Chapter Nine- First Day of Classes
Harry felt something warm and wet slide across his cheek and he gave a yip of a giggle as he slowly blinked his eyes open to see red-tipped black fur and that warm wet thing was felt again: Snape's tongue.
"Time for school, love," Snape said.
Harry sat up, stretched, and shifted back to his true form. He gathered up his bag as Snape took his true form and then added the Glamour. "Leave first and I'll follow later. Don't let anyone see you leave our room."
"Okay." Harry left and became invisible until he gained the safety of the Entrance Hall and then dropped it. He entered the Great Hall and sat down, seeing he was among the first of his House to arrive. Well, since my room is down and not up, it makes sense.
"Hi, Harry," Ron said as he and Hermione joined him. "This year's going to be great. We'll get free periods to hang out and relax."
"Ron," Hermione reproached. "We'll need that time to do our homework."
"Severus did say they'll be more demanding," Harry said. The trio lapsed into silence as they busied themselves with breakfast. When breakfast was done, they stayed in their seats and waited for McGonagall as schedules would be handled differently.
Harry watched as McGonagall descended from the Staff Table and approached the Gryffindor Table while across the room, Severus was approaching the Slytherin Table. Harry allowed his attention to wander as he waited his turn. He wondered what Severus would be teaching them in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It would no doubt be different than the previous teachers and he looked forward to his mate's class. He jerked his mind back to McGonagall as she was ready to sort out his schedule.
"Potter…Potter. Well, I must say I was pleased with your Transfigurations grade as well as the grades with your other chosen classes. Very good, here you are." She tapped a blank card with her wand and Harry's schedule appeared on it. She handed it over and headed over to Dean Thomas. Harry gleefully scanned his card. He had a free period right now, then he would have Defense Against the Dark Arts, then another free period after break before Transfiguration, then lunch, a free period after lunch and then Potions. Excellent, Defense Against the Dark Arts is first. I can hardly wait.
Ron looked at Harry's schedule over his shoulder. "We have the same schedules," Ron said, sounding pleased.
Harry looked at Ron in surprise. "You're taking Potions?"
"Yeah. Apparently Slughorn is willing to accept 'E' students into his class."
Harry and Ron headed up to the common room and enjoyed what Harry suspected would be their only true free period of the year. Then, they headed for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry excited about what Snape would teach them. He knew it would be challenging but as he was good at Defense Against the Dark Arts, he was willing to try his best. Snape had lost no time in imposing his style on the room. There were gruesome pictures on the wall that gave Harry the creeps but gave him a good idea of what they would cover this year. The class was quiet as Snape strode to the front of the room. After role call and actually complimenting on the number of students in the class given the different teachers they had, he launched into a speech about the Dark Arts that Harry found a bit disconcerting as he spoke of them with the same loving tone he used with Harry. Snape then started one of the hardest lessons in his life. They were to try to curse each other nonverbally and repel the curse also nonverbally. Harry had to master the impulse to speak the incantation, having been used to speaking for five years. At this point, he was waiting for Ron to nonverbally curse him, but it seemed unlikely to come. Finally, Ron shook his head and gestured for Harry to try. He slowly exhaled, aimed his wand, and thought as hard as he could on the Leg-Locker curse and, to his surprise, it worked. Ron's legs snapped together and he wobbled to stay upright.
"Very good, Potter," came Snape's voice. He waved his wand and Ron's legs sprang apart. "Second student to succeed after Miss Granger, naturally. Another five points to Gryffindor."
Harry beamed as class ended. He had succeeded in his first non-verbal spell and he received a small smile from Snape as the class left. Harry did a check out a window to find Hagrid not teaching and wanted to see him.
"Harry, security's extremely tight these days," Hermione said. "We can't just stroll down to Hagrid's like we used to."
"Sure, we could," Harry said. "Look, I bet security's not as tight in daylight so we could walk across the grounds. Besides Dumbledore told me to keep my Invisibility Cloak with me at all times and I can become invisible myself."
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Harry could probably open the doors, too if he has to. Come on, Hermione. You know you want to see Hagrid too."
"Well of course I do, but couldn't we wait until Saturday?"
"I don't know, Hermione. McGonagall told me at least twenty people want to try out the Quidditch team. The tryouts could take hours. Plus, Hagrid is likely to be upset that we're not taking his class and stop coming at mealtimes. We know that's happened before."
"All right, point made, let's go." She took the Cloak and put it over her and Ron while Harry led the way to the doors where he turned invisible and found the doors not locked. The trio eased outside and down to Hagrid's. Harry knew they didn't have to sneak around but visits between classes were probably frowned on, so this was the only way aside from waiting for Saturday which he felt wasn't a good option as by then it would be clear that they weren't taking his class. He has to understand that our schedules are full as it is.
They reached the hut and became visible again before Harry knocked. "Hagrid, it's us. Please open up." Harry knew that Hagrid had already had the N.E.W.T. class as Hagrid had mentioned it last night. "We still want to see you. It's just our schedules are full without your class." Harry heard a sigh due to his sharp ears. "Please, Hagrid. Let us in." A more audible sigh was heard before the door opened and Hagrid appeared.
"Yeh really can't fit my class in?" he said as he let them in.
"We can't and the homework's bound to be harder," Hermione said.
"We'll try to visit on weekends," Harry said.
"I know yeh will." He scratched one of Harry's ears. "You and Snape still together?"
"Uh-huh and it couldn't be better."
"Good to hear." The group talked of class and Wizarding news before they left for lunch having spent their free period and break with Hagrid. As they entered the Entrance Hall, a voice called Harry's name and he turned to see Katie Bell.
"Hi, Harry. I was told to give you this. Also, congratulations on becoming Captain. When's tryouts?"
"I'm thinking Saturday but you don't need to try out."
"Don't think that way, Harry," Katie warned. "Many teams have been ruined because captains kept playing the same old faces. There may be better players than me."
"Oh. Uh, okay." It hadn't occurred to him that could happen. Harry was soon preoccupied with Quidditch tryouts, homework, and classes that he had forgotten about the scroll Katie had given him until he found it in his bag as he headed for his room.
Harry stared at the scroll as he headed down to his room to read it in peace. He recognized Dumbledore's handwriting having had corresponded with the headmaster after persuading Slughorn to teach. What could Dumbledore want with him? Did it have something to do with the private lessons? He entered the office to see Severus at the desk, possibly doing lesson plans. He nodded at his mate's hands. "What do you have there?"
"A note from Professor Dumbledore. I just haven't opened it yet." Harry unrolled it, read it, and frowned in confusion. "He wants to see me in his office at eight Saturday night."
"Ah, so the private lessons begin. I would love to know what you talk about."
Harry went over to him and nuzzled an ear. "I'll be sure to tell you."
Severus gave a growl of pleasure at Harry's gesture. "Harry," he said as the smaller fox kept nuzzling. "You keep that up and I won't be able to concentrate on these plans."
"Would that be so bad? You do have breaks same as students do."
"Yes, I do. Oh!" he breathed as Harry's tail swished over his leg. Unable to take anymore, Severus stood, scooped up Harry, and carried him off to his room. The pair spent the rest of the evening giving each other intimate gestures and taking fox form to snuggle for the night. Severus found it amusing that, though he was the older fox, he was putty in Harry's claws. It seems that Harry is the one controlling the relationship and I can't bring myself to tell him that I should be controlling it as I'm the elder.
