Title: Double Life
Rated: R content, eventually
Summery: Harry wake up one morning after fifth year with an unpleasant surprise. He may not be a Metamorphmagus, but he will be able to spy in Slytherin without them knowing who he is.
Notes: The story is a WIP usually updated every Monday. Sorry I went over one. I'll try not to do it again. The end of the previous chapter has been rewritten. I included it here. By the way, I hate separating sections with "SSSS", but my asterisks get stripped today for some reasons.
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The next morning, Harry witnessed how utterly alone Pansy Parkinson found herself. She had aliened her biggest ally and Fortuna Fitzgerald was suddenly at the top of the Slytherin social scale, next to Draco Malfoy.
On Fortuna's first Friday, he understood that it was due to an alliance formed between him and Draco. It was purely political but the idea was clear. They would not go against one another. They would help the other stay at the top of the social scale.
In exchange, Draco Malfoy was to tone down the overly racist comments, since they were apolitical. It was not necessary to change his mind but simply not tell it to people who would use it to hurt his social standing. He would help Fortuna join the social elite. Harry, on his side, would not express any political preference and would help Malfoy social standing as much as possible. It was at that time that he told Draco what he told the girls on the train, about foreign witches. It gave thought to Draco who even wrote to his father. At least, it sealed the understanding between Draco and Fortuna.
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Chapter 6 – DADA
Saturday was the day where they began their new Defence Against the Dark Arts courses. It reminded Harry that nothing had been said of those in Slytherin, but it did not matter at the moment. All of the sixth and seventh years from Gryffindor were in the transfiguration classroom at the same. It was still early and many students were not happy with professor McGonagall. After all, she chose to give the course all day on a day they were supposed to be free.
Harry thought it could be a good idea, depending on how she was going to present the subject. If she did theory all day, the whole class would sleep, except Hermione. When the teacher finally joined them, it was to express a very similar idea. The solution was easy. During the first hour, they would study dangerous creature. Then they were to do an hour on dangerous plant. The last hour of course before lunch, they would learn about a dangerous spell and how to protect themselves. After lunch, they would study the theory behind defensive spells before doing the last two hours practicing about those defensive spells.
They would work like that each week. Professor McGonagall no-nonsense attitude was very different than anything else they have seen in this class. When she actually got to teach them, Harry found her teaching adequate, but bellow that of professor Lupin. She kept reading notes, showing that she was not at ease with the subject as she was with transfiguration. It was still better than most of their previous teachers.
As the day progressed, Harry found that he was learning a lot, even if professor McGonagall appeared unsure of the subject and keep reading her notes. When they got to the spell casting part of the day, she was far more at ease. All in all, they would learn what they needed.
At the end, she gave homework to all of them that would normally be given in four or five courses. They had four essays to write, one on each subject they saw that day, and then they had to practice the spells they saw. A lot of complain was heard all over the classroom and even Hermione seemed to be panicking. Apparently, it would not fit her studying schedule for the NEWTs. That caused a small quarrel to start between Ron and her and they went out arguing and not looking at Harry, who was not with them.
After the teacher had dismissed them, Harry has gone to find her. He knew that such a course probably demanded a lot of research and even more in her case since she was not at ease with the subject. She already was teaching another subject and she probably would need to add hours to her day to do that research. He did want to offer her help, but he did not want to offend her. Deciding himself, he addressed her.
"Professor McGonagall? Err... That was better than all of our previous teachers, expect maybe professor Lupin. We actually learn what we need to know."
"Thank you, Mister Potter. Do you have something more to say?"
Harry shuffled his feet. "Well, those notes probably takes a lot of research, especially for someone who already teach a course..."
"Mister Potter, I thank you for your consideration, but those notes did not take so much work, since most of the information in them come from professor Lupin notes when he taught during your third year."
Professor McGonagall seemed to think for a moment. "Of course, if I need help with the course and I cannot contact Remus, you would be the most natural choice, since you have a natural talent in this course."
Harry was blushing under the praise from his Head of House. "Thank you professor. I was simply thinking about how much work you have."
Harry fled before she could add anything. It made sense, if she was not totally at ease that she would find help from someone who knew the subject well.
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The next day, as Fortuna, he was informed during an early morning mandatory House meeting, that DADA courses would be held on each Friday night and on each Sunday afternoon. They would be given notes to read after the course on Sunday, questions could be asked on Friday before doing a test and they would do the practical part on Sunday. They were encouraged to practice on Saturday, because they would only be allowed to leave when professor Snape was satisfied with them.
The way Snape told them that, they were better be able to perform well enough to get an Outstanding, or they could forget about dinner. They would not be taught it, but they needed to show what they learned weekly.
At that meeting, they were given each a pile of parchment with small characters as thick as two or three good dictionaries. It was at least three thousand pages long and Snape demanded that they studied it for the next week. While all the students were looking at him as if he was crazy, he added about two dozens of books to read during this same week. He had copies of those that he gave and that should not leave the Common Room, so that everyone could read them.
When the students began to protest, Snape only response was that it was easy things they all should know already. If they did not know it all by Friday, when they would be tested, they should be prepared to live continuously in detentions. After that, he merely stormed out of the room. Harry went to find Millicent and Daphne. They all agreed that they were better began to read the parchment monster right then.
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At lunchtime, they were truly panicking. While all they had read that morning were things that they learned in first year, they had only read about four hundred pages. To be sure they would not need to read it all again, they were noting everything they did not know well beside. Harry, since he was playing stupid in DADA, had forty pages of notes. Spying be dammed, he never would be able to pass through Snape crazy teaching. He really thought before that the teacher was going softer on the Slytherins, but he really asked more work of them.
At least, that's what Millicent told him during their lunch break. Apparently, Snape gave more detailed reading to the Slytherins to help them. Except the first years, who where given extra tutorials as a substitute.
Meanwhile, Daphne was far more preoccupied trying to plan how much time they needed to put on this. Since they read an average of eighty pages per hours, they would need another thirty-three hours or so to finish. It would be even longer for Fortuna, since her notes taking was making her reading process slower.
Harry decided to put a stop to Millicent stories about Snape extra lessons by agreeing with her about the fact that Snape was a good Head of House. Then, he put Daphne worry to rest by talking about sleeping only four or five hours a night until they had no more homework. That way, they could do another ten hour that day and twenty tomorrow. If they tried to speed up the process, they could have finished. They could use Monday morning to finalize their homework that were due that day and read some of the books after the courses. They could probably read three or four books that way since they seemed to be around two hundred pages each. Then they would need to do the same on Tuesday.
They both looked at him as if he was crazy. It was true that he would have a normal day between each of these maddening days, but it still could be done. He decided to add that working during lunch and dinnertime would gain them even more time to work on their other homework. That said they all began eating as quickly as possible. Some other Slytherins students were already doing so and others, after hearing Fortuna's reasoning began to eat as hastily.
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Sunday morning, Harry began by doing some homework in the Slytherin Common Room with his friends before going to take his shower. When he got out of it, in Gryffindor's territory, it was only to go back to sleep immediately. He was the last one to wake up when Ron came to tell him it was lunchtime.
It was really strange, there. It was as if all the Slytherins, fifth years and older, were trying to eat their whole lunch in five minutes flat. Many were eating and reading a huge bunch of papers at the same time. Halfway through the meal, none of them were sitting there anymore.
Because of Hermione's nagging, Harry, Ron and her went back to do some homework in the library. Already, Harry was up to date, if he forgot about the essays for DADA. During that afternoon, he managed to do two of them.
After a dinner were the whole school seem transfixed by the strange behaviour demonstrated at the Slytherins' table, they went back to do at least another essay. That seemed to particularly disgust Ron.
"There should be a law against that. I've already written 'two' of those today."
Hermione kept rolling her eyes at him and telling him to stop that, but Ron ended up going back to the Common Room. Hermione was surprised when Harry stayed, but quite pleased that 'someone' was taking his or her studies seriously.
Harry took great care in going to sleep early that night, because he knew what was waiting for him the next morning.
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It was decided. Snape was crazy. Every Slytherins agreed. Even the lower years were tired that the fifth, sixth and seventh years were always studying and had very little patience. After switching back to being Fortuna, Harry went back to his study session. Many blinked at him, since he suddenly appeared reposed, but they decided that it was the effect of his shower. Only a couple of the student went to the Great Hall, and it was only to get a muffin for them and their friends. In Harry's little study group, it was Daphne that went, because she was the most advanced one.
Harry felt a little guilty when he received his muffin. He was after all one of the most advanced students in the group and if it was not that he was downplaying his abilities, he would be farther in the reading.
At lunchtime, they had read around a thousand and eight hundred pages, with notes taken on them. At midnight, they were not finished yet, still having some five hundred pages to read. They went to bed feeling quite depressed.
By Friday, they had read all the pages and the twenty-three books. They all were exhausted, even Harry. That day, Millicent, Daphne and Harry reread their notes as much as they could. Harry had around seven hundred and three pages, or so said a second year that was convinced he was the one with the more notes and wanted to prove to his friends that he had won their bet.
When they receive the test they had to complete, it was to discover it was a multi-choice that covered around fifty pages. It took students between two and five hours to complete. It covered, like the readings, everything from first year to forth year.
As if to spite them, when they gave back the test, Snape corrected them immediately with an instantaneous spell. He congratulated everyone with three or less mistakes and gave a week detention per mistake to the others. Harry was happy when he got no mistake. He was not alone in that, since all had taken their professor threat rather seriously. They were given a long list of spell they had to practice for Sunday, but practicing three dozens of spells they already knew was not a problem for most of them.
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Saturday morning came far too quickly after that test the day before. The only person awake in the dormitory, Harry went to take his shower. When he got to the Gryffindor's area, he prepared himself for McGonagall DADA course.
At lunch, it was a sigh to behold. Everyone had gotten used to the strange illness that made all Slytherins study constantly and seeing them acting differently was a shock. They were not even acting like before. It was as if some kind of demon had taken hold of them and was making them act completely crazy. Here, some were having a cheerful food fight. There, some were conversing merrily at the top of their lung. As some Ravenclaw remarked, they were acting like Gryffindors on crack. Obviously, that same Ravenclaw ended up having to explain what crack was.
The rest of the DADA course went well. After that, it was the Gryffindor's first Quidditch practice, which when well with the new captain, Katie Bell. The trials were the next day and the pitch was already booked.
Back in the Common Room, he almost immediately announced that he was going to bed. That caused both Hermione and Ron to fret.
"But Harry, you're always tired and you keep sleeping hours and hours. Are you sure that you don't need to go to the infirmary?"
That was Hermione. She was right, as always. With the information she had, he should go to the infirmary. It was just that he was better informed than her and could not tell her. The ruse would be to trick her into waiting long enough so he could sleep and tell her it was not necessary.
"Herm, I'm just sleepy. I didn't sleep well at the Dursley and now that my body understand it's not there anymore, I just catch up on sleep. That's all."
Hermione gave him a disbelieving look, but let it go while Ron accepted his excuse. He went to bed and was quickly asleep.
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The next morning, at breakfast, Draco demanded that she practice her spells with him.
"Come on, Fortuna! Three to practice spells? You will just loose time. That way, there is two groups of two and that's what the more efficient. It's not like they are complicated spells!"
Millicent added her opinion. "That's true. Maybe this once you should go with him."
That comment made Daphne giggle a little. "Maybe you can get to know each other, if you understand me," she told Fortuna just loud enough for only her and Millicent to hear.
Seeing Millicent giggle was a new and scary thing for Harry. He glared at both girls in turn, while talking to Draco.
"Why not. It is a good point. That way, we can gat rid of it and do all of those pilling homework before professor Snape give us more."
Millicent groaned and hid her face against the table. She said something, but it was inaudible. Daphne was rolling her eyes. Draco tensed and began muttering about girls being impossible.
"'Tuna, there is two things that never should have been said in that. Don't mention more homework. If Snape do that again, there will be a mutiny. Also, if a boy wants to study with you, he wants to get to know you. You don't get rid of it so you can study with someone else," Daphne yelled at her. That got the attention of half the table.
Harry blinked at her. "I'm not a fish." That caused some snicker around them. "Really, I'm not. It's just so... undignified." Daphne eyes got the size of saucers as she began to splutter in indignation.
Millicent was back to eating breakfast already. She added an "I agree" before continuing to butter her toast. Draco was more occupied looking at the two girls while following the entertaining discussion.
Daphne, at length, began to speak with more than a list of expletives. "You... I can't believe you! One of the cutest guys of the school flirt with you and you dismiss him before you can even get to know him enough to decide if he's snogging worthy! You... "
Harry rolled his eyes at the scene Daphne was making. "Tell you what. Go find Madam Pomfrey for a Calming Potion and then go practice spells with Millie. We'll meet each others here at lunch."
He grabbed Draco by the wrist and left the table. They went to the Common Room, in which they found a small place in a corner were they could practice without being distracted. They finished just before lunch, having worked hard so that each spell was at Outstanding level. It was kind of nice to have worked with Draco. Particularly when he was not 'Harry'. Going to the Great Hall, they began to banter about Daphne reaction that morning.
"She'll try to have you admit that I molested you or something. Then she'll get you to say you liked it and that you're now my girlfriend," Draco told him.
"Maybe. But anyway, if Daphne is unsuitable because she can't prove she has no Muggle ancestry for more than three generations, then so I am. Unsuitable, I mean."
"Interesting. Half-blood, I suppose?" asked Draco.
Harry looked at him and hesitated. This was Malfoy, the boy who always called Hermione 'The Mudblood'. Would he do something like call her 'The Half-blood'?
"Yes, I am," he finally decided to admit. With the name Fitzgerald, she could have pretended to be a descendant of Gerald de Normandie, one of the Norman invaders that installed themselves in Ireland before being assimilated. That adventurer was a pureblood oddball that joined the Muggle invaders before taking his whole family with him. His descendants were known to prefer choosing their wives from the cultural elite of Normandy and of England. They were all oddballs and no one would question her origin. That's why that family name was chosen. Now, Draco was going to believe he descended from that family, but have a Muggle mother. It would put himself bellow 'Harry Potter' because the Potter could trace their blood farther and are of a better social standing.
He tensed until Draco reacted. All the reaction was an "Oh, well" as they passed the doors of the Great Hall.
Sitting next to Millicent, Harry encouraged Draco to sit next to her. From beside the other girl, Daphne began to interrogate them.
"So, did you snog?"
Harry smirked at her. "No."
"Why?"
Draco decided to get into the conversation. "She's an half-blood. She may be good enough for someone of your standing, but me? Ha."
"Thanks Draco, announce my whole lineage to all and sundry" Harry told him dryly.
Draco looked falsely shocked, before saying, "Ok, then" and getting up, as if to announce loudly to everyone.
Millicent snorted. "She was being sarcastic, you tit."
Draco was playing being offended by her comment. He even tried to friendly slap her from where he was. Harry simply ate and let them have at it around him, imperturbable as is nothing was happening. When they receded, he bent to speak with Daphne.
"So, what do we need to do this afternoon? I have one essay for Charms, which we all have. Then I have some problems to resolve for Arithmancy, without Millicent. Another essay for Potions, again for all of us. Also, I have some Runes exercises that I can do with Draco. Did I miss something?"
"Yes, that reading for Muggle Studies. Without Draco. And Draco, Millie and me have an essay for Transfiguration and another one for Herbology."
Harry thought this over. "We could do the Potions and Charms essays this afternoon all together, then split into two groups in the evening."
Draco smiled a happy smile that Harry had never seen on the other boy's face. In a way, it was kind of spooky. "I claim Fortuna."
"... As a study partner for this evening. Remember, I'm an half-blood," Harry added hastily.
"Don't panic. That's what I meant. Shee, never seen a girl so not interested in me."
Millicent rolled her eyes. "Ego much, Draco. I've never wanted you."
Draco slapped her on the back of the head. "You better, you dim-wit. I'm your second cousin."
Both Daphne and Millicent were laughing at the blond boy now. Harry snorted. "Really. So there is no tragic love forbidden by the rest of the family for the good of your descendants?"
All around them, the other Slytherins were decompressing after the study time from hell. It was sure that they still had homework, but it was more relaxed. A few students sitting some places away were loudly talking about how they had no more homework to do. Those were the four sixth years that did not take DADA. Exasperated at them, the seventh years quickly covered Goyle, Crabbe, Nott and Zabini in food. Contrarily to what would have usually happened, the fight soon became playful.
Draco shortly decided that they were better go if they did not want to be covered in food. Back in the Common Room, they sat down close to the fire to do their essay. Having already done one, Harry completed the Charms one in record time. It was different enough from his other one not to be recognized, but nothing more. While the others were finishing, Harry did the Muggle Studies reading. Then, they all did the Potions essay.
They were finished a good hour before dinner, so they decided to do the Herbology essay. Since 'Fortuna' did not have to do that essay, Harry napped beside his friend in the Common Room. Evidently, they did not wake him up gently. It actually involved Draco yelling "Wake up" right by his hear just before the two girls began to sing something about being late after forgetting to set a spell that would have woke them up.
It was apparently a well-known Wizarding song, since some others were following their lead. Bemused, Harry followed them to the Great Hall. In the evening, they were all able to finish all of their works. They even had a little bit of time to revise their essays, which was a good thing because they had been done so quickly that they were slightly bellow par.
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The next day, Harry was able to finish all of his own homework before the Quidditch trials. A small second year named Martin Garten was the best of the new chaser. Other than that, Ginny had no problem making the team. Most of those who tried were so horrible that it was humiliating. A third year even felt off his broom after taking a turn too fast.
In the evening, he spoke to Hermione and Ron about the DA. With them all having different but competent teachers, Harry thought that it would be more useful to transform the DA in a duelling club. Different teachers had different strengths. That way, they will be able to learn without simply pre-empting their DADA courses. Hermione agreed while Ron seemed to think that they could let it go. At that, Harry pointed out that they would probably meet every two weeks or something.
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Sunday as Fortuna was something interesting. Having time on their hands, their small study group reworked their essays even more. It was leisurely done, mostly to remove the biggest mistake and add the forgotten ideas.
The afternoon was stressing. They went to Snape by year group and were to team two by two. Each partner on Snape signal did each spell twice. When one missed, they were marked as having to stay. Looking at the proceeding with the fifth years, the older students were not reassured. Each not completely perfect spell made Snape tells the students concerned to stay behind at the end. At the end of the thirty spells, half an hour later, the students that were done were asked to do the seven reminding spells on the creature that Snape had brought with him. There was a Boggart and other such creatures that Remus had brought in third year. The process was repeated immediately with the sixth years. Both Harry and Draco, paired together, did all of them right, but Millicent missed on the last one.
Daphne joined the pair when they left the Common Room. They left Millicent behind because she would be asked to do the spells again. Before they went out, they were given a list of five books to read and about tree hundred pages to study. With just the right quantities of homework, they could begin to settle in a routine. Millicent, Daphne and Fortuna usually hang out together and were almost always joined by Draco when it was time to do homework. Apparently, Greg and Vincent were not really good study partner.
Harry, too, was settling in a routine of his own. It had a lot less homework and a lot more Quidditch, but he was with his old friends Ron and Hermione. Still, it was not long before Harry discovered something that had been forgotten. His Time-Turner quickly began wearing him down.
To be continued...
NEXT: Problems of Time-Turner and of Gender
Rated: R content, eventually
Summery: Harry wake up one morning after fifth year with an unpleasant surprise. He may not be a Metamorphmagus, but he will be able to spy in Slytherin without them knowing who he is.
Notes: The story is a WIP usually updated every Monday. Sorry I went over one. I'll try not to do it again. The end of the previous chapter has been rewritten. I included it here. By the way, I hate separating sections with "SSSS", but my asterisks get stripped today for some reasons.
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The next morning, Harry witnessed how utterly alone Pansy Parkinson found herself. She had aliened her biggest ally and Fortuna Fitzgerald was suddenly at the top of the Slytherin social scale, next to Draco Malfoy.
On Fortuna's first Friday, he understood that it was due to an alliance formed between him and Draco. It was purely political but the idea was clear. They would not go against one another. They would help the other stay at the top of the social scale.
In exchange, Draco Malfoy was to tone down the overly racist comments, since they were apolitical. It was not necessary to change his mind but simply not tell it to people who would use it to hurt his social standing. He would help Fortuna join the social elite. Harry, on his side, would not express any political preference and would help Malfoy social standing as much as possible. It was at that time that he told Draco what he told the girls on the train, about foreign witches. It gave thought to Draco who even wrote to his father. At least, it sealed the understanding between Draco and Fortuna.
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Chapter 6 – DADA
Saturday was the day where they began their new Defence Against the Dark Arts courses. It reminded Harry that nothing had been said of those in Slytherin, but it did not matter at the moment. All of the sixth and seventh years from Gryffindor were in the transfiguration classroom at the same. It was still early and many students were not happy with professor McGonagall. After all, she chose to give the course all day on a day they were supposed to be free.
Harry thought it could be a good idea, depending on how she was going to present the subject. If she did theory all day, the whole class would sleep, except Hermione. When the teacher finally joined them, it was to express a very similar idea. The solution was easy. During the first hour, they would study dangerous creature. Then they were to do an hour on dangerous plant. The last hour of course before lunch, they would learn about a dangerous spell and how to protect themselves. After lunch, they would study the theory behind defensive spells before doing the last two hours practicing about those defensive spells.
They would work like that each week. Professor McGonagall no-nonsense attitude was very different than anything else they have seen in this class. When she actually got to teach them, Harry found her teaching adequate, but bellow that of professor Lupin. She kept reading notes, showing that she was not at ease with the subject as she was with transfiguration. It was still better than most of their previous teachers.
As the day progressed, Harry found that he was learning a lot, even if professor McGonagall appeared unsure of the subject and keep reading her notes. When they got to the spell casting part of the day, she was far more at ease. All in all, they would learn what they needed.
At the end, she gave homework to all of them that would normally be given in four or five courses. They had four essays to write, one on each subject they saw that day, and then they had to practice the spells they saw. A lot of complain was heard all over the classroom and even Hermione seemed to be panicking. Apparently, it would not fit her studying schedule for the NEWTs. That caused a small quarrel to start between Ron and her and they went out arguing and not looking at Harry, who was not with them.
After the teacher had dismissed them, Harry has gone to find her. He knew that such a course probably demanded a lot of research and even more in her case since she was not at ease with the subject. She already was teaching another subject and she probably would need to add hours to her day to do that research. He did want to offer her help, but he did not want to offend her. Deciding himself, he addressed her.
"Professor McGonagall? Err... That was better than all of our previous teachers, expect maybe professor Lupin. We actually learn what we need to know."
"Thank you, Mister Potter. Do you have something more to say?"
Harry shuffled his feet. "Well, those notes probably takes a lot of research, especially for someone who already teach a course..."
"Mister Potter, I thank you for your consideration, but those notes did not take so much work, since most of the information in them come from professor Lupin notes when he taught during your third year."
Professor McGonagall seemed to think for a moment. "Of course, if I need help with the course and I cannot contact Remus, you would be the most natural choice, since you have a natural talent in this course."
Harry was blushing under the praise from his Head of House. "Thank you professor. I was simply thinking about how much work you have."
Harry fled before she could add anything. It made sense, if she was not totally at ease that she would find help from someone who knew the subject well.
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The next day, as Fortuna, he was informed during an early morning mandatory House meeting, that DADA courses would be held on each Friday night and on each Sunday afternoon. They would be given notes to read after the course on Sunday, questions could be asked on Friday before doing a test and they would do the practical part on Sunday. They were encouraged to practice on Saturday, because they would only be allowed to leave when professor Snape was satisfied with them.
The way Snape told them that, they were better be able to perform well enough to get an Outstanding, or they could forget about dinner. They would not be taught it, but they needed to show what they learned weekly.
At that meeting, they were given each a pile of parchment with small characters as thick as two or three good dictionaries. It was at least three thousand pages long and Snape demanded that they studied it for the next week. While all the students were looking at him as if he was crazy, he added about two dozens of books to read during this same week. He had copies of those that he gave and that should not leave the Common Room, so that everyone could read them.
When the students began to protest, Snape only response was that it was easy things they all should know already. If they did not know it all by Friday, when they would be tested, they should be prepared to live continuously in detentions. After that, he merely stormed out of the room. Harry went to find Millicent and Daphne. They all agreed that they were better began to read the parchment monster right then.
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At lunchtime, they were truly panicking. While all they had read that morning were things that they learned in first year, they had only read about four hundred pages. To be sure they would not need to read it all again, they were noting everything they did not know well beside. Harry, since he was playing stupid in DADA, had forty pages of notes. Spying be dammed, he never would be able to pass through Snape crazy teaching. He really thought before that the teacher was going softer on the Slytherins, but he really asked more work of them.
At least, that's what Millicent told him during their lunch break. Apparently, Snape gave more detailed reading to the Slytherins to help them. Except the first years, who where given extra tutorials as a substitute.
Meanwhile, Daphne was far more preoccupied trying to plan how much time they needed to put on this. Since they read an average of eighty pages per hours, they would need another thirty-three hours or so to finish. It would be even longer for Fortuna, since her notes taking was making her reading process slower.
Harry decided to put a stop to Millicent stories about Snape extra lessons by agreeing with her about the fact that Snape was a good Head of House. Then, he put Daphne worry to rest by talking about sleeping only four or five hours a night until they had no more homework. That way, they could do another ten hour that day and twenty tomorrow. If they tried to speed up the process, they could have finished. They could use Monday morning to finalize their homework that were due that day and read some of the books after the courses. They could probably read three or four books that way since they seemed to be around two hundred pages each. Then they would need to do the same on Tuesday.
They both looked at him as if he was crazy. It was true that he would have a normal day between each of these maddening days, but it still could be done. He decided to add that working during lunch and dinnertime would gain them even more time to work on their other homework. That said they all began eating as quickly as possible. Some other Slytherins students were already doing so and others, after hearing Fortuna's reasoning began to eat as hastily.
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Sunday morning, Harry began by doing some homework in the Slytherin Common Room with his friends before going to take his shower. When he got out of it, in Gryffindor's territory, it was only to go back to sleep immediately. He was the last one to wake up when Ron came to tell him it was lunchtime.
It was really strange, there. It was as if all the Slytherins, fifth years and older, were trying to eat their whole lunch in five minutes flat. Many were eating and reading a huge bunch of papers at the same time. Halfway through the meal, none of them were sitting there anymore.
Because of Hermione's nagging, Harry, Ron and her went back to do some homework in the library. Already, Harry was up to date, if he forgot about the essays for DADA. During that afternoon, he managed to do two of them.
After a dinner were the whole school seem transfixed by the strange behaviour demonstrated at the Slytherins' table, they went back to do at least another essay. That seemed to particularly disgust Ron.
"There should be a law against that. I've already written 'two' of those today."
Hermione kept rolling her eyes at him and telling him to stop that, but Ron ended up going back to the Common Room. Hermione was surprised when Harry stayed, but quite pleased that 'someone' was taking his or her studies seriously.
Harry took great care in going to sleep early that night, because he knew what was waiting for him the next morning.
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It was decided. Snape was crazy. Every Slytherins agreed. Even the lower years were tired that the fifth, sixth and seventh years were always studying and had very little patience. After switching back to being Fortuna, Harry went back to his study session. Many blinked at him, since he suddenly appeared reposed, but they decided that it was the effect of his shower. Only a couple of the student went to the Great Hall, and it was only to get a muffin for them and their friends. In Harry's little study group, it was Daphne that went, because she was the most advanced one.
Harry felt a little guilty when he received his muffin. He was after all one of the most advanced students in the group and if it was not that he was downplaying his abilities, he would be farther in the reading.
At lunchtime, they had read around a thousand and eight hundred pages, with notes taken on them. At midnight, they were not finished yet, still having some five hundred pages to read. They went to bed feeling quite depressed.
By Friday, they had read all the pages and the twenty-three books. They all were exhausted, even Harry. That day, Millicent, Daphne and Harry reread their notes as much as they could. Harry had around seven hundred and three pages, or so said a second year that was convinced he was the one with the more notes and wanted to prove to his friends that he had won their bet.
When they receive the test they had to complete, it was to discover it was a multi-choice that covered around fifty pages. It took students between two and five hours to complete. It covered, like the readings, everything from first year to forth year.
As if to spite them, when they gave back the test, Snape corrected them immediately with an instantaneous spell. He congratulated everyone with three or less mistakes and gave a week detention per mistake to the others. Harry was happy when he got no mistake. He was not alone in that, since all had taken their professor threat rather seriously. They were given a long list of spell they had to practice for Sunday, but practicing three dozens of spells they already knew was not a problem for most of them.
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Saturday morning came far too quickly after that test the day before. The only person awake in the dormitory, Harry went to take his shower. When he got to the Gryffindor's area, he prepared himself for McGonagall DADA course.
At lunch, it was a sigh to behold. Everyone had gotten used to the strange illness that made all Slytherins study constantly and seeing them acting differently was a shock. They were not even acting like before. It was as if some kind of demon had taken hold of them and was making them act completely crazy. Here, some were having a cheerful food fight. There, some were conversing merrily at the top of their lung. As some Ravenclaw remarked, they were acting like Gryffindors on crack. Obviously, that same Ravenclaw ended up having to explain what crack was.
The rest of the DADA course went well. After that, it was the Gryffindor's first Quidditch practice, which when well with the new captain, Katie Bell. The trials were the next day and the pitch was already booked.
Back in the Common Room, he almost immediately announced that he was going to bed. That caused both Hermione and Ron to fret.
"But Harry, you're always tired and you keep sleeping hours and hours. Are you sure that you don't need to go to the infirmary?"
That was Hermione. She was right, as always. With the information she had, he should go to the infirmary. It was just that he was better informed than her and could not tell her. The ruse would be to trick her into waiting long enough so he could sleep and tell her it was not necessary.
"Herm, I'm just sleepy. I didn't sleep well at the Dursley and now that my body understand it's not there anymore, I just catch up on sleep. That's all."
Hermione gave him a disbelieving look, but let it go while Ron accepted his excuse. He went to bed and was quickly asleep.
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The next morning, at breakfast, Draco demanded that she practice her spells with him.
"Come on, Fortuna! Three to practice spells? You will just loose time. That way, there is two groups of two and that's what the more efficient. It's not like they are complicated spells!"
Millicent added her opinion. "That's true. Maybe this once you should go with him."
That comment made Daphne giggle a little. "Maybe you can get to know each other, if you understand me," she told Fortuna just loud enough for only her and Millicent to hear.
Seeing Millicent giggle was a new and scary thing for Harry. He glared at both girls in turn, while talking to Draco.
"Why not. It is a good point. That way, we can gat rid of it and do all of those pilling homework before professor Snape give us more."
Millicent groaned and hid her face against the table. She said something, but it was inaudible. Daphne was rolling her eyes. Draco tensed and began muttering about girls being impossible.
"'Tuna, there is two things that never should have been said in that. Don't mention more homework. If Snape do that again, there will be a mutiny. Also, if a boy wants to study with you, he wants to get to know you. You don't get rid of it so you can study with someone else," Daphne yelled at her. That got the attention of half the table.
Harry blinked at her. "I'm not a fish." That caused some snicker around them. "Really, I'm not. It's just so... undignified." Daphne eyes got the size of saucers as she began to splutter in indignation.
Millicent was back to eating breakfast already. She added an "I agree" before continuing to butter her toast. Draco was more occupied looking at the two girls while following the entertaining discussion.
Daphne, at length, began to speak with more than a list of expletives. "You... I can't believe you! One of the cutest guys of the school flirt with you and you dismiss him before you can even get to know him enough to decide if he's snogging worthy! You... "
Harry rolled his eyes at the scene Daphne was making. "Tell you what. Go find Madam Pomfrey for a Calming Potion and then go practice spells with Millie. We'll meet each others here at lunch."
He grabbed Draco by the wrist and left the table. They went to the Common Room, in which they found a small place in a corner were they could practice without being distracted. They finished just before lunch, having worked hard so that each spell was at Outstanding level. It was kind of nice to have worked with Draco. Particularly when he was not 'Harry'. Going to the Great Hall, they began to banter about Daphne reaction that morning.
"She'll try to have you admit that I molested you or something. Then she'll get you to say you liked it and that you're now my girlfriend," Draco told him.
"Maybe. But anyway, if Daphne is unsuitable because she can't prove she has no Muggle ancestry for more than three generations, then so I am. Unsuitable, I mean."
"Interesting. Half-blood, I suppose?" asked Draco.
Harry looked at him and hesitated. This was Malfoy, the boy who always called Hermione 'The Mudblood'. Would he do something like call her 'The Half-blood'?
"Yes, I am," he finally decided to admit. With the name Fitzgerald, she could have pretended to be a descendant of Gerald de Normandie, one of the Norman invaders that installed themselves in Ireland before being assimilated. That adventurer was a pureblood oddball that joined the Muggle invaders before taking his whole family with him. His descendants were known to prefer choosing their wives from the cultural elite of Normandy and of England. They were all oddballs and no one would question her origin. That's why that family name was chosen. Now, Draco was going to believe he descended from that family, but have a Muggle mother. It would put himself bellow 'Harry Potter' because the Potter could trace their blood farther and are of a better social standing.
He tensed until Draco reacted. All the reaction was an "Oh, well" as they passed the doors of the Great Hall.
Sitting next to Millicent, Harry encouraged Draco to sit next to her. From beside the other girl, Daphne began to interrogate them.
"So, did you snog?"
Harry smirked at her. "No."
"Why?"
Draco decided to get into the conversation. "She's an half-blood. She may be good enough for someone of your standing, but me? Ha."
"Thanks Draco, announce my whole lineage to all and sundry" Harry told him dryly.
Draco looked falsely shocked, before saying, "Ok, then" and getting up, as if to announce loudly to everyone.
Millicent snorted. "She was being sarcastic, you tit."
Draco was playing being offended by her comment. He even tried to friendly slap her from where he was. Harry simply ate and let them have at it around him, imperturbable as is nothing was happening. When they receded, he bent to speak with Daphne.
"So, what do we need to do this afternoon? I have one essay for Charms, which we all have. Then I have some problems to resolve for Arithmancy, without Millicent. Another essay for Potions, again for all of us. Also, I have some Runes exercises that I can do with Draco. Did I miss something?"
"Yes, that reading for Muggle Studies. Without Draco. And Draco, Millie and me have an essay for Transfiguration and another one for Herbology."
Harry thought this over. "We could do the Potions and Charms essays this afternoon all together, then split into two groups in the evening."
Draco smiled a happy smile that Harry had never seen on the other boy's face. In a way, it was kind of spooky. "I claim Fortuna."
"... As a study partner for this evening. Remember, I'm an half-blood," Harry added hastily.
"Don't panic. That's what I meant. Shee, never seen a girl so not interested in me."
Millicent rolled her eyes. "Ego much, Draco. I've never wanted you."
Draco slapped her on the back of the head. "You better, you dim-wit. I'm your second cousin."
Both Daphne and Millicent were laughing at the blond boy now. Harry snorted. "Really. So there is no tragic love forbidden by the rest of the family for the good of your descendants?"
All around them, the other Slytherins were decompressing after the study time from hell. It was sure that they still had homework, but it was more relaxed. A few students sitting some places away were loudly talking about how they had no more homework to do. Those were the four sixth years that did not take DADA. Exasperated at them, the seventh years quickly covered Goyle, Crabbe, Nott and Zabini in food. Contrarily to what would have usually happened, the fight soon became playful.
Draco shortly decided that they were better go if they did not want to be covered in food. Back in the Common Room, they sat down close to the fire to do their essay. Having already done one, Harry completed the Charms one in record time. It was different enough from his other one not to be recognized, but nothing more. While the others were finishing, Harry did the Muggle Studies reading. Then, they all did the Potions essay.
They were finished a good hour before dinner, so they decided to do the Herbology essay. Since 'Fortuna' did not have to do that essay, Harry napped beside his friend in the Common Room. Evidently, they did not wake him up gently. It actually involved Draco yelling "Wake up" right by his hear just before the two girls began to sing something about being late after forgetting to set a spell that would have woke them up.
It was apparently a well-known Wizarding song, since some others were following their lead. Bemused, Harry followed them to the Great Hall. In the evening, they were all able to finish all of their works. They even had a little bit of time to revise their essays, which was a good thing because they had been done so quickly that they were slightly bellow par.
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The next day, Harry was able to finish all of his own homework before the Quidditch trials. A small second year named Martin Garten was the best of the new chaser. Other than that, Ginny had no problem making the team. Most of those who tried were so horrible that it was humiliating. A third year even felt off his broom after taking a turn too fast.
In the evening, he spoke to Hermione and Ron about the DA. With them all having different but competent teachers, Harry thought that it would be more useful to transform the DA in a duelling club. Different teachers had different strengths. That way, they will be able to learn without simply pre-empting their DADA courses. Hermione agreed while Ron seemed to think that they could let it go. At that, Harry pointed out that they would probably meet every two weeks or something.
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Sunday as Fortuna was something interesting. Having time on their hands, their small study group reworked their essays even more. It was leisurely done, mostly to remove the biggest mistake and add the forgotten ideas.
The afternoon was stressing. They went to Snape by year group and were to team two by two. Each partner on Snape signal did each spell twice. When one missed, they were marked as having to stay. Looking at the proceeding with the fifth years, the older students were not reassured. Each not completely perfect spell made Snape tells the students concerned to stay behind at the end. At the end of the thirty spells, half an hour later, the students that were done were asked to do the seven reminding spells on the creature that Snape had brought with him. There was a Boggart and other such creatures that Remus had brought in third year. The process was repeated immediately with the sixth years. Both Harry and Draco, paired together, did all of them right, but Millicent missed on the last one.
Daphne joined the pair when they left the Common Room. They left Millicent behind because she would be asked to do the spells again. Before they went out, they were given a list of five books to read and about tree hundred pages to study. With just the right quantities of homework, they could begin to settle in a routine. Millicent, Daphne and Fortuna usually hang out together and were almost always joined by Draco when it was time to do homework. Apparently, Greg and Vincent were not really good study partner.
Harry, too, was settling in a routine of his own. It had a lot less homework and a lot more Quidditch, but he was with his old friends Ron and Hermione. Still, it was not long before Harry discovered something that had been forgotten. His Time-Turner quickly began wearing him down.
To be continued...
NEXT: Problems of Time-Turner and of Gender