A/N: I haven't updated until now because I believed no one was reading this story, so if you do read it and like it please review.

Chapter 4: Arabella Figg

The next morning at breakfast they received their timetables and Harry was glad to see they had Defense Against the Dark Arts that afternoon. After a quick breakfast they headed towards the transfiguration classroom. When exiting the Great Hall they saw Draco talking to the new Slytherins, apparently very proud of himself. The Egyptian girl seemed to be having a sort of fight with Draco because she ran crying, after shouting to Draco:

'Death Eater's boy!'

Draco then said something that Harry would have never imagined:

'Ten points from Slytherin!'

Then Harry saw that Draco was a Prefect too.

'I can't believe they made him a Prefect,' muttered Ron shocked.

'Why would he deduct points from his own house?' asked Harry bewildered. 'Besides, that girl was just stating the truth. His father is a Death Eater.'

'I thought that all the children in Slytherin had something to do with the Dark part,' said Hermione, 'but I guess I was wrong.'

Once in the transfiguration classroom they each took a sit and waited for professor McGonagall to begin her lesson.

'Beginning with this year we shall learn human transfiguration,' she told them while there was a murmur of excitement, 'it is difficult so you have to pay much attention. We shall divide the human transfiguration this year in three parts. The first term we shall discuss about transfiguring humans in objects.'

There was a shocked silence following this statement. Professor McGonagall seemed to be unaware of this because she continued.

'The next term will be dedicated to human transfiguration into animals, and the last term something more difficult, transfiguring humans into other humans. This is for this year. You will learn to transfigure objects into animals and animals into humans later, it is very difficult because you have to give this objects souls and conscience.'

After explaining how to transfigure humans into objects and after they copied down, professor McGonagall divided them into pairs. Ron was partnered with Hermione, but unfortunately for Harry, he was partnered with Neville.

'What are you waiting?' asked professor McGonagall when nobody did anything. 'Start practicing!'

Hermione slowly put her hand in the air.

'Yes Miss Granger?'

'Professor but what does it feel when you are an object?'

'Oh, so this is your problem? Well the person who was transfigured is conscious but cannot do anything. To make it conscious less it requires great magical skill, beyond of what you are capable now. So do not worry, you can start practicing.'

But it wasn't as easy as professor McGonagall made it see. By the end of the class the only one who succeeded in her attempt was Hermione. After a very hard work she had finally transfigured Ron into a Quidditch book. Harry was barely able to shrink Neville to the size of a book, make him immobile and splatter him with ink, which should be written in the book. Neville in turn didn't even manage to send a few sparks towards Harry. However at the end of the lesson professor McGonagall awarded Hermione ten points and even five points to Harry for what he could manage.

The Charms lesson was more fun even though the same difficult level. They were learning charms of luck, which if they managed would turn them lucky for a week. Many tried their best but a few actually succeeded. Finally after those particularly hard lessons they headed for the Great Hall for lunch.

After a quick lunch the trio was looking forward to a lesson with professor Figg. They were the first to arrive in the classroom, but their moral soon dropped down when they saw they were having DADA with the Slytherins.

'I can't believe our luck,' said Hermione after examining the timetable, 'and professor Flitwick said the charm would make you lucky.'

Just then the cold voice of Draco Malfoy said:

'Is that true what Thomas said, Potter? The new teacher is your babysitter. I thought you were big enough to take care of yourself, but I was definitely wrong. You need a babysitter even at school. You always are the teachers pet.'

Before Harry could curse Malfoy, that is what he intended since he took his wand, Mrs. Figg appeared from behind Malfoy.

'Ten points from Slytherin,' she said in a pleasant voice. 'I believe we can start the lesson now. Oh good to take your wand Harry you will all need yours. Now before opening your books I'm going to explain today's lesson.'

Ron's hand shot in the air.

'Yes dear,' said professor Figg.

'Why do we have to take this lesson with the Slytherins? We never did!'

'It's only for today. There has been a minor problem but everything is OK.'

Before actually starting the lesson she called everyone's name and when she reached Harry's she gave him a smile.

'This year we will be dealing with curses that are very powerful,' she told the silenced class, 'and this category is known under a general name…'

Hermione put her hand in the air.

'Would you like to tell us Miss Granger?'

'They are called the One thousand curses, but are not wide known; the most popular of them are the Unforgivable curses.'

'Very well Miss Granger five points for Gryffindor. I understand that last year you were introduced the Unforgivable Curses. They are only a part from the One thousand curses; the rest are…'

But just then three hands rose in the air: Harry, Ron and Hermione.

'Yes Miss Granger…'

'The Unforgettable Curses…'

'Mr. Weasley…'

'The Unseeing Curses, the Unbelievable Curses…'

'Mr. Potter…'

'The Secret Charms and the Untraceable Curses.'

'Very good, five points Miss Granger and ten points Mr. Weasley and Potter. While the first group is wide known and banned using, the others are less known. The only ones that are not banned are the Secret Charms. But let's begin in order. Take your quills and put this down.'

For the rest of the lesson they took brief notes about each of these curses.

'The Unforgettable Curses are the best curses for torture, while the Secret Charms are to conceal or find a secret.'

The lesson was a success in Harry's opinion and even the boring History of Magic that followed couldn't ruin his mood.

Not the same thing happened the next day. The first lesson of the day was Potions where they were brewing an ivy concoction. It was supposed to be done for Madam Pomfrey who would be using it as a treatment, but only after Snape checked it. However, only Hermione's was good enough to be actually used. That's why Snape was being more vindictive towards the Gryffindors.

After an enjoyable Herbiology lesson with the Hufflepuffs and lunch, the Gryffindors were heading for Hagrid's Hut. Harry was looking forward to see what the present that Hagrid couldn't send by owl was. Hagrid was waiting them in front of the cabin with Fang and Fawkes.

'What's Fawkes doing here?'

The next moment the beautiful bird flew and rested upon Harry's shoulder.

'We're studin' phoenixes. Seems he likes yeh 'Arry. It's professor Dumbledore's pet. Do yeh know 'im?'

'Of course he got to know it,' answered a drawling voice behind him, 'he's the teachers pet too.'

'Shut up Malfoy,' Harry said.

'Yep Malfoy if you don't wan' points deducted,' said Hagrid, 'come 'Arry in my cabin, the presen' is waitin' yeh.'

Harry, followed by Ron and Hermione, entered Hagrid's Hut, while he was waiting for the bell to announce the afternoon classes. When the trio entered the cabin they expected to see a present on the table, but there was no such thing. The cabin seemed empty but for a tea towel…

'Winky?' said Harry.

'Yes master!' answered the house elf, and then Hagrid came in and said:

'Actually the presen' is also from professor Dumbledore too.'

'You mean…'

'Yep 'Arry this is your house elf now. Now lets begin the lesson, and I can't teach without Fawkes and it's sittin' on yeh shoulder.'

Harry would have liked the lesson to go on forever because it was interesting and the next class would be Divination. But sure enough it ended. Harry and Ron headed for the seventh floor, while Hermione to Aritmancy. The North Tower seemed to be getting warmer and warmer, professor Trelawney more like a big glittering insect every day and her predictions more far fetched.

'It is so nice to see you after so long time,' she said in a misty voice. 'A new year has begun and you my dears have to learn to see the future. I wanted to start this term with dreams interpretations, but the faiths have informed me that we should leave it for next term. That's why we are doing card reading. Parvati dear, could you give everyone a deck of cards while you open your books at page two? I think we could start by asking the cards questions and see their answers before more complicated future predictions.'

After a few predictions to the class (Neville was going to receive a bad mark at Potions, Dean was going to be stolen something dear and Lavender is going to have a soar throat) professor Trelawney came to see Harry's cards.

'I'm sorry to say this dear boy, but…all your answers are negative. It isn't any positive answer.'

Lavender and Parvati gasped.

'What was your question my dear?' asked professor Trelawney with tears in her eyes.

'If I was going to die this year,' said Harry.

Right away all the boys started coughing; well they were actually laughing but pretended to cough. Professor Trelawney left their table and went over to Parvati and Lavender's table.

The days at the castle were passing quickly with all the amount of homework the teachers gave them and the duties Harry and Hermione had as Prefects. That's when he was able to talk to Remus, who told him Sirius was in the castle too and that soon enough he could meet him.

It was a sunny autumn morning, in the second week of school when a barn owl delivered Hermione that week's edition of Witch Weekly. She began to skim it when something caught Harry's eyes.

'You're right Hermione!' Harry suddenly shouted attracting the attention of the entire table.

Ron and Hermione both looked at him bewildered. Harry showed them an article he saw.

Missing Files-This year disappearance: Ares Belliger

After Bertha Jorkins, Ares Belliger, the hero that killed last month the Death Eaters couple, Tanit and Giau Kedu, is missing. It isn't common knowledge how he found that Death Eaters, but there was an ambush and the two preferred to fight rather than surrender. There were found proves that Giau Kedu, the magical ambassador of Egypt in London, and his wife Tanit Kedu, were the responsible for the turbulences of the Quidditch World Cup and rumors about the coming back of the Dark Lord. However the one who caught them is now missing. After some deep research we found out that Ares Belliger was last seen three weeks ago. Some rumors from the Ministry of Magic say that the Auror Belliger was supposed to ensure the security of Harry Potter during the summer. After speaking with Minister Fudge he refused to commentate. At the question whether the Ministry will sent another Auror to protect Harry Potter, he denied. "Harry Potter always attracts trouble. It's dangerous, but we don't have a reason to protect him. He knows very well to take care of himself," declared Minister Fudge. Meanwhile Ares Belliger is nowhere to found.

Hestia Lass, Witch Weekly's reporter

'I never new this Auror was supposed to guard me,' said Harry.

'Well he didn't have time because he disappeared just like Bertha Jorkins,' answered Ron.

'I hope it wasn't like her, because she was murdered by Voldemort,' said Harry and both his friends flinched at the name. 'Though I wonder why he would kill Ares Belliger.'

'Isn't this obvious,' Hermione told them, 'so that he can not guard you.'

'Yes Hermione,' agreed Harry, 'but he didn't attacked me either.'

'I somehow have the felling he is preparing something bigger,' said Hermione, 'he hasn't done anything yet.'

'This makes things even strange,' Ron said, 'about the Kedu girl. Why would she be fighting Malfoy if her parents were Death Eaters killed by the Ministry?'

'That's not the strangest thing Ron,' Hermione told him, 'I've seen her hanging around with your sister and they seem to get along very well. Ginny even told me she was a fan of yours Harry.'

'My sister befriending a Slytherin?! NEVER!!!' Ron yelled harder than he wanted and people stared at him.

'Ron calm down,' said Harry, 'I agree that is something strange about that girl's behavior, I mean if her parents were Death Eaters she should have hated me especially since the one who killed them was ensuring my protection, but I think Ginny can choose her friends no matter their past. It's important what they do in the present.'

'Thank you Harry Potter!' said a voice behind them.

They spun around to see Pandora Kedu. Because they seemed lost the ability to speak Pandora continued.

'It is true that my parents were Death Eaters. But after their death I understood many things.'

'What could possibly make you a Harry Potter fan?' snapped Ron still upset.

'Knowing the truth of their deaths, realizing that the Dark Lord treats his followers the same as his enemies and understanding that the true power stands somewhere opposite to the Dark Lord.'

'This I must agree,' said Harry even though Ron didn't believe her and Hermione asked something more important:

'And what is the truth?'

'It was a set up. He sent them alone to look for you Harry in a place nowhere near you and how was that Ares Belliger found them there.'

'You mean You-Know-Who wanted them to get killed?' asked Hermione bewildered. 'Why?'

'This is what I do not know.'

Just then the bell rang signalizing the beginning of the morning classes. Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried for the boring History of Magic class taught by the ghost of professor Binns. However this lesson wasn't as boring as they expected. Not because they were learning about the massacre of the werewolves in the nineteen century, but because of the announcement professor Binns made at the end of the lesson. It was actually the idea of the seven graders whom convinced him to extend the contest to the whole school. At the beginning it was a small contest for the best essay upon the live of Voldemort, one of the subjects they were learning in the seventh year. The prize ended from fifty points to the house to one hundred points, one hundred Galleons and a box of Butterbeer and Bertie Boots all flavored Beans. For this the essay should be long enough and contain many facts. Hermione was very excited about the news and convinced even Harry and Ron to try.

'Look Harry, I know you aren't particularly fond of History of Magic but you have an advantage over the others by knowing You-Know-Who better. There are things that you can't find out from books. And I have a very good idea for the ending. Your opinion about him from the point of view of the boy who lived.'

'All right, we try,' said Harry.

'But without too much reading,' added Ron.

'Fine with me,' agreed Hermione, 'but you'll keep me company in the library.'