Sorry everyone for the complete lack of updates, I've been jerky enough to ignore it for weeks... no, the story is not dead... I've been just busy with other things. Created a new hobby for myself called scrapbook, which clearly takes most of my time. And my final exams are drawing nearer, for the following few weeks, even though it's still 2 months left for the exams. I will be busy...

Anyway, to make up for this, here are 3 chapters for you to enjoy...

Chapter 16 A Potion Master's Nightmare

Harry woke up, stretched out to find his glasses, and put them on his nose to get a better view of the room. It was yet in the middle of the night, as far he could tell, but he didn't feel tired at all. He went up, walked the cold floor towards the door, walked past his friends, who were snoozing gently in their own four-posters.

The common room was dimply lit however the fire burned as brightly as ever, giving out a comfortable, soothing warmth. He passed by, felt the warm breeze come to him. He sat down in one of the armchairs, like an old habit. Looking up he noticed he wasn't alone. Sitting, or rather half sitting, half lying in another was she.

Dark hair, closed eyes, breathing gently. Harry watched the new girl as she slept without knowing he was there. 'Poor girl', he thought. 'Wonder what she, and the rest of the new ones have been through. Dumbledore said they had been only survivals. I wonder what they have seen, how it feels like surviving, when everyone around you were either killed or taken away' Yet, of all students at Hogwarts, he knew. He had somehow experienced the same, not quite the same but closest to this truth than probably many others.

(The Great Hall, about eight hours later)

The Great Hall was noisy as usual. The students talked about the day to come while Professor McGonagall handled out their timetables. Suddenly she stopped to whisper something into Harry's ear.

"Good luck this year, Mr Potter. Professor Dumbledore has decided to rearrange the DA again, if it's okay for you."

Joy filled Harry's heart as he nodded. Professor McGonagall smiled.

Ron was groaning.

"New timetables, and much more worse than usual. Look here, Double Potions with Slytherin, History of Magic, Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Ha, were working together with the Ravenclaws this year, no more Lord of the Beasts from that Malfoy any more.

Ron continued cheering. Hermione was like usual buried in the new DADA book.

"This is so boring. I've read it about ten times and I still can't get anything new and fascinating about it."

Some seats away, Cassandra sat with her nose in her own copy.

"Wish we've could have started these lessons today."she said "Just hope the teacher will stick up to this book for the whole year. I'd want to learn more decent ways to duel."

Right above their heads, hundreds of owls swooped in, but the flying creature most students looked at and awed was a beautiful eagle souring down towards the Gryffindor table.

"Eador" she said, rising from her seat and holding out her hand so that the eagle could land safely. The eagle cried when he heard his mistress call and landed softly. The students, except the new ones, all looked stunned as the Scandinavian girl took a small package from it and seated down. The eagle soared around the hall and left.

"That was amazing" Ron said breathless. Harry nodded, but Hermione, who didn't seem to care, went for her bag and took out a very thick book.

At the high table Dumbledore rose from his seat.

"I have a few announcements before you leave. Firstly our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor have arrived, please welcome Miss Moon."

Applause rang through the Hall. Everybody clapped, well except for the Slytherins.

Dumbledore raised his hand to silence.

"Second, I have an announcement. Due to Professor Umbridge's retirement, everything that the Inquisitor's Squad forebode and made has been removed by school registration Thereby, also for everyone who remembered the honourable DA last year it has been from now said as long as Mr Potter may will continue, the DA meetings themselves will. For anyone, who wish to join, please go talk to Mr Potter about this, or your Heads of Houses."

"And why would you want to do that?" a third-year boy said, but his voice was drowned from all the cheers. Many Gryffindors stood up and shook Harry's hand saying it would be an honour to join. Harry was in a state of shock. How in the world would he be able to manage this?

The bell rang, and everybody was waiting in the dungeons to attend to their first Potions class. It was still warm outside, yet freezing cold down there.

"Alright, you snivelling little fools. I can see that many of the ones that doesn't have the potential still managed it to this class." This he pointed directly towards Neville.

"Today, were going to make a simple truth potion, not as powerful as Veritaserum, yet powerful indeed. We will work in pairs.

The following pairs became Hermione and Ron, Draco and Harry, Neville and Cassandra, Snape Obviously wanted to see if the new girl was any good. Crabbe and Goyle, they must have cheated themselves into this. Lavender and Millicent, who were looking like they could have killed each other with their bare hands.

"You'll find out your task on the black board," Snape said as words flew up.

Working with Draco Malfoy wasn't as bad as usual, at least he didn't throw rude comments at him. The days, since he had joined the Order had slowly changed him. He was still a Malfoy indeed, but his rude marks and comments seemed less and less every day. Instead, Malfoy didn't even open his mouth. Haryy sort of appreciated that.

Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione's table. Both were working tiredly. Hermione was giving correct instructions as usual but Ron didn't seem to be able to follow them all in her way of doing things.

"Thin slices Ron, you don't want to poison yourself."

"These are thin slices... if I'd make them any thinner than this they would be paper thin!"

"Didn't you hear Snape's tone. Better make it good or else you'll get poisoned."

"Yuck, Am I to take this... this slimy stuff."

He pointed at the grey potion.

"Don't worry Ron, it will turn Chestnut before we are finished."

"Huh!"

At the table in front Neville was receiving a great amount help from Cassandra.

"All you have to do Neville, is to stir it three times clockwise and then add the powdered spiderlegs.

"O-okay..."

He did as he was told, but as soon as Professor Snape turned around he started shaking so much that instead of adding only a third, he added everything, causing the potion to blow.

Everybody jumped up to the tables as the boiling potion quickly spread. Professor Snape was shouting himself harsh and both Cassandra and Neville received detention, which involved bathing Mrs Norris, who hated water and Hagrid's new pets, Gryphons.

"Poor Neville" Ron said. "Always messing up with potions. Wonder how he and that girl will look after that task. Fred and George once had to bath Mrs Norris. They ended up with soak, ripped clothes and enough scars for a whole life."

TBC