I live. And soon will be killed by the people reading this fic. If your name isn't below I'm sorry. I'll post them all on my last chapter to make sure everyone was heralded.

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Um…I've been outta the loop for awhile so these people may be the same with different screen names. I had a set saved and I rechecked and was like O.o new….people….?

Chapter 7: In Which Larson is Deemed Insane

They diligently followed Larson to the lawns and near the forest line they could see a large shape rising from the ground.

In front of the DADA class was a huge maze. Harry took one look and felt sick to his stomach. Ron blanched at the sight, and Hermione felt nothing at all. Of course, she wasn't here during the fourth year when the Triwizard Tournament was going on and Voldemort killed one of the students.

Larson drew up to the beginning and ordered the students to gather around him. " By looking at your faces, this must not be your favorite thing, ne?" The class nodded as one. " Hm, well, that's too bad." He said gaily. " This maze isn't very long, but inside are some fairly simple creatures to deal with.

Harry began to whimper slightly and Hermione watched him with a strange look. This must not be Harry's favorite thing. Ron bent down to whisper into her ear. " During our fourth year, he participated in the TriWizard Tournament and a student was killed in one of these." He filled in quickly. Hermione gasped softly and looked over to the raven-haired boy. Harry was silent now, a look of perfect normalcy upon his visage.

" Get into pairs and once you've done so come up to me so I can disperse you throughout the maze." Larson ordered. Harry looked over to Hermione.

" Wanna be my partner?" he asked. She nodded and they approached the teacher. He waited a minute before letting them go to allow space between them and the first group.

The two walked in and Larson's voice cut off completely, it was obviously soundproofed. Looking to Hermione, Harry saw her slap a hand onto the wall. " Why're you doing that?" he asked curiously.

" It's a surefire way to get out of the maze if you keep one hand on the right side." Hermione explained as they reached a T. Harry nodded along as though he knew what she said, but kept silent. They took off and soon came to another crossroads, but this had a sphinx in the middle. Seeing the students, she stretched and opened her mouth wide.

" Master Larson bid me to riddle you. I grow longer as it gets brighter but when it's totally illuminated I'm gone, what am I?" she quizzed.

Harry turned to Hermione, whose face was screwed up in thought. She looked up and whispered. " It's a shadow!"

" Why'd you whisper it to me?" Harry asked.

" You're the one she saw first. She won't accept my answer." Hermione explained.

Turning back to the beast, Harry spoke. " A shadow."

The sphinx smiled coquettishly. " Very good, please proceed." She moved aside as the teens went forward. They traveled in silence until Hermione tugged on his robe.

" I hear voices from the next row. We must be near the exit." She said to Harry.

" Cool. I absolutely hate mazes." Harry said fervently. They began to jog until they reached the turn to take them out.

Larson was waiting with a piece of parchment. " Good job guys. You're the only group to pass the sphinx. Harry and Hermione grinned to one another. " You guys can head back to the castle and go lunch. It's almost time to go anyway." The duo nodded and trotted up to the school doors.

Harry looked at Hermione. " Thanks for solving that riddle. I'd of been stuck for awhile."

Hermione grinned. " It's all right. I love doing those kinds of things."

As they walked into the building, another large crack of thunder permeated through the walls. " Wait, weren't we just outside?" Harry said curiously. " Why the hell wasn't it raining buckets?"

The American girl stopped walking and thought for a second. " I have absolutely no idea." Simultaneously they looked back and the doors showed sopping wet grounds. They looked at each other with looks of shock. " Whoa…" she breathed.

Harry raised his hands submissively. " Let's not even try and figure this out. Let's go to Transfiguration and not think about it. Freakin me out." He muttered. Hermione nodded and they went to their next class very confused.

That night the Gryffindors sat in their common room and did the loads of homework assigned to them by the teachers. Although Hermione was a whiz, even she was having problems with keeping up with the workload. Becoming an Auror was no easy task. All three of the kids were the last to go to bed.

" Night guys." Hermione said sleepily as she went up the staircase. They muttered something that sounded similar to her good-bye and left as well.

Potions was first hour that next morning. Hermione was not at all willing to cooperate with the grumpy professor and it showed as they walked down to the dungeons. " You doing all right?" Harry asked cautiously. Women could be set off at any moment and both Harry and Ron knew Hermione was no exception.

" Define all right," sniffed Hermione while throwing her books upon the potion's table. Shooting a glare to all Slytherins in sight, she sat down and pulled out her book. Harry and Ron didn't say a word and let her mull in silence. It usually worked out better that way.

Soon the dungeon door banged open to reveal the grim-faced Snape, who strode to the table. All chatter that had existed was now cut off like a steak knife through butter. The constantly irate professor began to speak. " Today is a day that will divide the men from the boys," he sneered. " We are going to make the complex Desire Potion. This will attach your drinker to the object that is coated in this solution. You have the entire hour; at the end you will have to let it simmer overnight and then return to finish it in the morning. Your instructions," they appeared, " and the materials. Get to work. Dare I say that getting this wrong will have…" he smirked. " Painful consequences."

Harry could almost feel the radiant evil energy seeping out from Hermione and her will to show up this teacher. He inched a bit more to the edge of the table and drew forth the ingredients to begin. A malevolent smile creeped onto the girl's face and she was chuckling when she first poured in the powered fairy dust.

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SORRY! I'M SORRY!

I know that in the end of the HBP that SPOILER Snape kills Dumbledore and leaves END SPOILER, but I still need him. And this is sorta AU so for the time being he will remain a part of the Hogwarts staff.So hopefully this chapter will assuage the yearlong hunger and another will be somewhat quickly uploaded.

- Spearie