Chapter Eight*~~
Harry looked at his schedule. He had Charms, Transfiguration, and double Potions on Mondays. Harry groaned and whacked his head on the table. He had found his schedule in the Common Room. It was early, four to be exact. Harry grabbed his robes and bag and went to the DA Room. He opened the door for the first time and grinned. It was perfect.
He began his training exercises. Before he knew it, he had to change and go eat. When he entered the Great Hall he plunked down next to Ginny. Harry watched the twins and Sandra walk in. They had one other roommate, Iris. She was sitting with Peter, a male first year Gryffindor.
Ron and Hermione were presently engaged in a kiss. Harry threw a roll at them and they parted, Hermione glaring at him. "Sorry?" he offered. Kigali hit him on the back of the head as she passed. Harry shot a spark at her when she sat down.
"Tut, tut, Mr. Potter," Mel said. Harry glared at her. She grinned and waved as she went up to her seat at the Head Table.
"Mel could have told us," grumbled Ron.
"No duh," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
"That's Mel for you," Harry said with a shrug. "Her and those Marauders like their surprises."
"Yeah like one of them isn't a murderer and just decided to break my leg for sport," Ron said helpfully. Kigali and Mitra snorted from their seats. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Ashisa jindai! Oosta mehayra!" Harry yelled to them.
'You know you're proud!' they thought loudly. Harry returned their thought. 'DON'T THINK SO GOD DAMNED LOUD!' They blew raspberries at him.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your immaturity," Snape snapped. Some time he had gotten behind them. Mel walked down and glared at him.
"Ten points from Slytherin!"
"For what?!" cried Snape.
"Because you forgot to wash your hair," she said icily. Snape glared. Harry sighed dramatically. Snape turned sharply to him.
"What is it Potter?"
"Here I thought we'd come to a truce," he said sadly. Snape rolled his eyes.
"Keep this infernal woman away from me and we have!"
"Oh, Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!" Harry called. She rolled her eyes.
"As long as he doesn't grease me up you're safe, Mini Prongs."
"Actually," Hermione said. "It's Prongs Jr." Ron and Harry gaped at her.
"Talking back to a teacher?" said Ron feverishly.
"Aren't you proud?" she asked innocently.
"No, I'm turned on." This time it was Ginny who had sent the flying bread. Ron glared at her and she gave her most innocent smile. Hermione laughed and pulled Ron up from the table.
"Come on," she said happily. "We have ten minutes until class. Let's find a nice broom closet."
"EW!" Harry and Ginny said together. Hermione and Ron pointedly ignored them and made their way out of the hall.
"Could they be more in love?" asked Ginny disgustedly.
"Don't tell me you have something against love?"
"Only when I'm not the one in it," Ginny said softly. Harry was taken by surprise with the rawness of her voice, as though she were revealing her soul. They were pretty much safe to talk as any extra attention was geared towards discussion of Mitra and Kigali .
"What do you mean?" ventured Harry. Ginny sighed.
"Nothing."
"It's okay to tell me."
"I- well... seeing Ron and Hermione this summer just made me realize how rare it is to find something like that. I mean, come on! It's obvious that even though they've been going out for all of three months, they were made for each other. And they always have their friendship there, too."
She studied her nail. Harry reached his hand across the table and covered hers with his. He felt his pulse speeding. "Someday, you will find it too, Ginny. Someday, you will." She looked up at Harry. For a moment the whole world seemed to revolve around them.
A loud burst of laughter form Mitra jolted them to reality and Harry removed his hand from Ginny's.
"I should go find the love birds. We don't want to miss Charms," Harry said. Ginny nodded.
"You all have the same classes?" asked Ginny.
"No, Hermione has more. Ron and I no longer have two selected classes. We've dropped Divination. We all have N.E.W.T. classes in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures. Hermione's the only one of us with History of Magic. Lucky her."
"You sound so happy for her," Ginny joked. "I'm just worried about O.W.Ls."
"We'll help you study," Harry reassured her. Then the two got up and went their separate ways.
Soon the three friends were seated in Charms. The rest of the Gryffindors were all in the class. They had N.E.W.T. Charms with the Ravenclaws as there were so many students in the class. All their year Rvaenclaws were in Charms as well.
"All of you have chosen to continue your Charms education to this level. I want to tell you that it will not be much different than before. However, I believe you will be my most outstanding class this year and I hope I can give you more difficult work to do. I should think you'll handle it with extreme grace."
And right away they went headlong into the work. They reviewed all the Charms they had learned last year. "Now, I want all of you to show the class your favorite charm. Whether or not it has been taught in this class so far doesn't matter."
Hermione did a complicated Charm only Harry and Flitwick knew. It made quills float around and then explode with color like firecrackers before the sparks became the quill again.
Ron selected wingardium leviosa which caused laughter from Hermione and Harry. Ron cracked a grin. They were all remembering the troll.
Harry smiled evilly when he went to the front of the room. "Professor, I need someone else to do this charm with."
"Alright, Hermione, please come up here." Hermione obliged and gave Harry a warning look.
He drew his wand in streaks over her head. Hermione held still, though very nervous. "Ingrata hintor." Suddenly in the places where he had dragged his wand down, Hermione's brown hair there was blue streaks. She shrieked.
"POTTER!" Harry laughed and said a few more spells. Instantly her hair went flat and shiny, like it had at the Yule Ball. It was darker that way and looked nice with the blue streaks. She glared at Harry.
"You look good!" he said defensively.
"Who taught you that?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"A friend. Her name's Kilala."
"Nice charm that one. Don't see it that often anymore. Last I saw it was when James- your father- gave Lily green-yellow hair. Doesn't wear off for two months, does it?"
"Nope," Harry said happily. "I'd been hoping you'd pick Ron but Hermione suffices." Hermione kicked him in the shin before she took her seat. Harry laughed and resumed his seat as well.
"Alright then, all of you will need to open your books to page fifty- six. We'll be starting the year by learning the very few spells we know of form the Elvin Realm. You've all generated immense curiosity towards the elves that now attend our school. This is the charm called Pipendiarus Charm- yes, Harry?"
"No offense, sir, but it's pronounced Pip-anne-dar-us. It changes the spell a little."
"Well, then, I guess you'll be learning the Pipendiarus Charm."
After Charms they trooped to Transfiguration. Ginny waved to them as she, Luna, and Collin all headed to Care of Magical Creatures.
McGonagall watched them take their seats. They were the first ones there. Dean was the only other Gryffindor in the class. There was Justin and Susan from Hufflepuff, Grace, Frank, and Jessica from Ravenclaw, and Sylvia, Kendrix, Malfoy, and Pansy from Slytherin. Soon they were all seated in the room. Harry felt very dismayed he would be forced to have Draco Malfoy in his Transfiguration class, one that had formerly been ferret-free.
"You are the only students to continue with Transfiguration. I'd say you should feel honored but as long as you get a good enough O.W.L. you are allowed to be in this class. However, I expect top behavior and all houses to get along. Understood Malfoy, Potter?"
Harry opened his mouth to say the formal Elvin response before biting his tongue to stop himself. This caused him to begin using some very colorful Elvin language. "Shiku! Migrata shiku rehol. Ushta rehol shiku!"
"Professor, I think Potter's disturbed!" Malfoy called.
"I bit my lip," Harry snapped peevishly. After a moment he settled down. "Sorry, Professor. I'll be nice to Draconias."
"How. the hell. did you. know. my. first name."
"Lucky guess?" Malfoy glared. Harry smiled innocently. Obviously he had used his telepathy to find out.
"Alright, we'll be going more in depth about animagi. I am hoping to get one other than myself to come in. At the moment, I have an offer." Harry groaned with Ron and Hermione. They knew exactly who she was talking about. However, McGonagall ignored them. "Now, he may be here on Friday, your next lesson. I want no one to be alarmed-"
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!" Ron fell off of his chair. Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry was shaking with laughter. McGonagall glared. Ron regained control and sat down. "Sorry. Just you know. Him. Frightening. He's too immature."
"You're one to talk," muttered Hermione.
"As I was saying," McGonagall said briskly. "Sirius Black is the animagi I am speaking of. Of course, Professor Lupin will be here as well." Harry perked up, excited. He had forgotten what he had intended to do for Remus. Something that may make him a little less tired around the full moon, to say the least.
**
Harry walked along silently, listening to Ron and Hermione's bickering. This time it was about the best spell to wash dishes. Ron insisted the one Harry had taught was easiest but Hermione said that the second one he had taught them, this one with their wands, was more efficient.
'Nothing beats listening to this. Except maybe Ginny's voice. And her laugh. Her laugh is amazing. Dammit! I have to stop thinking about her!' Harry was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice that he was sitting down next to the same girl as he had been thinking about.
It was lunch time.
"Hey, Harry," Ginny said calmly.
"Hello!" he said brightly. He made himself tear his eyes away from the cotton that was stretched across her chest. He shook his head. He glanced around to make sure that Kigali and Mitra wouldn't have been there to notice. Presently they were just entering the hall.
'Thank Michi!' Harry ate silently, something tugging at his stomach. He shook it off when Ginny stood up and her thigh brushed him. It sent lightning through him. She didn't seem to notice.
"Hermione, you coming to the library?" she asked.
"Yup. You little boys tagging along?" Hermione asked her best friends. Ron and Harry stood up, each grabbing an apple. They all headed off, the boys chomping noisily.
"Put a silencing charm on your mouth Ron," Ginny advised. He threw his apple core at her head. Absently, Harry turned it to vapor. Ron looked sideways at Harry. When they reached the library Harry took a slip of paper to the Madame Pince. Melody had given them a permanent pass to the restricted section.
"Alright," Madame Pince said, writing down their names on the list of students who were allowed in the restriction section. They trooped back there and Hermione and Ginny pulled out muggle novels, sinking into the large, circular bowl chairs that seemed tipped sideways. Harry saw Ron pull out a quidditch magazine just as Harry rounded the corner.
He began skimming titles. He halted, finding one reading 'Elven Slaughter Wars.' His heart pounded. He pulled it off of the shelf and flipped through it. He sigh of relief escaped him as he saw that the last one recorded was one eighty years prior to his stay.
After replacing it, Harry found the book he had been looking for. 'Animagi, Your Guide.' He knew very well how to change to an animal. Several in fact. But this way he could teach Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. He slipped it into his bag and then grabbed another large book entitled 'Charms That Go Wrong.' Then he settled back by his friends to read.
Hermione made sure none of her companions saw her slip a small, thick, old, leather bound book into her other one. She carefully opened it and read. Before long, Ron had stood up and was walking towards her. She quickly shut the books and slid them into her bag.
"Have fun with Snape," Ginny said as they parted in the corridor.
"Try no to fall asleep with Binns," Hermione said, grinning. Harry and Ron exchanged surprised looks. Hermione sure had changed. "What?"
"You seem more relaxed than ever before," Harry said.
"Well, I discovered that sometimes breaking the rules is good. I'm sick of sitting in the stands. It's time I hopped on my broom and tossed the Quaffle around."
"Nice quidditch metaphor," Ron praised.
"It's not entirely a metaphor," Hermione said, blushing and looking away.
"So, you're going to go for chaser?" asked Harry brightly. Hermione nodded. They were now only a few moment form Snape's dungeon.
"I'm so proud," boasted Ron. He kissed her.
"We don't need that display," drawled Malfoy. Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione had to put her hand on his hand to keep him from performing Elven magic.
"Just because you can't get Pansy to kiss you doesn't give you the liberty of taking it out on other people," Harry snapped.
"You're jealous Potter, aren't you?" Malfoy asked, grinning madly.
"Yeah, I am jealous of what they have, but I can admit it. You, on the other hand, cover it up by acting nasty. I know very well the only reason you're a mean bastard is because you wish that you had a friendship with someone like the one us three share. That's what makes you different from us, really. You can't face your feelings. Trust me, that's not going to make anything good happen."
At this, Snape opened the door and Harry walked swiftly in, taking a seat at the front of the room. Hermione and Ron sat next to him, as usual. They were followed by Malfoy, the only Slytherin. There was also Justin and Ernie from Hufflepuff and Terry Boot and Susan Bones of Ravenclaw.
"Welcome to N.E.W.T. Potions. Sadly, my greatest number of students are from Gryffindor. However, this makes no real difference. There are only eight of you remaining in the study of potions. I don't care why and I don't care for excuses. This year, you're no longer babies. I have big plans, whether you end up in them or not. I'm going to treat you like adults, so ALL of you act like it, no matter WHAT influences you had this summer."
Harry rolled his eyes. So Snape was still sour about the prank Remus and Sirius had pulled on him. Snape had showed up to teach some Occlumency and Remus and Sirius had turned him into a walking Gryffindor supporter. His skin was painted and his hair and robes died.
"Now then, we're getting started right away. I want you in groups of two. I'm assigning your partners, no changing. After this potion you'll be switched. After a while, I'll let you choose. Oh, and because I am treating you like adults I will no longer use last names, however you must still show me proper respect. I am and always will be Professor Snape. Never Severus. Understood? Good."
Harry used his excellent self control to bite down his comment. Harry had learned that trust was a gift rarely given, politeness was a dutiful courtesy, but respect was something you had to earn, tooth and nail. But Harry respected his teacher, despite their differences.
"Justin-Ron, Hermione-Susan-this way your girlish antics are kept in one spot, Terry-Ernie, Harry-Draco. Now, move to sit with your partner. You're making a simple potion to start with. It's Presentaty Serum, a very simple truth potion, wearing off in five minutes and only working for surface secrets. Work."
Harry stood calmly and walked to the back where Malfoy was seated. He sat down next to him. "Did you find the directions in the book?" he asked.
"Yes. Here." Malfoy pointed to the front pages of their new potions book. Harry could feel Snape's eye son him, and he knew Snape knew he knew. (confused?)
"Right, well, lets get to it. You take the top ingredients, I'll take the bottom," suggested Harry. Malfoy nodded and they started working. 'What are you up to, Snape?' he thought to himself. He began cutting ginger roots absent mindedly.
At the end of the class time, they had all finished. "Very nice. Good work. Fill three vials. Fill them quickly, we have little time left." Harry and Malfoy quickly did as told. Soon they were ready.
"Now then, all of you give me the potions. One at a time you'll take someone else's to see if it worked," Snape announced. Harry groaned.
"Great," Malfoy muttered.
"Hermione. You first." She walked up and took a vial. She gulped it down and got a dazed look. "What is one secret about yourself?" Harry felt his muscles tighten.
"I was arrested during my holiday in America the summer before Hogwarts." Ron and Harry gaped.
"Why?" asked Snape, intrigued.
"I punched the mayor of Chericuda, Florida and gave him a huge black eye."
"Hermione, go sit down. Justin. What is a secret about you?"
"My mother is biologically my aunt."
"Sit. Susan. Same question."
"I've been kissed by uncle who was arrested for rape."
"Be seated. Ernie. Same question."
"I can use a lance and once, I nearly killed my cousin."
"Go sit down. Terry, same question."
"My father is also my brother."
"Sit. Ron, same question."
"I've seen Kreacher." Harry stared. Then there was a loud exploding sound. All the torches burned ice blue instead of fire colors. Hermione chewed her lip. The fire began drifting from the torches towards Harry. He forced himself to regain control and remained seated. A blue spark hit Ron before turning normal again. He shook his head and stared guiltily at the ground. "Sorry, Remus made me swear not to tell you. We let him go but not until this summer, right before you came did Remus make sure he was gone."
Harry nodded calmly. He knew that as soon as class was over he'd have to go burn off his anger magic. It pulsed in his veins.
"Sit down. Draco, come here. Same question."
"I had to save my mother or else my father would have killed her this summer." Snape stepped backwards and looked at the vial. It was one of Harry and Malfoy's.
"Harry, how much crester powder is in here?"
"Three pinches. Malfoy added it at the right part, why?"
"It was supposed to be one pinch. You made yours different. It seems that Malfoy also stirred the opposite way he was supposed to and switched the order of the madle roots and the spidren hair."
"Shiku," he breathed.
"That's all that is left. You made a Prestilasi Serum, making you tell a deep secret. You'll have to take it as well." Numbly Harry nodded. "Malfoy must be preoccupied with this burden of his."
"Right." Harry walked up and took it. Before though, he made sure that only people who should, would remember his answer or that of Malfoy's.
"You know the question."
"I am the key to the power of the Evlin Realm. I played a large part in their history and will in their future. I am a Seer of elf breed."
Harry next remembered walking into supper after unknowingly going out to burn off his magic in the quidditch stadium with some complex exercises. He sat down next to Ginny as usual. The elf twins looked worried partway through the meal and then Harry felt it too.
Quickly he pulled his crystal out of his robes. The jewel burned a powdery blue. His throat caught. Suddenly a loud horn sounded through the hall. Harry knew what was coming and, like the twins, stood up, grave faced.
Harry looked at his schedule. He had Charms, Transfiguration, and double Potions on Mondays. Harry groaned and whacked his head on the table. He had found his schedule in the Common Room. It was early, four to be exact. Harry grabbed his robes and bag and went to the DA Room. He opened the door for the first time and grinned. It was perfect.
He began his training exercises. Before he knew it, he had to change and go eat. When he entered the Great Hall he plunked down next to Ginny. Harry watched the twins and Sandra walk in. They had one other roommate, Iris. She was sitting with Peter, a male first year Gryffindor.
Ron and Hermione were presently engaged in a kiss. Harry threw a roll at them and they parted, Hermione glaring at him. "Sorry?" he offered. Kigali hit him on the back of the head as she passed. Harry shot a spark at her when she sat down.
"Tut, tut, Mr. Potter," Mel said. Harry glared at her. She grinned and waved as she went up to her seat at the Head Table.
"Mel could have told us," grumbled Ron.
"No duh," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
"That's Mel for you," Harry said with a shrug. "Her and those Marauders like their surprises."
"Yeah like one of them isn't a murderer and just decided to break my leg for sport," Ron said helpfully. Kigali and Mitra snorted from their seats. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Ashisa jindai! Oosta mehayra!" Harry yelled to them.
'You know you're proud!' they thought loudly. Harry returned their thought. 'DON'T THINK SO GOD DAMNED LOUD!' They blew raspberries at him.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your immaturity," Snape snapped. Some time he had gotten behind them. Mel walked down and glared at him.
"Ten points from Slytherin!"
"For what?!" cried Snape.
"Because you forgot to wash your hair," she said icily. Snape glared. Harry sighed dramatically. Snape turned sharply to him.
"What is it Potter?"
"Here I thought we'd come to a truce," he said sadly. Snape rolled his eyes.
"Keep this infernal woman away from me and we have!"
"Oh, Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!" Harry called. She rolled her eyes.
"As long as he doesn't grease me up you're safe, Mini Prongs."
"Actually," Hermione said. "It's Prongs Jr." Ron and Harry gaped at her.
"Talking back to a teacher?" said Ron feverishly.
"Aren't you proud?" she asked innocently.
"No, I'm turned on." This time it was Ginny who had sent the flying bread. Ron glared at her and she gave her most innocent smile. Hermione laughed and pulled Ron up from the table.
"Come on," she said happily. "We have ten minutes until class. Let's find a nice broom closet."
"EW!" Harry and Ginny said together. Hermione and Ron pointedly ignored them and made their way out of the hall.
"Could they be more in love?" asked Ginny disgustedly.
"Don't tell me you have something against love?"
"Only when I'm not the one in it," Ginny said softly. Harry was taken by surprise with the rawness of her voice, as though she were revealing her soul. They were pretty much safe to talk as any extra attention was geared towards discussion of Mitra and Kigali .
"What do you mean?" ventured Harry. Ginny sighed.
"Nothing."
"It's okay to tell me."
"I- well... seeing Ron and Hermione this summer just made me realize how rare it is to find something like that. I mean, come on! It's obvious that even though they've been going out for all of three months, they were made for each other. And they always have their friendship there, too."
She studied her nail. Harry reached his hand across the table and covered hers with his. He felt his pulse speeding. "Someday, you will find it too, Ginny. Someday, you will." She looked up at Harry. For a moment the whole world seemed to revolve around them.
A loud burst of laughter form Mitra jolted them to reality and Harry removed his hand from Ginny's.
"I should go find the love birds. We don't want to miss Charms," Harry said. Ginny nodded.
"You all have the same classes?" asked Ginny.
"No, Hermione has more. Ron and I no longer have two selected classes. We've dropped Divination. We all have N.E.W.T. classes in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures. Hermione's the only one of us with History of Magic. Lucky her."
"You sound so happy for her," Ginny joked. "I'm just worried about O.W.Ls."
"We'll help you study," Harry reassured her. Then the two got up and went their separate ways.
Soon the three friends were seated in Charms. The rest of the Gryffindors were all in the class. They had N.E.W.T. Charms with the Ravenclaws as there were so many students in the class. All their year Rvaenclaws were in Charms as well.
"All of you have chosen to continue your Charms education to this level. I want to tell you that it will not be much different than before. However, I believe you will be my most outstanding class this year and I hope I can give you more difficult work to do. I should think you'll handle it with extreme grace."
And right away they went headlong into the work. They reviewed all the Charms they had learned last year. "Now, I want all of you to show the class your favorite charm. Whether or not it has been taught in this class so far doesn't matter."
Hermione did a complicated Charm only Harry and Flitwick knew. It made quills float around and then explode with color like firecrackers before the sparks became the quill again.
Ron selected wingardium leviosa which caused laughter from Hermione and Harry. Ron cracked a grin. They were all remembering the troll.
Harry smiled evilly when he went to the front of the room. "Professor, I need someone else to do this charm with."
"Alright, Hermione, please come up here." Hermione obliged and gave Harry a warning look.
He drew his wand in streaks over her head. Hermione held still, though very nervous. "Ingrata hintor." Suddenly in the places where he had dragged his wand down, Hermione's brown hair there was blue streaks. She shrieked.
"POTTER!" Harry laughed and said a few more spells. Instantly her hair went flat and shiny, like it had at the Yule Ball. It was darker that way and looked nice with the blue streaks. She glared at Harry.
"You look good!" he said defensively.
"Who taught you that?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"A friend. Her name's Kilala."
"Nice charm that one. Don't see it that often anymore. Last I saw it was when James- your father- gave Lily green-yellow hair. Doesn't wear off for two months, does it?"
"Nope," Harry said happily. "I'd been hoping you'd pick Ron but Hermione suffices." Hermione kicked him in the shin before she took her seat. Harry laughed and resumed his seat as well.
"Alright then, all of you will need to open your books to page fifty- six. We'll be starting the year by learning the very few spells we know of form the Elvin Realm. You've all generated immense curiosity towards the elves that now attend our school. This is the charm called Pipendiarus Charm- yes, Harry?"
"No offense, sir, but it's pronounced Pip-anne-dar-us. It changes the spell a little."
"Well, then, I guess you'll be learning the Pipendiarus Charm."
After Charms they trooped to Transfiguration. Ginny waved to them as she, Luna, and Collin all headed to Care of Magical Creatures.
McGonagall watched them take their seats. They were the first ones there. Dean was the only other Gryffindor in the class. There was Justin and Susan from Hufflepuff, Grace, Frank, and Jessica from Ravenclaw, and Sylvia, Kendrix, Malfoy, and Pansy from Slytherin. Soon they were all seated in the room. Harry felt very dismayed he would be forced to have Draco Malfoy in his Transfiguration class, one that had formerly been ferret-free.
"You are the only students to continue with Transfiguration. I'd say you should feel honored but as long as you get a good enough O.W.L. you are allowed to be in this class. However, I expect top behavior and all houses to get along. Understood Malfoy, Potter?"
Harry opened his mouth to say the formal Elvin response before biting his tongue to stop himself. This caused him to begin using some very colorful Elvin language. "Shiku! Migrata shiku rehol. Ushta rehol shiku!"
"Professor, I think Potter's disturbed!" Malfoy called.
"I bit my lip," Harry snapped peevishly. After a moment he settled down. "Sorry, Professor. I'll be nice to Draconias."
"How. the hell. did you. know. my. first name."
"Lucky guess?" Malfoy glared. Harry smiled innocently. Obviously he had used his telepathy to find out.
"Alright, we'll be going more in depth about animagi. I am hoping to get one other than myself to come in. At the moment, I have an offer." Harry groaned with Ron and Hermione. They knew exactly who she was talking about. However, McGonagall ignored them. "Now, he may be here on Friday, your next lesson. I want no one to be alarmed-"
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!" Ron fell off of his chair. Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry was shaking with laughter. McGonagall glared. Ron regained control and sat down. "Sorry. Just you know. Him. Frightening. He's too immature."
"You're one to talk," muttered Hermione.
"As I was saying," McGonagall said briskly. "Sirius Black is the animagi I am speaking of. Of course, Professor Lupin will be here as well." Harry perked up, excited. He had forgotten what he had intended to do for Remus. Something that may make him a little less tired around the full moon, to say the least.
**
Harry walked along silently, listening to Ron and Hermione's bickering. This time it was about the best spell to wash dishes. Ron insisted the one Harry had taught was easiest but Hermione said that the second one he had taught them, this one with their wands, was more efficient.
'Nothing beats listening to this. Except maybe Ginny's voice. And her laugh. Her laugh is amazing. Dammit! I have to stop thinking about her!' Harry was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice that he was sitting down next to the same girl as he had been thinking about.
It was lunch time.
"Hey, Harry," Ginny said calmly.
"Hello!" he said brightly. He made himself tear his eyes away from the cotton that was stretched across her chest. He shook his head. He glanced around to make sure that Kigali and Mitra wouldn't have been there to notice. Presently they were just entering the hall.
'Thank Michi!' Harry ate silently, something tugging at his stomach. He shook it off when Ginny stood up and her thigh brushed him. It sent lightning through him. She didn't seem to notice.
"Hermione, you coming to the library?" she asked.
"Yup. You little boys tagging along?" Hermione asked her best friends. Ron and Harry stood up, each grabbing an apple. They all headed off, the boys chomping noisily.
"Put a silencing charm on your mouth Ron," Ginny advised. He threw his apple core at her head. Absently, Harry turned it to vapor. Ron looked sideways at Harry. When they reached the library Harry took a slip of paper to the Madame Pince. Melody had given them a permanent pass to the restricted section.
"Alright," Madame Pince said, writing down their names on the list of students who were allowed in the restriction section. They trooped back there and Hermione and Ginny pulled out muggle novels, sinking into the large, circular bowl chairs that seemed tipped sideways. Harry saw Ron pull out a quidditch magazine just as Harry rounded the corner.
He began skimming titles. He halted, finding one reading 'Elven Slaughter Wars.' His heart pounded. He pulled it off of the shelf and flipped through it. He sigh of relief escaped him as he saw that the last one recorded was one eighty years prior to his stay.
After replacing it, Harry found the book he had been looking for. 'Animagi, Your Guide.' He knew very well how to change to an animal. Several in fact. But this way he could teach Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. He slipped it into his bag and then grabbed another large book entitled 'Charms That Go Wrong.' Then he settled back by his friends to read.
Hermione made sure none of her companions saw her slip a small, thick, old, leather bound book into her other one. She carefully opened it and read. Before long, Ron had stood up and was walking towards her. She quickly shut the books and slid them into her bag.
"Have fun with Snape," Ginny said as they parted in the corridor.
"Try no to fall asleep with Binns," Hermione said, grinning. Harry and Ron exchanged surprised looks. Hermione sure had changed. "What?"
"You seem more relaxed than ever before," Harry said.
"Well, I discovered that sometimes breaking the rules is good. I'm sick of sitting in the stands. It's time I hopped on my broom and tossed the Quaffle around."
"Nice quidditch metaphor," Ron praised.
"It's not entirely a metaphor," Hermione said, blushing and looking away.
"So, you're going to go for chaser?" asked Harry brightly. Hermione nodded. They were now only a few moment form Snape's dungeon.
"I'm so proud," boasted Ron. He kissed her.
"We don't need that display," drawled Malfoy. Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione had to put her hand on his hand to keep him from performing Elven magic.
"Just because you can't get Pansy to kiss you doesn't give you the liberty of taking it out on other people," Harry snapped.
"You're jealous Potter, aren't you?" Malfoy asked, grinning madly.
"Yeah, I am jealous of what they have, but I can admit it. You, on the other hand, cover it up by acting nasty. I know very well the only reason you're a mean bastard is because you wish that you had a friendship with someone like the one us three share. That's what makes you different from us, really. You can't face your feelings. Trust me, that's not going to make anything good happen."
At this, Snape opened the door and Harry walked swiftly in, taking a seat at the front of the room. Hermione and Ron sat next to him, as usual. They were followed by Malfoy, the only Slytherin. There was also Justin and Ernie from Hufflepuff and Terry Boot and Susan Bones of Ravenclaw.
"Welcome to N.E.W.T. Potions. Sadly, my greatest number of students are from Gryffindor. However, this makes no real difference. There are only eight of you remaining in the study of potions. I don't care why and I don't care for excuses. This year, you're no longer babies. I have big plans, whether you end up in them or not. I'm going to treat you like adults, so ALL of you act like it, no matter WHAT influences you had this summer."
Harry rolled his eyes. So Snape was still sour about the prank Remus and Sirius had pulled on him. Snape had showed up to teach some Occlumency and Remus and Sirius had turned him into a walking Gryffindor supporter. His skin was painted and his hair and robes died.
"Now then, we're getting started right away. I want you in groups of two. I'm assigning your partners, no changing. After this potion you'll be switched. After a while, I'll let you choose. Oh, and because I am treating you like adults I will no longer use last names, however you must still show me proper respect. I am and always will be Professor Snape. Never Severus. Understood? Good."
Harry used his excellent self control to bite down his comment. Harry had learned that trust was a gift rarely given, politeness was a dutiful courtesy, but respect was something you had to earn, tooth and nail. But Harry respected his teacher, despite their differences.
"Justin-Ron, Hermione-Susan-this way your girlish antics are kept in one spot, Terry-Ernie, Harry-Draco. Now, move to sit with your partner. You're making a simple potion to start with. It's Presentaty Serum, a very simple truth potion, wearing off in five minutes and only working for surface secrets. Work."
Harry stood calmly and walked to the back where Malfoy was seated. He sat down next to him. "Did you find the directions in the book?" he asked.
"Yes. Here." Malfoy pointed to the front pages of their new potions book. Harry could feel Snape's eye son him, and he knew Snape knew he knew. (confused?)
"Right, well, lets get to it. You take the top ingredients, I'll take the bottom," suggested Harry. Malfoy nodded and they started working. 'What are you up to, Snape?' he thought to himself. He began cutting ginger roots absent mindedly.
At the end of the class time, they had all finished. "Very nice. Good work. Fill three vials. Fill them quickly, we have little time left." Harry and Malfoy quickly did as told. Soon they were ready.
"Now then, all of you give me the potions. One at a time you'll take someone else's to see if it worked," Snape announced. Harry groaned.
"Great," Malfoy muttered.
"Hermione. You first." She walked up and took a vial. She gulped it down and got a dazed look. "What is one secret about yourself?" Harry felt his muscles tighten.
"I was arrested during my holiday in America the summer before Hogwarts." Ron and Harry gaped.
"Why?" asked Snape, intrigued.
"I punched the mayor of Chericuda, Florida and gave him a huge black eye."
"Hermione, go sit down. Justin. What is a secret about you?"
"My mother is biologically my aunt."
"Sit. Susan. Same question."
"I've been kissed by uncle who was arrested for rape."
"Be seated. Ernie. Same question."
"I can use a lance and once, I nearly killed my cousin."
"Go sit down. Terry, same question."
"My father is also my brother."
"Sit. Ron, same question."
"I've seen Kreacher." Harry stared. Then there was a loud exploding sound. All the torches burned ice blue instead of fire colors. Hermione chewed her lip. The fire began drifting from the torches towards Harry. He forced himself to regain control and remained seated. A blue spark hit Ron before turning normal again. He shook his head and stared guiltily at the ground. "Sorry, Remus made me swear not to tell you. We let him go but not until this summer, right before you came did Remus make sure he was gone."
Harry nodded calmly. He knew that as soon as class was over he'd have to go burn off his anger magic. It pulsed in his veins.
"Sit down. Draco, come here. Same question."
"I had to save my mother or else my father would have killed her this summer." Snape stepped backwards and looked at the vial. It was one of Harry and Malfoy's.
"Harry, how much crester powder is in here?"
"Three pinches. Malfoy added it at the right part, why?"
"It was supposed to be one pinch. You made yours different. It seems that Malfoy also stirred the opposite way he was supposed to and switched the order of the madle roots and the spidren hair."
"Shiku," he breathed.
"That's all that is left. You made a Prestilasi Serum, making you tell a deep secret. You'll have to take it as well." Numbly Harry nodded. "Malfoy must be preoccupied with this burden of his."
"Right." Harry walked up and took it. Before though, he made sure that only people who should, would remember his answer or that of Malfoy's.
"You know the question."
"I am the key to the power of the Evlin Realm. I played a large part in their history and will in their future. I am a Seer of elf breed."
Harry next remembered walking into supper after unknowingly going out to burn off his magic in the quidditch stadium with some complex exercises. He sat down next to Ginny as usual. The elf twins looked worried partway through the meal and then Harry felt it too.
Quickly he pulled his crystal out of his robes. The jewel burned a powdery blue. His throat caught. Suddenly a loud horn sounded through the hall. Harry knew what was coming and, like the twins, stood up, grave faced.