Harry Potter and the Betrayal of the Phoenix
Chapter 3 - Back to Hogwarts
After the all too familiar pull due to the portkey, Harry, Hermione, and Albus Dumbledore arrived in Dumbledore's all too familiar office.
"Professor…are there any other means of transportation that we could use from now on other than a portkey?" asked Harry meekly.
"Why? Do you not like portkeys?" replied Dumbledore.
"Its just…its just…I mean I've only used portkeys four times, once was for the Quidditch World Cup, where the Death Eaters made their presence known for the first time since Voldemort's original disappearance, once was the end of the third task where I got sent to Voldemort and Cedric died, once a couple of months ago after the battle in the Ministry of Magic, and right this second! Three times out of four horrible, horrible things have happened! I just don't feel comfortable around them anymore."
"Harry, be reasonable," said Hermione, "The portkeys are not to blame for those occurrences! Its just a coincidence!"
"Miss Granger is correct, Harry, in that they are only coincidences…"
"It doesn't MATTER what the facts are Professor Dumbledore! I feel uneasy around them and I don't want to deal with them any more…"
"Mr. Potter you must let me finish before interrupting me. As I was saying, Miss Granger is correct, but feelings are not always logical Miss Granger. The mind works in ways that we can't even begin to fathom. Harry, if portkeys make you uneasy, then you need not worry about them for now, although I would hope you could change your mind, as they could be very useful tools for you in the future."
"Sure Professor…now I have some questions for you before we get started that have been bugging me all summer."
"Ok Mr. Potter, you can ask away. I will try to answer as many questions of yours as I can."
"Why haven't I had the chance to get the Daily Prophet or any other news over the summer?"
"Harry, you weren't allowed to get the news for a couple of reasons. One, there is no reliable source of news left. The Daily Prophet was the closest, but after last year's fiasco we cannot trust the news publications anymore. After all, news is a business; they want to make money. We also couldn't risk any owl other than Hedwig to come close to Number 4 Privet Drive; it would have been far too dangerous. As I mentioned, if there was dire news or any urgent news I would have found a way for you to know. Voldemort and his Death Eaters have only been attacking Muggles for now. Voldemort seems to be trying to figure out how to raid the new Azkaban, and is trying to recruit more followers. I know that you had already heard about Voldemort's attacks on Muggles, and I assumed that the ideas of Voldemort trying to raid Azkaban and recruit more death eaters would come as no surprise."
"It doesn't professor, but it just feels like everyone is making decisions for me again like last year. I know that you might mean for the best, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating."
"Harry, I know it's been frustrating for you, and I acknowledge the mistakes I have made in the past. All I can hope is that you remain trusting of me. Now that you are at Hogwarts, you can receive the Daily Prophet or the Quibbler if you'd like; I won't stop you."
"Ok Professor Dumbledore. Just to let you know, although I am OK with the decisions you've made for me, including my class schedule, I am still angry about it. That's the best I can do right now. I have some more questions for you but I need some time to think about them."
"That's all right Mr. Potter; feel free to come in to my office any time with your questions. Now, I know you and Miss Granger have much to discuss without my presence, so lets get to the point. This morning, I want you to design a room that would be suitable for teaching the Dueling and the DA class, which will be taught twice a week. I also want a basic lesson plan from you two for the first few weeks. The class will be year around, with the option for students to join in at any term if they aren't already in the class."
"Professor, I've been wondering, what do we get out of teaching this class?" asked a still slightly angry Harry.
"Harry! It is an honor to even be asked to teach! Imagine all the possibilities it will open up for us," exclaimed an exasperated Hermione, "Not to mention all the future career opportunities it will open."
"Hermy," smirked Harry noting the look on Hermione's face as he used Grawp's nickname for her, "That's all good and well…but it looks like this year will be hard enough without the added responsibilities of teaching."
"Ah, I was wondering when you would ask. You are enrolled for a class entitled 'The Return of Lord Voldemort: What to Do.' Harry, you are the only student enrolled in that class and you will be the only student ever enrolled in that class. Because of your assistance in teaching this class, you will be receiving specialized training at least once a week from not only Professor Lupin, but also Professor Moody, myself and other members of the Order if they are available. Miss Granger," continued Professor Dumbledore acknowledging the disappointed look on Hermione's face "is to be allowed to take so many NEWT preparatory courses. Normally you would be forced to choose seven of the nine classes you have signed up for, but that is your compensation for teaching."
"Are we able to assign homework and give tests?" asked an anxious Hermione.
"That it up to you and Mr. Potter. Any work you assign you will have to grade, so keep that in mind. I would suggest grading individuals based on how successful they are in performing the spells and maneuvers you will be teaching them, and only assign homework to those who haven't grasped the lesson by the end of the class. Mainly it will be you two doing all of the work. I will be available for suggestions on what to teach, and to show you how to perform and spell that you may have trouble with. Feel free to make use of the library while here these two extra days Miss Granger, and the new password for Gryffindor tower is Padfoot."
"Ok professor. Harry lets go up to Gryffindor tower so we can start planning right away!" Hermione exclaimed as she pulled Harry to his feet. "Professor Dumbledore, we owl you the plans for the room and the lesson plans as soon as we can get them done!"
"Thank you Miss Granger. If you need any assistance, feel free to ask myself or Professor McGonagall, and I have asked Dobby to make himself available if you need any refreshments while you are working."
"Thanks" replied Harry quietly as Hermione dragged them out of the office, and set out on their way to Gryffindor tower.
"Harry, I really do wish we could have corresponded more over the summer, but with the owl restrictions at the Order headquarters, I could only get you a copy of my classes for this term, and I had so much homework that I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to finish it…Hi Nick…anyway how are you doing with everything? Did Dumbledore ever let you know about that prophecy bit?"
"Hermione…first things first. Are you feeling any better after that curse? I was terrified you would be permanently damaged."
"Oh Harry, I'm fine. I still have to take one potion a week, but other than that I am perfectly fine. Stop avoiding the subject…I saw the look on your face when he mentioned the new password for the tower."
"Hermione…its just so hard to accept he's gone. He has been one of the most important people in my life for the past two years, and all it took was a stumble through an arch to take him away from me!"
"Harry…I'm sorry…I know what you must be going through…"
"HOW COULD YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH" roared Harry interrupting Hermione. "Now really…that was uncalled for." replied the Fat Lady softly, who's portrait they were now at.
"HOW COULD YOU KNOW? What kind of cruel fate would make me lose the only parental figures I've ever known? My mother, my father, and now PADFOOT!" As Harry shouted this last word, the portrait swung open and Harry stomped inside, not bothering to wait and let Hermione go first as he normally did.
"Harry! Don't you dare blow up at me! You still have a parental figure…what about Dumbledore?"
"DUMBLEDORE? The man wouldn't look me in the EYE all of last year! He's been withholding information from me since I've met him! Don't you think I have a right to know about what my future will be? Don't I have the right to make decisions for my future armed with all the information available, and make the decisions for myself? Hermione, you just don't understand. I want our classroom to be set up just like last year's Room of Requirement with a Dueling Platform like what we had at the Dueling Club, and you can decide what we start off with! I'm going to the boys tower to be LEFT ALONE."
"Harry? What do you mean not having all the information available? No one heard that prophecy that night, so no one was able to give you the information."
"Hermione! Don't talk about what you don't understand. I'll contact you when I am ready to talk." And with that Harry Potter stormed up to the Boys Tower, "6th Year" dorms, enlarged his Trunk, opened it and went to the sixth compartment so Hermione couldn't find him.
A/N: I am truly floored by your reviews so far! Over sixty! I'm dumbfounded! I can't believe it!! The reviews are what are motivating me to crank out these chapters faster than I normally would have…I really am speechless! Thank you to all the reviewers!!! And if you have any comments on the story, or something you thought would be different, let me know and if it's good I'll try to work it in the story! Thanks again!! And I noticed a review from fellow Ron Hater shdurrani…all I have to say to you is just wait.