The Devils Triangle
Chapter 6: Changes
"The Munchkins get smaller every year, I swear!" Ron said as they watched the parade of terrified first years file into the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony.
"Alcot, Emmet," Professor McGonagall called. A tiny black haired boy climbed onto the stool in front of the professor.
"Look at the shifty eyes; that's a Slytherin!" Ron pronounced.
"No way, Ravenclaw," countered Hermione.
"I'll agree. Ravenclaw," chimed Ginny
"Why do we always play this game?" whined Harry. "We never get it right!"
"Gryffindor!" pronounced the sorting hat.
They all clapped and cheered and welcomed the new Gryffindor into the fold.
"We play it to keep our mind off the fact that they won't feed us until the bloody ceremony is over! Where were you girls on the train today, anyway? You never showed up!"
"Are you kidding Ron?" Ginny exclaimed. "That compartment was so packed with girls we couldn't get near it!"
"Slytherin," Ron predicted, looking at the young girl on the stool.
"You always say Slytherin Ron. What's with that? Hufflepuff," predicted Harry.
"They all look like sneaky Slytherin snakes at that age!" Ron commented.
"You'll make a wonderful father someday Ron. Gryffindor," giggled Ginny.
"Hufflepuff!" announced the hat.
"Yes! I got one!" exclaimed Harry.
"Did you boys meet any nice girls on the train today?" Hermione inquired with an innocent smirk.
"Sure, they were all nice," Ron said.
"I think I have a date," Harry added.
"You think?" Hermione giggled.
"Well, I don't know. We're studying in the library evening after next. Is that a date?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes Harry, within the realm of our limited existence, that constitutes a date. Congratulations!"
Harry grinned at Ginny. "Cool! I have a date!" Then he leaned over and whispered to Ginny, "I wish I remembered her name."
"Harry!" Ginny laughed. "Rule number one: Girls like it when you remember their name! Who is she?"
"She's a Hufflepuff, your year. Chaser on the Quidditch team, long dark blonde hair, pretty."
"Sitting across from Susan Bones?" Ginny pointed subtly. Harry craned his neck to look. It turned out the blonde girl was also looking towards Harry, but broke into giggles and looked away when he met her eyes.
"Yes."
"Her name is Constance Cromwell. She's very nice."
"Constance! That's it, I remember now."
"What about you Ron?" Hermione asked. "Do you have a date?" She desperately tried to appear as if she really didn't care about the outcome of her question.
"Nah! Many tried, none succeeded!" he said waggling his eyebrows at Hermione, making her grin and blush.
"Simons, Astrid," Professor McGonagall called.
"Oh, look at this one! Hufflepuff," Ginny exclaimed as the latest firsty climbed onto the stool. She was a very delicate looking girl, with a purple velvet ribbon holding back her pale blond hair which fell in soft ringlets down her back. Ginny couldn't really see clearly, but it seemed her huge eyes were violet. She was breathtaking.
"She's beautiful, she looks like an angel," Hermione exclaimed. "Hufflepuff, definitely."
"Now, that's what I call a girly girl!" Ron cringed. "I'll go with Hufflepuff too."
"I'll say Slytherin, just to be contrary!" Harry laughed.
"Slytherin!" the sorting hat exclaimed.
"Whoa! Did you see that? The hat didn't even touch her head before it called Slytherin!" Ron was shocked. "That doesn't bode well."
Ginny had been sitting with her back to the Slytherin table, but now she turned to watch the girl walk past her. She wanted to see if her eyes were really violet, and they were. Her eyes were the most extraordinary color Ginny had ever seen, but the little girl seemed quite tense and pale and overwhelmed by her new surroundings. Ginny felt sorry for the poor little thing, it must be a mistake… she can't belong in Slytherin House.
Ginny met Draco's eyes as the little girl passed by her; he nodded to her and returned to his conversation with Pansy. She had barely seen him all day, but he passed her in the aisle of the train as he came out of the Prefect's meeting, smirked at her and said nothing. Then he had sequestered himself in a compartment on the train with Pansy Parkinson for the remainder of the trip. He was sitting only six meters away from her right now, but he might as well have been in another world. Last night seemed like a decade away.
Finally, to Ron's great relief, the feast appeared before them and they all began to eat.
"Hey Gin, game of chess after dinner?" Harry asked.
"I can't, I promised Dean I'd spend some time with him; I spent about two minutes with him on the train. Sorry."
"No problem," he said, trying to hide his disappointment.
"I'll play with ya mate!" Ron chimed in. "I'm sick of getting my butt kicked by her anyway; no fear of that playing you." Harry glowered at him. "Hey Gin, did Hermione fill you in on what you missed in the Prefect's meeting today?"
"No. Come to think of it, I'm rather surprised; I've been waiting for a lecture about my responsibilities."
Ron and Hermione grinned at one another.
"She has so much to learn, hasn't she Hermione?" Ron smirked.
"Yes she does!" Hermione giggled, in spite of herself. "Ginny when a Prefect fails to attend a meeting, they don't get lectured; they get assigned to whatever awful duty is being doled out at the time."
"Oh no! What do I have to do?" Ginny gasped.
"Well, the least popular night to patrol the castle in Friday night, and now it's yours," Hermione informed her.
"EVERY Friday night?" Ginny exclaimed. "What if I have a date?"
"Oh, you'll have a date alright!" Ron laughed. "Tell her the best part Hermione!"
"Well last year, certain prefects, from a certain house were abusing their point taking privileges. So this year Dumbledore is requiring that prefects partner with someone outside of their house. Promote inter-house unity and all that," Hermione was clearly not taking as much glee from the situation as Ron.
Ginny's eyes went wide. "What are you telling me Hermione?"
"Malfoy. You've been partnered with Malfoy." Hermione's lips twitched the slightest bit; however Ron was howling. Harry was grinding his teeth.
Ginny's expression was positively Slytherin in its blankness. One couldn't tell what she was thinking; however she was very confused by Ron's reaction.
"How did that happen? And Ron, what's so funny? I would think you'd be in a strop about this."
"Well firstly, I've been told to say out of your love life, so this is me staying out of it. Secondly, I figure it's only a matter of time before you Bat-Bogey the bastard into oblivion. I'm all for that! Better him then me certainly! Thirdly, I was impressed by how quickly he jumped on the opportunity. The instant Headboy-git Marshall noticed you were missing and assigned you Friday nights, Malfoy jumped at the chance. 'I'll take Fridays, with the Weaslette,' he said. You've got to admire a man with a plan!" Ron chuckled. "Seriously Gin, if he gives you any trouble, you come to me. Okay?" Ginny nodded.
Dinner ended and it was time to roundup the first years and herd them back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry wanted no part of this exercise.
"I'll see you guys back in the common room," he said standing.
"Harry, don't forget the new password is 'Glamour Charm,'" Ginny smirked, remembering the morning's events.
"Really, and who came up with that password?" eyed Harry.
"Ron," she smiled. Harry started to leave the Great Hall when she called, "Wait, Harry! Rule number two: Girls like it when you smile and wave at them from across the room; even if you're only on your way out." Harry grinned and nodded.
Ginny and Hermione watched as Harry did as he was told; sending the group of girls surrounding Constance Cromwell into a fit of giggles and whispers.
"Ginny, you'll turn him into decent boyfriend material yet," Hermione laughed.
"It's a big job," Ginny giggled.
"My only question is: Are you training him for someone else, or yourself?" Hermione asked with a smirk.
Ginny blushed. "Hermione! Don't you think I have enough on my plate at the moment between Dean and Malfoy? You want me to open the Harry Potter can of worms as well?"
"It might be a can of worms worth opening in the near future. It's time may have come. Besides I don't think that can is sealed as tightly as you claim it is," Hermione said dryly as they assisted Ron in lining up the first years.
The sound of loud bawling suddenly echoed through the Great Hall. Ginny saw that the little violet eyed Slytherin girl had broken down and was crying her eyes out. Ginny's heart broke for her.
"What's wrong with you?" Malfoy asked her sharply.
"I waaaaant myyyyy mummmeeeee!" she bawled looking up at him. She was so tiny she barely reached his chest.
Malfoy growled in disgust. "You're a Slytherin now; you don't need your mummy! And Slytherins don't cry!"
"I waaaaant myyyyy mummmeeeee!" she bawled again.
"I don't think you're a Slytherin at all! I think you're a Hufflepuff!" Malfoy taunted viciously, earning several nasty looks from the Hufflepuff table.
The little girl's eyes met Malfoy's with a gleam of defiance.
"Is that what you want? You want me to march you over there and give you to Hufflepuff?" The girl shook her head vehemently and she swallowed her sobs.
"Good then, buck up and get in line! The rest of you pay attention. If you get lost on the way to the dungeons, I'm not going looking for you! We lost two last year, only found one skeleton so far. Move along."
Ginny's mouth hung open in horror.
"That's quite a lover-boy you've got there Gin. I hope you're very happy together. Oy! Munchkins, this way," Ron chuckled as they began to lead the first years out of the Great Hall.
"What was I thinking? Did I think he'd miraculously changed? He might be even worse now! Oh Gods! I have to spend every Friday night with that monster?" Ginny groaned.
After an hour of settling the first years into their rooms, which consisted of calming several crying jags and hunting down missing stuffed animals, Ron, Hermione and Ginny joined Harry in the common room.
"I swear we weren't that immature when we were first years! And some of them are randy little buggers!" Ron puffed as he took his seat at the chess board opposite Harry. "We didn't cry when he came to school for the first time, did we Harry?"
"No, I was too happy to be away from the Dursleys," he said making his first chess move.
"Ron they're just children, show some compassion," Hermione huffed as she settled in to read a book.
"Right, well I'm just glad for a little peace and quiet."
"Mr. Weasley, a moment please," Professor McGonagall had suddenly appeared in the common room.
"Oh, bloody Hell, what now? Somebody need their bum wiped?" Ron grumbled under his breath. "Ginny, play Harry while I'm away, will ya?"
"Yeah, sure." Ginny moved into Ron's seat as he left the room with the Professor.
"I thought you were with Dean tonight?" Harry asked.
Ginny shrugged. "I'm waiting for him. He's up in the dorm with Seamus; he already spent the entire train ride with Seamus! I swear, he's happier to see him than he is to see me."
"Boys!" Harry said mockingly.
"They're only trouble!" Ginny said, as she glared at Harry for teasing her.
"Umm…" Harry began, "it's not really my business… I'm just curious about the protocol of such things… but…"
"Spit it out Harry," Ginny giggled.
"Are you going to tell Dean about your hypothetical date with Malfoy?" he asked cautiously.
"Oh Gods!" Ginny groaned in agony. "How am I going to get out of that? You should have seen Malfoy after you left. He was a horror, yelling at that poor little violet-eyed girl who was crying! Oh Gods, and Dean! I don't know, do I tell Dean?" Ginny's head was in her hands.
"If it were me, I'd want to know," Harry said, trying to be helpful.
"But that date won't ever happen. Do I have to tell Dean?" Ginny pleaded.
"I think you do, Gin. You accepted a date with another bloke. Even if the circumstances are a bit unusual, it's an important bit of information."
"Hermione?" Ginny pleaded desperately.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Harry on this one Ginny," Hermione supplied without raising her head from her book.
"Damn you, Potter!" Ginny pouted.
"What did I do? I'm not the one snogging Malfoy."
"We did not snog! He barely touched me!" Ginny said indignantly.
"Barely?" Harry asked raising his eyebrows.
"My hand, he held my hand and stuff. I've done far more questionable things with you over the past month. Should I tell Dean about those too?" Ginny asked tartly.
"No," Harry supplied quickly. "No need to mention any of that."
Hermione snickered into her book, but said nothing.
"Convenient conscience you have there, Potter," Ginny said coldly. "Alright, I'll tell him. Damn, I was hoping for a good snog tonight too."
Harry chuckled and shrugged, "So snog him first, and then tell him."
"Damn you, Potter! What the bloody Hell did you do?" Ron roared, as he reentered the common room.
"Pardon?" Harry shrieked in surprise, wondering how he could be cursed by two different Weasleys in less than five minutes.
"I don't need your charity Potter! You turned down Quidditch Captain, didn't you?" Ron hissed at him.
Harry grinned, his eyes lighting up for his friend. "No, she didn't offer it to me. You captain then?"
"Ron!" Hermione gasped putting down her book and sitting forward in her chair.
"Ron, that's brilliant!" Ginny exclaimed jumping out of her seat.
"No way, I don't believe you! What did you do?" Ron said, glaring at Harry.
Harry sighed heavily. "Professor McGonagall called me into her office while you three were busy herding first years. She asked me who I thought was most qualified to be Quidditch Captain this year and I answered her honestly. I told her you'd been playing the game your entire life, you knew each position well enough to train new players and that you were better at strategy than anyone in the school. She said: 'Thank you Mr. Potter, I tend to agree with your assessment, you may go.' I was being honest, not charitable."
Ron was dumbfounded. "Blimey, sorry mate."
"Congratulations Ron," Harry said sincerely. Ron stood there, with his mouth hanging open.
"Ron!" Ginny cried jumping up and down and forcing Hermione to stand and jump with her, "what's wrong with you? You're Quidditch captain!"
A slow smile blossomed on Ron's lips spreading to his face, and finally his eyes burst with joy. He jumped up and grabbed his bouncing sister in a fierce hug and spun her around. "I'm bloody Quidditch Captain!" he howled. He then put his sister down and threw his arms around Hermione to spin her and started to lift her up. But instead of spinning her, he pulled her close and kissed her quickly on the mouth. Harry and Ginny suddenly found the chess game very fascinating. Time stood still for Ron and Hermione, as they realized what Ron had done. Ron slowly lowered Hermione till she was on her own two feet again and he was no longer holding her, their shocked gazes never breaking.
"Right then," Ron said clearing his throat, and looking towards the fireplace.
"Congratulations Ron, I'm really happy for you. You'll be a brilliant captain!" As Hermione spoke she grabbed one of Ron's hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. He quickly looked back at her again.
"Thanks, … 'Mione, er… Hermione," Ron gulped, and then grinned.
"Hey Gin, sorry I took so long, ready to go?" Dean said as he burst into the room.
"Damn! It was just getting good!" she whispered to Harry. "Yeah Dean, let's go." Ginny and Dean left through the portrait hole.
Ron and Hermione's discomfort was becoming painful for them, as well as for Harry who was now sitting in front of the chess board with no one on the other side.
"Ron you should… um… go back to your chess game," Hermione said to offer a way out. He finally turned away from her.
"Alright."
"So Ron, when are Quidditch tryouts?" Harry asked to get Ron's mind off the kiss.
"Bloody Hell, I'm the Quidditch Captain! Um… tryouts as soon as possible, yeah. I'll book the pitch tomorrow and post the notice tomorrow night. I've got a lot of work to do, but we are definitely going to win the Cup this year, Harry!"
Hermione chuckled at how easily she was forgotten.
It was well after curfew when Dean stomped into the sixth year boy's dormitory mid-rant. Harry and Ron were awake, still discussing plans for the new Quidditch season.
"Bloody fucking git! ... Sodding Malfoy! ... Bloody Hell! Your bloody sister is balmy! What the bloody Hell is a hypothetical date?" he raged at Ron as soon as he spotted him.
"Ginny mentioned that, did she?" Ron cringed.
"Mentioned what? The fact that she's already lining-up blokes for after we break-up? Yeah, she might have mentioned that!"
"Dean, it's nothing to worry about really. She hates him, I'm sure she only accepted to shut him up. It'll never happen! She won't break-up with you for him," Ron said, absolute in his conviction.
"Are you kidding? It's Malfoy we're talking about. He'll poison me, I know he will!"
"Harry, tell him," Ron urged "tell him there's nothing to worry about."
Harry's mouth opened to speak but nothing came out. Harry was fairly certain that there was quite a bit to worry about, and he was already worrying, but he wasn't about to bring the wrath of Dean and Ron down on Ginny.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Dean continued, "I finally get a girlfriend who's nice and pretty and doesn't mind talking about Quidditch, then she has to come back from summer holiday transformed into the hottest girl in school! I ask you, what did I do to deserve this?" Dean was looking at Ron, expecting an answer of some kind.
Ron looked as though he'd been kicked in the stomach. "Hang on…what did you say? I mean Ginny's pretty, I know that. But 'the hottest girl in school'? She's not… my little Ginny? ... Please tell me she's not," Ron looked desperately at Dean who nodded at him. "Harry?"
Harry cringed; he'd been praying to the Gods not to be pulled into this conversation. He slowly met Ron's eyes, which were gleaming with barely contained panic. "Yeah, she is," Harry said simply.
"Oh bloody Hell! This is worse than I thought."
Harry felt he had to intervene on Ginny's behalf, or else Ron would be fitting her for a chastity belt in the morning. "Ron, it doesn't change anything. Ginny's fine, she can handle herself. You promised to stay out of her love life."
"Can we get back to the fact that Malfoy's going to poison me?" Dean interrupted.
"Thomas," Ron said, "Malfoy's the least of your problems. I've told you she HATES him, that date will NEVER HAPPEN! Frankly Dean, it's every other bloke in this school you need to worry about, except for me and Harry," Ron paused, his eyes shifting to Harry who was not looking at him, "well, me anyway."
"Oh, brilliant! Potter's after her too?" Dean exploded.
"Ginny and I are friends! I'm going to sleep now! Good night!" Harry resolved that Ginny would have to handle her brother and her boyfriend herself. He drew his bed curtains around with a huff.
Harry woke at dawn, dressed quickly and grabbed his broom. He'd grown to depend on his morning flies to clear his head. He'd forgotten to ask Ginny if she'd join him now that they were back at school, and he was pleasantly surprised to find her waiting for him in the common room. They had a pleasant fly together and returned to the tower to put on their class robes for their day.
During the walk to the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry discovered Ron's animal magnetism on the train was not a fluke. The boys were besieged by girls all along the trip; Harry found that if he smiled at one or two of them, they would happily talk to him instead of Ron. Harry wasn't too proud to skim a few girls off the top of his best mate's bounty and Ron didn't seem to notice or care. The boys happily paused to talk to friendly girls along the way.
Ginny and Hermione, however did not pause and instead rolled their eyes at one another and continued on their journey. During the next few days at school, Ginny also noticed a marked increase in the amount of attention she received from boys; in fact, boys she'd never seen before would often walk up to her and begin a conversation. This seemed to frustrate Dean immensely, because they would often talk to Ginny while Dean was standing there, and completely ignore his existence.
Hermione, however, noticed no increase in her popularity like her friends were enjoying; hence, she often found herself walking alone to classes and meals during that first week of school.
Hermione Granger knew she wasn't ugly, but she'd never thought of herself as pretty either; she thought of herself as plain, brown and serviceable. It's true she didn't have the classic beauty of Lavender Brown or the exotic loveliness of Parvati Patil, or even the girl-next-door sexiness that Ginny seemed to have developed; however, make no mistake… Hermione Granger was a beauty. She was developing the kind of lithe elegance that commanded attention; her beauty commingled with her intelligence to create a soft glow emanating from within. She had the kind of beauty the shiny girls could only dream of: beauty that would last a lifetime.
Hermione had always taken as proof of her plainness that boys almost never approached her, Victor Krum being the exception. Some boys didn't fall victim to the charms of the "shiny girl" and weren't intimidated by intelligence. These boys had kept an eye on Hermione Granger over the years, and were suddenly noticing that for the first time in over five years Ronald Weasley was not standing constant guard over her. There were a few brave (maybe foolish) souls who felt that it was time to make their move.
But we get ahead of ourselves! Back to the first day of classes.
Draco sat alone at his potions desk as class was about to begin. The other Slytherins had already chosen a partner for the term and they all seemed to avoid Draco. Things had been rather tense in Slytherin house for Draco; no one dared to be openly hostile, he was still a prefect and a Malfoy after all, but few were friendly either. They seemed to be biding their time, waiting for an indication from him as to where his loyalties lay. Parkinson was there for him, as he knew she would be, but she'd dropped potions for her sixth year, thus leaving him alone.
The only two empty seats in the room were next to him, and next to Granger. Then, he watched as Weasel and Scarhead raced into class late; he'd seen them amidst a gaggle of dim-witted females in the corridor earlier. How'd those two twits score high enough on their O.W.L.s to make it into this class? Damn! I'm going to be stuck with one of them.
Ron slid into the empty seat next to Hermione, leaving Harry standing alone gaping around the room desperately.
"Mr. Potter, take a seat. Five points from Gryffindor for tardiness," Professor Snape said as he breezed into the room, "and Mr. Potter, you're expected in the Headmaster's office this evening at seven."
Harry rolled his eyes and took the seat next to Malfoy; both boys had sour expressions on their faces.
"I'm not going to coddle you the way the Mudblood does Potter," said Draco. "Pull your weight or you will fail." Harry shrugged his shoulders as if he could care less.
"Pass your Polyjuice essays forward," Professor Snape drawled icily. "We'll begin this term by brewing Polyjuice potion. As I'm sure you've all written stellar essays, I'm sure you'll need no guidance from me on the practical portion of this class. Begin." Professor Snape began reading the pile of essays before him.
"Well, let's get to it Malfoy," Harry said as he headed for the supply cupboard. Harry gathered the necessary ingredients and passed them to Draco standing behind him. Once he was finished, he noticed Draco looking at him strangely.
"What Malfoy? Did I forget something?" Harry asked.
"No, everything's here, but you just collected 15 ingredients without referring to the book. You have it memorized?"
Harry shrugged. "I guess I do."
The two boys worked well together, considering they barely spoke to one another. They prepared the initial ingredients and set them to boil in the cauldron quickly and efficiently. They set the brewing potions in the cauldron aside, knowing it needed at least a month to brew. They were cleaning their work area and preparing to leave before anyone else had finished. As they left class, they both noted the dark glare that Hermione shot them.
"Think we should go back and volunteer to help Granger?" Draco chuckled.
"Not a good idea," Harry answered with a grin, as he began to walk away from Draco.
"Potter," Draco called after him, "tell the Weaslette I'll come fetch her at 9 p.m. sharp on Friday."
"I'll tell her, but don't expect her to be happy," Harry, said walking away from him with a dismissive wave.
That evening, Harry entered Professor Dumbledore's office at the appointed time. Harry looked around, and although he couldn't put his finger on it, something felt different. The room felt smaller somehow, less intimidating than he remembered.
"Come in Harry, come in. I'm sorry I didn't have more time to catch-up with you at Grimmauld Place; reading your godfather's will was a rather… er, serious business. I trust you had a pleasant summer?" Professor Dumbledore asked as Harry entered his office. Snape was already there with a scowl on his face.
"Yes sir, once I was allowed to go to the Burrow it was quite pleasant," Harry said sitting in the chair the Headmaster had indicated.
"Lemon drop?" he offered. Harry shook his head, no.
"What's this about Professor? You mentioned Voldemort had been trying to access my dreams again. Why?"
"Yes Harry, I'd like Professor Snape to attempt Legimency on you to determine if there has been any change in your abilities."
"No," Harry said with an authority that surprised him as well as the two professors, "not until my questions have been answered."
"Potter!" Snape sneered, "watch your tone!"
"Pardon me Professor Snape, but last spring I learned I'll be forced to play a rather important and unpleasant role in vanquishing the madman that you and your friends so diligently brought to power. Therefore, you'll excuse me when I now insist on being treated like an equal in the process. I will no longer submit to the secrecy and lies that I've been subject to in the past. It's my life and the lives of my friends and loved ones that are at risk here; I will have more control… or I won't participate." Harry didn't know where his words were coming from, but he felt surprisingly comfortable saying them.
"Potter! You arrogant little…"
"Severus, enough," the Head Master, "I agree with you Harry, I realized last spring that keeping you uninformed is just as dangerous as the alternative. We'll try it your way unless it proves to be unadvisable."
"Headmaster, he can't possibly be trusted…" Snape hissed.
"Severus, we've all faced moments when we had to trust against our better judgment; for you, this will have to be one of those times. I, for one, think Mr. Potter is ready for more openness and responsibility," Professor Dumbledore paused to gather his thoughts, and choose his words carefully. "Harry, intelligence received over the summer has revealed two things to us: first, as you know Voldemort has been unsuccessfully trying to access your dreams. I believe he is trying to draw you out to force a battle before you're ready. Although we don't know his reasons, he seems to think there is some urgency to bring this battle to fruition, for a reason that didn't exist even a few months ago.
"Second, the trial of the Death Eaters captured last spring will commence next month. Voldemort supporters within the Ministry are working feverishly to delay and undermine the trial. There have been several break-out attempts at Azkaban. It's unlike Voldemort to show concern for those who follow him once they've been captured, but he doesn't want these particular Death Eaters tried and convicted. Again, we don't know why."
"What do you need me to do?" Harry said quietly.
"Several things. Most important, I need you to be keenly aware of your motivations for any of your actions. If you suspect that your thoughts are being tampered with in the slightest, do not act upon them. Do not leave the Hogwarts grounds without proper backup. It's very important that the trial next month be successful; we will need you and your compatriots to testify. Finally, I need you to allow Professor Snape to access you abilities. May he commence?"
Harry sighed and nodded, turning to meet Snape's cold glare. Snape tried for several minutes to gain access to Harry's mind, but to no avail. He finally gave up in frustration.
"Congratulations Mr. Potter," Snape's tone dripped with insincerity, "your Occlumency skills have increased a thousand fold; I don't suppose we can assume you've been practicing?"
"No, I haven't. Not at all," Harry replied dryly.
"Harry," Professor Dumbledore began, "I would hope our new and more open relationship would go both ways. Tell me, is there anything else you've experienced that you would consider out of the ordinary."
"Yes, I suppose there is." Harry looked into Snape's eyes and wondered what he was thinking, just as he had done at the Burrow with Ron. "I can tell you that Professor Snape is concerned that this evening's roast beef is not agreeing with him."
"Potter! How dare you!" Snape bellowed, as he shut his mind to him. Harry merely smirked at him.
"Harry, you'll have to resume working with Professor Snape to hone your new skills. Anything else?"
"Well there is something else, but I don't know what it is. It's hard to explain, but things have become clearer to me. For starters, I can think more clearly."
"For example?" Dumbledore asked.
"Professor Snape's Polyjuice essay was very easy for me to write. Then, today Malfoy and I began brewing it and I remembered how to do it, word for word as though I was reading the text; that's not like me."
"It certainly isn't," Snape drawled.
"Interesting Harry, I'd be curious to know if this ability continues into the school year with all your studies. Well, Harry we've taken enough of your time this evening, you should return to your friends; we'll talk again soon."
"I have some requests of my own Professor," Harry said.
"Yes, Harry?"
"I want Apparition lessons for myself and my friends, as well as approval to get our licenses as soon as possible. We're only putting ourselves in more danger by not being able to Apparate."
"That's a very good idea. I'll see what I can do."
"I want Hermione to have full privileges in the restricted section of the library."
"Done."
"I want myself and my friends to have private lessons in dueling. We have to learn to fight multiple attackers at once. Last spring's battle taught me that."
"Harry I need you to concentrate on avoiding battles in the near future. However, I'll speak with Professor Shacklebolt. I'm sure he can take some time from his Defense against the Dark Arts duties to tutor you. Anything else?"
"Yes. I'd like to continue the DA this year. I do think there's some interest among the students."
"Another excellent idea. I'd like to be the faculty advisor of that myself if you don't mind?"
"No, of course not professor. I was thinking Wednesday evenings."
"I believe that will work."
"That's all."
"Very well then; good night Harry."
"Good night, professors," Harry wasted no time in making a speedy retreat.
"He's matured," the Headmaster commented after Harry had gone.
"He's only grown more arrogant," Snape hissed.
"What did you make of his abilities, Severus?"
"I believe it's a natural clearing of the mind that happens to boys his age. I did catch a glimpse of something, but he was highly motivated to hide it from me and he quickly tucked it away out of site."
"What do you mean Severus?"
Snape rolled his eyes in disgust. "I mean the boy has only one thing on his mind and I doubt he's even aware of it."
A slow grin crossed Professor Dumbledore face. "And that would be?"
"Ginny Weasley."
The first few days of classes sped by as everyone settled into their new routines. Ron had set the following Monday for Quidditch tryouts and had spent a lot of time trying to recruit the players he most wanted to attend.
"Harry, will you and Ron work with me on Saturday, get me ready for tryouts?" Ginny asked one evening at dinner.
"Sure we'll give you a workout Gin," said Ron, preparing to stuff a huge roll in his mouth. "Have you seen Hermione? I've barely seen her the past few days, and now she's not coming to dinner."
"Well, what do you expect, Ron? You're always chatting up some random girl lately." Ginny said acidly.
Suddenly there was a loud pained scream from the Slytherin table. Ginny turned to see Malfoy jump onto the table in order to cross over to the other side.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Malfoy screamed as he hurled himself over the table and grabbed the little violet eyed girl by the arm. She attempted to run away from him, but he grabbed her, picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder as he left the Great Hall. The little girl was panicked, kicking and screaming for help. Professor Snape had watched the incident casually from the teachers table, then returned to reading his Daily Prophet.
"Oh look! Malfoy's got a girl friend! You're off the hook, Gin," Harry pointed chuckling.
"It's not funny! Shouldn't we help her? We don't know what he's going to do to her," Ginny cried, slightly panicked.
"We can't interfere in another house Ginny; we'd get ourselves in trouble. Look at Snape, he's not even concerned," Harry said.
Ron leaned in and spoke quietly. "I heard that little girl is Muggleborn. And Malfoy hates her."
"That's awful! Poor thing," Ginny exclaimed.
"Oh," Harry remembered suddenly, "Gin, Malfoy said he'd fetch you at 9 p.m. sharp tomorrow," Harry grinned at her wickedly.
"Shut it, Potter! You too, Ron!"
"Hermione! Where have you been?" Ron asked, as Hermione slid into her seat and quickly began to eat.
"Oh, Marshall asked me to help him with something. We haven't finished yet; I'm just grabbing a quick bite and then heading back."
"Oh yes, Ryan has another little job he needs your help with. Hmmm... that's convenient," Ron snapped.
"You shouldn't let him work you so hard Hermione, there are other prefects you know," Ginny interjected, giving her brother an icy glare. "At least eat more slowly, you'll make yourself sick," Ginny said with concern.
"I don't mind, really."
Ron growled under his breath and forced his attention back to Harry and Quidditch.
On Friday evening Ginny was in the Gryffindor common room at the end of a long first week of classes. She now understood why Fridays were the least favorite night to patrol; she been up since dawn and was exhausted, and the thought of patrolling for the next four hours just made her more weary. Ginny was trying to study unsuccessfully; the thought that she'd be forced to patrol with Malfoy just aggravated the large knot of dread in the pit of her stomach.
"Ginny, your date's here; he's waiting outside," Ron grinned smugly as he entered the common room.
"I may as well get this over with," Ginny grumbled as she made her way to the portrait hole.
"Have you seen Hermione? She's disappeared again." Ron asked, rather peeved.
Ginny shrugged grumpily and exited.
Authors Notes:
Thanks once again to Jocjarmom for the Beta, and for the long hours she's putting into this story, much to the dismay of her husband! Everyone should check out her 'Between Fantasy & Reality' outtakes, if you haven't already.
I have to give a couple of credits:
Draco's line: "If you get lost on the way to the dungeons I'm not going looking for you! We lost two last year; only found one skeleton so far." I have no idea where that came from, but I'm pretty sure it's not original. If anyone recognizes it let me know so I can give proper credit.
Also: Draco's cheesy habit of calling girl's he likes 'young lady' was lifted directly from my husband! While we were dating I never could decide if I found it horrifying or charming. It must have worked, I married him!