A/N: Still trying to build the plot, still trying to figure out how to do it. I've been delving in the phantasmagoric realms of actual literature to find some inspiration. With a little help from Daft Punk, I present you with a chapter three.
Last Chapter: Harry and Goyle talked and didn't try to kill each other… Harry was named Captain of the Quidditch team. Then dreams about Quidditch or Goyle…
The next morning Harry found himself at the Gryffindor breakfast table with a lot on his mind. Despite himself though, he found himself enjoying Ron and Hermione's company immensely. He was immersed in his eggs and sausage too much to add anything to the conversation, but Hermione was filling the void by talking about what the lessons were going to be like that particular day, not forgetting to mention the rest of the year. After finishing their breakfast they waited for Professor McGonagall to come down to the table to give them their schedules for that year.
Stopping frequently to ensure that her students had their proper schedules before coming to Harry, Ron and Hermione, she then approached the three inquisitively. "Miss Granger, your schedule seems to be in order, you may go to class." She said genially to Hermione, who gathered her bag and books and waved goodbye to the boys before hurrying off to her first lesson. "Mr. Weasley, I was under the impression that you wanted to be an Auror, and I noticed that you weren't signed up for Potions, seeing that you received an 'Exceeds Expectations' OWL in Potions I took the Liberty of signing you up for it, you can borrow your books and such from Professor Slughorn when you get there later this afternoon." McGonagall said with a faint smile. "Will you please excuse us while I discuss Mr. Potter's schedule with him, thank you." With that said, Ron was off to the Gryffindor common room to relax until his first Potions lesson during the second period.
Harry was pensively wondering why she wanted to discuss his schedule with him alone, but did not have much time to think before Professor McGonagall started talking. "I also took the liberty of doing the same for you, because I know that you also wish to be an Auror after your time here. I did notice however that you're keeping to almost the same schedule that you had last year. I noticed that the only classes you didn't apply for are History of Magic and Astronomy. You are, however, keeping on with Care of Magical Creatures even though your friends are not. Why is that? You are fully aware that NEWT courses are much harder than OWL courses and keeping such a tight schedule will have you studying rather hard?" She asked him tersely.
"Well, after the incident with the Prophecy last year, I figured keeping on with Divination might come in handy down the line. And I'm staying in Hagrid's class because the course-work isn't hard and it's nice to get outside and I like Hagrid. It's almost like having a break, except, I might lose a few fingers." Harry added with a short laugh. Professor McGonagall smiled at his last comment, but quickly composed herself. She was fully aware of Harry's friendship Hagrid.
"Now Mr. Potter, I'm not trying to over burden you, but, if you're going to take Divination," she uttered the word almost vehemently, "the I suggest you keep on with Astronomy, which will undoubtedly help you greatly with that, form of Magic." Harry nodded in agreement. "Now, if you have any problems with your schedule, we can alter it later in the year if need be. And I'm sure that you're aware that you'll be able to seek assistance from Miss Granger, whose schedule is quite similar to yours, except she has taken a few more classes on top of what you have." She tapped a blank schedule with her wand and handed it to Harry.
Harry noticed that he had Care of Magical Creatures first then double Potions before lunch. He gathered his books and hurried off to the grounds to Hagrid's hut, where he was pleased to see Buckbeak sleeping contentedly outside of Hagrid's hut. He noticed that the class was relatively small compared to the year before, but he did see a few familiar faces. There were a few Ravenclaw's that he remembered from the DA meetings and a few Hufflepuffs that he had known from years previous. He was shocked to see Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe in attendance though. Harry was sure that the Slytherin's loathed Hagrid, but upon thinking the matter through, the OWL for Care of Magical Creatures had been incredibly easy.
Harry noticed Hagrid coming from outside of his hut, with a large crate in his arms. Fearing what might be inside that crate, Harry cautiously approached Hagrid as he called the class to gather around him.
"Gather 'round, gather 'round e'eryone, I got somethin' I wan ta show yer." Hagrid said beaming as he opened the crate. "Now these here are called 'Live Ones' an' they're quite dangerous, so don' be goin' an doin' somethin' I didn' tell yer to." Hagrid said as he carefully picked up one of the creatures, which resembled a worm, blob that seemed to be attempting to walk and wave arms. "Several years ago these creatures were created by Wizards that were attemptin' to 'create life' themselves. They're on'y dangerous if you go abou' proddin' em with yer wands and usin' careless spells aroun' em. They were made using all kin's o' magic, so the result of usin' magic on em is dangerous. Now, what ya need ter do, is git in groups of three er four, carefully grab a Live One and watch what they do. They're on page 127 of yer books, so gather roun' and grab one." Hagrid said, still beaming as the small class reluctantly gathered into groups to study the Live Ones.
"Uhm, Hagrid. If these are the 'Live Ones' what exactly are the 'Dead Ones'? Harry asked wondering. Hagrid, smiling wide, looked at Harry and said, "Thas a lesson fer lat'r Arry, jus' check thes'uns out fer now." Hagrid replied with a smile. Harry knew that smile, because it was the same smile Hagrid had when Harry had witnessed the birth of Norbert, Hagrid's pet dragon during second year.
Harry then noticed that all the other groups had already formed up and were watching the Live Ones writhe around on the soft grass. Gregory Goyle noticed Harry looking around for a group and carefully approached Harry and asked Harry if he would like to join Crabbe and himself, seeing that the other groups were already full. Harry remembering their talk from the day before agreed and joined Crabbe and Goyle in the study of Live Ones.
"Vince this is Harry Potter, he's gonna join us for this little project." Gregory Goyle said to his best friend. "Wotcher Harry?" Crabbe said unenthusiastically as Harry joined them on the grass. Their live one was squirming about and it seemed to be in a lot of pain. Harry noticed the quiet noises it was making as it wriggled around on the grass. Harry opened his book to page 127 and began to read about the Live Ones while Crabbe was trying to make it dance.
"We should name it Rudolpho ya know," Crabbe said slowly. Harry looked up from his reading and noticed what Crabbe was doing, but didn't say anything because he didn't want to seem mean.
"That's a fine name Vince, what do ya think Harry?" Goyle asked pensively. Harry, who was hardly aware that Goyle was talking to him, paused for a moment before responding.
"Uhm, yeah, Rudolpho is fine. It works for me, but are we supposed to name it? I mean, we're just going to have to give it back aren't we?" Harry responded quietly as he continued to look at the books description of the creature.
"Eh, sure, but it's still fun to name it," Crabbe replied almost too innocently for a Slytherin and a person of his size.
As the lesson continued on Harry found that he was not only enjoying the class as he had never before, but he found that he didn't mind Crabbe or Goyle. They may have been Slytherin's, his rivals for many years, but they weren't bad people, and Goyle was particularly very nice as well, especially when Goyle was talking to Harry. At one point their Live One froze and molded itself into a funny pentagonal shape and began to ooze and shake violently until it popped leaving two Live Ones where there originally was only one. The first Live One had grown a shade darker and moved around considerable sluggishly until it melted into a small pile of goo on the grass, leaving the new Live One to writhe around with vigor.
After leaving Rudolpho Jr. with Hagrid and saying goodbye, Harry found himself walking with Crabbe and Goyle toward the Castle. Harry was silently brooding while Crabbe was going on about Rudolpho Jr. and how much better he was than his predecessor. Harry was shocked back to the present when Crabbe started talking about Milicent Bulstrode. Harry also noticed the look of disgust on Goyle's face when Crabbe was discussing in as less than gentlemanly way exactly what he and Milicent would do at night. Goyle noticed Harry feeling uncomfortable, quickly changed the subject to Quidditch. Happy to have the alternative topic of discussion, Harry told them how he had been named the Gryffindor team Captain.
"You two had better start practicing a lot, or else we're going to stomp you at the Pitch. We're playing you guys first this year you know." Harry said with a cocky voice.
"Oh really, well, we'll see about that." Goyle said with a friendly smile.
"Yeah, Gryffindor can't stand up to the Dynamic Duo of Quidditch!" Crabbe added brutishly, Goyle laughing with him enthusiastically.
"Which one of you is Batman then?" Harry quickly retorted, adding "Nevermind…" when he saw the confused looks on their faces.
When they got inside Harry said goodbye to them, but mostly to Goyle, who smiled sheepishly when Harry told them he was off to his Potions lesson in the dungeon. Harry was moderately surprised that he had as much fun as he had during his first lesson of the year. He almost thought that he was in some sort of a strange dream, until he ran into Ron and Hermione who were on their way to the dungeons for double Potions as well. He was glad to see his friends and also glad to know that some things never change.
