Sorry this is taking so long! I'm sure this will be done in no time. Hopefully there will be some action you all appreciate in this one! On with the show.
"Looks like Snape's our new DADA teacher." Seamus said, sitting crossed legged on his bed, already dressed in his robes and looking at his schedule.
"All of our classes are going to be together. This is gonna be a good year, mate!" Ron said, comparing his schedule to Seamus'. Harry had a fleeting feeling that it wasn't going to be a good year, despite wanting it to.
"What's got you in a mood, Harry?" Neville asked. Harry had his eyes closed with his head down, but promptly raised his head to give Neville a small smile. Ron picked up on what could be wrong and gave a sympathetic smile back. A silence overcame the room for a brief moment.
"I-is it... you-know-who?" Neville sheepishly asked. Harry felt that it was nice all his friends cared so much, but they couldn't possibly know what it meant for him inside. Harry nodded after a moment. Neville started to go pale, out of all the people, he would handle it worse than Harry if he were the 'chosen one' so he was probably counting his blessings. Harry quickly threw on his robes and they headed to their charms class.
"Class, today we shall begin with a dangerous spell if used incorrectly! So, watch carefully, my students!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed.
"How could anything you teach us possibly be dangerous, Flitwick." One of the Ravenclaws snickered in the back. He had a fair point.
"You should listen or I will have to deduct house points!" The professor warned, obviously never really going to do so. "Today, we will be turning vinegar into wine!" He cheered on. The students picked up, obviously wanting to learn that little trick. Hermione raised her hand.
"Yes, Hermione?" Flitwick was glad one of his favourite students had a question, usually she was the only one to have one for any teacher anyway.
"Professor, how is this not a transfiguration spell?" Hermione asked smartly.
"Ah, dear Granger, what a fine question. Vinegar is a fermented wine, so, what we're doing here is reverting it back into one of its forms!" Flitwick replied. Hermione was satisfied with the answer and eager to try the spell. Harry and Ron were bantering over who would get a spot as the keeper on the Quidditch team, Ron or McLaggen.
"That oaf couldn't catch a quaffle if his life depended on it!" Ron remarked.
"But, I bet he'd beat off a bludger more times than his life depended on." Harry retorted, implying that Ron could get himself killed. Ron frowned at the thought.
"Okay, maybe I'll reconsider. It's just that every year my brothers have been boasting how they get the ladies when they're Quidditch players." Ron whispered to Harry, looking over his shoulder at Hermione. "I thought maybe... Since she keeps ignoring me when I make a move..." He looked back at Hermione again who was lost in thought in her studies. "Maybe I could make her jealous."
Harry sighed. "Ron, you shouldn't be a Quidditch player for that reason. You need to want the spot on the team. Anyway, I'm going to be judging the performances for the tryouts. If you really want to be on the team, you should start practicing." Harry told him. Ron didn't look defeated, instead, he swelled with confidence.
"I will, Harry. I'll be the best keeper and I'll make my brothers proud." Ron remarked. Harry chuckled, Ron could be a big goof sometimes.
"Okay class, I've given you enough time to look over the material. Let's get started on trying this charm!" Flitwick told the class. Harry and Ron slid back in their chairs. They'd been talking the whole time.
"Okay, Granger, you first!" Hermione stood up and poured some vinegar in the flask in front of her. She pointed her wand at the flask and mumbled the incantation, and slowly but surely, the vinegar turned a deep red. Flitwick picked it up, sniffed it, and took a swig.
"Well done miss Granger! Your first attempt! My- that's some good stuff! Let's see if anyone else can achieve such a feat." Hermione flushed slightly, proud of herself. All around the room, one by one, either the flasks turned to ice, or they fizzled, and even some exploded with a loud pop. One Ravenclaw girl got close, but hers then turned into a bubbling liquid. Flitwick told her that with some practice, she would be at Hermione's level in no time and she perked right up. It was Ron's turn and he stood up nervously, looking from the page, back to the flask.
"Go on then, Mr. Weasley." Flitwick encouraged. Ron poured some vinegar into the flask and pointed his wand shakily. "Don't be so nervous." He told Ron. Ron collected a breath, and pointed firmly at the flask, perhaps too firmly this time, and as he began the incantation, the flask shattered. Flitwick cleaned up the mess and Ron sat down and put his head in his arms. Harry gulped, it was now his turn and he only read over the incantation once. He stood and filled the flask with vinegar, pointing his wand carefully at it. He mumbled the words 'reversum vinum' calmly and the vinegar began to foam a bit, before turning dark. Harry was surprised that it did anything besides explode, and Flitwick looked impressed. He examined the flask.
"A bit... foamy." He sniffed the flask. "But it definitely smells like wine." He took a small sip and coughed. "That's a bit strong!" He said, putting it back down in front of the boy. Half of the room was annoyed that only Gryffindors had success with it. The one Ravenclaw girl who got close wasn't bothered, and smiled at Harry's try. Hermione did a small clap for Harry, even though her result was far better.
"Don't forget to scourgify your flasks, class!" Flitwick said as everyone started to pack up.
"We have defense against the dark arts now." Ron said to their little group. Seamus groaned.
"Never thought I'd be this bummed since we had Professor Umbridge as our DADA teacher" Seamus remarked. Harry went pale and gulped, for most a normal reaction. Ron placed a hand on his shoulder apologetically. Harry shook it off, it isn't like they could guess what he'd been going through, so he thought he'd just pretend to be normal. He smiled at Ron and they left for their next class. On their way, they discussed their course of action.
"When should I talk to Dumbledore?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
"Maybe you can ask Snape to tell Dumbledore you have some news." Ron suggested. Harry nodded, that seemed reasonable.
"I'll stay after class if you guys want to as well." Harry told them. they both gave a quick nod of approval.
Behind them, Draco and his group were walking to transfigurations and he overheard Harry. He wondered why he was going to talk to his Godfather after class. None of this was making sense to him, he felt like he was being used in all of this. He wondered if this feeling was anything like what Harry must feel all the time. He shook off his sympathy, Harry probably feels like a goddamn hero all the time. He sighed, was he on the right side of this? He went back to pretending to listen to his friends, all the while looking after the boy.