Thanks for the reviews, they were wonderful…

Chapter three. Don't own canon characters, I think you know who those are.

Harry rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he looked at the new notice on the board in the Griffindor common room.

"Quidditch tryouts-September 5th, Friday at six o clock-

Positions open-two beaters, two chasers.

Please bring your own Broom and BE PROMPT!"

The signature at the bottom was clearly Alicia Spinnet's-Angelina had graduated last year, along with Katie Bell, and the last of the chasers of the team throughout his years here had taken up the Captaincy. Next to Harry, and Ron, if he really counted, she was the senior most returning team member. Ron came up behind, adjusting his tie and running a hand through his hair. He glanced at the notice with a carefree glance.

"Reckon there's any untapped Quidditch talent in Griffindor house this year who'll be willing to try out for the team?" Ron asked as they went down to breakfast.

"Well, we've got some brothers and sisters from Quidditch playing families…Ginny might go out for Chaser, y'know." Harry looked at Ron for his reaction, but if there was one, his red haired friend hid it well.

"It'll be good to have some new blood on the team, though."

"Good morning, Harry, Ron." Both boys turned to see Professor Malfoy standing behind them.

"Good morning, Professor."

"Couldn't help but over hear about the Quidditch tryouts. Mind if I drop by Friday evening-I've heard so many things about your flying talents; I'd like to see for myself." Ron nodded mutely, and Harry managed a small smile.

"Certainly, Professor. Be glad to have you there. Maybe you can show us a few tricks yourself." Alicia put in from down the table, flicking a cinnamon hair out of her face. The Professor smiled and went up to the staff table to finish her breakfast. Harry looked at the Captain.

"What d'you mean, show us some tricks? I didn't know Professor Malfoy played Quidditch."

"Harry, Gabrielin Malfoy lead the Slytherin team to victory every one of her playing years here. She was one of the best Chasers that team's ever seen. She's got her name over all sorts of Quidditch Awards in the Trophy room-She's practically a legend, and she could have played for her pick of clubs if she hadn't decided to go finish her magical studies at the University in Ireland. Now, you did read about being prompt, right, you two?" she asked, her face critical.

The two boys nodded, finished attacking their eggs, and went to retrieve books for Defense against the Dark Arts.

"So, is everyone looking forward to Quidditch season starting?" Professor Gabrielin asked pleasantly as her class took their seats. There were some whoops from the Slytherins, a few cheerful smiles from the avid Griffindor fans in the group. "Has everyone done the reading? Right then, on to better business. Zambini, can you tell me the three elements traditionally used for wand cores. Speak up please, there is an echo in here."

" Dragon Heartstring, Unicorn hair, and Phoenix tailfeather, ma'am." Blaise said, standing as though to recite. Professor Gabrielin nodded, and he sat down.

"Those are the traditional wand cores-each has it's own mystic properties and when properly coupled with the right wood can have different effects. Now, can anyone tell me some untraditional core substances. No need to raise hands, just shout out.

"Unicorn Tail hair!"

"Gorgon blood!"

"Veela Hair!" Harry chimed in. Professor held up a hand, and turned her gaze to Harry.

"Excellent, Mr. Potter. May I ask where you learned of the use of 'being' hair in a wand?" She asked, intently gazing at him. Harry swallowed.

"One…of the participants at the Triwizard Tournement-Fleur Delacour…she had a veela hair in her wand; one of her grandmother's, I believe."

Professor Malfoy nodded, the answer satisfactory with her quizzing, and drew forth from her own pocket a rather long wand made of silvery gray wood. "This is my wand-It was fashioned by a great craftsman within my relations especially for me on the day of my birth. It was made from a type of tree native to where my mother grew up, now extinct in most former forests. Inside is contained one Elf hair."

Hermione raised a hand.

"Professor, do you mean a house elf? Because as far as I've noted, they have no hair to speak of."

"No, Miss Granger. An entirely different breed of Elf. But them we will save for another discussion. Now, what types of wood are typically used in wands?"

By the end of the period, the chalkboard, which had been magically taking down all suggestions offered by the class, was full. Professor Malfoy glanced at the clock on the wall.

"For homework, I would like you to compose three paragraphs on the wand substance of your choice, outlining in your paragraphs the magical properties of the substance, where typically the substance can be found and used, and what uses the substance has in other fields, specifically potion making. Professor Snape has told me he has several books at his disposal that might be useful to any of you. To be handed in next time I see you, which shall be next Monday. And good luck to all of you trying out on Friday, since I will not be seeing you the rest of the week."

Hermione stayed behind to chat with the Professor over possible topics for her paper-

"And the possibility of extra credit too, no doubt. She'll probably be asking now what's the rarest thing in the books and where she can find information on it. And when the three paragraphs are done they'll each get their own roll, no doubt. You realize that as we get older, Hermione's essays get longer?" Ron said glumly as they made their way to Potions. Harry could only nod.

At lunch, Hermione was brimming with idealism for her paragraphs, having just gotten back from the library, her arms full of books, all bound in half rotten leather looking several millennia old.

"Madam Pince said no one's checked these out in ages! And they're really interesting too… This one especially-it was written by a man and his nephew! It's all about-"

But the rest of the table never heard what it was about, because Hermione was cut of from brandishing the red leather covered volume by Ron, his voice stretching annoyed, his fork poised inches from his pork roast, quivering with indignation.

"Hermione, can you let us eat in peace! This is the one time of the day I don't have to hear about homework, essays, and the way I screwed up so badly in potions today that far from producing a sleeping potion, I ended up with a stimulant so powerful you wouldn't need to sleep for a week! Please, don't ruin lunch-this pork is good." Ron gave her a patronizing, puppy dog look that shut Hermione up quickly. She finished the remnants of the mashed potatoes on her plate and rushed off, toting her pile of books back to the Griffindor common room for the remainder of lunch.

"Ron, if you're not careful, you're going to wind up married. You two bicker like an old couple." Harry noted, attacking his pork roast. A grunt in lieu of a reply from Ron, and the table went back to sullen silence.

Yeah, I'm psychic. We all know it. Sure…

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