HedgeWizard: I have plans for that as that bothers me too. You'll probably have to wait a few chapters though.
The Wandmaker: I'm hoping this chapter helps explain my view on Sirius. In OoTP he did ignore Harry for most of the summer until he was attacked by dementors and brought to Grimmauld Place. Also, I'm not trying to make Minerva helpless, just a little more approachable. Trust me, Minerva is absolutely one of my favorite characters. I'm going to do her justice, at least I hope so.
daithti4377: I honestly spent a few days trying to figure out a way that this plot would work with Bagnold with Minster at the time of the Potters' death and I couldn't come up with anything plausible. Unfortunately, I'm just going to have to use a cop out and say it's AU.
HeartsGlow: That will probably be explained later in the story.
Everyone else: Thank you so much for the reviews. I love reading all of them and I'll try to answer any questions here or by PM if that's how you contact me.
Disclaimer: Still nothing.
For the first time since his birthday, Harry Potter slept in. He decided the previous night that since schedules were being handed out today, he was going to allow himself to sleep in a little and eat breakfast with the rest of the school. He woke up at 8:00 am and quickly showered and dressed before heading to the Great Hall with Neville. Once the majority of Gryffindor was in the hall McGonagall began to hand out the schedules.
When she reached Harry and Neville, she smirked slightly and gave the two their schedules. "Here you are Longbottom, Potter. Potter be sure to thoroughly examine your schedule please."
Curious, Harry studied his schedule:
Schedule for Harry James Potter
Monday:
8:00am – 9:50am: History of Magic – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
10:00am – 11:50am: Potions – Gryffindor & Slytherin
11:50am – 12:50pm: Lunch
1:00pm – 1:50pm: Free Period
2:00pm – 3:50pm: DADA – Gryffindor & Slytherin
4:00pm – 6:00pm: Ancient Runes – Indep. Tutoring (Fifth-Year & Above)
6:00pm – 7:30pm: Dinner
Tuesday:
8:00am – 9:50am: Transfiguration – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
10:00am – 11:50am: Charms – Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
11:50am – 12:50pm: Lunch
1:00pm – 1:50pm: Care of Magical Creatures – Gryffindor & Slytherin
2:00pm – 3:50pm: Herbology – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
6:00pm – 7:30pm: Dinner
7:40pm – 9:30pm: Indep. Transfiguration Tutoring
Wednesday:
8:00am – 9:50am: Herbology – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
10:00am – 11:50am: History of Magic – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
11:50am – 12:50pm: Lunch
1:00pm – 1:50pm: Free Period
2:00pm – 3:50pm: Transfiguration – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
6:00pm – 7:30pm: Dinner
7:40pm – 9:30pm: Indep. Charms Tutoring
10:00pm – 12:00am: Astronomy – Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
Thursday:
8:00am – 9:50am: Charms – Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
10:00am – 11:50am: Care of Magical Creatures – Gryffindor & Slytherin
11:50am – 12:50pm: Lunch
1:00pm – 1:50pm: Herbology – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
2:00pm – 3:50pm: Free Period
4:00pm – 6:00pm: Arithmancy – Indep. Tutoring (Fourth-Year & Above)
6:00pm – 7:30pm: Dinner
Friday:
8:00am – 9:50am: Charms – Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
10:00am – 11:50am: Potions – Gryffindor & Slytherin
11:50am – 12:50pm: Lunch
1:00pm – 1:50pm: Transfiguration – Gryffindor & Hufflepuff
2:00pm – 3:50pm: DADA – Gryffindor & Slytherin
6:00pm – 7:30pm: Dinner
"Wha-, Professor? Why am I taking Ancient Runes and Arithmancy independently?" Harry stammered out. Although, he noticed in relief that his extra sessions with McGonagall and Flitwick were scheduled so he wouldn't be able to miss them due to detentions.
"It seems, Mr. Potter, that Professor Babbling sees you as a Runes prodigy. She feels that leaving you in class, although you are caught up to the curriculum, would be wasting your potential. She's predicting that it will take you about a month of study for you to master Ancient Runes to an O OWL level. Professor Vector, on the other hand, while not thinking you are a prodigy at Arithmancy, she does think you are more advanced than the current fourth-years, but not quite to fifth-year standard. She also thinks, however, that with independent study and a Master's guidance, you would be able to take the Arithmancy OWL and succeed by Christmas," McGonagall explained with a slight smile on her lips. "You truly impressed both professors as well as myself with your scores, Mr. Potter."
Spluttering in disbelief, Harry stared at his Head of House with his mouth wide open, unable to say anything. Neville had to drag him to History of Magic, so they wouldn't be late.
Professor Binns' teaching style hadn't changed at all over the summer. Most students still slept through his lecture without him caring, Hermione was still the only one who took notes, and Harry played hangman as usual just with Neville instead of Ron. Harry also taught the two Hufflepuffs he and Neville were sharing the table with, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot. Susan was a short, curvy, red-head with an excitable and caring personality. Her best friend since childhood, Hannah, was taller, blonde, and just as curvy. Her outgoing nature coaxed Neville's personality out beyond his usual shyness. The four managed to get through the period in good moods due to the game and the beginning of new friendships.
Harry's good mood quickly faded, however, when the Gryffindors trudged towards the dungeons for Double Potions. He knew Snape would antagonize him over the distance growing between himself and Ron and Hermione. Noticing Harry's falling mood, Neville tried to perk Harry up, but due to his own hatred of Snape and Potions, it wasn't that effective. Upon reaching the dungeons, the Gryffindors were forced to wait outside the locked door with the Slytherins as they waited for Snape.
"What I don't get, is why the lab is locked? I mean Snape had to have a class right before this, so where does he go in the 10 minutes between periods?" Harry pondered out loud.
"Well, Potter," sneered Malfoy, "it's not like a Slytherin to reveal what they do in their free time."
Rolling his eyes, Harry responded, "I know that Malfoy, but 10 minutes between classes isn't really a lot of free time. It's also just more of a hassle to leave and return than just staying in the classroom, but you are right. It's none of my business what the Professor does. I was only expressing my curiosity."
"Is that correct Potter?" came a drawling voice behind Harry, "Did it ever cross you mind I don't want any dunderheads to be unsupervised in my lab? 10 points from Gryffindor for arrogance." Snape then turned and swept through the now open door. "Everybody in, now! There is much to do with very little time!"
Harry and Neville quickly found a table in the back of the classroom. Ignoring the Slytherins' gasps of surprise at the separation of the Golden Trio, Harry quickly pulled out his textbook, cauldron, and supplies in preparation for the potion Snape was sure to assign them. Thanks to his month of intense studying over the summer, Harry was more confident in his techniques in preparing his ingredients and Potions skills overall even though he was unable to do most of the practical work for safety reasons. He would not let Snape or any other Slytherins intimidate him into ruining his potion.
"Before you begin brewing," sneered Snape, "I remind you that this year is the most important year of your education to date. Your OWL examinations at the end of the year will determine the rest of your time at this school and beyond. I only except the best of the best in my NEWT class. Nothing lower than an Outstanding will find you continuing with me. Regardless, I expect all of you dunderheads to manage an Acceptable. If not, I will be severely irritated in your failure to retain anything you were taught."
Everyone gulped in terror at the thought of upsetting the disagreeable professor.
"Many of you will not be continuing this course, however upsetting our separation may be," Snape continued, glaring at Harry.
Harry only stared back in defiance, smirking at the thought of Snape's displeasure if he managed to get an O on his OWL.
"Before that day, however," he whispered, "I have another year of teaching to you brats. Today's brew will consist of an OWL level potion, the Draught of Peace, individually. Beware, one screw up and the drinker could find themselves in a potentially irreversible sleep. The instructions can be found on the board or in your books. You have until the end of the period. You may begin."
Realizing the difficulty of this potion, Harry began to read the instructions in his textbook, underlining the crucial information such as when to add certain ingredients or how many times he needed to stir the potion. Everything in this potion had to be added exactly at the right time or the potion would either explode or exactly as Snape stated.
Thanks to Harry's summer studying and the removal of the mind block, Harry was now aware of the differences between dicing and cutting into cubes as well as cutting from slicing. The minute differences between colors were also explained in his summer reading giving Harry more confidence in the execution of his potion.
Harry was just adding the hellebore to his potion after allowing it to simmer when a flash from his peripheral vision caught his attention. He reached out and snatched a newt's eye before it could fall into his cauldron. Had the eye gotten into his potion at this time the Draught would have reacted poorly and exploded all over. Glaring in the direction of the assailant, Harry continued with is potion until a silvery vapor was emitted. Thankfully, the vapor meant that Harry had completed his first perfect potion in his career!
To his left, Neville was not faring as well. His cauldron was bubbling and was a greenish-brown mixture. It honestly reminded Harry of the Polyjuice Potion Hermione brewed in second year. Realizing his friend was past the point of salvaging the assignment, Harry whispered, "Nev, you might want to stop. Adding anything else could be unsafe. I don't think you'll be able to fix this."
Sighing, Neville agreed and began to clean up his work area. Meanwhile Harry poured his potion into several phials for Snape to grade later.
"At this point," Snape barked from the front of the room, "your potion should be emitting a silvery vapor. Anything else indicates the potion is either incomplete or completely wrong."
He sneered in Harry's direction, but was unable to comment as Harry's potion was perfect. Harry quickly turned his phials to Snape and quickly cleaned up his workspace, so he could leave before Snape could find something wrong.
"Longbottom!"
Too late.
"What do you call this catastrophe?" Snape growled
"Umm…not a Draught of Peace?" Whimpered Neville.
"I call this a complete waste of potions ingredients! Potter, why did you let Longbottom waste materials. 15 points from Gryffindor for using another's failure to feel good about yourself!" Snape swept away after that to check on the Slytherins' potions.
Harry felt his temper rising at the ridiculousness of Snape's punishment. Sure, he was sitting next to Neville, but this potion was too intricate to take the time to help someone when he barely had time to add everything correctly. Grumbling at the unfairness, Harry finished packing up before exiting the classroom to head to lunch with Neville.
"Harry, I'm so-"
"Don't be Nev. He would have found something to punish me about anyways," interrupted Harry, "I'm sorry I didn't help you with the potion."
"Harry," chuckled Neville, "Even I could see this was the most intricate potion we've brewed yet. There's no way you could have helped me without screwing up your own."
They continued to discuss the ridiculousness of their professor and their expectations for the rest of the year for Potions on their way to the Great Hall. They entered the hall and began to head towards Gryffindor table before hearing, "Harry! Neville! Over here!"
Turning, Harry saw Susan and Hannah waving Neville and him over to their table. Shrugging, Harry glanced at Neville who seemed slightly conflicted.
Guessing at what was ailing Neville, Harry stated, "I'm sure they'll let Luna sit there too if we ask."
Nodding, Neville silently led the way towards the two Hufflepuff girls. Upon reaching them, Neville immediately asked, "Hey, would it be okay if Luna joined us? I don't want to make her eat lunch on her own."
Being the kind Hufflepuffs they were, Susan and Hannah immediately agreed, and Neville quickly left to bring Luna over. Harry sat next to Susan, while Neville and Luna took seats across from the other three. Hannah, Luna, and Neville immediately began discussing herbology and the effects some plants have on magical creatures. Turns out Hannah was just as obsessed with herbology as Neville.
Susan sighed as she realized she would be having another conversation about plants. Noticing Susan's sigh, Harry turned to her and asked her what was wrong.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just bored from listening to facts about plants. Don't get me wrong, I love Hannah. She's been my best friend since I was 2, but so many of our conversations revolve around plants."
Hannah turned towards Susan and rolled her eyes, "We talk about so many other things besides plants. I mean just the other day we were talking about your…"
"STOP! Fine, we don't just talk about plants, but you have to admit you talk about it a lot."
"Well yeah! My whole family is made up of herbologists. It's what I'm expected to do too after Hogwarts," Hannah remarked. "But it's not like you have to participate in this conversation. Talk to Harry," she commented under her breath.
Blushing, Susan glared at Hannah before turning away from her and faced Harry instead with a glare still on her face. Harry threw his hands up in the air his eyes widening, "I didn't do anything!"
Susan sighed before she smiled, "I know. I'm not mad at you. I'm not even that mad at Hannah. Well kinda. Anyway, please let's discuss something that isn't plants or herbology in general!"
Chuckling nervously, Harry quickly asked Susan how her summer went.
"Well, I tried to visit my aunt as much as I could. She's usually very busy at the Ministry and I can only see her every few days. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love my parents, but I've just always been able to talk to Aunt Amelia about things I'm too nervous to talk to mom and dad about. I enjoy going to her house and relaxing at her pool or just spending time with her. I'm really nervous for her because I believe you that You-Know-Who is back and she's going to a part of the front lines and one of his major targets. Besides that, I really just hung out with Hannah and my little sister Ellie. She'll be at Hogwarts next year. What about your summer?"
Harry described his summer, leaving out most of his Gringotts adventure. He discussed how he was upset with his 'uncle' (really Sirius, but he can't say godfather as everyone knows) for ignoring him this summer. Harry really wasn't angry with Sirius like he was with Ron and Hermione, he's just disappointed that Marauder extraordinaire didn't make more of an effort to reach out to him. He glanced over the guilt he felt over Cedric's and his parents' death through most of July. Part of him just needed to get that out to someone. He discussed in more detail his training regimen he started after he realized how stupid he was being by putting all the blame on himself. Overall, Harry felt much better after talking with Susan. She was very easy to talk to about things he usually keeps bottled up.
Through most of his confession, Harry kept his focus on eating and his eyes away from Susan's face. Once he finished, he glanced over to gauge her reaction. Tears sparkled in her eyes as he completed his story. Susan threw her arms around Harry and gave him the most comforting hug he ever had. It was nothing like Mrs. Weasley's smothering bear hugs or Hermione's clingy ones. Harry may have only known Susan more than just a classmate for less than a day, but he was already completely comfortable in her presence.
"Oh, Harry," she sobbed, "I never knew how much you have gone through! I promise I'll be here for you should you ever need anyone to talk to about any of this. No one should have to go through what you did alone."
Harry spent the rest of the lunch period comforting Susan and trying to assure that he was okay now. Hannah looked over at some point during Susan's break down and shot Harry a questioning look. Harry motioned for her to leave it alone, that Susan would be fine soon. Hesitantly, Hannah left for her next class leaving Susan with Harry.
Harry stood up with Susan still clinging to him. Everyone else had left the Great Hall heading towards their classes or whatever they had. Susan eventually wiped her eyes, chuckled at her silliness, and apologized to Harry for losing it.
"Don't apologize, Susan. That's the first time anyone had ever cried in sympathy for me or given me a hug in comfort without smothering me. It was actually kind of nice. It made me feel cared for. C'mon. I'll lead you to your next class. I have a free period, so I'm not in any rush."
Smiling shyly, Susan agreed. 'Why am I acting so shy around him,' she thought to herself. 'I'm never this shy. What is wrong with me.' The pair walked in companionable silence towards the Ancient Runes classroom. "Thanks for walking with me, Harry," Susan began, "and thank you for confiding with me. Even if only a little." She hugged him quickly before scurrying in, just making it to her desk before the bell rang.
Harry smiled slightly and headed to the Quidditch pitch to spend his free period flying. He hoped that spending some time with the air rushing around him would relax him enough to be able to handle being in class with the woman who literally screwed up his already fucked up life.
A/N: I know that this chapter is shorter than any of the others, but I was struggling to write this chapter due to the craziness of my classes this past week. I hope this chapter was enough of an introduction to Susan's character. I'm going to try and start off with a hopefully realistic friendship before anything escalates. Please read and review, I'll try to update sooner and with a longer chapter. I just felt like this was a good stopping point since shit will go DOWN in Umbridge's class. Thanks for the feedback in the earlier chapters!
-HP4Ever21