Chapter 3 The New Ones
That morning Harry woke up feeling more alive then ever. Hermione, his girlfriend, he was still getting use to calling her that, laid next to him. He saw the clock, another two and a half hours before Sirius arrived. He wished that they were going to the Burrow after they got done buying what they needed. But Sirius said they were to stay here until September 1st when he would pick them up and take them to Platform 9 and ¾. "Hermione, I…" Harry wanted to say those words. She was still asleep, giving Harry a chance to practice until she woke up. "I love you Hermione. Honey I love you." He kept saying it, trying different ways, how long to say each word, what name to call her. It was twenty minutes later when Hermione rolled over.
"I love you too Harry." She hugged Harry and kissed him. She was glad she had pretended to sleep so she could hear Harry practice. "All you have to say is you love me." She kissed him again moving her hands on his bare chest. "But we have to get ready don't we? How about you take a shower first so I can get some of my things together. I need to go to Gringotts first."
Harry got up and took his shower trying to get the thoughts, the memories of last night, out of his head.
Ten minutes before Sirius showed up Uncle Vernon had gotten up and was downstairs. It must have been only the second time he had seen Hermione that summer. "Witch, what are you and him doing up so early?" He growled making tea.
"Sorry Sir if we woke you, but we are waiting for Harry's God Father to come and pick us up. We need to go to Diagon Alley to get our school supplies." At hearing about Sirius, the criminal wizard that Scotland Yard was still searching for Uncle Vernon went upstairs with his newspaper.
"Hermione, Sirius is here." Harry pointed out the window showing her a large car had just pulled up. They ran out to the car to give the house back to the Dursley's that morning.
But Harry was sadly disappointed when he got to the car. It wasn't Sirius, at least not in human form. "Oh yeah, he's a fugitive." It suddenly hit Harry that Sirius was innocent, but only a few knew about it. Tonks was driving the car with "Snuffles" in the back seat. Hermione sat in the passenger seat while Harry sat in the back with "Snuffles". When Harry closed the door Sirius went back into his human form.
"So Harry, Tonks told me about what happened last night." Harry turned white as Tonks picked up the story where Sirius left off.
"I can't believe I was so stupid to let someone sit on me! I couldn't get back into the theater and was worried something might happen." Harry sighed.
"Good, they didn't see me and Hermione." But he felt something on his neck.
"Those are interesting bruises you have there Harry, look like bite marks on your shoulder." Sirius laughed, he knew where they came from, and knew where Hermione's came from. He leaned down and whispered so only Harry could hear. "Be careful Harry, a woman scorn can be almost as bad as an army of trolls and Death Eaters. From what Tonks has told me Hermione would be liable to curse you into something worse than a toad if you made her mad." He leaned back up smiling at Harry, patting him on the shoulder. "So Tonks, how much longer?" Tonks waved him off and pushed a couple of buttons.
Suddenly everything outside was a blur, Harry was thrown back into his seat and nearly slammed into the back of the front seat moments later. He looked outside the window again and was amazed, it was the Leaky Cauldron! It had only taken seconds to get there.
Stepping out of the car Sirius was Snuffles again and Tonks lead them inside. Harry saw that there were only two people there, neither of them did he recognize. Tonks got the passage to open and Harry walked with Hermione to Gringotts. "Harry, do you think forty Galleons will be enough?" She was trying to do the math in her head while they rode on the roller coaster like tracks in Gringotts. When they got to Harry's vault he had an idea.
"Hermione, I know Gringotts is protected, you can do magic here, could you make my bag like your pouch?"
"How did you know that?"
"I was bored and had nothing else to do but read." Hermione grinned as she got her wand out.
"Infitico." Suddenly his bag became light as air, all the things in it before were still there, but now there was a lot more room.
"Thanks." Harry went into his vault and loaded up on Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. He had always kept himself from spending too much, but he didn't care now. There was something he wanted to get Hermione. Her necklace was beautiful, but it needed something on it. Getting back in the car he smiled at Hermione looking for the necklace and bracelet. She wore the necklace on the outside of her shirt, but he couldn't see the bracelet. "Honey, where's your bracelet?" She rolled her sleeve up and showed him.
"I didn't want someone to see it and try to take it." Harry accepted her excuse as they got out of Gringotts.
After getting their books, Harry having a hard time getting Hermione out, they walked over to get new dress robes. "Hermione, you get what you want; I have to go someplace, be right back." Harry left Hermione in front of the store as he went over to Knockturn Alley. He went down until he saw what he was looking for, The Silver Pendant was open and just as dark as the last time he saw it when he had accidentally wound up in Knockturn Alley.
"Sir, do you have anything in gold? I know your store is called The Silver Pendant, but I need something that's gold." The man grunted and pointed at a back wall. Harry went over and saw all the choices. Some large, some small, some were detailed and some not. He went over the selection until he saw what he considered to be perfect. It was a heart, but it had something inscribed on it. Looking at it closely he saw it was a Basilisk, just like the one he killed. "She said I was a man since I could kill one, this is perfect." He picked it up and went to the counter. "Sir, I'm ready." The man grunted again and looked at the pendant.
"That's 15 Galleons and not a knut less." Harry didn't care; he had the money and paid for it, glad to be leaving the store.
When he got back to the shop he saw Hermione was waiting outside. "You get what you were looking for?" Harry nodded.
"Yes I did honey. Could I see your necklace though?" Hermione was confused but took it off. Harry turned around so she couldn't see what he was doing. After getting the pendant on he handed it back to Hermione.
"Wow Harry, what's this?" She held it up and looked at it, just as Harry had done in the store.
"Well, it's an early Christmas present. I already got you your birthday gifts so I figured I would work on Christmas." She laughed.
"If you keep this up I won't be getting anything from you until some time next year." Hermione laughs putting the necklace on then tucking it underneath her shirt. She went back inside with Harry as he got his dress robes. Going with snow white as had Hermione. Wrapping them up and putting it in his new charmed bag Harry and Hermione went over to Ollivander's Wand Shop to wait for Ron.
Waiting for Ron was slowly getting boring. "He said he was going to meet us here ten minutes ago, I wonder what happened." Harry wasn't paying attention though. He had just seen a girl and guy walk in through the Leaky Cauldron who he had never seen before. "Honey, look." He pointed to them and Hermione glanced over.
"Wonder who they are. There is no way they are old enough to be out of school." Before Harry could say anything else Hermione started to jog over. Harry catching up wondering what was going on. The girl looked up and saw them coming over.
"Hi!" She waved as Harry and Hermione got to her. "I'm Monica, what are your names?" She stuck her hand out and both shook it.
"I'm Hermione, this is Harry, I've never seen you here before, what school do you go to?" Monica smiled showing perfect white teeth.
"Oh we're new here; we'll be going to Hogwarts this year." She tried to get the guys attention but he just shrugged her off. "Sorry about him, he is still grumpy about moving here from Ohio." Harry thought she sounded strange. "He's Devin, my twin brother." Monica added when Hermione looked at her brother.
"Well, nice to meet you, we're the 5th year Prefects for Gryffindor this year. If you need any help just ask us and we'll be glad to, even if you do end up in Slytherin." Hermione looked at Devin. They heard someone running up on them and turned around.
"Hey, I thought you guys were going to wait for me in front of Ollivanders." Ron tired from his short run over made Hermione and Harry laugh thinking about how much they ran. "Who are they?"
"Sorry Ron, we saw new students and wanted to greet them." Harry pointed to Monica and Devin.
"New students? Where they from?"
"Ohio." Monica answered and stuck her hand out. "I'm Monica; I'm guessing you're Ron." She flashed Ron her smile that hadn't left her face yet. "This is my brother Devin, he's a little grumpy cause we moved here, but he ain't that bad." Ron almost laughed at the way Monica talked; using words like "ain't" was unheard of in England. "What are you laughing at? I didn't say anything funny did I?" Harry shot a glance at Ron to get him to shut up or at least laugh a little quieter.
"Sorry about that Monica, head injury from playing Quidditch."
Ron stops laughing. "Sorry, it's just what was that word, ain't? I've never heard it before." Monica looked like she was starting to get frustrated when Devin stepped between her and Ron.
"Listen fool, if you ever laugh at my sister again I will kill you!" Hermione screamed and pulled Harry away as a wave of something, Harry didn't know, flowed over him and he felt anger, rage, down to his core then felt normal again all in seconds.
"Devin!" Monica gets between Devin and Ron. "You know you ain't, you aren't supposed to do that!" Monica grabs Devin by the arm and drags him away. Ron tried laughing it off but Hermione was still worried.
"Didn't you see that Harry?" Harry shook his head; he had no idea what she was talking about. "How could you not have seen that? He was surrounded by a red mass that exploded from him. When it hit me I became really mad, specifically at Ron." She glanced at him.
"I felt it too Honey." Harry saw Ron look up at him.
"What was that?" Ron looked puzzled.
"I said I felt it too Hermione."
"Oh." Harry got lucky. He wasn't supposed to call her Honey around Ron, or anyone else for that matter. "I wonder what that was. I felt it too and I started getting mad at myself."
Hermione tries to push what just happened out of her mind. "Did you get everything you needed Ron?" He shook his head.
"I just got here, how long have you been here?" Harry replied.
"A couple hours, Sirius and Tonks took us here."
"Tonks?"
"Witch friend of Sirius, think they might be together or something. She's been watching Hermione and I in case Death Eaters attacked." Ron looked at Hermione when he heard about the Death Eaters.
"Is that where you got all of those bruises Hermione?" Hermione blushed but tried to cover it up.
"No, if you noticed Harry has them too. We were uh, well…." Hermione stutters as Harry starts to get worried that Ron would put two and two together, but thankfully Ron got twenty two, not four.
"You were attacked at Harry's? I guess it's a good thing that Tonks person was around." Harry looked at his feet hoping Ron wouldn't notice Harry's face turning red. "Ouch Harry, looks like one of them bit you." Ron was pointing at his shoulder which Harry tried to cover up as soon as Ron mentioned it.
"Yeah, hurt like hell, but wasn't that bad Ron." Harry pleaded he would drop the subject. Ron tried to get details of the "attack" at Harry's house but Hermione kept telling him she didn't want to think about it right now.
They waited outside of every store while Ron got his books and robes and other school supplies. Harry was glad to see Ron had the money to get new supplies. "So Ron, where did you get the money for all that stuff?" Harry knew where but wanted to see if the twins had actually come through for him.
"Fred and George of all people. I think the Twins have been selling what they make because we have owls going in and out of the house at all hours. I don't know why but they gave me and Ginny money to get new things." He was having trouble carrying all of his things so Harry and Hermione helped him.
Hermione's right sleeve started to come up and she quickly pushed it back down. Ron looked at her strangely but decided not to ask. Hermione was staring to wonder if she should have worn the bracelet today with all these people around, especially Ron.
They walked back to the Leaky Cauldron where Tonks was waiting with Snuffles and, unexpected to Harry and Hermione, with Ginny. "All ready to go are we? What took you so long Ron?" Ginny got up and greeted Harry and Hermione. When she saw the marks on Harry's and Hermione's necks she started to laugh. "Oh my god, I can't believe you two!" Harry and Hermione were both shocked, Ginny knew!
"What?" Ron asked puzzled. Harry and Hermione were waving their hands behind Ron's back mouthing "He doesn't know" with looks of panic on both of their faces. Luckily Ginny got the message.
"Sirius and Tonks told me all about you working outside like muggles." She winked at them and continued. "I guess that is where you got those tans and Harry, nice arms." Harry flexed his arms without thinking about it getting a death stare from Ron.
"Yeah, I had to do something over the summer, since I wasn't at the Burrow. I had nothing else to do." He was glad that moment of panic was over as Ron continued asking Harry about what it was like to work like a muggle. Tonks excused herself and Snuffles and left the four alone.
About an hour later Ron said he had to go get something he forgot to buy. Ginny had used this chance to get Harry and Hermione alone. "Look, I think I know what you two have been doing to keep busy over the summer." She smiled with a look of mischief in her eyes.
"Yes Ginny, we have been dating, we are two mature people having a mature relationship. But I think you should be explaining how you knew what the marks on our necks were. How a fourteen year old would know about such things." Hermione thought she had the upper hand, only to be crushed.
"Bill and Fleur have had those marks on their necks all summer. And some marks in other places from what I saw on Fleur." Ginny chuckles as Hermione was about to yell but she didn't want Ginny to get mad.
"Look, Ron doesn't know, and we don't want him too until we get him alone, alright? We already have a plan on how and where to tell him so he won't embarrass himself by throwing a tantrum in front of a bunch of people." Hermione leaned over far enough for Ginny to see the necklace hanging underneath her shirt.
"What's that?" Hermione looked around to make sure Ron wasn't back yet.
"It's mine, Harry gave it to me, and he just got the pendant today, nice isn't it?" She showed Ginny who looked at it in awe.
"That looks like a Basilisk, but why would you get something like that for Hermione?" She stared at Harry.
"Because I killed one, and other reasons, but that is for me and her to know." Ginny started to ask another question about the necklace when she saw the bracelet. She reaches for it to try and get a better look.
"Wow, that's beautiful! How much did…." Harry cut her off.
"I don't want to talk about it." He to began to wonder why Hermione was wearing it knowing they would be meeting Ron who would no doubt start to ask questions they weren't going to answer. He saw Ron come back he was glad to have an excuse to stop talking with Ginny but Ron was looking like he was in a foul mood.
Ron got over to them looking even worse up close. Hermione backed off a little looking sacred of Ron while rolling down her sleeve to cover up the bracelet. "What's wrong?" Harry asked Hermione, but Ron was the one who answered.
"That damn new girl. I tried to apologize and she ignored me. She was acting like she was talking to someone else. There was no one there. She ignored me, that bi-."
"Witch!" Both Ginny and Hermione interrupted him.
"Fine, I tried to be nice and she blew me off." Hermione calmed down as did Ron.
"Hermione, could you come here for a minute?" Harry motioned her over to another table. "What was that all about? You looked like you had seen a Dementor."
"No Harry worse. Ron had a black mass around him. Like the red mass that was around Devin earlier. But it went away when he calmed down. How come you didn't see it?" Harry shrugged.
"I don't know, maybe it's some kind of new magic you learned. Knowing you reading all those books you might have learned something without even knowing you did it." It was the best he could do because he didn't have a clue.
"I don't know Harry, but good idea, when we get home I'm going to get some of my books out, will you help me?" She grabbed his hand rubbing it in between hers. "Unless you want to do something else."
"Of course I will Honey, anything for you." He kissed her on the cheek, making sure Ron wasn't looking. Ron was busy looking at Tonks. "Wonder what Sirius would have to say about Ron moving in on his girlfriend." He laughed as Hermione and him went back to join the others waiting for Tonks.
Tonks had come back with Snuffles and told Harry and Hermione to get in the car. They said bye to Ron and Ginny and quickly got in the car. "What was that about?"
"Tonks saw someone, didn't you?" Hermione interjected.
"Yes, I did, Lucius Malfoy and his wife with that little blond kid of theirs. I don't trust them, they are all evil. Not one of them has any good inside." Tonks tightened her grip on the wheel, Hermione next to her looking at her with concern.
"Calm down Tonks They are Death Eaters and will end up in Azkaban where they belong when Dumbledore gets a hold of them." She patted Tonks on the shoulder and Harry saw Tonks immediately react, nearly letting go of the wheel.
"You're right Hermione, you're right. I just need to take a couple of deep breaths, and know that they will get what they deserve when the time comes." Sirius went into human form and reached his hand out onto Tonks shoulder rubbing it.
"It's ok cousin, they will all get what they deserve."
"Cousin?" Both Harry and Hermione said at once. Sirius laughed.
"Yes, she's my little cousin, one of the best metamorphmagus of our times." She laughed a little.
"Come off it Sirius. I just qualified to be an Auror last year and I nearly failed my Stealth test. Rather clumsy I am." With things relaxing in the car the conversation lightened up for the rest of the five minute trip. Harry and Hermione said goodbye when they got back to #4 Privet Drive and ran back into the house leaving Tonks and Snuffles to go home, wherever that was.
Harry had packed the night before because Hermione made him but it did allow them to sleep later than normal. He was going to miss sleeping with Hermione. Her warm body next to his. Her body pressed against him. He was really going to miss moments like this.
She starting moving, rubbing against him before she turned over to kiss him. "Harry, I am going to miss this. I have gotten use to you next to me when I wake up in the morning. Too bad they don't allow boys in the girl's dormitory." She moved Harry onto his back and rolled on top of him, kissing him some more.
"I'm going to miss this too Honey. I have gotten use to you next to me, your warmth, your body next to me felt so nice these past weeks." Hermione stops kissing his neck.
"I love you Harry, but school will interfere with this for awhile."
"Hermione, come here." He cupped her face with his hand and brought her face up to his so he could look her in the eyes. "You are the smartest witch in our grade and in Hogwarts and nothing Hogwarts does will mess us up. You'll think of a way." He kissed her deeply wrapping his arms around her to keep her mouth from wandering. But her hands were still free and did far more then her mouth had.
"Sweet talker." Hermione continues to kiss him as her hands continue to wander on Harry's body.
Harry was enjoying their snogging but he forced his mind back into focus. "Hermione, stop it, not now." That's when he heard the voice. "The large one is coming." He pushed Hermione off him and went for his wand. The door opened and Dudley waddled in.
"What? Where's the kitchen? What did you do to the kitchen?" Harry started laughing, Dudley was to asleep to know he was still upstairs.
"You are in the wrong room. It is down the hall, to your right." He did in as deep a voice as possible. Dudley turned around and walked towards the bathroom.
"Harry, how did you know he was coming?" Hermione looked at him, lost.
"I don't know. I heard something telling me 'The large one was coming.' And I grabbed my wand; I didn't know it was Dudley." He kissed her on her forehead and went to his room to get his running clothes on.
Running for two hours Harry was ready for a shower. The shower allowed his muscles to cool off. Today was his last day here. Sirius and Tonks were coming in one hour to take him and Hermione to Platform 9 and ¾. He would be going back to Hogwarts. The last time he was there was right after he won the tournament and had told people Voldemort was back.
Harry is lost in thought when he hears a knock. "Hurry up Harry I need a shower too!"
"Sorry!" He shakes his head trying to focus. He couldn't worry about Voldemort right now. Be careful he is getting angry. Harry looks around for who ever just talked but there was no one else there.
Harry is stepping out of the bathroom letting Hermione in when they hear shouting from the stairway. "BOY! Get done in there in five minutes or I'm breaking in and throwing you out!" Uncle Vernon stormed away after scaring Harry and Hermione.
"Ok Hermione after your shower get your things together and meet me downstairs." He ran down the hall to his room while Hermione went in to the bathroom to take a shower.
Grabbing his things and pulling them downstairs Harry sat on his trunk with Hedwig in her cage trying to get the voice out of his head. Did it warn him about Uncle Vernon? Like it had warned him about Dudley? Why? And where did it come from?
Harry wasn't paying attention when Hermione came down the stair. He was so startled his glasses fell off and broke. He got even more mad and stomped on them. "I don't need those, I can see fine!" He yelled, and everything became clear. "What did I just do?" He thought to himself, "Did I just do more human transfiguration?"
Hermione was worried by what Harry had just done. "Harry?"
He ignores her. Harry couldn't believe it. He had never seen this well even with his glasses. "If only I had done this year ago I wouldn't have had to wear those stupid things." Harry looked around at everything. It all seemed to jump out from where it was. His brain was energized by all this new information. "Had that carpet always had a stain under the table? Had the curtains always been that shade of green?" These thoughts absorbed his attention.
"Harry you're starting to scare me." Harry looks at her and notices tiny details he hadn't before.
"Sorry. I think I did more human transfiguration." Harry blinks a few times but every thing staid clear and sharp.
"Are you sure Harry? I don't know if a wizard can just change their vision like that.." Hermione stares in to his eyes but doesn't see any thing different about them.
"I don't know how to explain it. I can see every thing now."
"We'll ask Dumbledore when we get to Hogwarts." She sits and looks out the window waiting for Tonks and Sirius.
Twenty minutes later Hermione sees the car coming. Tonks left Sirius in the car as she walked to the house. "Wotcher, is everyone ready?" Hermione pointed to their things in front of the door. "Levioso." Tonks flicked her wand and the trunks lifted off the floor.
"Thanks Tonks. But where should I put Crookshanks. She might not get along with Snuffles." Hermione took her things out to the car followed by Harry. "Being a cat and Snuffles a dog."
"Remember Hermione that it was Snuffles giving Crookshanks orders to kill Wormtail. I wouldn't see why Crookshanks and Snuffles wouldn't get along now. It should only take about two minutes. You two enjoy your time alone while you can. Oh, wait; I remember what else I was supposed to do." Tonks moved her wand and the bruises left Harry's and Hermione's neck.
"Thanks again Tonks, I was going to wait until we were on the train, but this is easier." In the car Sirius and Tonks noticed Harry wasn't wearing his glasses.
"Where are your glasses Harry?"
"I broke them, then I yelled I didn't need them I can see fine, and I could. I don't know how but I could." Sirius commented on it.
"Well sounds like you would be perfect for becoming an animagus. Your father and I had to take a special potion to do that but you seem to be able to change yourself just by thinking it. I noticed your hair has been different too. Is that also your doing or muggle means?" Harry nods.
"It's me. I wanted to look good for our date and my hair did as I told it." Harry wasn't sure why he could do it though. He had told his hair to behave before whenever Aunt Petunia went after him with scissors. The only thing that had changed was that Voldemort was back but how could that make a difference?
"Amazing isn't he Tonks? My Godson is amazing." It seemed like only moments before they were in front of Platform 9 and ¾ and they saying good bye to Tonks and Snuffles. Harry and Hermione walk away from the car.
"Well, here we go Honey, got your badge on?" She shook her head and put it on. "Alright then, let's go." Harry walked between platform 9 and 10 ending up with the Hogwarts Express in front of him and Hermione close behind.
Putting their things away they moved up to the front of the train where the Prefect cars were. Harry opened the door for Hermione who kissed him for it. Harry nearly freaked out but realized they were alone; they were the first ones on.
They continue kissing when Harry stops her. "What if some one sees us?"
"We will hear them walking and the door opening before they get a chance to see us." She kept kissing him running her hand through his hair. He was enjoying their last moments alone when the voice came back. "The dragon approaches." Harry got Hermione off his lap just in time to see Draco enter the Prefect car.
"Dumbledore's pet and the bucktooth mud-blood, I should have known you would make Prefect." Harry felt the anger rise but remembered what he had told himself since he had turned fifteen.
"Hello Draco, how was your summer?" Draco taken aback by Harry's response to his insults took a minute to respond.
"Better than yours or the mud-bloods since mine was muggle free." He sneered. But again Harry wasn't going to let it get to him.
"Really Draco?" Harry remains calm. "I don't know about that. I got to eat at a nice restaurant, and Hermione told me she saw a play. What did you do?" It was mostly the truth, he had eaten at a nice restaurant and she did see a play, well, part of a play since they were busy with other things. Draco getting angry at Harry's response said nothing as he sat down with his arms across his chest. Harry smiled to himself, he had won, and he had not fallen for Draco's insults.
He had to stay calm. There were things far more dangerous out there than Draco now.
Others filled the car including Cho Chang, Pansy Parkinson, and others until the Head Boy and Head Girl walked in. Harry's heart missed a beat when Cho flashed a smile at him. "Hello Harry, I hope you enjoyed your summer break." She leaned down and kissed him on his cheek before sitting down for the Head Boy and Head Girl.
"Hello, for those of you not familiar with whom we are, I am Michael Nikkturn, and this is Margaret Brillings." She raised her hand taking over.
"As Prefects your duties are to be a role model, attend meetings, discipline students when needed, and of course enjoy the Prefect Bathrooms!" The others cheered at the thought of being in them. Some had never been there like Hermione but Harry had just last year with a favor from Cedric. "Now, the first years are going to need help for the first couple of weeks and will keep you busy but afterwards you will mainly be stuck attending meetings. I've never had to deduct many points from other students since most are smart enough not to do anything when I was around and you will find this out as the year goes on." But then things changed as both decided to get serious.
Margaret continued quickly with a grim face. "On to the most important thing you will ever need to know." Michael cleared his throat taking over from her.
"The Weasly Twins are off limits to anyone. You do not reprimand the Twins, you do not take points from the Twins, and you must leave them alone! We have lost several Prefects to those two and their actions, do I make myself clear? Leave the Twins alone if you value your well being." Everyone nodded but Malfoy who raised his hand. "Yes Draco?" Malfoy sneered at the Gryffindor Prefects.
"So you mean they are allowed to do whatever they want because you are afraid of them? How weak, of course, what do you expect from a Hufflepuff Head Boy." Michael laughed with a gleam in his eyes.
"I see Mr. Malfoy, well then, 50 points from Slytherin." Malfoy's jaw dropped, he had just put Slytherin into negative points before they even got off the train!
"Also, you just lost the ability to take points away until Professor Flitwick says so." He may have feared what the Weasly Twins did to Prefects but he wasn't afraid of some little Slytherin Prefect.
Malfoy couldn't handle it. First Potter hadn't fallen for his insults, then he lost points, and now he lost some of his power! "No Michael, I don't think so." He stood up with his wand out pointing it at Michael, but was hexed by Hermione, Cho, and Margaret before he could get any spell off.
"Another 50 points from Slytherin." Michael turns to the witches who had cursed Draco. "And 50 points to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor." He looked at Malfoy "And Malfoy." Malfoy tried to look up but was in too much pain. "I believe that badge no longer belongs to you." He bent down and took the badge off. "I think our first Prefect meeting has ended. If you wish you can stay here or you can go join your friends." He looked at Pansy. "But you, if you take points from anyone until we get to Hogwarts not only will I add them back but I will take equal points from your House. You see, unlike what Malfoy thought, I am not weak, or afraid. It's just that I'm mature enough to know which battles to fight and which battles are lost causes. In their second year they had a thousand points taken and had detention for the remaining four months every night and you know what they did?" She shook her head. "They put Miss Norris on top of the astronomy tower to keep Filch busy as they ransacked his office. They don't care, they know that it is only school. While an education is important the rules, the points, and the little trophies at the end of the year don't mean anything once you leave here." He smiled to the rest as they left the Prefect car.
Moving to the back of the train they got to the car they were always in. Seeing Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna, Harry felt at home. But then he saw movement behind Ginny. It was Dean Thomas! "Hi Dean, what are you doing?" Then he saw the marks on Ginny's neck, and Dean's. "Never mind, I don't want to know what you two have been doing." Hermione behind him hugged Ginny, pulling her sleeve over her hand when she saw it was moving up her arm. Ron saw this and looked puzzled, then angry. "Oh no, did he see the bracelet?" But Ron didn't say anything as Hermione sat at the other end of the car. Harry joined her whispering to her about what he just saw.
"I know Harry, he has a red mass around him, just like Devin's, but this one is smaller and shrinking." Harry wondered what she was going on about, there was nothing around Ron. He was still thinking about it, trying to see it, when the voice came. "The Fire Siblings will explode." Harry shook his head, who were the Fire Siblings?
He soon got his answer when Ron stood up and grabbed Ginny off of Dean's lap. "Stop that Ginny, you know you aren't suppose to be doing that, you're too young!" She turned around and slapped him hard.
"What do you know? You've never had a girlfriend; you are an annoying idiot who should leave the people older than him alone!" He grabbed her arms shaking her as though she was speaking a foreign language.
"I am older than you! So what if I've never had a girlfriend, if I did I wouldn't want her to be some floozy or…." Ron didn't get to say anything else as Ginny had kneed him between the legs.
"I've been older then you since I was saved by Harry from the Basilisk. I grew up. You on the other hand have remained a child!" She kicked him while he was on the ground and stormed out the door followed by a scared looking Dean.
"Ginny, don't be doing things like that, I just earned our House 50 points and I don't want them taken away already." Hermione called after Ginny but gave up when Ginny made a rude hand gesture and continued walking.
Helping Ron up and back into his seat Hermione and Harry tried to calm him down, but Ron was hearing none of it. "She has been bouncing from boy to boy and sooner or later she will pick the wrong one. Mom told me and The Twins to watch after her, but The Twins are too busy with their stupid jokes and pranks to do their job as brothers. Why did mom and dad have to have a girl?" Hermione laughed trying to ease the mood.
"Ron, you have no idea. A former president once said about his daughter 'Daughter's are god's curse on men for being men for they know what they were like when they were teenagers and hope their little girls don't meet them.' Quite true in this case, don't you think Harry?" Harry nodded.
"Pretty much but Ginny isn't your problem Ron. She is your sister but you have things to worry about like OWLs." Ron smiled, feeling better, tried to stand up and went to grab Hermione's right wrist but she pulled it back quickly and went to the other side of the car. "Are you ok?" Ron nods.
"I'll be fine Harry. My sister shouldn't be doing that." Harry and Ron sit down and talk as the train continues to Hogwarts.
Getting nearer to Hogwarts people started to change into robes, and the Prefects had to go back to the front. "I can't believe she did that. Not that I wouldn't have done it if Ron had said the next word. But still, you can't be hitting people, not even siblings, at least not like that." Hermione was going on about Ron's red mass and how it had a green outline. Harry had no idea what she meant but went along with it. Now back in the Prefect car they noticed that both Malfoy and Pansy were gone. "Think Slytherin won't have any 5th year Prefects?" Harry whispered back.
"No, Snape will do something about it." Michael and Margaret got everyone to quiet down as they got into the middle of the car.
"Alright, one other thing to go over with all of you before we get to Hogwarts. We have transfer students as your letter indicated and I would like to introduce them." Michael pointed to Margaret and she went over to the door to open it.
"Devin and Monica?" Harry asked out loud, realizing he had said it out loud he added. "Hermione and I
met them in Diagon Alley. They're from Ohio if I remember right." He heard a laugh and was suddenly being hugged.
"That's right; I can't believe you remembered that!" Monica let him go and shook hands with the others as Devin just stood there arms crossed shrugging the others off.
"Monica and Devin Stark are going to be going with us to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony, and we all hope they have a good time this year, right people?" They all nodded in agreement, some more than happy to welcome the American girl, even if her brother was less then polite.
Getting into Hogwarts without any farther incidents, Harry and Hermione with the other Prefects lead Devin and Monica into Hogwarts as Hagrid called to the first years.
Seeing Harry and Hermione he waved. "Hey you two! You both made Prefect eh? Well, glad to know my friends and students will behave this year!" Hagrid laughs as Harry realized something. Professor Lupin Remus had been made Prefect to try and keep Sirius and his Dad in line. Is this why he had gotten the badge?
He forced these memories out of his head when he entered the Great Hall, the roof dark with stars shining, he was truly home. Hermione grabbed his hand as they walked over too the Gryffindor table making Harry nervous at first, but having her close to him, the smell of her hair, he nearly ran into a chair before he came back to the real world. The other students came in making Hermione let go of his hand as Ron ran over to sit across from them. Ginny sat at the other end of the table as far away from Ron as possible as had Dean not wanting to anger Ginny.
The Sorting Ceremony had begun, all the little first years nervous but delighted to be in school. Gryffindor had gotten seven new boys and six females, Ravenclaw had gotten five each, Hufflepuff had gotten six each while Slytherin had gotten only two new boys and one girl. Harry was glad to hear that Professor Flitwicks son John had made it into Gryffindor, and Dean Thomas was beaming with pride that his little sister who was going to turn 12 soon was placed in Gryffindor. "Dean, you said she is almost 12, why wasn't she in school last year?" He beamed at Harry.
"Because Harry you have to be 11, not close to 11, but 11. In three more days she will be twelve, my little girl." Harry talked with him some more hearing about Dean raising his little sister when his parents were working and some funny stories when growing up.
Ron nudged him in the ribs and pointed at the Slytherin table. "Maybe the hat is done with making dark wizards and decided to keep them out of Slytherin." Harry nodded agreeing with Ron.
Finally Monica and Devin were brought forth and Dumbledore introduced them to Hogwarts. "Ladies, Gentlemen, Students and teachers. These two we are proud to say have come all the way from the States and are to be treated as you would anyone else, with respect and kindness." Sneers from Slytherin made Ron laugh at what would happen if either one of the Americans ended up in Slytherin. "Now, as they are not in any House they are to be sorted as any other student would, with the hat! Now Devin, would you please sit down and put the hat on?" Devin grunted and did as he was ordered. The hat sat there on his head.
"Well, I have never had to place someone like you, but Gryffindor!" Harry and the others at Gryffindor Table clapped loudly, Harry wondering what the hat meant by "someone like you" remembered his first year fondly. Devin stood up and walked over sitting in a new seat that had just appeared, next to Hermione. Next Monica sat down and did the same thing, but the hat had an almost immediate response of a loud "Gryffindor!" She ran down to hug her brother and sat next to Harry where the seat had just appeared.
"Hi Harry, I guess you are going to be the one to show me around." She smiled as she hugged him like she had on the train, getting a stare from Hermione, who quickly pulled her robe sleeve down as Harry caught a gold shine from her wrist.
Dumbledore stood up again ready to continue the evening so they could eat. He walked to the front; and with a clap of his hands the doors to the Great Hall opened and a woman with blonde hair walked in. "Sorry I'm late Dumbledore, I am still getting use to those stairs. Why you would want them to change like that I don't know but it was amusing seeing more of the castle." She hurried up to Dumbledore and whispered in his ear. Dumbledore smiled and excused her lateness.
"As you see we have a new teacher, she will be teaching as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor! Professor St…." She turned around and shut Dumbledore up, Harry couldn't believe this woman would do something like it, but Dumbledore didn't seem to mind as she whispered in his ear again. "It seems I had her name wrong, students, welcome your new teacher, Professor Krats!" More applause from the students as Professor Krats bowed and went to her seat. "Now that the good news is over, we have bad news to share with you. Voldemort" All but Harry and Hermione trembled at the name "Is back. He will do what he can to hurt us but can only do so if we allow him too! I am already assigning you homework. You have a year to complete it. It does not require books or parchment, potions or spells, but courage! By the end of the year you must come up here and say Voldemort!" More trembles and a few screams filled the Great Hall. "Now onto the feast everyone for I am hungry and hate long speeches like everyone else in here." Dumbledore went to his seat and food appeared before them as the cups filled with pumpkin juice.
Harry had eaten his fill and started to look around at what he considered home. Ginny and Dean were feeding each other, laughing and smiling enjoying each other's attempt to make a mess on the other. Hermione was picking away at the food as was Devin next to her. He turned and saw Monica getting thirds of just about everything! "How does she stay so thin eating like that?"
He continued to look around and saw Cho barely eating. She seemed a lot smaller than the year before. Pale skin and eyes dark. Harry felt sorry for her, he really did like her last year, but she had changed and wasn't the Cho he knew. Looking over at Slytherin he saw Draco was busy talking to Crabbe and Goyle getting madder with every breath.
Harry went back to his plate thinking about desert when he heard Hermione yell. "Ron, what are you doing?" Hermione had yanked her arm out of Ron's grasp and knocked over Devin's glass. "I'm so sorry Devin here let me clean…" Devin had already stood up knocking his chair down behind him.
"That's alright; I wanted juice all over my clothes." He seemed to be fighting with himself, his hands clenching and his face screwed into a look of pain,
Hermione started to back away saying something about masses. "Orange mass, red mass." But Devin had turned and walked out the doors of the Great Hall before Hermione could perform her spell to clean the juice up. Professor Dumbledore and Professor Krats followed Devin leaving Hermione and the rest wondering what was going to happen. "Harry, he did it again, there was an orange mass around him, like an aura, and then it turned red but he walked away before it exploded like at Diagon Alley." Harry held her close to him, but let her go when he realized Ron was staring. Not at him or Hermione, but her arm, her wrist, the one he had grabbed for some reason.
Ten minutes later Dumbledore came back without Devin or Professor Krats and continued his dinner. After deserts he clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Everyone, on to some school business. After such a wonderful meal I must tell you that nothing made by The Twins," He looked at Fred and George "Is allowed on school grounds as ordered by Filch. Although some of them are quite extraordinary they are rather troublesome and will result in ten points from your House for every item and a detention. The Forbidden Forest is still Forbidden even though some students seem to think not. It has also come to my attention that there was an incident on the train." Ginny, Ron, and Draco looked horrified. Harry wasn't sure which incident Dumbledore was talking about, but didn't think Dumbledore would consider a fight between siblings as school business. "Draco Malfoy attempted to attack the Head Boy and was demoted, rightfully so I might add. Draco Malfoy, you are a 5th year, old enough to know better, and were a Prefect at the time! If you were just a student the punishment wouldn't be as harsh, but as a Prefect you were suppose to set an example to all the students. You are here by banned from Hogsmeade for the rest of the school year." He looked sternly at the Slytherin table with authority.
Draco and his friends' gasped. Worried looks shot towards Professor Snape, but Dumbledore saw it. "And the only reason you are not being expelled is because of I, and not Professor Snape, am Headmaster. Your House is already in negative points. Your housemates may thank you for that later. You will also have detention with Professor Snape for every Saturday and Sunday until December 31st. The punishment would be worse, but the only other thing I can think of is to ban you from playing Quidditch, and I may still do so if you do anything else." Draco's white skin became even more white. Banned from Quidditch would send him over the deep end; He couldn't allow that, Professor Snape wouldn't or couldn't allow that to happen. "Also, I was told Miss Brillings the Head Girl also helped defend Head Boy Michael Nikkturn, but Hufflepuff was not given points with the others because the Head Boy thought it would look like favoring his House if he had. I agree with his decision, but they do deserve the points, 50 points to Hufflepuff!"
So now all the other Houses were tied, with Slytherin in last. "Now that it has gotten late I think we would all like to retire to our rooms." The students started to leave except for Malfoy who didn't want to be alone in the Slytherin Common Room with no teachers to protect him. "Harry, come up here if you could." Harry turned around and went to Dumbledore.
He took Harry over to the Faculty Table and had him sit down. "There might be a problem with one of the new students Harry and I want to warn you before hand. Devin has special abilities and he needs to be kept under control at all times. If he hadn't controlled himself earlier he could have killed Hermione, you, and anyone else near him." Harry was shocked at this news. Why was someone so dangerous being allowed at Hogwarts? "He may not be friendly, or show emotions much but he needs friends, and I thought it best to place him near you and yours."
"You mean you are going to put me and the others at risk?" Dumbledore nods. "You said he could have killed us just from spilt juice what if it had been something serious! He might do Voldemort's job and kill me because he gets a bad grade." Harry couldn't believe Dumbledore at first but if Dumbledore thought it was a good idea he would hear him out. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Yes he could harm you Harry. He could also have killed you before but he didn't. He can control himself but it gets harder every time he gets angry or happy or some other emotion. He has to keep them inside for his abilities draw power from them. If he were to get too happy or angry or any emotion he could affect everyone around him in some way that could be dangerous. I am trying to figure out a way for him to release his emotions without destroying the school but until then Harry I want you to watch after him, alright?" Harry nodded. It was just something else he would have to do this school year with everything else. Dumbledore waved his hand and Harry left to go catch up with the others.
Getting around the corner he felt a hand grab his robes and pull him into an empty room. "Not now Hermione, we need…." He turned around and saw it wasn't Hermione but Monica! "Oh, I thought uh, you were Hermione."
"Oh really, more than friends are we?" Harry was going to lie but Monica interrupted him. "It doesn't matter Harry this is about my brother Devin. I just saw Dumbledore tell you about Devin and his special abilities and powers. I am warning you now, if anything happens to my brother, I will give you something far worse then death. I love my brother and I don't care what others think about him, he is the greatest person I know and anyone who hurts him will find death as a final escape from the pain I can cause." She gripped Harry's arm digging her nails into his arm. Her eyes blaze with a dark fire as she got closer to Harry, backing him against the wall. "You understand me?"
"I wasn't going to do anything to hurt him, why would I anyways?" She backed off a little but was still too close for Harry's comfort.
"I saw your friend laugh at him before, and he laughed at me, your friend is bloody git I think you would say. He will get hurt if he keeps it up." She paused. "Maybe you are better than he is you do seem mature enough too have girlfriends, and maybe…" She twirled her finger on Harry's arm where before she had been trying to draw blood with her fingernails. "You are good looking."
"Look Monica, I don't know what you mean but stop it whatever it is." He hoped she would get the message, but she moved in closer.
"HARRY!" Hermione burst into the room wand out. "What are you doing!? I was waiting for you and you never came and now I find you with her! You!" She pointed her wand at Monica "What do you think you are doing? He's mine!" She was breathing hard, rage flowing out of her, but she got a hold of herself and lowered her wand. "Sorry Monica, I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have assumed you were doing anything wrong. I trust Harry, he wouldn't do anything like that, I'm sorry. Please don't tell anyone Monica, we are trying to keep it a secret until we find a way to tell Ron." Monica explained to Hermione about why she was with Harry, about her brother, and left.
Harry and Hermione left about five minutes later after making up in a physical way and went to the Gryffindor Common Room. "I forgot to tell you Harry, I had an idea about what to do with the first year students." Holding his hand she went on. "I thought of your Marauders Map, and while I wouldn't make them one like that, it gave me the idea to make regular maps. This way our time can be spent on more important things and the first year students have a guide with them wherever they go." Harry was surprised, he hadn't thought of it, and no one else had until now.
"That's brilliant Honey, and these important things, they wouldn't involve me would they?" He kissed her on the forehead breathing in the smell of her hair. She laughed.
"Yes, I guess we could study for our OWLs together," She stopped and hugged Harry. "In between our snogging sessions." She reached up and grabbed his head, pulling it down so she could kiss him deep. Her tongue playing with his as he breathed her in. They break apart and then walk to the Gryffindor Common Room entrance. Hermione gets a piece of paper out. "Toad Cap." She said when they got to the Fat Lady who swung open and let them into the Gryffindor Common Room.
The next day Harry woke up to pain shooting through his scar. He saw Voldemort laughing as another man trembled on the floor. He couldn't go back to sleep and decided he would keep running like he had at home. The Quidditch field would be perfect for this as he got his running clothes on. Ron hearing the noise wondered what was going on. "Harry, what time is it?" Harry told him to be quiet as to not wake anyone else up but was already too late, Devin had heard the commotion.
"What are you assholes doing this early in the morning? God it's not even six damn it, but now that I'm up I might as well go down." He did the quickest change Harry had ever seen and went downstairs.
"Wow, I've never heard him talk that much, got quite the foul mouth doesn't he?" Ron started to laugh but Harry again told him to keep quiet.
"I'm going running. Go back to bed Ron and don't laugh at Devin. He is new here and I don't just mean Hogwarts. He left his home country to come here. His culture is different than ours and you shouldn't laugh at him for it." Harry hoped Ron would heed his warning and went downstairs ready to go. He got to the Common Room where he saw Devin holding what looked like a silver orb but it changed in his hand as he moved his fingers. Almost as though it was water. He turned and saw Harry staring at him and put it away.
"So Harry, what are you doing? You look rather strange in those clothes; I didn't know they played soccer here." Harry shook his head.
"I'm going out to run. If you uh, want to come with me Devin go ahead. It's not like I own the Quidditch field." Harry saw him smile, the first time he had done so since he had first seen him.
"Alright, but let me change, I can't let you be the only dumb ass out there." He got up and was in the dorm room for less then a minute before he came back down in a t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes. "Are you ready Harry? I use to run track at my old school, before my mother made me move here with her." Harry saw Devin wince, his muscles tremble, trying to fight something back as they went out to the Quidditch field.
Harry was surprised by Devin once they were out on the field. He wasn't so bad when he was alone and running seemed to make him happy. "Just like at home, my mother and sister never understood why I liked sports so much." He sat down stretching his muscles out after the four kilometer run. "But the rush, something I can put my energy into. I was going to Nationals, but now I'm here." Harry sat there stretching listening to Devin. He was amazed at how calm Devin could be when he wasn't threatening to kill anyone. Devin was actually nice when you got to know him. Harry saw Devin touch his forehead to his knee pulling back on his foot and tried to do the same. He could barely touch his toes let alone his knee to his forehead.
"This wasn't so bad Devin do you want to come with me tomorrow? I might bring my friend with me. We use too run together during the summer." But Harry forgot to mention Hermione as his friend, not Ron.
"That red headed little bastard? I don't see why you are friends with him. He laughed at my sister. He laughed at her because she didn't speak how he thought she should." Devin squeezed his eyes shut, was calming down when Harry saw someone coming, Draco Malfoy and his goons.
With Crabbe and Goyle following Malfoy was his usual confident self. "So Potter what you are doing with the barbarian? I can't tell so it must be something to do with muggles." Harry calmly replied.
"It's called stretching Malfoy, you do this after running to keep your muscles from cramping. If you want to you can join us tomorrow, it really helps build stamina for Quidditch." Harry hoped Malfoy would go away, Devin was having a hard time controlling himself as it was thinking about Ron.
"I don't need any help with Quidditch, Potter. I trained last year while you were busy chasing after dragons and trophies." Draco laughs. "But your barbarian friend could probably use the help, look at him, he looks like he is going to cry. Are you going to cry you Yankee barbarian? Cry like a little kid?" Malfoy laughed and started to walk away but only got a few feet when Devin stood up.
"Barbarian? BARBARIAN!" Devin stuck his hand out and blasted Malfoy nearly thirty feet breaking a couple ribs from the impact and his arm on landing. Crabbe and Goyle ran away terrified of what the American had just done.
"Devin stay here, I need to get madam Pomfrey." Harry was concerned leaving Devin alone but he needed to get help. On his way to the castle he saw the strange girl Ginny was friends with, Luna Lovegood. "Luna could you watch Devin for me? He did something and Malfoy is hurt. I need to get Madam Pomfrey." Luna looked at him as though he wasn't there, looking past him almost.
"Sure Harry I could do that. I wouldn't want to leave him alone at a time like this anyways." Harry cocked his head wondering what Luna had come up with now. "The Crikol Lagew Snake is sure to be out in weather like this." Luna looks around then wondered off wistfully making Harry stop himself from calling her "Loony Lovegood" like Ron did, not that he was the only one.
He ran to get Madam Pomfrey and returned to find Malfoy still on the ground where he landed, broken, and Devin bleeding, his right eye swollen. "What happened Devin? Are you ok? Did Crabbe and Goyle come back?" Devin shook his head, crying, he sat down on the ground. "Devin what's wrong?"
"I shouldn't have done it; I shouldn't have done it, I…" He kept repeating this as Madam Pomfrey carried Malfoy back on a magic stretcher. Harry turned back to see Devin punching himself in the head still crying.
"Devin stop that, you'll only hurt yourself." But suddenly Harry didn't care anymore. He felt empty, depressed, suicidal. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall came rushing out of Hogwarts and got to Harry and Devin, Harry now crying too, not able to stop himself, wanting to die, so empty.
"Devin stop that!" Dumbledore used his wand to make a shield between Harry and Devin which made Harry feel better immediately. He got up brushing himself off. "Harry are you alright?"
"Why was I crying?" Harry shakes his head. "I don't know why but I wanted to die, I was empty and wanted to die, what did Malfoy do to me?" He asked Dumbledore, who pointed at Devin.
"It was Devin actually. He was sad so his powers emitted this and affected you. That's why you were crying. He was mad at himself for doing what he did to Draco and didn't like losing control, that's why you felt like that. I told you Harry that he has to control his emotions for they are what power his abilities. I like that you are out here with him trying to make friends with him, and now you know why I want you to. He needs friends. His last school expelled him and his sister left with him. He was going to a muggle school until I offered his mother a job here so both him and Monica could continue their training."
Harry wasn't sure what to think. "Does this mean that Professor Krats is his mom? But why do they have a different last name?" Dumbledore held a finger up to his lips. "It's a secret?"
"It is a secret Harry. How would you feel if the students treated you different because they knew your mother was a teacher?" Harry was treated different so he knew what it would feel like.
"No, Devin doesn't need that and neither does his sister." McGonagall took Devin with her up to Madam Pomfrey for his eye and broken nose. Harry went back to the Gryffindor Tower glad to be intact. If Devin could do that just because Malfoy insulted him what would happen if something serious happened? "This isn't safe. How could Dumbledore be letting someone that dangerous come to Hogwarts? Devin might do Voldemort's job for him."
Harry had just gotten done explaining what had happened to Hermione and Ron when Devin came back in. "Hi Harry, do your friends mind if I sit here?" He smiled nervously at Hermione, glared at Ron but smiled then too.
"Sure Devin come join us. Harry was just telling us how you shut Draco up. You must be the first person at this school to do that." Hermione smiled back and patted a spot on the couch next to her. Her sleeve folded up a little, starting to expose her wrist, causing Hermione to take it to her stomach quickly to adjust it. Devin seeing it as though she didn't want him to touch her sat farther away, Ron glared at Hermione, gritting his teeth.
"I guess I did, I shouldn't have done it, I was expelled from my old school for losing my temper. I'm sorry what I did to you Harry, I couldn't control myself." He looked down trying to keep his feelings in check.
"It's alright Devin I've gotten mad at Malfoy more than once. I tried to jinx him a couple times but usually got caught. How many points did we lose?" Harry wondered about it, Devin had attacked another student.
"All the points Hermione won on the train. I'm sorry about that, you earned those points and my stupidity ruined it." He was straining more, waiting for the verbal assault, but Harry wasn't mad.
"Don't worry about it Devin, we have classes today and Hermione will have those points back in no time. She is the smartest witch in our year if not the whole school." Harry patted her on the arm, trying to look as though it was nothing. They were friends that's all. At least to Ron they were just friends.
Harry was right though about the pionts. After Transfiguration where Hermione earned twenty points, and another twenty in charms, they were back on track in the points standing. After lunch they had Potions class. "I can't wait to see what Snape does to Devin. Maybe Devin will get so mad and get rid of Snape for us." Harry jabbed Ron in the ribs to get him too shut up as Devin and Monica came up.
"Hi guys!" Monica looks at Hermione. "And girl." Monica nodded towards Hermione. "I just wanted to say thank you for helping my brother today Harry. And you Hermione. I could barely get my bird to turn into a pillow but yours was beautiful! How did you get the heart design on it?" Monica pulled Hermione from the group to discuss the pillow leaving Harry and Ron with Devin.
"I have to warn you Devin this next class will be the toughest for you. Snape goes after the Gryffindor students because they aren't Slytherin. You also happened to have attacked his favorite student so try to calm down now if you can because he will be even worse now." Devin sighs.
"You mean he will be a total prick."
Ron laughed, and for the first time Harry laughed with him. "You know Devin, talking like that isn't usually done here. But I do like your way with words. Sort of different from the norm." Devin laughed somewhat but stopped when he felt his abilities start to come out.
Harry was right about Snape. Snape kept trying to rattle Devin. Snape was pointing out flaws in Devin's potion. Pointing out flaws in the way he stirred but Devin was calm blocking Snape out.
By the end of the class Devin had finished his potion, along with Harry, Hermione, Monica and Seamus. The rest of the class had failed to get the right color and texture. All of the Slytherins had failed to produce a correct "Infiro Passada" making Snape very agitated. "Well then, good practice. Tomorrow we will do it again but this time for a grade." He sneered at the Gryffindors who had succeeded flicking his wand to empty the content of the cauldrons. Harry was mad, if they had failed and the Slytherins succeeded it would have been for a grade he couldn't stand it!
"Totally unfair." Ron mumbled about it. Harry wanted to agree but there was something he had to do. Harry raises his hand.
"Professor Snape, could I please stay after class for help? I know my potion wasn't as good as it could be and want it to be perfect for tomorrow." The others stared at Harry wondering what he was up to.
Snape sneers. "Alright Potter, if you must take up my valuable time with your problems."
Class ended and the others went to their next class as Harry stayed behind. Snape took him into his office waiting for the real reason Harry wanted to see him. "So Potter, what is it really?" Harry swallowed his pride. He had to do this man to man. Snape had protected him from Voldemort and Dumbledore trusted him. Harry had to at least thank him for what he had done.
"Sir, I know I have done several things these past four years that have been against the Hogwarts rules. I know I have said many bad things about you these past four years also. But I am 15 years old now. Voldemort is back. I have to start acting like an adult a couple years earlier than others would."
Snape simply clears his throat so Harry continues. "I thank you for saving my life my first year here. I thank you for all the things you did for me my second year. I thank you for teaching me these past four years even if I was an insufferable dolt. I ask you to please shake my hand and accept my apology for all the things I have done and to accept my thanks for everything you have done for me." Harry stood up winded from his speech sticking his hand out.
"What kind of trick is this Potter?" Snape looked at Harry's hand as though he had just stuck it in Hippogriff dung.
"This is no trick I swear. I am trying to be mature and try to act like the kind of man that will be respected for his actions. The kind of man like Dumbledore. I know you and my father didn't get along and some of it was my father but I am not my father. I am my own person. Please Professor Snape. I ask for you to accept my apology and thanks, even if it changes nothing between us." Harry still stood there, his hand out for Snape. Professor Snape stands up.
"Alright Potter. Nice to see one of you Gryffindors knows how to treat your superiors. This changes nothing though, If it was up to me you would have been expelled ten times over Potter but as Dumbledore has said he is the Headmaster not I." Snape shook Harry's hand and then told him to leave before his next class arrived.
Having done both things he had told himself to do since he turned 15, Harry was ecstatic. Harry ran towards his last class of the day, Divination, knowing that he had met his goals.
He had been nice to Malfoy even though it was hard that second time with Devin and he had apologized to Snape. He knew Snape and Malfoy still hated him but he was above it. He was grown up. He had to be with Voldemort back. It won't change any thing. Harry ignores the voice as he continues running to his next class.
Professor Trelawney noted that Harry was late when he got to her class. "Oh Harry I was just talking about you! We are getting ready for astrology and I was going on about when people born in February are in danger when Mars and Jupiter align with Pluto." Harry growled a little, this woman was impossible.
"I wasn't born in February!" He sat next to Ron exhausted. The run had been nothing it was Trelawney that got to Harry. "I can't believe I have to fail Divination this year just so I don't have to take it next year. We should have dropped it like Hermione did last year." Ron looked over
"But what would you take then? Ancient Runes? This class is easy if you are able to drone out the old bat." Making up different disasters for class work Ron and Harry got through the class without incident ready for dinner.
Sitting at the table Hermione asked Harry why he really stayed after class. "Was it really that obvious?" They all nodded. "Well, I had something important to tell Snape. It was between me and him. Sorry Ron but I can't tell you." Ron disappointed ate dinner without saying anything until Hermione reached for a dessert then pulled back when her robe got caught and her wrist was exposed.
"What was that Hermione? Got something on your arm you don't want us to see?" He smirked at her while looking around to find the reaction of everyone else there. Harry wondered why Ron just didn't ask her where she got the bracelet but was glad Ron hadn't. Ginny being the only other person who knew about it rolled her eyes and went back to Dean. No one else seemed to care. They were all tired from the first day of class that after dinner no one wanted to stay up in the Common Room.
"Hermione when everyone else goes to bed come down to the Common Room I really need to talk to you." Whispered Harry when the students were walking back to their Towers for the night.
Almost everyone went to bed when they got back from dinner but Fred and George were staying up filling out orders for their new contraptions and treats. Harry and Hermione waited and then decided to go to their dorm rooms and wait an hour for The Twins to be done. Pretending to sleep he waited to hear everyone else snoring or breathing deeply which only took about half an hour. He got the Marauder's Map out and checked it to see if Fred and George were still up or not. They were in bed, but there was someone in the Common Room, Hermione. He walked out of the room quietly as possible and snuck down the stairs to find Hermione on the couch sleeping. He walked up to her rubbing her shoulder to wake her up. She swatted at his hand being half asleep sitting up trying to get the cobwebs out of her head. "Harry? What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" She yawned loudly making Harry yawn also.
"Well, first I wanted to tell you why I stayed in potions and then we need to talk about Ron." She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes looking disappointed. "And if we have the energy afterwards maybe a little snogging." She cheered up at the sound of that.
"Ok, what is it?" Hermione puts a hand on Harry's chest. "Could it wait for after a snogging session?" Harry wanted to say yes but…
But he had to tell her, she had heard him almost every morning giving his speech about being a man, being mature, he had achieved it wanting to tell Hermione. "Well Honey, you know how I had been giving myself that little speech when I turned fifteen?" She nodded "I achieved it today. I was nice to Malfoy even when he insulted me and I apologized to Snape, thanked him, and shook his hand as one man to another. It doesn't change anything between us but it does make me feel better knowing I had the maturity to do what a man should do." She smiled, walked over to the chair Harry was sitting in and sat in his lap. "Wait Hermione, I'm not done yet, there is still Ron." She kissed him on the lips, and stopped letting him continue. "He has been acting strangely. He keeps looking at your wrist like he knows about the bracelet. Why he doesn't ask you about it isn't clear to me but he is definitely interested in your wrist." She kissed him again hard on the lips.
"I know, he asked Ginny to watch me in the shower, to see what was on my wrist." Harry looked at her quizzically. "Ginny told me about it. That's how I know. She thought he was a pervert and did to him what she did on the train." Harry winced at the thought, his face showing the pain all men feel just at hearing about it. "But he is still acting strange. I know he doesn't know about us or he would have smothered you in your sleep last night. When are we going to tell him?" Hermione thought about it, rubbing her hand on Harry's chest.
"How about your birthday? It will be the Thursday after next, but we could still get him alone by you telling him it is a surprise gift for you." Hermione nods thinking about Harry's plan.
"Then I'll walk down the tunnel and we can tell him." Harry liked the idea, almost as much as he liked what Hermione was doing with her mouth on his neck.
"Good plan Hermione." Harry closes his eyes enjoying what Hermione was still doing to his neck.
"Alright Harry, but we need to be in bed if we are going running in the morning." Hermione takes her mouth off his neck.
"Yeah, I don't think Devin would like me ditching it after what happened this morning." Hermione got off his lap kissing him hard before going back to her dorm room. Harry tired and worn out went to his bed falling asleep this time for real.
A/N Mostly fixing grammar and a couple parts between Harry and Hermione. Again rereading through this all I can keep asking myself is really? You really thought this was good enough to post? Is it perfect now? No. But a lot better than it was before.