The long time in coming Chapter 6 . . . I'm not even gonna bother apologizing, everyone will still hate me no matter what excuses I make. . .sigh.

Still don't own nothing

"As you all might have heard at the banquet, I am Professor Merit." All of the fifth year boys, Gryffindor and Slytherin alike, stared with undisguised admiration at the new potions professor as she made her opening speech to the class. The girls in the class, however, were staring at their male counterparts and reaffirming their opinions that boys were an entire different species.

"This year I thought that we might begin by going over the summer assignment that you previous professor left you." Professor Merit continued. There was a rustling as the students rummaged through their satchels to retrieve their homework. "Could someone please inform me as to what you were assigned?"

Hermione's hand shot into the air. "We were to read and summarize in depth the first twenty chapters in this year's potions text." She answered promptly.

"Twenty chapters? Over break?" Professor Merit was clearly surprised at Snape's fervor for giving out large amounts of work. "Well let's just go quickly over the important things. We'll cover the rest of the information in depth throughout the year."

An hour later Hermione, Ron, and Harry stepped blinking into the well lit transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall wasted no time on hi- there and hellos and promptly organized the class into groups of two to attempt turning a rose into a caterpillar and back again.

Ron's first attempt wielded a particularly green rose that twitched when he poked it with his finger. When Harry tried turning the poor caterpillar back Ron burst into laughter. Harry joined him when he saw the rose stem trying to crawl away to the window to escape its cruel and unusual treatment.

Harry and Ron proudly carried a red caterpillar down to lunch with them in a small cage and Hermione presented hers and Lavender's perfect bouquet of red roses to Professor White at the staff table. Sirius blushed prettily and blinked in Harry's direction.

After lunch Harry, Ron and Hermione eagerly walked with the rest of the fifth year Gryffindor's to the defense classroom. Sirius greeted the class from behind his desk.

"Why hello darlings! I am Professor White. Now I suppose your all wondering what an old bag like me is doing teaching this class. Well, I'll tell you. With age comes experience and I must say that compared to you all I am ancient." Some of the students snickered and Professor White smiled kindly and continued. "Well now, let's start class." With a flick of his/her wand pieces of parchment floated to each student's desk.

"Umm, Professor?" asked Seamus "What's this?"

"Hold your griffins boy! I was just about to explain." Professor White said. "This is a list of some of the more simple offensive spells that will seriously cause your attacker to rethink what he is doing. Now, you will each attempt casting one of these spells on me, not one of your fellow students. Anyone caught casting these spells on their peers will receive a detention. All right, Ronald Weasley, your up."

Ron stared at the long list of spells. "Which one should I try, Professor?"

"How about the first one?"

"Oh, that makes sense."

"If performed correctly this should cause me to feel as if the ground beneath me is on fire." The professor explained.

Ron looked back at the parchment and studied the words and wand movements depicted on the paper. With a reverse jab of the wand he shouted "Ambulo flamma."

Professor White giggled. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and tried not to laugh out loud, giggling was not something they could picture Sirius doing. "Nice try Ron," The professor said "But that fire was more akin to a foot warming spell. Neville, your turn."

Neville stood up nervously and looked at the second spell on the list. With a sigh, he cast the spell. "Nullus video vidi visum . . . Help!" he yelled suddenly, flailing about. "I can't see!"

"Excellent job Neville, you cast the spell correctly." Sirius flicked his wand and Neville regained his sight. "Only next time make sure your wand ends up pointing away from yourself." Neville stared at his desk and sat back down.

By the end of the class only Hermione had managed to correctly hex Sirius.

"In our next class we will be taking a field trip with a friend of mine. Be sure to review these spells, you will need them for the class." Sirius called as everyone shuffled out of the classroom.

The next defense class met in front of the Forbidden Forest. Standing next to Professor White was Hagrid and a lady that Harry didn't recognize.

"Hello again class, I believe you all know our Game Keeper and Care of Magical Creatures professor, Hagrid, and this is a very good friend of mine, Mary-Lou Pin." Harry glanced at the woman standing next to Sirius. She winked and smiled at Harry. "Today," continued Sirius as Professor White, "We will explore the forest. I will divide you into three groups. One with me, one with Hagrid and a third, small group with Mary-Lou. Weasley, Potter and Granger, you three join Ms. Pin. The rest of you divide yourselves evenly between me and Hagrid. This trip will give you all a chance to practice the hexes we learned. We will meet back here in 45 minutes. Okay, everybody move!"

Ms. Pin walked up to Harry and his friends. "So, you must be the famous Harry Potter. And these are your lovely friends. Shall we begin?" Ms. Pin led them into the forest.

"Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked when the rest of the class was out of ear shot. Ms. Pin took a swig of blue potion from a vile. Instantly the shoulder length hair receded and the pink edged robes turned into the familiar tattered robes of Professor Lupin.

"Hello, how's school been? I'm supposed to use this time to catch you all up on the happenings with the Dark Lord, however, nothing of import has happened since the start of term so instead I will be showing you some secret passages out of the castle and a safe room in case, well, the worst happens. Not even Fred and George know of these passages, and it needs to stay that way. Now if you'll follow me."

For the next forty-five minutes Lupin led Harry, Ron and Hermione through many passages that led from the castle to different parts of the forest and Hogsmeade. The safe room was a large, empty room that could be reached through either a tree in the Forbidden Forest or Hagrid's fire place. The entrances were charmed only to react to Harry's, Ron's Hermione's or one of the professor's wands.

They made it back to the front of the forest just in time to see their classmates starting the walk back up to the castle. Harry Hermione and Ron waved at Lupin, who had changed back to Mary-Lou, and ran after the other Gryffindors.

"Ron! Hermione! Harry!" The trio looked up to see Ginny running towards them. "Come quick! It's open again."

"What's open again?" asked Hermione.

"The door! The door to other times. Come on, I want to show you." Ginny reached for Ron's hand to drag him off to the corridor.

dun dun dun.

Well, at the rate I'm going I'll see ya'll next year!!!