I really need to remember to post things. We have a bit of some DA again, and I will probably have a light chapter up tomorrow...hopefully...we'll see. Anyway, on to reading!
With the Quidditch teams re-assembled, the first match between Slytherin and Gryffindor had everyone buzzing in the Great Hall that morning.
Ron was looking pale, it was his first game so Harry understood.
"You'll be fine Ron" Hermione assured. "Harry said you've gotten better at practice."
Ron didn't answer, he was too focused on keeping what little he ate in his stomach.
Luna came over to wish them luck, wearing a large hat with a lion's head on top. "I made it myself" She said proudly. "I was going to have it eating a snake, but I didn't have time. It can do this though" She tapped the head with her wand and the lion's maw opened wide and roared loudly, shaking everyone around her.
Harry stared at the strange hat, "Think you could make another one?"
"I'm sure I could" She replied.
"Why would you want one of those things?" Hermione hissed to him.
"For my dad" Harry said. "I think he would find it funny."
"That's very nice of you Harry" Luna smiled and walked away, "I'll be rooting for Gryffindor, good luck"
As they made their way out, Hermione came up to Ron and kissed him on the cheek quickly, "Good luck Ron" and then she hurried away.
Ron stared wide-eyed, cheeks turning red.
"Would you like me to kiss you good luck too Ron?" Harry teased.
"Shut up Harry" Ron shoved his friend lightly.
/
The game was hard. Slytherin had chanted the entire game, shouting 'Weasley is our King' along with a song that Malfoy had written. Gryffindor barely won. Ron was in a foul mood the next few days, he wasn't able to stop anything from passing him.
Malfoy made sure to taunt them, causing Harry to lose his temper…again. Hermione and Ron held him back and out of the way while Fred and George tackled the blond to the floor. McGonagall found them and gave them detentions. Unfortunately, Umbridge noticed and issued her new Educational Decree – she now had the power to revoke privileges from students – so the Gryffindor team no longer had a its Beaters. Angelina was furious, Harry had a feeling she wouldn't be speaking to them for a while.
/
Good news finally arrived with Hagrid's return. Harry, Hermione, and Ron made their way to his hut to visit and to see if they could find out where he'd been.
"I shouldn' tell ya this. The Ministry's keepin' an eye on Dumbledore so we had ta be careful."
"Where did you go?" Hermione asked.
"Mountains" Hagrid replied.
"What did you go there for?" Ron asked.
"Lookin for Giants"
"Giants? What for?" Harry asked.
"See if they want' ta help" Hagrid said. "They don' much like wizards, but Dumbledore wanted me ta ask. Seems like You-Know-Who was also recruitin"
"You saw Death Eaters then" Hermione said.
Hagrid nodded, "Giants are considered Dark Creatures. Shamed by wizards. It's probably why You-Know-Who wants 'em."
"So we lost potential allies because wizards hate all things 'dark'" Hermione huffed. "Ridiculous. Giants could be great help to the war and we just gave them to You-Know-Who"
Before they left, they made sure to warn Hagrid about Hogwarts' new High Inquisitor. Harry hoped she wouldn't bother Hagrid too much, while the half-giant cared, he wasn't very good at keeping secrets.
/
Their next Care of Magical Creatures class was audited by Umbridge, to Harry's growing dread.
"Gather roun' everyone." Hagrid said as they all formed a group at the entrance to the Forbidden Forest. "I hope Grubbly-Plank was alri' for ya"
"She was better than you for sure" Malfoy sneered.
Hagrid ignored him and led the group further into the forest where a cow carcass was lying next to a tree.
"Now, they'll be attracted by the smell o' the meat but I'm goin' ter give 'em a call anyway, 'cause they'll like ter know it's me…" He turned, shook his shaggy head to get the hair out of his face, and gave an odd, shrieking cry that echoed through the dark trees like the call of some monstrous bird. Nobody laughed; most of them looked too scared to make a sound.
Harry grew anxious as nothing happened for a minute. That anxiety, however, left him as soon as he saw a Thestral pass over the hill. The skeleton horse-like creature examined the group for a moment before making its way to the carcass.
Harry looked around the group; most students were looking around in confusion, but Harry could see a few looking straight at the Thestral. Neville, to Harry's surprise, was one of them.
"Ah, I can see that a few of you can see 'em" Hagrid cheered. "Oh, look here comes another" He points back to the hill.
"Excuse me," said Malfoy in a sneering voice, "but what exactly are we supposed to be seeing?"
For answer, Hagrid pointed at the cow carcass on the ground. The whole class stared at it for a few seconds, then several people gasped and Parvati squealed. Harry understood why: Bits of flesh stripping themselves away from the bones and vanishing into thin air had to look very odd indeed.
"What's going on?" Ron whispered to Harry.
"Thestrals" Harry replied.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped.
"Now, Thestrals are peaceful creatures" Hagrid began his lecture. "People think they're bad luck, but thas jus' superstition. These fellas pull the carriages and can carry people around. Dumbledore's even used them." He turned to the class, "Who can tell me why only some o' you can see them?"
Hermione quickly raised her hand. When Hagrid nodded she answered, "The only way to see a Thestral is if you've seen death"
"Exactly, ten points to Griffindor. It's a shame really, beautiful creatures they are" Hagrid smiled.
Unfortunately, Umbridge chose that moment to arrive. Like always, she asked too many questions and wrote too many notes, leaving Hagrid flustered and disorganized.
Hagrid tried his best to defend the Thestrals, but Umbridge heard 'dark creatures' and she latched onto it.
The class ended less than spectacularly, and now most of Gryffindor hated Umbridge.
/
Dumbledore's Army practices were doing well. Everyone seemed to be advancing, even Neville. Harry made sure to employ things Remus had taught him.
For this practice, Harry decided it was time to teach them about Patronuses.
"A Patronus is difficult to learn because you have to think of your happiest memory and hold onto it." Harry said as he walked around the room. Everyone's eyes were closed, their wands held in front of them, as they focused on their memory.
"Think of the happiest you have ever been and focus on it, focus hard." He saw a few wisps of smoke come from wands as people said the incantation.
"If all you get is a wisp then that's alright, it's a start." Harry assured a few disappointed students. "That's all I got my first try."
When they were finished, Harry stayed behind to plan their next meeting. He looked up when he heard a soft sniff.
He turned to see Cho standing in front of the bulletin board, crying. When he got closer, he could see she was looking at Cedric's picture he had pinned there earlier.
"Hey" He said lamely. He didn't really know what to do when someone cried. He felt incredibly awkward.
She turned to him and quickly wiped her eyes. "Sorry" She said. "I was just thinking…do you think he would have been here…if he knew these things?"
Harry's heart sank, "He did know these things" He said. "But, if Voldemort wants to kill you, there's no chance."
She flinched at the name, "Then how did you survive?"
"Luck mostly" Harry said. He knew he shouldn't be saying this…it sounded insensitive.
They were silent for a moment. Cho wiped her eyes again when something seemed to catch her eye. "Mistletoe" she whispered.
Harry looked up at the plant hanging above them, wishing for it to go away, this was the worst possible moment to be doing this…and yet, he felt himself move closer, until he could see every tear clinging to her eyelashes.
/
Harry walked back to the common room in a daze. His first kiss…wow…
He entered the empty common room and was about to head to his bed when four people caught his eye. Harry turned to see his parents talking to Ron and Hermione.
"What kept you?" Hermione asked.
"Uh" Harry said.
Tony snorted and stood up. "Looks like someone had a good time" He said as he examined Harry's dazed look. "Not sex, your hair isn't messier than usual, not a heavy make out session either."
The trio blushed, especially Harry.
"I'll have to go with first kiss" Tony said and smirked when Harry's blush darkened.
"Did you really?" Ron asked. "Who?"
"It was Cho wasn't it?" Hermione said.
Harry gave a hesitant nod.
"And how was it?" Tony asked.
"Wet" Harry replied.
The four people blinked and Ron and Hermione blushed again.
"I think that was a bit TMI don't you think?" Tony said.
Harry's eyes widened, "No, not like that. She was crying"
"Crying? Why would someone cry while kissing?" Ron asked.
Hermione sighed, "All Cho ever does now is cry"
Loki huffed, "Pathetic"
"She was with Cedric and then he died. She misses him" Harry said.
"Oh Harry, you should watch yourself" Tony said. "You don't want to be a rebound."
Harry looked to him, confused, "She said she liked me. She would have been my date instead of Cedric if I managed the courage to ask her in time."
Tony shook his head, "If she still misses her ex, there will be no room for you. He'll be hanging in the air like some ghost and you'll never get anywhere. Best leave it at that kiss."
Harry didn't like that answer, but decided to press on. "Why are you guys here?"
"Christmas plans!" Tony cheered. "We've decided to join Sirius and the Weasleys at the Burrow. I thought it would be cool to see what a wizard Christmas entails."
"My parents already said yes" Ron said.
"Brilliant" Harry smiled.
"Awesome, so we'll let you get to bed. Study hard, Hermione tells us that you have big exams at the end of the year." Tony said.
Harry sent a glare to Hermione who lowered her head. "See you guys" He hugged them and waved as they disappeared in a flash of green.
"You didn't tell them everything did you?" Harry asked harshly.
"Of course not Harry, it's not my secret to tell. Even though, I think you should tell them." Hermione said.
"I'm not telling them. They don't need to worry about Umbridge. They can't do anything anyways."
"They're your parents mate." Ron said. "It's kind of their job to worry; and have you met your parents mate? They would burn the ministry for what they're doing to you."
"I've gotten this far without their help, I can make it to the end of the year." He said harshly.
Ron and Hermione shared a look but didn't say anything.