Going down to breakfast the next morning Harry was back to his usual quiet and drawn back self-that Ron and Hermione had been forced to get used too.
With the mail came a brown owl that delivered Hermione Her Daily Prophet, which had headings such as:
You-Know-Who laying low in the wizarding world
7 muggles die over night, causes un-known
Albus Dumbledore re-appointed Chief Warlock on the Wizengamot
Hedwig flew down without a letter, but took a few sips of Harry's pumpkin juice
and obtained a few pieces of bacon before nipping her master's ear and taking
flight.
Harry looked around and spotted Mark Evans sitting down from them, absorbed in a Quidditch Weekly 'So you want to be a Seeker?' Harry made a mental note to himself about that before turning back to his toast.
Walking down to the dungeons for their potion lesson with the Slytherins, Ron was grumbling about the unfair situation. "I got an E in Potions! I was done with the bat! But no, Dumbledore had to step in and request that I take it. So I get 2 more years of forced hell."
"You can't very well expect them to take you into Auror training not fully prepared now can you?" Hermione said.
Harry turned towards her, "Does this mean you want to become an Auror too?"
Hermione shrugged, "Can you imagine us as a team if we were all Aurors?"
Harry smiled softly, "We'd be unstoppable. What's a few Death Eaters when you've escaped Voldemort four times starting when you were eleven?"
They all chuckled.
Walking into the dungeons they took their normal seats in the far back and proceeded to set up their cauldrons.
Snape blew through the door, and quickly smacked the chalkboard with his wand. "You have all of class, start."
The small class worked silently. Draco actually not making smart comments when or glaring at them over his shoulder when Snape was not looking. He seemed determined to do well in this class. It helped that his bodyguards were too dumb to be in the class.
Harry concentrated on cutting up his dandelion roots in to fine pieces before adding them to the potion and stirring for 3 minutes clockwise, lower the fire and simmer for 5 minutes then add the crushed leaves from a poisoned oak tree.
By the time the class was almost over, Snape was making his customary rounds. Harry's potion was not as bight blue as Hermione's but it was not as dark as Ron's. Snape looked down his nose at Harry's cauldron then moved on with out a sneer, glare or comment.
They filled a flagon of it, labeled, and set it on the professor's desk before cleaning up and heading towards the next class.
In the hallway Ron was speechless. "Did, did he not take any points off Gryffindor or can I not hear anymore?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, and sometimes I don't think you can hear at all."
Ron scowled.
They headed for McGonagall's class room.
Going to dinner that night Hermione was rapidly talking about transfiguration. They had been attempting to turn in-adamant objects into animals. Of course Hermione had gotten her carrot to change into a fluffy white rabbit.
Ron and Harry had also gotten a fluffy rabbit, only it was a chudly- channon orange instead of white.
Sitting down at the table Hermione asked Harry what he had stayed after transfiguration for.
Harry motioned his head towards Mark Evans who was at the other end of the table because he had a mouth full of roast beef at the moment.
Ron raised a questioning eyebrow.
Harry took a sip of pumpkin juice and spoke. "He's interested in Quidditch, to be a seeker."
Ron's raised eyebrow was joined by its twin.
"No, I'm not giving up by position." Harry said hastily. "I spoke to Mark and he wants to try out for reserve next year. I asked McGonagall and she said I could train him starting this year so by the time we're gone he will, possibly, be up to my level."
Hermione nodded. "That's a good idea."
Ron agreed. "And if this year you're off fighting Moldewarts during the final he can play."
Harry nodded, remembering their first and second year of Hogwarts.
"Harry, you better remind every one of the meeting tonight." Hermione said quietly.
Harry nodded, putting down his fork he reached into his robes for his wand and a gold galleon. Tapping the coin he mumbled a few choice words that made the coin grow warm for a minute or so. All around the Great Hall people suddenly stopped what they were doing and reached in to their robes then cast a quick glance at the trio before turning back to their dinner.
Up at the staff table all the staff knew what the pause in eating meant. Snape sneered, Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled, and Remus cast a proud smile.
Harry was flipping through a defense book, making sure he had the spell down before the meeting even thought him, Hermione and Ron had practiced the night before.
The door opened and the first few members came in and found a set on the sofas, waiting for the rest of the group to get there so they could start.
Once everyone was there, Harry stood up in the front of the room and the talking ceased; he looked around the room, taking a mental head count. "Anyone know where David is?" Harry asked.
A second year spoke up. "In the hospital wing, the flu I think."
Harry nodded, putting the scroll away. "Tonight we are going to focus on the spell 'Deterirado', basically it takes your sense of sight for approximatelyone minute. It could be longer or shorter depending on the force behind it. Partner up and when you have been hit, sit down so you don't get on the receiving end of another curse. Go on."
Everyone got up and moved around the room, standing about 10 feet in front of their partner. Suddenly the air was filled with cries of "Deterirado"!"
Neville was pared up with Ron and Hermione who had made a triangle. It was not long before people were sinking to the floor, looking quite funny while reaching out trying to find the ground.
Harry walked around making sure people were saying the spell right and not giving out an extra arm or something. Having a few close calls, Harry had to duck quickly when a bright, white light came whizzing at him. They were followed by shouts of "Oh! Sorry, Harry!"
About an hour later Harry called a stop to the activity. Heads turned his way, "I think that's all for tonight."
Groans were heard from all around the room. Harry let out a small chuckle. "Don't worry; next meeting is next week on Tuesday." He looked at the captions of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Quidditch teams to make sure it was ok, they gave affirmative nods.
"All right everyone, line up at the door, pairs of three, you know the drill." The students did as told and Harry let them out, five minutes between each group, checking the map to make sure Peeves or Filch were not wandering around.
Even though Dumbledore had a list of the students in the Army it was better not to get caught in the first place. Plus Filch would more then likely not except on of the students' excuse that they had been at a meeting. It was just easier.
Deterirado is Spanish for impaired sight, I took Spanish and I could not find a Latin translator on the internet. If any one knows of one, could they inform me? Thank you.
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