Chapter 6

The new term begins

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Harry woke before the rest of his friends the following morning. He had slept fine all night, no dreams about Voldermort but his scar felt hot. He decided to go put cold water on it to see if that would help. He got to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror, he felt like he was getting a headache and he looked pale. Removing his glasses, he splashed the cold water on to his face and very gently dabbed his scar. The first day back at schoolwas always nerve wracking so with a deep breath he told himself to relax and not to be nervous.

He started to ask himself what was he nervous about, his classes, his teachers, his O.W.L's, what people were thinking or saying behind his back, what Dumbledore had said the night earlier about all houses joining together and being strong to succeed. That was a lot to worry about and suddenly Harry didn't feel to well, his nerves got the better of him and he ran into a toilet cubicle and vomited.

When he returned to his dorm he found Ron and the others awake.

"You okay Harry?" Dean asked, "You look very pale!"

Harry nodded and said "Yeah! I'm okay just a few nerves first morning back nothing serious."

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In the Great Hall Professor McGongall was handing out her timetables to her house. There was a couple of "Oh no!" and "Double on a Friday that's horrible" from some of the students as she went by.

As she approached Ron, Harry and Hermione she handed over the timetables and said,

"As Prefects of the house I expect all homework to be handed in on time Mr. Weasley. You must show good example to the rest of our house and Mr. Potter, I expect to be holding the house cup again this year so please try to behave and not lose many house points"

Both Harry and Ron's cheeks were very red but for different reasons. Ron was embarrassed but Harry was angry,

"I don't lose house points on purpose and especially not for behaviour issues, Snape hates me, she knows that, he's the only reason I lose points."

He opened his envelope to get the timetable inside; he was still angry and ripped the paper with some force "Ouch" he cried, "Blasted paper cut. This not going to be a good day," he sighed as he placed his thumb in his mouth to stop the bleeding and to ease the sharp pain that was now coming from it.

"Telling me mate" Ron replied, "You should see this schedule, it is not a pretty sight"

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Their first class that day was Herbology with Professor Sprout. Neville was delighted to have this subject first, as it was his favourite. Harry watched him for a few minutes as Neville listened to every word Professor Sprout said and occasionally nodded to the teacher to show he understood and accepted everything she said. Hermione was also nodding away, she was busily taking notes and every couple of minutes she would raise her hand to ask if this or that would appear on their O.W.L paper the following June.

Draco Malfoy was doing the same as Harry looking around the room and watching people. He caught Harry's eyes for a few minutes and with a sneer he looked away and whispered something to Goyle who was sitting beside him.

"Mr. Potter, when you are quite ready, we will continue" Professor Sprout's voice rose, "You have spent the last ten minutes looking around the classroom. Have you lost someone?"

The class began to giggle slightly and Harry felt all eyes were on him. The bell rang and everyone started to shuffle,

"We'll continue this next time Fifth Years and Mr. Potter you will write an essay on what we discussed today to be handed in tomorrow 9 o'clock sharp to the staff room, as you don't have my class tomorrow. The rest of you read over chapter one and we will discuss it next time. Good day."

As the trio left the glass house, Harry wasn't in a good mood. His thumb still hurt from breakfast and now he had extra homework already and it was only the first day back.

"What's next Ron?" he asked hoping it was something he liked, but Ron just crossed his eyebrows and said,

"Well it's not potions, you're safe there but it is Divination"

"Great! Just great" he sighed.

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They left Hermione at the end of the staircase and the two boys headed for the tower.

"Why does there have to be so many steps?" Ron panted, "Definitely don't remember this many last year."

They entered Professor Trelawney's hot dark classroom and went for a small table at the back, Harry had decided the further away from his teacher the better.

"Good morning class" Professor Trelawney began, "Oh! Mr. Thomas do be careful with that chair, if you continue to swing back on it you'll fall over. Oh! Too late are you okay dear?"

"Yeah! Fine!" replied a very red and embarrassed Dean. Harry heard him whisper to Seamus, "I was fine until she caught me off guard and spoke to me, no wonder I fell."

Harry and Ron both tried not to laugh.

"I have already seen your stars for the up coming year" Professor Trelawney continued. "Some of you will do very well, some will do badly and half the class will get the flu in January. Mr. Longbottom, you will spend a short period of time in the hospital wing next Spring but don't worry dear you will be fine."

Neville looked stunned and gave a worrying look to Harry. By the end of the class the Fifth Years left her class in silence, some had tears in their eyes, others too shocked to even speak.

Ron was shaking his head, "Well at least I wont die" he mumbled and raising his voice higher to sound like Trelawney said, "It won't be a good year for you dear, be wary of your friends, be careful of the one who's marked."

"Oh! I wonder who that is" Harry replied sarcastically, "she looked straight at me when she said that. Hermione was right we should have dropped this subject years ago."

Ron nodded in agreement. "What did she say about you, so how long do you have to live this year?"

"Well she started off very interesting and then she was back to her nutty self. She said I was to be careful, well that's obvious and that I was also to watch my back as she can see betrayal by someone close. Oh that I'm one of the people that will get the flu in January and February March time will be adventurous."

"Wow! That's a lot think about, I only have to stay away from you" Ron laughed.

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They reached the Great Hall and joined Hermione for lunch.

"By the looks on both your faces Divination went well" she laughed. Ron and Hermione both sneered back and Hermione coughed and sat down quickly.

As Harry reached for a bread roll McGongall approached the table,

"Mr. Potter can I have a word?"

Harry rose from the table and gave Hermione a look to say "I didn't do anything honest!"

When they were a little away from the table McGongall turned and said, "Harry, I want you to be Captain of the Quidditch team, or do you think it should go to someone else?

"I'm very flattered Professor but I know Angelina Johnson would love the position and as she's on the team longer I would really prefer to give her the opportunity, if that is okay"

"Yes, maybe you are right" McGongall replied, "You do have your O.W.Ls this year aswell. I will leave Ms. Johnson know straight away."

Harry returned to his lunch flattered that McGongall had considered him.

The rest of the afternoon went well and later that evening there was a notice on the notice board confirming that Angelina was made Captain and that tryouts for the position of Goal Keeper was now available because of Oliver Wood leaving.

"So are you going to try out for Keeper Ron?" Harry asked that night when the boys were getting ready for bed. "If you are as good on the pitch as you are just messing around at home then you shouldn't have any problems."

Ron yawned and said, "Yeah, maybe, we'll see, too tired to decide now. Night Harry."

"Night Ron."

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