Disclaimer: I'm not GOD! STOP ASKING!
This chapter made me happy, AN
Percy, Annabeth, Grover and I left the others to go and find a compartment. We soon found an empty one after a couple of minuets. We stowed our trunks and slumped down on the seats.
"And so it begins." Percy muttered
"Yeah. It's quite nice to be able to talk normally now. Since no one else is around. Just us," I said "Ah guys check this out." I took out my wand and directed it at the scar Annabeth had so kindly given me. I muttered a quick indication and the scar started to heal itself. After about ten seconds it was just smooth skin.
"Good one." Grover said slapping me on the back. I couldn't help but suppress a grin as my… well… my friend congratulated me. Wow a friend. Never had one of those before…
"Yeah. So what do you think of them lot." Annabeth said, smiling at me
"Potters alright, Weasleys okay. Granger is a bit of a know it all but she's fine." I said back to her (A/N: I was called down stairs just now and told my sisters going to get married.)
"Yeah I agree." Percy nodded along in agreement "So has Chiron sent any of you guys an owl yet? About that thing Hagrid mentioned?"
"Nope." We all said
"I really want to know what happened." Annabeth said, clearly frustrated.
"Hey whats the time?" Grover asked, leaning over to check my watch. I checked my watch and realised I was late.
"Ah guys. Ill be right back. Bathroom." I stood up and walked out the door, looking left and right. I walked right along the hallway until I reached the compartment where Draco Malfoy sat alone staring out the window. I slid open the compartment door, he didn't turn around put simply said
"You're late Cameron."
"Yeah sorry." He turned around. I had never met Draco before but he was very handsome. His white blonde hair fell over his face, his skin was quite pale but held a bit of colour from the warmth of the train but his hollow cheeks still looked very pale. He looked… He looked just like me. He smirked up at me but his grey eyes were as cold as iron.
"Sit." He gestured for me to sit opposite him. I was suddenly aware I was staring at him in the middle of the compartment. I slid the door shut and pulled down the blind then sat where he suggested.
"You better be in Slytherin Cameron."
"And if im in Gryffindor I can spy on Potter a whole lot better." I said. If I wasn't that brave then he would have been very scary. The sun was staring to set and we were cast into dimmer light
"True. So, has the Dark Lord told you about the complete plan?" He asked me, casting a charm over the door "So no one can hear our cosy chat." He added
"No. He said to talk to you and you would fill me in."
"Right. Well the plan is simple. I find a way to get our lovely Death Eaters into Hogwarts and to murder our dear Headmaster. You get close to them people, Potter, Weasley and the Mudblood." He said this as if we were planning a trip to Spain or somewhere.
"The Dark Lord never said why I needed to get close."
"Im sure he has his reasons Cameron."
"So you'll help me?" I asked leaning forward
"Of course. As long as you help me." He said. The sun had set now casting Draco's features into sharper focus.
"Yes." We shook on it and he then muttered
"Try and get sorted into Gryffindor and hate me like Potter, Weasley and his Mudblood girlfriend Granger."
"Cant act suspicious can we."
"Cant afford to. Now Cameron –"
"Tom."
"-Tom. Whats your background? You sound Scottish but I've never seen you at Hogwarts?" He asked, tilting his head slightly, his eyes surveying me with great interest. He leaned back onto the seat and put his hand under his chin, staring at me.
"I never went to school. My life was spent being prepared for this. I was…home schooled. My father was a Wizard, my mother was a Witch I never met her. I met my father last year but then he got sent back to Azkaban. I was brought up in Scotland. Im a pureblood. My name was changed so no other magical folk would know of me. When the deed is over I will change my name back to Thaddaeus Lestrange."
"So… we must be… wait who was your father?" Draco asked
"Rabastan Lestrange."
"My aunt's brother in law. So that makes us… cousins?"
"I think so."
"Yes. Well… Cameron, you best get back to Jackson and the others. It shouldn't take this long for a bathroom break should it?" Draco said, holding out his hand for me to shake
"How did you –"I started wondering how he knew what I had said
"Never you mind. Nice meeting you Cameron."
"You too Draco." I shook his hand then left the compartment. I walked back to the others and sat down.
"You were gone a while…" Percy said
"I couldn't find the bathroom." I muttered
"Alright Tom." Said Percy, grinning. As he said my name I flinched a bit
"Are you okay Tom?" Annabeth asked, leaning towards me. I could feel her breath on my cheek. She smelled like pine. I flinched again as she said my name but I tried to relax into the seat.
"Im fine…just a bit cold."
"Okay then. Why don't we get changed into our robes? Might as well." Annabeth said, sitting back in her seat.
"Yeah go on then," I muttered. We got changed and I noticed our ties were just plain black. "Why are our ties black? Harry mentioned to me that our house colours were on our ties." I asked holding up my tie
"We haven't been sorted yet."
"Oh right…" Our uniform was quite simple really. A white shirt, black trousers (Black skirt for Annabeth) a grey jumper, a black tie and black robes that fitted around it all.
We just started talking about what it was going to be like when Harry Potter burst into the compartment and pulled me out without another word.
I followed Zabini down the hall underneath the cloak. After a while of walking Zabini stopped and opened a compartment door. He didn't walk in. I looked over Zabini's shoulder and saw Malfoy in there.
"Ill talk to you later Blaise. Go back to the others ill see you there in a bit." Blaise left looking a bit annoyed but I stayed put and stared at Malfoy. Suddenly I saw Tom Cameron walking down the hall and opening the door. He stood in the middle of the compartment for a bit so I stepped in and climbed up onto the luggage rack. Malfoy muttered something causing Cameron to close the door, slide the blind down and sit underneath me.
"You better be in Slytherin Cameron." Malfoy said sneering
"And if im in Gryffindor I can spy on Potter a whole lot better." Cameron replied. So he was going to spy on me aye?
"True. So, has the Dark Lord told you about the complete plan?" Then it clicked. Something had been nagging at my mind ever since I saw Malfoy in that dark arts shop.
Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater and Tom Cameron was one too.
Malfoy talked about a plan but I wasn't listening I couldn't believe that Cameron was the enemy. After I came out of my trance I noticed that they were saying good bye. They shook hands and Cameron stood up. I quickly dropped down onto the seat and darted out of the compartment after him. As he walked back to his compartment I slid of the cloak and just leaned against the hall. I still couldn't believe it. Should I confront him? Should I leave it and tell Ron and Hermione? Should I have a word with Malfoy? I decided to confront Tom after a while of obsessive thinking. I walked quickly along the hall attracting stares of passing students who whispered and muttered with their friends obviously talking about what happened last year with the Ministry and all. I soon found them all in a compartment already changed into their robes. I burst through the door, took Cameron by his collar and led him into the nearest empty compartment. I slid the blind down and pushed him into the seat.
"So, I noticed you just came back into your mate's compartment." I said quite calmly blocking the door. He look like he could punch me pretty hard but I had my wand on me so he couldn't get near me even if he had a go.
"I went to the bathroom." He said, standing up
"Well, funny that because I saw you having a cosy little chat with Draco Malfoy." I sneered
"He – er – he wanted a word." He said
"Oh yeah? About what?"
"About – um – About me being in Slytherin. He said im too good to be in any other house." He stuttered
"You should stop while your ahead you liar. So. You're a guy on the inside are you Cameron? Giving Malfoy a hand in his little plan? Working for Voldemort?" I sneered.
"No not at all."
"Don't lie." I leered. But just then the door banged open behind me and sent me flying head first into the red seat. I could hear the door being closed and locked.
"So Potter. Tell me what else you know." A drooling voice sneered. I knew that voice far to well.
Draco Malfoy.
I spun around and took my wand out pointing it at Malfoy.
"You're a lost cause Potter. Two on one?" Malfoy twitched his wand directing it at Tom who I noticed had his hands at his side, looking shocked.
"Get your wand out and help me." Malfoy yelled.
"No way." Tom said, dropping to the floor. He'd fainted. Bloody idiot.
"Drop your wand Potter." Malfoy repeated.
"Drop it or I'll kill you and see if I can have a crack at your Blood Traitor girlfriend too." Malfoy said, twitching his wand to the floor, indicating for me to drop my wand. I dropped it at the sound of Ginny and held my hands up.
"Sit down Potter. And tell us what you know." I backed slowly into the chair, sat down and told him all that I had heard.
"So you going to repeat any of our lovely conversation Potter?"
"What do you think Malfoy?"
"Cruico." Malfoy said. A pain ran up through my spine. It hurt so badly. I felt like I was slowly being stabbed with a icy dagger.
"Still feel like talking Potter?" Malfoy laughed.
"Yep." I felt another pain in my stomach.
"What about now?"
"Im not changing my mind Malfoy" I tried to stand up but I felt a harder blow, making me fall backwards. I could hear the train slowing down now.
"No one will believe you Potter. You'll sound like a boy begging for a bit more attention. And then, you'll go the same way as your dear Mudblood mother," Malfoy sneered "Oh, whats this Potter? Petrificus Totalus!" He put his hand into my pocket and withdrew my Invisibility Cloak. Malfoy chucked me onto the floor. "Well looks like you won't be here for the Start of Term Feast aye Potter. You'll be at Kings Cross before they realised that The Chosen One is still on board. But cheer up Potter. They'll ask for autographs." Malfoy stomped on my face and threw the cloak over me.
"Have fun on the train ride back to London Potter." Draco said leaving Tom and walking out. I could feel something warm dripping down my face as I heard the door slam behind me. Tom soon woke up, looked around the compartment, not seeing me and staggered out.
Harry Potter just walked in and took my mate away. Unbelievable.
"What the hell was that about?" I asked
"No idea." Annabeth replied
"Should I go check on them?" I asked, looking at the door
"Yeah." Grover said. I got up and walked out the compartment door. I looked left and right and decided to go left. I jogged along the hallway and bumped into a tall figure causing me to fall onto the floor.
"Watch where you're going!" A cold voice said. I looked up to see a pale boy with white-blonde hair hanging across his face. He had cold iron eyes that froze my bones. It looked like he wore a permanent frown.
"Who are you?" I asked standing up
"I don't see how that's any of your business!" the boy spat
"Well I would like to know." I said my temper rising
"Well you tell me first what Blood status you are!"
"My names Percy Jackson and im- er- Muggle born." I said, remembering what blood status Hermione Granger had said she was.
"Im Draco Malfoy, Pure blood. Now watch where your going you filthy little Mudblood." He sneered and walked past me. I decided to follow him because he seemed like a guy who would taunt first years. I followed him along the hallway back the way I had came and saw him bang open a compartment door and walk in. I ran up to it to see the blinds down and the door locked. I pressed my ear to the door and this is what I heard:
""You're a lost cause Potter. Two on one?" Malfoy said. "Get your wand out and help me!"
"No way." A voice said. I then heard a loud thud.
"Put the wand down Potter. Or ill kill you right here" Malfoy said."Drop your wand Potter." It said again
"Drop it or I'll kill you and see if I can have a crack at your Blood Traitor girlfriend too." Malfoy said. I heard a small thud indicating Harry had dropped his wand.
"Sit down Potter. And tell me what you know." Malfoy said. I heard some talking, though it was muffled.
"So you going to repeat any of our lovely conversation Potter?"
"What do you think Malfoy?" Harry said. I heard a loud cry and a whimper of pain. I heard Malfoy say something else and another cry of pain.
"What about now?"
"Im not changing my mind Malfoy" I heard another yell of agony and a crash. I pressed me ear against the door harder but I couldn't hear anything. I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out a Galleon and lobbed it at the door to see it bounce off without actually touching it.
"Imperturbable Charm." I muttered, I slowly backed away from the door. I ran down the hallway and turned around. I could see Malfoy walking out. I waited until he was out of sight. The train had stopped now. I tried to get past all the students hurrying out of their compartments though it was very difficult. I ran back to the compartment I was listening too and banged open the door. I walked in and trod on something that I couldn't see. I quickly bounced off of it. I put my hand down to touch it but my hand met material. I tugged at it and I saw Harry Potter lying on the floor with a broken nose.
"Hello there," I grinned. I pulled my wand out of my pocket and muttered a spell. It didn't work. "Mate whats the counter curse?" I asked Harry. He seemed frozen yet his eyes were moving franticly. I could hear students passing out in the halls but I was still crouched over Harry trying to think of the counter curse. After about ten minuets I couldn't hear anymore students and I could hear the train's engine roaring to life. I spent another five minuets thinking until I felt the train start moving. I muttered a counter curse I thought might work and Harry sprang to life before me sitting up.
"Thanks mate. C'mon! Or we're gonna be on our way back to London!" He yelled. He got up and pulled me out into the hall. We raced along the passage until we saw the door to get off. Harry yanked it open and said that on the count of three we jump
"One. Two. THREE!" We both jumped off of the train and rolled onto the pavement.
"What about our trunks?" I asked, standing up and wiping my knees
"Im sure our friends got them for us. Otherwise Dumbledore will have to get them sent to us." He said, standing up and panting. His nose was looking terrible.
"Stand still." I muttered getting my wand back out.
"What?"
"Im going to fix your nose. Now stand still." I held my wand an inch from his nose. Gave it a slight tap and said
"Episkey!" There was a loud crack causing Harry to shout in pain and clench his newly repaired nose.
"How does it look?" He asked.
"Normal." He fixed his glasses and we started walking along the path.
"So what was going on in there?" I asked
"Malfoy and Cameron." He said
"Cameron? As in Tom Cameron?" I asked astonished
"Yep."
"No way. Toms one of us mate. When you got hit you proberly didn't know what you were seeing." I said, laughing
"He fainted!" Harry said getting angry
"Okay." I said sarcastically. We walked up to the castle in silence. As soon as I could see the castle I let out a wide Oooh.
"Like it?" Harry grinned
"It's brilliant!" I exclaimed
"Nothing like this in America then?" He asked
"Er- no. No castles. This is ten times better."
"Okay then, well Hogwarts," Harry pointed up towards the castle, "Is massive at first but after you get used to it its really easy to find your way around. There's a few trick steps so be careful. There's house ghosts called Nearly Headless Nick of Gryffindor, The Grey Lady of Ravenclaw, The Fat Friar of Hufflepuff and The Bloody Barron of Slytherin," We reached the castle gates, "Oh and watch out for Snape if you're not in Slytherin. Hes a right greasy haired pain in the –"
"Nice to see you too Potter."
Severus Snape stood before them with a cold look in his eyes. His hair was as black and as greasy as ever as he stared at the two six teen year olds.
"Potter, who is your friend?" He asked coldly
"Percy Jackson Professor. He transferred here this year." Harry muttered returning the glare
"Well I suppose Mr. Jackson here is with Tom Cameron, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood. Am I correct?"
"Yes sir." Percy muttered
"Well Jackson you missed the sorting. Your friend Cameron is in Gryffindor, Underwood is in Hufflepuff, Chase is in Ravenclaw. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky students to get into Slytherin."
"Then how am I to be sorted sir?" Percy asked
"You will come along to Professor Dumbledores office tonight. And a detention for being late. Again may I add to Potter." Snape's lip curved
"Can we go to the castle sir?" Harry asked with the cold look still in his eyes as he stared thought the greasy black hair of Snape's
"Yes. Jackson. You walk behind us and slowly. To have a longer view of the castle." Snape said. Percy stayed behind us and was to far away to hear Snape as he began to talk.
"So what are they calling you now? The Chosen One?" Harry just kept quiet with his head down "Well Potter don't me expecting any special treatment from me. To me you will always be a little snide arrogant boy just like your father," Harry's fists were clenched "Your father was an arrogant man just like you Potter. He was a boy who had no regards for the rules and considered them beneath him. Just like his son." Harry was shaking in rage now trying to keep his mouth shut "Your mother was no better Potter. She seemed nice at first but then I realised what a horrible Mudblood she was."
"Don't you say a word about my mother!" Harry shouted before he even had time to think
"What is going on here Severus?"
"Nothing Headmaster. Just Potter losing his temper again." Snape said eyeing Harry with dislike/
"Ah," Dumbledore stared at Snape as if he knew what had happened "Severus would you mind if I walked Harry and Percy to the castle. I think you need an early night. It will do well that you're up bright and early to start the day's lessons." Albus Dumbledore said with the usual twinkle in his brilliant blue eyes. Percy jogged up behind us.
"Why hello Percy," Dumbledore said shaking Percy's hand "Im Albus Dumbledore."
"Pleasure to meet you Professor; I've heard so much about you!"
"Hopefully positive! Now come along, Harry why don't you accompany Percy for his sorting?" Dumbledore asked, leading them past a bewildered looking Snape
"Yes Professor." Harry said; glad to be rid of Snape.
We walked along to castle Harry had been so keen to get back to all summer. Even if Snape and Malfoy were here.
"Acid Pops." Dumbledore said loud and clearly to the door that held the staircase to his office. He led them up it, opened the oak door and told us to sit down. It was as spectacular as ever. Dumbledore walked over to a shelf where the Sorting Hat stood, picked it up and rested it on Percy's head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The slit in the Sorting Hats mouth yelled.
"Congratulations Percy. You have been put in my former house. Now here are your time tables for tomorrow," He said handing them their time tables "You will find some sandwiches and some pumpkin juice in your common room. Your head of house is Professor McGonagall. Any Questions? Oh and Harry you have been made head of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. And Angelina Johnson says she has changed her mind about playing this year. Good night you two. Oh Harry, a quick word." Percy walked out of the door and waited for Harry as Dumbledore started speaking.
"Harry, can you come back to my office in two weeks on Thursday for your lessons?" He asked very politely
"Of course Professor."
"Alright thank you Harry. Now off to bed. Pip Pip." Harry left the office quite surprised Dumbledore hadn't asked about his nose that had dry blood stuck around it. He was quite grateful though. Harry led Percy to the common room in silence. When they got outside the door Harry remembered he did not know the password. But the door of the Fat Lady banged open to show Hermione Granger.
"Harry!" She screamed
"Shh." Harry muttered pulling Percy inside and pushing Hermione back in.
"Where on earth were you?" Hermione asked. The common room was empty; it looked like Hermione had just stayed up waiting for us
"Malfoy."
"And Harry why is there blood on your face? Why are you always covered in blood?" She asked franticly.
"Ill tell you later Hermione."
"Oh Percy are you in Gryffindor? Well done! The top dorm is just for you and Tom." Hermione said.
"Hermione go to bed. We're going to go eat." Harry muttered
"Oh fine. Good night Harry and Percy." She walked off up to the girls dormitory and wasn't seen again that night. Percy and Harry noticed one of the tables had turkey sandwiches on them with a jug full of pumpkin juice. They sat down and started eating until they were full then said good night and went to bed. When Percy went up he saw Tom already fast asleep. Percy climbed into bed and fell asleep.
Harry woke up in his four poster bed in the place he had been waiting to go to for months.
Hogwarts.
He couldn't help but grin as he got up and saw Ron was still asleep. Harry pulled his robes on, washed and went to wake his best friend up.
"Wassgoinon?" He muttered.
"Get up. Breakfast." Harry said, shaking Ron.
"Alright, alright. Gerrof." Ron opened his eyes and stood up.
"Ill wait for you downstairs." Harry walked out of his dormitory and into the Common room.
"Hey Hermione."
"Hi. Harry I didn't get to tell you last night. Snapes our Defence against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Im sorry what?" Harry asked, thinking he had heard wrong.
"Slughorn is teaching potions this year."
"Well… at least Snape will be gone by the end of the year." He muttered smiling.
"Harry! He saved your life once!" Hermione yelled.
"Yeah and he wishes he never did it." Ron came bounding down the stairs and bumped into Harry.
"Hey Mione."
"Good morning Ronald."
"Right, shall we go to breakfast then?" Harry asked, staring at his friends
"Don't you want to wait for my sister?" Ron scowled
"She's already gone down Ron." Hermione said
"Oh okay then. So Harry, you heard about Snape?" Ron said, as they walked out the portrait hole.
"Yeah."
"It's probably going to just be the Dark Arts. Hes obsessed with them." Ron said
"No surprises there." Harry laughed; they walked down a moving staircase as it locked into place.
"Dumbledore told me when my lesson is going to be. In about two weeks."
"I wonder what hes going to teach you Harry." Hermione exclaimed
"Hermione calm down. Harry doesn't want to the school knowing about it." Ron muttered
"It's probably something to do with the prophecy." Whispered Hermione
"Or Siri-" Hermione hit Ron around the arm as he was about to say Harry's god fathers name who had been killed last year by the mad Bellatrix Lestrange.
"It's…Okay… hes gone. I- I can't change that." Harry stuttered, fighting back the tears that were trying to overwhelm his emerald eyes. But Sirius was gone. And he wasn't coming back. They reached the grand Great Hall and saw Fred and George in a whispered discussion just outside it with a stack of toast in their hands.
"What are you two up to?" Hermione asked suspiciously. Fred looked up causing his ears to turn red.
"Ask us no questions and we will tell you no lies Hermione." George said, munching on a slice of toast. Fred took a very buttery one and took large bites out of it.
"Last time you said that you were blackmailing someone!" Hermione said. Fred swallowed a particularly large amount of bread and said
"Hermione, we weren't blackmailing-"
"You were going to!"
"But we didn't did we?"
"Hermione just-" George started
"Keep-" Fred said
"Your-"
"Nose"
"Out-"
"Of-"
"This." George ended.
"Anyway, we best be off. Got Charms with Flitwick." Fred said cheerily, finishing off his last slice of toast.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you three! Slughorn, right nice bloke. Let us both in our years Potions class even though we only got acceptable on our OWLs. I still reckon the only reason he let us in though was cause of you Harry." George said, swallowing the last of his toast
"Cheers mate." Fred and George walked away laughing.
"Hey Hermione. What happened with Fred back there? When you first talked to him he went all quiet." Ron asked as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"Oh I didn't notice."
"He's never quiet…" Ron muttered helping himself to eggs and bacon.
"What have we got first?" Harry asked
"Herbology." Hermione muttered, pouring herself a cup of tea
"Yeah we better go soon then, it takes a while to get down there." Harry said, buttering some toast. Once they were all full they stood up and walked out of the Hall.
"Hey Hermione, I just need to go to the bathroom with Harry. We'll catch up with you in a sec." Ron said to Hermione then pulled Harry down a corridor until the bushy haired witch was out of sight.
"Harry could you go to Hogsmeade this weekend with Ginny instead of Hermione and me?" Ron asked
"Er- sure. Why?"
"Never mind but thanks." Harry had his hunch though. They made their way down to Herbology where they were just in time.
Fred and George had just left the trio and were making their way down the corridor.
"You couldn't have been more obvious." George chuckled
"Ha-ha." Fred laughed sarcastically
"So what are we going to do about him?" George asked, holding up the piece of parchment they had been hiding from view from Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Dunno… But he does have important information that we need." Fred said.
"Defiantly. We could skip Charms and see if we could figure out a way to get it off of him?" George suggested
"Nah, it's the first day. Anyway, Charms is an alright lesson."
"True. We could use Veritaserum. I bet Slughorn would give us some. Anything really 'cause we know Harry."
"Don't think so. Maybe we could get Harry to ask for some…"
"He'd be suspicious though. Not worth the risk of him telling our dear brother and the love of your life."
"True. Polyjuice potion?" Fred asked
"Now that's an idea… We could make it in the Room of Requirement."
"Yeah… and im sure we could get the ingredients from Slughorn's store cupboard…"
"Easy..." George reasoned
"Okay, after Charms we go to the library and find the book."
"Okay." They entered Charms and were told they would be charming wine to part. They both took their usual place at the back of the room and carried on talking.
"So are we still going to Hogsmead together?" George asked, pointing his wand at the wine, muttering the indication under his breath and turning the wine yellow.
"Er…im going to ask Hermione if she wants to go with me. If she says no then yeah ill go with you."
"Nice to know im your second choice mate." They both laughed causing Flitwick to come over to their table
"Why don't I see how you boys are doing?" He said cheerily
"Part Modis Wine." George said very clearly, his mind focused on the wine. It parted like the red sea in the bible by Moses.
"Well done Mr. Weasley. Fred you next!" George grinned at Fred as if he was saying beat that!
"Part Modis Wine." Fred muttered, his mind was on his day with Hermione though. His wine didn't part but exploded over George and him.
"For homework I think."
Percy and Tom woke up in their empty dormitory at the top of the boy's staircase. They both opened up their dark red curtains surrounding their beds, pulled on their robes, washed and went downstairs into the common room.
"So whats our first lesson?" Percy asked
"Er," Tom checked his timetable "Herbology." He said, putting his finger on the paper
"Alright then, I guess we better go get breakfast."
"Let's follow them lot!" Tom said pointing towards Ginny and her friends. They followed the giggling girls and they also managed to catch some of what they were talking about.
"-Going out with Harry Potter!" one of the girls giggled
"Harry is lovely and I can see a future with him if I tell the truth." Ginny muttered. This caused the girls surrounding Ginny to giggle. Percy couldn't shake off the feeling that Ginny didn't really hang around with these types of girls a lot.
"Is it true he has a Hippogriff tattooed across his chest?" One of the girls asked with long brown hair
"No, he has a Hungarian Horntail. And my brother Ron has a Pygmy Puff. But im not saying where." Once they were outside the Great Hall they met up with Annabeth and Grover.
"Quite annoying we're not all in the same house." Annabeth muttered
"Yeah. Grover, we have Herbology with you first." Percy said
"Alright. I…I still find having legs like these weird…"
"Shut up mate." Tom whispered hastily.
"Grover ill see you in Herbology. We can walk there together." Percy said, walking into the hall.
"Bye you two." Tom muttered following Percy. The other two went in after them and sat at their houses table. Grover got into a conversation with Ernie Macmillan, Percy and Tom were sat on the Gryffindor table enjoying their breakfast. Annabeth had striked up a conversation with Luna Lovegood. After breakfast Tom and Percy went over to the Hufflepuff table to get Grover. They walked down the cool grass and into one of the Herbology green houses.
The day dragged by. After Herbology Ron and Harry had a free period. They decided to re treat to the common room to relax.
"Banana Fritters." Ron said cheerfully. But just as they sank into the arm chairs Professor McGonagall walked in.
"What are you two boys doing?" She asked briskly. Not a Hello or a How is your first day back going?
"It's our free period." Harry said, sitting up straight
"So is it the end of your ambition to become an Auror Potter?"
"Well… I don't have the right OWL to carry on Potions. I only got Exceeds Expectations in it."
"Professor Slughorn is accepting student who received your level." She said in her Scottish accent
"Oh… that's brilliant Professor… but I didn't buy anything for Potions this year."
"I am sure Professor Slughorn will have spares until you can write to Flourish and Blotts. And Weasley. You go along too. You look far too happy." And with that she left.
"Well, I guess we better hurry if we're going to make it." Harry said, jumping up and racing out of the door behind McGonagall with Ron following closely behind. They jumped the staircases, used a few shortcuts and within minuets they were standing outside the Dungeon door to Potions class. Harry opened the door just as Slughorn was talking about something.
"Harry, my dear boy." Slughorn said holding out his arms
"Sorry we're late Professor. We didn't realise we could take Potions this year. So Ron and me don't have the books or equipment." Harry muttered, taking a step inside and pulling Ron in with him
"Of course, of course. Well you can borrow ingredients from the store cupboard. Im sure theirs some scales in there you can borrow and there should be some second hand potions books on your right there."
"Thanks Professor." Ron closed the door behind him and walked over to the shelf that had three potion books on it. One looked like it someone had been sick all over it and rubbed it into the binding and pages. One looked reasonably well kept and new. And the last looked like it had been drawn all over. Harry and Ron looked at each other for a brief second before thrusting their hands trying to get the newer book. Ron shoved Harry aside, and Ron got his hands on the new book. Harry decided to get the book that had been drawn all over as it wouldn't smell as bad as the other. They noticed Hermione sitting at the back of the classroom, there were two seats either side of them so they went and sat there. Annabeth, Percy and Grover were at one table, Fred, George and Tom at another and Malfoy, Zabini and Theodore Nott at another. While only three other people were sitting at the last table: Ernie Macmillan, Terry Boot and Michael Corner.
"What are you two doing here?" Ron whispered as he slowly walked past Fred and George table.
"We have to take your year's potions class and ours if we want to pass our NEWTs." Fred muttered
"Fred's not that disappointed though." George winked. Ron didn't understand what they were on about so he went to sit with Harry and Hermione.
"Now then," said Slughorn, inflating his already bulging chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat threatened to burst off, "I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your NEWTs. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?" He pointed towards a cauldron near Malfoy table; Harry raised himself off of his seat to see that it looked like plain boiling water.
Hermione's well-practiced hand hit the air before anybody else's; Slughorn pointed at her.
"It's Veritaserum, a colourless, odourless potion that forces the, drinker to tell the truth," said Hermione.
"Very good, now what about this one?" He pointed towards the one closest to Harry. But instead of Hermione's hand rising Fred's hand did.
"That's Amortentia sir."
"It is indeed; do you know what it does Mr. Weasley?"
"It's the most powerful love potion in the world. It smells differently to each of us. For example I smell… Pine… The smell from explosions… Fresh ink… New Partc-"George kicked his leg underneath the table causing Fred to close his mouth and his ears to turn red.
"Very good Mr. Weasley!"
"Now," he continued, pointing at the cauldron nearest Fred and George's table, "this one here is pretty well known. . . . Featured in a few Ministry leaflets lately too . . . Who can - ?"
Hermione's hand was fastest once more.
"lt's Polyjuice Potion, sir," she said.
Harry too had recognized the slow-bubbling, mud like substance the second cauldron, but did not resent Hermione getting the credit for answering the question; she, after all, was the one who had succeeded in making it, back in their second year.
"Excellent! May I ask for your name dear?" Slughorn asked
"Hermione Granger sir."
"Granger? Granger? Can you possibly be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?"
"No. I don't think so, sir. I'm Muggle-born, you see."
Harry saw Malfoy lean close to Nott and whisper something; both of them sniggered, but Slughorn showed no dismay.
"Well, well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger," said Slughorn genially.
Malfoy looked rather as he had done the time Hermione had punched him in the face but Fred could just be seen smiling to himself, though only his brother bothered to have a look.
"Well time to get on with the lesson I suppose!" Ernie's hand punched the air as fast as Hermione's would of….Well…Maybe not as fast.
"Yes young man?" Slughorn asked
"Sir, you haven't told us what's in this one," said Ernie Macmillan, pointing at a small black cauldron standing on Slughorn's desk. The potion within was splashing about merrily; it was the colour of molten gold, and large drops were leaping like goldfish above the surface, though not a particle had spilled.
"Oho," said Slughorn again. Harry was sure that Slughorn had not forgotten the potion at all, but had waited to be asked for dramatic effect. "Yes. That. Well, that one, ladies and gentlemen, is a most curious little potion called Felix Felicis. I take it," he turned, smiling, to look at Hermione, who had let out an audible gasp, "that you know what Felix Felicis does, Miss Granger?"
"Erm, actually im not –"
"Its Liquid Luck sir!" Fred said hastily trying to spare Hermione "It - er – makes you lucky. My brother and I run a joke shop and we use it in one of our products."
"Very good Mr. Weasley! Though you are a year older then all of the other students. But twenty points to Gryffindor anyway!" Slughorn said merrily
The whole class seemed to sit up a little straighter. Now all Harry could see of Malfoy was the back of his sleek blond head, because he was at last giving Slughorn his full and undivided attention.
"Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. However, if brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavours tend to succeed ... at least until the effects wear off." Slughorn said
"Why don't people drink it all the time, sir?" said Terry Boot eagerly.
"Because if taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence," said Slughorn. "Too much of a good thing, you know . . . highly toxic in large quantities. But taken sparingly and very occasionally . . ."
"Have you ever taken it, sir?" asked Michael Corner with great interest.
"Twice in my life," said Slughorn. "Once when I was twenty-four, once when I was fifty-seven. Two tablespoonfuls taken with breakfast. Two perfect days."
He gazed dreamily into the distance. Whether he was play acting or not, Harry thought the effect was good.
"And that," said Slughorn, apparently coming back to earth, "is what I shall be offering as a prize in this lesson."
There was silence in which every bubble and gurgle of the surrounding potions seemed magnified tenfold.
"One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis," said Slughorn, taking a minuscule glass bottle with a cork in it out of his pocket and showing it to them all. "Enough for twelve hours' luck. From dawn till dusk, you will be lucky in everything you attempt."
"Now, I must give you warning that Felix Felicis is a banned substance in organized competitions . . . sporting events, for instance, examinations, or elections. So the winner is to use it on an ordinary day only . . . and watch how that ordinary day becomes extraordinary!"
"So," said Slughorn, suddenly brisk, "how are you to win fabulous prize? Well, by turning to page ten of Advanced Potion Making. We have a little over an hour left to us, which should be time for you to make a decent attempt at the Draught of Living Death. I know it is more complex than anything you have attempted before, and I do not expect a perfect potion from anybody. The person who does best, however, will win little Felix here. Off you go!"
There was a loud scraping sound as everybody pulled their cauldrons towards them. Fred and George seemed to be having a private conversation.
"Fred, even if you win this she might not even like you!" George whispered
"It's worth a shot though isn't it?"
"Not really no!"
"Look mate, shut up. Im going to do my best to win this thing. Or…I could… if I don't win it I mean… steal it from the person who does…" Fred fantasised
"No way of talking you out of this?"
"Nope."
Harry noticed as Malfoy riffled through his copy of Advanced Potion- making that it could not have been clearer Malfoy wanted that lucky day.
Harry bent swiftly over the tattered book Slughorn had lent him.
To his annoyance he saw that the previous owner had scribbled all over the pages, so that the margins were as black as the printed portions. Bending low to decipher the ingredients (even here, the previous owner had made annotations and crossed things out) Harry hurried off toward the store cupboard to find what he needed. As he dashed back to his cauldron, he saw Malfoy cutting up Valerian roots as fast as he could.
Everyone kept glancing around at what the rest of the class was doing; this was both an advantage and a disadvantage of Potions, that it was hard to keep your work private. Within ten minutes, the whole place was full of bluish steam. Hermione, of course, seemed to have progressed furthest. Her potion already resembled the "smooth, black currant-colored liquid" mentioned as the ideal halfway stage.
Having finished chopping his roots, Harry bent low over his book again. It was really very irritating, having to try and decipher the directions under all the stupid scribbles of the previous owner,
who for some reason had taken issue with the order to cut up the sopophorous bean and had written in the alternative instruction:
Crush with flat side of silver dagger,
releases juice better than cutting.
"Sir, I think you knew my grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy?" Harry looked up; Slughorn was just passing the Slytherin table.
"Yes," said Slughorn, without looking at Malfoy, "I was sorry to hear he had died, although of course it wasn't unexpected, dragon pox at his age. . . ."
And he walked away. Harry bent back over his cauldron, smirking. He could tell that Malfoy had expected to be treated like Harry or Zabini; perhaps even hoped for some preferential treatment of the type he had learned to expect from Snape. It looked as though Malfoy would have to rely on nothing but talent to win the bottle of Felix Felicis.
The sopophorous bean was proving very difficult to cut up. Harry turned to Hermione.
"Can I borrow your silver knife?"
She nodded impatiently, not taking her eyes off her potion, which was still deep purple, though according to the book ought to be turning a light shade of lilac by now.
Harry crushed his bean with the flat side of the dagger. To his astonishment, it immediately exuded so much juice he was amazed the shrivelled bean could have held it all.
Hastily scooping it all into the cauldron he saw, to his surprise, that the potion immediately turned exactly the shade of lilac described by the textbook.
His annoyance with the previous owner vanishing on the spot, Harry now squinted at the next line of instructions. According the book, he had to stir counter clockwise until the potion turned clear as water. According to the addition the previous owner made, however, he ought to add a clockwise stir after every seventh counter clockwise stir. Could the old owner be right twice?
Harry stirred counter clockwise, held his breath, and stirred once clockwise. The effect was immediate. The potion turned pale pink.
"How are you doing that?" demanded Hermione, who was red-faced and whose hair was growing bushier and bushier in the fumes from her cauldron; her potion was still resolutely purple.
"Add a clockwise stir -"
"No, no, the book says counter clockwise!" she snapped.
Harry shrugged and continued what he was doing. Seven stirs counter clockwise, one clockwise, pause . . . seven stirs counter clockwise, one stir clockwise . . .
Across the table, Ron was cursing fluently under his breath; his potion looked like liquid liquorice. Harry glanced around. As far as he could see, no one else's potion had turned as pale as his. He felt elated, something that had certainly never happened before in this dungeon.
"And time's . . . up!" called Slughorn. "Stop stirring, please!"
Slughorn moved slowly among the tables, peering into cauldrons. He made no comment, but occasionally gave the potions a stir or a sniff. At last he reached the table where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ernie were sitting. He smiled ruefully at the tarlike substance in Ron's cauldron. He passed over Ernie's navy concoction. Hermione's potion he gave an approving nod. Then he saw Harry's, and a look of incredulous delight spread over his face.
"The clear winner!" he cried to the dungeon. "Excellent, excellent, Harry! Good lord, it's clear you've inherited your mother's talent. She was a dab hand at Potions, Lily was! Here you are, then, here you are - one bottle of Felix Felicis, as promised, and use it well!"
Harry slipped the tiny bottle of golden liquid into his inner pocket, feeling an odd combination of delight at the furious looks on the Slytherins' faces and guilt at the disappointed expression on Hermione's and now he noticed Fred's too for some reason. Ron was just wearing a strictly dumbfounded expression.
"What you going to do now Fred? Going to steal from one of your mates? Not just any mate. Scar face. The boy who lived. The Cho-"George whispered
"Shut up. Im not going to steal from Harry. I could have one of them sweets we made!" Fred whispered a bit too loudly, causing the Slytherins to stare
"What're you looking at Snake face?" George said to Malfoy.
"At your stupid ginger blood traitor brother, Weasley." Malfoy sniggered. He got up with Nott and Zabini following him.
"And I will not let you have the sweets. Anyway. We didn't bring any." George muttered
"Damn it. C'mon. Let's just go." Fred and George stood up and walked out of the dungeon after Ron, Hermione and Harry. Fred could see Malfoy muttering something to Nott and Zabini.
"I can't believe that Hogwarts is full of filthy Mudblood like that ugly Granger girl." Malfoy said very loudly so that Hermione could hear
"Why they even let them into Hogwarts I find appalling! They make this place dirty. Yesterday one of them actually touched me. At least it wasn't Granger. Her bloods dirtier then most of the Mudbloods here." Fred could hear Malfoy and anger was starting to build up inside him. Ron was shaking with anger too but Fred was the only one who did anything about it.
"Oi Malfoy!" Fred yelled
"Fred don't." George muttered
"Malfoy im talking to you! Don't you even have the decency to turn around you little ferret?" Malfoy turned around and sniggered at Fred
"What are you going to do about it Weasley? Oh wait. It's not Weasel King. It's his stupid brother who's been hit too many times with the beaters bat!" Fred withdrew his wand and pointed it at Malfoy
"Don't you dare say a word Malfoy or I swear ill-"
"Do what Weasley? Hit me with a bat? Curse me? Oh wait, you're too dumb to curse someone. That's too complex for a small minded person like you. Only got three was it? Three OWLs. Of course, the Mudblood could probably help you out. Her head is far too big as it is."
"Don't you say a word about her Malfoy!"
"Oh. Oh whats this. Do you li- ?"
"STUPEFY!" Fred yelled. Malfoy was blasted backwards into Nott and Zabini. Fred and George just walked away with their heads down towards their next class very swiftly before I teacher showed up.
"We better get going." Ron muttered, pulling Hermione's hand forward past Malfoy and his Slytherin gang, Harry following them.