Author's Note: I'm home from school sick today. I'm sorry I haven't updated in like forever. I have exams coming up in the next month so I'm going to be super busy. After that I've got all summer to write an update. Bug me if you want to. Thanx for the reviews on the last chapter.
Disclaimer: I'm tired of doing these. See the previous chapters.
Heart in the Right Place
Harry had slept restlessly the first night. His dreams had been plagued by images of death. Had Ron not woken him up he would have missed breakfast. As it was he could barely produce one intelligent thought. He was on mechanical mode.
"I can't wait for potions. Maybe we'll finally have a good teacher."
"I thought you liked Slughorn."
"Well I did, but he was just interested in our potential. Good future connections I suppose."
Potions. Classes. School. Slughorn. Harry's discombobulated brain finally put his fragmented thoughts together. Slughorn was gone. Who would the new potions teacher be? Actually who were the new teachers? Let's see, Moony must be teaching defense again. And, Tonks was at the staff table. No one in their right mind would let her near a potion so she must be teaching Transfiguration. Well that was fitting with her being a metamorphagus.
Harry scanned the staff table. There was only one unfamiliar face. The man was lightly tanned with intelligent features and dark brown hair. Ginny caught him staring.
"He's the best looking professor yet."
"That's not saying much." She laughed. Ginny had such a musical laugh.
"So what do you know about him?"
"Not much. His name's Professor Blackwell. He attended Girard. He used to teach at a school in Salem, Massachusetts. He's 36 and single."
"Yes Ginny. You know nothing at all." She laughed again and looked sheepish.
"You know Hogwarts. Nothing stays secret for long."
"Why's he here? I'd think he'd prefer the States to Europe. I mean. We're at war."
"I don't know why he's here, just that he is."
"It seems a bit suspicious if you ask me."
"Yeah but what isn't suspicious these days? You should have seen Ron last night. He's really come out of his shell."
"Yeah, that's what Moony said."
"So where were you last night?"
"Saving people."
"Of course," she teased. For a moment everything felt normal between them. He met her eyes and they both looked away quickly.
"Well I'd better hurry. I don't want to be late for my first class. You'd better hurry too. You'll want to make a good first impression."
"Urgh, I have potions first again!"
"Don't you always?"
"Yes. It's just my luck."
"No, your luck is good. The teachers just get a kick out of torturing us."
"Yeah that must be it. Thanks, bye."
"See you at lunch."
Harry looked at his watch. Shoot, he was going to be late. Hermione and Ron had left without him. Great, the new Potions teacher was going to hate him now. Urgh, why did Potions always have to be first thing?
Rrrrrriiiiinnnggg. Harry tore through the dungeons. The door was shut. Great, there was no sneaking in. Harry braced himself and opened the door.
"I'm sorry I'm late Professor."
"I'm sure you a good reason. After all it is the first day of class. It's not like you're new here." The voice was inquisitive and slightly teasing.
"Erm, well I was caught up in a conversation."
"We haven't been talking to a girl have we?"
"Well, yeah."
"Your girlfriend? Or are you just scoping?"
"No, she's just a friend. We went out last year."
"Oh I see. So you regret splitting up with her and now you're trying to get back on her good side."
"No, I mean there are no feelings between us. We're just friends."
"For the time being."
"No, really."
"Are you planning on standing there all day arguing with me? Or can I begin class?"
"Oh, sorry. Go ahead."
Harry sunk into his seat blushing madly. He heard snickers around the room. For once it wasn't just the Slytherins. Everyone was laughing at him.
"Still pining away for my sister? I'm sure she'll take you back."
"No. It's all your fault I was late anyway."
"It was your fault Harry. You had to go and get caught up talking to Ginny."
"Well I thought you would have nagged me to hurry up Hermione."
"I'm not your babysitter. Though you certainly need one."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that you keep running off and acting like a child."
"No, not you too. Everybody's harping on me."
"Mr. Potter I was planning ion teaching my class. Do you object?"
"No, sorry Professor."
"Snape would have docked Gryffindor 100 points by now," Ron whispered.
All in all, it was an interesting Potions class. Dare Harry say that he enjoyed it? The morning sped by. By the time he arrived at lunch, all of the older years had heard about Harry being late for Potions because he was talking to Ginny.
When Harry sat down, she was surrounded by her friends and blushing madly. Harry felt bad. People kept walking up to her. Each comment caused her to turn redder than the next.
Harry was starting to get really annoyed. Poor Ginny was getting no peace. Harry cut off the next group that was headed for Ginny.
"That's it. You lot need to leave Ginny alone. Tell everyone to leave her in peace."
"Aww Harry, that's so sweet of you."
"Don't even go there."
They walked away laughing. His afternoon classes were all boring. All he heard about was his stupid N.E.W.T.S.
Harry sunk next to Ron at the dinner table. Everyone seemed to be whispering and stealing glances at Harry. Ginny wouldn't meet Harry's eye when he tried to catch hers. Finally Harry snapped.
"Alright what's up with you lot?" Everyone stopped talking. The whole hall turned to stare at him. "Hm?" Nobody would meet his eye.
"Harry," Neville said timidly.
"Yes?"
"Well, I heard that you were sticking up for Ginny when everyone was harassing her about making you late to Potions."
"It was my own fault I was late for Potions. How do you know that I didn't just make up some lame excuse?"
"Because you're obviously in love with her. And she took the teasing too well for it to all be false."
"Oh."
Poor Ginny. She couldn't hide. Her flaming red hair was too much of a give away.
"Sorry Ginny. I didn't mean for everyone to give you crap. I guess I didn't help matters by telling everyone to leave you alone."
"Your heart was in the right place. And what you did was really sweet. Besides I can't say I mind being the talk of the school. It's a bit fun to be the envy of every girl. Not to mention all the guys you made jealous."
"So you're not mad?"
"No, I'm flattered really. And just a tiny bit flustered."
"Oh right. Well while I have your attention, Quidditch tryouts will be tomorrow. Gryffindor's only please. Thank you. 'Night."
Author's Note: A nice bit of romance in2 chapters. Check out my other stories if you haven't already. And review. Cause you love me. Reviews will make me better. Who am I kidding? You lot are the most unbribable bunch I've ever met.
