The days went by rather fast for the rest of the summer. Harry and his
friends spent most of their time helping Mrs. Weasley around the house,
and keeping up on their studying. The meetings of the Order had
subsided. Harry hadn't seen Dumbledore since the first meeting. Snape
and Moody, too, had also disappeared. Not that Harry was particularly
saddened by this. The longer he got to live without Snape, the happier
he was. Ron and Hermione had learned to quit asking him about his
dreams and Sirius. And in their spare time, Harry was getting better at
wizard chess and exploding snaps. Soon the week arrived for them to get
their supplies for school. Mrs. Weasley had insisted that she do it, as
she'd done nearly every year, but they wouldn't hear of it. They'd been
cooped up inside the house all summer. They needed a day away from it.
"I'm surprised she finally agreed, to be honest with you. The way she looks after us, like we're still first years." Ron commented. They'd stopped and got ice cream then looked at their list. Again, there wasn't really anything new. The only thing on there they didn't already have was 'The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6)'. Easy enough. They stopped into Flourish and Botts.
"I wonder..." Hermione mumbled to herself and walked upstairs, looking curiously through the books.
"Great, now we'll never leave. She'll want to buy the whole store." Ron grumbled as he paid for his book. They heard a noise come from upstairs.
"Just leave me alone, Malfoy!"
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron said together, then bolted up the stairs after her. She had her wand towards the tall blond haired boy, who was almost doubled over with laughter.
"Leave her alone, Malfoy!" Harry yelled at him. Malfoy stopped laughing and looked at Harry. He advanced on him,
"Who's going to stop me? You or Weasley? Just so happens that my father is out of Azkaban. Who do you think he'll be going after next, eh Potter? Like I'd said, I really wouldn't like to be in your shoes this year. As for you, mudblood. I'll being seeing more of you, later." he pushed past Harry and Ron.
"What was that about?" they asked in unison.
"This..." she groaned and handed Harry a piece of paper. Ron peered over his shoulder to read.
Mr. Draco Malfoy,
I regret to inform you, that looking over your marks from the previous term, it is determined that you are failing half your courses. As you already know, the position of being a prefect also comes with the duty of being a leader and an example to the lower years. Satisfactory grades are a must! You shall have a tutor, by my selection, for the first term. If grades are not improved by Christmas, your position as prefect will be revoked. The tutor I have selected is, Hermione Granger. She will be informed of this upon arriving to Hogwarts, unless you have an further questions or comments. If so, send by owl immediately.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
"You're going to have to tutor Malfoy?!" Ron exclaimed, reaching for the letter to read it again, as if there'd been some mistake.
"You have to protest, explain to McGonagall your differences, she'll select a different tutor. Besides Malfoy probably told her that he didn't want you." Harry told her.
"Malfoy said he wants me to tutor him. He already sent a letter agreeing that since I'm the smartest in our year, it was a respectable decision. Eight O'clock to Ten, five nights a week, the entire first term." She whined.
"I'll bet he agreed just so he could see how many times he can say 'mudblood' in the span of two hours." Ron commented.
"Hey you know, this might not be a bad thing." Harry suggested, reading over the letter. Ron and Hermione looked at him like he'd just betrayed them beyond forgiveness.
"You can find out if Malfoy really is the one that Voldemort was talking about."
"Right, I'm sure that Malfoy is just going to pour his heart and soul, if he has one that is, out to her after a couple of tutoring sessions."
"No, I don't mean that. Watch the way he acts, how he behaves. If it seems like something is up, keep him from it longer. This might be a good thing."
"You're right, I think that was Dumbledore's idea." Hermione agreed.
"How so?"
"Well he told me he'd be looking after Malfoy. This might be his way... having ME look after Malfoy."
"Wow, Dumbledore must really have it out for you." Ron stated. Hermione shot him a threatening look. She then went back down stairs to pay for her required book, plus three more. When they got back to twelve Grimmauld Place, they had the confirmation. An owl had delivered Hermione a letter while they were in Diagon Alley, stating that she would be tutoring Draco Malfoy and to report straight to McGonagall's office once she'd gotten to the school. The rest of the week flew by. Soon they were packing their belongings and getting ready for the new school year. Harry felt a jolt in his stomach. After most summers, he enjoyed going back to Hogwarts. He hadn't wanted to leave when he'd gone home at the end of the year. Although now, he was feeling differently. Every year had gotten remarkably worse than the previous. After facing Voldemort four times in the past five years, he didn't know if he was ready to do it all over again. The past month living in the old Black house helped release him of some of his longing for Sirius. He'd learned to accept that he was gone. He wasn't going to come back as a ghost. He wasn't going to just be there whenever he needed him. He was a mere memory now. There were bigger things ahead, deciding both his and Voldemort's fate. He wasn't sure what this year was to entail, and was beginning to believe the common muggle phrase "ignorance is bliss."
Fred and George showed up to see them off at King's Cross. They gave Percy a disconcerting look as he helped Ron load the luggage onto the train. They still didn't trust him. Mrs. Weasley was fidgeting with Ginny's hair, whose face was red with embarrassment. The pit in Harry's stomach continued to twist. He looked at the clock, the train would leave in five minutes.
"So how's the joke shop been going?" Harry asked Fred, or at least whom he thought was Fred. He wasn't sure, so he looked at the both of them.
"Business is going beautifully. We've even brought you some extendable ears. Without us snooping around Hogwarts hearing everything, you're going to need them." Fred replied. George handed him three pair. One for him, Ron, and Hermione.
"And if you can sneak this to Malfoy, it'd be great." Fred handed him one of their fake wands.
"In potions, preferably. I know the class would love to see him try and make Veritaserum with a rubber chicken." George smiled.
"I'll do what I can." Harry told them and put them in his pocket. Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Ginny, Lupin, and Hermione joined them.
"Well you four best be off now, don't want to miss the train. You're all growing up so much."
"Now, Molly. Don't worry they'll all be back for Christmas break."
"Don't forget to write. And Ron, look after your sister. You're the only Weasley she has now" Mrs. Weasley told her son.
"Let Dumbledore know as soon as you can if anything strange happens or if you have anymore of those dreams, Harry. You know your duties as well, Hermione." Lupin reminded. Hermione nodded, knowing it was in reference to Malfoy. Harry wasn't too keen at the thought of running to Dumbledore every time he had a bad dream. They were too frequent. He often dreamt of his Godfather's last moments, his battles near death, and his parents. If he went running to Dumbledore every time he woke up with his scar hurting from a bad dream, he might as well be sleeping in Dumbledore's chamber. But he gave Lupin a smile and nodded. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all boarded the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Hermione went off for the prefects meeting, while Harry and Ginny tried to find a seat.
Ginny found a seat quickly next to Dean Thomas, leaving Harry to find his own place. He considered finding Luna Lovegood to have a shot at getting out of her, what she'd meant by seeing her dead loved ones, but then he thought it might not be the best idea. He found an empty seat occupied only by two other first years. He threw himself into the corner and looked out the window. He heard the first years gawking at his scar, and whispering.
"That's Harry Potter!"
"Let me see! It's really him!"
About an hour later, Ron and Hermione found them. Ron kicked out the two first years, and sat down next to Harry.
"Malfoy, is infuriating!" Hermione fumed as she sat across from Harry.
"He's really bad this time around. I think the whole mess with his father has sent him on some sort of mental hiatus. Especially at us. No doubt his father has explained to him that it was you, Harry, who technically put him in Azkaban."
"Lucius Malfoy put himself in Azkaban. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is where all Malfoy's belong." Harry replied, just as the door to the compartment slid open. Malfoy sneered at him.
"I dare you to say that again, Potter."
"As far as I'm concerned, all Malfoy's belong in Azkaban." Harry repeated, standing up.
"At least my parents are still alive. Aren't stupid enough to get themselves killed. That's what hanging out with half-breeds will get you. I'll remember to take off ten points from Gryffindor when we get to the school."
"Enjoy your prefect powers now, Malfoy. As of Christmas, you'll be a nobody again."
"Don't speak to me about social status, Weasley." Malfoy spit at him then left.
"He's definitly his father's son." Hermione commented, closing the compartment door.
They got to the school and gathered in the Great Hall, except for Hermione and Malfoy who were summoned to McGonagall's office. The sorting hat put nine new people into Gryffindor. Dumbledore gave his annual speech and everyone began to eat. Hermione joined them a while later, followed by Malfoy who looked back at her, smiling, as he headed for the Slytherin table.
"What's McGonagall want?" Ron asked, with a mouthful of chicken pie.
"He's failing Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical, and Arithmancy."
"I think the only reason he's in this school is because his father was paying. Now that his family name is dirt, he has to get things the normal way." Harry stated and glared at Malfoy from across the hall. He was talking to Pansy Parkinson, kissing her hand.
"Well that explains the five times a week."
" They would do well with just getting rid of Slytherin all together, and anyone not fit for Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor, should be eighty-sixed out of the school, immediately. Save us all the trouble." Harry's feelings toward Malfoy had grown even colder.
"Well, we start tonight."
"Classes haven't even started yet!" Ron argued.
"I know, we're getting a head start in Transfiguration. McGonagall gave me the syllabus. If I don't return by Ten fifteen, come and get me. Promise?"
"Sure thing." Harry told her. They finished eating, then the prefects lead the first years to their house common rooms. Afterwards, Hermione left Ron and Harry in the prefects common room, and followed Malfoy to the Transfiguration classroom.
"I feel for her. I couldn't do it." Ron stated as they started playing a game of Exploding Snap. No sooner than she'd left, she was back.
"I don't know HOW Dumbledore expects me to do this!" she said flustered, running off to her room.
"I'm surprised she finally agreed, to be honest with you. The way she looks after us, like we're still first years." Ron commented. They'd stopped and got ice cream then looked at their list. Again, there wasn't really anything new. The only thing on there they didn't already have was 'The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6)'. Easy enough. They stopped into Flourish and Botts.
"I wonder..." Hermione mumbled to herself and walked upstairs, looking curiously through the books.
"Great, now we'll never leave. She'll want to buy the whole store." Ron grumbled as he paid for his book. They heard a noise come from upstairs.
"Just leave me alone, Malfoy!"
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron said together, then bolted up the stairs after her. She had her wand towards the tall blond haired boy, who was almost doubled over with laughter.
"Leave her alone, Malfoy!" Harry yelled at him. Malfoy stopped laughing and looked at Harry. He advanced on him,
"Who's going to stop me? You or Weasley? Just so happens that my father is out of Azkaban. Who do you think he'll be going after next, eh Potter? Like I'd said, I really wouldn't like to be in your shoes this year. As for you, mudblood. I'll being seeing more of you, later." he pushed past Harry and Ron.
"What was that about?" they asked in unison.
"This..." she groaned and handed Harry a piece of paper. Ron peered over his shoulder to read.
Mr. Draco Malfoy,
I regret to inform you, that looking over your marks from the previous term, it is determined that you are failing half your courses. As you already know, the position of being a prefect also comes with the duty of being a leader and an example to the lower years. Satisfactory grades are a must! You shall have a tutor, by my selection, for the first term. If grades are not improved by Christmas, your position as prefect will be revoked. The tutor I have selected is, Hermione Granger. She will be informed of this upon arriving to Hogwarts, unless you have an further questions or comments. If so, send by owl immediately.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
"You're going to have to tutor Malfoy?!" Ron exclaimed, reaching for the letter to read it again, as if there'd been some mistake.
"You have to protest, explain to McGonagall your differences, she'll select a different tutor. Besides Malfoy probably told her that he didn't want you." Harry told her.
"Malfoy said he wants me to tutor him. He already sent a letter agreeing that since I'm the smartest in our year, it was a respectable decision. Eight O'clock to Ten, five nights a week, the entire first term." She whined.
"I'll bet he agreed just so he could see how many times he can say 'mudblood' in the span of two hours." Ron commented.
"Hey you know, this might not be a bad thing." Harry suggested, reading over the letter. Ron and Hermione looked at him like he'd just betrayed them beyond forgiveness.
"You can find out if Malfoy really is the one that Voldemort was talking about."
"Right, I'm sure that Malfoy is just going to pour his heart and soul, if he has one that is, out to her after a couple of tutoring sessions."
"No, I don't mean that. Watch the way he acts, how he behaves. If it seems like something is up, keep him from it longer. This might be a good thing."
"You're right, I think that was Dumbledore's idea." Hermione agreed.
"How so?"
"Well he told me he'd be looking after Malfoy. This might be his way... having ME look after Malfoy."
"Wow, Dumbledore must really have it out for you." Ron stated. Hermione shot him a threatening look. She then went back down stairs to pay for her required book, plus three more. When they got back to twelve Grimmauld Place, they had the confirmation. An owl had delivered Hermione a letter while they were in Diagon Alley, stating that she would be tutoring Draco Malfoy and to report straight to McGonagall's office once she'd gotten to the school. The rest of the week flew by. Soon they were packing their belongings and getting ready for the new school year. Harry felt a jolt in his stomach. After most summers, he enjoyed going back to Hogwarts. He hadn't wanted to leave when he'd gone home at the end of the year. Although now, he was feeling differently. Every year had gotten remarkably worse than the previous. After facing Voldemort four times in the past five years, he didn't know if he was ready to do it all over again. The past month living in the old Black house helped release him of some of his longing for Sirius. He'd learned to accept that he was gone. He wasn't going to come back as a ghost. He wasn't going to just be there whenever he needed him. He was a mere memory now. There were bigger things ahead, deciding both his and Voldemort's fate. He wasn't sure what this year was to entail, and was beginning to believe the common muggle phrase "ignorance is bliss."
Fred and George showed up to see them off at King's Cross. They gave Percy a disconcerting look as he helped Ron load the luggage onto the train. They still didn't trust him. Mrs. Weasley was fidgeting with Ginny's hair, whose face was red with embarrassment. The pit in Harry's stomach continued to twist. He looked at the clock, the train would leave in five minutes.
"So how's the joke shop been going?" Harry asked Fred, or at least whom he thought was Fred. He wasn't sure, so he looked at the both of them.
"Business is going beautifully. We've even brought you some extendable ears. Without us snooping around Hogwarts hearing everything, you're going to need them." Fred replied. George handed him three pair. One for him, Ron, and Hermione.
"And if you can sneak this to Malfoy, it'd be great." Fred handed him one of their fake wands.
"In potions, preferably. I know the class would love to see him try and make Veritaserum with a rubber chicken." George smiled.
"I'll do what I can." Harry told them and put them in his pocket. Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Ginny, Lupin, and Hermione joined them.
"Well you four best be off now, don't want to miss the train. You're all growing up so much."
"Now, Molly. Don't worry they'll all be back for Christmas break."
"Don't forget to write. And Ron, look after your sister. You're the only Weasley she has now" Mrs. Weasley told her son.
"Let Dumbledore know as soon as you can if anything strange happens or if you have anymore of those dreams, Harry. You know your duties as well, Hermione." Lupin reminded. Hermione nodded, knowing it was in reference to Malfoy. Harry wasn't too keen at the thought of running to Dumbledore every time he had a bad dream. They were too frequent. He often dreamt of his Godfather's last moments, his battles near death, and his parents. If he went running to Dumbledore every time he woke up with his scar hurting from a bad dream, he might as well be sleeping in Dumbledore's chamber. But he gave Lupin a smile and nodded. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all boarded the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Hermione went off for the prefects meeting, while Harry and Ginny tried to find a seat.
Ginny found a seat quickly next to Dean Thomas, leaving Harry to find his own place. He considered finding Luna Lovegood to have a shot at getting out of her, what she'd meant by seeing her dead loved ones, but then he thought it might not be the best idea. He found an empty seat occupied only by two other first years. He threw himself into the corner and looked out the window. He heard the first years gawking at his scar, and whispering.
"That's Harry Potter!"
"Let me see! It's really him!"
About an hour later, Ron and Hermione found them. Ron kicked out the two first years, and sat down next to Harry.
"Malfoy, is infuriating!" Hermione fumed as she sat across from Harry.
"He's really bad this time around. I think the whole mess with his father has sent him on some sort of mental hiatus. Especially at us. No doubt his father has explained to him that it was you, Harry, who technically put him in Azkaban."
"Lucius Malfoy put himself in Azkaban. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is where all Malfoy's belong." Harry replied, just as the door to the compartment slid open. Malfoy sneered at him.
"I dare you to say that again, Potter."
"As far as I'm concerned, all Malfoy's belong in Azkaban." Harry repeated, standing up.
"At least my parents are still alive. Aren't stupid enough to get themselves killed. That's what hanging out with half-breeds will get you. I'll remember to take off ten points from Gryffindor when we get to the school."
"Enjoy your prefect powers now, Malfoy. As of Christmas, you'll be a nobody again."
"Don't speak to me about social status, Weasley." Malfoy spit at him then left.
"He's definitly his father's son." Hermione commented, closing the compartment door.
They got to the school and gathered in the Great Hall, except for Hermione and Malfoy who were summoned to McGonagall's office. The sorting hat put nine new people into Gryffindor. Dumbledore gave his annual speech and everyone began to eat. Hermione joined them a while later, followed by Malfoy who looked back at her, smiling, as he headed for the Slytherin table.
"What's McGonagall want?" Ron asked, with a mouthful of chicken pie.
"He's failing Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical, and Arithmancy."
"I think the only reason he's in this school is because his father was paying. Now that his family name is dirt, he has to get things the normal way." Harry stated and glared at Malfoy from across the hall. He was talking to Pansy Parkinson, kissing her hand.
"Well that explains the five times a week."
" They would do well with just getting rid of Slytherin all together, and anyone not fit for Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor, should be eighty-sixed out of the school, immediately. Save us all the trouble." Harry's feelings toward Malfoy had grown even colder.
"Well, we start tonight."
"Classes haven't even started yet!" Ron argued.
"I know, we're getting a head start in Transfiguration. McGonagall gave me the syllabus. If I don't return by Ten fifteen, come and get me. Promise?"
"Sure thing." Harry told her. They finished eating, then the prefects lead the first years to their house common rooms. Afterwards, Hermione left Ron and Harry in the prefects common room, and followed Malfoy to the Transfiguration classroom.
"I feel for her. I couldn't do it." Ron stated as they started playing a game of Exploding Snap. No sooner than she'd left, she was back.
"I don't know HOW Dumbledore expects me to do this!" she said flustered, running off to her room.