Chapter 22

School, meetings, Quidditch

"Harry wake up! Its time to get up! We have to catch the train," said a voice. Harry rolled over and mumbled into his pillow. "We'll be late if you don't get up," said the voice piercingly. "I up, I up" mumbled Harry, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. When he looked up Brooke was standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. "Get up" she ordered before stalking over to Ron to wake him up. Harry took a look around as he rubbed some more sleep from his eyes. Fred, George and surprisingly Percy where still asleep. Ginny and Hermione weren't in the room and Brooke was over next to Ron shaking him awake. Harry could hear her telling 'Ronald' that if he didn't get up she would never kiss him again. "I'm up, I'm up" shouted Ron, he stared bleary eyed around the room, before clumsily standing up and inelegantly walking out of the room. Tripping on a chair leg on his way. Harry decided he better go get dressed too.

20 minutes later they were all sitting at the table eating breakfast. Percy, George and Fred had dragged their butts to the kitchen halfway through Breakfast looking very tired but they insisted on coming to Kings Cross to see them off.

Another 40 minutes later, Harry found himself, amazingly still intact at the wall that led to platform 9 and ¾ quarters. Harry made sure he had all his stuff before slipping through the barrier finding himself on the platform and the train waiting. He was soon joined by the others and there was hugs and kisses all around as they got ready to leave. Mrs Weasley finally pushed them on the train telling them "Be good, don't get too many points taken of our house and write me letters". The twins had yelled, "Blow up a toilet seat for us" and Percy had fought to keep a straight face. The whole time on the platform Bill and Charlie had stared at Percy in bewilderment at his actions. This was not the brother they remembered. This one was much more relaxed and easy going. It scared them, big time.

As the train whistled, Harry and the others waved good-bye from the window of their compartment. The train ride went quickly and soon Harry and his friends were sitting inside a carriage being taken to Hogwarts. "Ready for another term?" asked Harry. "As ready as I'll ever be" replied Ron. At the feast Dumbledore had made the usual announcement before sending them to bed. Harry and his friends sleepily made their way up to Gryffindor tower. "Password?" asked the Fat Lady when they reached the portrait. "Fighters of light" stated Ron. The fat lady inclined her head and swung open. The boys scrambled in and headed up to their room to sleep.

Harry woke up the next morning and stretched widely. He could hear some of they boys snoring around him. Harry got up and went for a shower. When he came back, the boys were dragging themselves out of bed. "How can you be so awake?" groaned Dean as he staggered off towards the showers. Harry shrugged, "See you guys at breakfast".

Harry descended the stairs to the common room. Ginny was already downstairs, looking at the message board. Harry snuck up behind her and hugged her. Ginny jumped in surprise, "Oh its only you" said Ginny when she turned around. Harry pretended to be hurt "Only me" he whimpered. Ginny hit him "Stop faking, I'm not stupid" Harry stopped and grinned. "Nothing gets past you" Harry said. "That's what happens when you're the only girl with six boys" replied Ginny turning pack to the message board. "When are you going to post a message about Quidditch try outs?" asked Ginny. "Some time today" replied Harry. "Can we go to breakfast?" asked Harry.

"Fine by me" said Ginny taking his hand. When they got to the great hall, Hermione was already there; sitting next to her was James. "I didn't know we could sit at different tables," said Harry sitting down and taking some bacon. "There's no rule saying you can and no rule saying you can't," replied James as he read from a book he was sharing with Hermione. The book was called "Muggle studies for sixth year". 'Boring' thought Harry. Ron soon joined them being dragged by Brooke. "He is so slow," complained Brooke. "Am not." Mumbled Ron cramming eggs in his mouth. "Are so" muttered Brooke, pouring herself some Orange Juice. "So what do we have first?" asked Harry. "Transfiguration" replied Hermione and James in union. "Cool, we get to work on Animagus forms again today. I wonder if anyone's ever had more than one Animagus form," mused Harry, buttering a piece of toast.

Hermione looked up from her book and rolled her eyes. "Of course not. No one EVER has been recorded to have more than one Animagus form," recited Hermione as if she was reading from a textbook. James was looking at her with admiration. "You could have done so well in Ravenclaw," said James. Hermione beamed "Thankyou" and they went back to discussing the book. 'I wonder…' thought Harry. For the rest of breakfast Harry mused as he ate. Hermione and James took no notice, Brooke was giving Ron table manners 101 and Ginny was reading a letter Pig dropped off from her mum. Near the end they all began to pack up and check they had all their stuff for their lessons.

"By the way mum says that she hopes our first day goes well and that she wants to remind us not to get in trouble. She also says she has a bit of gossip for us. Remember how Remus had that special thing he had to attend to?" asked Ginny. They nodded, "Yeah, it turns out he was on a date" said Harry. "Yeah and Mum's found out because she got it out of Remus that he's dating Tonks. They've been going out for a month," said Ginny. Harry and Ron burst out laughing and laughed the whole way out of the hall. "I knew it," laughed Ron wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Red as a tomato!" cried Harry. "Men" exclaimed Brooke. Ginny left and Brooke dragged the two to Transfiguration with Hermione and James trailing behind.

"Welcome back students, I hope you all studied. We are going on with your transformations. Not many of you will become Anamagi. During my whole time here only a select few became Anamagi. Most of them didn't register." Said Professor McGonagall giving Harry a look. Harry just grinned. Of course she meant the marauders. She could also mean that good for nothing Rita Skeeter who wasn't registered as being able to turn into a bug. "So who ever becomes a cat in this class will have to be registered. Please get to work." Said McGonagall.

There Professor began to walk around the class giving tips. Harry already could do two paws, whiskers and cat ears this lesson he wanted to be able to have 4 paws, whiskers, cat ears, the nose and tail. When their hour and a half was up Harry felt very proud of himself. He was able to do all the things he wanted to plus he could cover his whole arms and one leg in black fur. Brooke was having trouble with hers, she could do all the changes that she had done before Christmas but couldn't go any further. Hermione and Ron were equally frustrated. "Mr Potter you are doing marvellously. 10 points to Gryfinndor. You others perhaps a cat is not your animagi form. We will have to test that next lesson. I want a 2 feet minimum essay on why people should or should not have to register themselves. I want your opinion on the laws that come with being registered and your opinion on the fines that people receive for being an Illegal Animagus. It is due in two weeks so get into it and don't slack off. Class has ended," declared McGonagall.

The students quietly left the room and went down to charms. The charms lesson flew by- literally. When lunchtime came Harry was starving. He piled Chips and steak and kidney pie onto his plate. "You're seriously going to eat all that?" asked Ginny eyeing his very full plate. Harry nodded, "Of course. I'm a growing boy I need my strength, especially since I have double potions next. Where going to be learning about healing potions." Said Harry. "Mhmm vaths wights" mumbled Ron through a mouthful of food. "Yuck Ron!" exclaimed Ginny. "What did you say?" asked Harry. "I said, that's right," replied Ron. Harry nodded in understanding.

After lunch Harry and his friends made their way to their potions classroom. Professor Abigail was already there sitting on her desk as usual. "Good Afternoon young Gryffindors. Don't just stand their take a seat" Professor Abigail waved them in. They quickly took some seats and when the rest of the class arrived she started the lesson. "We are now going to start the subject of healing potions. Today will be a theory lesson on the bone growing potions. Can anyone tell me a name of a bone growing potion?" asked Abigail.

Harry, Hermione and Brooke raised their hands. "Mr Potter" nodded Abigail. "Skele-grow" said Harry. "10 points to Gryffindor. Yes, Skele-grow, nasty tasting stuff that is. Now…" went on Abigail tapping the board making words appear. For the rest of the lesson they took notes and answered questions. It was slightly boring but not too bad. After class Harry dashed up to his dormitory to collect something. He came back with 2 pieces of paper, just as he was finishing putting them up, the others came in out of breath, "Why- did- you- run- all- way- here?" panted Hermione. The others including Ginny were trying to catch their breath. Harry grinned. "I was so excited I just had to post these as soon as possible" said Harry gesturing towards the billboard.

They looked at the billboard and saw two new notices. One was for Quidditch.

QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS!

Quidditch tryouts will be held this weekend on Saturday right after breakfast.

The positions available are three chasers and two beaters.

Tryouts for reserves will also be held for all positions.

We hope to see most of you there.

KANBATTE!

The second notice was for the D.A. meetings

Welcome Back!
I hope you all had a good holiday.

Our next D.A. meeting will be this week on Friday.

It commences at the normal time of 5:50pm.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!

-Harry Potter,

Leader of the D.A.

"The D.A. poster is automatically, magically posted in each common room except the Slytherin's. The few who are in the D.A. they receive a note by Owl post automatically." Said Harry. "Oh. Um, Harry what's kanbatte?" asked Hermione. "It's not Latin, nor Greek, or Italian." Harry laughed. "It seems you don't know everything. When I was back at muggle school we had another language subject. We learnt Japanese. Kanbatte means good luck" explained Harry. "Oh wow. That's a very interesting language. Do you know anything else?" asked Hermione. "Hai!" grinned Harry. "It means yes," said Harry. Hermione was intrigued. "Will you tell me more?" asked Hermione. "Iie. I need to know something you don't," replied Harry.

Brooke laughed. " Harry san wa hen desu." Harry was shocked. "How do you know Japanese?" he asked. "I don't. I just took that from your head" laughed Brooke. "Stay out of my head" fumed Harry. "Why is there things in there you don't want me to know or see?" teased Brooke. Harry looked away so they couldn't see his cheeks were turning a brilliant shade of pink. "No, I just want you to stay out of there. Its my head, my thoughts , my memories and images." Growled Harry turning back to them, thinking his cheeks would have turned back to the normal colour by now.

'Chill Harry. I won't look anymore, I promise. I also promise to tell no one what you were fantasizing about that involved one Miss Weasley' said Brooke slyly by their wonderful telepathy. Harry felt his face burn. Thank god she didn't say that out loud. "Why are you turning so red Harry? What did she say?" asked Ginny. Ron was trying not to laugh at Harry. "My, your as red as a tomato" commented Hermione. "What did she say?" asked Ginny. "Nothing" replied Harry quickly. "Ok" said Ginny slowly looking at him suspiciously. "So, is any of you guys going to try out for Quidditch?" asked Harry, changing the subject. "I am. I want to try out for chaser," replied Brooke. "So am I" added Ginny. Soon they were caught up in an animated conversation about quidditch and they were still talking about it as they headed down for dinner. Harry was just relieved to have changed subjects.