The next day was a perfectly pleasant day. Sunshine poured through the window which woke Harry up. Harry asked Ron what subject they had first. "We got a free study period now" replied Ron. Harry asked "How about we go and see how Hagrid's doing then". Ron, Harry and Hermione left the castle and went down to Hagrid's cabin. "I thought you three might come down to see me now" Hagrid laughed. "Here would you like some rock cakes"? "Er, no thanks we already ate, and we're really full" Harry quickly said. Ron and Hermione both threw a grateful glance at Harry.
They still couldn't admit to Hagrid that his cooking was dreadful and those rock cakes could break someone's teeth out. "Well you three, I have got some good news and some bad news" Hagrid said. "The good news is that Fang has found a friend and now Furry is expecting puppies". Ron, Harry and Hermione turned around and saw Hagrid's big dog next to a big female brown-furred dog. "Well it just turns out that Furry's old owner moved and Furry needed a home. Now I own Furry." "I don't know about the puppies though, maybe someone in the village could have them." Hagrid said.
"The bad news is that the vampires have gone and joined forces with the dark side" Hagrid hung his head as he told the bad news. Ron, Harry and Hermione were shocked. "Hagrid what side were they on before?" Hermione asked. "They were neutral and didn't harm anybody, just drank conjured blood." Hagrid replied. "This is bad news and since the Death Eaters and You Know Who are on the loose, you three better keep out of trouble." Hagrid meant this and Harry looked grave. Harry did not go looking for trouble, trouble usually found him. With his past of Hogwarts something was bound to happen. What would happen this year was the question that kept ticking in Harry's mind. "You'd best be off now" Hagrid grunted and followed the three out of the door. Harry, Hermione and Ron ran to their Defence against the Dark arts class so they would not be late for their first lesson.
The first lesson of Defence against the Dark Arts was a little different then everyone in the class expected. The middle-aged brown haired man dartingly looked around the classroom and said "Good morning class, I am Professor Dimondale. Today we will be looking at the Patronus charm." "The ministry has asked me to teach you this in case some dementors are being used by dark side." "I know that you have had a lot of different teachers in the past but this year you are going to work very hard." He paused and then asked "Now who could tell me what a Patronus charm does?" Most of the class raised their hands. "Well Mr Potter, could you please tell the whole class" asked Professor Dimondale.
Harry began reciting, "The Patronus charm is a spell used to ward off dementors and," "That's enough, Harry," said the Professor. "Now could you each line up and try to show me the charm. We will use the boggart." "Expecto Patronum" was the words that came out of the majority of students though some spells were weak and little. When Sophie tried hers her patronus was in the shape of an eagle. "Marvellous Sophie", cried Professor Dimondale, "Did you learn this before?" Sophie laughed and said "My old school teacher taught me and said the same thing". Everyone laughed. The professor said "For homework tonight I want a four page essay on the effects of the patronus charm."
"You may go to your next class now" he quietly said. Harry noticed that Professor Dimondale was acting king of peculiar. He seemed to always be following the classroom book and kept glancing around the classroom. After the rest of the students had left Harry stayed back. "Sir is everything alright?" Harry asked. The professor turned to see Harry. "It's just that you seem kind of, well jumpy." The professor collapsed on his desk chair and cupped his head in his hands. "I'm sorry Harry, it's just that it is a very risky job and, well I don't want to be the next to leave." The professor began "Quirrel, Lockhart, Umbridge…" Harry cut him off quickly and said "Why did you take this job then". "I am here to teach those at Hogwarts to defend themselves against evil" sighed the professor. "I was given this job on account of being the only teacher left in this country that was qualified to teach Defence against the Dark arts." Harry turned and raced out of the classroom so he would not be late for Herbology.
Thinking about the last few years of teachers of Defence against the Dark arts Harry could see why Professor Dimondale was a little worried. Professor Quirrel had Voldemort at the back of his head, Professor Lockhart was a fraud whose memory charm backfired, Professor Lupin, well he was a werewolf and could not continue teaching, Professor Moody had actually turned out to be a fake and was a death eater keeping the real Professor Moody hostage. Professor Umbridge was working with the ministry but she had taken over the school and had to be stopped. Professor Snape took over the job in Harry's sixth year and turned out to be working for Voldemort all along and had killed Professor Dumbledore.
"Welcome to Herbology, Seventh year students" Professor Sprout said. "Today could you please get out your book and turn to page four". "The petals of the Spincus flower cure anyone who has been bitten by the Dansh snake." "As you can see these flowers are very useful" she said. Neville Longbottom accidentally tripped over a tree root and Professor Sprout said "Dear oh dear Neville, could you please look where you are going." As the class began running around trying to pick off these brown-coloured petals of the fast running flower, Harry told Hermione and Ron about Professor Dimondale. "Well basically everyone thinks the job is cursed" Hermione replied. The afternoon passed quickly.
The next day Harry was woken up as a blurred image was shaking him. "Harry its Quiddich practise" Ron was shaking Harry, trying to wake him up. "Come on your missing your own 6:30am team practise, captain" Ron said. Harry turned over, put on his glasses and dragged himself out of bed. "Ok tell the team I will be down in a couple of minutes" he replied. Splashing cold water on his face and getting changed Harry sleepily went down stairs ready for his team practise. "Ok team mount your brooms and do a few warm up laps and I'll be with you in a sec" Harry said and the team obeyed. Grabbing the Quiddich gear Harry began to start his first Quiddich practise for the year. "Ron could you please try to catch the quaffle at least two times this practise" Harry yelled to Ron. "Ok team, that's enough for today" Harry yelled and the sweaty, tired team gladly returned to the ground and left the Quiddich pitch.
For charms professor Flitwick was teaching the class Dorwaggle charms. This included the use of silent charms which most of the class struggled with. "The Dorwaggle charm is a spell you can use for changing colours of objects. For example" he pointed to a blue ink well. "Dorsward red" said professor Flitwick and the inkwell turned to a scarlet red. Each student had a go and Harry turned to the direction of Sophie. He looked at her until Ron started moving his hand up and down in front of Harry's face. "Wakey, wakey stary eyes" said Ron as Harry realised he was on planet earth not in heaven. Hermione turned and said in her most irritated voice "Harry your inkbottle is still blue". Shaking his head Harry switched on and said "Dorsward grey" and his inkbottle turned immediately a dark grey, the similar colour of an elephant. After the lesson finished Hermione found Harry and cornered him. "Harry, you really must switch on. You need to concentrate more and because mid term exams are coming up you should start doing an hour more for your study periods." "I'm sorry but I can't help you in the exams." Hermione said. Harry said "Ok, Hermione I'll start concentrating more" and they both left to go to the Great Hall for dinner.