Author's note: I am here to explain something. In this story the sixth years have to register for classes, which is what McGonagall gives them in this chapter. They then start classes a week later-after teachers have had time to think on whether they want the student in there class or not. This chapter and the next take place during that week of waiting. I know this is contrary to J.K's universe; hey this is Fan fiction.
That morning Harry woke up very early and got dressed; he hadn't slept much. His mind kept going back to what Dumbledore had said. I believe that he didn't tell him for one reason: It would mean a great failure. He kept thinking of the chamber. The cold draft air that filled it. The desolate tunnels that he had through. The large snake entwined pillars on either side of the room. Whenever, his mind lagged he could see the cold stony face of Salazar Slytherin. As he was heading down the steps to the empty common room, he thought of how he had found Ginny lying in the chamber. How he had fought with Tom Riddle. How he had been saved by Fawkes.
Harry could hear something coming from the far end of the common room. It sounded like a loud crack. When he turned the corner, Harry's eyes widened in amazement. Standing in front of him was a small creature with large bat like ears. His big green eyes staring at Harry adoringly. He was wearing the oddest assortment of clothes he had ever seen. On top of his hand were several tea-cozies and on his feet were an assortment of multi-colored socks. Harry laughed slightly as he stared down at Dobby, the house-elf.
"Harry Potter. It is good to see you sir," Dobby said in his high voice. He was still standing in front of Harry with the same look of awe on his face.
"Hello, Dobby," Harry said as he moved toward the large maroon chair near the fire. Dobby followed behind Harry slowly and took a seat next to him on the light blue ottoman. Harry thought that Dobby had grown quite a lot. He would never have sat down like that a few years ago. Harry smiled at him.
"How have you been?" Harry asked as he stared into the glowing fire. He remembered how Sirius's head had once called him from that fire. Dobby had taken to staring into the fire as well.
"I have been well. I was just here doing a bit of cleaning. The other house-elves will not clean this room," The other house-elves had taken a great offense to Hermione hiding clothes for them to find. If you presented a house-elf with clothes they were free. Harry had inadverntly set free Dobby from the Malfoy's. Dobby was still staring into the fire. Harry had turned to Dobby. He was wearing the same sweater Ron had given him.
"How is Winky?" Harry asked, pulling Dobby's eyes away from the fire. His large green eyes were looked sad and full of grief.
"Winky is still getting drunk, sir. Winky gets through a pint a day. She is neglecting her work and still grieving for the Crouch's, Dobby has told her that there is no use crying over spilled butterbeer. I nevers cried once when I was freed from the Malfoys. They was bad wizards though," The look of sorrow had faded and was replaced with a look a hatred.
"What were the Malfoy's up to?" Harry asked. He knew that Dobby would not answer but he thought it was worth a try.
"They are up to many bad things. Dobby has seen Mr. Malfoy speaking about," His voice became lower. "You-Know-Who. He was trying to bring him back. They always liked," His voice became even lower. "You-Know-Who."
Harry was shocked. Dobby had just spoke bad of his former family. Harry smiled demurely at him. Dobby seemed to understand.
"Why is Harry Potter up so early?" Dobby asked swinging his small legs back and forth.
"I didn't really want to see anyone. I was going to sneak down here and then go to the Great Hall," Harry said formulating his plan in his head. It seemed valid. It was perfect.
"What about you're Wheezy," Dobby asked as he began to fidget with a loose string on his sweater.
"I can see him later," Harry said. He knew that he was lying. He didn't want to see Ron or Hermione. Both of them would be raw about the fight.
"Well, I must head back to the Kitchen's sir," Dobby said as he stood up. He was walking over to the fire. He put his long fingers behind the inglenook and pulled it out slowly. Harry could see a large shaft that led downwards.
"Does that go to the kitchen?" Harry asked Dobby staring at the pulled out fire that was still blazing with amazement. Dobby looked backed and smiled at him softly.
"Yes. We House-elves use it when we don't wish to snap our way through the school. There is one behind all the fires in all the common rooms, sir" Dobby said as he moved behind the fire and with a snap of his fingers it closed behind him as he zoomed down the shaft.
Harry stared at the fire for some time. Then he got up and headed toward the portrait of the Fat Lady. He pushed it open with a smile on his face. He had just found something out about Hogwarts sneaking that Fred and George had never known.
There was a cold draft air filling the corridor. Harry was walking slowly along. The cold stone of the floor were causing his shoeless feet to turn blue. He could hear the soft melodious sound of water was over him. There were warm fires over lit above him. In front of him was a blinding green light.
He felt the strange warmth of the light. He wanted to bathe in it; he wanted to become a part of it. He began to run toward the light. The cold of his feet subsiding, his heart beating harder and harder as he reached the light. There wasn't a light at all; there was a large golden portrait of an old wizened wizard.
"Password," The old wizened wizard said. Harry was sure this wasn't the Gryffindor common room. He began to wonder what was going on. Then out of no where a word came to him. It was the oddest word…he didn't even know its meaning. Was it the password?
"Pravus mortuus," Harry said in a cold voice that didn't suit him. The hallway was still chilling cold as the portrait opened. Harry could hear something faint. It sounded as if were being whispered. It was the creak of a door…the rambling of feet…the soft sound of voices.
"Harry," Said the voice of someone. The circular room became less clear as the voice became louder. It was the high voice of Ron. He could see the bright red hair and the freckled face. Hermione were standing next to him.
"Oh, I must have dosed off," Harry said quietly. He didn't want to tell them about the dream. He didn't understand it, really. Hermione was sitting on the other side of the table; her bushy brown hair was behind a book. Ron was staring at her, his face seemed a bit red. Harry knew that they were still angry.
"Potter," Screamed the sharp voice of McGonagall called from the end of the table. "Potter, come and get your registration form."
Harry walked quickly to the end of the table and grabbed the piece of parchment from Professor McGonagall. She shot him a contemptuous look as he turned around and headed back toward Ron and Hermione.
"Granger," McGonagall said. Hermione trotted off happily. "Weasley, Ronald." She said again and Ron joined Hermione; a bit slower though. "Weasley, Ginny."
Harry sat back down and unrolled the official looking parchment:
Please check the class you would like to take. If help or guidance is needed please see your Head of House.
Transfiguration:
Potions:
Defense against the Dark Arts:
History of Magic:
Care of Magical Creatures:
Divination:
Charms:
Astronomy:
Herbology:
Harry looked at it for a long while. It took him no more than a minute to know what classes he wanted. Hermione and Ron were walking back to the table. Hermione had a smile on her face.
"Harry, what classes are you taking," She asked as she sat down at the table. She pushed her book away and began to eat a sausage.
"Er…Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms and…Potions…." Harry said softly. He was still thinking of that bright green light. Where had it gone?
"Potions? Harry, I thought you were kidding. Snape won't take you. I say chuck it out," Ron said laughing. Hermione snorted loudly. Ron shot her a harsh look.
"What was that grunt for?" Ron asked hotly. Hermione shot him a look-her mouth so thin that it looked as if she were conjuring the spirit of Professor McGonagall.
"I don't think that you should tell Harry things like that. Just because you have no ambition-"
"Oh…no ambition. Who does have ambition? Krum?" Ron said shortly.
"This has nothing to do with Viktor. All I am saying is that Harry wants to take potions. He wants to be an Auror," Hermione said in a graceful type of way. Her mouth was less thin and her eyes moved to Harry slowly.
"Hermione, there is no way that Snape will take Harry," Ron said. Harry was still quiet. He wished that he could retreat to a quiet place; a place where there was no fighting.
"Ron, that doesn't mean he shouldn't try. Maybe Dumbledore will pull some strings."
"Harry, don't you agree with me," Ron pleaded. Harry stared blankly at the both of them. Hermione was staring at him-she looked she was ready to kill.
"NO. I AM NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS. FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELVES," Harry shouted as he got up from the table and grabbed his registration parchment. He walked from the room; he could fell Hermione and Ron staring at him.
He was walking quickly. He could still hear the sound of laughter in the Great Hall. His legs were carrying him swiftly toward the Library. It was somewhere he could think.
"Hey Harry," He heard a flighty voice calk from behind him. He turned around slowly and behind him was Luna Lovegood. She was wearing her dark black Hogwarts robes. In her hair stood a long piece of wood, her wand Harry thought, and several bright green dragon ornaments. Her bright eyes were staring at him in shock.
"Hello Luna," Harry said. He tried to make his voice sound civil; he was still fuming from Ron and Hermione.
"Are you okay? I heard you screaming in the Hall. I thought I would come and see what is wrong with you," She was now standing right next to Harry. For the first time he could see how pretty she was. Her round faces and bright, slightly shocked looking eyes.
"I'm fine. Ron and Hermione were just annoying me that's all. They are always fighting. I just needed to get away,"Hatty said solemnly. Luna was now guiding him into the Library and down into a large chair. She took a seat as well.
"Well, I guess you haven't seen the Daily Prophet today. I mean if you were screaming about Ron and Hermione," Luna said as she rummaged through her pocket. She pulled out a large paper and handed it to Harry.
Harry Potter: Dark Wizard in training?
By: Rita Skeeter
He may be the Boy-Who-Lived, but he is quickly turning into a threat to the magical world. Harry Potter may come from humble beginnings-his parents dying to save him to his growing up in the lap of luxury with his well-to-do muggle relatives, but he is showing no sign of a good background.
In fact, he seems to think himself above the law. We are all aware that Mr. Potter illegally joined the Triwizard Tournament in his fourth year. But are any of us aware of Mr. Potter's new and dangerous dealings? It has been kept hush-hush that last year he entered the Ministry of Magic and dueled with many Death Eaters. However, Mr. Potter is not only endangering himself but those around him. He took several students with him into the ministry. Is your child safe around such a child?
"He is the most awful boy here. He is always in trouble, but the teachers suck up to him because he's famous," Said a vivacious young Slytherin girl in Harry's year. Possibly, Harry has bewitched and ensnared the supposedly great Albus Dumbledore, who when asked about Mr. Potter turned a deaf ear. Could Harry have him under the Imperius Curse? This may seem unlikely, but Harry has proved to be quite adept at magic to advance for his age. A summer ago he conjured a corporal patronus in the clear vicinity of muggles.
All of these signs show that Harry must have some special power. He clearly has a disregard for the rules of not only Hogwarts but of the Magical Community. We must ask ourselves…why did He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wish to get rid of a child? And, how could a child survive such an attempt. Harry must have something You-Know-Who wants...quite possibly Harry's dark powers.
As Harry finished the article his hands were trembling and his face was red. He couldn't stop thinking of how unjust it all was. He had lost his parents and this was his remuneration. A life time of ridicule; people gawking at his forehead. Luna was staring at him oddly. She got up from her chair and came across to him. She crouched down and put her hands around him slowly.
"Luna," Harry said as she pulled away. She sat back down. There were no words. For a long moment they just stared at each other. I haven't been this comfortable with Ron or Hermione all year, Harry thought as they sat in silence.
