My Goodness! I really wasn't expecting that many reviews for the first chapter. I usually don't get that many until the 3rd or fourth chapters. Thanks for all that reviewed

Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 2: Just Missed Getting Picked

By: tojot

The next morning, Harry came down to breakfast absolutely exhausted. It baffled him as to why he was this fatigued. He settled himself at the Gryffindor table next to a yawning Hermione. Ron was sitting across from them.

"Hiya, Harry." Ron said cheerfully, but his smile turned into a frown. "Are you okay, you look terrible."

"I'm fine." Harry said, "just a very uneasy night."

"Did you have a dream about… Him again?" Said Hermione anxiously. Harry knew whom she was talking about when she said him, Sirius. It was still a testy subject around Harry.

"No, it wasn't about… It was something else…" Harry said vaguely. Hermione caught the facial expression that Harry wore that signaled for the end of the discussion for now. If Hermione was Hermione, Harry knew that she wouldn't settle without knowing what was wrong with him. Seconds later, Professor McGonagall came around and handed them their class schedules.

"Double Advanced Potions, Advanced Herbology, and Double Advanced DADA…" Harry read off the parchment.

"Hey, Harry, say hello to Snape for me…" Ron received a nasty glare from Harry, "Cheer up, at least we have DADA together." Ron said quickly. Harry had gotten all the necessary owls needed to become an Auror, including Potions. Ron, on the other hand, had one owl short and had to resort to a secondary career of choice that didn't require as many. Hermione was going to become a Professor, but since she had done the best of the whole year she could be anything she truly wanted. Harry was happy for her. Ron snatched Hermione's schedule out of her hands to read it.

"Hey…!' Hermione exclaimed as she snatched it back with a glare.

"She nearly has all the same classes as you do Harry." Ron said.

"I know." Snapped Hermione.

"Well, I am happy to know that I will not be facing the greasy-haired git alone." Harry smiled. Hermione's mood seemed to lighten considerably when he stated the fact.

"I just think he might be worse this year because you did make it into his Advanced Potions classes." Hermione added gloomily. She did have a point.

"As I said before, I am glad I am not alone." Harry repeated.

"Come on so we can make it on time, I would hate to know what he could do if you were late." Hermione said pulling herself up from the table with a hand on the shoulder of his robes, bringing Harry along with her.

"Yeah, best to get Potions out the way so I can enjoy the rest of the week." Harry said grimly.

"Enjoy Potions Harry." Ron taunted with a look of mirth on his face. With a glare sent in Ron's direction, Harry snatched a slice of toast and his bag and hurried along in Hermione's wake.

"Do try to avoid and ignore all taunts from Snape and the Slytherins please, Harry." Hermione pleaded as they descended down the steps to the dungeons.

"I'll try, but it won't be easy. The greasy git refuses to get it through his thick head that I am not my father." Harry said honestly.

As Harry had expected, Malfoy was standing among the queue of people waiting entry into the Potions classroom. Luckily, he didn't have his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle with him.

"Why aren't Malfoy's goons with him." Harry whispered to Hermione.

"Are you kidding me," Hermione said with a chuckle, "Crabbe and Goyle make it into Professor Snape's Advanced Potions class without a brain between them? I don't think so." She was right; Crabbe and Goyle weren't the type to receive an Outstanding on their Potions Owls. That was why Malfoy wasn't running his mouth off at the moment. Harry's mood seemed to pick up at this point. They joined the queue of people and waited. And minute later, Snape let them in with look of complete disgust directed at Harry and Hermione. They sat in the back of the dark classroom, farthest from the teacher's desk. Several hours, a detention for Harry and 30 points from Gryffindor later they walked out into sunlight outside on their way to the greenhouses for Herbology.

"Don't worry Harry, I'll get those points back in Herbology, I promise." Hermione said after Harry let out a depressed sigh.

"Thanks Hermione. But I will say this, I think Malfoy got what he deserved when he opened his big mouth to Pansy about the death of Sirius when we were learning the Perpetual Fire Potion." Harry replied.

"I did find it amusing when Malfoy ran out of the room, screaming like a girl, I might add, just because his hair was on fire, with Pansy hot on his heals… or should I say her own." Hermione giggled in ecstasy.

"It wasn't my fault his Perpetual Fire Potion exploded." Harry added, keeping to himself that it might not have exploded if Harry hadn't lost his temper.

"I did find it unfair that Snape gave you detention," She said seriously, "you didn't do anything except laugh, even I laughed. By the way when is it?"

"Friday. One might think Malfoy turned into…. Hello Neville!" Harry said as Neville sauntered up to them.

"Hi Harry… Hermione. I heard you had Potions earlier. How did it go?" Neville asked.

"Detention is so worth seeing Malfoy's head on fire, too bad his goon squad wasn't there it would've been even funnier." Harry chuckled but stopped when he received an elbow in the ribs from Hermione. "Oww."

"Sixth Years to greenhouse five, please." Professor Sprout called as she came waddling out of greenhouse four with the Fifth Years. Ginny and Luna were among them.

"Hello," Luna greeted them both with her radish earrings, "Where is Ronald?"

"He is in a different class, Luna." Hermione told her, "I think it was Muggle Studies." Hermione added thoughtfully as if she had just come to a sudden realization.

Luna replied happily with a "thank you" and a smile and wandered off with her radish earrings dangling from her ears back towards the castle

"What was that all about?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"It's nothing." Hermione answered vaguely and entered greenhouse five.

They joined Ron in the Great Hall for lunch after passing Peeves' newest attempt to cause mayhem and mischief, which involved tar, bright pink feathers and one of the large statues in the Entrance Hall. Harry knew that Filch was going to have one hell of a time trying to clean up the mess. They found Ron shoveling food into his mouth again. Ron looked up to see an amused Harry and a disgusted Hermione.

"Ron will you at least chew with your mouth closed." Hermione demanded.

"Bu' I'm hungry." Ron defended himself, accidentally spitting chunks of shepherd's pie in Harry's direction. "Shorry." He spat again.

"I am hungry too, Ron, but it doesn't mean that you can throw all table manners out the window." Hermione replied with an annoyed tone.

"Shorry." Ron apologized with a mouthful of food. He quickly swallowed to continue talking, "So Harry, who do you think is going to be the next Quidditch captain? You or Katie?"

"I really don't know, Ron. I guess we are going to have to wait and find out." Harry answered as he dished up his plate. "So how was Muggle Studies."

"Now I know why Dad loves to collect muggle stuff. It really is a fascinating subject… you should take it with me Harry." Ron said between spoonfuls.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Ron, but I get enough Muggle Studies at the Dursleys to last me a lifetime." Harry explained.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, sorry."

After eating they all made their way towards the library to work on their assignments. Harry and Hermione had a three-parchment essay for Potions on the 'uses of Red Wickwood other than in the Perpetual Fire Potion and where it could be found.' Ron had an essay on the 'Uses of Electricity in Muggle Life.' They set right to work; Harry and Ron only did it because Hermione would be on their cases if they didn't do anything in the extra time allotted to them. Hermione was a big help since she had stacked all the books Harry needed to look at for his essay in between them. Ron finished with his essay early and had bewitched a tiny paper airplane to fly around their heads.

"Knock it off, Ron!" Hermione hissed as she attempted to snatch it out of the air. Hermione had gotten annoyed when it flew around her head for the fifth time, now looked like she could murder Ron.

"Knock what off?" Ron asked feigning innocence and continuing to annoy Hermione with the flying plane. To avoid any more conflict, Harry quickly snatched the plane out of mid-flight, flattened it between the pages of the book next to him and went back to work without a word. Ron looked disappointed.

"Thanks Harry." Hermione said gratefully, she quickly threw a nasty glare at Ron and went back to finishing her own essay.

Just after they let the Sixth Years out of study hall, Harry heard Katie Bell shouting for him over the noisy din.

"You go on, I'll see what Katie needs then catch you up." He told Ron and Hermione. Hermione looked a bit reluctant to go but followed Ron back to the commonroom.

"Harry," Katie said breathlessly having run around looking for him, "McGonagall wants to see you in her office, pronto!"

"Why?" Harry asked.

"She said she needs your help with something, she wouldn't say what." Katie explained as she hurried along, "I am in a bit of a hurry, see you later."

'Could this be about the Quidditch captain?' Harry thought to himself as he made his way to her office. With two knocks he went in.

"Good, Potter, shut the door behind you and please sit down." She commanded briskly. Harry did as told. "As you very well know, the position for our quidditch captain is open."

"Yes." Harry said.

"You have been on the team for five years and would be a likely candidate for captain," McGonagall explained, "but unfortunately Professor Dumbledore sees things differently and says that you have too much on your plate to deal with at this time."

"He wants me to continue Occlumency doesn't he?" Harry asked.

"Yes."

"With Snape?"

"Professor Snape, Potter and I am not sure who will be teaching you, I am sure it will be Professor Snape." McGonagall corrected. Harry felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. "But the headmaster has also asked me to teach you how to become an animagi."

Harry's head snapped to attention. "What!" it was the only word he could find to say.

"Potter, it is not something I normally teach students but seeing as you're not exactly a regular student both Albus and myself find it necessary." She stated. Harry's throat felt dry and scratchy for some reason and unable too make a sound. "I should also tell you that you will not be learning it alone, one other is going to be learning it with you. Potter you must promise me one thing?"

"And that would be?" Harry managed to croak out.

"I ask you never to tell a living soul that you are learning to become an animagi, not even your friends, Potter." She peered at him over her square spectacles.

"I promise." He said.

"Good!" She said, "Now that that is settled, I need to ask you, since I can't have you as a captain, who would you choose as a captain?" Harry thought about it for a little while, he knew captains had to be good with strategy and knew a lot about quidditch. Strangely, he knew someone with those qualities. None other than…

"Ron." Harry blurted.

"Are you sure Mr. Weasley is cut out for it, knowing that he is your best friend and everything?" McGonagall's eyebrows went high in surprise.

"Yes, he is my best friend… but do you remember back to our first year with that giant chess set. It was Ron who got us through. He would be great for two reasons: he loves quidditch and two, he is the best strategist I know." Harry explained. Professor McGonagall looked mildly impressed.

"That will do, Potter, your Animagi lessons will start on Wednesday, after lockdown, to avoid any prying eyes, Dumbledore will set things up so you don't have to worry about going though the corridors after hours. Now it would be best if you head down to dinner." She excused him.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Potter?"

"If you do pick Ron, please don't tell him I had anything to do with it, okay."

"Don't worry, I won't." She said as she went back to her paperwork. Harry left with a knowing smile on his face.

Author's Note: That chapter was a bit more interesting than the first. But I hope you enjoyed it. I thank all who reviewed. Just so you know it keeps me on my toes.

Thanks to: Sarahrules336, klen, mellyone, & Kitten