't real. Now you'd better go get dressed, it's almost breakfast. Harry and I'll wait."
Five minutes later she came back downstairs in clean robes and they walked out of the common room and to the Great Hall.
They found seats next to Seamus and Neville. Hermione had just poured some orange juice when the post arrived. A rather large grey owl swooped down and landed on Hermione's plate.
She took the Daily Prophet from its' beak and placed a Knut in the leather pouch attached to its' leg, and the bird flew off.
"You're getting the Prophet again?" Ron asked.
"Yes, I just think that if Lucius Malfoy and his fellow Death Eaters Escape from Azkaban, we should know about it."
"Anything?" Harry asked.
"No, not yet anyway." She said briskly, folding it back up and placing it next to her plate. "So Harry, I suppose you'll be taking your position back on the Quidditch field." Ginny said sitting down next to him and Dean Thomas.
Harry nearly choked. "I completely forgot! Quidditch! Our team, Ron! There is no team! Everyone else has left!"
"I know, I know. Calm down, Harry. I've already put up a sign about it on the notice board. Tryouts start a week from Saturday. I've already booked the pitch."
Harry was excited. He couldn't believe he had forgotten about Quidditch and now they were going to have new players to teach.
"You're trying out right Gin?"
"Probably, Fred and George always said I'd make a fair beater." Just then McGonagall walked by handing out schedules. "Charms, Double Potions, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dart Arts. Not the best Monday schedule ever, but it's better than last years. We'd better get going, Charms starts in about fifteen minutes."
"Let me know how the new teacher is!" Ginny called after them as the sixth years filed out of the Great Hall and up to the tower for their books.
-----
In Charms they reviewed the basic ones and talked a little about the ones they were to learn this year.
They went down to Snapes' Dungeon after the bell rang and waited for him to open the door. Harry could see a large group of Slytherins huddled next to the wall, but Harry couldn't tell if Malfoy was with them or not.
The door opened and everyone filed in and took their seats. After setting up his cauldron and some ingredients, Harry stood on his tip- toes and looked over to Malfoys' seat. It was empty. Goyle and Crabb were missing as well.
"I wonder where they are." Harry said mysteriously to Ron.
"Who? Malfoy? Yeah, I was wondering about that. He wasn't at the feast last night either," Ron continued, a smile growing on his face, "Hey, you don't reckon they've left for good, do you?"
"I highly doubt it, Ron. Where would they go? I don't think Drumstrang would accept transfer students, especially ones from this school." Hermione said matter-of-factly.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Thanks for ruining it for me, Hermione."
"I was just stating the facts, Ronald. You don't have to get annoyed."
"Oh, come on you guys. It's the second day and you are already fighting like an old married couple." Harry said before returning to his ingredients.
An awkward silence followed and Ron and Hermione didn't speak to anyone again until class was over.
"Oh, good, History of Magic is next," Ron said looking at his schedule, "I could use a nap."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something to Ron along the lines of, "You should really start paying better attention in class, Ronald. It's our sixth year!" But she seemed to think better of it and shut it again. Which was a good thing 'cause Harry was sick of it.
They arrived at Professor Binns' door and took their regular seats. Hermione pulled out a fresh roll of parchment and her new eagle feather quill. Ron pulled out a scrunched up shirt and put his head down.
Harry took his seat and Professor Binns appeared from the chalkboard and waited for everyone to settle down.
"I trust that everyone did their reports over the summer about the troll crusade-"
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your class Professor, but I need to see Harry Potter in my room. He probably won't be back until his next class with you." It was Professor Raginoth. Today she had on violently purple robes and a matching hat.
"Yes, of course. Harry, you are dismissed. The homework is a foot and a half scroll about why the Giants were driven to the mountains." Binns said before turning to the rest of the class and continuing his lecture.
After exchanging nervous looks with Ron and Hermione, Harry gathered his belongings and followed Raginoth out the door.
"Do you know why you are here, Harry?" She said walking a few paces ahead of him.
"Not exactly Professor. Am I in trouble?" he responded curiously.
She chuckled. "Well, I should hope not. It's only the second day of school, dear." Harry released a sigh of relief and they continued until they reached her office.
Unlike many of the offices the previous teachers had, with nick-knacks here and there, and pictures of themselves, or even that spy ware the fake Moody had, her office was very plain. The walls were bare and her desk had only an ink pot, quills, candles, and parchment. The only thing that was different was an open trunk against the wall behind her desk. Harry could only make out a few open envelopes and items of clothing before she shut the trunk completely and sat down behind her desk.
"Please, have a seat Harry."
He set his bag of books down next to his chair and sat down in it. Harry was surprised when he sat down. The chair itself didn't look very stable or comfortable but it was. He sank down in it and felt himself relax and loosen up a bit.
"Dumbledore tells me you are very talented when it comes Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry didn't know how to answer that without sounding cocky, so he just stayed quiet.
She smiled, "Modest are you? Well, that's quite alright. I'll cut to the chase here. Dumbledore tells me you started a class last year, to teach the Dark Arts?"
"Yes, Professor, Dumbledore's Army."
"Ahh, yes," She said with a slight chuckle, "Would you say they are as advanced as you with Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Oh, yes, they are all ahead of their class."
"Well, would you be kind enough to write down all of their names on this piece of parchment for me?"
"They aren't in trouble are they? Please professor; it was my idea, don't punish them."
"Heavens no, Potter! Dumbledore would like you to continue teaching these students. If you would be willing to, he would also like you to maybe take on more students. That is, if it wouldn't be too much hassle."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I-I mean-I sure-uh-yeah," was all he could manage to say.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yeah!"
"Excellent! Now, as for times and space, all I need you to do is find these students and talk them about this. If they are still interested, put a check next to their name and have it back to me by tomorrow, please. After that I will have the specific meet times. If you don't have any questions Potter you are dismissed back to class."
"Just one." She looked up from her papers, "Why does Dumbledore want me to do this?"
"All in good time, Harry. All in good time."
"Neville's going to have a right hard time trying to remember that one!" Ron mentioned as the portrait swung open and everyone climbed through the hole.
The trio found their favorite squishy armchairs next to the fire and talked. At first it was just about the O.W.L.s they'd received that summer, but after the common room had finally cleared out except for them, Ron asked, "What do you think of our new Professor Raginoth?"
"She seemed nice. I hope she'll be able to teach us well." Hermione answered. "Harry?"
Harry was staring into the flickering flames and answered without looking up, "I don't know yet. She could be evil for all I know. I'm just glad that Umbridge woman's gone. And she doesn't work for the ministry, Dumbledore would have mentioned that. But there is just something off about her. I think I've seen her before I just don't know where..."
Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks before Hermione said, "I don't know Harry, her name didn't ring a bell. But I suppose she could have changed it, I just don't know."
Harry gave a fake yawn, "I'm tired, I think I'm going to call it a night."
"Okay, I'll be up in a bit. 'Night" Ron replied as Harry got up and walked past them to the staircase that led to the boys' dormitory.
When Harry was disappeared from view and they heard the dormitory door slam shut Hermione let out a big sigh and put her chin in her hand to hold it up.
"I don't know how to make him happy. I've seen him smile about twice since he showed up at the Burrow."
"'Mione, you've got to give it time. Harry's been through a lot these past few years. It's too much to have to deal with for a teenager. He'll be happier once he's out on the Quidditch field playing, I'm sure of it." He gave her a reassuring smile before continuing, "All we can do is try to make it the best year possible." He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze before saying, "I think I'll turn in too. It's sure to be a trying day tomorrow. Sleep tight."
Hermione smiled at him and watched him walk slowly up the staircase. She let out a sigh of relief and sank lower into the deep blue of the armchair, and she drifted off.
-----
"Oy! Hermione! Wake up. What're you doing down here?"
Hermione woke with a start, "Harry! Don't do it! They work for him!"
"Shh, it's okay 'Mione. It was just a dream." Came Ron's soothing voice.
"It wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare!"
"Funny, 'cause you looked so peaceful." Dean said.
Ron squatted to the floor so his head was level with hers. "What happened? Are you okay? Do you remember?" he looked truly concerned.
"I can't really remember much but it all looked so familiar..." she said, a little confused.
"It's okay, it wasn't real. Now you'd better go get dressed, it's almost breakfast. Harry and I'll wait."
Five minutes later she came back downstairs in clean robes and they walked out of the common room and to the Great Hall.
They found seats next to Seamus and Neville. Hermione had just poured some orange juice when the post arrived. A rather large grey owl swooped down and landed on Hermione's plate.
She took the Daily Prophet from its' beak and placed a Knut in the leather pouch attached to its' leg, and the bird flew off.
"You're getting the Prophet again?" Ron asked.
"Yes, I just think that if Lucius Malfoy and his fellow Death Eaters Escape from Azkaban, we should know about it."
"Anything?" Harry asked.
"No, not yet anyway." She said briskly, folding it back up and placing it next to her plate. "So Harry, I suppose you'll be taking your position back on the Quidditch field." Ginny said sitting down next to him and Dean Thomas.
Harry nearly choked. "I completely forgot! Quidditch! Our team, Ron! There is no team! Everyone else has left!"
"I know, I know. Calm down, Harry. I've already put up a sign about it on the notice board. Tryouts start a week from Saturday. I've already booked the pitch."
Harry was excited. He couldn't believe he had forgotten about Quidditch and now they were going to have new players to teach.
"You're trying out right Gin?"
"Probably, Fred and George always said I'd make a fair beater." Just then McGonagall walked by handing out schedules. "Charms, Double Potions, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dart Arts. Not the best Monday schedule ever, but it's better than last years. We'd better get going, Charms starts in about fifteen minutes."
"Let me know how the new teacher is!" Ginny called after them as the sixth years filed out of the Great Hall and up to the tower for their books.
-----
In Charms they reviewed the basic ones and talked a little about the ones they were to learn this year.
They went down to Snapes' Dungeon after the bell rang and waited for him to open the door. Harry could see a large group of Slytherins huddled next to the wall, but Harry couldn't tell if Malfoy was with them or not.
The door opened and everyone filed in and took their seats. After setting up his cauldron and some ingredients, Harry stood on his tip- toes and looked over to Malfoys' seat. It was empty. Goyle and Crabb were missing as well.
"I wonder where they are." Harry said mysteriously to Ron.
"Who? Malfoy? Yeah, I was wondering about that. He wasn't at the feast last night either," Ron continued, a smile growing on his face, "Hey, you don't reckon they've left for good, do you?"
"I highly doubt it, Ron. Where would they go? I don't think Drumstrang would accept transfer students, especially ones from this school." Hermione said matter-of-factly.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Thanks for ruining it for me, Hermione."
"I was just stating the facts, Ronald. You don't have to get annoyed."
"Oh, come on you guys. It's the second day and you are already fighting like an old married couple." Harry said before returning to his ingredients.
An awkward silence followed and Ron and Hermione didn't speak to anyone again until class was over.
"Oh, good, History of Magic is next," Ron said looking at his schedule, "I could use a nap."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something to Ron along the lines of, "You should really start paying better attention in class, Ronald. It's our sixth year!" But she seemed to think better of it and shut it again. Which was a good thing 'cause Harry was sick of it.
They arrived at Professor Binns' door and took their regular seats. Hermione pulled out a fresh roll of parchment and her new eagle feather quill. Ron pulled out a scrunched up shirt and put his head down.
Harry took his seat and Professor Binns appeared from the chalkboard and waited for everyone to settle down.
"I trust that everyone did their reports over the summer about the troll crusade-"
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your class Professor, but I need to see Harry Potter in my room. He probably won't be back until his next class with you." It was Professor Raginoth. Today she had on violently purple robes and a matching hat.
"Yes, of course. Harry, you are dismissed. The homework is a foot and a half scroll about why the Giants were driven to the mountains." Binns said before turning to the rest of the class and continuing his lecture.
After exchanging nervous looks with Ron and Hermione, Harry gathered his belongings and followed Raginoth out the door.
"Do you know why you are here, Harry?" She said walking a few paces ahead of him.
"Not exactly Professor. Am I in trouble?" he responded curiously.
She chuckled. "Well, I should hope not. It's only the second day of school, dear." Harry released a sigh of relief and they continued until they reached her office.
Unlike many of the offices the previous teachers had, with nick-knacks here and there, and pictures of themselves, or even that spy ware the fake Moody had, her office was very plain. The walls were bare and her desk had only an ink pot, quills, candles, and parchment. The only thing that was different was an open trunk against the wall behind her desk. Harry could only make out a few open envelopes and items of clothing before she shut the trunk completely and sat down behind her desk.
"Please, have a seat Harry."
He set his bag of books down next to his chair and sat down in it. Harry was surprised when he sat down. The chair itself didn't look very stable or comfortable but it was. He sank down in it and felt himself relax and loosen up a bit.
"Dumbledore tells me you are very talented when it comes Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry didn't know how to answer that without sounding cocky, so he just stayed quiet.
She smiled, "Modest are you? Well, that's quite alright. I'll cut to the chase here. Dumbledore tells me you started a class last year, to teach the Dark Arts?"
"Yes, Professor, Dumbledore's Army."
"Ahh, yes," She said with a slight chuckle, "Would you say they are as advanced as you with Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Oh, yes, they are all ahead of their class."
"Well, would you be kind enough to write down all of their names on this piece of parchment for me?"
"They aren't in trouble are they? Please professor; it was my idea, don't punish them."
"Heavens no, Potter! Dumbledore would like you to continue teaching these students. If you would be willing to, he would also like you to maybe take on more students. That is, if it wouldn't be too much hassle."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I-I mean-I sure-uh-yeah," was all he could manage to say.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yeah!"
"Excellent! Now, as for times and space, all I need you to do is find these students and talk them about this. If they are still interested, put a check next to their name and have it back to me by tomorrow, please. After that I will have the specific meet times. If you don't have any questions Potter you are dismissed back to class."
"Just one." She looked up from her papers, "Why does Dumbledore want me to do this?"
"All in good time, Harry. All in good time."