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Sorry if we take really long to update but we are both in year 10 getting new assignments every week and we live nearly an hour apart so sometimes its hard to get new chapters done.....
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By the way sorry about Zonkos. We realised that it is actually in Hogsmeade not Diagon Alley.
Chapter Four
Ron did not see Hermione until the next day during herbology, because he hadn't seen her in the free period. Hermione was still mad at him, although some of her fury from the previous night had abated. Harry pulled him over and whispered to Ron- "I can't believe you went through her underwear."
Ron looked startled. "How do you know?"
"She told me last night. You should have seen her. I reckon you should apologise, mate. That was pretty stupid of you."
"I thought she overreacted a bit."
"What do you mean you think she overreacted. How would you feel if someone ran into your room when you just about to go to bed, raving like a lunatic, looking for his chameleon and throwing your stuff around and making a mess?" asked Harry reasonably.
"God, Harry, do you realise that you are starting to sound like her. That's what she said last night."
"Don't try to change the subject," said Harry.
"Fine, I guess I would get a little annoyed" said Ron.
"Knowing you and that temper of yours I think you would get more then just a little annoyed."
"All right, all right, I get the point. I'll apologise," Ron said impatiently. "Anyways what was she doing in your room at 3 o'clock in the morning?" he asked with a hint of jealousy.
"She wasn't. I couldn't sleep and I heard her in the common room, so I came to talk to her. I think the whole common room heard. And why do you care so much if she was in my room?" asked Harry.
"I don't. What makes you think I care?" Ron asked a tad too fast. Harry looked at him half suspiciously, half laughing. "You're not jealous are you?" he asked him trying to keep a straight face.
"Jealous? Of what? I'm not jealous..."Ron replied, not very convincingly and his ears turning pink.
Harry just smiled knowingly to himself and didn't reply. Ron scowled. He decided to apologise to Hermione first thing after class.
When the bell rang, he dusted off the dirt from his robes, smoothed his red hair and followed her out of the greenhouse. "Hermione!"
She turned, "What?"
Ron cleared his throat. "I just wanted to say- um – that I -I know what I did wasn't exactly the smartest thing to do and a little stup- pid and well- "
"Ron get to the point," said Hermione impatiently.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled so quietly Hermione didn't hear him.
"What?"
"I'm sorry," he said louder. "I promise I won't do anything like that again and this time to I'm going to keep my knocking before entering promise." He swore he could see the faintest glimmer of a smile on her face.
At last she sighed. "Well, I can't say I'm not embarrassed, but at least you apologized. And hopefully you will knock before entering." Ron nodded looking sheepish.
They walked over to Harry, who had been talking to Seamus and Dean, and they all headed off to Defence against the Dark Arts.
The Defence against the Dark Arts classroom was the same one as usual; Hermine, Harry and Ron chose their seats along with everyone else and waited for Professor Maladict to arrive. Five minutes later, swift footsteps could be heard coming down the hall. Ron craned his neck to see who it was.
At that moment his questions were answered as Professor Maladict walked into the room, her navy blue robes spreading behind her. Her blue- streaked black hair was hanging down her back. Quite a few of the male members of the class followed her with their eyes as she made her way to the desk at the front and faced them, wand in hand.
"Good morning, everyone," she began in a quiet yet strong, clear voice that grabbed the classes attention. "For those of you who don't know, I am the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. My name is professor Maladict.
"Good morning Professor Maladict," answered the boys dreamily while most of the girls sniffed and shock their heads in jealousy and annoyance.
However, by the end of the lesson everyone including the females thought this was a great teacher. "At least we are going to learn something and do practical work this year!" said Hermione excitedly. "And it doesn't look like we are going to be falling asleep in her classes like we did last with Mr Alleymoy. Who thought someone could make Defence against the Dark Arts so boring. Even Umbridge wasn't so boring."
"No one could be worse then Umbridge. Anyway wonder why he retired at the end of last year instead of at the end of this year?" asked Ron.
"Apparently he was sick so he had to retire early," Harry answered. Seeing Ron and Hermione questioning faces he said,"I'm not completely isolated from the magic world during the holidays. Hagrid wrote and told me."
"Oh OK," they said at the same time.
"Anyway, I was thinking that we probably wouldn't need to have the DA this year anymore because Professor Maladict seems like a good teacher." said Harry.
"Yeah plus with NEWTS, you two doing Quidditch and me doing S.P.E.W, I don't think we'll have enough time anyways." said Hermione.
"I'll have to tell the others and hopefully they'll agree."
The rest of the week flew by and Friday finally arrived. It was semi clouded but okay Quidditch conditions. The day seemed to pass agonizingly slow. Charms was their last actual lesson because after that it was their free period then lunch. The three of them decided to spend it doing some homework but Harry and Ron couldn't seem to concentrate. Finally the lunch bell rang and Ron and Harry rushed off to the Quidditch tryouts leaving Hermione behind studying.
When they arrived they saw about 20 or so kids. Some were familiar but others were new faces. Deciding to start straight away Harry said, "Hi, thankyou all for being here. Who wants to go first?"
A small mousy looking boy stepped forward shyly.
"What is your name and what year are you in?" asked Ron trying to sound professional.
"M- my name is Cleeve Westmore. I- I'm in third year," stuttered the boy nervously.
"Which position were you after?" asked Harry kindly as he wrote what Cleeve had said down.
"Umm...chaser." As Cleeve answered Ginny arrived with her broom in hand.
She said to Harry, "Thought you might like some help. What do you want me to do?"
"You can throw the quaffle to the people trying out." answered Harry.
"Ok, we're ready." The boy got on his broom carefully. Suddenly the broom took off with him clinging on. It stopped in mid air suddenly nearly throwing him off. While Cleeve got his broom under control, Ginny also got on her broom and flew into the air. Harry signaled to her to begin.
Cleeve dropped the ball 6 out of 10 times and didn't seem to know how to control his broom. He finally landed after ten minutes or so, waved shyly and walked off embarrassed by his performance.
Harry and Ron went through another 5 or so tryouts before they found someone with natural talent. She was a fourth year with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She gracefully flew through the air and caught almost every quaffle thrown to her. When she landed they asked her for her name.
"It's Lizzie Simmons," she replied in a soft voice.
"Have you ever played Quidditch before?"
"No, but I've seen my brothers play a lot."
"Well thanks for trying out." She walked off the field and went to sit down in the stadium to watch the rest of the tryouts.
The rest of the tryouts didn't go as well with a few exceptions. When it came for Harry, Ron and Ginny to discuss who made the team, the bell rang for afternoon classes and Harry and Ron said goodbye to Ginny and made their way to class. It wasn't until after dinner they had another chance to talk together about it. Hermione had decided to go to the library and help Neville with a particular hard essay Professor McGonagall had set them.
"So, who do you guys think should be on the team?" asked Ron
"I thought Lizzie was good," answered Harry.
"She had some real talent. She can be our second chaser," said Ginny.
"Okay, how bout the rest of them?" asked Ron.
"Well, I also thought Sammy Jinkins was good, but she was a little out there," said Ginny referring to Sammy's outrageous riding. "She hit every bludger that was coming towards her."
Sammy Jinkins was a third year who was a bit of a tomboy. She often played with her older brothers and cousins, so she was used to competing with rough antics. She had brown hair that she always tied up messily, brown eyes and a determined tilt to her chin, which was even more pronounced during a game, when her face was set, ready for action. She was a little wild on the field but she clearly had talent.
"Do you agree Ron?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, I also think Max Lancely would be a good beater if we can make him get along with Sammy," remarked Ron. Max was a fourth year who believed that girls were weak, and could not be beaters. He had made his opinion public when Sammy was trying out. She had retaliated by trying to hit a bludger at him, but he ducked it, narrowly missing his dark hair.
"We only need to fill the last chaser now," said Ginny.
"How about Danny Parker? He was really good, even though he kept mucking around," replied Harry.
"That's right, he was too. He was the last to try out, wasn't he?" Danny was the type of kid who spent more time in detention than anywhere else. He had a cheeky grin, mischievous eyes and sandy blonde hair. He was a fifth year and although he was always in trouble and loved practical jokes, he was still loyal and loved quidditch.
"Ok, so our two new chasers are Lizzie Simmons and Danny Parker and our two new beaters are Sammy Jinkins and Max Lanceley if we can get them to get along."
Ginny posted up the tryouts results before breakfast on the following Monday morning. They received differents reactions. Some were annoyed or upset they hadn't gotten on. Each of the new teams members took the news differently. After Danny read it, he went about in a frenzy of happiness, telling anybody despite if they wanted to know that he was on the team. Sammy walked up to them angrily and asked them why Max had made the team. Max had heard Sammy and came over.
"Well, I don't want to play on a team with a girl beater. Just quit now. No one will miss you."
As Sammy opened her mouth to argue back Harry interrupted, "Wait, I don't want anyone to quit. Your both really good and if we want to have the best team both of you need to be on it. You're going to have to just get along,"
They both looked at each angrily for a second before turning away and storming off in different directions.
"Well, that went well," remarked Ron sarcastically. "Come on lets go, I'm starving."
They all headed out for breakfast.
About half way through the meal post came. A large tawny owl fluttered down next to Hermione and deposited a rolled-up copy of the Daily Prophet by her toast. Hermione fished a knut out of her pocket and paid the owl, which hooted wearily, spread its wings and flew off to the owlery. Hermione set down her goblet of pumpkin juice and picked up the newspaper. Unrolling it, she laided it down flat in front of her on the table. Her eyes scanned the front page for a moment. Suddenly her eyes widened and she beckoned frantically to Ron and Harry.
"Oh my God, look at this you guys!" Hermione, looking shaken began to read aloud:
MUGGLE FAMILY SLAUGHTERED
'Last night a muggle family of 5 was brutally murdered by what appears to be the work of a wizard. The Hensley's-'
Hermione blanched. "Oh my God, the Hensleys!?! I knew their eldest daughter. She used to go to muggle school with me..." she trailed off, looking shocked and upset. She composed herself and continued reading:
' -were found on the floor of their homes on Thursday evening, apparently unharmed apart from the unfortunate fact that they were all dead. Aurors from the Ministry of Magic searched the family's home for clues as to why they were murdered, with little success. The house was found in a mess, as though the attackers had been looking for some thing in particular, though nothing seems to be missing from their homes.'
Hermione finished reading and looked at Ron and Harry. They both looked dumbstruck.
"But why?" blurted out Ron.
"Well, it said the attackers appeared to be looking for something," replied Hermione, voice trembling slightly.
"What would they be looking for?" Harry wondered aloud.
"I don't know, but it must have been important," said Hermione.
"It's Voldemort," Harry murmured.
"What's Voldemort?" Hermione asked as Ron flinched.
"For God sakes Ron," snapped Hermione. "You should be used to it by now." She turned back to Harry.
"Voldemort is behind the attack," explained Harry. "It all fits. For one thing, the bodies were unmarked, unpoisoned, remember? Only the Avada Kedavra curse would do that. It has to be him. Or, on his orders." Hermione nodded thoughtfully. Ron looked anxious.
"But- blimey- I thought You-know-who was supposed to be lying low for a while," he said slowly.
"Well, we all thought that," said Hermione. "I guess we were wrong."
"Yeah," said Harry. "I guess we were."
Sorry if the chap was short. So keep those reviews coming because the more reviews we get, the quicker we update. = )