Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, fork in his right hand and his class list in his left. "I think Dumbledore wants to kill us, all of our core classes are double classes with Slytherins" Ron spat food out at Harry while reading his class list. "Sorry Harry"

"Hermione was right it is rude to talk with food in your mouth." Harry scolded, wiping Ron's toast off of his cheek. "It does seem that way doesn't it, well at least we have DADA first think today that shouldn't be too bad."

Ron shrugged, "It's a new teacher, remember the last female DADA teacher?"

Harry's face dropped, "Oh yeah I remember her, but I don't think the ministry would send another Umbridge to Hogwarts after the first one left."

Ron nodded, "I wish Hermione was here. She would make everything better like she always did. I just don't understand why anyone would attack her. She never did anything to anyone."

"It's either because she's friends with me or the fact she was a Muggleborn. It's really up to the person that did it. I don't understand it either." Harry took another slice of bacon off of the plate in front of him. I don't understand the Hermione I know would be horrible affected by the rape but she would have kept going. This is not something she would do just give up on everything. I think I need to talk to Dumbledore after class he must know something.

"Harry, are you even listening to me" Ron tapped him on the shoulder. "I have been trying to tell you we have been dismissed to go and get our stuff for our first class. What were you thinking about?'

"It was just about a dream I had last night. I was trying to remember some of it so that after DADA I can tell Dumbledore about it." Harry lied easily; with out Hermione there it was a piece of cake.

Ron nodded, "Well lets hurry up we don't want to be late to the first day of class." Ron stopped in the middle of the Great Hall. "I'm turning into Hermione."

Harry laughed, "Either that or you have a thing for the new teacher already."

"It's not funny Harry."

"Come on Ron, we don't need to be late."

Ron nodded and started walking towards the Gryffindor tower. "I just hope she is nothing like Snape and or Lockhart. That would just be horrid."

Harry shook his head, "Lets hurry up here, we have a little bit of a walk ahead of us."

Professor Zagaruyka looked over from the chalk board when they finally made it to class. "I'm glad you guys could make it, please take a seat and start taking notes."

Harry glared at Ron. "If you would have pulled your books out last night like I did we wouldn't have been late."

Ron just smiled, "Yeah well I wanted to sleep last night, unlike you I need to sleep A LOT."

"Do I have to separate the two of you? Please start taking notes, I'm sure you do not want a detention on the first day." Professor Zagaruyka looked from the chalk board again her smile fading.

"Sorry ma'am" Harry replied pulling out his quill and parchment paper from his satchel. For the next twenty minutes they took down the names of different magical beings that had human abilities such as walking and talking. From Werewolves to Veelas the list was a full parchment long.

"Now you are probably wondering why I made you write this list out?" Professor Zagaruyka asked the class. The class just nodded their heads. "For your final grade in this class each person is going to choose a different magical being and write a four foot essay on that being. And you will have to have some one that is let's say a vampire come in and talk to the class. You will also need to interview that person for you essay."

The class looked at her with fear no one had really ever talked to a real vampire before. Getting one to come into the school could be dangerous. Draco was the first one to speak up, "So you are saying we have to get information on a magical creature and get them to come in even if they are dangerous? That's just crazy how are we going to ever do that."

"Thank you for pointing that out, this year you are permitted to go to both the Wizarding and Muggle libraries to look up information. And when it comes to meeting the person you decided on I will look into the files and make sure they are not dangerous. If you need help finding some to interview you can always come to me I have a database on the names of people who are Veela or a Vampire or what ever you decide."

Professor Zagaruyka sat down behind her desk. "Now there are some rules: First rule you are not allowed to interview someone you know personally like a sibling or a really close friend or anything like that. Rule number two you may ask another student what they are working on but neither party can help each other if I wanted that I would have made this a pair project. My final rule is this when you meet your, we will say vampire again you are not allowed to make them feel different in anyway. I mean to say call them a blood sucker or a demon or something like that. Now does anyone have an idea on what kind of magical being they would like to choose?"

Malfoy raised his hand, "I would like Werewolves professor." Turning to Harry and Ron he smiled, "I think I might know someone who is a werewolf that won't mind talking to the class."

Professor Zagaruyka smiled, "Alright Mr. Malfoy I will write you down for Werewolves, anyone else?"

Harry raised his hand, "Could I have Veela, and does that mean they have to be full Veela can they be half or something?"

The professor thought about this for a second, "I don't see why not, you must have someone in mind. Alright Mr. Potter has Veelas."

One by one the list was getting shorter and shorter with only two choices left; vampires and giants. Neville raised his hand, "Professor Zagaruyka could I have Vampires please?"

The professor smiled, "Yes Mr. Longbottom you may. Oh and before I forget please call me Professor Kat. My last name is too hard to pronounce. So that leaves Mr. Weasley with Giants."

Harry pushed Ron awake, "You've got Giants" he whispered "If you would have been awake you could have picked something different."

Ron shrugged, "At least its not Vampires, who got them?"

"Neville actually and he picked it."

"Wow I would never have thought Neville would brave the world and choose Vampires."

"Yeah well he will probably try and get Snape to come and talk to the class. That poor boy is going to get him self killed."

Ron laughed, "Yeah you're probably right. I wonder if Snape would actually come and talk to the class."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Mr. Weasley but the last time I checked Professor Snape is not a Vampire, actually Mr. Longbottom do you mind switching with Mr. Weasley he doesn't seem to understand Vampires at all?" Professor Kat asked looking over at Neville.

"Yeah… Sure Professor I think I would rather do Giants now anyway I think I know who to interview." Neville answered rewriting something on a piece of paper.

"Alright then it's settled, Mr. Weasley will do Vampires and Mr. Longbottom will do Giants. Alright class dismissed." Kat smiled, "Hurry along to your next class I don't want you guys to be late."

The class emptied in a flash, Ron and Harry were the last ones to get out into the hall. "Ron I am going to go and see Dumbledore about my dream would you save me a seat in McGonagall's pleases?"

Ron yawned, "Yeah that way when you can come in I can stop taking notes and go to sleep. You'll let me copy yours right?"

"Yeah thanks Ron, I'll see you in a little bit."

The two split up in front of the gargoyle that hid the stair way to Dumbledore's office. Do I really want to know what happened? What if she died of something else and they are covering it with the rape. Shaking away his thought he spoke the password. "Starbursts" Harry started up the stairs.

"I was wondering when you would be coming to see me Harry" Dumbledore moved from behind his desk. "How can I help you today?"

"Hermione isn't dead is she?" Harry went right to the point; he knew Dumbledore already knew why he was there anyway so why be that late to class. "I don't believe Hermione would just give up like you said she did."

Dumbledore sighed taking his seat he began. "Harry what I am going to tell you has to say between you and I. If this gets out to anyone she could be in real danger."

Harry nodded, "All I want to know is if she is safe and if there is anything I can do for her."

"She is perfectly safe Harry. Her secret keeper will provide for her and make sure everything is going okay. She didn't want to go into hiding but we thought it was for the best for her." Dumbledore smiled, "I will let you write her letters. But I must ask you not to put anything in there that might get her into trouble. Use code names and write to her like she is a student that graduated last year. All you have to do is bring it up here and I will get her secret keeper to take it to her. I am sure she will be rather bored very soon. Do I make myself clear Harry?"

"Yes Headmaster, thank you very much. I'll start on that right away." Harry smiled things were looking up at least now he knew she could still help him with defeating Voldemort.

"Remember tell no one not even Mr. Weasley, I am afraid that if the school found out that she is not dead that there might be an uproar and Ms. Granger doesn't need that right now." Dumbledore went though his top desk drawer sorting though some things. "Here you are Harry give this to Professor McGonagall as your reason for being late." Dumbledore held out a phoenix feather waving it a little.

Harry shook his head slightly, "Alright Headmaster thank you for your time I will see you sometime this evening with the letter." Taking the feather he headed towards Transfigurations.

Dear Curly Top,

Hey it's been awhile since we last got to talk and I thought I would send you a letter to see how everything is going. I'm sure Dumbledore will send you a letter along with mine. Nothing here has changed, most of the core classes are Gryffindor and Slytherin like always. I swear Dumbledore wants us to kill each other. The new DADA teacher is pretty interesting, we have a final project. Can you believe it a project just like a Muggle school. And there is something about her I just can't place, but she's all right kind of like a mix of Moody and Lupin. I hope your life is going alright. I know being with out friends can be tough. Write back as soon as you can.

Miss you lots,

Mop Top

Harry was happy with this letter, just by reading you couldn't tell who it was for and from whom it was from. Mop Top, yeah that's me alright. He ran his hand though his hair, "Off to Dumbledore now I hope I get a letter back soon." Harry made an excuse to Ron who was in the middle of a chess game to even look up at him. Walking out of the common room he started to a fast walk up to Dumbledore's office.

"Starbursts" Harry said as he made it to Dumbledore's office, he made his way upstairs just in time to see Professor Snape storm out of the office.

"Professor is this a bad time?" Harry asked as he entered the office. "I can come back later if you would like?"

"No Harry it's not, Severus has a bit of a chip on his shoulder right now. It's nothing to worry about." Dumbledore walked over to Harry, "How can I help you Harry?"

"I have a letter for Hermione, I was hoping you would send it to her for me" Harry pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it the Headmaster, "I used code names. I'm Mop Top and she's Curly Top."

Dumbledore laughed, "I think I will be Twinkling Eyes, I believe that it is me." Taking the letter he walked over to his desk. "I will send it along and let you know when you get a return letter. Off to bed now I have a letter to write."

"Good night Professor and thank you for sending the letter along for me." Harry turned and walked out of the office. Leaving the Headmaster to his own devices.

Curly Top,

I hope this finds you well. Mop Top was worried about you so I allowed him to write, I hope that is alright with you. Don't worry about Marshmallow Man he will come around one day. Please don't hesitate to write, Mop Top would really like it. Let me know if Marshmallow Man gives you any problems.

Twinkling Eyes.

Smiling to himself he sent the letters through the floo. "Marshmallow Man, he would kill me if he heard that.