Chapter 4: Change

Half-squinting, Harry saw someone peering through the curtains of his four-poster bed.

"Aarrgh!" said Harry, waking with a start.

"Calm down, mate, it's just me," said Ron weakly. "Why don't you get dressed and let's go down to breakfast? I'm starved." He then proceeded to the common room.

As Harry followed behind, an arm wrapped around his shoulder. "Hey there, Harry," said Hermione, looking beautiful as ever. It felt liberating to be able to stare at her, knowing exactly how he felt about her. But was what it exactly? Was it like Neville said, 'appreciation of human beauty'?

Harry did not immediately notice the fact that it was not only him who was surprised at the vast improvement in Hermione's physicality. Harry also did not notice the fact that the looks of wonder turned to his companion turned to ugly jealousy to him. It truly was a green-eyed monster.

Sitting down on their place in the Gryffindor table with Ron (oh, he was there), Harry was furthermore captivated by Hermione; by the way she ate the sausages to the lick of her lips as she finished her orange juice. A wolf whistle from Malfoy re-alerted him of Ron's presence as the latter whispered, "No sudden movements. I think he's looking."

Ginny laughed. "Oh, Ronniekins. Just because something happened between us last year doesn't mean it could happen again. It's called anachronism. Besides, it's just looking. You look at everybody all the time."

Harry barely missed whom Ron was looking at the time, but he did see Ginny's smirk. Ron replied, "It's not just plain, innocent looking. It's sort of malicious, seductive-"

"Excuse me," interrupted Harry. "But what exactly happened between Ginny & Malfoy?"

The two youngest Weasleys exchanged a glance. Ron spoke first.

"Well, at the end of last year, Malfoy thought that storming into the Department of Mysteries and beating his father up was quite hot. In short, he kind of…took a liking to Ginny."

"But he took it too far, too soon." Ron pressed. "He wanted to…umm…what's the word? I can't seem to find to-"

"He attempted to have sex with me," said Ginny suddenly. "It was in one of the unused classrooms, we've got lots of those. He just pulled me aside while I was walking the corridor, then started kissing me and…you know."

"It's called rape you know," said Hermione. "If it's not consensual sex it's called rape."

Harry had a fleeting thought of Hermione pulling him aside in a sexy, librarian outfit into a classroom.

"So now Ron thinks it'll happen again," finished Ginny.

"Well, it's valid, isn't it? Anyhow, we're late for class. Let's go now," signaled Ron to Harry swallowed a pill whilst taking off.

"Go ahead, Harry," said Hermione. "I'll just go to the bathroom. Save me a seat."

"Go ahead, HARRY. Whatever happened to you?" Harry asked Ron as they walked to class.

"Hermione's a nice girl," Ron said after quite a time. "Who do you reckons the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Oh, right!" Harry remembered. "Well, I do hope it's someone good. But to be honest, I think it's someone stupid enough to take the job."

"Or someone desperate enough," answered Ron as they both laughed.

"Wrong, the two of you," said a cold voice behind them.

Harry turned around, and to his horror stood Professor Severus Snape, smirking and looking angry at the same time.

He opened the door of the classroom. "It is someone good. I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Defense Against the Dark Arts, which Harry did not seem to find difficult before, became nearly as hard as Divination before. Even Hermione struggled against the relentless tasks of Snape, one of which was the nonverbal spells. Snape seemed pleased.

Potions did not seem to be much better. It was now being taught by a fat walrus of a man named Horace Slughorn. He seemed to take a liking to Harry, but was ecstatic over Ron, whom, apparently, was now a Potions master.

"Don't be fooled, it's just the book," confessed Ron to Harry on their way back to their dormitory.

Harry was confused. "The book? You mean, your book? That tatty, old, puked-on 'Advanced Potions Book'?"

Ron laughed. "Don't insult me, Potter. The very fact that it is tatty, old, and puked on is the very reason why I am now - wait for it… - a Potions master."

It was Harry's turn to laugh. "How so?" he asked.

Ron answered, "Well, the old owner of my ancient book left some notes that helped make things easier. A shortcut, shall we say."

They had now reached their beds. "Well, I am bloody tired," said Harry. "Good night – wait, aren't you going to sleep yet? Still have energy left?"

Ron unpacked his Potions book. "I'm going to read this. Mind if I leave the lights on?"

'Strange,' thought Harry as he lay down. 'Everything is strange.'