Disclaimer: I do not own "Harry Potter". It is hereby © to J.K. Rowling. I wrote this story when I was 12 years old in the year 2003. So, "Half-Blood Prince" wasn't out yet either. It didn't exist at this point. Again, errors in spelling and grammar have been intentionally left in to preserve my skills as a young writer. This story is complete. This is a repost.
Chapter Seventeen: New Class Schedules and a Few Surprises
Cho awoke the next day, and quietly changed into her robes. Something was bothering her…something tickling her senses. She was more aware of her surroundings. She went downstairs to the common room and saw that the sun was just breaking over the horizon. She heard the scuffling of feet above her as students woke and walked about their dormitories doing normal, morning things. The sun had completely risen now and students had started to filter in. Sunlight streamed through the glassy common room windows, and the lake sparkled like a giant looking-glass.
"What's on your mind?" Akira asked.
"Huh? What?" Cho asked, startled.
"You seem to be deep in thought…so what're you thinking about?" Akira replied.
"Oh…uh, I don't know…just something is bothering me a lot…but I don't know what it is…" Cho answered.
Akira sighed and checked the clock that rested on the wall of the common room.
"Well, breakfast is starting soon…and since it's February the 1st, we get new schedules! Yay! Yeah, right…" Akira said sarcastically.
Cho nodded and was about walk out of the portrait hole but hesitated.
"Wait…the others they're coming…" Cho said quietly.
Akira glanced at the staircase.
"There's nothing there!" Akira said.
"Wait…" Cho said, softer.
A few seconds went by and Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Harry, Alexa, Liam, and Cianna started coming down the stairs.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Ron said.
"Yeah, ok, just hurry up…" Akira said.
They all hurried down the stairs and walked over to Akira and Cho. Then they opened the portrait hole and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast, taking their usual seats at the Gryffindor table and starting on their breakfast. The owls flew in, Hedwig and Lumé among them. Both dropped letters on Cho and Harry's plates and took a bit of their breakfast and a sip of their pumpkin juice, then flew off. Cho opened her letter immediately.
Dear Cho and Aki,
This term, you'll find a surprise waiting for you in some of your classes. When you go to Defense Against the Dark Arts, you'll have your first surprise. For Quidditch practice, you'll have yet another surprise. And for Care of Magical Creatures, you'll have your final surprise. I've written to Harry as well. Enjoy your day!
Love,
Your Brother, Tai.
"Cool…I wonder what they'll be up to…" Akira murmured.
"Go ahead and open your letter. It's safe." Cho said.
Harry opened his letter and read it.
"Well, I wonder what those three surprises will be…" Harry said.
"Hang on, sis! There's a PS!" Akira said, looking at the letter.
"Really?" Cho asked. "Well read it!"
"'PS- Potions will actually be easier, since Professor Snape is…somewhere else…I think you'll be most pleased to know who is teaching in his place. I won't tell you anything though…Have a good day!
-Tai'" Akira read.
"That's awesome! No Snape!" Ron cheered.
They all started on breakfast and Professor McGonagall went around passing out the new schedules. Harry glanced at it and grinned.
"We've got Care of Magical Creatures, then Double Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts with fifth years, Transfiguration, and Quidditch practice…cool! No Divination!" Harry said, quite happy.
Everyone started to eat their food at top speed and rushed out of the Entrance Hall doors and onto the grounds where Hagrid was waiting. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Cho, and Cianna walked over to Hagrid and waved at him.
"Hello there! How yeh been?" Hagrid asked.
"Great!" They all answered.
"This lesson's going to be a real treat! Just you watch." Hagrid said.
The Slytherins started coming down and the rest of the Gryffindors gathered around. Malfoy had Alyssia on his arm, and Tom had Whitney on his arm as well. Both were looking very smug and haughty.
"Now today, we'll be learnin' about these shape-shifting mammals. We was reading the chapter abou' them las' week, but now we're going to actually see 'em up close.There are two types of shape-shifters. Human-like ones, and then there's the beast-like ones…" Hagrid explained.
"Stupid oaf! Very stupid lesson this'll be…" Malfoy snorted.
"Righ' so I have an assistant this term, so can yeh give me a hand, Sirius?" Hagrid asked, clapping his hands together.
"Sirius?" Harry wondered aloud.
Sure enough, his godfather came out from the trees in the forest, holding out his wand and drawing out a human-sized creature. Hagrid went into the trees and brought out a large cat that looked remarkably like a leopard except it had white fur and gray spots.
"Now this here, is a human shape-shifter. Every shape-shifter has one distinct trait. They have pale blue eyes. Of course, just because anyone here has blue eyes doesn't mean they're a shape-shifter. For humans, their hair and skin should be a light color, like a faded out color. These shape-shifters can turn into anyone and anything. But when they do shape-shift, there is only one thing that they cannot change, which is…?" Sirius explained.
Hermione's hand flew up.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Sirius said.
"The thing that they cannot change is their eyes, because it is what enables them to shape-shift, because what they see in their eyes is what they mimic, or mirror." Hermione answered.
"Very good. Ten points to Gryffindor…Now who can tell me how old this shape-shifter is?" Sirius said.
Hermione raised her hand again, and Harry gave the question some thought and raised his hand too. This happened to amuse his godfather.
"Yes, Harry?" Sirius asked.
"Well, wouldn't it be impossible to tell its age, since it can change its appearance to be younger than it really is?" Harry answered.
"Right you are, ten points to Gryffindor. It is absolutely impossible to tell the age of shape-shifters since they can never die. Whenever one appearance is getting old and dying, they will change form into something else, so that they become young and healthy." Sirius continued.
"Great job, Harry!" Hermione, Ron, and Cho mouthed at him.
Hagrid and Sirius beamed at him, obviously very proud. Then Hagrid cleared his throat.
"This here is a beast shape-shifter-" Hagrid started to say.
"Well that's pretty obvious, I mean, we don't need an explanation made for two year olds…" Malfoy said loudly.
"Detention, Malfoy." Sirius said, an evil glint in his eye.
Malfoy scowled and Hagrid continued on.
"As I was sayin' these are beast shape-shifters, and they too have the pale blue eyes trait. These beasts can only take the form of other animals because they ain't smart enough to be humans and they aren't capable of human speech…they are basically the same as the human shape-shifters. And for your good listening, no homework. Tomorrow we get to see the shapes they take. Off yeh go!" Hagrid explained, dismissing the class.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Cho and Cianna stayed behind. Sirius was talking to Malfoy, with Alyssia still on his arm. Sirius dismissed Malfoy and walked over to his godson.
"Sirius! You're helping out here?" Harry asked.
"Sure am…so I'm surprise number one. Still have about three more…now I'm supposed to escort you to Defense Against the Dark Arts, but that class is after your Potions class. So you should get going if you don't want to be late…" Sirius said. "It's good to see you again!"
"You too!" Harry called as he walked back up to the castle, Ron, Hermione, Cho, and Cianna following him.
They went down into the dungeon and into the classroom. The Slytherins were already there, and a few Gryffindors had arrived. They all took seats at the back of the classroom. The rest of the remaining Gryffindors came in and had taken seats. The dungeon door closed and a red-haired man came out of the shadows.
"Bill?!" Ron exclaimed, his jaw dropping.
"Yeah…Hi Ron." Bill replied.
Bill looked the same, he still had his hair in a ponytail, he still had the fang earring in his ear, and was wearing a leather jacket over a white shirt complete with black slacks and dragon hide boots.
"I'll be teaching Potions for a little while. And I don't want to hear any complaints from you Slytherin lot…Professor Snape has left me some instructions for you. But what he's got planned out seems very difficult and impossible for sixth years…just kidding, it's rather fun…a Magic Energy Potion. The drinker of this potion will find that their magical powers have a greater effect. Now the instructions are on this board, and the ingredients on that board. Any questions?" Bill explained.
No one said anything, but just set to work. Malfoy was muttering across the room. Harry could hear him very clearly.
"Stupid…getting taught by another Weasley…can't stand Weasleys…Professor Snape had better be back soon…Or else I'll tell father that I'm being taught by the son of a muggle-loving fool…" Malfoy muttered angrily.
"How very interesting Mr. Malfoy…your odd mutterings are fascinating!" Bill said sarcastically. "Ten points from Slytherin…"
Malfoy gritted his teeth and glared angrily at Bill. The Gryffindors all laughed quietly then returned to their potions. Twenty minutes until class ended, Bill started going around and checking everyone's potion.
"Your potion should be a lovely shade of blue…" Bill said.
He went to the back row first and checked Hermione's potion.
"Very good…"
He checked Ron's which was blue also, then proceeded to Cianna, Cho, and Harry.
"Very good all of you…Ten points each, I think…" Bill said, moving to the next row.
Neville, Seamus, Dean, and a few others were in the next row. All of their potions were brewed correctly. Their row got ten points each student also. Bill finished checking all the Gryffindors and proceeded to the Slytherins and was in front of Goyle's cauldron…instead of his potion being blue, it was…
"Yellow, Mr. Goyle? I believe you forgot to add in the most important ingredient. Which would be the powdered pixie wings…" Bill said.
He moved to Crabbe. His potion was pink. Bill shook his head and moved on to Tom.
"Finally, someone who knows what they're doing! It's blue! Ten points to Slytherin…" Bill said, slightly amused.
He checked Whitney and Alyssia's potions. Both of them were a deep purple with blue mixed in.
"Good try, I'll give you both five points for your efforts…" Bill said politely.
He went over to Malfoy's cauldron.
"Well, let's see how you did, Mr. Malfoy…" Bill said smirking.
Malfoy's potion was blue.
"Very well…another ten points to Slytherin…class dismissed…" Bill said after examining the potion.
Harry, Cho, Cianna, Hermione, and Ron exited the dungeon and headed upstairs to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Sirius was waiting for them in the Entrance Hall and led them to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Fleur was busy setting up things and there was another young man in there with her. Suddenly Harry, Cho, Hermione, and Ron all knew who the man was.
"Professor Lupin!" They exclaimed, hugging him around the middle.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione! Cho! Good to see all of you. And you've probably guessed I'm Miss Delacour's assistant. Hello Padfoot…Sirius will also be helping…so just take some seats and when everyone has arrived and settled in, we'll start class." Remus said brightly.
They nodded and took seats and the Gryffindors cheered, seeing Lupin was back. Akira and Liam walked in with Ginny following behind them. The Slytherins came in, along with the fifth year Slytherins as well.
"Big class…" Sirius said to Remus.
"Yes, I do agree…" Remus replied.
"Fifth years, you are lucky to be here. This is the sixth year class, and today, you will learn some sixth year defensive methods. We will be practicing very many new spells today. If any of you, fifth year or sixth, can perform and master the spells we will be learning, they will earn their house fifty points and no homework for two weeks. First, we will try defensive spells, then offensive spells, and finally we will have a short dueling contest. The two winners from each year and house get to take on any three of us. So it would be four against one of us." Professor Delacour explained.
The class murmured in excitement.
"Now let's begin…Shield Charm, 'Protega'. Blocking Charm, 'Wan Dewitt'. And Spell-Reflecting Shield Charm, 'Pandora Allis'. Go on and try them…" Professor Delacour instructed.
"Now who can successfully perform the Shield Charm?" Remus asked.
Harry and Cho raised their hands.
"Please, come forward, and we'll have a demonstration for the class." Remus said, motioning them both to come forward.
The two nervously made their way forward and Akira, Liam, Hermione, and Ron were all watching excitedly.
"Get your wands ready. We will cast stunning spells at you both. If you really can perform the Shield Charm, you won't be harmed and our spells will disintegrate. But if you can't, you end up well, stunned…" Professor Delacour said.
Harry and Cho nodded. They both had their wands ready.
"Count of three…" Sirius instructed. "One…two…three!"
"STUPEFY!" Sirius, Remus, and Fleur shouted.
"PROTEGA!" Harry and Cho yelled.
Red jets of light, and flew through the air, and two bright, white orbs appeared, inside were Cho and Harry. The stunners flew into the shield and turned into white light.
"Now watch this class, it's rather amazing…" Professor Delacour said notably.
"Accio Sword!" She said.
A sword came to her, from her office and into her hand. She raised it and charged and struck the shields. The blade broke into thousands of grains of silver dust. Akira, Liam, Ron, and Hermione were awestruck. In fact, everyone was amazed. Even the Slytherins seemed amused. Professor Delacour wiped the perspiration from her brow and caught her breath.
"Very good shield charm you have there…thank you, twenty points to Gryffindor. Now everyone, find partners and start practicing the shield charm or the blocking charm. Off you go." She said.
"Better yet, Gryffindors versus Slytherins. We'll choose pairings…" Sirius said, grinning.
Harry had been paired with Malfoy, Ron with Tom, Cho with Whitney, Cianna with Alyssia, Akira with Pansy, Hermione with Millicent, and Liam with Goyle. By that time, they had already started to dueling contest. Currently, it seemed as if Gryffindor was losing. Neville, Seamus, Dean, Ginny, and a few others were badly hurt.
"Cho, I know we're supposed to be enemies in this duel, but you're a friend, so I promise not to fight back." Whitney said politely.
"No, go ahead and fight back…it's what makes the duel interesting…just take out the emotions of someone you hate, on me…" Cho replied, flicking her wand so that sparks shot out the end and blinded Malfoy for a second. Harry grinned at her, and Cho waved, then returned to Whitney.
"Alright…get ready…" Whitney said, sighing as she raised her wand.
Cho had her wand ready. Then both began a fierce duel. Pansy had just flown into the air and against the wall and was knocked out.
"Lecarnem Inflamari!" Cho muttered as fire sprung up from the hem of Whitney's robes.
"Blizzaga!" Whitney whispered, the fire freezing and crashing to the ground.
"Fira!" Cho exclaimed.
A ball of fire appeared, not on her wand tip, but in the palm of her hand. She threw it at Whitney. Whitney was patting the fire out with her hands, which were now ash-blackened. Whitney was now on her knees, nursing her hands.
"You win…" Whitney choked.
"Watera!" Cho whispered.
The ashes washed away. Cho had finally looked at her reflection since the duel. Her face had some ashes on it, and she was hot and tired, as well as sweating. She wiped her face with her sleeve. She ashes only seemed to smudge and get worse. She didn't care. She held out her hand and helped Whitney up.
"Thanks…" Whitney said, dusting herself off.
"You know, you should be a Gryffindor…you're not as mean as I thought you were…" Cho said.
"Ah well, before, I was just evil…but now, since the first Quidditch match, I see that you're really nice too…and I think that this would probably be the first friendship between a Slytherin and a Gryffindor." Whitney replied.
"Well, we can't forget Alyssia…she's nice, yes…but mean when she has to be…or when Malfoy wants her to be…" Cho added.
Cianna had beaten Alyssia and was helping her up too. Alyssia's caramel-blonde hair was a little singed at the ends and slightly brown. Cianna was putting her hair up into a messy bun and dusting off herself.
"Alright, everyone stop dueling. Right now. We're going to have four students duel each other…Harry, Cho, Alyssia, and Draco. They will be the first group." Remus explained.
The four stepped forward and Whitney wished Cho good luck. Harry stood on Cho's side. Malfoy stood on Alyssia's side.
"Good luck!!!" Alyssia mouthed at Cho and Harry.
"You too…" Both replied.
"Wands ready, take ten paces backward, and take pose for casting." Remus instructed.
"One, two, three…" Professor Delacour said.
"STUPEFY!" Four voices chorused.
"Angela Protera." Cho whispered.
White wings of light surrounded Cho and Harry and Alyssia and Malfoy's stunners turned into sparks. Everyone watched in awe. Cianna was watching and face worked itself into an evil grin…Malfoy looked thunderstruck.
"That isn't possible! You can't do that! That's a N.E.W.T. s. Standard! An advanced standard! My father told me about it! It isn't fair to use that spell in a duel! My father-" Malfoy started to say.
"We don't give a damn about what kind of crap your father has told you, Malfoy!" Sirius snarled.
"…in fact, just sharing tells us that you're daddy's little boy!" Cho added.
"That's not true!" Malfoy snapped.
"Denial…stage one of being daddy's little perfect angel-son…" Cho replied, bored, waving her wand tauntingly.
"Shut up!" Malfoy said, his voice rising.
"Why? Afraid to know the truth?" Cho asked.
"Shut up!!!" Malfoy replied, his voice now nearly a shout.
"Answer my question…are you afraid to know the truth?" Cho repeated.
"SHUT UP!" Malfoy roared.
"Or what? What're going to do about it, you can't hurt me. You don't even have the guts." Cho replied.
Malfoy dropped his wand and charged forward and leapt forward.
"Stop!" Cho said suddenly.
Her hand was out in front of her and Malfoy was in mid-leap. He wasn't even moving. Cho lowered her hand, and Malfoy fell to the floor. The entire room was silent and they had held their breath.
"Umm, class is dismissed…go to Transfiguration, sixth years, Gryffindor only…" Remus said, a slight quavering in his voice.
Everyone slung their bags over their shoulders and exited the room glancing at Cho as they walked out of the door. Cho glared at them, then got her bag and stalked off to Transfiguration as fast as she could. Harry quickly threw his bag over his shoulder and chased after Cho, who was already rounding a corner sixty feet away. It was even more difficult for him to get through since students had clogged the hallways. He shoved his way through and finally reached the corner that he had seen Cho rounding minutes before. Luckily, the hallway was empty. He ran down the hall as fast as he could. Then Cho came into view. She was halfway down some stairs, and Harry quickly caught up to her.
"Don't…just…run off, like that…ok?" He said, catching his breath.
"Did…did you see how…how they looked at me?" Cho asked, him, her voice shaking.
"No, but-" Harry started to say.
"They looked at me like I was some sort of freak, ok? Like I wasn't…normal…like a caged animal with rabies or something…" Cho cut in coldly.
"They were just shocked. You stopped Malfoy from getting within an inch of you just by using your mind and pushing all that energy forward, towards him. And he just froze in mid-air. They are just realizing how powerful you truly are when put to the test." Harry replied.
Cho looked away from him for a second and stared at her feet. She continued to walk to Transfiguration with Harry at her side.
They reached the classroom and were the first ones there. Professor McGonagall seemed pleased and awarded them both ten points. Hermione, Ron, and Cianna arrived a minute later. They were right about to spill out millions of questions for her, when Harry held up his hand to silence them before they could speak a word.
"Don't talk to her about it…" He said firmly.
Hermione nodded in understanding, Ron shrugged, and Cianna did nothing. The three sat down in the chairs next to them. The rest of the Gryffindors walked in and swarmed Cho.
"How did you-?" Seamus started to ask.
"What kind of magic did you use?" Dean asked.
"Was it Divinative magic?" Parvati asked.
Several questions jumbled out. Cho massaged her forehead vigorously.
'I'm hearing everyone's thoughts again…' She said to Harry, with her mind.
'Giving you a bad headache, then?' Harry asked.
'Yeah…they've got thousands more questions than what they're already asking me…' Cho replied.
The questions continued to come forward at Cho. She looked up at all the faces surrounding her. And the questions came by the hundreds.
"Shut up already! Just leave me alone, alright?!" She shouted at them.
They all backed off and went to their seats. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and the class directed all attention at her.
"Now that that little quarrel has been cleared up, I'd like to explain today's lesson plan…now today we will be learning how to turn a footstool into an owl." She explained, her eyes flitting about the classroom as she took roll.
McGonagall explained the instructions, the wand movements, and spell itself and by the end of the lesson, nearly everyone had turned their footstools into owls. The class ended and they all went to lunch. Everyone in the Great Hall was whispering excitedly and their eyes bored right into Cho's, while others behind her burned holes in her back.
"Stop staring at me!" Cho hissed at them, attempting to eat her bowl of noodles.
They turned away and were muttering things again. Dumbledore was talking with Professor Delacour and Sirius and Remus were stepping into the conversation every now and then. Bill was occupying Professor Snape's seat at the staff table and he was eating in silence.
The rest of lunch continued and everyone went to their last lesson. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was really looking forward to this lesson. Cho especially. Because she knew that once she was in the air she could get away from all fear and trouble. They walked onto the field and saw Madam Hooch talking to a young teenage boy. He was too far away to see his face, but as they moved closer, both Akira and Cho were shocked.
"Oh hi! It's you two!" Tai said.
He pulled his two sisters into a hug.
"Why weren't you at lunch?" Akira asked.
"Well I was flying and I wanted you all to be surprised still, so I ate out here." Tai answered.
"Uh huh…whatever…" Cho said.
"I hear that the next Quidditch match is this week…and next week is the ball…are you both giddy and squealing?" Tai asked.
"We're not giddy. And we're not squealing." Cho replied icily.
"What's up with you?" Tai asked.
"She's just had a bad day…" Harry answered, walking over to Cho.
"I see…well anyway, I'm helping Madam Hooch. We'll be teaching you new moves and stuff…you should know at least five new techniques and formations by dinner time." Tai replied, his voice cheery and light.
Ron, Hermione, Liam, and Alexa had arrived and Tai introduced himself to Alexa and started explaining what they'd be learning. They all mounted their brooms and Tai did as well. Cho, Akira, and Hermione were passing the quaffle back and forth quickly and then they tried to score at the goal that Ron was guarding. Liam and Alexa had taken out the bludgers and were knocking them around the field. Madam Hooch released the snitch and Harry spotted it in seconds and caught it with ease. The practice went very well and when it had finally finished, everyone was tired and happy. Together they all went into the Great Hall for dinner. Cho was perfectly happy and had completely forgotten about what happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The team sat down at the Gryffindor table, completely exhausted, but extremely hungry. The plates filled with food and everyone started eating and having a good time. The feast ended and Dumbledore rose from his seat.
"As you know, this Saturday is the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match…I must also announce that Ravenclaw will not be playing in the final match…but it will be Slytherin. Ravenclaw fought wonderfully against Slytherin, but did not prevail this time…the final match will be held in May, and Mr. Felton and Mr. Malfoy have decided for their double-wedding to take place in May also…Now next week Saturday is the Valentine's Ball. Only fourth year and above may attend, unless an older student invites a third year or below. Now that we have all been fed and watered, bed." Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together.
The entire hall was filled with chatter and laughter as all of the students headed to their dormitories. The entire school seemed to have also forgotten what had happened in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Lesson. The Gryffindors were all excitedly talking about the match, and some of the girls talked about the ball. The chatter died as did the laughter, and the castle was silent. Everyone had gone to bed…
-
It was finally Saturday. The day of the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.