Old and New
"So we're going to become Animagi? Cool!" said Ron enthusiastically half an hour later, after Harry had brought Hermione and Ron up to speed on the talk with Dumbledore.
"I was going to suggest this year that we learnt anyway," said Hermione matter-of-factly, "and I agree that we should talk to Professor McGonagall. With a teacher on our side, then we should learn a lot faster then," (she smiled slightly), "the original Marauders."
Harry nodded with a small smile. "Does this make us the next generation of Marauders?" Ron laughed, and Hermione grinned as if she had been complimented. Harry took this as a yes.
"I'm tired, I think I'll go upstairs." Harry turned from the other two who were muttering something about going up also, as Harry ascended the stairs wearily, up to the sixth year boys dormitory.
There was no one else in the dormitory as he entered, although Harry could see Dean's posters tacked up already, and so he knew that the others had at least been up here. He shut the room from view as he drew his own hangings closed around the bed, and was soon fast asleep.
*
The next morning Harry woke before the other boys, so he decided he would go early and send an owl to Fred and George, to see how they were and how business was. As he walked through the quiet castle, the early September sun still low in a light blue sky, he thought about how different it had been since he had last been here. He didn't want to think about Sirius now, but he couldn't stop himself, and was quite upset as he climbed the final steps to the owlery, although he was definitely better then he had been for the few days after Sirius' death.
The Owlery was empty, and Harry quietly marvelled at how the owls had already caused such a bad mess, not to mention smell. There were fewer owls then usual, and Harry supposed that some were still returning from their night hunts. Calling Hedwig down, he quickly wrote a short message to the twins.
"Dear Fred and George,
Hello! How are you doing? How is my business investment doing? How is your dad settling in to his job? I hope you are all ok.
It is the morning after the sorting, and I am up early, and needed a walk. We're getting our timetables later this morning, with only five subjects, could provide some interesting double lessons!
Hope you are well,
Harry."
He watched Hedwig fly off over the forest, and was turning to leave when the Owlery door opened, and in stepped Cho Chang.
She looked slightly diminished as to when he had last seen her, and Harry was unsure as to how awkward it would be. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Cho came over and hugged Harry.
"How are you Harry?" she said nervously, and Harry, who had been unsure as of what to do and was vaguely wondering what to do with arms, suddenly snapped back into gear, and he hugged her back before replying.
"I've been ok, how about you?" he said quietly.
"Well, I've been alright." She paused, and again they looked at each other for a long moment, Harry wrenching his eyes away to look out of the window. "I err... split up with Michael..." She looked up at Harry.
"Oh." Harry felt stupid for not being able to say more, but he didn't know what he felt about Cho anymore at all. He was over her, he thought, and that he was still just a bit upset from thinking about Sirius.
"Is that... all you think about it?" Cho asked tentatively. Her tone was not accusing or shrill, but cautious and disappointed. "So you don't think we..." she trailed off, blushing furiously, but both knew what she was trying to say.
"I don't know," said Harry simply. "I really don't. I'm sorry. I'll err... think about it..." he said inconclusively. "I'll see you soon." And with a small, forced smile, he strode quickly out of the Owlery.
Deciding it would be quicker to go straight to breakfast and then go and collect his school stuff, Harry headed left down the stairs, and into the great hall. It was almost empty, except for a familiar face sat on the Slytherin table by himself eating some toast, though not really concentrating.
Harry wasn't quite sure whether to speak to Malfoy or not, who looked up, looked for a moment as if he were about to say something, but then changed his mind and forced some more toast into his mouth.
"Thanks would do," muttered Harry quietly. Malfoy heard. He looked straight up at Harry, his eyes narrow, and his face chalk white. He said something indistinguishable into the table, before getting up and leaving. Harry thought he knew what Malfoy had said and, contentedly, he made his way up to a small pile of timetables at the far end of the table. Rifling through the sixth year names, he picked out his own and sat down, helped himself to some bacon and eggs, before reading his timetable. DATDA, Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms
Monday: Am; Defence against the dark arts, Charms Pm; Transfiguration, Herbology.
Tuesday; Am; Double Potions Pm; Herbology, Potions
Wednesday; Am; Potions, Transfiguration Pm; Herbology, Defence against the Dark arts.
Thursday; Am; Transfiguration, Charms Pm; Double Defence against the Dark arts.
Friday Am; Charms, Herbology Pm; Charms, Transfiguration.
Harry looked at the calendar on the wall. Today was Thursday. He was thankful that it wasn't Tuesday, he had almost been sick upon seeing that day, three potions lessons? Swallowing the rest of his bacon, he grabbed Ron and Hermione's timetables, and headed up to the Gryffindor tower to show them.
*
It transpired that the three of them all had Transfiguration together, and they made their way downstairs, discussing and comparing their timetables. Although Ron and Harry did some of the same subjects, Ron shared none of his classes with Harry or Hermione, (apart from Transfiguration and Charms), who were together for all Harry's subjects, although Hermione had some evening lessons so as to include Arithmancy.
They walked into class together, and found some seats at the back, as Professor McGonagall gave the usual talk about N.E.W.Ts, and what would be expected of them throughout the year ahead, and the final exam year. Harry supposed that he would be in for a lot of talks like this, but he listened with interest to the descriptions of transfiguring large animals into other large animals, transfiguring other humans into objects, and into making objects move and obey instructions.
At the end of the lesson, (or lecture as Ron called it), the three of them headed up to the front of the class to talk to Professor McGonagall about becoming Animagi. She answered their question before they asked.
"Yes, I have spoken to Professor Dumbledore, and he told me what he had suggested." She looked at the three of them before continuing. "I will teach you the spell and process of becoming an Animagi. However I must wait for a certain potion first, and so I will start teaching you next month."
All three of them left the room with excited looks on their faces, none more so than Hermione.
"You do know what the potion is don't you?" she said excitedly. Harry and Ron both shook their heads bemusedly, and so she continued, laughing now. "Its called the Aniservian charm, and it means that Professor McGonagall will be able to see which animals we will transfigure into!"
"You mean... we don't get to choose?" said Harry slowly.
"No!" chortled Hermione, but she soon stopped her giggling. "Did you really think we got to choose?" Harry hung his head, how was he supposed to know that? He felt stupid all the same, and carried on without talking for a while. Hermione took charge of cheering him up.
"I wouldn't worry though, the animal you become shows your true soul, and so you will be most contented with that animal." This did cheer Harry up, and he remained in a fairly good mood throughout charms where, proving Harry right, the class received a talk about N.E.W.Ts, and Professor Flitwick told them the sorts of charms they would be learning. Harry thought that the Videlius charm, a charm to see through walls or other inanimate objects without being seen, sounded very useful, although very complicated, as it involved stretching your mind through that structure. The structure could not be moving at all however. However, by the end of the lesson, Harry had practically forgotten the name of the charm, and was almost falling asleep. Indeed, Hermione seemed the only one to still be drinking in the Professors words in absolute fascination, her face alight with a fierce desire for more knowledge, raptly to attention as if nothing else mattered.
She was buzzing as they left the lesson and spouting already what she knew about some of the charms, (some of which, like the Protean charm, she could already do), and which ones she most wanted to learn. Ron and Harry spent most of their lunchtime finding innovative ways of using food to put Hermione off her talking, and soon found the most effective was to flick bits of food into her mouth as she was talking rapidly. One time however, she started choking, and only after Harry had had to hit her quite hard on the back to get it out did she berate Ron for his foolishness, not to mention the fact that he hadn't stopped laughing to help Harry. Harry laughed at this, and soon all three were laughing childishly. Harry consulted his timetable.
"Double defence this afternoon Hermione." He was happy about this, he had always done quite well at defence, and also he wanted to see Mr Diggory, and how good he was at teaching. Ron however, stalked off with Dean to Care of Magical Creatures, as that class had Defence at a different time to Harry's class.
Harry and Hermione left the hall in the opposite direction heading, not down the front steps to Hagrid's hut, but to their defence classroom. They entered the room to find that most of their class were those who had made it into potions with them, which were mainly Ravenclaws. Harry however, spotted Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff, and he took a seat alongside him, with Hermione on his other side. Ernie greeted him, but Harry had no time to respond, as Professor Diggory strode into the room.
"Good afternoon class!" he said jovially. "May I first take this opportunity to say how honoured I am to take this job, especially in such dark times as these. We will be working on deflection and protection spells, as well as some other useful spells for in the field." He paused for a moment. "As you know, I am Professor Diggory, and with a class as old as this one I'm sure you are aware as to how personal this is for me... so I won't spare you with the story I'm sure you have all heard."
Harry sat back, shocked. He had quite easily understood how personal it must have been for Mr Diggory, but he hadn't expected to his new teacher to be so forthcoming about it. Hermione also seemed a little shocked, and she frowned at Harry who shrugged back.
After that, the lesson went well. Professor Diggory gave a much shorter talk about N.E.W.Ts then the other teachers had so far, and Harry supposed this was because this subject was more importantly about being able to defend yourself in the current crisis. Quite soon, Professor Diggory paired off the class for a quick practise of stunning, disarming and shielding spells. The D.A were all excellent, and in the last quarter of an hour, Professor Diggory set up a duelling tournament, with the first to be stunned losing, although other spells were allowed. Harry won through to the final, where he faced Hermione. The rest of the class were watching in anticipation at the brightest girl in the year taking on the boy who lived.
Harry won in the end. After ducking Hermione's first disarming attempt and shielding her second, he used the Reductor curse to destroy the chair behind Hermione This distracted her, and he quickly stunned her backwards into the pile of cushions set up for the tournament, which was now covered in the remnants of the chair. Harry quickly went over to revive her, while the class applauded. Hermione came around quickly, feeling fine but more than a little disgruntled.
As they walked into the entrance hall Hermione hugged Harry, who had been convinced that Hermione was in a really bad mood with him. Ron walked in at that moment and quickly made his way up the stairs before Harry or Hermione, (who had let each other go), could say anything. Harry and Hermione exchanged a confused glance before rapidly following up the stairs.
"So we're going to become Animagi? Cool!" said Ron enthusiastically half an hour later, after Harry had brought Hermione and Ron up to speed on the talk with Dumbledore.
"I was going to suggest this year that we learnt anyway," said Hermione matter-of-factly, "and I agree that we should talk to Professor McGonagall. With a teacher on our side, then we should learn a lot faster then," (she smiled slightly), "the original Marauders."
Harry nodded with a small smile. "Does this make us the next generation of Marauders?" Ron laughed, and Hermione grinned as if she had been complimented. Harry took this as a yes.
"I'm tired, I think I'll go upstairs." Harry turned from the other two who were muttering something about going up also, as Harry ascended the stairs wearily, up to the sixth year boys dormitory.
There was no one else in the dormitory as he entered, although Harry could see Dean's posters tacked up already, and so he knew that the others had at least been up here. He shut the room from view as he drew his own hangings closed around the bed, and was soon fast asleep.
*
The next morning Harry woke before the other boys, so he decided he would go early and send an owl to Fred and George, to see how they were and how business was. As he walked through the quiet castle, the early September sun still low in a light blue sky, he thought about how different it had been since he had last been here. He didn't want to think about Sirius now, but he couldn't stop himself, and was quite upset as he climbed the final steps to the owlery, although he was definitely better then he had been for the few days after Sirius' death.
The Owlery was empty, and Harry quietly marvelled at how the owls had already caused such a bad mess, not to mention smell. There were fewer owls then usual, and Harry supposed that some were still returning from their night hunts. Calling Hedwig down, he quickly wrote a short message to the twins.
"Dear Fred and George,
Hello! How are you doing? How is my business investment doing? How is your dad settling in to his job? I hope you are all ok.
It is the morning after the sorting, and I am up early, and needed a walk. We're getting our timetables later this morning, with only five subjects, could provide some interesting double lessons!
Hope you are well,
Harry."
He watched Hedwig fly off over the forest, and was turning to leave when the Owlery door opened, and in stepped Cho Chang.
She looked slightly diminished as to when he had last seen her, and Harry was unsure as to how awkward it would be. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Cho came over and hugged Harry.
"How are you Harry?" she said nervously, and Harry, who had been unsure as of what to do and was vaguely wondering what to do with arms, suddenly snapped back into gear, and he hugged her back before replying.
"I've been ok, how about you?" he said quietly.
"Well, I've been alright." She paused, and again they looked at each other for a long moment, Harry wrenching his eyes away to look out of the window. "I err... split up with Michael..." She looked up at Harry.
"Oh." Harry felt stupid for not being able to say more, but he didn't know what he felt about Cho anymore at all. He was over her, he thought, and that he was still just a bit upset from thinking about Sirius.
"Is that... all you think about it?" Cho asked tentatively. Her tone was not accusing or shrill, but cautious and disappointed. "So you don't think we..." she trailed off, blushing furiously, but both knew what she was trying to say.
"I don't know," said Harry simply. "I really don't. I'm sorry. I'll err... think about it..." he said inconclusively. "I'll see you soon." And with a small, forced smile, he strode quickly out of the Owlery.
Deciding it would be quicker to go straight to breakfast and then go and collect his school stuff, Harry headed left down the stairs, and into the great hall. It was almost empty, except for a familiar face sat on the Slytherin table by himself eating some toast, though not really concentrating.
Harry wasn't quite sure whether to speak to Malfoy or not, who looked up, looked for a moment as if he were about to say something, but then changed his mind and forced some more toast into his mouth.
"Thanks would do," muttered Harry quietly. Malfoy heard. He looked straight up at Harry, his eyes narrow, and his face chalk white. He said something indistinguishable into the table, before getting up and leaving. Harry thought he knew what Malfoy had said and, contentedly, he made his way up to a small pile of timetables at the far end of the table. Rifling through the sixth year names, he picked out his own and sat down, helped himself to some bacon and eggs, before reading his timetable. DATDA, Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms
Monday: Am; Defence against the dark arts, Charms Pm; Transfiguration, Herbology.
Tuesday; Am; Double Potions Pm; Herbology, Potions
Wednesday; Am; Potions, Transfiguration Pm; Herbology, Defence against the Dark arts.
Thursday; Am; Transfiguration, Charms Pm; Double Defence against the Dark arts.
Friday Am; Charms, Herbology Pm; Charms, Transfiguration.
Harry looked at the calendar on the wall. Today was Thursday. He was thankful that it wasn't Tuesday, he had almost been sick upon seeing that day, three potions lessons? Swallowing the rest of his bacon, he grabbed Ron and Hermione's timetables, and headed up to the Gryffindor tower to show them.
*
It transpired that the three of them all had Transfiguration together, and they made their way downstairs, discussing and comparing their timetables. Although Ron and Harry did some of the same subjects, Ron shared none of his classes with Harry or Hermione, (apart from Transfiguration and Charms), who were together for all Harry's subjects, although Hermione had some evening lessons so as to include Arithmancy.
They walked into class together, and found some seats at the back, as Professor McGonagall gave the usual talk about N.E.W.Ts, and what would be expected of them throughout the year ahead, and the final exam year. Harry supposed that he would be in for a lot of talks like this, but he listened with interest to the descriptions of transfiguring large animals into other large animals, transfiguring other humans into objects, and into making objects move and obey instructions.
At the end of the lesson, (or lecture as Ron called it), the three of them headed up to the front of the class to talk to Professor McGonagall about becoming Animagi. She answered their question before they asked.
"Yes, I have spoken to Professor Dumbledore, and he told me what he had suggested." She looked at the three of them before continuing. "I will teach you the spell and process of becoming an Animagi. However I must wait for a certain potion first, and so I will start teaching you next month."
All three of them left the room with excited looks on their faces, none more so than Hermione.
"You do know what the potion is don't you?" she said excitedly. Harry and Ron both shook their heads bemusedly, and so she continued, laughing now. "Its called the Aniservian charm, and it means that Professor McGonagall will be able to see which animals we will transfigure into!"
"You mean... we don't get to choose?" said Harry slowly.
"No!" chortled Hermione, but she soon stopped her giggling. "Did you really think we got to choose?" Harry hung his head, how was he supposed to know that? He felt stupid all the same, and carried on without talking for a while. Hermione took charge of cheering him up.
"I wouldn't worry though, the animal you become shows your true soul, and so you will be most contented with that animal." This did cheer Harry up, and he remained in a fairly good mood throughout charms where, proving Harry right, the class received a talk about N.E.W.Ts, and Professor Flitwick told them the sorts of charms they would be learning. Harry thought that the Videlius charm, a charm to see through walls or other inanimate objects without being seen, sounded very useful, although very complicated, as it involved stretching your mind through that structure. The structure could not be moving at all however. However, by the end of the lesson, Harry had practically forgotten the name of the charm, and was almost falling asleep. Indeed, Hermione seemed the only one to still be drinking in the Professors words in absolute fascination, her face alight with a fierce desire for more knowledge, raptly to attention as if nothing else mattered.
She was buzzing as they left the lesson and spouting already what she knew about some of the charms, (some of which, like the Protean charm, she could already do), and which ones she most wanted to learn. Ron and Harry spent most of their lunchtime finding innovative ways of using food to put Hermione off her talking, and soon found the most effective was to flick bits of food into her mouth as she was talking rapidly. One time however, she started choking, and only after Harry had had to hit her quite hard on the back to get it out did she berate Ron for his foolishness, not to mention the fact that he hadn't stopped laughing to help Harry. Harry laughed at this, and soon all three were laughing childishly. Harry consulted his timetable.
"Double defence this afternoon Hermione." He was happy about this, he had always done quite well at defence, and also he wanted to see Mr Diggory, and how good he was at teaching. Ron however, stalked off with Dean to Care of Magical Creatures, as that class had Defence at a different time to Harry's class.
Harry and Hermione left the hall in the opposite direction heading, not down the front steps to Hagrid's hut, but to their defence classroom. They entered the room to find that most of their class were those who had made it into potions with them, which were mainly Ravenclaws. Harry however, spotted Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff, and he took a seat alongside him, with Hermione on his other side. Ernie greeted him, but Harry had no time to respond, as Professor Diggory strode into the room.
"Good afternoon class!" he said jovially. "May I first take this opportunity to say how honoured I am to take this job, especially in such dark times as these. We will be working on deflection and protection spells, as well as some other useful spells for in the field." He paused for a moment. "As you know, I am Professor Diggory, and with a class as old as this one I'm sure you are aware as to how personal this is for me... so I won't spare you with the story I'm sure you have all heard."
Harry sat back, shocked. He had quite easily understood how personal it must have been for Mr Diggory, but he hadn't expected to his new teacher to be so forthcoming about it. Hermione also seemed a little shocked, and she frowned at Harry who shrugged back.
After that, the lesson went well. Professor Diggory gave a much shorter talk about N.E.W.Ts then the other teachers had so far, and Harry supposed this was because this subject was more importantly about being able to defend yourself in the current crisis. Quite soon, Professor Diggory paired off the class for a quick practise of stunning, disarming and shielding spells. The D.A were all excellent, and in the last quarter of an hour, Professor Diggory set up a duelling tournament, with the first to be stunned losing, although other spells were allowed. Harry won through to the final, where he faced Hermione. The rest of the class were watching in anticipation at the brightest girl in the year taking on the boy who lived.
Harry won in the end. After ducking Hermione's first disarming attempt and shielding her second, he used the Reductor curse to destroy the chair behind Hermione This distracted her, and he quickly stunned her backwards into the pile of cushions set up for the tournament, which was now covered in the remnants of the chair. Harry quickly went over to revive her, while the class applauded. Hermione came around quickly, feeling fine but more than a little disgruntled.
As they walked into the entrance hall Hermione hugged Harry, who had been convinced that Hermione was in a really bad mood with him. Ron walked in at that moment and quickly made his way up the stairs before Harry or Hermione, (who had let each other go), could say anything. Harry and Hermione exchanged a confused glance before rapidly following up the stairs.
