Chapter Title: Chapter 6: Assorted Questions and Dirty Tricks
Characters:
Genres:
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: HBP Spoiler
Summary: Harry presides over the sorting ceremony and we meet some of his new students. His first day gets off to a rather rocky start, but Harry is more than capable of adapting to his situation.
"Thank you, Professor Hagrid," Harry said with a dignified nod. "I will take them from here."
"Whoa! Harry Potter's going to be our teacher?"
"Wicked!"
"Professor! Professor, over here! Are we going to—?"
Harry held up his hand for silence, glad that the first years were at least nervous enough to do as they're told. Those who had started blurting out questions at him were distinctly in the minority. Most of the students bore the rather petrified look he remembered seeing on his fellow classmates when he had first entered the castle. "I'm sorry, we don't have time for any questions at the moment. The Headmistress will speak to a number of your concerns after you are sorted. Follow me please." Harry turned and led the pack of anxious children into the Entrance Hall, stopping just outside the door to the chamber opposite the Great Hall. "Now then, if everyone will look up here for a moment.
"These four hourglasses," Harry pointed, "each represent one of the four Hogwarts Houses. I trust you all did your homework, so you will know already that they are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Remember that your house will be very important to you while you are here. Much of your time will be spent in your house dormitory and common room. Your house will be like your home while you are here. These hourglasses record the number of points your house has earned at any given time. Your good behavior and hard work will earn you points for your house. Any misbehavior or rule breaking will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded the house cup as a reward. Let this be a reminder that your behavior reflects not only on you, but on your house as well. Now then, this way please."
The students followed silently as Harry led them into the side chamber. Once they were all inside he turned and looked at them all. Their bright faces appeared simultaneously curious and frightened.
"I am going to leave you here for just a moment to see if everything is ready for the sorting ceremony. While I am gone, think about what you and your parents discussed over the summer. Think about the four houses and how each might represent who you are. I will warn you, you are going to be up in front of the entire school, and I don't blame you at all for being nervous," Harry added with a smile. "Just remember to be yourselves and take your time. This ceremony is for you, and you'll never get to do it again. Now, I'll just to and see if they're ready for you." Harry walked quickly through the door and across the hall.
Savoring his few seconds alone as he crossed the Entrance Hall, Harry nodded to himself reassuringly before peeking into the Great Hall. The four tables were now packed with chattering students, waiting impatiently for the feast to begin. The staff table was nearly full, with only one empty seat. After a silent nod to the Headmistress, Harry turned back across the hall.
The double doors to the Great Hall gave a satisfying clunk as Harry pushed them open a moment later. Conversations throughout the hall died down to a dull rumble as the first-years followed Harry up to the front. He glared at a few of the older students as they pointed and whispered behind their hands. He feared that this curiosity, which was most likely directed at him, would further unnerve the new students. Despite knowing full well who Harry Potter was, the first-year students had seemed to brush his fame aside temporarily, it being only one of several unfamiliar and unexpected elements they were trying to process all at once. The returning students, however, saw Harry as the only unusual thing in the room and he began to feel the heat of their stares as he turned in front of the staff table and lined the new students across the width of the room.
After placing the Sorting Hat on its four-legged stool, Harry walked off to the side. He barely heard a word of the Hat's song as he stood there thinking over everything he had done so far. He tried hard to ignore the many faces that were turned toward him instead of the singing hat. As applause rang through the hall he crossed to the center of the room again. With his back to the house tables, Harry gave the first-years another comforting smile as he stood next to the Sorting Hat holding a small scroll of parchment. "Now, when I call your name, you will come and sit on the stool, and place the Sorting Hat on your head. Don't worry; we cannot hear what the Hat is saying to you. That conversation is a private matter between you and the Sorting Hat. Just take your time, and when your house has been decided, shout your house name and join your fellow students here at your new house table." Harry gestured to the four tables behind him without turning around.
The returning students seemed to forget about Harry's presence for a while as they surveyed the new additions to their houses. Each table cheered merrily as, one by one, the new students joined them. Before Harry knew it, "Young, Terrence" was taking his seat at the Slytherin table, and he quickly marched the Sorting Hat and stool out of the room. When he returned from the Headmistress's office, everybody was already eating. Grateful that the students were fully distracted by the feast, Harry crossed the room and took his seat next to Professor McGonagall as subtly as he could.
"Very nicely done Harry," said Professor McGonagall. "Would you care for a drumstick?"
"Yes, thank you," Harry said gratefully as he filled his plate. He tried not to look out into the room too often as he ate heartily with the rest of the staff. Seeing the room from this perspective was the first, thoroughly unfamiliar thing he had encountered since the students had arrived.
"Did you do something special?" McGonagall asked conversationally. "Those new students seemed unusually comfortable through that whole process. I've never seen the whole lot with so much confidence."
"Well, I guess I wouldn't know if I were doing anything special," Harry said with a weak smile. "I just tried to make sure they knew what was about to happen and reassure them that everything would go smoothly. Honestly, I think I was as nervous as they were."
"It seems you formed a bit of an alliance with them then."
"I guess you could say that," Harry chuckled.
Before long, McGonagall was rising as the last of the puddings disappeared. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. To those of you returning, welcome back; to those of you who are new, a very hearty welcome from all of us. While I am on the subject of new arrivals, I must announce two new staff members. Most of you know that Professor Orchards retired at the end of last year. Over the summer, our dear Professor Sprout also decided that her time here was at an end. I am sure we will all miss them both." There was a smattering of applause and murmurs as she announced these names. "I am pleased to welcome our new Herbology teacher, and head of Hufflepuff house, Professor Longbottom." Applause filled the hall as Neville rose and nodded genially to the students below. "And, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, head of Gryffindor house, and Deputy Headmaster," McGonagall paused, her eyes lingering on a few choice students as she gazed about the room, "will be Professor Potter."
McGonagall began the rousing applause that ensued as Harry rose self-consciously. The entire school still seemed a bit curious about his presence but they appeared to be accepting it quite enthusiastically. The Gryffindor table was ecstatic with their cheers as Harry bowed several times, laughing to himself as the ovation continued for several awkward moments.
"Now then, I have just a few other announcements before we turn in for the night," Professor McGonagall continued after everyone had sat down. "I forgot to mention also, that Professor Potter has agreed to be our flying instructor and Quidditch referee." There was a great deal of murmuring around the room. The Gryffindors appeared quite ready to reprise the applause they had just finished before the Headmistress waved them off. "Those wishing to try out for their house Quidditch teams should contact Professor Potter to sign up. Team captains will be posting the dates and times of tryouts within the next few days, so keep watch of your common room notice board.
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to remind you all that magic is strictly forbidden in the hallways. You may also see a list of prohibited items posted at his office on the ground floor. Now I'm sure you are all quite ready for bed. You'll want to be well rested when classes start in the morning. Please be down here for breakfast in time to receive your class schedules before 9 o'clock. Off you go then. Good night." With a great scraping of benches, the students slowly filed their way out of the hall. Harry could hear the prefects bellowing importantly at the first-years as the staff began to work their way into the room adjacent to the Great Hall.
"Thank you all for being here," Professor McGonagall said as she looked from one staff member to the next. "I think we can all look forward to another wonderful year. I'll see you all in the morning." And with that, they each went their various ways.
Harry walked the halls slowly, replaying the evening's events in his head. "They're not so bad," he said to himself as he climbed the stairs, feeling much more confident about the next day than he had just a few hours earlier. Hagrid and Ginny had overwhelmed him with bits of encouragement and comfort all day, but there's nothing like actually dangling your feet in the pool to get a feel for the water. Confidence, Harry decided, would have to be the key, both to his own performance and controlling the students. Without realizing it, he suddenly found himself standing in front of the familiar portrait of the fat lady.
"Password?" she said for the third or fourth time, Harry wasn't sure.
"Oh, sorry. Philosopher's Stone," Harry replied simply, smiling at the fat lady's choice of password.
"I thought you'd like that one Professor. It's good to have you back," sang the Fat Lady before swinging forward. Harry walked slowly, savoring the memories as he entered the Gryffindor common room. He hadn't been here in years but everything appeared exactly the same. The squashy armchairs looked just as inviting. The fire crackled warmly in the hearth. Harry smiled as he looked around the room, glancing from one dormitory staircase to the other. Suddenly he heard a giggle from the far corner of the room.
"You girls get up to bed now, I won't have my students walking around like zombies tomorrow," he said firmly as two fourth-year girls in their dressing gowns ran, blushing, over to the girl's staircase and out of sight. Surveying the empty common room, Harry nodded with satisfaction, and turned out the portrait hole.
"That's 10 points each from Ravenclaw. Another word and it will be detention for all three of you. Now take a seat and mind your own business." Harry was doing his best to remain calm in the chaos of the Great Hall the next morning. A group of fifth-year Ravenclaws turned dejectedly and sat facing away from Harry, glancing sourly over their shoulders. "Gryffindors please," Harry pleaded, pulling a pair second-years up by the lapels of their robes, "I have clearly marked where you are to sit this morning. Please observe carefully. There are seven sections, one for each year. First-years are nearest the doors; seventh-years are nearest the staff table. This is just for today so I can pass out schedules. I'm sorry, I just don't know all your names yet."
"Professor Potter, could I—"
"Sorry, no questions now Miss…"
"Oh, uh, Vance. Emily Vance."
"Yes, Miss Vance. Please, if you'll take your seat here, I'll be passing out the schedules in a moment. If you still desperately need something, see me afterwards."
Harry had hoped Professor McGonagall would have been able to spare some time this morning to help him identify students and pass out their class schedules more efficiently. He was forced to go it alone, however, because, by all appearances, Neville and the Hufflepuffs were in much worse shape than the Gryffindors, and she spent the entire breakfast hour running about, helping Neville with his students. Indeed things seemed to be getting a bit better as most of the Gryffindor students were now seated.
"It appears the first-years are all seated and ready to go," Harry said, counting heads quickly as he rounded the end of the long house table. "Well done, 50 points." With those words the small group of first-years nearest him all smiled and elbowed each other, nodding. Several older students who were lingering lazily seemed to notice and quickly assembled at the table. Soon the entire house was quietly watching and waiting. Harry raised his eyebrows and smiled, looking around appreciatively at the first-years who now had very smug expressions on their faces.
With everyone finally seated Harry began calling names as he handed out schedules, working his way up along the table. Before long most of the younger Gryffindors had finished up their breakfasts and began making their way to class. Harry glanced sympathetically at a very red faced Neville as he ran this way and that, shouting names at the mass of students crowding around him. "Alright sixth-years, that's you done," Harry said, finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. "Miss Vance, I will be right with you. Please let me just finish these off and I can talk to you in a minute. I'll give you a note if you're late to class."
Harry turned to the seventh-years and began to call off names. "Are we going to have a problem Mr. Simmons?" Harry glared at the wavy-haired boy he had confronted the previous evening, who was smirking and whispering behind his hand to a classmate.
"No Professor," said the boy, trying hard not to laugh.
"For your information, Eric," Harry lingered on the boy's first name and the boy suddenly became deathly quiet, "I do, in fact, remember you from my seventh year, and no, you shouldn't be expecting special treatment in my class just because your mother knows me or because you joined the D.A. in your first year." Eric was suddenly ashen faced as Harry loomed over him, holding out his class schedule. "I see you have N.E.W.T. level Potions first today. I might recommend you trust your instinct to go back up to Gryffindor Tower and retrieve your textbook before class. I'd like not to see Professor Snape take too many points from Gryffindor on the first day."
With that, Harry turned away as the group leaned in and began to question their still stunned classmate. Harry could hear small snippets of their whispered comments, "How did he know…" "He remembered you…" "That was creepy…"
"Now, Miss Vance, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"It's alright Professor. That Eric Simmons is an arrogant git anyway."
"What can I do for you? Please, take a seat." They sat facing each other on one side of the house table as Harry pushed a few dirty plates and cups out of the way.
"Thank you sir. I have a little bit of a problem. I think my grandmother got me the wrong books."
"Well, let me see," Harry picked up her class schedule and examined the large stack of schoolbooks she had set down on the table. "These ones here for Transfiguration, and Muggle Studies are correct, as are these here," Harry flipped through her pile of books checking them against her class list. "But I'm afraid you're right. The ones for Defense against the Dark Arts, Charms, and – oh dear – Potions are, in fact, not."
"Oh, I knew it. I knew I should have gone with her to Diagon Alley. It's not really her fault, you see, she's just a bit forgetful sometimes. How could I be so stupid?" Emily began to breathe frantically, a very panicked look in her sapphire blue eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey…" Harry said, patting her on the arm to calm her. "It'll be alright. Don't worry. You're Emmeline Vance's daughter aren't you?"
"Yes," said Emily, trying to hold back tears of panic as well as sadness at the mention of her mother.
"She was a very brave woman, your mother. I was so sorry to hear when she died, and then your father too. I'm sure it's very hard for you." A small nod and gentle sniff was her only response as she studied her hands in her lap. "Don't worry about your books. You'll only have Charms and Defense against the Dark Arts to worry about today. I'll speak with Professor Flitwick, I'm sure he'll have one for you to borrow. We won't need books in Defense class today so, no worries there. I'll send these straight to Flourish and Blott's for replacements." Harry sorted out her incorrect textbooks. "I'm sure they can all be here in the morning and if they can't, I'll go down personally and pick them up so you'll be ready for Potions tomorrow. Would that be alright?"
"You would do that?"
"Of course. This wasn't your fault. You shouldn't be falling behind in your first week of classes just because your grandmother got the wrong books."
"Thank you Har… I mean Professor. You're every bit as kind as everyone says you are."
"Well, thank you. That's very nice of you to say," Harry smiled warmly as he leaned closer, speaking softly. "Listen, if you ever need to talk about anything, let me know. I'll understand if you'd be more comfortable with someone else, but I would be willing, if you wish."
Emily finally looked up and dried her eyes on the corner of her robes. "I'd like that. Professor, I realize this is personal but, your parents were killed too right?"
"That's right."
"I thought so. Yes, I think it would be nice to talk sometime… maybe… you know, just in case." She stood up, color returning to her cheeks. "Sometimes my friends get a little sick of talking about it. They're really wonderful and they'd never say anything, but now and then, I can feel that I'm dragging them down."
"I know how that can be," Harry said, sliding Emily's books back into her bag as he stood. "Anytime you want, just let me know okay?" She nodded gratefully. "Okay. Best get going. Classes will be starting soon." Harry's eyes followed her as she bounced happily out the door. Looking around the room he saw a few stray students milling about the other tables. All of the Gryffindor's had left.
"She's really a very good student," came McGonagall's voice from behind Harry.
"I have no doubt that she is. She's strong," said Harry. "If I remember correctly, her father died just days before her first term here at Hogwarts."
"It was hard for the first few weeks, but she seems to have a very strong drive. She's only a fourth-year and she's already convinced she wants to be an Auror, just like her mother."
"She'll do well. I can feel that about her." Harry paused for a moment looking through the empty doorway. "Well, I'd better get moving. I've got class in a few minutes."
Harry's morning classes didn't go as smoothly as he had hoped. He was instantly barraged by a storm of questions from the second he walked into the room. He fought desperately for the entire period to control the students. His second class, the fifth-years of Hufflepuff, finally settled down just long enough for him to give his start of term warnings about how important their O.W.L. year was. It was a much more subdued Harry that sat with a grunt next to Professor McGonagall at lunch. "How is your first day going so far Harry?" she asked, pouring him a cup of strong coffee.
"Alright. Could be better. We didn't get a whole lot done today. But, at least the fifth-years have been sufficiently reprimanded about their O.W.L.s," he said sarcastically.
"Well, I suspect it will be harder for you, at least until the students get used to the idea of having someone like you as their teacher," McGonagall added wisely.
Harry smiled and began eating slowly. "I've been trying to remember back to what all of my professors did, you know, hoping something would come to mind that could win them over."
"That's a wise course of action," McGonagall observed between bites.
"Unfortunately most of my Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers aren't exactly worthy of imitation."
"Your professors aren't your only teachers Harry. Don't forget, you've learned a lot of different things, from a lot of different people. I don't have an easy answer for you. Just remember to play to your skills."
"Yeah…" Harry said absently, pushing the food on his plate around as he stared into the distance.
"Eat up there, you're looking a bit peckish. I'm sure you'll feel better once you've had a proper lunch. Don't worry Harry, it will get easier once you get a feel for it."
"Thanks Professor," Harry said, rising suddenly. "I'm sorry I've got to go get ready for class. I've just had an idea."
The first class after lunch was just as rambunctious as the morning ones had been. They entered the room chattering loudly and horsing around as they jostled their way to their seats. Their faces were alive with excitement as they discussed the questions they wanted to ask. "Can you believe Harry Potter is our teacher?" "Did you see his scar?" "It looks so much more real than it does in the pictures." "I got a really good look at it when he walked by at breakfast!" "Hey, you're late." "Who cares? He's not here yet." "Who's going to ask him how he did it?" "Did what?" "Did… you know…" "Oh, I'm not going to ask him." "Why don't you ask him?" "Me? Why me?" "Because you're always so nosy about everything." "So what? You're the one that wants to know." "Oh, and you don't?" "That's not the point." "Then what is the point?" "Hey, what happened to your hair?" "What about my hair?" "Whoa, how did you get it to turn purple like that?" "What do you mean purple. Wait, yours is blue!" "What!" "LOCOMOTOR MOR—" "EXPELLIARMUS!"
The room was suddenly dead silent as a wand flew through the air toward the back of the room. Emily Vance was standing by her desk near the front of the room with her wand hand held out, breathing very hard and looking determinedly at a the back of the room. The students slowly followed her gaze and lighted upon an unfamiliar looking boy in the back, holding two wands. After a moment's silence, the strange boy walked silently to the front of the room, handing the wand back to a very wide eyed Emily. "Well done Miss Vance. Ten points to Gryffindor."
"Wha—?" said several students as they leaned back in their chairs, trying to put as much distance between them and this stranger and Emily at the same time.
"What's all this?" said the boy, looking at their petrified faces. "You should be thanking her. For all you know, she could have saved your lives."
The confused students stared around at each other, but still couldn't find words to speak.
"Perhaps I didn't properly introduce myself." The boy closed his eyes in concentration for a moment, his short blonde hair darkened and moved around as his face elongated. After a moment, he was six inches taller than he had been. With a final shake of his head, the hair became jet-black and messy, and a lightning-shaped scar appeared on his forehead. "My name is Professor Potter, and I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Harry said formally. "You lot should be very grateful that's who I am and that you have a very wary classmate." He gestured again to Emily. "She managed to stop me before I had even marked half of you. Had I been a dark wizard," Harry gestured to a group of students on one side of the classroom, each with different colors of violently bright hair, "you four there might be seriously injured, or even… dead," Harry finished dramatically. The whole class looked up at him in rapt terror.
"Professor," one boy found his voice, "it's not fair. I mean… that was a pretty dirty trick." Harry glared daggers at the boy who cringed and sank down in his seat. After a moment, Harry softened his expression and waved his wand, restoring the natural hair color of each student.
"Dirty tricks… Mr. Jackson isn't it?" The boy nodded meekly. "Dirty tricks, Mr. Jackson, are how the dark arts – and dark wizards, I might add – work. Each and every one of you, with the exception of Miss Vance here, seems to have become rather complacent. I do not intend to frighten you. But I must impress upon you the seriousness of what has just happened. Miss Vance, if I may, what was the first thing you noticed that bothered you?"
"Well, usually I'm the first one to class," she blushed profusely as a couple of her classmates jeered and rolled their eyes.
"Now, now," said Harry "There's nothing wrong with being early to class. A couple of you could benefit simply from being on time to class." He indicated two of the students whose hair had previously been discolored. "Next time it will be detention. Go on Miss Vance."
"Well, normally I'm the first one here, and I saw someone… you… sitting in the back there, reading."
"And this bothered you because?"
"I didn't recognize you."
"I see," Harry said slowly.
"But, I thought maybe some other students were joining us or you were just someone that had changed a lot over the summer, and since I couldn't really see you properly, I didn't want to look stupid introducing myself to someone I already knew."
"That's fair. Then what? I noticed you were busy reading through your Muggle Studies book; while everyone else here was engaged in what I must say was a fascinating discussion," Harry glared around at everyone, "which I'm sure they will wait to continue until after class is over."
"Well, you already know I don't have my book for this class yet, otherwise I would have been reading it of course," Emily said with a blush.
"Indeed," Harry said, nodding.
"I thought I heard something funny, and then I felt…"
"Yes?"
"I felt something weird on the back of my neck, like something wasn't right."
"I see," Harry said dramatically, rubbing his chin.
"I thought maybe someone was sneaking up on me, so I grabbed my wand as carefully as I could, trying hard not to move. I heard something again, it sounded like an incantation. So, I turned around quickly."
"And that's when you saw me."
"Yes, you were…"
"Perhaps it would be better if we demonstrate. You stand there, where you were…" Harry walked to the back of the room. When he turned around, the blonde haired boy was there again, instead of Harry. He sat quietly at the desk and pointed his wand at one of his former victims, who ducked under his desk self-consciously. "It's alright, I'm not actually going to cast a spell this time. I expect this is about what I looked like when you turned around Miss Vance?"
"Yes."
"And when you put my suspicious behavior together with the fact that you didn't recognize me, you must have thought something was terribly wrong," Harry offered.
"Right, so I said the first jinx I could think of that wouldn't actually hurt anybody."
"Yes," said Harry, returning to his normal appearance and walking to the front of the room again. "The famous Leg-Locker Curse. Incidentally, I might suggest a slightly more comprehensive jinx in the future. I still would have had my hands free. Perhaps the Full Body Bind? I do thank you for your restraint though. It's best not to overreact. Was there anything else you wanted to say?"
"I don't think so."
"Well then," Harry turned to the rest of the class as Emily returned to her chair, "does anyone else have any relevant comments or questions?" A tentative hand went up in the front corner opposite Emily. "Yes, Mr. Dobson?"
"How did you change your face and your hair like that?"
"Excellent question. I am what is known as a Metamorphmagus, which means I can change my appearance at will."
"Wow, that would be wicked. Can you teach us how?"
"I expect not, I'm afraid," Harry said sympathetically. "It is an extremely difficult skill to learn if you aren't born with it. I was quite sure I would never be able to do it until I realized that I actually was born with a little bit of the skill. As silly as it sounds, I had been able to control the length of my hair without knowing it for years. I still, to this day, struggle to keep it straight though." Everybody laughed as he patted his hair absently. "Good one, anybody else?"
"Where did you learn how to do that?" asked a tall girl with wavy brown hair.
"I'm assuming you are referring to my Metamorphmagus abilities," Harry responded. When the girl nodded he continued, "I learned it while I was in training to become an Auror."
"What's it like being an Auror?" "Did you like working at the Ministry?" "Professor, can you—"
"Now, now, these questions are getting a bit off topic." Harry raised his voice instantly as the students were overcome by their own insatiable curiosity. "Some of these are the sorts of questions you might want to ask your Head of House –which is me I suppose – on a more personal level. If any of you would like career counseling I would be happy to make an appointment, but I will not answer random personal questions in class. Now," Harry turned to his desk and grabbed his copy of the text book, "your homework for next time, will be to read the chapter about concealment, concentrating especially on Metamorphmagi, and also the sections on page 121 through 154 about dark magic detectors. I would like you each to write 300 words on your choice of dark detector and tell me the strengths and weaknesses of that particular item."
"Professor?" Emily looked confused. "Three hundred words… That's not very much is it?"
"Quiet down!" Harry said to the room as several students made threatening comments and gestures toward Emily for daring to suggest that they hadn't been assigned enough homework. "It's a good question and you ought to be glad she asked it, because if these essays aren't up to snuff, I'll be reassigning them with a much longer requirement. I said 300 words because I believe it is important to be concise, however you must also be extremely thorough so you mustn't be wasteful. It is important to be able to convey as much information as possible in a small amount of space. Try your best to keep these between 300 and 350 words. I'm looking for an overview, not a comprehensive explanation. You'll do your fair share of those over the next two years in preparation for your O.W.L.s. There's the bell. Have a good afternoon."
Harry smiled happily as the students filed from the room, laughing and joking at the fact that Harry had assigned them so little homework. He made a mental note to talk to Tonks about this class; he was sure she'd get a good laugh out of it.
"Thank you for your good work today Miss Vance," Harry said as Emily finished packing up her things and hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. "You have very good reflexes. Trust your instincts. They seem to be spot on so far."
"Thank you Professor."
"I realize you don't have your book yet. I'm afraid it's a new one and I don't have any spares. If you would like more time for the assignment I will understand."
"No, I think it will be alright if I get my books tomorrow. I'll have enough time after that, before the next class."
"Very good." Harry nodded slowly and smiled. "Have a good day." Harry watched fondly as she smiled and turned out the door. Whistling to himself, he gathered his papers and book and stowed them in his office before happily marching off to see Ginny.