CHAPTER 13
I didn't know Cho had a younger sister!" Exclaimed Ron next morning at breakfast.
"No, me neither." Said Harry.
"Well you two just don't listen do you!" Snapped Hermione. Ron groaned. "On the first day, Professor McGonnagal read out her name for the sorting hat and I asked Cho whether she had a sister called Anna and she said yes!"
"Well I generally don't take in all the detail." Said Ron. "The first years just come then go in my opinion." Hermione fixed him with a look of sympathy and moved over so Ginny could sit down.
"Speaking of Chang," said Hermione thoughtfully. "You haven't seen much of Cho this term have you?"
"No." Said Harry. "She's supposed to be with Michael Corner."
"Come on, let's go. Herbology next." Ron said, and Ron and Hermione moved away leaving Harry alone. He was just about to follow them, but heard someone hiss his name. He turned but there was no one there. That's odd. Maybe he was imagining things. He got up but there was something stopping him from moving.
"Anna?" Harry asked. "Is it you?"
"Yes!" Came a faint whisper. "Why aren't you with Cho!"
"She's with Michael." Said Harry flatly.
"No!" Hissed Anna. "She's not any more!"
"So she'll come crawling back." Said Harry trying to push past her.
"No she wont!" Snapped Anna angrily. "I know my sister better than you Harry!"
"Whatever," groaned Harry, if he didn't move he would be late for Herbology.
"She really likes you!" Moaned Anna sounding frustrated. It was very confusing for Harry, having to speak to someone who appeared to not even be there.
"No she doesn't!" Snapped Harry. "Get out of my way Anna, I'll be late!"
"But she is important to you isn't she?" Anna now sounded on the verge of tears. Maybe it ran in her family.
"JUST MOVE!" Yelled Harry. Most of the great hall turned to stare at him. Harry suddenly realised what it would look like from their point of view. Harry Potter shouting at thin air. The Slytherins were howling with laughter, while the Gryffindors frowned at him their eyes searching round him looking for the source of his outburst. "Now look what you've done!" He hissed angrily but when there was no longer anything to block him when he stood up. She had gone.
He explained to Ron and Hermione what had happened, in Herbology, as he tried with fail to water a howling Eugopuff. The small plant had spread itself across the pot to prevent the soil from becoming damp. It was acting like an umbrella. "I'm only trying to help." He muttered at the baby Eugopuff as it remained stubbornly stretched across the pot.
"Speaking to yourself again are you Potter?" Malfoy has just arrived with Piers. "Or maybe you're hallucinating?"
"Don't waste your breath." muttered Piers coolly, hand darting to his greasy hair. "We all know the tragic story of dear Harry Potter. Misunderstood, trapped in his own world, no one - "
But Hermione had stood up, looking very angry. "You think you're so great!" She snapped at Piers. "I'm amazed you've got any hair left at all!" She ran her fingers through her hair in imitation of Pierres. "Isn't it about time you two found a new target?"
Malfoy made a 'don't try messing with me face' but Piers didn't seem disturbed. "Who's this Draco?" He asked scathingly. "Potter's girlfriend?" He raised an eyebrow and Malfoy laughed.
Before any of them could retaliate however, Professor Sprout came over looking irritated. "You're not in this class boys. Back to your lessons!" So they stalked off shooting nasty looks back at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "This plant needs watering!" Professor Sprout snapped at Harry. "It's completely dry! They drink like camels you know!" She returned to the teachers desk leaving Harry angrily pouring still more water on the Eugopuff which just as stubbornly as ever, stretched across the soil so that every single drop of water fell on it's hard green stomach.
Harry hadn't seen anything of Anna the next week and it was only in Transfiguration, when Hermione mentioned it. They were supposed to be turning pencils into slugs. Hermione was the only one in the class entirely successful. Harry's slug was pointy and had a long black lead sticking out of it, but Ron's slug was still a pencil that was frothing and starting to move. "I suppose it's a bit darker than it was," Ron said as he watched the pencil slide over his Transfiguration textbook, leaving a slimy trail behind.
"Yes, maybe." Said Harry thoughtfully, prodding his pointy slug and trying to make it move.
"It's Cho isn't it?" Said Hermione watching her own slug slide about in the plastic container she had put it in.
"Sort of," said Harry his own slug now rolling around uncontrollably. He put out a hand to stop it. A few bubbles issued from the stick of lead protruding from where Harry supposed was its mouth. "And her sister. I've not seen her since."
"Well she's probably busy," said Hermione, but Harry could tell she wasn't being truthful.
The bell rang and they headed to the Defence against the Dark arts classroom to find Snape at the teacher's desk. "Come on!" He snapped at them as they slowly filtered in. When everyone was seated, Snape began the lesson. "Now, I believe you have studied the Custodis spell. I also believe it wasn't taught properly as you still need practise."
"It was taught brilliantly!" Yelled Dean Thomas.
"Yeah!" Agreed Harry without thinking. "Professor Lovegood's a great teacher!"
"Really?" Hissed Snape cold black eyes fixed on Harry. "A great teacher? I don't think so somehow."
"What do you mean?" Blurted out Dean Thomas. Snape ignored him.
"I have had reasons before now to believe that this class has had very low methods of judging people on what they really are like. Post editor of that book of rubbish! Quibbler wasn't it."
"The quibbler's not a book of rubbish." Came an angry voice from the doorway. Everyone turned to see none other than Luna Lovegood reflected there. "It's a magazine of important stories people want to know!"
"Miss Lovegood! Why are you disrupting my class? Why aren't you in your own lesson?" Snape eyed her angrily.
"Why aren't you in your own lesson?" Luna replied coolly in a voice quite unlike her usual dreamy tones. "It says in the entrance hall notices that you're supposed to be in the staff room revising boggarts." Sure enough, behind Luna, Harry could see a gaggle of fifth years waiting for their lesson and behind them was none other than Professor Lovegood. He strode into the classroom and turned to look at Snape.
"I believe I am teaching here Severus." He said Coldly eyeing Snape with dislike.
"You!" Snapped Snape, "but I'm taking your class! You're not here!"
"I think you'll find I am here Severus." Said Professor Lovegood. This certain class is currently in my hands."
"I'll be speaking to Dumbledore about this!" Snapped Snape leaving the room and pushing past Luna who was still taking up most of the doorway. His class followed him up to the staff room where there was obviously another boggart.
Five minutes later, Harry was standing face to what he thought was face with a boggart. "Ridikulus!" He roared eyeing Snape who had his arms folded and was looking as though he'd rather be weeding the Hogwarts grounds than teaching the Gryffindor sixth years how to tackle boggarts. Harry drew his eyes back to the boggart that had just transformed into a dementor. "Ridikulus!" He shouted again but the dementor remained. Everything had gone cold. Even Snape was beginning to look nervous. But still, Harry's spell hadn't worked. Then, he did the only thing left to do. Without pondering over it, he raised his wand, drew his mind to think about his last Christmas at Grimmauld Place and yelled, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A vast white stag erupted from his wand. It charged the dementor away which at once became a boggart again, and then the stag vanished. The room at once changed back to normal. The light went on, the students began exchanging looks and Snape's face had turned back to its usual icy glare.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Potter!" Snapped Snape. "I asked for you to tackle the boggart not to give the class a heroic show of bravery!"
"But the spell wouldn't work!" Said Harry indignantly.
"You are in this class Potter," Snape said as though the rest of the gaping Gryffindors weren't there, "to learn. Not to practise spells not even taught to you in lessons. Now sit down." Grudgingly Harry retreated back to Ron and Hermione who were looking equally outraged. What next? Harry thought to himself as they left the Staff room and he, Ron and Hermione headed towards the Gryffindor common room.
I didn't know Cho had a younger sister!" Exclaimed Ron next morning at breakfast.
"No, me neither." Said Harry.
"Well you two just don't listen do you!" Snapped Hermione. Ron groaned. "On the first day, Professor McGonnagal read out her name for the sorting hat and I asked Cho whether she had a sister called Anna and she said yes!"
"Well I generally don't take in all the detail." Said Ron. "The first years just come then go in my opinion." Hermione fixed him with a look of sympathy and moved over so Ginny could sit down.
"Speaking of Chang," said Hermione thoughtfully. "You haven't seen much of Cho this term have you?"
"No." Said Harry. "She's supposed to be with Michael Corner."
"Come on, let's go. Herbology next." Ron said, and Ron and Hermione moved away leaving Harry alone. He was just about to follow them, but heard someone hiss his name. He turned but there was no one there. That's odd. Maybe he was imagining things. He got up but there was something stopping him from moving.
"Anna?" Harry asked. "Is it you?"
"Yes!" Came a faint whisper. "Why aren't you with Cho!"
"She's with Michael." Said Harry flatly.
"No!" Hissed Anna. "She's not any more!"
"So she'll come crawling back." Said Harry trying to push past her.
"No she wont!" Snapped Anna angrily. "I know my sister better than you Harry!"
"Whatever," groaned Harry, if he didn't move he would be late for Herbology.
"She really likes you!" Moaned Anna sounding frustrated. It was very confusing for Harry, having to speak to someone who appeared to not even be there.
"No she doesn't!" Snapped Harry. "Get out of my way Anna, I'll be late!"
"But she is important to you isn't she?" Anna now sounded on the verge of tears. Maybe it ran in her family.
"JUST MOVE!" Yelled Harry. Most of the great hall turned to stare at him. Harry suddenly realised what it would look like from their point of view. Harry Potter shouting at thin air. The Slytherins were howling with laughter, while the Gryffindors frowned at him their eyes searching round him looking for the source of his outburst. "Now look what you've done!" He hissed angrily but when there was no longer anything to block him when he stood up. She had gone.
He explained to Ron and Hermione what had happened, in Herbology, as he tried with fail to water a howling Eugopuff. The small plant had spread itself across the pot to prevent the soil from becoming damp. It was acting like an umbrella. "I'm only trying to help." He muttered at the baby Eugopuff as it remained stubbornly stretched across the pot.
"Speaking to yourself again are you Potter?" Malfoy has just arrived with Piers. "Or maybe you're hallucinating?"
"Don't waste your breath." muttered Piers coolly, hand darting to his greasy hair. "We all know the tragic story of dear Harry Potter. Misunderstood, trapped in his own world, no one - "
But Hermione had stood up, looking very angry. "You think you're so great!" She snapped at Piers. "I'm amazed you've got any hair left at all!" She ran her fingers through her hair in imitation of Pierres. "Isn't it about time you two found a new target?"
Malfoy made a 'don't try messing with me face' but Piers didn't seem disturbed. "Who's this Draco?" He asked scathingly. "Potter's girlfriend?" He raised an eyebrow and Malfoy laughed.
Before any of them could retaliate however, Professor Sprout came over looking irritated. "You're not in this class boys. Back to your lessons!" So they stalked off shooting nasty looks back at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "This plant needs watering!" Professor Sprout snapped at Harry. "It's completely dry! They drink like camels you know!" She returned to the teachers desk leaving Harry angrily pouring still more water on the Eugopuff which just as stubbornly as ever, stretched across the soil so that every single drop of water fell on it's hard green stomach.
Harry hadn't seen anything of Anna the next week and it was only in Transfiguration, when Hermione mentioned it. They were supposed to be turning pencils into slugs. Hermione was the only one in the class entirely successful. Harry's slug was pointy and had a long black lead sticking out of it, but Ron's slug was still a pencil that was frothing and starting to move. "I suppose it's a bit darker than it was," Ron said as he watched the pencil slide over his Transfiguration textbook, leaving a slimy trail behind.
"Yes, maybe." Said Harry thoughtfully, prodding his pointy slug and trying to make it move.
"It's Cho isn't it?" Said Hermione watching her own slug slide about in the plastic container she had put it in.
"Sort of," said Harry his own slug now rolling around uncontrollably. He put out a hand to stop it. A few bubbles issued from the stick of lead protruding from where Harry supposed was its mouth. "And her sister. I've not seen her since."
"Well she's probably busy," said Hermione, but Harry could tell she wasn't being truthful.
The bell rang and they headed to the Defence against the Dark arts classroom to find Snape at the teacher's desk. "Come on!" He snapped at them as they slowly filtered in. When everyone was seated, Snape began the lesson. "Now, I believe you have studied the Custodis spell. I also believe it wasn't taught properly as you still need practise."
"It was taught brilliantly!" Yelled Dean Thomas.
"Yeah!" Agreed Harry without thinking. "Professor Lovegood's a great teacher!"
"Really?" Hissed Snape cold black eyes fixed on Harry. "A great teacher? I don't think so somehow."
"What do you mean?" Blurted out Dean Thomas. Snape ignored him.
"I have had reasons before now to believe that this class has had very low methods of judging people on what they really are like. Post editor of that book of rubbish! Quibbler wasn't it."
"The quibbler's not a book of rubbish." Came an angry voice from the doorway. Everyone turned to see none other than Luna Lovegood reflected there. "It's a magazine of important stories people want to know!"
"Miss Lovegood! Why are you disrupting my class? Why aren't you in your own lesson?" Snape eyed her angrily.
"Why aren't you in your own lesson?" Luna replied coolly in a voice quite unlike her usual dreamy tones. "It says in the entrance hall notices that you're supposed to be in the staff room revising boggarts." Sure enough, behind Luna, Harry could see a gaggle of fifth years waiting for their lesson and behind them was none other than Professor Lovegood. He strode into the classroom and turned to look at Snape.
"I believe I am teaching here Severus." He said Coldly eyeing Snape with dislike.
"You!" Snapped Snape, "but I'm taking your class! You're not here!"
"I think you'll find I am here Severus." Said Professor Lovegood. This certain class is currently in my hands."
"I'll be speaking to Dumbledore about this!" Snapped Snape leaving the room and pushing past Luna who was still taking up most of the doorway. His class followed him up to the staff room where there was obviously another boggart.
Five minutes later, Harry was standing face to what he thought was face with a boggart. "Ridikulus!" He roared eyeing Snape who had his arms folded and was looking as though he'd rather be weeding the Hogwarts grounds than teaching the Gryffindor sixth years how to tackle boggarts. Harry drew his eyes back to the boggart that had just transformed into a dementor. "Ridikulus!" He shouted again but the dementor remained. Everything had gone cold. Even Snape was beginning to look nervous. But still, Harry's spell hadn't worked. Then, he did the only thing left to do. Without pondering over it, he raised his wand, drew his mind to think about his last Christmas at Grimmauld Place and yelled, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A vast white stag erupted from his wand. It charged the dementor away which at once became a boggart again, and then the stag vanished. The room at once changed back to normal. The light went on, the students began exchanging looks and Snape's face had turned back to its usual icy glare.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Potter!" Snapped Snape. "I asked for you to tackle the boggart not to give the class a heroic show of bravery!"
"But the spell wouldn't work!" Said Harry indignantly.
"You are in this class Potter," Snape said as though the rest of the gaping Gryffindors weren't there, "to learn. Not to practise spells not even taught to you in lessons. Now sit down." Grudgingly Harry retreated back to Ron and Hermione who were looking equally outraged. What next? Harry thought to himself as they left the Staff room and he, Ron and Hermione headed towards the Gryffindor common room.