Harry changed and climbed into his four-poster bed. He pulled the covers up, and tried to sleep. He found it nearly impossible though, between the dream from the Burrow and the news that Sirius was nearly captured. Whenever Harry closed his eyes, he pictured Sirius, trapped by Dementors.
The next morning, Harry got out of bed before any of the other Gryffindor boys and went down to the Common Room, and sat down in a large, comfy armchair.
He sat in the chair, looking into the fireplace. He just thought silently. He thought about Sirius, and Pettigrew, as well as the person who followed him. He heard footsteps on the stairs, and turned. It was Hermione.
"Morning, Hermione. You're up early," said Harry.
"So are you," retorted Hermione, Crookshanks purring in her arms. "Can't you sleep?"
"No," Harry said, looking away from Hermione.
Hermione sat down on the floor in front of him. "Harry, hasn't the Ministry been looking for Sirius ever since he escaped?"
"That's true, but now they know he can become an animal," Harry reminded Hermione.
"That doesn't mean they'll find him. It just means that he'll have to work harder to stay hidden. But, Snuffles can hide very well. Also, if he wants you not to rescue him, you probably should listen to him." Hermione sighed, and stood up. "I'm going to get dressed. I'll see you later."
She left, and Harry stayed in the armchair.
After about half-an-hour, Harry decided he should go get ready as well. He quickly got dressed, and went downstairs. Hermione was there too, and Ron came down a few minutes later. The three of them went to the Great Hall for breakfast.
The schedules were already there, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione each found their own schedule.
"We've got Potions first, with the Slytherins…" read Hermione.
Harry nodded, and helped himself to a piece of toast. He wanted to drag breakfast out as long as possible. Potion classes were torture, between Malfoy being in the class and Professor Snape hating Harry and using any excuse to take points off from Gryffindor because of him.
"I wonder if Somorum is any good," Ron remarked, piling sausages onto his plate as he looked at his schedule. "Too bad we've got to wait until tomorrow to see her."
"I think it's nice that Professor Dumbledore hired a witch this year," Hermione said, serving herself some scrambled eggs.
They finished breakfast, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to the dungeons for Potions.
The class took their seats, and Professor Snape came in.
"Today we will be working on a special potion that will require a lot of focus, and hard work. I want no goofing off or careless mistakes. Does everyone understand?" he asked, directing a glance at Neville. "You are all in your fifth year at Hogwarts now. Not only are you expected to be mature, but also you all will be taking the O.W.L. exams next spring. I suggest that each and every one of you pay very, very close attention to what I will be teaching you over the next few months. If you have not paid attention before, I will tell you this now: You will do poorly on the O.W.Ls. I will not be reviewing what you should all know, because there is too much new information for you to learn this year. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes, Professor Snape," everyone muttered.
Snape went on, "I should also inform you that you will be getting one of your first long-term projects today. Part of the curriculum for the fifth year is designing and creating your own potions. You will choose what you want your potion to do and create a potion to do that. Everyone understand?"
Ron whispered, "Mine's going to be to make someone really strong!"
"Mr. Weasley, would you mind paying attention so you can understand what you have to do, or do you care to fail the entire project? Perhaps five points from Gryffindor will help you pay attention," said Snape.
Ron went red and scowled. However, he knew better than to argue, and just mumbled, "Sorry sir."
Snape went on, "In two weeks, you will be turning in to me your ideas for the potion. In three months you will be turning in a list of the ingredients you will be using. In six months, you will be turning in two parchments on the effects and side-effects of your potion on a living subject." At this, people began to get irritated. Snape noticed, raised his voice and said, "To ensure that people do their potions properly, another one of your classmates will have to test your potion." More annoyed exclamations came at this. "If you do this right, none of you has anything to worry about," Snape went on, and then he added, "unless you test Longbottom's."
Poor Neville went red at this, and seemed too embarrassed to speak. Harry scowled at Snape.
Clearly changing the subject, Snape then said, "Today we will be creating a potion that has the ability to make the drinker invincible, but only temporarily, at most an hour or two. At a more advanced level, this potion can make the drinker invincible for up to a day, possibly a week at the longest. It is known as the Rewop potion. But, it is not very different from most poisons, so you must pay attention, and be careful."
Snape then told everyone exactly how to make the potion, using cricket legs, unicorn hairs, and other ingredients. They took notes, writing down each step.
It was supposed to turn out a dark blue when they were finished, but Neville had been extremely nervous, and his was still light green after adding everything. Snape snapped, "I suppose you didn't wait three minutes after adding the ingredients to let them simmer before stirring them?"
"I didn't want to be behind, Professor," Neville whispered.
"Stupid boy! You do know that you've made nothing more than poison? It's lucky for you that I saw this. I'm testing everyone's potions by making them try three drops of theirs," spat Snape. Everyone jerked their heads to look at Snape.
"Try our own?"
"What if we made a mistake?"
"We could die!"
"We only learned about this today, Professor!"
The whole class muttered. Snape hissed, "Silence! I warned you that it was close to poison, so that you would pay attention. If you didn't paying attention, it's your own fault. If you were paying attention, then I warned you not to make careless mistakes. Making errors would be your own fault as well. Now, the potion takes twelve hours to mix, so next class they should be ready. If you are nervous, then remember that I have taught you how to make an antidote." Then, he added nastily and sarcastically, "Come prepared with one next class, if it will make you happy."
The class put their potions in bottles, labeled it with their name, and was dismissed.
The next day, Harry and Ron had to go to Divination, which was their least favorite class. They went to the classroom, and climbed up the trap door, into Professor Trelawny's classroom. The Potions class had been torture, because everyone had brought antidotes except Malfoy. Snape had gotten furious and yelled at everyone about how Malfoy must be the only one of them who had paid attention, since he hadn't brought the antidote. Malfoy had remained silent, and Harry reckoned Malfoy had wanted to bring antidote, but had either had to give his to Crabbe and Goyle so they weren't poisoned, or couldn't remember how to make it.
But Snape had not let the fact that the potions could be poisons stop him from making them test their potions. Harry's had worked, and he had been grateful. He realized that the antidote could have had some effect on that, but he quickly put the thought out of his mind.
Harry took a seat next to Ron. The room was sweltering hot and scented with a rich perfume that made Harry's head swim.
"He's insane! That potion could have killed us," said Ron.
"Could we not mention that now?" whispered Harry.
Professor Trelawny, a middle-aged woman with thick glasses, came in. Harry had asked Ron to stop talking about Potions class because Professor Trelawny was always predicting Harry's death. He had not died, of course, but it still annoyed him.
"Ah! Welcome back students. Welcome to another year of Divination," she greeted cheerfully. She then turned to Ron and Harry.
"I can see it will be a good year, for some," she went on, smiling at Ron. He smiled back. She then looked at Harry, and said, "However, some won't be as lucky."
Harry rolled his eyes, knowing what she was about to say… but she didn't say anything. Harry looked at her and she avoided his eyes. How curious. Maybe she knew that he was expecting her to predict his death.
The class was uneventful. Not once did Professor Trelawny even come near Harry or mention some hint that he was going to die.
She began to drone on and on about how Saturn was in the twelfth house, and how that would affect people born in winter. She seemed out of it, as if she was bothered by something else. Harry himself began to feel sleepy and her clear voice became less distinct.
She did not even assign them homework, which was odd. However, Harry and Ron were not going to complain.
As he left, Harry felt as if something was bothering her, but not anything about the future.
"Harry, she didn't predict your death at all today," Ron said, smiling.
Harry nodded. "No. Is it me, or did she seem preoccupied?"
Ron shrugged. "Maybe she's getting a hard time from McGonagall."
Harry frowned. Professor McGonagall hated Divination, but that had never seemed to bother Professor Trelawny. "I dunno. It hasn't gotten to her in the past."
"Doesn't matter. We've got our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class next. I'm curious what Professor Somorum is like," Ron said, changing the subject.
They walked along the hall, and reached the classroom. Hermione was outside, waiting for them.
"There you two are!" said Hermione.
"Professor Trelawny didn't predict Harry's death today," said Ron.
Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Really? Let's talk about this in the classroom, we want to get good seats."
They entered, and took three seats next to each other.
Neville came in, and sat down next to Ron. "I passed Snape. He told me that I'd be lucky to get any points on the O.W.Ls for Potions."
They all felt sorry for poor Neville.
Everyone found their seats, and waited. However, the bell rang, but Professor Somorum wasn't there. The students began whispering to one another, wondering what had happened to her, what she would be like.
She flew in five minutes later and slammed the door shut. She raced to her desk and threw down her books.
"S-sorry. H-Had to talk — t-to Professor Mc-McGonagall," she panted, out of breath. She was completely unlike she had seemed on the train, and acted nervous, unsure of herself. She took a couple deep breaths, and exhaled slowly. She swallowed, and said, "I apologize for being late. My name, as you probably know, is Professor Somorum. I actually went to Hogwarts myself, regrettably only a year. However, I met some very interesting people already and am glad to have returned." She pushed her hair out of her face and smiled. Slowly, she regained her composure.
"Now, you're here for Defense Against the Dark Arts. According to Professor Dumbledore, you have learned about creatures, and curses. So now, I'm going to take you a little off of the road most teachers would take. I believe that there are ways to see into people — to be more aware of their feelings, and emotions. And, perhaps even away to tell people who are evil, or who are werewolves, or something else. I am going to teach you how to tell someone else's emotions, by looking deep into their eyes. Perhaps when you are finished with the class, you will even be able to tell who're werewolves, or evil wizards." She seemed very excited about everything.
Hermione raised her hand. Professor Somorum turned to look at her.
"Yes?"
Hermione said, "Well, not to be rude Professor, but that seems a lot like Divination."
Professor Somorum laughed and came over to Hermione's desk. She bent down, and put her elbows on the desk. "Well, Hermione, could you define Divination for me?"
"Certainly, Professor. Divination is seeing into the future, and knowing what is going to happen," Hermione answered, barely taking a breath.
"Very good Hermione. But, that's not what I'm going to teach you. I can't tell you when you'll run into a werewolf, or when Ron will meet a vampire. Or even when Harry will come across his enemy. I can only tell you how to recognize dangerous things like those when you do meet them. Do you understand?" asked Professor Somorum.
"Yes, Professor," whispered Hermione.
"Now, don't be embarrassed, Hermione. You're Transfiguration professor, Professor McGonagall, made your same mistake. She wanted Professor Dumbledore to not hire me. I can still remember her fighting with him." She moved towards her desk, and suddenly snapped around, looked furiously at Harry, and did a frighteningly accurate impression of Professor McGonagall, screaming at the top of her lungs. "'You can't hire her, Albus! She won't teach them anything except Divination! She'll be the worst teacher ever! You can't hire her!'" She even banged on Harry's desk with a fist, and a loud thump. Harry jumped, and everyone was stunned at this outburst.
She breathed deeply a couple of more times, and then sighed. "Please excuse me… I am still a little angry that Professor McGonagall refuses to accept me as a Hogwarts teacher." Harry looked down at the small dent that was now in his desk and then back at Professor Somorum. "Now, if you will open your books to page three." The class quickly obeyed. There were loads of pictures, which were all moving because it was a magic textbook. "Good, now, you see thirty different blocks, each with a separate picture in it. One of these people is a werewolf, and another one is a vampire. And another one is — an evil wizard." She didn't say the name of the evil wizard, but Harry shivered, knowing who she meant.
Voldemort's picture was in there? How in the world were they allowed to put a picture of Voldemort in the textbook?
Suddenly, the door to the classroom opened. Everyone turned as Professor McGonagall came in.
"Good morning, students. Good morning, Professor Somorum," she said pleasantly, standing at the front of the classroom.
"Is there something I could help you with, Professor McGonagall?" Professor Somorum asked, seeming irritated at this interruption.
"No, Professor Somorum. I'm just saying hello." Professor McGonagall gave a smile, which surprised Harry. Professor McGonagall never smiled at anyone except Hermione. She and Professor Somorum just stared at one another for a few minutes, while the students watched, bewildered.
Finally, Professor McGonagall seemed satisfied and headed towards the door. "Goodbye." She left.
Professor Somorum stared at the door bitterly for a minute and then turned back to the class. "Now, I'll give you some help. Werewolves always have a wild look on their face, an odd combination of fear and wildness. Vampires always look a little bloodthirsty, clearly, and are pale. As for evil wizards… they always have a look of anger, and secretiveness. There is only one of each on this page. Now, since this is your first time, I'm not expecting perfect answers, don't worry. So, once you think that you've found them, call me over, and I'll take a look. Off you go," she smiled, and sat down at her desk, shuffling through some papers. Then, she looked up and called out, "Oh! Before I forget, read all of chapter one and give me a one paragraph summary of it for homework!"
Harry turned to his book. All those faces, and one was Voldemort. Harry began looking through the rows of pictures. The first row looked normal, nothing like what Professor Somorum had said. He looked at the second row. The last picture had a young woman, who had a kind of fear in her eyes, as well as wildness. "She must be a werewolf," Harry muttered to himself. He went on to the next row, and saw a man, who seemed violent, and kept running his top teeth over his bottom lip. His skin was a little paler than most people and Harry knew that he must be the vampire.
Harry had found the werewolf and the vampire. That meant Harry had to find Voldemort. He glanced in the next row, and the next row, and the next. Finally, in the last row, in the middle, Harry saw a dark-haired, pale boy. He definitely seemed angry and like he had secrets. He also looked like Tom Riddle, Voldemort's sixteen-year-old self, who Harry had seen in his second year.
"Voldemort," Harry whispered. Ron nearly fell out of his seat. Everyone turned to look at him.
"What did you say You-Know-Who's name for?" asked Ron.
Everyone grew tense at this, and Professor Somorum stood up. "Harry Potter seems to be the only one of you who realizes that Voldemort is the evil wizard shown on the page." Some people gasped at her having said Voldemort's name.
Hermione grew pale. "Why?"
The whole class started talking out-of-turn.
"You-Know-Who's picture?"
"Why the heck did they put that in here?"
Professor Somorum held up her hand for silence. "Listen, it's just a picture. It can't hurt you. Do you understand?"
Everyone nodded. Hermione whispered, "Why did they have to put You-Know-Who's picture? Are there plenty of less evil wizards?" Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Voldemort is the easiest to spot as an evil wizard, for he was always proud of being one," explained Professor Somorum. "However, if you haven't found him, and do not wish to, I understand," she added, taking her seat again.
Harry raised his hand, and her eyes flew up to it, and she gracefully walked over.
"You've found them, Harry?"
"Yes, Professor. Here are the werewolf and the vampire, and here's — Voldemort," said Harry, whispering Voldemort's name.
"Don't be afraid to say his name, Harry. Of everyone, you should have the least fear of Voldemort. After all, no one else has survived him. Yes, that's all correct, Harry. Good job, Mr. Potter." With that, she left.
He sighed, and turned to his book, and flipped ahead.