"I can't believe we have double newt potions first off Monday morning." Said Ron as they were eating breakfast. Professor McGonagall had just finished handing out the schedule.
"This is going to be a killer." Said Harry looking at the classes he had. "And it's not even newts yet." He absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair. Snape first thing wasn't a good omen in Harry's opinion. He sighed and looked over to see what Ginny had for her first class.
"Well, transfiguration isn't too bad to start off with."
"No, that definitely is not as bad as double potions."
"Well, we'd better get going then. We can't be late for Snape's class and we still have to get our books." Said Ron.
"See you at lunch Gin." Said Harry.
The three older students made their way from the Great Hall to their dormitories to pick up their books and quills from their rooms and made their way to the dungeons. They made it there about 5 minutes early and proceeded to pull out their books and quills from their bags to get ready to take notes. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle walked into the class. Malfoy didn't make any comments this time though. He just walked by and took his seat.
Professor Snape walked in and the room fell silent.
"We shall be learning to make a fast healing potion today. Instructions are on the board." He tapped the chalkboard with his wand and the method instantly appeared. "Most of the ingredients are in the student's cupboard. The rest are in my private stock in my office. Miss Granger, will you retrieve the essence of murtlap and dragon's blood." He flicked his wand and the door to the student's cupboard and his office opened. "This potion will have to mature 6 months. It must be stirred once a week. I will know in one week if your potions are correct. If it is wrong, you will do detention with me until you get it right. Begin!"
Harry not wanting to get off on the wrong foot with Snape right off the get go, copied down the method carefully and re-read it several times before he started. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville worked diligently on their potions and by the time they finished the class, had 4 potions that looked and smelt the same.
"Put you names on your potions and store them in the cupboard."
Everyone packed up as the bell rang ending the class.
"Potter, Granger, Weasley, Longbottom… Would you remain? I want a word with you."
A few Slytherin's snickered as they left the room. Hermione lifted her eyebrow as the last of the students left the classroom. Snape flicked his wand and shut the door.
"Professor Dumbledore asked me to look into your incident last evening. He wants to know what it was, if it can be controlled and can it be used in a productive way. I'd like the 4 of you as well as Miss Weasley and Lovegood to discuss it in detail. Shall we say tomorrow at 5 in my office?"
"Professor, that time is fine but I think that perhaps we should have it in the Room of Requirement where it happened the first time. Then we could recreate the conditions that took place." Said Hermione.
"Very well, Miss Granger, 5 o'clock tomorrow, Room of Requirement. You are dismissed."
The 4 Gryffindor's left the dungeon in silence.
"Has the world turned upside down?" Said Ron finally. "Snape was almost sociable to us."
Harry laughed but Neville looked nervous.
"Don't worry Neville. It will be ok." Said Hermione. He gave her a weak smile.
"Well, we'd better get to History of Magic." Said Hermione and they hurried to their class. They settled into their seats and Professor Binns began.
"The intricacies of magic have been studied for centuries. A most famous wizard discovered a great many secrets in his lifetime. He valued knowledge and learning about all things and went to great lengths to gain insight into all things magical. I am speaking of course of none other than Merlin."
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Neville snapped their heads up. Immediately Hermione raised her hand. Professor Binns was unused to interruptions in his class was startled.
"Yes Miss…"
"Granger. Professor, have you ever heard anything related between Merlin and the Veil of Whispers?"
He eyed her suspiciously.
"I'm not sure how you know that connection Miss Granger but I'm afraid I don't know for sure. It seems that he wrote prolifically on a great many subjects. One of his last books, 'The book of Isis', was based on his research of the Veil."
At the mention of the book, Harry raised his hand.
"Yes Mr. Potter?" Said Professor Binns.
"Do you have a copy of this book sir?"
"Ahh," chuckled Professor Binns, "I wish that I had. It is a very rare book. We don't even have a copy here at Hogwarts and we have quite a collection of rare books. There are only 1 or 2 in existence. One is at the ministry, the other is unknown at the present time."
"Now as I was saying…" He brought the topic back on track.
However, Harry wasn't listening. His heart sank. How was he supposed to find out about the Veil if he couldn't get his hands on the book? He had remembered that book from his dream. He was so frustrated. Hermione poked him in the ribs to get him to focus on the class. An hour later, they were walking to the Great Hall for lunch. They met up with Ginny and Luna.
Ginny looked at Harry and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just thinking." And he told her all about Professor Binns class.
"Hmmm, that sounds like a question for you Gran, don't you think? Now lets go eat. I'm starving." She threaded her fingers through his and the 6 A.D.A members entered the Great Hall.
"Oh by the way, we have to go and explain what happened last night to Professor Snape tomorrow at 5 in the Room of Requirement." Hermione said to Ginny and Luna before they reached their respective house tables.
As they were finishing lunch, Harry leaned over to Ginny.
"I believe I owe you a picnic Miss Weasley. May I have the honour of your presence on Saturday at noon down by the lake?"
Ginny giggled. "Of course you may kind sir. I look forward to it. However, currently, my presence is required in Defense against the Dark Arts class with our new teacher. You may have my attention this evening however." And she got up, pecked him on the cheek, and headed off to class.
"Well, it's off to Herbology then I guess." Said Harry trying to hide his embarrassment of Ginny's kiss. A few Gryffindors noticed however and were sniggering along the table. Harry could feel his cheeks begin to warm. "Well, lets go then." Said Harry.
The rest of the day went rather quickly. After Herbology, they had Care of Magical Creatures. It was nice to see Hagrid back at his job. He looked relaxed and his class went exceptionally well. His first lesson was on house elves. Winky was his guest speaker and Dobby sat in on the class as well. After the class was dismissed, they hung behind to chat with Hagrid.
"Well Harry, what did you think?"
"Great class Professor Hagrid!" Harry beamed.
"I've been taking lessons form Professor McGonagall this summer. Things are going to be a bid different this year."
"Very well done Hagrid!" Said Hermione.
"Yeah, that was brilliant Hagrid." Said Ron.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts Hagrid." Said Harry.
Hagrid got emotional and hugged the trio all at once. They had grown since the last time Hagrid had done this, but his massive arms still enveloped them all.
"Hagrid, we can't breath." Said Harry with a muffled voice.
As they walked up to the castle, they discussed Hagrid's first class.
"That was one of his best ever." Beamed Hermione. "And didn't Winky look a lot better this year? She seems so much happier."
"Yes, but did you see her leaving with Dobby? They were holding hands." Ron said.
Hermione stared at him. "Who are you and what have you done with Ron?"
"What? You don't think I notice things. I do. You'd be surprised at what I notice." Ron looked at her with a soft expression on his face.
Hermione blushed and looked away. Harry rolled his eyes and grinned cheekily at Ron who was blushing now himself."
"Come on you two, I'm starving. Let's go get rid of these books and go to supper." Harry said breaking up the awkwardness as they mounted the steps to the castle.
Harry caught up with Ginny in the common room.
"You'll never guess who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Harry." Ginny said excitedly.
"Tonks?"
"Nope!"
"Madeye?"
"Nope!"
"Remus?"
"No, but good guesses though. It's Dumbledore Harry! Isn't that great? Somebody who knows how to teach it!"
"You're joking!" Said Ron. He could see that she wasn't. "But what about his other duties? What about…" He looked around nervously to see if others were listening before whispering… "What about the Order?"
Hermione piped up and said. "Maybe this was more important? Maybe Dumbledore felt is was about time we had a proper teacher. I mean we've had some dreadful teachers in that class haven't we?"
Harry frowned slightly and Ginny picked up on it.
"What's wrong Harry? This is great news isn't it?"
"I don't know. What if teaching takes him away from more important things. Don't you think he'll be needed in the order? Is spreading himself a little thin?"
"Well, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has already thought of that Harry. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
He tried to push away the negativity we was feeling and smiled at her.
"Well, lets go to supper then. By the way Ginny," He said as they left the common room. "What was the class like?"
"It was brilliant!" She said. "We practiced stunning spells mostly but talked about the theory behind it and gave some demonstrations with one of the Aurors."
"That definitely sounds like an improvement." Harry said smiling.
After dinner, they retreated to the common room to do their homework. Hermione and Ron sat at the table playing footsies under it. Harry sat in a chair by the fireplace reading one of his books on defense. He was absentmindedly playing with a strand of Ginny's hair, who was seated before him on a rug cross-legged and leaning against his knees. Ginny was writing an essay for transfiguration.
It was almost surreal for Harry to be enjoying this moment as much as he did. At 8:20 however, Hermione sighed and got to her feet.
"It's time for our patrols. Let's go find the rest of the prefects down in the main hall." It seemed that no one else was keen on ending the moment either, but they went anyways.
When they arrived down in the main hall, the rest of the prefects were beginning to assemble. Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout and Hagrid had already arrived. The 4 heads of house took their respective prefects and each took a separate wing of the castle while Hagrid took Harry and Hermione on a patrol around the castle with Fang.
Harry had wished he had known they were going outside quick enough though as a cold wind swept across the grounds and his teeth began to chatter. Hermione tsk tsked him and pointed her wand at him and performed a warming charm.
"Really Harry, what's the point of knowing magic if you can't think to use it when you need it?"
Harry grinned sheepishly at Hermione and mumbled "Thanks". She smiled back and continued to follow Hagrid.
The patrols were quiet that evening and an hour later, they were all back up in the common room warming up by the fire. The five Gryffindor's took up chairs beside the fire and discussed their first patrol.
"Well, that wasn't too bad." Said Neville. "At least we had Professor McGonagall to patrol with instead of Professor Snape."
"I can't believe how many rooms this castle has and we only searched a quarter of it."
"Well, according to…"
"Hogwarts a History" finished the other 4 laughing.
"Yes, anyways, according to the book," she frowned at them. "Hogwarts Castle is the largest known structure in existence.
"Well that's stating the obvious. Although I found a few rooms that I never knew were there." Said Ron.
"I think I'm going to turn in now. I'm beat and I've got to finish my essay tomorrow morning." Said Ginny. "Good night everyone." She turned to Harry as she sat next to him, and gave him a quick kiss and headed up to the girls dorm.
"Well, I'm off too." Said Neville. "Night."
"Good night Neville."
Harry picked up his books and headed off to his rooms. "Night. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Said Harry leaving Ron and Hermione to themselves.
The common room was quiet now and the only sound was the fire crackling. Ron looked over at Hermione who, in return, was looking back at him. He got up off his chair and walked over to her and took her hand. He led her to the sofa and sat down pulling hr into his lap and wrapping his arms around her. She was tense at first but relaxed against him.
Ron had a growth spurt over the summer and his 6'2' frame was finely tuned from a year of Quidditch training. Hermione seemed petite and fragile in his arms. After awhile, Ron spoke.
"Hermione? I've known this for a while but was too afraid to let you know. I've liked you for quite some time now and I mean more then just friends. Do you feel anything for me beyond just friends?"
"Ron, I'm sitting on your lap right now." She smiled, reaching up and touching his face. "Does that answer your question?" Honestly, you are a bit thick aren't you? I've liked you for quite some time too but I guess I'm just too old fashioned when it comes to my love life. I was waiting for you to make the first move."
He blushed a crimson red. He looked down into her eyes and dipped his head to kiss her softly on the lips. She kissed him right back. They cuddled on the sofa for a while before he realized that she had fallen asleep. He felt very protective of her at that moment. He felt her vulnerability while she was sleeping and unguarded and tightened his grip on her. She sighed in her sleep. He hated to wake her but he knew he needed to get some sleep too.
"Hermione, wake up." He said gently. "It's time to go to bed." Her eyes fluttered open.
"Oh, I'm sorry Ron. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's ok. I enjoyed holding you like that. It's getting late. I'll escort you to your room shall I milady?"
She giggled while he got up in one smooth motion still carrying her and walked over to the Head Girls room, where he let her land softly on her feet. He placed a kiss on her forehead and said goodnight.
Hermione however was still hanging on to his neck and pulled him down towards her and kissed him soundly until she heard the clock strike one. She released him and grinned.
"Pleasant dreams Ron!"
"You too Hermione!"
A half hour later, Ron lay awake in his bed. He couldn't believe that it was finally happening. He had told Hermione how he felt about her and she felt the same way about him. He fell asleep with the stupidest grin on his face.
Hermione in the Head Girls room was fairing no better. She was feeling light headed and very happy. She had been waiting for this moment for a while and was happy Ron had finally figured it all out. If he hadn't made that first move soon, she would have taken matters into her own hand. She too fell asleep with a silly grin on her face.
Author's Note:
This story was written pre Half-Blood Prince, and as such, will not take into account anything that happens in that book. Just a note to remind everyone, that I do not take credit for anything J. K. Rowling has written. I am simply paying her tribute to her characters and her brilliance.
I loved the book! Wasn't it great? I can't believe we have to wait for at least another 2 years for book 7 to come out. Oh well, I guess we will all have to satisfy our Harry Potter addiction somehow. Thank goodness for fan fiction!
Sorry for the long wait between updates. Some major upheaval in my life right now (as well as some sad news), has somewhat blocked my creative juices. I am trying to kick start them but they are a bit slow to react at the moment. Hopefully that will be repaired soon.
I must apologize for the spelling and grammatical errors. However, I hope that won't make you stop reading my fic on that account. I guess I should let you know that I am Canadian so some of my so called spelling mistakes can be chalked up to Canadian language rules. I am also doing this without a beta, and am a bit impatient sometimes to do this myself. Hence the mistakes that have been so kindly pointed out. I do appreciate the comments. That was not meant to be snide. I take them all into account and appreciate the fact that you care so much to leave feedback.
As far as canon goes, I am trying to keep in character for the most part, and I recognize that mistakes that have been and will continue to be made. Please bear with me. I may repost the entire fic later with all corrections (I have been saving all reviews so that I may go back at a later date), once I have gotten thru the initial story.
dragirlian – Snogging means kissing if you haven't already found that out. Also, this is a K+ rated fan fiction, and I have no intention of it becoming anything perverted. Lol. That's certainly not my cup of tea when it comes to Harry Potter fan fiction.
I'm glad you all are enjoying my fic so far.
Expect at least another long wait for my next update. Can't be helped.
Cheers!
HarryPotterNutbar