Out of the Shadow – Year 2

We rode up to the school in carriages this year, instead of the boats like last year. I sat together with Rhea, Ashley, and Hermione as we continued to talk. We hadn't located Harry or Ron, but figured they were coming up somewhere behind us with the Twins. It was weird, walking into school this year. I wasn't sure if it was because of the events that happened last year, or because Harry wasn't with me.

When we walked to the Ravenclaw table a couple of my classmates said hello to me, and no one asked me about Harry. It was nice being my own person for a change, not saying that everyone saw me as an individual. We sat patiently waiting for the sorting to begin. We got a girl named Luna Lovegood, this year and see looked like a cute little quirky thing. As I predicted, Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor.

After the feast we climbed the tower to our common room. A large poster on the announcement board caught my eye. It was the sign-up sheet for Quidditch tryouts. As I looked at the board, Roger Davies approached me. "Hey, Holly, right?" I nodded at him. "Are thinking about trying out?" This time I just shrugged. "Maybe." He smiled at me and my non answers. "I think you should. It'd be great to have a Potter on the team. You guys were known for being great Quidditch players."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you the team captain?" Roger laughed and shook his head. "No, that's Travis Murphy." He said smiling still. "Anyway, you should go for it. You know we need another chaser this year." I nodded and thankfully Roger left. A girl named Cho, who was in our year joined me almost the minute he walked away. She gave me a small smile. "He is cute, but a little creepy sometimes."

I nodded at her and we both giggled a little. Cho wrote her name down, and with another girl in my corner, so did I. I marched up to my room to find Ashley and Rhea already in there. "Well you will be happy to know that I signed up for try-outs." Both girls clapped for me before we all dissolved into laughter. Once I regained control over my sudden outburst, I looked around the room. "No Helen?"

"Don't think so." Rhea said. I flopped down on my bed. "Man, I hope not." A few minutes later the door opened slowly, and Cho's head popped in. "Hi." She said quietly. We all smiled at her. "Hello!" We said in unison. "Does anyone know why I was moved to this room?" She asked. "Not that I have anything against you guys! It just seemed random." Rhea and Ashley turned to look at me. "Probably because Helen and I were on the verge of killing each other last year."

This was our first night back at Hogwarts and I was already having a better year than I did last year. With Helen out of the room; Rhea, Ashley and I could relax and get to know Cho better. We sat around together on our beds talking about home, school and the things we were excited to learn this year. As I fell asleep that night, I thought about talking to Professor McGonagall about diving more into nonverbal magic.

The next morning, we all got dressed and waved goodbye to Cho before heading off to breakfast. "I saw your name on the sign-up sheet!" Rhea said happily beside me as we walked together. I simply shrugged. "I might as well have, you two would have kept going on about it, let's not try and mention it to anyone else, okay?" Thankfully, they agreed.

The great hall was in a general buzz over the start of the new school year. Everyone catching up with friends and going over the up coming year. I sat across from Rhea and Ashley as we started piling our plates with breakfast foods. The mail arrived quickly but didn't drop much with it being our first day back. However, I soon learned how incredibly wrong I was. Just as I was about to bite into an apple a woman's voice boomed over the entire great hall. Everyone fell silent as it screamed out.

"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR, I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED. YOUR FATHER IS NOW FACING AN INQUIERY AT WORK, AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT. IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME. Oh, and Ginny dear, congratulations on making Gryffindor your father and I are so proud."

Rhea, Ashley and I stared at each other, I was sure my expression mirrored theirs. "Well, I need to go find out what that was about, I'm sure Harry is involved." I said pulling myself out of my seat. Rhea and Ashley looked at each other before getting up to follow me. We walked up to the Gryffindor table. "Harry. Where have you been?" I asked coming up behind him. Ron jumped suddenly as if he thought I was his mother showing up behind him.

"It's a long story." Harry said. I raised an eyebrow at him. "We couldn't get through the barrier, so we took the car." He said finally. I could feel Rhea and Ashley give each other another confused look. I bit into my apple. "Well, I gathered that much. I'm pretty sure everyone did." Ron shot me a hard look and I shrugged until my eyes fell on his wand. "What happened to that?" I asked. Ron blushed this time, his face matching the color of his hair. "It snapped."

"We flew the car into the Womping willow, and I was trying to get the car to slow before and I flicked it too hard I guess."

I patted him sadly on the shoulder. "Oh Ron." I didn't know what else to say, so far this kid was not having a good start to the year. Just then a small child popped up on the other side of the table and snapped a photograph of Harry causing me to jump. "Hiya Harry!" He said excitedly. I took that as my chance to escape. I waved to Ginny who was sitting a few seats away. She waved back and we turned to leave.

"Miss Potter!" I heard Professor McGonagall call out to me. I turned to face her. "Good Morning, Professor." The three of us greeted her. She gave each of us a small smile before dismissing the girls to talk to me alone. "I was hoping to meet with you during your next break. What do you have this morning?" I looked down at my timetable. "Looks like I've got Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology this morning, then nothing until your class after lunch."

"Oh, that is perfect. Come straight to my office after Herbology. We'll discuss this more then."

I gave her a small nod before she walked away. I turned to meet back up with Rhea and Ashley so we could go collect our books for our first two classes. "What did Professor McGonagall want?" Ashley asked once we were back in the common room. "I've got to meet with her on our first break."

"Do you think you are in trouble?" Rhea asked sounding concerned.

I shook my head. "No, I think she would have said something then, right?"

Both girls shrugged their shoulders. We walked down to the classrooms for Defense Against the Dark Arts. "What do you think of Lockhart?" Ashley asked. Rhea and I both shrugged. "I think he might think a little too highly of himself." Rhea said softly, clearly knowing she was going to upset just about any other female that heard her. "I have to agree with Rhea. Can we trust his magic? He seems… a bit empty headed." Rhea covered a laugh with a fake cough, and I reached over to pat her on the back. Ashley sighed. "Just because he is attractive doesn't mean he isn't an incredible wizard." Rhea and I shared a knowing glance. Sometimes when Ashley talked about boy's she sounded so much older than twelve.

Lockhart was as useless as I predicted. I sat with Rhea as close to the back as we could manage. We had looked though some of his book on the train and didn't find it as helpful as Ashley and Hermione did. He spent most of the class talking about himself and all the wonderful things he had done to get to where he was today. I raised an eyebrow and leaned over towards Rhea to make a comment, but Professor Lockhart caught me before I could say anything.

"Ah! Yes, dear. Do you have something the share?"

I opened my eyes in complete horror. "Come on dear, up you get. Yes. What's your name?" The last thing I wanted to do was give this man my name. I remembered how excited he got over Harry, and if he knew Harry surely, he knew who I was? I'm not sure if I was offended or glad. "Erm. Holly, sir." I said simply. I thought playing it safe by just giving him my first name, but I also chose this moment to forget that teachers had list of each person, in each class.

Sure, enough he looked down at the paper on his desk. "Holly Potter!" He said excitedly. "Oh yes, Harry is a twin. My goodness, how did I miss you! Come up here my dear girl and we'll read from my book together." My heart was pounding in my head, and I felt my legs shake. This wasn't because I found the man charming, I can guarantee you that, but I had no desire to stand in front of my classmates and read from a book I thought was ridiculous.

As I took a couple steps closer to the front of the room, I hear Helen snicker at me. I turned and glared at her, but it was short lived as Professor Lockhart pulled me the rest of the way towards him. The class could not have ended fast enough. The moment it ended I picked up my books and walked right out of the classroom. I walked towards the greenhouses Rhea and Ashley caught up to me. My cheeks were still burning flames. I was so lost in my own embarrassment that I didn't even hear someone calling my name.

"Holly!"

I looked up to see Harry, Ron and Hermione coming towards us. "What happened to you?" Harry asked and I winced. "Nothing!" I said a little too quickly. Harry raised an eyebrow at me. "We just came from class with Professor Lockhart." Rhea said simply. "Yeah, Holly got to put on a show with the Professor himself. It was young love." Helen's whiney voice chimed in as she walked down the hall. I gritted my teeth as I glared at her. "He called me out in class. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get your time to shine too." I snapped at Harry before walking back towards the greenhouses.

Herbology was my least favorite class. Nothing personal against it, or Professor Sprout, I just don't have a green thumb, as the expression goes. However, today Herbology was exactly what I needed. We were replanting mandrakes and I could already see Helen's face turning green. As each little screaming mandrake popped out of the pots, she turned a new shade, until she finally pulled out her own and then proceeded to vomit all over the greenhouse floor.

Helen was rushed to the hospital wing, and the rest of us got to leave class so everything could be cleaned. I walked with Rhea and Ashley until we were outside the Great Hall. I noticed the twins sitting together talking. "Hey, I'm going to go say hi to the Twins before I have to meet Professor McGonagall." I said to Rhea and Ashley. "I'll see you for potions." Rhea offered to take my books back upstairs for me. She was easily the worlds best friend.

"Hello!" I said dropping myself beside George. "Are you guys on break?"

They nodded. "Got to head to class soon though." Fred said.

"why are you on break?" George asked.

"Helen got sick during Herbology and vomited all over the greenhouse floor. Professor Sprout was so mad she let us all go."

"Did you slip her a puking pasty?"

I laughed at George's question. "No, not this time. Good plan though. Maybe next exams I will." We sat together until they had to head off to their next class and I went to meet up with Professor McGonagall. I knocked on the wooden door and waited for her answer. "Come in, Miss Potter." I stepped in. Standing in front of her large wooden desk was Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore. "Ah, Miss Potter." He said in his soothing tone.

"Hello Professor."

"Now, Holly, as you know last year, I noticed you have a keen ability with nonverbal magic." McGonagall started. I nodded and let her continue. "Well, after much discussion Professor Dumbledore and I have agreed that I may benefit you to start teaching you earlier then the rest of your classmates." I looked at then both feeling a bit shocked. "Can I ask why?" I said not waiting to see if Professor McGonagall had more to share.

"Well, that is at my request. I would also like to see you preform wandless magic." Professor Dumbledore added. "Wandless magic? I thought that was only something that happened with children?" I know I probably sounded like an idiot, but I didn't experience a lot of wandless magic. Dumbledore gave me a patient smile. "It is something that can be done, though not everyone can master it. I would, however, like to see if you can."

Again, I asked why. I couldn't figure out why Dumbledore would pick me before literally anyone else. I was pretty sure he knew how brilliantly smart Hermione was, I bet she could have picked up wandless magic overnight, or even Rhea. Why hadn't he chosen Harry? He had a target on his back after all. Surely using nonverbal and wandless magic would benefit him? Dumbledore let out a long sigh and I turned my attention back to him.

"As you are aware, Lord Voldemort has continued to target Harry. As we speak, he is probably out there looking for another way to return with a fully body." I nodded. "I believe you having these set of skills will benefit everyone, should the dark lord return." I nodded slowly as I took in all of Dumbledore's words. "Let's get started." McGonagall said. "We are only going to see what you can do today. Please turn this mouse into a snuffbox, as you've done before."

Giving her a nod, I turned to the box with my wand and turned the mouse into a snuffbox without uttering a word. Dumbledore gave me a smile. "Wonderful. Now, I would like to see you attempt to do wandless. Now, don't get upset if you can't do it on your first try, I certainly couldn't. Call that book over here."

I gave him a small nod. "Anything I should try differently?" Dumbledore shook his head. So, I put my wand back in my pocket and cleared my throat. "Accio book." Suddenly every single book flew off the shelves and I had to hit the ground as they piled up on top of me. I pulled myself out of the pile and Dumbledore chuckled softly. "Try being more specific." I nodded. "Accio Guide to Advanced Transfiguration."

The book on the desk slid to the floor, but they didn't move. "Not bad. Now, try it again and focus on nothing but task you want completed." I focused on nothing buy the spell in my head. I lifted my hand and ran though the spell once again in my head. Before I could open my mouth and say it though, the book was landing in my open hand. I gasped, as did Professor McGonagall. "Wonderful job!" Dumbledore said happily. I looked at him sill surprised. "I didn't mean to do that." I said despite Dumbledore's excited expression.

"You are truly a gifted witch, much like your brother and your friends. I can't wait to see your progress Miss. Potter."

I spent the rest of the class working with Professor McGonagall. We ran though some of the easier charms, and I had to admit I was excited. "Now, Miss. Potter you must keep this between us, for now. Understand? No one else is getting one on one training on things they may never learn." I nodded and thanked her before rushing out the door to potions. "There you are!" Rhea said as I slide beside her at our table. "Sorry. Is Snape here yet?" Rhea shook her head and I relaxed a little.

When I opened my potions book, I noticed a note on the inside, and it made me groan out loud. "What?" Rhea asked. "Quidditch try outs, Friday." She gave me a small smile and nudge me with her elbow. "You'll be amazing." I shook my head. "Doubtful." Class started shortly after that. Professor Snape was as indifferent to me as ever, which I loved. I wished Harry could see the difference between the Snape I saw and the Snape he saw. Not saying that I share my brother's distrust in Snape.

I knew Snape was once a death eater, apparently turned spy for Dumbledore. Harry had made a good point to me over the summer, saying that after all these years Snape could still very much be a Voldemort supporter. I had teased Harry then, making Snape as a double agent. A term I learned from a muggle television program. Now however, if Dumbledore was preparing me for Voldemort's return, nothing seemed unlikely anymore.