The next week went by quick for Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They had to begin lessons the next morning and they were spending there last sitting by the great lake. Hermione was reading out of her Arithmancy book as Ron talked avidly about the Chudley Canons and showing off Malfoy on his new broom.
Harry was listening to Ron with only half his attention. He would, every now and then, say something to show Ron he was listening. However, Harry was still thinking about Sirius and the golden key that sat on his bedside table.
"I mean the Nimbus two-thousand and two really can't keep up with my new broom," Ron said as he threw a stone into the lake, causing the Giant Squid to throw it back.
"Hermione," Harry said turning away from Ron. Ron turned as well and looked down at Hermione.
"Yes," She answered softly. Her bushy brown was held back in a tight bun today.
"I have been meaning to ask you about the new Dark Arts Professor," Harry said. He had been meaning to ask her. He still could not forget the hushed looks and sighs as he had entered the Great Hall.
"Well his name is Clow Reid. He was in Azkaban, for committing heinous acts against the magical community, and he got out on testimony of Dumbledore. That was about fifteen years ago. He doesn't exactly look his age."
"Heinous acts against the magical community? Was he a Death Eater?" Harry asked. It wouldn't have been Dumbledore's only odd choice for Dark Arts Professor.
"Well it wouldn't be the first time Dumbledore has hired an ex-Death Dater. Or for that matter a current Death Eater. I mean look at Snape," Ron said absentmindly sitting down next to Hermione.
"Snape is not a Death Eater," Hermione said to Ron. Harry's face was getting hot. Hermione turned to him and even though she wanted to say more stopped. "I don't think Professor Reid is either. Firstly, he was in Auror. Secondly, they list all of the Death Eaters who have been in Azkaban."
"Oh," Ron said staring at Hermione. Harry turned from them and began to stare into the Great Lake.
Already, this year is starting out bad. These two always fighting. I can barely stand to be around them and now this. A supposed Death Eater for a teacher. Can't be as bad as Snape. Snape!
"I wonder where Snape is," Harry asked as he turned back around. Hermione and Ron were laughing silently. Harry chose to ignore it.
"He is doing whatever it is he does for the order. I guess he is spying on Voldemort," Hermione said softly.
"I heard Dad say that no one has heard from him. I think Dumbledore is worried. I'm not," Ron said as he got up from the ground and wiped off his robes. "Let's go and get some lunch."
As they walked back to the school, Harry wondered about whether or not Snape was dead. Had Voldemort found out and killed him? Just another reason to hate Voldemort.
The next morning Harry woke up very early. He could still hear the snore of Ron and Neville in the darkness. He had dreamt of that familiar long corridor and the green light. He had gotten closer to it this time. He had almost touched it. His forehead was searing with pain. He got out of bed and got dressed. He pulled from his bed a very small book, Most Potente Potions.
"Lumos," He said as his wand gave way to a small light. Harry was reading up on a potion called the Draught of Living Death. He didn't who care was the teacher; he was glad to accept into Potions and planed to do well. Harry was pleased that he had made it into all his classes. He continued reading until everyone woke up.
"Nox," Harry said as the sun rose and the room filled with light. His wand extinguished he looked over to see Ron still sleeping. Neville was moving around and Dean and Seamus were chatting away about lessons.
"Ron wake up!" Harry screamed. Ron began to get up slowly. He walked over to Harry's bed and looked at the book. He shot Harry a crazed look than walked over back to his bed silently.
"Is it almost time for breakfast," Ron asked as he threw on his robes.
"Should be," Neville answered who was dressed and opening the door and heading out of it. Dean and Seamus followed still chatting avidly.
"Come on Harry," Ron said as he walked towards the door with his books in hand. Harry grabbed his books, for classes before lunch, and followed.
"I hope we don't get to much homework," Ron was saying as they reached the bottom of the steps. They instantly saw Hermione standing next to the Fat Lady's portrait.
"There you are. I have been waiting for ages," Hermione said in clear excitement. The start of lessons clearly making her happy. Her prefect badge was shining brightly on her immaculate black robes.
"Been up all night from excitement have you," Said Ron as they pushed the portrait open and went through the hole.
"It is exciting. I mean this is our first N.E.W.T. year.I mean we don't take the exams now but we are keying foundation for the rest of our lives," Hermione said a tad bit too loudly.
"So no pressure," Harry said. The three of them laughed in unison as they entered the Great Hall. It was bustling with noise as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"I wonder what we'll be doing in Transfiguration," Ron said as he stuffed a sausage into his mouth. Hermione was grabbing a bowl of porridge and Harry was sipping away at his tea.
"We start human transfiguration this year," Hermione said in a voice that said, isn't-that-obvious.
"Maybe they can transfigure you some new looks, Granger." Said a cool drawling voice from behind them. Harry turned around quickly saw the pale, pointed face of Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle, his beefy cohorts, guffawed stupidly behind him. "Maybe we can transfigure some money Weasley.
"Eat dung," Spat Ron. It was clear that the statement had gotten to him. He had turned as red as the hair on his head.
"Good response," Malfoy said.
"Malfoy, do you ever tire of being an idiot. I mean no one finds you funny. Except those two morons, and they would laugh at anything," Harry said coolly from his seat. Malfoy walked off coolly, although he seemed paler and Crabbe and Goyle followed behind quiet.
"Awesome," Ron said. "I am so tired of him. I wish we could get rid of him. I mean Dumbledore knows his father is a Death Eater."
"I guess that Dumbledore thinks he owes Malfoy an education," Hermione said eating a spoonful of porridge.
"At lease he won't have Snape to help him ruin my life," Harry said grinning. Snape was still absent from the staff table. Professor Reid was gone, as well.
"I will not tolerate any rough and tumble in this class. You are hearing because you did well on your exam. We will be studying some of the most difficult transfiguration this year, and no mediocrity will be accepted," Professor McGonagall said as she paced through the room. Neville gulped loudly. "Longbottom, I see no reason why you should be worried. You did well on your O.W.L. and you have your new wand. I expect you will do fine."
Harry was beginning to become more and more apprehensive. He wasn't sure he could human transfiguration. He had barely been able to change his mouse into a watch. Had he made a mistake?
"Open your books to page 7 and begin reading on the basics of human transfiguration," She said stoutly as she took her seat and surveyed the room. Harry turned quickly through his book, Advanced Transfiguration: Changing the Human Form. The first thing he saw was various humans in different steps of transfiguring themselves or others. Harry gulped loudly and began to read.
"Alright," Professor McGonagall said after a few minutes. "Mrs. Granger comes here," She said pulling her wand from her pocket. Hermione stood up surprised and abashed. She walked down and stood in front of Professor McGonagall. Hermione winced as if she knew something awful was about to happen. "Vicissitudo Formo."
The entire room gasped. Then there was silence. They were all staring at the floor. Hermione had disappeared and sitting in front of them was a small brown vase. It shined brightly.
"Turn her back," Ron exclaimed. Harry was about to say the same, but Ron had beat him. He looked paler then Harry had ever seen him.
"Settle Mr. Weasley. Ms. Granger and I had a talk. She knew what I was about to do. "Finite Incantatem," Professor McGonagall said pointing her wand at the vase. The room turned quiet again as, amazingly, the vase became Hermione. She stood with a smile. "Ten points to Gryffindor. For Ms. Granger's nerve."
As Professor McGonagall resumed her lecture, Harry was sure that this would be his hardest year.
They walked into the large classroom; it was completely empty. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took seats in the back. Harry noticed that there was no chalkboard or anything for them to copy. Ron, smiling, seemed to have noticed the same. Hermione was reading from her textbook as the door to the room opened.
Professor Reid swept in, wearing dark green robes, his eyes swept over the tables. His pale, sunken face seemed to notice none of them as he stood in front of the classroom. Harry noticed there was no desk.
"You can put that book away," Sounded the soft, melodious voice of Professor Reid. He smiled at them for a moment. His face lost some of its pallor and his eyes, so like those of Sirius, brightened. "This year we will be studying the art of dueling. If I am correct you studied dark creatures with Professor Lupin and spells with Professor Moody. However, none of you seem to be adept at dueling."
"Sir," Said the shrill voice of Dean. "We did a little dueling in our second year. We also learned a bit last year."
"Although not with Umbridge," Answered Seamus slyly. There were laughs residing throughout the room. Harry joined in. Professor Reid stood silently.
"I suppose, and then Mr. Thomas you could tell me the proper wand movement for the Incarcerous Spell," Professor Reid asked. Dean looked dumbfounded. Hermione's hand went into the air slowly, as well as a brown haired Hufflepuff boy that Harry had never seen.
"Mr. Summers," Professor Reid said as he pointed to the boy. Hermione sighed, but kept her hand up.
"It is a quick raise and then a slow bring down," The boy said smugly.
"I'm sorry, that is incorrect," Reid said in a caring voice. "Ms. Granger."
"Actually, it is a slow raise and a quick bring down. Also you have to accentuate the carc when you speak the words Incarcerous," Hermione said waiting for approval. Reid smiled softly and then laughed.
"Professor McGonagall was right. You are quite bright," Reid said turning towards the rest of the class. He raised his wand and gave a slight flick, a chair appeared. He sat down.
"The Incarcerous spell is a very hard, but the easiest thing we will learn this year. It is used to send ropes from the end of your wand to subdue your foe," Reid said quickly.
"Sir," Ron said. He was clearly already impressed by Professor Reid. "I thought we were learning how to duel."
"I should have been more clear, Weasley. We are learning how to fight. The proper dueling techniques are not needed here. Not once did I bow to any of the dark wizards I captured," Reid said. The class laughed,
Harry did as well. However, Harry thought of what he had just said. We are learning how to fight. Was battle waiting for them?
"Watch and learn… Accio doll," He said confidently. A large life-size doll rushed over to them and stood in front of Reid"Incarcerous," He said loudly as acid green ropes left the tip of his wand and not only subdued him, but brought the doll to the ground.
Harry and the rest of the class were disappointed when the Professor Reid ended the class. Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked out of the room happily.
"How great is he?" Ron said.
"He is really good. I mean I am glad we have someone sane this year," Harry said looking over at Hermione.
"I'm glad too. This is our most important year. I can't believe he was ever in Azkaban," She said in a quiet tone.
"Well, look at Sirius. He never belonged there but was. It was probably a mistake," Harry said. Ron and Hermione were quiet. Harry wondered if they would get quiet after every time he said Sirius's name. "I wonder what's for lunch."
Author's note: Sorry for the delay. Had to do some research. The next chapter takes place in the same day. First day of lessons is pretty big, but I wanted to split it up. Professor Reid deserves his own chapter.
