Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended.  Blah blah blah… Harry & Co are not my own.

A/N: Chapter 8 is The Return Home for some reason the site is acting like I didn't update but be sure to read that chapter before this one! Keep reviews coming! Yay for 100!!

Chapter 9 One Step Behind

The first morning of classes found Harry at the Gryffindor table with the usual crew.  Harry looked at the schedule that had just been handed to him.  He was pleased to see that it was not as overwhelming as he had feared. 

Ron however did not look as much at ease, "Look at this! Divination first thing today and we're back with Trelawney no less."

Harry looked over Ron's shoulder, "Why didn't you drop it? I did."

Ron looked murderous, "Well, why didn't you bloody well tell me?"

Harry spoke defensively, "Hey don't get yourself all twisted – besides I have Advanced Potions today."

Hermione looked up when he finished, "Advanced Potions? But I thought you had to get an O on your OWL? I thought I was the only one out of us enrolled in that class?"

"Err," Harry spoke, "McGonagall was under the impression that she was doing me a favor by getting me in the class."

Hermione shrugged, "I didn't know teachers could do that."

"I don't think anyone would turn down a request from McGonagall… even Snape," Ron replied.

"Well it is with the Slytherins – there is no real surprise there," Hermione huffed.

"We also have Care of Magical Creatures with the Ravenclaws and Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs," Hermione continued.

Ginny looked up from where she had been talking quietly with Neville and a girl from her year with long brown hair.

"Not for Harry," she said as she reached across the table and pointed to his schedule, "Today is our first fourth year Defense lesson."

Harry nodded, "It's the last class of the day for me… I hope Dumbledore lets us know what he wants us to cover this year."  Almost as if Dumbledore himself had been listening, an old brown owl flew over Harry's head, dropping several pieces of parchment before continuing onto the next table.  Harry noticed that each one had a name on it and he picked up the one with his name accordingly.

Harry opened it to find the lesson plan for the DADA class.  It read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

          For the fourth years I wish for the following to be covered:

          1. Patronus Charm

          2. Unforgivable Curses

          3. Basic Dueling

          If you choose to differentiate from my proposed outline please consult with me, as I will modify the exams accordingly.  I understand that these are not all normal fourth year material, but due to the circumstances I would prefer our students to be prepared.

                        Sincerely,

                                          Albus Dumbledore

                                              Headmaster

Harry supposed that it made sense for him to be teaching the curses.  These were around the same type of lessons he had received in his fourth year, except for The Patronus, which he had learned in his third year.  Harry suspected that Dumbledore might've been impressed with how he had taught the DA about them. 

Harry looked up and saw that each person was finishing up reading their own plan.  Ron looked at Harry while stuffing more food into his mouth, "Looks li' I'll be teachin' basic dar' creatures."

Neville spoke, "I'm teaching more advanced creatures with Cho."

Hermione started to get up and gathered her things, "Well we better go or we will all be late."

Harry got up from the table and proceeded to walk to Potions.  He waved goodbye to Ron at the stairs and followed Hermione to his certain doom. 

                   ~~~***~~~***~~~

When they made there way to the dungeon they found that most of the class had gathered outside.  Harry was not surprised to find that the class was much smaller.  Also not to his surprise he discovered that more Slytherins were present then Gryffindors. 

Suddenly Harry turned around to see Snape trudging down the hall, his loud footsteps alerting everyone of his arrival.  He pushed past Harry without looking at him and proceeded into the dungeon.  The Slytherins followed suit first and finally the few Gryffindors entered.  Harry took a seat next to Hermione in the middle of the right side of the room.  Everyone was unusually silent and unloaded their equipment dutifully. 

Snape began scrawling the day's potion on the board, which Harry read to be Wound Cleaning Potion.  Harry remembered being given this after his bout with the dragons during the Tri Wizard tournament.

Snape stepped up to the front and spoke forcefully, "I hope that this year we will be much more successful in gaining the proper knowledge of more advanced potions.  Especially since we have managed to filter out the straggling students," He looked pointedly at Harry, "almost."

He moved off to the side while motioning to the board, "This year we will be dealing with more useful and advanced potions so it is very important that you pay close attention to what you are doing.  For example, our potion today is a wound cleaning potion that is often used by our school nurse as well as Healers.  Add too much of a specific ingredient and you will find yourself with Wound Causing Potion.  So you see here why you must pay attention."

He looked once again at Harry, "We will be testing these at the end of class—please begin."

Harry looked to Hermione apprehensively but she was already busy gathering the proper ingredients for them.  He tried to concentrate hard while working but every now and then he would sneak a look at Malfoy who looked as if he was on top of the world.  Harry knew that Malfoy would probably get the potion right and that just made him hate him even more.  Harry was actually surprised that Snape had not taken the time to point out that Harry was not even supposed to be in the class. He assumed that when this did happen, Malfoy would certainly have a field day with it. 

By the end of class Harry had a potion that was slightly unlike the one that he had remembered being given.  His was rose colored and bubbling.  The potion he remembered was purple and smoked lightly.  His horror was confirmed when he looked into Hermione's cauldron and saw exactly that.

Hermione, noticing his sudden onset of panic, looked over into his cauldron.  "Harry!" she whispered, "You added too many drops of leech juice! And you are supposed to stir counter clockwise twice only after adding the powered Graphorn horn!"

Harry didn't understand how she knew all this.  All he knew was that he was going to walk out of the classroom with some nasty wounds unless something was done.  Hermione quickly reached over and added several more ingredients, turning the color into more of a violet.  But the bubbling ensued.  She looked absolutely panicked, "Harry I'm sorry… there is nothing else I can do!"

Harry nodded his understanding and quietly thanked her.  He waited anxiously as Snape started to make his way through the tables.  He watched as Snape took a long thin spoon which he used to lap up a small amount of the potion, where he then dabbed some on Malfoy's right arm.  The purple liquid smoked for a couple more seconds before quickly disintegrating.  Harry slumped in his chair as the Slytherins clapped.  Malfoy had gotten it right.  Only a few others had gotten it right, most of them ending up with small cuts and scrapes, where the potion had left its mark. 

Finally, Snape walked in front of Hermione and tested hers.  Harry felt some of his anxiety ease up when she was left with nothing on her arm, she had done it right.  But then the moment that he had been dreading arrived and Snape stepped in front of him.  He motioned for Harry to hold out his arm and he repeated the process. 

As the potion met with Harry's skin he felt an uncomfortable pull and then a tear.  It was almost like the feeling that he had gotten from the cuts on his right hand during detention with Umbridge the previous year.  He looked down to see the scars still faintly visible.  Unfortunately his arm hurt much worse than his hand had.  He saw the cut open up more wide and a small trickle of blood escaped from the wound.  The pain was great but he tried with all his might to show no reaction.  He bit his lip in concentration and stared into Snape's eyes.  He noticed that the man looked absolutely gleeful. 

"Well class," Snape announced, "It appears that Potter here was the most successful in ruining the potion.  It appears that perhaps someone was wrong in thinking that Potter could handle a class of this level of difficulty."  Snape bent over so that his face was a mere inches away from Harry's, "It is almost certain that you will not become an Auror, despite what Professor McGonagall thinks.  You cannot even brew the simplest medical potion."

Harry heard several of the Slytherins start snickering. 

As Snape turned to walk back down to the front of the dungeon, Hermione grabbed Harry's bleeding arm and dabbed some of her potion over his fresh wound.  It let off smoke and after a few moments Harry's arm was pain-free and the wound had closed up into another small scar left on his body. 

Snape dismissed the class and then added as an afterthought, "Five points from Gryffindor Miss Granger, we are not to use our potions on others, or have you forgotten the basic rules."

Hermione turned a definite shade of red and walked swiftly out of the door as the others filed out. 

~~~***~~~***~~~

Harry sat at the Gryffindor Table once again with Ron and Hermione for lunch.  They had just gotten out of a relatively boring Transfiguration class.  Ron had been spending the entire meal complaining about how he was still in Divination alone.  He said that Trelawney was still as batty as ever.  Hermione tried to explain that they were supposed to choose classes that would help them in specific studies and to go onto certain careers.  But to Harry it appeared that Ron almost enjoyed playing martyr with his tirades about the class.  Harry noted that Hermione was rather subdued in reaction to his attitude.  He supposed that because they liked each other they were trying their hardest not to argue.

Harry looked at his schedule once again to see that Care of Magical Creatures was his next class.  After they finished up eating, they made their way out toward Hagrid's hut.  Harry was very interested to see what creatures they would be studying.  He was also eager to talk to Hagrid about Grawp.  He had forgotten about him over the summer.  He wondered if Hagrid had gotten any further in teaching him how to talk. 

As they made their way down, Harry could see Hagrid standing in front of a group of Ravenclaws along with some Gryffindors.  He was holding a small cage and surprisingly enough, the students were crowded around the cage instead of backing away from it. 

Harry heard footsteps running up behind them.  He turned around to see Seamus, Dean, and Neville.  They nodded in acknowledgement and proceeded to join the rest of the class.

Harry smiled at Hagrid while Hagrid waved, almost dropping the cage in the process.  He backed away from the class and smiled widely behind his large beard, "Welcome back everyone! As I was jus' telling' these here we're goin' ter be lookin' at some fun creatures today.  I have some Wishing Blipperdops.  I have one fer each o' yeh."

"Yeh can find these in the forest 'ere."

Harry peered into the cage and was relieved about what he saw.  There were very small creatures.  They looked like miniature yellow frogs with tiny wings.  They were buzzing excitedly around the cage.  Even Harry had to admit they were almost cute to look at.   

"Now can anyone tell me wha' they do?"

Hermione raised her hand at the same time as several other students.  Hagrid looked around and pointed to the far left side, "Miss Brown?"

Lavender stood proudly, "They are part of an old fairytale.  If you can catch them after they are let loose than you can make a wish that will come true."  She seemed very excited and giggled with Parvati. 

Hagrid nodded, "But no one has ever been able ter catch 'em.  Least wit' their 'ands."  Hagrid set the cage down on the ground, "Now fer the rest of class wur gunna 'ave some fun.  I'll set them free and yeh all can try ter catch'um.  Next class I can teach yeh how ter feed'um.  I need three volunteers ter come wit me into the fores'."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron were the only ones who volunteered.  Hagrid released the Blipperdops into the air.  All Harry could see was whirls of yellow flying all around them.  He understood why no one had caught one before.  He had to wonder about whether or not one could actually make a wish if no one had done it before. 

It became very obvious why Hagrid had chosen that creature for the lesson.  Harry guessed that he had wanted to take them into the forest to see Grawp and this way they had a perfectly legit excuse while the class chased the blipperdops around like 6 year olds catching fireflies. 

Hagrid motioned for the three to follow him.  They walked the familiar overgrown path into the forest.  After a few minutes Harry heard a hushed sound that reminded him of the wind on a loud stormy night.  As they moved into a more thick area of growth, Harry could see the large form of Grawp, sleeping soundly on the forest floor.  Hagrid put his thick finger over his lips, "He 'as bin behavin' much better these days.  He knows a lot mo' words too."

Much to Hermione's apparent dismay, as she held onto Ron's arm so tightly that he yelped in pain, Hagrid picked up a large branch that had fallen off a tree and started to poke the giant in the gut.  Grawp snorted loudly and Harry watched alertly as one eye began to open followed quickly by the other.  For such a large thing Grawp rose to his feet rather quickly.  Everyone, except Hagrid, moved one step back. 

Hagrid spoke eagerly, "'Lo Grawp! You remember Harry and Hermione."

Grawp looked over towards them and his eyes froze on Hermione, "Hagger's Hermy! Grawp like Hermy!"  And with that he quickly moved over and picked up Hermione.  He had rope on him, binding him to two nearby trees, but apparently she was close enough to him.  He hugged her against his chest and swung her back and forth.  Hermione had gone visibly white and was making no noise at all.  Ron on the other hand had rushed over to the giant, "Put her down you smelly git!  Let her down!"

Hagrid spoke defensively, "He's jus' playin'.  Grawp don' mean no harm."

Grawp held onto Hermione for several more seconds before gently letting her back down to the earth.  Hermione backed up very slowly and fell into the closest person, which happened to be Ron.

Harry mused to himself that Hermione never really had that much luck with large creatures.  He could remember back in his first year when he and Ron had saved her from a mountain troll. 

Grawp turned toward Harry and he moved back accordingly.  He did not wish to die from a bear hug from a giant when he had come this far with Voldemort.  He thought that would just be a cruel irony. 

"Harry, Hagger's friend.  Hagger trust Harry. Grawp trust Harry."  Hagrid beamed as Harry figured that this was some kind of acceptance that Hagrid had been hoping for. 

Harry had to admit that the giant had been tamed a large amount.  When Hagrid set his mind to do something, whether raising hippogriffs, or dragons, he would do it.

                   ~~~***~~~***~~~

Harry ran down the hallway at top speed.  He could not believe that he was going to be late for his first teaching lesson. 

When they had returned from the forest, of course no one had been successful in catching the creatures by hand.  Harry had stayed to help Hagrid catch the blipperdops by using a small net made of very fine netting.  Hagrid explained that a wish would come true only if the blipperdop was caught by hand.  Harry thought they were hard enough to catch with a net, in his opinion he deserved a bloody wish after spending what seemed like hours getting all of them back in the cage. 

He swung the large doors opened and walked swiftly toward the front of the room.  All eyes immediately turned on him.  Ginny turned toward Harry, "As I was just telling the class, the first thing that we will be learning this year is about the Unforgivable Curses.  I have already taken attendance and introduced myself – would you like to do the same?"

Harry swayed uneasily as Ginny smirked.  He turned toward the class, "Erm… my name is Harry Potter… I am a sixth year… and… err… well – that's it I suppose."

Ginny smiled and stepped in front of him, "Well class is just about over – does anyone have any questions?"

A small boy with dark brown hair raised his hand meekly.  Ginny picked up a piece of paper from the desk, "Michael right?"

The small boy nodded, "I was just wondering if it is true about you- know-who? That every time Harry has faced him he has managed to defeat him?"

Before Harry could answer Ginny replied, "Yes –well almost… Harry has sort of beaten him each time… That is one of the things we all love about Harry –place him against an evil wizard and he will emerge relatively unharmed, ask him to be on time to class –well we all know the answer to that."

Everyone laughed, "We can talk about this more as the year goes on" Ginny continued, "Be prepared to take notes next lesson on the Unforgivable Curses."

The class moved out and Ginny and Harry were left.  Harry spoke, "I'm really sorry, I was helping Hagrid… but you seemed to be doing really well –have you ever thought about teaching as a profession?"

Harry caught a glimpse of the old Ginny as she blushed slightly, "Harry I barely even taught anything… and besides you weren't here."

"Yes well" Harry continued, "You had control over them and they are only a year younger than you… that is brilliant."

Ginny smiled, "Well don't forget, this group was the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.  Next time will be much more difficult with Slytherins."

"Anything is more difficult with the Slytherins" said Harry.

                   ~~~***~~~***~~~

The week carried on as normally as it would.  Even the Defense lesson with the Slytherins had not been that bad.  Harry assumed that Draco Malfoy probably ruined his opinion of Slytherins for good. 

Everyone appeared to have done well with the teaching, except for Hermione.  Ron had confided in Harry that most of the first years hated DADA.  Between Ernie and Hermione they had already taken many pages of notes, and they had only had two lessons.  Harry knew that Hermione could get very carried away, and he felt sympathy for the kids in her class. 

Ron said that Luna had spent a good amount of the lesson talking about strange dark creatures that had been written about in the Quibbler.  Ron was not sure if any of them existed, but he let her continue because the students were interested enough. 

Neville had even got off to a fairly good start.  He told Harry that his students were very excited to be starting off with Boggarts. 

When the second week started, the only thing that people were talking about was Quidditch.  Tryouts were to be held on Wednesday and many people were eager to join the team.  Harry figured that they definitely only needed one more player.

He was still seeker; he had talked to McGonagall in the beginning of the week and had been given his broom back and had been reinstated on the team.  He figured that Ron would be keeper, and they still had Katie Bell.  Ginny had expressed her wish to be chaser as well. 

They also had two beaters from the previous year, Andrew Kirke, and Jack Sloper.  Technically they only needed one more chaser. 

Harry sat in the common room Tuesday night with Hermione, Ron.  Most people were playing games of exploding snap or talking while pretending to do work.  Lavender and Parvati were in the corner of the room reading out each other's future using some kind of charts.  Seamus was sitting next to Lavender, doing some homework. 

Ginny was sitting at a table having an apparently serious conversation with Dean Thomas.  Harry watched as Ron would sneak a look at them every couple of minutes. 

Hermione was going over her lesson for the next DADA class.  Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, was curled up next to her feet on the sofa between herself and Ron. 

Ron peered over her shoulder, "Hermione you had better watch out or you will become the school's most hated teacher."

Hermione huffed, "My students will thank me later when they are well prepared for their exams."

"That is if they make it to exams alive," Ron retorted. 

Hermione shot him a nasty look and they both quieted down.

Ron lifted his arm to scratch his nose and Harry noticed a grayish smudge.  "Ron, what is on your arm?"

 "It looks like dust," said Hermione.

Harry lifted up his own arm to find the same thing, "I guess the house elves aren't doing their job."

Hermione snapped, "You mean their slave labor."

Ignoring Hermione Ron replied, "Actually now that you mention it –my bed has not been made for the past couple of nights… and the fire is not always lit anymore in here."

Both he and Harry looked squarely at Hermione.  "Hermione have you been leaving clothes out again?"

Hermione turned slightly red and answered, "They have a right to be freed."

Harry replied, "Yes but Dobby told me last year that they didn't want to come near our common room anymore and that he was gathering up all of the clothes you left."

Harry noticed that Hermione's face wore an expression of heartbreak, "I thought that other house elves had been freed?"

Harry did not want to disappoint her but continued anyway, "No they weren't… they were mad actually… and I guess now they refuse to even come near our common room… I know that Dobby has been busy with Winky in the kitchens –I saw him the other day.  Perhaps he hasn't had time to clean."

"It's for the best anyhow… why can't we help clean?  We are perfectly capable."

"Speak for yourself."  Ron gave Hermione an irritated look. 

Harry knew that he needed to intervene, "Ron have you heard any news from your family?"

"Actually," Ron replied, "Mum wrote me a letter yesterday.  I didn't open it until last night and I forgot to tell you.  The other day she received an owl from Penelope Clearwater, you know –Percy's girlfriend.  Apparently they are engaged."

Hermione's jaw dropped, "How could you forget? This is big news! Has he talked to your family?"

Ron shook his head, "No, in the letter she said that he misses all of us but he won't admit it.  He has only written to Ginny once, and she won't tell us what was in the letter.  Apparently Penelope wants Mum and Dad to go to Percy and welcome him home… which I know they will not do."

Harry knew that Mr. Mrs. Weasley were extremely disappointed with their son.

Ginny and Dean had finished with their conversation and he was walking up to the boy's dormitory.  She walked over with a wide smile on her face, "I think I might've just found our missing player."

Harry gave her a questioning look and she continued after sitting in one of the chairs, "Dean was telling me how much he missed playing football while he was here… apparently that is some kind of muggle sport.  Anyway I think I managed to convince him to try out for chaser on the Quidditch team.  He knows how to play from watching all of the matches."

"Well I have never seen him play… we will see how he does at try outs."

Ginny nodded triumphantly, apparently already sold on the idea of Dean being on the team.  She looked up suddenly, "Oh and try outs should be very interesting."

Ron glanced at her, "Why?"
She started to get up from the couch, "The new referee wishes to be at all try outs."

Harry looked at Ron, "I didn't even know that we had a new one.  That means that there is a new flying teacher too for first years."

Ginny nodded as she stood in front of them, "Yes Madam Hooch decided that she had enough.  She retired at the end of last year."

Ron looked at his sister, "Well, who is it?"

Ginny answered distantly as she walked away, "Viktor Krum."

Harry and Ron both turned their heads toward Hermione who had somehow managed to shrink behind the book that she was holding.  Noticing the absence of sound she looked up.  Harry didn't think that he had ever seen her more red in her whole life.  She looked from him to Ron, where her eyes stayed.  "Oh… err… did I forget to mention that?"

Ron looked absolutely livid, "Must've slipped your mind," he replied through clenched teeth.

Hermione got up from the couch and gathered all of her papers, purposefully avoiding Ron's stare.  "It's getting late… I should go to bed… err… see you all in the morning."

And with that she walked swiftly to the staircase leading to the girl's dormitory, Ron not taking his eyes off of her the entire time.

          ~~~***~~~***~~~

Thanks to my beta "Bootstrap" Jim who came up with this brilliant chapter name!! ^_^