A/N: It's been a short minute since the last time I made an update, but I've not received any reviews after the first one. Today I'm getting some help from Britney Spears, as it turns out I left my Shuffle in my locker and I'm too lazy to walk down a few flights to get it. I just finished re-reading HBP and I must say, I'm really looking forward to Book 7, although I feel absolutely terrible for the character of Harry Potter. What did Harry ever do to deserve the life he was thrust into?

Last Chapter: Harry can continue on his path to be an Auror and has a full schedule. He enjoyed his first class with Crabbe and Goyle. What has the world come to?

The evening sun was setting in the September sky as Harry, Ron and Hermione walked from the Great Hall toward Gryffindor Tower. They had quite a bit of homework to do even after their first day of lessons. Professor Slughorn had assigned them a short essay on various herbs that are used for both poisons and antidotes, Professor Snape had been less generous by loading them with a 2 foot essay on unforgivable curses and even Professor McGonagall had given them a particularly tricky transfiguration spell to practice; they had to change an inanimate object into a canary. Hermione also had arithmancy homework she needed to study.

After finding their favorite couch in the Gryffindor Common room, the golden trio began to discuss their potions homework. It was a short essay but somewhat tedious work. They had originally thought that Professor Slughorn had been generous by giving them a short list. After looking up the herbs, they realized how much they were forced to think about them. Finding out the various properties of these herbs seemed simple, but was at some points entirely contradictory. That was until Hermione realized what they were.

"Catalysts!" Hermione cried out gleefully, it was very obvious she was overjoyed to have figured it out. Harry looked up from his potions book and stared at her, the word slowly figuring itself out in his mind.

"What do you 'catalysts' Hermione? I don't see Crookshanks around." Ron quietly asked his friend. He was quite confused and it showed on his face.

"Silly boy, these herbs are all catalysts, not cats! They all cause something to happen, but only when added to something else. Look at the marjoram, when mixed with a simple antidote for bee stings it creates a more powerful anti-venom that would cure natural poisons like night jade or even cyanide. When mixed with a similarly week doxie poison it becomes an equally more powerful venom for hunting acromantulas." She explained very patiently as Ron slowly came to understand what she said. Hermione was about to go on when Harry continued for her.

"What she means mate, is that these herbs don't do too much on their own, but when added to other things they make them more powerful than they were originally. Harry said, cautiously adding, "Interesting Slughorn would have us look this up."

"Interesting indeed." Hermione added to herself as they continued working. A few short hours later, it was a quarter to ten and Harry was trying to stifle a yawn. They had had quite the fascinating study session, which became hilarious when Ron and Hermione took turns imitating Snape while working on their DADA homework. That class had been their worst during the entire day, but Snape had only taken 10 points from Gryffindor, so it wasn't their worst lesson with him ever. Hermione had become over-excited about knowing an answer to one of Snape's questions and lost the 10 points for speaking out of turn, even though no one else knew the answer.

Saying goodnight to Hermione, Ron and Harry went up to the boy's dormitory for the night. Before going to bed Ron asked Harry when they Gryffindor Quidditch team try-outs were going to be. Harry informed Ron that they would be on Saturday after lunch and that Professor McGonagall had already reserved the Pitch for them. After putting on his pajamas and brushing his teeth, Harry fell asleep as soon as his head touched his pillow.

Harry awoke the next morning, and to his surprise he hadn't had any nightmares or weird dreams about Quidditch either. Feeling fully rested Harry got himself out of bed and readied himself for his second day of class. Once Harry and Ron were ready, they were joined by Neville Longbottem and went to the Common Room to get Hermione. Hermione and Ginny were waiting for the boys and they went to breakfast in the Great Hall.

When the morning post came, Hermione received the morning's copy of the Daily Prophet. "Why do you still read that Hermione?" Harry asked her, thinking about how poorly depicted people were in it, especially with the whole "Chosen One" kick they seemed to be on.

"I understand that you don't like it, Harry, but it's the best way to get news about what's going on. With you-know-who running around, we need to know what's going on." Hermione said, slightly annoyed, but understanding where Harry was coming from. With that said, Harry started shoveling eggs in his mouth, so he wouldn't argue with her. He knew that she was right, but he'd rather her think he was eating than thinking of a way to argue her point.

Harry's eyes were wandering around the Great Hall and as usually, he found himself looking over at the Slytherin table. Not out of spite as he had done in years previous, but out of curiosity this time. It seemed that Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson had no interest in eating anything other than each other's tongues, which amused Harry. In a way he was glad for Malfoy because he had something good in his life that didn't involve Death Eater's or Voldemort. Then he noticed Goyle eating his breakfast. Seeing the other boy confused Harry, who distinctly remembered seeing the hulking mass crying two days previous. Harry was unsure of what he was feeling for the other boy; he didn't know if it was friendship or something else; he wasn't even sure if it was a feeling he liked or not.

As breakfast ended, Harry was off to his first divination lesson of the year, Ron was off to the Common room for a break period and Hermione was off to Ancient Runes. They had second period charms together and then Herbology after that, even so, Harry had a slight feeling that he and his friends might be growing slightly apart, or maybe just growing up. As Harry walked toward the Divination tower, he noticed the hulking mass of Gregory Goyle carrying a crystal ball in his hands. Carefully, Harry approached his former adversary.

"Whatcha got there Greg?" Harry asked casually, not wanting to inspire Goyle's wrath. Looking at the crystal ball in his hands, Goyle quickly, but carefully put it into his bag.

"Oh, uhm, nothing, just something my… uh, aunt gave me…" Goyle said shyly. Harry was taken aback a little, but kept walking with him. Apparently they were both heading toward the divination tower.

"Gregory, that didn't look like a 'nothing' to me. It looked like a crystal ball. Are you taking the NEWT Divination course?" Harry asked, pressing the point carefully, not wanting to upset his new friend.

"Yeah, Divination is one of the few OWL's I received. I got an 'E' so my Aunt Jeanette gave me the crystal ball." Goyle said quietly, Harry was sure that Goyle hadn't wanted to admit that. "It's something that I'm fairly good at, aside from Quidditch you know."

Harry laughed a little at that. "Well congrats on the 'E' Greg. I only got an 'A' myself. But decided to stay on, might be useful to know." Goyle smiled at his last comment. Goyle thought wildly to himself while walking, "I did better than Dumbledore's Golden Boy! Well, only at this…" As they walked, they talked about how off they considered Professor Trelawney to be. They both seemed to like Firenze better, but who would prefer a near mad lady over the adventurous centaur that had lived among centaurs his entire life?

When they arrived at the class they decided to sit together as neither of their other friends was taking the class anymore. At the start of class Professor Trelawney gave her near normal beginning of year speech, welcoming the students back grateful that none of them had succumbed to the horrific dooms she may have seen in the cards before the end of their fifth year. With this said she gave a particularly grateful look at Harry and continued on with her lesson.

They were starting a segment on advanced crystal gazing that involved the use of Tarot cards. A formation of four cards placed on the table facing the cardinal directions with a crystal ball in the center. The cards would be of little consequence until the seer gazed into the crystal ball and focused the inner eye on what they would see inside. After reading the brief description in their book, Harry and Goyle decided to try it themselves.

Working together, Harry drew four cards, the four of cups, the king of swords, the seven of wands, the jester and carefully placed them around Goyle's crystal ball facing the cardinal directions. Harry then placed his hands on the crystal ball and tried to focus his thoughts on what was inside, trying to clear his thoughts. Inside the balls he saw broomsticks flying and jewels moving rapidly on a trolley cart. Everything he saw was moving very fast and he was having trouble concentrating on them until he lost the image in his mind.

Harry shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He was trying to see the images in his head, but they kept moving so fast until it seemed like the broomsticks were sweeping jewels. Harry was shocked to the present when he felt something warm on his hands. Goyle had put his hands around Harry's. Stunned Harry froze, unsure of what to do.

"I find that when I put my hands there, I can't really focus on what I see. Try moving your hands here." Goyle said moving Harry's left hand nearer the top of the ball, "and here." Goyle said as he moved Harry's right hand closer to the front and bottom of the crystal. "There, that should be better for you." Goyle added brightly.

"Thanks Greg." Harry choked out. Harry had a warm feeling that spread through his entire body. Surely this was because his new friend was helping him, but he was unsure. When Goyle touched his hands Harry felt something more than friendly there, but he still didn't know what it was. Clearing his head for the moment, or trying to, Harry started to concentrate on the crystal ball and what could be seen within. What he saw surprised him a little.

The images had slowed down immensely. The brooms flying was actually a Quidditch match, which gave Harry a very happy feeling. The jewels were actually just two jewels set on a ring, one ruby and the other emerald. They jewels seemed to be tightly woven together by a band of silver and gold. The trolley was being pushed by the lady on the Hogwarts Express, who was smiling a great smile. Having gathered these images, Harry took a quill and quickly wrote them down for Goyle to look at.

"Hmm, interesting Harry. Looks like you like Quidditch, tha's for sure, heh." Goyle said with a smile. Harry noticed himself liking that smile, it was so innocent and happy.

"Of course I like Quidditch Greg! It's the only thing better than just flying!" Harry said excitedly.

"Looks like it's my turn now." Goyle noted and placed his hands on the crystal ball in a similar way he had Harry put his hands on it. Goyle stared into the ball for a few minutes, his eyes glazed over with a non-present look in them. Then moving with a quickness Harry had only seen during Quidditch matches Goyle grabbed a quill and scrawled down what he had seen.

Goyle had seen a quaffle going through Quidditch hoops a few times, a red and green ever-burning candle and an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Harry and Goyle looked at their visions. They seemed vaguely similar to Harry's. Quidditch, something red and green and the Hogwarts Express. But what did they portend? At the end of the class Harry and Goyle were talking about the various things the visions could mean. When asked, Professor Trelawney said they should avoid playing Quidditch or they would meet an untimely fate. The pair laughed almost uncontrollably at that interpretation. Surely they would not avoid Quidditch!

As they walked out of the Divination tower, Harry and Goyle had smiles on their faces that seemed to go on for miles. They were both in the same Charms class and they were walking there when they came upon Ron who was going in the same direction.

"Harry, what in the bloody hell are you doing?" Ron cried out incredulously when he saw Harry walking with Goyle. Goyle's smile seemed to disappear at the appearance of the red head, but Harry was glad to see him.

"Ron, be nice. This is Greg, we had the same Divination class first period, now we're going to charms, join us?" Harry asked, but he knew Ron was going to push the point, and while Harry wasn't really expecting it, he didn't want his best friend fighting his newest friend.

"Harry, he's a Slytherin, I mean, it's just the principle, you know…" Ron motioned his head toward Goyle, and Harry, who seemed to understand what he was implying, looked at Ron as though he had just grown a second head.

"Greg we'll catch up with you in a second, see you in class." Harry gave Goyle a smile telling him it would be ok. After waiting for Goyle to walk away Harry spoke again. "Ron, he's had a rough enough summer and a pretty rough time 'living up to his father,' so please just try to be nice. He's not so bad once you get to know him ya'know. And he's bloody brilliant at Divination, he helped me out this morning too." Harry was pleading with Ron to understand him.

Ron, getting the point his best friend was getting at, didn't try to argue with Harry too much. "As long as he doesn't try anything, then I guess he's alright, but I'm watching him Harry! I mean, he IS a Slytherin, and they haven't exactly been very friendly before now." Ron stated pointedly and Harry did have to concede that point. He had just been enjoying Goyle's company the last two days, almost as much as he enjoyed being with Ron and Hermione.

"Ok, if he does anything bad, then we can jinx him together, but as long as he's being friendly, can we just be friendly back?" Harry asked his best friend. Ron looked at Harry, slightly raising his eyebrows at the possible chance to jinx a Slytherin. Ron agreed and they continued on to their Charms lesson.