OK: I've decided for longer chapters, less updates. That's what pretty much everyone wanted so that's what's going to happen. Thanks for the positive reviews and SCHOOLS ALMOST OUT! Well I might be out of town a lot like I usually am but I will try to keep my updating regular, and if I don't, I'll write special long chapters to make up for it. I WONT abandon the story, never fear.
Nightwing: Thank you for reviewing and reading as always. I really like the idea of Harry being able to stand up to Snape and not getting in trouble for it!
Wolf's Scream. -thanks for pointing out mistakes as always. I changed it (hopefully, I think I did it right but I'm just not sure) so Professor McCall puts down some rules. I also fixed "Voldermort" I was just not thinking putting the r in there. Sorry if I freaked you out about saying I hadn't decided Ginny's fate. I really don't want to kill her .. I was just satisfying a disgruntled reviewer who seemed to think the story was too cliché by saying I would mix it up a little. I want them to be happy too!
Xxx-kisses-xxx- Thanks so much. I love to hear that I'm keeping them in character, especially Ron, who's hard to write. Ok I know this is going to sound SO stupid, being a writer and everything but what is Beta? I think I might have some idea. It's like when you have someone read over it and check for mistakes and give advice? Ha I am new…. And if that's what I thought it is, how do you do it? And if that's it I am SO interested! You know you are the first to think of that, and lets just say…. zips lips dang I can't tell. Well I could. But I wont. It would ruin it, but I think I just might have. DANG! Thanks for reading and reviewing! It's really encouraging.
FSUgurlforlife - Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked the chapter. Yet another person who likes longer chapters. poof Your wish is my command. I don't know if I will be able to sit down and write for a long time. I have an incredibly short attention sp- turns on tv and retrieves hot pocket from microwave
Lily Malfoy13- thanks so much for reading and for reviewing. Please keep it up.
harrysbestfriend- you aren't Harry's best friend anymore! Your mine! I'm stealing you. Ha. I'm SO glad you feel that way. That is so cool! Well I think your English is fine! Especially if its not your first language! Thanks for reading and reviewing and for being so kind!
Gryffindor777- Thanks! I'm really glad you are liking it. Thanks for reading- and reviewing. Please keep reading and point out anything wrong.
OK I've decided that I can't continue to do I.R.'s for everyone. Especially if its just something that you already know like- "thanks for reading and reviewing." I tend to say that a lot. I'll keep it up for ones I actually need to say stuff to and especially long ones!
In the morning, Harry wanted to talk to Dumbledore about his dream, but found he didn't know the password. He was saved the trouble when Dumbledore came down the stairs with Professor McCall following behind.
"Something you need to talk to me about, Harry?" Dumbledore asked with a slightly concerned look on his face. Harry nodded.
"Oh." said Professor McCall, "I'll be leaving then." she said, tripping down the remaining stairs. She would have fallen hard had it not been for the fact that she fell on top of Harry.
"Damn!" she said. "I'm so sorry, Harry!" Harry helped her to her feet. Boy she was clumsy. Almost as bad as Tonks, Harry thought. "Wait" Harry said aloud. Both Dumbledore and Professor McCall looked at him.
"Tonks?" Harry said. Professor McCall looked around nervously. "W-Who's Tonks?" she said. Harry laughed. "No one's as clumsy as you, Tonks. I suppose you can come in while I talk to Dumbledore."
'Professor McCall' blushed bright red before admitting defeat. "Alright then" she said. Once they were settled in his office, Harry started telling about his dream. Once he had finished Dumbledore became silent.
"I think it is clear that this was an accident. H never meant for you to see this. His recruiting isn't going nearly as well as he thought, which is good news for us. I will discuss this with the order. Now I think you should go prepare for classes, Harry." Tonks waved goodbye. "See you in class"
He headed towards the common room when he saw Draco. Once again, he was alone and looking at the ground. Harry wanted to find out what was going on with him. Back in the common room, he saw Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, and told them about his dream.
"Maybe this is a good thing." Hermione suggested. "Maybe we can try to control it so he can't see anything you're doing, but you can see his plans without him noticing. Start imagining a brick wall around your mind every night, Harry, but still try to see what Voldemort is planning."
Harry considered this. It could work but they couldn't be sure. They had a few minutes before classes started so while Ron and Hermione went upstairs to get their books, Harry asked how Ginny's workload had been.
"Well after only one day, it hasn't been too bad. I've found the homework quite easy. Hopefully, I'll make it through this year without any mental breakdowns."
The first class of the day was Defense against the dark arts. He was curious to see if Hermione or Ron would notice that it was Tonks. The lesson was on Auror training, and Harry was very interested. Once you finished Hogwarts, you had four additional years of Auror training. Tonks had graduated a few years ago, so she was 28 years old. Of course, most people had a hard time believing that 'Professor McCall' was already 28. She seemed more in her early twenties.
By the end of the lesson, even though Tonks had tripped over a chair twice and dropped a book on her foot, Ron and Hermione still hadn't noticed her true identity. That evening in the common room, however, Ginny pulled Harry aside.
"Have you noticed anything about Professor McCall?" she asked. Harry looked at her curiously. Did she know? "Like what?" Harry replied.
"Like the fact that every five minutes she either drops whatever she's holding or trips over a chair. Like the fact that when no one's looking, a little spot of hair turns bright pink, and she's in Dumbledore's office constantly. Haven't you noticed?" She asked. Harry was relieved.
"I'm so glad someone else found out. Ron and Hermione haven't noticed yet. Let's not tell them" Ginny agreed eagerly. She loved knowing things that her older brother and Hermione (who knew about everything) didn't know.
Harry sat down in a corner with Ginny leaning on his shoulder and began making lesson plans for the DA. He really wanted to keep it going strong, and could use some help. He remembered Tonk's offer of help and asked Ginny to come down and talk to her with him. As they were heading out the portrait hole, Ron stopped them.
"Where are you going?" he asked. Ginny just grabbed Harry's hand and led him out the portrait hole. "Not more snogging?" Ron yelled behind them. They just kept silent and made their way down to Tonk's classroom.
When they arrived at her door, she turned around quickly and pulled her wand out. "Oh, its just you two." she said, slightly relieved. "What can I do for you today? Did you have any questions about the assignment?" Ginny shook her head.
"She figured you out too, Tonks. Sorry. We just came down to ask if you could help up out with the DA." Harry said. Tonks looked eager. "Of course! What can I help with?"
Harry thought. "Pretty much everything. I think it would be a better idea if you didn't go as Professor McCall though. Although it is one of my favorite disguises."
Tonks laughed. "I've heard that from a few people. But its actually what I really look like, you know, what I was born like." she said.
"Wow. Really? That's not bad at all." Harry said. (Ginny smacked the back of his head) "Ouch" Ginny seemed satisfied.
"I do think I should go as someone else. Some one around the same age though. If I was as young looking as you, I doubt I'd get much respect. How about…- this?" Tonks said, changing her form. She was about Harry's height with short, messy, jet black hair and startlingly green eyes. She looked rather like Harry's sister, which gave them all a good laugh.
"How about- this?" She morphed again and this time she had lighter brown hair, a heart shaped face and mint green eyes. Once again, she looked very attractive, and kind of like a pixie. "I think some of the guys in the class might have a hard time concentrating, but at least they would listen to you." Harry said. "Here are some things I thought we might be able to do." he said, hanging her the lesson plans.
They spent the next half an hour going over different ideas for the DA. When they bid Tonks goodnight and returned to the common room, Ron gave them a slightly disgusted look, but was more friendly when they began discussing the lesson plans. When Harry told them about the person that was going to help them teach, they were automatically suspicious. (They had chosen the name Catalina Naiads, which means Pure water nymph, because of Tonk's fairly like appearance)
"How do you know her again?" Ron asked. "Friend of Dumbledore's" Harry answered promptly. Ron seemed to trust him a but more after that. "When can we meet her?" they asked. "She's waiting to meet you guys in the room of requirement." Harry answered.
Ginny excused herself to the restroom and sent an owl to Tonks telling her to meet them in the room of requirement as soon as possible. Dumbledore had approved of the plan, because any extra security now a days was a good thing. She also told Tonks to charm her voice slightly differently.
As they entered the room of requirement, and Ron and Hermione met Catalina and all doubts vanished. Ron was obviously once again attracted to her, but when they stood up to shake hands, he was easily a foot taller than her. After all, he was a "growing boy" and Tonks had decided that 5' 3" was a decent height, and if Harry had to guess, he would have doubted she was much over 100 pounds. She seemed about Ginny's size.
They planned the first DA meeting for that Thursday night at six. "I'll inform professor Dumbledore, who can tell the school since it is open to everyone now." Harry said. He left the others to visit with Catalina and left for Dumbledore's office. As he was about to go up, he saw Malfoy leaving. "What are you doing here, Potter?" Malfoy sneered. Harry ignored him and went to knock on Dumbledore's door.
He told him about the meeting, and Dumbledore agreed to announce it to the school in the morning.
The day of the first meeting, classes seemed to speed by, and before Harry knew it, he was in the DA classroom preparing for the lesson with Hermione Ron and Ginny. Right as the clock struck six o'clock, people began filing in. When there was finally a break in the line, Harry thought that must be all that was coming because it was about the number that there was last year.
However, in a matter of seconds, a second wave of people flooded into the room. Harry was excited. There seemed to be the majority of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor houses there. Harry also noted that a couple of young Slytherins were in attendance.
The lesson ran pretty smoothly, especially with Tonks helping him out. She would go around and show some of the younger students how to do things.
Harry figured that they should split up into two groups. One would be for the returning members of the DA and the more advanced people. The other was for the younger students or newer members, which Tonks would mostly direct.
For the advanced group, they practiced jinxes. Some were just silly, but Harry knew it would be good to distract attention, so they could be caught off guard. He had found one to make steam come out of their ears so they couldn't hear anything or see through the steam.
Tonks was working with the younger group on disarming and shields. By the end of the lesson, Harry was quite pleased with the progress, and everyone was reluctant to see it end. Harry thanked Tonks, then told everyone to go ahead, and stayed behind to clean up.
Everyone was almost cleared out, but Harry noticed that Cho, who had come to the lesson seemed to be lingering behind. He hadn't even thought of Cho this year, and was nervous what her reaction would be.
"Oh, hello Harry. How have you been?" she said in a sweet voice. "Err- fine, I guess." Harry replied. Cho smiled her dazzling smile. "Well I just wanted to say hello. We haven't talked any this year." she paused. "I was thinking. Maybe we could give us another chance. I'm really sorry about last year. I was going through a difficult stage. I've really missed you." she said moving closer to him.
"Err- Cho, I don't think-" she put her finger to his lips. She kept moving closer, but Harry was too scared to tell her to stop. " It's ok, Harry. I'm willing to take you back." Harry was stunned.
"Ginny Weasley-" he started, but she rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, her….some little star-struck girl. We have something special, Harry. Forget about that little stupid girl. You need someone more mature. She is rather pathetic-"
Harry reached for his wand, but before he could do anything, there was a small 'bang', some smoke, and Cho fell over onto the floor. As she fell and smoke cleared, Harry could see a very angry Ginny Weasley standing with her wand drawn.
"Ginny! I didn't see you. Thank goodness!" She glared at him. "What did I do?" he asked cautiously. She just glared harder. "You didn't curse her soon enough! I shouldn't have had to be the one to hex her. You should have done it when she was saying all those horrible things!" she yelled.
"Ginny, I was close. I just didn't want to act too rashly." Her expression softened. "Well- alright then. I guess I did act rather quickly. I'm sorry" Ginny said. "But that had better teach her not to hit on my boyfriend." she said, giving him a quick kiss. They left Cho on the floor and went back up to the common room.
When they related the story to Hermione and Ron, Hermione laughed and Ron scowled. "I always knew she was no good." he said. Hermione was amused. " You do know, Harry, that she isn't the only girl at Hogwarts to have taken a liking to you. I've heard some girls talking and they think you're quite-"
"Oh shut up" Harry said. Ginny didn't seem to like the news. "Don't worry, Gin, you're the only one who's attention I want." he said, then leaned over to kiss her. Ron groaned.
"Will you not do that around me?" he pleaded. Ginny smirked at him. " Well you will have to get used to it, big brother. Being a seer has its advantages and I don't see it stopping anytime soon." Ron just smacked his forehead and leaned back in the chair.
Hermione put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Better Harry than Dean, Ron." Ron seemed to pay no attention, but seemed in a better mood after that.
The next day, Harry announced that he would be holding quidditch tryouts for the next three days. The first day was for chasers, the second for beaters, and the third for back-up keepers and seekers. Unfortunately, Ginny actually had to try out, as she was a seeker last year, not a chaser. Ron and Harry were the only ones for sure on the team, unless Sloper and Kirke improved.
There was a good turnout for the try outs the next day. Harry was pretty sure that Ginny would make it, but gave her a good-luck kiss before hand anyway. About 10 people turned up for the chaser position, and Ginny was clearly the best out of them. A close second was a third year named Julie Stall, who was small and quick. The third chaser was one of Ginny's Dorm mates, Isabella Holt. He also chose three back-up chasers.
Harry was happy with the choices that Ron helped him make, and told everyone he would announce who made it at breakfast the next morning. Ginny stayed behind to put brooms away.
"So, how did I do?" she asked, fluttering her eyelashes, "You know you want to tell me!" she said. "And what will I get if I DO tell you?" Harry asked.
"Hmmmm- you will just have to wait and see, but I can tell you, its good." Harry considered. "You did absolutely wonderful." Ginny raised her eyebrows. "And-" she urged him to go on.
"And-" Harry said "I think you will make a wonderful addition to the team." Ginny smiled. She leaned very close to him, like she was going to kiss him, then whispered- "See you later" and left the locker room.
Harry rushed out after her. "Are you toying with my emotions?" he said in a sarcastically sad voice. "Maybe" she said, then ran ahead up to the castle. Harry shook his head. He would never understand her. 'I heard that' came a voice from his mind. He chuckled and jogged up to the castle to finish his homework and prepare for tomorrow's tryout.
He soon met Ginny, who was already done with her homework. "How are you managing this year so easily?" he asked. "You always finish your homework before I do. This is OWL year. It's supposed to be hard" he told her.
"Actually, I've been finishing my homework during class a lot because I've been getting bored and completing the assignment early. I wish I was in your year. It would actually be challenging." she said.
Harry was amazed. "How do you learn the spells so quick?" he said. Ginny shrugged. "I guess I have a photographic memory and a fair bit of power," she said. Harry opened his transfiguration book. He looked up the spell to turn furniture into a raccoon. "Try this one" he said.
She looked at the book, then pointed her wand at the nearest chair. "Ronourus Andante" she said. Immediately, the chair turned into a small furry raccoon. "That's what we're learning in Transfiguration now, Ginny." He dragged her out of the room and toward Dumbledore's office.
"Shedding Sugar" he said as they got to the staircase. The stairs spiraled up and Harry knocked on the door. "Come in" he heard a voice from the inside say. Dumbledore sat at his desk, and gestured for them to sit as well. "What is it that you need, Harry?" he asked.
"Well, its just, Ginny's having an easy time with her studies." He realized this sounded a bit stupid now. "I mean, she's fairing better than Hermione was last year. She's getting bored in classes and everything. Her homework is always done before mine."
Dumbledore looked like he was thinking. "Yes, you're marks seem incredibly high, and I have gotten comments from teachers that you are getting bored. Do you think you would be ready to take your owls soon?" He asked.
Harry was surprised. Ginny, however replied, "I'm sure of it sure. I've completed all of the spells and such in our book, and I'm well into the 6th year book as well."
"Well then, I will call in Professor Tofty, as a personal favor to me to test you at the beginning of next week. Perhaps, if your scores allow, you can move up to 6th year. If you don't do as well as you like, you will be able to take them over again at the end of the year with your classmates."
Ginny was really excited. "I can't wait, professor." Harry bid Dumbledore goodnight and returned Ginny to the common room to tell Ron and Hermione what had happened.
Hermione's eyes got wide as Ginny told her what was going on. "But- I didn't know they could do that!" she exclaimed. "Well- good job, Ginny. I hope you do well. Of course you'll need to study like crazy. If you need me, I'll help." She said, but was still obviously disappointed that she wasn't asked to move up a year.
The next day, Thursday, about 12 people showed up for the position of beater. Seamus Finnigan was the best, while Dean Thomas was close behind. Being friends, they worked together and almost predicted each other's moves as well as the Weasley twins had.
Harry decided to keep Sloper and Kirke as back-up beaters. Ginny, Isabella, and Julia were also present at the try outs, since they were now a part of the team. The decision was Unanimous, and they said they would announce the positions in the morning.
Tryouts on the last day went just as smooth. There weren't many great seekers, so Harry decided that the back-up seeker should be Ginny, then they could have one of the back-up chasers fill in for her.
The only decent keeper that came was, to Ron's surprise, was Collin Creevy. With a full team, Harry's hopes for the quidditch cup soared. The first game was against Slytherin at the end of the month, and Harry was going to make sure they won it.
AN: Now, the chapters will be longer than this in the future, I just wanted to get this up before the last full week of school! Enjoy and REVIEW. Do I even need to say that anymore? I just want to know that some one is out there! Oh and for you people who like Cho, sorry but I think she's a stuck up little cry baby. And I'm the author. So NYA!