Chapter 24: Last Train Ride
Mrs. Weasley was rushing around making sure everyone had everything they needed for the school year. "Now Ginny you don't need to take your club clothes to school," she scolded and pulled the outfits out of her daughter's trunk. Ginny just shrugged and shrunk the outfits as soon as her mum left the room and buried them in the bottom of her trunk. She wasn't about to leave her fun clothes home for the year.
Harry and Hermione were sitting in Severus' sitting room with Draco and Gabrielle to avoid Mrs. Weasley while she was in her back to school rush. "She's like a mad woman," Draco said shaking his head as they heard her yell at Ron again for having dirty laundry.
"Are you all ready for the new term Severus?" Harry asked their professor who was organizing papers on his desk.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he said with a smirk. "I can only hope there won't be as many duderheads in my classes this year."
"No such luck sir, I hear both Harry and Ron are still taking potions," Gabrielle said with a giggle.
"Don't get him depressed before we even get back," Draco teased. "I would hate for him to actually want to take points from Slytherin." They all fake gasped at the thought and laughed as Snape huffed and went back to sorting his papers.
"So when are we going to have a DA meeting to get us all organized?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Oh, that's what I wanted to talk to all of you about," Harry told her. "Let me call Ron, Ginny and Neville in and I'll explain it to you. I think we should have a meeting of the EDA to talk about the new divisions as soon as we get back. Maybe tomorrow night after the feast?"
"You should be able to use the head common room," Snape told them. "Hermione and Draco have their own rooms with a common room between them. Albus made it large enough that the EDA can meet in there comfortably. You won't have to use the room of requirement any more."
"Great, I always was nervous about sneaking out to have our meetings," Hermione told them and they laughed at how she hated breaking rules. "What, I'm head girl this year I have to set an example!" They laughed again and even she joined in.
Remus and Tonks went first with Harry and Hermione to platform 9 ¾. It was a quick trip since they could apparate. The Creevy's and Longbottoms were next to arrive followed by Luna. Draco and Gabrielle were next and made sure to keep their distance from the others so none of the parents of the Slytherins saw that they were friends. The Weasley clan arrived last, as usual.
"Where's Charlie?" Hermione asked, disappointed that she couldn't say goodbye.
"He had to start his new job today," George told her as she hugged her goodbye.
Hermione and Draco had their own cabin as head boy and girl. They hurried to set up for the prefects meeting while everyone else tried to find a cabin. Their meeting went quickly with their friends congratulate them on making head boy and girl. Gabrielle and the other new 5th year prefects were explained their duties and patrol schedules were handed out. "Now this year we all need to work together," Hermione told them. "House rivalries no longer apply. We need each other to get through the war that is coming."
"We expect you to take the lead and prove that Hogwarts has finally united," Draco told them. "In addition, no one outside the school can know about our new friendships. We need the death eaters to believe that the Slytherins are still on their side so that when the time comes to show our true loyalty it will strike a hard blow."
"If you have any problems or suspect someone's loyalty is wavering we want you to come to us right away," Hermione told them. "Now are there any questions?"
Sylvester Spinnet raised his hand and Hermione groaned in frustration, "Yes Sly?" She said knowing she wouldn't like the question.
"Have you dated a Slytherin yet?" He asked her, "Because you know I'm still available." The rest of the prefects laughed.
"If you've read the paper this summer you would know that I was dating a former Gryffindor Quidditch player and didn't have time to date a Slytherin." She told him with a smile, he may annoy her but his persistence was endearing. She always felt desirable when he and his friends asked her out.
"I read you were dating another Weasley," Carlie Thompson a 5th year Hufflepuff spoke up.
"I have gone out a few times with Charlie Weasley," Hermione told her wondering why they were discussing her love life in a prefect meeting. "I am not dating anyone seriously. I don't plan on having a boyfriend this year."
"So you're not going to date anyone this year?" Sly said sadly.
"She never said that," Draco spoke up realizing Hermione was getting frustrated. "She will most likely go out on a few dates; she just wants to concentrate on her NEWTs so that means no serious relationships, just friendly dates." Hermione flashed him a smile of thanks and they dismissed the meeting.
"I can't believe the topic of choice was my love life," she told Draco as they went back to their compartment. "I don't think your housemates are going to give me a break this year."
"I can't say I blame them," he told her with a grin. "I don't think you've realized just how good looking you've become. Plus you stood up for them and showed them respect; they can't help but fall for you. Why is it you don't want to date a Slytherin?"
"It's not that I don't want to date a Slytherin; it's that I don't feel anything for the ones that have asked me out. Besides, you promised to set me up with the most intelligent on and since you are taken that makes me free of your promise." She told him.
"I'll just have to set you up with someone who has already graduated then," he told her. "Theodore Nott has and older brother who is an Arithmacy master for the ministry."
"You won't give up will you?" she asked him with a smile. "Fine, if you find someone at Hogwarts that you think I'll have a good time with I'll give him a chance. But if I do you'll have to back off on the setting me up thing." They agreed and were shaking hands when Gabrielle walked in to sit with Draco.
"The boys are looking lost without you," Gabrielle informed him. "They all had horrible summers and need to talk to you." Draco kissed her cheek and headed out to his old friends compartment. "I think Ron and Harry were waiting for you so they could play exploding snap."
"Hey guys," Hermione said sitting next to Colin who was playing with them. Dennis was drawing a picture of Ginny and Harry and Luna was once again reading the Quibber.
"I can't believe they asked you who you were dating!" Ginny told her with a smug smile. "I thought maybe they had moved on over the summer."
"Nope, I am still the Slytherin sweet heart it seems." Hermione told her.
"I can't believe this is our last train ride together," Harry said sadly as he turned to look out the window. "It seems like yesterday when Ron and I first sat here."
"It is weird to think it's the last time we're going back to school." Hermione mused. "Next year at this time you'll be starting work and I'll be off to university. It's our last year together and it's kind of sad."
"Yeah, we might never all be together again after this year," Neville said. "We'll all be starting our lives and may only see each other every once in a while."
"We'll just have to make the time to get together," Harry told them all. "I have plenty of room at my house so there is no reason we can't all get together to visit."
"Don't forget Luna, Colin and I have another whole year of school and Dennis has even more than that. It'll be strange not to have all of you there with us," Ginny told them.
"Come on, let's stop thinking about this. We still have the whole year together. We can get all sad about it later!" Hermione said and they went back to their game until the lady came with the food trolley. Harry grinned as he bought them all the candy as was his custom now.
"I'm going to go find the rest of the group and tell them to meet us at Hermione's new room tonight after the feast." Harry said when they were nearing Hogsmead. "We're having our first EDA meeting tonight."
"First years this way please," a male voice rang out across the station. Hermione and Draco looked and saw a sandy haired man waving the little ones over to him. Snape was standing by him looking to be in a foul mood for having to meet the train.
"I wonder who he is; do you think he's the new Care of Magical Creatures professor?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know but he looks too much like Filch for my liking," Draco said and Hermione agreed.
"At least his clothes look new and clean and his hair isn't all gross," She commented as they waited to make sure everyone made it into the carriages. They had to check all the compartments to make sure no one was left on the train and then take their own carriage up to the school.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said to them after the sorting. "I expect this to be a wonderful year as our houses are finally united. It is my pleasure to announce this year's head boy as Mr. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin house." He waited until the applause died down. "And this year's head girl as Miss Hermione Granger," the cheers and applause were deafening and Hermione blushed as she stood to be recognized.
"See we told you they would have rebelled if it wasn't you," Harry whispered to her before Albus continued his speech.
"It is also my privilege to announce that our very own Hagrid was wed over the summer to Madame Maxime from Beauxbatons. We are all very happy for him but we will miss having him here at Hogwarts. We have a new groundskeeper to take Hagrids place, Mr. Arley Filch. He is the younger brother to our caretaker Mr. Argus Filch. I expect you will treat him with the proper respect." The students applauded politely to the man who was standing next to his brother at the rear of the hall. He was the same height and build as his brother but looked to have a nicer disposition. "We also have a new Care of Magical Creatures teacher this year. I would like you all to welcome Professor Charlie Weasley." Charlie took off his hood and they Gryffindors went wild while the rest all cheered for him. "Professor Weasley is an expert on dragons and other magical creatures. He has recently been working in Romania and agreed to return home to take over the open position here at Hogwarts."
"That prat!" Ginny scolded, "I can't believe he wouldn't tell us what his new job was and here he is as our professor!" Ron was still just staring at his brother with his mouth open while Hermione was looking stunned that he would be close by all year. Harry was grinning at the response of his friends. "I'm just surprised I didn't see this coming." Ginny told them and they all understood she meant that she hadn't had a vision of this.
"Wow, I bet Charlie will be a great teacher!" Colin said excitedly. "I'm glad I decided to keep taking COMC."
Charlie was pleased with the welcome he received, especially the shocked looks on his siblings' faces and the startled look on Hermione's face. He just hoped she was glad he would be around all year.
The EDA was waiting around after the feast for Professor McGonagall who was going to show Hermione and Draco to their rooms. "Congratulations on your new job Professor Weasley," Hermione told Charlie as he walked over to the group.
"Thanks Hermione, but you guys only have to call me Professor Weasley during classes; Charlie is fine the rest of the time." He said smiling at her. "So are you all surprised?"
"Yes you great big prat," Ginny told him. "I can't believe you didn't tell us!" Charlie just chuckled and gave her a hug before heading out of the hall.
"These are your new rooms," McGonagall told them as she stopped near a painting of a serving girl on the third floor. "Your password for now is Acid Pop but you may change it at any time by both addressing the painting and telling her your new password. I will need to see the both of you tomorrow after classes to explain the rest of your duties and go over your schedules. Hermione, Severus had asked you to see him during lunch to discuss your assistants schedule." She then left them to their meeting.
"I think we should change the password now to something not Dumbledore related," Draco drawled. "We wish to change the password," he told he girl.
"Yes sir," she said with a courtesy. "What would you and my lady like it to be?"
"Potter Sucks," Draco said with a smirk at Harry while Hermione laughed and repeated the new password.
"I get to pick the next one," she told him as they all piled into their new common room. It was decorated in black and silver much to everyone's surprise. "Oh, it's perfect!" Hermione said as she looked around. Not many knew but she loved decorating in black and almost always chose silver as an accent over gold. She may have been a Gryffindor but sometime the colors could get overwhelming.
"I see they decorated it to my taste instead of yours," Draco told her with a smirk.
"Nope, these are my favorite colors to decorate in as well. I would say they knew us too well." She told him as they plopped down on the overstuffed sofas. "So how was your summer?" She asked Hannah as the boys were still wandering around looking at all he cool things in the room.
"It was fine," Hannah told her. "I got to spend a lot of time with Susan and Justin. It just wish we could have seen more of you guys. Congratulations on head girl, I was glad you got it."
"Thanks," Hermione told her and then Harry cleared his throat to start the meeting.
"I know we don't normally have official meetings, but there are some changes that need to be made to the DA that we need to discuss." Harry started out and they all settled down to business. He explained the divisions of the DA squads and what each squad's mission would be and the 5 types of jobs. "What do you all think?"
"It sounds like a great idea," Justin told him. "Who is going to be assigned to each squad? And has Dumbledore approved this idea?"
"Yes he has approved the idea and is going to be giving us the full support of the staff for training. I have the assignments laid out but let me know if you have a preference or a problem." Harry told them and pulled out his list from his pocket. "We are going with military rankings so it is easier for the members to follow the chain of command. Ron and Neville insist that I be the General and rank over everyone in DA. Is that ok with all of you?" At the nodds of approval he continued. "Each Squad will have a Colonel, I will lead Green squad and Draco will be the Colonel. Red squad Colonel is Hermione, Blue squad Colonel is Neville and White squad Colonel is Ron. After that each squad has a Major. The Majors are Green squad Ginny, Red squad Luna, Blue squad Justin and White squad Hannah." Hannah let out a breath she had been holding, glad she had been placed on the healing squad. "Then we have captains, Red squad is Dennis, Blue squad is Gabrielle and White squad is Colin. After that we have Lieutenant and then Sergeant that will be assigned once we completely assign the squads to the DA members."
"How is White squad going to work?" Hannah asked curious.
"You will be in charge of the healing aspect while Colin is in charge of the rescue aspect. You will most likely set up a make shift hospital wing wherever the battle takes place and Colin will bring you the wounded. Ron will oversee both of you. Poppy has already agreed to train all of your squad in basic first aid and how and when to move injured people. Your elite members and those who want to have a career in healing will learn the more advanced spells and triage. Colin's unit will focus on basic stabilizing spells and finding and safely recovering wounded people." Harry explained.
"Do you have anyone in mind for the Lieutenant and Sergeant positions?" Justin asked him as he thought through who he wanted in his squad.
"Yes, for Green Draco and I thought Blaize Zabini for Luiet. And Seamus and Pavarti for Sgnt. Red we were thinking Padma for Luiet. and Ernie and Dean for Sgnt. Blue perhaps Terry for Luiet. and Lavender for Sgnt. White we want Susan for Luiet. and were thinking of Crabbe and Goyle for Sgnt." Harry told them and enjoyed the reactions to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Why Crabbe and Goyle?" Hannah asked with wide eyes.
"They are reliable," Draco told her. "They will make a great asset to Colin's team as they can easily lift and carry wounded that cannot have magic performed on them. I thought by making them Sergeants they will take a greater pride in their achievements. They are always overlooked as sidekicks and never really given any responsibility but when it came down to choosing between the dark and us they chose to stay loyal to the light. I think that deserves our trust and loyalty."
"I agree that they deserve a position in the squads I just hadn't thought about their brute strength in terms of rescue missions. I was thinking they would be better at the front lines." Hannah told him so he knew she had nothing against the two boys.
"They are not very quick with their wands," Neville told her. "Their strength won't be a tactical advantage with all the spells flying. They would be a greater asset behind the lines."
"So when do we divide up the rest of the DA?" Colin asked them.
"I was thinking we should spread the word that the DA will be meeting in the great hall on Wednesday night. That should give enough time for the word to reach everyone. We will also tell that we are encouraging new members 4th year and up. After we know the turnout and have explained the new squads we can see where they want to go. Anyone with any experience in healing will automatically be sent to White squad we will then divide the rest up into the other three." Harry told them, "We can talk about the current members now and figure out the best places for them so they can be assigned and help us organize once the meeting takes place. We also know that all the 7th year Slytherins and Hermione's little boyfriend want to join so we can assign them as well."
"You might as well assign Sylvester to me as he won't listen to anyone else," Hermione told them with a smile.
"I think you should take Millie, Pritchard and Baddock as well. Millie will listen to you more than me and the two boys are as hot for you as Spinnet is." Draco told her earning sniggers from the others. They also assigned Anthony Goldstein and Sally-Ann Perks to Red squad before moving on.
"I want Zacharias Smith; as much as he annoys me he is a damn good dueler." Harry told them, "Same for Theodore Nott and Emma Dobbs." They also added Stewart Ackerley from Ravenclaw.
"I think Mandy Brocklehurst, Lisa Turpin and Eloise Midgen should be with me since they all want to be healers or nurses." Hannah told them and they agreed. They also added Elenor Brandstone and Orla Quirke whose parents were healers. Stebbins, Summerby and Moon were added to white as well.
"That leaves Blue with Michael Corner, Natalie MacDonald, Daphne Greengrass, Owen Cauldwell and Kevin Whitby." Ron told them as they crossed off names. Neville and Justin were pleased by their crew so they approved the assignments.
"Remember we only want 4th years and above," Harry told them. "We can still have self defense classes for the younger years but no one under 4th should have to fight." They all went back to their dorms then as it was after curfew and they had classes in the morning.
"Let's explore our new quarters," Draco said helping Hermione off the couch. There were two bedrooms one had Hermione's name and the other Draco. There were doors leading to each of the four houses common rooms to make it easier for the students to get a hold of the heads. They shared a bathroom that had a tub almost as big as the one in the prefect's bathroom. The bathroom was in black marble like Hermione's bathroom back at Headquarters except in had gold details.
"This is nice," Draco said impressed as he looked and saw 5 different showerhead in the glass enclosed shower and the 15 different taps on the tub. "It's decorated a lot like my bathroom at home. Do you like it?"
"It's nice," Hermione told him as he pulled her excitedly to his room. Unsurprisingly it was done it shades of green. The accents were in navy blue. He had a queen size four poster bed a dark wood desk and armoire and a door that led directly to the bathroom. Draco was happy with the way his room was decorated. "Let's go look at my room," Hermione told him and rushed over to her door. "Wow!" Her room was done in pastel blues and creams. The duvet was light blue and so were the hangings on her light oak four poster. Her room looked sunny and inviting and she loved it. She had all light oak furniture including an extra large desk, armoire and two large bookshelves.
"I like it," Draco told her. "It looks tranquil and has the same comfy feeling your room at Headquarters had. What do you think?"
"It's perfect; I wonder who decorated the rooms since they knew exactly what we wanted." She wondered out loud.
"Severus probably helped since he knows both of us so well," Draco told her. "So you're going to be assisting him this year huh?"
"Yep, that's the cover we are using so we can continue our research. We had to come up with some reason for me only taking 4 classes!" She said with a smile. "I get to use is private lab all year!"
"You do realize you are the only Gryffindor ever to set foot in there and probably the only student allowed to touch anything. He doesn't even let the headmaster in there." Draco told her.
"That's because Albus can't keep his hands to himself, he likes to touch things. It's not a good habit around brewing caldrons." Hermione told him rolling her eyes.
"I personally think you were mis-sorted and should really be a Slytherin," Draco told her and jumped to the side as she swiped at his arm.
"Yeah I can just see how well a muggle born Slytherin would go over," she told him laughing. "Old Salazar would be rolling over in his grave!"
"Probably so, but he doesn't know what he's missing out on." Draco told her before pecking her cheek. "Have a good night and I'll see you in the morning."
"So what do we have first?" Ron asked with his mouth full of eggs. Hermione just shook her head and passed him his schedule. They had transfiguration first then charms. After lunch the boys would go to Herbologry while she went to assist Snape for the afternoon. "Triple potions! I am so glad I'm out of that class, can you imagine 3 hours straight in that room!"
"We need 3 hours to make a lot of the 7th year potions," Hermione told him rolling her eyes. "Besides you get Divination during our morning break!" She teased him as he groaned at still having to take that class. His mother felt that it would help him understand Ginny better by taking it.
"When is DADA?" Harry asked as he read the morning paper.
"Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons." Hermione told him having already memorized her friends' schedules. "All four houses are in each NEWT class this year to help keep unity strong so we get to see everyone each class."
"That's cool," Harry told her as he asked Ginny what she had first.
"Potions and then Transfiguration before lunch and Charms and COMC after lunch," she replied with a smile that she got to see Charlie that afternoon. "I can't wait to see what Charlie is going to be like."
"Just remember that he's your professor not your brother while you're in class and there won't be any problems." Hermione reminded her. "You probably shouldn't tease him his first day either, wait until he has a week under his belt first." They laughed at that at sent a smirk in Charlie's direction. He noticed and turned to Remus who was sitting next to him.
"Should I be scared that Hermione and Ginny are smirking at me?" He asked.
"Most definitely, but I think they might give you a break this first week," Remus told him with a chuckle.
"I would definitely watch my back next week," Tonks interjected leaning over Remus. "They have the look of girls who are plotting, it's a lot like the look Fred and George get before something explodes or people turn into animals."
"Do you think this is because I didn't tell them I was coming here?" He asked.
"I'm not sure, but whatever they plot I'm sure it will be unexpected and funny," Remus told him. "They are much more creative with their pranks than the twins were."
"Yeah you should have seen what they did to the Slytherins last year, it was quite funny." Tonks said with a chuckle before heading off to get ready for their first class. "Good luck today Professor Weasley," she told Charlie with a wink.
"Yeah, if you make it through the day without sending anyone to the hospital wing you'll have beat the record!" Remus told him with a laugh and followed his wife.
"Welcome to NEWT level Transfiguration. You will complete your NEWTs at the end of the year. These are the most important exams you will ever take as they determine which jobs will be available to you in the future. High marks in Transfiguration will help you in many fields. I know we have students here that want to become aurors, healers, botanists and at least one who wants to go on to university to master in transfiguration. I expect you all to work hard and get an Outstanding on your NEWT." McGonagall told them all at the start of the class and then took role.
She then went around the room and asked them to demonstrate transfiguration skills they mastered in their first years of school. "Today we will learn about the theory of transfiguring solids into liquids. This will lead into liquids to solids transfiguration. These are hard skills to master and many of you will struggle. Please ask for help if you need it from either myself or others in the class who have mastered the skill." She lectured until the last 20 minutes of class where she started demonstrating transfiguring goblets into water. The problem with transfiguring solids into liquids was that the liquids made a mess. "Who wants to give it a try?" She asked, "I have never yet had a student get it on the first try so who wants to see if they can?"
Hermione saw no one raise their hand so she raised hers, it was the right thing to do as head girl she told herself, it had nothing to do with wanting to be the first to do it right! McGonagall nodded at her and she said the incantation and focused her magic on separating the molecules of the goblet and turning them into water molecules. "Remarkable!" McGonagall said with awe in her voice as the goblet turned into water and spilled over the desk and onto the floor. The class applauded and McGonagall awarded her 25 points.
"Anyone else willing to try?" Minerva asked still slightly shaken that Hermione had managed it on her first try. She knew the girl was talented in transfiguration but she hadn't seen anyone ever be able to do that on the first try. Harry gave it a try and Minerva was shocked to see half his glass turn into water. "Very good Mr. Potter 5 points for that partial transfiguration. You just need to concentrate harder and you'll be able to do the entire goblet. Now I want a foot of parchment on the reasons solid to liquid transfiguration could be advantageous and examples of times you could use it, due on Friday."
Harry patted Hermione on the back on their way to charms, "That was brilliant Hermione, have you been practicing over the summer?"
"No, I did read about the theory but no actual spellwork." She told them still smiling at her achievement.
"McGonagall looked shocked that you were able to do it," Draco told her. "You must be more powerful than you thought to be able to do that so quickly."
"I think I just have a talent for transfiguration," Hermione said with a shrug. "I'm sure it was just because I was concentrating so hard. I really wanted to be the first to do it!" They all laughed at her need to be the number one student.
They just reviewed in Charms and the boys headed off to Herbologry while Gabrielle and Hermione headed down to the dungeons. "Good luck with your assistantship," Gabrielle told her.
"See you after dinner!" Hermione told her and hurried into the Potions classroom to see what Snape had for her.
"Great Hermione you're here," Snape said as she entered the room. "I have 2nd years right now and one of my incompetent 5th years blew up the rat spleens I had prepared for the 2nd years potions. Could you prepare me enough for 20 batches, while I make sure he didn't damage any of the other ingredients?"
"Sure sir," she said and hurried to the side of the room and started slicing the ingredient. It was an ingredient not in the 2nd year potions stock and that was why it had to be prepared for them. It was also very acidic and could burn your skin off if not prepared properly. She got to work with her potions work for the rest of the afternoon.