Chapter 8:A New Student

The next morning everyone was in the Great Hall eating breakfast and talking about the day ahead when the owl posts came. Hedwig landed in front of Harry with a letter on her leg. Harry took it and opened it immediately.

Dear Harry,

How are you? I miss hanging out with you at Hogwarts. Professor Snape told me that I could come and visit you during the first Hogsmeade weekend, but I have to where a cape so no one can tell it's me. I know that sounds stupid but I can't wait to see you. Please write back with the Hogsmeade dates since Cranky Pants doesn't remember them. I'm using my middle name so in case this letter is intercepted they don't know who sent it. Oh and I heard about what happened with Malfoy please don't get in trouble because of me, and tell Hermione that also.

Sincerly,

Lily.

Harry handed Hermione and Ron the letter to read. Once they were done Hermione took out a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote somethings down and then handed it over to Harry. " Here you can write Lily on that and then send it back with Hedwig."

"Thanks. Ron do you want to write anything before I tie it to Hedwigs leg?" Harry said writing down a message to his sister, and handing it over to Ron. Ron wrote a few things and then handed it back to Harry who tied it to Hedwigs leg and sent her on her way.

The three got up and walked out of the Great Hall and headed towards their next class. "So are you enjoying having a person to talk to?" Ron said chosing his words carefully.

"Yeah it's great. I mean I've always had people to talk to and don't get me wrong I love talking to both of you also, but it's different having someone as close as Lily to talk to." Harry said smiling.

"We'll we're just glad that you're happy and not getting all mad like you usually do." Hermione said taking Ron's hand and then dropping it. Ron looked down and then blushed.

" What is going on with you two?" Harry asked noticing what happened.

"Nothing, I think we should get to class." Hermione said running up the steps ahead of them.

"I think Hermione might like me." Ron said with a smile, he had liked Hermione since their first year.

"You should ask her to Hogsmeade." Harry said trying to catch up with Hermione.

"I would but I'm nervous." Ron said his face turning red again.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally made it to Transfiguration and found a seat in the front. Halfway through class their was a knock on the door and Professor Dumbledore and a girl with red hair and blue eyes walked through the door. " I'm sorry to interrupt your class Professor, but we have a new student. This is Lea Riley She didn't recieve her letter until now and was sorted into Gryffindor. From what I understand she transferred here from Drumstrang and is entering her sixth year. When we sorted her she ended up in Gryffindor."

"Well welcome Ms. Riley, I'm sure that you'll have a bunch of people in your house that will help you get caught up on what you've missed." McGonagall said turning to Dumbledore. Dumbledore signalled for both Lea and McGonagall to follow him outside. When they came back Lea took her seat and McGonagall finished up their lesson before the bell rang.

After class Hermione went to greet Lea. "Hi Lea I'm Hermione Granger, I'm in Gryffindor also if you need help getting caught up in any of your classes I'll be happy to help."

"You might want to take her up on the offer, Hermione is one of the smartest students in the school." Ron said sarcastically.

" Ron!" Hermione yelled.

" What it's true." Ron said smiling.

"Thanks, it is ok if I follow you guys to the next class? I still don't know my way around." Lea said smiling.

"Sure, oh this is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter." Hermione said picking up her stuff and walking out of class.

"So you're from Drumstrang what's it like?" Hermione said fascinated.

"It's no where near as nice as this place. I hated it there actually, that's why I begged my dad to let me come here. Plus Hogwarts is closer to home." Lea said smiling, she enjoyed the company of these people.

"Well you'll eventually get use to Hogwarts, and chances are you'll be wishing you were some where else." Ron said ducking. Peeves had thrown a water balloon at his head.

" Weasley is our king! Weasley is our king! He always lets the Quaffle in, Weasley is our king." Peeves said throwing another water balloon at Ron and hitting him in the head.

"Peeves cut it out!" Ron shouted.

"Harry Potter's being tricked, his brain doesn't alway click." Peeves went on humming the rest of the song, throwing water balloons over his shoulder.

"What does he mean I'm being tricked? What is he planning?" Harry said aggrivated.

"I'm sure he doesn't mean it Harry." Lea said taking a seat in their Defense against the Dark Arts class.

"I wonder who the new teacher is." Ron said sitting next to Hermione and Lea. His question was quickly answered when Oliver Wood walked through the door.

"I'm Professor Wood, I'm your new Defense teacher. Since I passed this class with an N on the N.E.W.T.s, and studied it extensively over the past few years, Professor Dumbledore agreed to let me teach." Oliver said proudly.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other. They were clearly thinking the same thing, who in there right mind would let Oliver Wood teach? It was more like this class would be a competition than a place of learning if he was anything like he was two years ago. Once the class ended the three of them agreed that Oliver would make a great teacher, and congradulated him once the rest of the class left.

"Thanks, oh Harry I was wondering if we could meet up tomorrow night and talk about this up coming year." Oliver said remembering what McGonagall asked him to do this Quidditch season.

"Yeah, sure." Harry said turning and leaving the class.

Since the beginning of class Hermione hadn't said a word, or done any of the work. All she did was scribble on a piece of parchment, and then crossed it out. Harry and Ron both tried to catch glimpses of what she was writing but gave up when it started to make no sense.

"Hermione what are you working on?" Ron said looking at the foot of parchment laying across the table.

"None of your business Ron!" Hermione said crossing out the parchment to the millionth time.

"Fine, you don't have to be so mean about it." Ron said returning to his work.

" I'm sorry it's just I think the teachers are up to something and I think Lea has something to do with what Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking about yesterday." Hermione said looking onto Ron's Astrology homework.

"Why do you think that because Lea just happened to show up a few days later?" Ron said rolling his eyes.

"Ron I think you should pay more attention to your homework you've labeled seven moons for Earth, and you've labeled the Sun as Pluto." Hermione said pointing at Ron's paper.

"yeah well maybe I ment to label it that way. You never know it could happen." Ron said still staring at Hermione's parchment.

"Ron it's wrong." Hermione said taking Ron's hand again, she tried to drop it but Ron held on.

"Ron what are you doing?" Hermione asked looking down at his hand.

"Not letting go." Ron said looking back at his homework.

"Why not?" Hermione said blushing.

"Cause 'Mione, I like you and I know you like me or you wouldn't keep grabbing my hand. I can't keep pretending that I don't like you anymore, so I'm doing something about it, and I'm not letting go until you admit that you like me also." Ron said fixing his essay with his other hand.

"Fine I admit it I like you!" Hermione said, releasing Ron's hand. Ron turned and kissed Hermione which made her blush even more. Afterwards both returned to their work.

"Maybe you could help me after your done." Hermione said looking at the long list of scratched out names.

"I'd love to." Ron said smiling.