Chapter 3-Sweet Surprise

The day dawned bright and sunny. Harry and Ron went down to breakfast and found Ginny and Hermione already there, both going over their schedules. Harry picked up his schedule and began reading, "So, what do we have today?" Ron asked between his bites of egg.

"First up, Magical Maintenance and Living." Harry replied. "Then Care of Magical Creatures."

None of the three sixth years needed the later course for their futures, but couldn't disappoint Hagrid by not taking it. "We have a free period after lunch. Wow, it looks like we have free periods on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Not to mention no more night classes."

Both Harry and Ron received non-passing grades in Astronomy and were thankful they didn't need it.

"That's gonna be great, huh Hermione?" Ron said happily.

"Great for you I have advanced Arithmacy that period." Hermione returned.

"So what do we have after that?" Ron asked.

"You know you could look at the schedule yourself." Hermione snapped.

"Naaw, it's easier just to ask Harry." Ron replied before stuffing more food in his mouth.

"Well we have Transfigurations and Charms." Harry finished.

"Good, no potions." Ron said making a face.

"Nope, we have double potions on Tuesdays and Thursdays afternoons after Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts those mornings." Harry continued.

"Tuesday and Thursday mornings?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, why?" Harry questioned.

"Because that's when I have Defense." Ginny showed them her schedule.

"Well, maybe there's a mistake." Ron said.

"Or maybe he combined the upper years. Dumbledore did say we were meeting in one of the larger classrooms." Hermione answered smugly. "I mean you can't expect him to teach that many classes. He's very busy."

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow." Harry decided.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed for their first class. They were one of the first to arrive. Ron and Hermione paired together at the back desk, while Harry sat in front of them and was soon joined by Neville. As the students all filed in the Gryffindors were disappointed to find they shared this class with the Slytherins, but after a second glance they noticed that all of the sixth year had joined them.

"Good morning class. I am Professor Catchlove and this is the first class of Magical Maintenance and Living."

"Can anyone tell me what we will be learning in this class?" the Proffesor asked cheerfully.

Hermione's hand shot into the air.

"Ah you would be Miss Granger, am I correct?" The Proffessor asked.

"Yes Professor," Hermione muttered, "How did you know?"

"Oh a few of the teachers said you would always be the first with a hand in the air." The professor smiled.

Hermione blushed and sunk down in her chair.

"Ok then, we will be learning domestic charms, such as those for cleaning and cooking," The professor started when Dracos hand shot in the air.

The Professor addressed him, "And you are?"

"Draco Malfoy" he answered.

"Ah Yes, and before you ask, you DO have to take this course, even though you feel it beneath you because its servants work. You may find your self in a position where you need too look after yourself." The Professor ranted.

"We will also learn about family and marriage rituals, as well as family relations, which includes sexual education." There were a few whops and hollers at this announcement from a few of the boys.

"I am glad your so excited to learn about that topic. Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Goyle, Mr. Finnegan and Mr. Thomas,Did I get those names correct?" The boys nodded. "Good because you two," she pointed at Malfoy and Goyle. "will prepare a speech on sexually transmitted diseases, and you two" she pointed at Dean and Seamus. "will prepare a speech on the charms and potions to cure said diseases. See me after class for the complete list." The boys all sank in their seats.

"Now our schedual will be as follows, Mondays we will go over the theory and uses of our charms, spells and potions. Yes we will cover some potions. Wednesday we will have the practical portion, hence the reason for a double period. Fridays will be dedicated to the family relations portion. Now if you will all open your books to chapter one we will start on the basic cleaning spells.

When class ended Ron, Hermione, and Harry left to go to their next class, Care of Magical Creatures. "What do you think of Professor Catchlove?" Ron asked.

"I think she'll be tough. She didn't let anyone get away with anything in her class." Harry replied.

"Well, at least she put Malroy in his place." Ron said.

"You know, we really need to get Malroy for how he treated Ginny." Hermione said.

"We do have a name to live up to." Harry said grinning.

"Do you have something in mind Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione just nodded, but the boys couldn't ask what it was because they had already arrived at their class. "Morning class." Hagrid beamed.

"Today we're gonna be looking at Phoenixes. Professor Dumbledore loaned us his." Hagrid stepped aside and behind him on a perch was indeed Fawks, who trilled for a second before spotting Harry. Fawks then gave her great wings a flap and landed on his shoulder.

"Hello Fawks." Harry said stroking her chest.

Most of the other students were in awe that Harry knew the bird and visa versa.

Hagrid went over the properties and tributes of Phoenixes and how rare they were, especially to have as companions. "Yes, Phoenixes are companions, not pets. They chose who they will be loyal to and will come and go as they please. If a Phoenix doesn't want to stay there's nothing you can do about it." Hagrid told the class.

At lunch the three met up with Ginny at the Gryfindor table. Hermione told Ginny of them wanting to get Malroy. "Yes, that would be nice." Ginny smiled.

"Now will you tell us what you have planned?" Ron asked.

"I need to work out the details and if I can modify a couple of spells," Hermione started. "and I'll need to send a message to Fred and George, so they could make something for us."

"What do we need Fred and George for?" Ron asked.

"Do you know anything about making candy?" Hermione asked. Ron shook his head. "I thought that it would be easier then trying to hex him and less chance of getting got." Hermione grinned.

"How will we get him to eat them?" Harry asked. "I'm sure he won't take anything from us."

"I think I have that all worked out." Hermione said now with an evil grin. "but I want to make sure no one hears, so I'll tell you guys tonight after dinner."

The rest of the classes went by very slowly and no matter how they tried they couldn't get Hermione to tell them what she had planned.

When they got back to the Gryfindor Common room she immediately went up to her room, but after a few minutes came back with several books.

"I just need to find the right combination to make the spell work."

"Tell us already Hermione." Ron huffed. He couldn't stand it any longer. The four headed up so Hermione could speak without being over heard.

"Brilliant!" Ginny said. "I'm glad you're on our side."

"Yeah, remind me never to make you mad." Ron said and gave her a quick kiss.

"Eww!" Ginny said giving Ron and Hermione a look.

"I just don't understand your ability to modify spells, let alone make new ones." Harry said. "It doesn't even take you very long."

"It's a gift, I guess." Hermione laughed. "I don't even know. I just seem to understand it. I have work to do and I know you have homework."

They all worked until about nine o'clock. "I think I've got it. I'll just owl the twins." Hermione said as she pulled her palm owl out and wrote her message.

________________________________________________________________________ To: Double Trouble Subject: Help From: White Air

We want to prank Malfoy. Can you put this spell on a box of chocolates, the nice ones. I think I have it worked out, but you will need to test it to make sure it gives the desired effect. I thought you could call them complimentary confections. The spell is 'complimentus vocalus'

"Oh Ron, its nine o'clock we have to go. We've got to do tonight's rounds till nine thirty to make sure no ones out after curfew." Hermione said. She quickly packed her books back in her bag and led Ron out of the portrait hole.

"I'm done. I'm going to take my books up." Harry stated.

"There's a comfortable chair open and I've got three chapters to read." Ginny returned as she reached into her bag for a sugar quill. When she found one she took her book and got comfortable in a stuffy arm chair by the fire draping her legs over one arm of the chair and began to read.

After taking his books upstairs Harry decided he wasn't tired enough to go to bed, so he went back to the common room. He noticed that Seamus and Neville were sitting on the couch and Collin was sitting in the arm chair close by. All looked like they were transfiguring on something. Harry couldn't see. He went over and sat between Neville and Seamus. "What's up with you guys?" Harry asked as he nudged Seamus.

"Just watching." Seamus grinned.

"Watching what?" Harry started to ask when his eyes caught sight of Ginny. She looked cute sprawled out over the chair, but that was before he caught sight of her little pink tongue dart out over her sugar quill. She was deeply immersed in her reading and absent mindedly licking her sugar quill, sometimes stopping in mid lick or place, before pulling it slowly out between her now red lip that looked more succulent then the sugar quill.

The boys soon became six all watching as her tongue ran the length of the quill in a most seducible fashion, up and down, in and out. No one heard the portrait hole open or the gasp that sounded.

Ron arrived back from rounds with Hermione, and quickly picked up on what was going on. He marched across the room and ripped the sugar quill from his baby sisters grasp and broke it into several small bite size pieces. "Hey! What's the big idea?" Ginny yelled.

Ron ignored her and faced the on looking who were disappearing rapidly. "And that will happen to yours if I see you ogling my sister again!" Ron bellowed.

Hermione just stood back trying to repress her laughter. Now with the crowd dispersed Ginny charged at her brother. "Ron what in the blazes are you doing?"

"They were staring at you." Ron said.

"Oh, so that's a crime now? And why did you break my candy?" Ginny huffed.

"Because they were. . . . watching you. . . . . um. . . . . .eat it. . . . . ." Ron hesitated not knowing what to say.

"What?" Ginny exclaimed. "Ron you're making no sense."

Ron looked to Hermione for help. "Hermione explain it to her."

"No Ron, I'm not so certain I know what you're talking about." Hermione batted her eyes and adopted a sweet and innocent look.

"I'm waiting." Ginny said tapping her foot.

"Well you looked. . . ." Ron started. "looked like. . . ."

"like to what?" Ginny prompted.

Ron's frustration grew. "You just looked like a scarlet women ok?" Ron huffed before he fled upstairs.

Hermione giggled but Ginny still looked confused.

"Hey Harry, maybe you can explain it to her." Hermione called to Harry who was standing by the sofa. Harry's face went red and he fled up the stairs after Ron.

Hermione giggled harder. "Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Ginny threw her hands up in frustration. Trying to control her giggles Hermione put her arm around Ginny and started whispering in her ear. Ginny's eyes grew wide and exclaimed. "OH........ Hey is that like wand polishing."

The next morning breakfast was fairly quiet due to Ron who didn't want to be asked any questions and Ginny who was embarrassed now that she understood. Hermione just sat back with a smile and Harry tried to look anywhere but at Ginny.

"Come on it's time for class." Hermione informed them. The four walked to the second floor corridor to where they were told the class would meet. When they got there a look of confusion was found on many faces.

The four went in and found there were many desks arranged facing a podium on one half of the room, which was a immerse space and the other half was open but looked as if the floor and walls were cushioned.

They found seats and waited for the class to start. Dumbledore entered raising his hand for the students to quiet. "Quickly now find a seat." He started. "I'm sure you're all wondering if there is some kind of mistake." Several of the students nodded.

"I assume you are all in the correct room at the correct time. I am very busy so I decided it would be best to run all three grades as one fifth years. You will gain an advantage by learning a bit more then just what is on the O.W.L.S. and of course seventh years will learn what they need to, to pass their N.E.W.T.'s." The professor added.

"I also decided to run it this way to help you all. Due to the constant changes in teachers and of course last year, not to mention the threat of what we find ourselves under. I want you all well prepared to meet anything you might face. For homework I want you all to keep up on your reading. That will be the only homework I assign. You will be graded on your ability to come to this class with having the knowledge of what you were assigned. Practials will be graded on the performance of the spells. We will spend the first half hour going over the material and the rest of the class in practice."

"If you are quick in picking up the spells we learn I may ask you to help with those who are having trouble. The faster we can learn as a group, the more we can learn in this class. I believe there maybe a club for those who wish to practice defense outside of class. Will the DA be stated Harry?" The professor asked.

Harry was a little taken a back thought about the DA this year. It would be good practice though. The professor gave out the reading assignments for each class, covering the whole month. He let them use the rest of the class to read.

AN. Hey sorry about the wait. For now I may only be able to post once a week. Too many things to do but if I can catch up Ill try to post more often. The school year is different to write about then the summer. Individual response.

Starlight-aurora: thanks

Sweethoneyno1: ok thanks

Shawn Pickett: sorting hat – fix mess up what's the difference we will see. I will slip him in somewhere I think. Your welcome and thanks to you.

TuxedoMac: So are you all of the voices I have got in there? Theres te smart ass . the tease the brain and one with really bad humor, not to mention the evil one. He He Oh and if your just one that looks in at times, should I be embarrassed?

Maria: Thanks

Jennifer: Ill try.

Cinitshortstop: well I hope you don't fall off and I recommend one that's low to the ground and not a high stool.

CastusAlbusCor: I really like frogs my bathroom is done in them and green is my favorite color.

Post-Scriptum: well they cant all be exciting and yes there will be low times.

Natbag: Oh please not flobberworms Id rather have snakes. (who told you of my fear of caterpillars?) Oh and not all the Marauders were elementals they were usually marked as one or as the directions but I think most without having both didn't show any thing really remarkable I do see dumbledore as North the head of the group. Yeah the song was a challenge.

Kelly: Really soon I promise. Please don't hex me.

HappySakes Rule: JKR assigned her patronus and I felt that just because I used a variation of the spell that it shouldn't change. I usually read mostly G/H fics but I wiol read yours if you tell me what it s and when you post it.