Chapter Seven: This is a Battle Song, Brothers and Sisters

During lunch that Sunday, Harry found himself having lunch with every one of his yearmates by the Lake except for the Gryffindors. Susan, Hannah, and Megan had chosen to sit near Harry, Blaise, and Draco. Sally-Anne Perks and Lily Moon had joined the Ravenclaw and Slytherin girls, while the rest of the Slytherin boys and all the other boys were playing catch with a ball that Lily had asked one of the older years to charm for them. Susan had, in a fit of Gryffindor courage, chosen to sit right next to Harry, while Draco was on his other side, and Blaise sat on a bench across from them, flanked by Megan and Hannah.

"Marcus said that he would be holding tryouts after the first couple flying lessons so that any first years interested could try out," Blaise said. Megan smiled.

"I'm really looking forward to flying a broom," she said, and Harry nodded.

"It's amazing," Draco said, a look of bliss coming over his face. "Especially the newer, faster ones. The school brooms are all old and next to useless, and Madame Hooch keeps trying to get new ones and the Board is perfectly fine with getting ten or fifteen newer Cleansweeps, but no luck." With his last statements, his expression soured.

"Auntie thinks that we need new brooms, too. She says we're really lucky that none of them have caused broken necks," Susan added, nodding. "Anyways, that rule about first years and brooms is stupid. Most of us have been flying since we were little kids, with the exception of the muggle-raised, and if we brought our own brooms there would be less chance of a faulty broom causing us to fall."

"Do you know when your first flying lessons are?" Harry asked, trying to change the subject.

"We have them on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Ravenclaw, starting next week," Hannah replied.

"We have them Monday and Wednesday with Gryffindor," Draco responded, and the group collectively winced.

"That will not end well," Megan said.

"Especially not with Weasel," Draco said, sniffing.

"Oh, Draco, I've been meaning to ask- what's between yours and Weasley's families?" Harry asked, tilting his head.

"A few generations back Auguste Malfoy loaned Joshua Weasley a hefty amount of money… Unluckily, Joshua had a very bad gambling habit, and never paid him back. They still owe us about fifteen hundred Galleons," Draco replied. Hannah whistled, and looks of understanding crossed Blaise and Theo's faces.

Discreetly, Harry flicked his eyes across the grounds. The girls had gotten up and moved towards where the boys were playing, with several of them joining in. Daphne nodded discreetly towards the group- they were out of earshot.

"So have you heard anything from your Aunt?" Harry asked Susan, and she nodded.

"I just got a letter from her last night. She says she will look into it, and suggests you find yourself a barrister to help with any more problems you might have. She also says that she would like to hear from you, too. I mentioned to her how you had been raised by muggles, and she was most curious about that," she replied.

"You know, you could've been Slytherin," Draco said with an approving look on his face and a nod. Susan giggled.

"I'm a little too honest to fit in too well in your snake pit, but Auntie made sure I can be subtle when the time calls for it," she replied. "So, how are you all doing on that essay Flitwick assigned?" Harry and Blaise shared looks, while Draco shrugged.

"It's coming," Draco replied.

"I get that will is important in spell casting, but none of the books explain the difference between will and intent very well," Megan replied.

"Intent is specific to abstract magic," Blaise replied. "Mostly it pertains to what you intend to do. It goes along with visualization. On an off note, have any of you girls noticed how hard it is to visualize properly in the Transfiguration classroom?"

The girls looked concerned, and shook their heads. Susan in particular looked intrigued.

"We don't practice it much outside of class," Hannah replied apologetically with a shrug. "We're more worried about Potions- so long as we do okay at Transfiguration, we are focusing on the problem class."

Draco sighed. "Sometimes I wish he wasn't so harsh to the other Houses. He alienates us further, although it seems this year isn't having as much of a problem…"

"Do any of the other years have the Boy-Who-Lived in them?" Blaise asked rhetorically. Harry rolled his eyes, and Blaise smirked and nudged him. Megan frowned and thought for a moment.

"Something on your mind?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. So," Megan began, chewing her lip for a moment, "what do you think about the third floor?"

"Dumbledore's an idiot," Draco replied.

"Dumbledore is quite possibly malicious," Blaise added.

"Painful death, in a school full of children, really? I was told Hogwarts was the safest place in wizarding Britain bar Gringott's," Harry finished. All three crossed their arms and looked at each other, brown eyes meeting green eyes meeting grey eyes in shared exasperation.

"That's what everyone is told," Draco replied, scoffing. "The stories alone about some of what's happened in the recent past are somewhat terrifying- if they had a grain of truth in them…" He trailed off and shuddered.

"The bullying alone is ridiculous," Susan added. "Just yesterday I saw some Gryffindor fifth years tearing into Neville Longbottom. Maria and Eron took care of them, but Neville was so upset…"

"Hogwarts really isn't as amazing as it ought to be… Two of the classes alone are worthless," Harry muttered, frowning and shaking his head.

"Well, at least you have us," Megan said, putting her hands on her hips. "The friends I'm making alone make it worth it."

"Your allegiances in school can determine your alignment for the rest of your life," Hannah added, smiling. "Just have to choose the right ones and I'm sure you lot are a pretty good decision."

Draco preened, smirking. Harry smiled, and Blaise nodded. Megan reached across him to hug Hannah, and Susan laughed.

A couple of the Ravenclaw girls, along with Daphne and the remaining two Hufflepuff girls made their way over to where the group was sitting.

"We just saw Professor McGonagall heading to Hagrid's hut with Dumbledore," Daphne said, and Blaise perked up.

"Come on, Draco," he said, and led Draco towards the Gamekeeper's hut. Lily and Sally-Anne took their vacated spots while Lisa and Morag sat on the path. Daphne perched on the back of Harry's bench.

"So did you hear about what happened this morning?" Daphne asked, examining her nails. Most of them shook their heads. "Ronald Weasley tore Hermione Granger a new one in the charms hall. Pity none of the teachers were there… However, a group of third year Gryffindors was, and, get this, they took care of Ronald. His older brothers were in the group, too. Lee Jordan, Kenneth Towler, Patricia Stimpson, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet were the others. Poor Ron ran away with bright pink hair and neon green freckles."

The girls and Harry shuddered.

"He really needs to be knocked down a few more pegs," Susan said. "He's such a prat."

"And a git," Hannah added.

"He's an idiot, too," Morag agreed.

"Needs to be stopped," Lisa said, nodding.

"Harry, sorry, but this is becoming a witches' meeting," Morag said, smiling. Harry smiled and chuckled.

"I look forward to seeing what you fine ladies come up with for Mr. Weasley," he replied, standing up and bowing before walking away to join the game of catch which had turned into dodgeball as Stephen Cornfoot had figured out how to make more balls with the rotundo spell. Sometimes the balls would revert back to rocks midair, and some of the boys ended up with some very colorful bruises.

After an afternoon full of games, conversations, and in Draco and Blaise's cases, spying, the large group of first years all walked into the Hall together. Professor Sprout's jaw dropped, Professor Snape looked stricken, Professor Flitwick looked absolutely delighted, and Professor McGonagall looked very worried.

Albus Dumbledore twinkled, but underneath he was fuming.

Susan smiled, and beckoned them all over to the end of the Hufflepuff table closest to the doors. Some of the older Hufflepuffs that had been sitting there smiled and moved over, making room for the thirty-odd eleven-year-olds.

"Do you think this will be the group that does it?" Pomona leaned over and asked Filius.

"There is a very high possibility of that," he replied, smiling. "It's amazing to see my 'claws making so many friends."

"And to think," Pomona added, sighing, "this all started when Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter came down to breakfast on the first day of classes…"

Disclaimer: Uhh I don't think JKR plays bassoon. I dunno, but I'm pretty sure I'm not her.

Here's the rest of the double post. Hope you all enjoy!

Question: What song are you listening to now/most recently? I'm listening to Hurricane by 30 Seconds to Mars.

Next Time: Flying lessons.