CHAPTER 2

"That wasn't too bad was it?" Hermione asked as they headed for charms together.

Ron nodded, "It was bloody brilliant the way the dagger just popped out of her sleeve!"

Hermionesighed. "That's not what I meant." She muttered, entering Flitwick's classroom.

Ron nudged Harry, "I know what she meant," he said with a grin. Harry fought his laughter down with a return grin, and entered the room as well. Professor Flitwick took role call from atop his pile of books, then began the lesson. "Congradulations for making it to the Charms, NEWT level class!" he squeaked. "Today's objective is to begin learning the permanent-sticking charm. You all have a piece of parchment with you, correct?"

"Yes professor," the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors choursed. Unlike defense, more people had made it from each house to keep it to two houses in the class.

"Then I want you to write down these notes on what not to do when casting it." With a flick of his wand, words appeared on the board. "I have several pictures that I'd like to hand up on my walls," Flitwick began, "So please, choose a partner and try to use the charm on them. The incantation is: erehoc objetum. If you tap your wand on the area you want to stick, and concentrate on the desired result, it should work."

Harry asked Neville if they could be partners, he agreed and went to fetch one of the pictures. They copied the notes down, then began on the charm. "Your wand seems to be working really well," Harry said as they began, "I was watching in Defense."

Neville smiled. "Yeah, Gran was upset when my old one broke, but the new one works a lot better! Mr.Ollivander said that my old wand was probably the reason a lot of my spells got messed up—dang, your turn Harry."

Harry began to try, even though he'd already mastered it with Helga. "What's your new wand made of?"

Neville looked lovingly at his wand, "Willow wood, with a venus tendril and dragon heartstring."

"A venus what?" Harry asked, frowning as he 'concentrated.'

"A venus tendril," Neville repeated. "It from a magical breed and a mix between a devil's snare and a venus flytrap."

"Ah, that's interesting. I've never heard of that kind. Sounds dangerous though. Your turn again."

Neville chuckled, "That's what's so strange about it though. A venus tendril is harmless; in fact, it's pretty friendly when it's not annoyed."

"Are you sure it's not Hagrid's kind of friendly?" Harry asked, earning a laugh from Neville.

"I'm sure—hey! I think it worked!" Harry looked at the back of the picture to find a light-blue haze over it.

"Very good Neville!" Flitwick cried, "You're the second pair done!" Naturally, Hermione and Ron had gotten done first.

Harry congradulated Neville, and they moved onto taking notes of the first step they'd just completed. There were actually three steps to making the charm, each securing the object further. The bell wrang soon after, and they were relieved that they didn't get any homework.

"You alright Neville?" Ron asked. Harry looked and saw that Neville was a bit pale.

"I- I'm fine," Neville replied, "Just thinking about my next class."

"Alright, well, see you around." Ron said, and headed for his next class; Harry and Hermione left for the dungeons. While she talked about Charms, Harry cleared his mind, stuffing his dislike for Snape and Malfoy out of the way. It was just a precaution, since he didn't know how Snape would behave this year. They sat down in their usuall seats, and Harry glanced around to see who else was in the class. Not surprisingly, seven of the of the eighteen there were Slytherins; including Malfoy, Pansy, Blaise Zambini, Crabbe, and Goyle. Harry didn't know how in the world the last two got in, but he kept all thoughts to himself. Cho Chang and Mickael were also in the class, as were four other Ravenclaws; Susan Bones and another Hufflepuf were also there. He'd begun to think he and Hermione were the only Gryffindors when another one walked in—Neville.

"Hey Neville," Harry said quietly, "So is this why you were nervous?"

The round-faced boy nodded, "It was a surprise I got an 'O' really. I mean, I'm horrible in here, but when I took the test, everything was fine."

"I can't say I blame you; this place is creepy." Harry murmured right before Snape entered.

The potions masters had the customary scowl on his face, which only went away when he acknowledged the Slytherins, and came back right afterwords. He crossed his arms and looked at them all except Harry. "This is the NEWT level class. You all must have gotten an 'O', though it amazes me that some of you did. Pair up with someone, and begin." He waved his wand at the board and the instructions appeared on it.

Harry gave Hermione a questioning look, "Go with Neville," she whispered, then went to find a partner. Harry walked over to Neville, and tapped the pale boy on the shoulder. "Want to work together?"

Neville got a relieved look on his face, "Y-you sure?"

Harry nodded. "Absolutely."

He smiled, "A-alright then; th-thanks Harry." Harry got out his own cauldron, while Neville got out the needed supplies. As they began to carefully chop the ingerdiants, Neville ased. "Do you have any idea what this is supposed to be?"

Harry nodded. "It's an advanced healing potion. Mainly used for extreme burns and pain curses." He murmured. It went well until Snape began walk around, then Neville started to get nervous again. "Don't fret Neville," Harry said quietly out of the corner of hs mouth. "Think of your favorite pace, your best memory. Relax, be calm, don't worry—he can't do anything to you." Neville stopped trembling, but got paler and beads of sweat appread on his face as Snape got closer. In an effort to calm him down, Hrry changed his voice box to that of his phoenix form, and mentally spoke with Neville in a calm, soothing song.

He kept singing silently as Snape approached their table; Neville didn't even twitch. The head Slytherin watched them for several long mintues, and, seeing nothing he could complain about (clearly to his dissapointment), said nothing. "That was pretty good Neville," Harry complimented as they packed up. The potion needed to cool for twenty-four hours before they could move on, so they bottled, and labeled it with their names, then set it on Snape's desk for inspection.

"Th-thanks Harry," Neville replied, "Same to you."

Harry finished his DADA homework during his free time, which he spent in Remus' office. His guardian was helpful in the way of quizzing Harry so he didn't miss anything and his paper was soon over a foot long.

"Hermione would be proud," Remus joked as they left for lunch.

Harry laughed, "I bet hers will be at least three feet." Remus agreed with a chuckle as they arrived in the Great Hall.

"See you later Tallon," Remus said.

"Bye Moony," Harry replied, and sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Ron. "How were your classes?"

"Great," Ron answered. "Muggle studies ain't that bad, we're talking about the fellytone—it's OWL level.

Harry grinned, "It's called a telephone, Ron." Ron shrugged and took anouther bite of his sandwhich. "'Owwereyerclasses,'Arry?"

"Well, Neville got the first part done for us in Charms," he said, "And he kept his head in Potions; we partnered together again."

Ron choked, "Oi Neville! Congradulations, you survived!" he shouted, leaning around Harry. Neville smiled weakly and gave a small wave. "So he really got an 'O'?"

Harry nodded, "It's only hard for him in the dungeons with Snape."

Ron looked around, "Bummer, we've gotta leave for class." He said.

"Alright, see you at Hagrid's." Harry said, and left for Transfiguration with Hermione. In McGonagall's class, they started off with review. They went thorugh everything; it was almost like taking the OWLs over again. After that, she gave them their homework: read and summarize the first two chapters in their book. The bell wrang, and the students left for their next class. "How was Herbology?" Harry asked as he met up with Ron and Neville.

"Good," Neville answered.

"Weird." Ron replied.

Harry looked at Ron, "How was it weird?"

"They mixed houses. We've got Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle in our class; plus Cho, Michael, and Susan."

Harry nodded, "There was a mixed lot in Potions too. Malfoy and the goons included."

"Bummer,"

"It looks like they're in Hagrids class with us too, well—Malfoy and Pansy," Neville said. Harry spotted Malfoy's pale blondehair in a group of four Slytherins. The class however, was mostly Hufflepuffs, and not a single Ravenclaw. "I guess they want to stick to thebooks," Ron said when Harry pointed it out.

"C'mon over!" Hagrid boomed, "Class' started, so come 'round back!" Nervously, the students followed Hagrid to the area behind his cabin. There was a small, fenced in area with two oak trees, a few boulders, and a small pond with a stream. Two, dark green people only two feet tall were in the trees. They had a lighter green colored hair, which had twigs and nuts braided into it. Their skin seemed to be made of bark, and their eyes were bright green orbs.

Three more little people were in the pond and stream, but they were blue. Their skin and hair was scaley, and their fingers and toes were webbed together. There was a playful look in their cerulean, orb eyes.

Lying ontop and under the boulders were two others, their features grayish brown. They were bulkier than the others, with leathery skin and clawed hands and feet. An air of calm surrounded them.

"Now, who can tell me what we 'ave here?" Hagrid asked, voice quieter than usuall. Hermione's hand, as well as those of many Hufflepuffs, shot up. "Ah—Susan, why don' you answer."

The niece of Amelia Bones smiled, "They're sprites, aren't they?"

Hagrid beamed, "Right yeh are! Five points fer Hufflepuff! Now that yeh know what they are, who can tell me what kind o' sprites they are? Blaise."

The quiet Slytherin answered, "The green are forest sprites, the blue are water, and the brown-grey are earth sprites."

"Righto! Five points t' Slytherin." Hagrid scratched his chin, "Who here knows the kinds o' the otherfour sprites, that aren't here?" Hermione practically jumped up and down.The professor chuckled."Alrigh', Hermione."

"The otherfour sprites are light, wind, fire, andshadow." She answered happily.

"Bingo, five points fer Gryffindor. Now, th' four Hermione said are downright hard t' find. Ya see, the wind sprite is near invisible. It's just a shimmer in the air, like the ones ya see on a hot day. Light sprites are normally found in storm clouds, where lightnin' grows; ya can see why people don' go chasin' after 'em. The shadow sprites, are the hardest t' find. They're the tricksters o' the lot. They can hide in yer shadow, in a cloud, even in yer pocket. They like shiny objects though, 'cause they're so different from darkness. Fire sprites, them are the onesthat only're found in big fires or volcanoes, placespeople can't go.So, fer t'days lesson, I want ya t' get in groups o' three, try sketchin' the sprites, an' writin' down their behavior fer starters."

The sprites were incredibly amusing to watch, due to their playful, mischevious nature. The three species of sprites played their own version of tag—by throwing objects at each other. More than once the students were hit by a wad of dirtand leaves, or splashed with water. The students left sopping wet, but grinnig from ear to ear. The Gryffindors had thrown dirt back at the water sprites after being hit a third time, and the sprites then entered all the students into the game. Hagrid promised that they would have the sprites for lessons for the rest of the week.

"That was a fun lesson," Neville said cheerfully.

Ron nodded, "I love earth sprites from now on!" he said with a laugh.

"How was your group Neville?" Harry asked as Ron re-enacted Malfoy getting hit in the mouth by a clump of dirt.

"It was good. The Hufflepuffs are very friendly, and I know some of them from Herbology." Neville replied. They talked aout their first day of NEWT classes until dinner.


Coming Up:

Weasleys' Wizarding Weezes

Death Eaters

Then:

Return of the Sprites

Quidditch Try-outs


Review Response:

athenakitty: yes, you will find out what Draco's up to, keep an eye outfor the 'coming up' and 'then' sections I post with each chapter, it's in there but you will have to look hard. (response to review of ch.1)

captuniv: Selena changed her name out of habit. In the previous story, she changed her name to Epans, which is Snape backwards if anyone noticed, because she was banished from the family. Hermione knew who she was because of Krum, so Selena changed her name to Splikvin (no special signifigance btw) to cover her tracks. It's a precaution for her. As to your other comment, about being surprised Selena didn't have Harry demonstrate, it's because she does not show favoritism to any house and, to be frank, doesn't really care about Harry's summer dissapearance because she is not in the Order. In regards toSnape's reaction to Harry's new knowledge of Potions, Snape is just going to pretty much ignore it because, although he will never admit it, he owes Harry somewhat for finding Selena; of course, that debt might not last forever grin.

(A/N: Thank you for all reviews, whether they contain support, compliments, questions or critisizm. A.S.Leif)