Hey everybody! First of all, I want to say now- this is my first ever fic, so bear with me! Also, any and all advise, critique or plot ideas are welcome. Just click the little blue button at the bottom! Click it!! Ok... anyway I really hope you enjoy this, if you review I'll put the next chapter out faster, and as this is a more explanatory chapter, the next will be more fun!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter! I only own the plot in this story, so don't sue me!

HEALING HANDS

Chapter One: The Beginning

The coldest day of winter so far was drawing to a close, and the Gryffindor and Slytherin 6th year students of Hogwarts were hurrying back into the warmth of the castle. They had just ended their Care of Magical Creatures class. Three, however, lagged behind.

"I'll kill that Malfoy prat!" Ron. "The stupid git, going on about Hagrid-"

"Yes, we know Ron.: sighed Hermione. "We were there too, you know. He's just blowing off steam because of his father being in Azkaban."

Harry, the third member of the party, stayed silent. It was really his fault that Malfoy's father was locked up- not that he felt bad, Malfoy Sr. was a Death Eater, and had tried to kill him last year in the Department of Mysteries. But still. No one should have to lose their father. Or godfather... Harry thought. He didn't have time to linger on Sirius, however-

"We've got to get to Life Skills class!" cried Hermione. "We'll be late, again!

The thought of being late to McGonagall's class made all of them pick up the pace.

Starting in 6th year, all students had to take Life Skill, taught by his or her Head of House. And, as the name implied, it was all about living on your own. So far they had covered basic plumbing spells, building your own home from scratch, and traditional wizard marriages (both Ron and Hermione had avoided each other at least a week after that- it was obvious these days how much they were really in love.) Many of the students were afraid of the class, it was always a mystery as to what was going to happen.

In the end, Harry, Ron and Hermione just made it to class on time, though they still received a rather annoyed glare form McGonagall.

"Today we'll be starting a new unit, Early Childhood Education-" the room erupted with groans from the boys and giggling and tittering from the girls.

"We get to study babies!" squealed Lavender.

"Silence!" snapped the professor. The students immediately hushed.

"There is no need to be so dramatic! This is a highly involved unit, and it will be based primarily on a project all 6th years participate in. All of you-" she glowered at the boys, who looked horrified "- will receive your own genetically adapted pseudo child. You will then take care of it for 2 months. The projects have accelerated growth rates, so after the time you take care of it the project should be around 5 years old. If you treat your project badly, you fail and will be kicked out of my class. All records of the project will be kept in these blank journals-" she held up a thick, plain black book, "-and we will now proceed to learn about how to take care of a baby. Mr. Longbottom, can you tell me..." Harry inwardly groaned and slumped down in his seat. He did not want to take care of a baby, he couldn't even take care of the people he loved.

Sirius...

After class both Ron and Harry walked out with rather dazed expressions.

"Blimey!" Ron said weakly. Just then Ginny ran up to the pair.

"Hey guys!" she said cheerfully. Then, noticing the looks on their faces,

"What's wrong?"

"Gin, you wouldn't believe what Professor McGonagall is making us do!" moaned Harry. "We have to take care of these baby things, and they do every thing real babies do, and we can't even use magic to- to-" Harry broke off, shuddering at the very idea of changing a nappy. Ron, in fact, looked rather ill.

"It's horrible, Ginny, and all the girls are back in the classroom, all excited about it." He added darkly, "Even Hermione."

Ginny, far from being sympathetic, seemed to agree with "the giddy gits" as Ron put it, and told him so to his face.

"Don't worry, Ron" she laughed, "You never know- it might be fun!"

Harry and Ron watched her flounce off down the corridor.

"She's nutters." Ron growled. Harry didn't respond, he was still thinking of Ginny's long, red mane floating out from behind her...