Chapter 5: It's Kinda a Date

That night Harry dreamt of Sirius. He had had similar dreams before; they all started good, but they all ended with Sirius falling through the veil into oblivion.

He woke up in a cold sweat at the break of dawn, and no matter what he did, he could not get back to sleep again. He eventually stopped trying to sleep, and got up, deciding to do something exciting to take his mind off his godfather.

He wrote up a large announcement, calling for Quidditch tryouts after classes. Yes he knew he had that session with Madam Lestrange, but sorry Prof. Dumbledore, it would just have to be rescheduled.

Once finished Harry took his flier over to the noticeboard and cleared a place for it amongst the multiple offers of squashed-faced ginger kittens to good homes. However no matter what he tried he could not get his flyer to stay up.

After a few unsuccessful attempts Harry wrote up an announcement saying he wanted a ginger kitten and pinned it up. No problem this time. He took down the kitten post and made an alteration to it;

I would like to buy a kitten, please meet me after class in the Common Room.

This time when he went to pin it up the notice board seemingly refused his flier. It seemed that somehow, Harry had been barred from scheduling anything that could get him out of his counselling session.

"Fine" Harry said as he changed the date of the tryouts to tomorrow evening "I'll go see Madam Lestrange and cry on her shoulder. Happy?"

The notice board remained indifferent to Harry's outburst, leaving in a snappy mood, and sat down and read his new Quidditch strategy book, but even that didn't seem to make him feel better. It wasn't until some noisy second years came down and he was able to tell them off for being too noisy that he feel a bit relieved.

Just as he was getting near the end of an interesting chapter on Chaser formations, Ron came down, looking as irritable as Harry had felt before.

"Morning, you're up early" Harry said, noticing that still not too many people had awoken yet.

"So are you"

"Yah had another bad dream."

"Another one? A dream about You-Know-Who?"

"No. Just about Sirius."

"Oh."

"Well, are you going to tell me what's gotten you up so early?"

"I had a weird dream too."

"Really? What about?"

"Oh it's not important. Just weird. Hay, is that Advance Captain's Quidditch Guide?"

"Yah. Want to have a look at these Chaser formations?"

"Sure."

Harry laid the book down on the table and they both examined it in silence. However Ron seemed a bit distracted.

"Hey Harry" Ron asked after a while "umm…"

"Yes?"

"We're best friends, right?"

"What? Yes, of course."

"Ok good."

"Why?"

"Oh nothing. Hay what do you want to do this morning? Since we have a free period before Potions?"

"Well I've called Quidditch tryouts for tomorrow night. Want to help me plan what the hell I'm going to do?"

"Tomorrow night? Wicked."

They spent the rest of the morning planning out the tryouts; without even taking a break to go down to breakfast. Fortunately Hermione was in a nice mood and brought them up some food. However when she returned after History of Magic to drag them to Potions she didn't seem so happy. Harry couldn't blame her though; who would want to be late for potions twice in a row? He thanked her incessantly for rushing back up to the tower just to make sure that he and Ron were on time.

:Much Later:

"You really need to eat something you know" Theo heard his best friend say between mouthfuls of mashed potato. Blaise had just returned from his first lesson of magical machinery, a correspondence only course that he had to work on himself while sitting at the back of Professor Burbage's third year class.

"I am eating" Theo said, trying to remember how much of his own dinner he had actually eaten "I'm just, kinda nervous. This duel has to be perfect."

"It won't be perfect if you get distracted by an empty stomach."

"My stomach is not empty. It has butterflies"

"Hi guys" Xanthe took a seat next to them and gave Blaise a small peck on the cheek "Hi Theo, do you have a date with Hermione or something tonight?"

"What! Blaise, what have you been telling her?"

"I haven't said anything" Blaise said.

"Oh Theo, it's obvious you like her" Xanthe said "you get like, mega shy around her. I mean, you're mega shy normally, but you can't even speak to her without turning into a nervous wreck."

"I can speak to her just fine." Theo said.

"Since when?"

"On Monday they were trying to decide who was the best captain in Star Trek" Blaise said.

"Oh that's cute" Xanthe said "I felt so sorry for you last year in the DA, when you got all tongue-tied every time you tried to talk to her."

"Look don't say anything about it to her ok?" Theo said "just… don't tell her."

"Aren't you going on a date with her tonight though?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, you've been kind of distracted all day."

"I have not."

"You almost killed Su Li in Herbology because you weren't watching where you swung your shovel."

"I…, that happened less than twenty minutes ago! How did you find out about it?"

"I also heard that you accidentally made your potion and cauldron disappear this morning."

"You know, you gossip way too much."

"I think everyone has heard about the disappearing cauldron by now Theo" Blaise said "I mean, if it had exploded that would have been almost normal, but to just vanish? While making a lung clearing potion?"

"Thanks"

"Sorry. But it was pretty funny."

"Who cares" Xanthe said "old news. Now tell me all about your date with Hermione."

"It's not a date!"

"But it's something?"

"Well, we're just duelling."

"Duelling?"

"A rematch from their Defence Against the Dark Art's duel" Blaise explained.

"Ohhh… I see" She smiled

"What's that meant to mean?" Theo asked

"Oh, just that you're going to be alone together in a private classroom that has cushioned floors and – "

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL!"

"Whoa, sorry Theo, didn't mean to make you blush."

"Well… please Xanthe, don't got talking about this with the rest of the school."

"It's like you don't trust me!"

"Well you do seem to know everything that goes on around here" Blaise reminded his girlfriend

"That's because I'm social" she protested.

"Well are you being social tonight?" Blaise asked

"What's that meant to mean?"

"Well, I wanted to take you somewhere nice tonight" he explained "but if you're going to be gossiping with friends...,"

"Oh Blaise, I'd love to go somewhere nice with you" she said "but since we're already eating, I'm worried about what you're going to do with me."

"Why does everyone think I'm some sort of perv?"

"Well if my parents heard that I went off alone with a sexy boy like you after dinner I don't think they would be too impressed."

"You're worried about your parents finding out? My mother is a teacher here! Anyway, it's not like that; I just want to show you something really cool."

"Well...,"

"Come on. Theo has a date for tonight."

"It's not a date!"

"Please Xanthe"

"Alright. After we finish eating. And you better not try anything on me. We Purebloods are brought up to be proper little ladies and gentlemen. Right Theo?"

"Never in my house" Theo said "my father wasn't really that interested in teaching me how to be a gentleman. Or in being one himself."

"Well I had to endure years of etiquette lessons, with none other than Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass."

"I thought you hated every minute of it?" Blaise said.

"I did. I'm so glad that you introduced me to rock so I had something to really say 'screw you all' with."

Before he could reply, Xanthe leaned in and kissed him on the lips, and the two of them remained that way for awhile. Theo found himself wondering what it would be like to kiss Hermione like that.

Blaise had kissed three girls in total, but when he described the kisses to Theo he was rather vague, just saying that it was awesome. He had said that once he had gotten used to Xanthe's lip ring she was the best kisser he had been with, and that he had fun playing with her lip ring with his tongue. Theo wondered what kissing Hermione would be like if she had a lip ring and he could play with that.

Agrh, there's something really wrong with me he thought to himself as he watched Blaise and Xanthe come up for air, giggle, and decide to kiss again.

"Ah, Theodore" a voice behind him said "may I have a word with you?"

"Oh sure Professor Flitwick" Theo said to the short charms master "How was your weekend with Aunty Mirabel?"

"Oh yes we had a great time together." Flitwick said "but what about you? You seemed completely out of it in class yesterday."

"Sorry Professor, I had a lot on my mind."

"Oh, are you alright Theo? Getting enough sleep?"

"I'm fine. I've been sleeping pretty well lately; no nightmares in ages."

"That's good. But in that case what is bothering you?"

"Oh it's nothing."

"It's a girl" Blaise butted in.

"Hay, keep it down" Theo said, looking around to make sure no-one had heard Blaise. A few of his housemates seemed surprised to see the head of Ravenclaw at the table, but no-one seemed to be paying too much attention.

"Ah I see" Flitwick said "who's the lucky girl?"

"Well we aren't together" Theo explained "I just well, I-I k-kinda like her."

"They have a date tonight" Xanthe added.

"It's not a date!"

"Ah, I see" the professor said "well good luck Theo."

"Thanks Professor... but it still isn't a date!"

"Oh, and if you want to boost your self-confidence for this lucky lady, may I suggest you join the choir?" The teacher asked hopefully.

"Sorry Professor" Theo said "but there is no way I could do that."

Every year Flitwick tried to persuade Theo to join the choir, and ever year he was disappointed.

"Oh well" he sighed "I'll get you in one of these days. If you can sing half as well as your sister then you'll be a hit my boy. And you'll love it; it doesn't matter how shy you are."

"Sorry Professor, but I just can't sing" Theo lied, while Blaise let out a cough that sounded suspiciously like the word 'bullshit'.

"I find that rather hard to believe Theo." The professor said "anyway, I didn't say anything in class yesterday because I knew you'd get all shy, but you came top of the year in your Charms OWL. Congratulations."

"Wow, I well, Thanks."

"Alice would be very proud of you."

The two of them stayed silent after that, each trying to contain their emotions. Alice had been the first Nott in generations to be sorted into Ravenclaw, and she had been undoubtedly the brightest student in her year; as well as a member of the choir and the star Keeper of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

While she was alive she had been one of Flitwick's favourite students, and after her death the charms master had looked out for Theo; getting him help when he showed signs of trauma, and arranging temporary foster care for with his Aunt Mirabel when his father's alcoholism had passed 'acceptable' levels.

"Well you have a good time tonight" the professor said "any girl would be lucky to end up with a nice boy like you. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

Theo wished he had as much confidence in himself as Professor Flitwick did.

:not too much later:

It took Harry so long to find Madam Lestrange's room that he was almost a full ten minutes late to their first session together. The councillor had acted polite despite this, inviting him to call her 'Miss Io' and offering him a Butterbeer.

Harry was more inclined to believe Dumbledore's claim that Madam Io was of no relation to Bellatrix Lestrange now that he had met her; she looked more like Mrs. Weasley then the infamous Death Eater, with a stout figure and curly red hair. She seemed young though; younger than most of the teachers at Hogwarts at least.

The room was also not what Harry expected; it was cosy, with a warm fire burning in the heath and a nice view of the lake visible via a large window. He also noticed that there was no couch; just two armchairs.

"You aren't going to make me lay down on a couch?" Harry asked.

"If you would be more comfortable that way you can do that" Miss Io said, turning one of the armchairs into a psychiatrist couch.

"Oh no, it's alright" Harry said "I'd prefer to sit really."

Miss Io quickly turned the couch back into an armchair, and Harry sat down, taking a gulp of his butterbeer and placing it on the coffee table in front of him. That was pretty much when the friendly part of the session ended.

"So Harry" She began "tell me what's troubling you."

"Isn't that meant to be your job?" he said "Dumbledore sent me here; I don't think I need to see a shrink, but obviously you two think there's something wrong with me, so you tell me what's wrong."

"I'm not a mind-reader Harry"

"Shouldn't any kind of mind-fiddler be able to do legilimency in some form?"

"I am a Legilimens, but nowhere near as good as Professor Dumbledore or Professor Snape."

"Well then, you tell me how crazy I am."

"You aren't crazy, you just need some help."

"I've gone through some pretty bad things my whole life without help. Why do I need counselling now all of a sudden? Is it because I hurt Malfoy?"

"You should have had help earlier" Miss Io admitted "Professor Dumbledore was against it because he didn't think you should know everything. Speaking of Mr. Malfoy, why did you attack him. And it was a very violent attack."

"He was saying stuff to Blaise and Theo."

"What did he say?"

"Well… I can't really remember, but it was bad."

"If you don't even remember what he said that was so terrible, doesn't that indicate that maybe it wasn't about Blaise and Theo, but about you?"

"No, it's about Malfoy"

"Why do you and Malfoy hate each other so much?"

"Because his a bigoted git who has tried to make my life hell ever since we met."

"Why do you think he acts like that?"

"I don't know, maybe generations of inbreeding? Why does anyone become a Death Eater?"

"You really do hate Death Eaters don't you?"

"Wow, talk about stating the obvious. Does that mean you love them?"

All of a sudden, Miss Io's polite façade disappeared and she looked almost angry.

"When I was seven my father was tortured and killed for marrying and having a family with a muggleborn woman, by Death Eaters. Then I went to school just as the first war was really starting, and so many of my friends lost their families because of Death Eaters. And do you realise that a lot of the people I help have had their lives ruined by Death Eaters? No, I certainly don't love Death Eaters; I hate them as much as you. The difference is that I don't allow that hate to control my life."

"It's not controlling my life" Harry protested.

"Then why did you lash out at Draco Malfoy?"

"I told you, his a bigoted Death Eater wannabe!"

"And he has bullied you and your friends, right?"

"Yes, all the time!"

"So if he has always been acting this way, why was Monday any different?"

"Argh!"

Harry downed the rest of his batterbeer in one gulp, and resigned himself to another hour of talking in circles about Draco Malfoy.

:Meanwhile:

Theo tried to calm his nerves as he entered the classroom with Hermione. At the back of his mind a persistent voice tried to convince him that he would freeze up again, that Hermione would leave the classroom angry at him forever.

Your going to make a complete arse of yourself his doubt niggled away at him even if you don't freeze up, you'll do something stupid. Maybe you'll use a jinx on her, and then you won't be able to lift it. Or maybe you'll get hit by something bad and she'll laugh at you. Or maybe –

"Theo are you alright?" Hermione asked "you look like you're about to do some sort of hard test."

"Well, I, um… that's kind of what this is isn't it?" He asked "I mean after last time I really better not mess up."

"Oh, oh no don't worry about it" Hermione said "I was probably over-reacting before. I just hate it when people underestimate me. I know you're shy, it's ok."

"Who would ever underestimate you?" Theo asked in shock.

"Well, a lot of people seem to think that I can only do bookish stuff" she said "that I'm not good at like, putting things to good use. Like with duelling or flying."

"… Who's 'lots of people'?"

"Well, mostly Lavender and Parvati. I heard them talking about me on Monday night."

"Well, they don't know what they're talking about" Theo said "I think you've proven that during the duels. Though how anyone can think that after all you've been through with Harry, I have no idea."

"I know that" She said "but it seems that everyone thinks I just sit on the sidelines while Harry and Ron go out saving the world."

"I've never thought that" Theo said "actually, I tend to imagine you and Harry out saving the world while Weasley sits on the sidelines, but I'm sure that's not right either."

Hermione smiled and laughed, and Theo found himself smiling too. He noticed that his doubt was gone, and decided that they better start duelling before it came back again.

"Shall we start?" Theo asked, stepping into the arena.

"Of course" Hermione said as she joined him "ready to lose properly?"

"Talk about a confidence surge" he laughed "but I might win."

"I guess you might. Maybe."

They smiled to each other one more time, and then bowed, banging their heads together as they did.

"Oh no, I am so sorry."

"It's alright… I'm fine. You ok?"

"Yah, I'm alright."

"Ok, let's just move on."

They turned around and began counting out their ten steps, and Theo found the nerves returning. However this time it was a different type of nerves; the same type of excited nerves he had felt when he had gone to that Sci-fi convention with Camille and Blaise and met Patrick Stewart. He had butterflies in his stomach, and it was making him giddy.

He heard Hermione shout out ten, and quickly turned around shouting out "Stupefy!" and dodging the spell he knew would be coming.

Hermione had shouted expelliarmus and it had narrowly missed him, while she had to quickly sidestep his stunning spell.

"This is more like it Theo" she said "Petrificus Totalus!"

"Protogo!"

Theo blocked the body binding jinx just in time.

"Hay, no shields remember?"

"Oh, I thought that was just for the lesson. Sorry."

"Hay it's ok. Let's use shield spells now anyway. Should make the duel more interesting."

"Ok. Expelliarmus!"

Hermione was unable to dodge or counter the spell in time, and her wand was sent flying.

"Impedimenta!" Theo shouted, sending Hermione flying backwards and out of the arena.

"I…won?" Theo asked as Hermione picked herself up.

"Wow, you are pretty good." She said "best out of three?"

"Yah, sure."

Hermione was just able to win the next two duels. Theo was about to suggest they go best out of five, but Hermione suddenly realised the time and pointed out that they needed to get back to their Common Rooms before curfew. Theo looked at his own watch and was amazed at how quickly the time had gone by.

"I can see why Mrs. Zabini didn't want us to use protogo during the class, it just makes the duels a lot longer" He said.

"Yah" she agreed "but I like it a lot better this way. It's more like a real duel."

"And anyone who underestimates you is a bloody fool."

"Thanks Theo. And thank you for not holding back."

"That's ok. I think I would be unconscious for a week if I did."

"I don't think I'm that good" Hermione blushed "well, thank you anyway. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"Yup. Potions, Defence, and Charms together" Theo said "You aren't going to ignore me in Charms again are you?"

"Of course not" Hermione said.

"Ok, well, goodnight."

"Goodnight Theo" Hermione opened the door to leave.

"Wait!" Theo said before she left "Hermione would you umm…,"

Surely you aren't going to ruin such a good evening by telling her that you love her? His doubt resurfaced now things will be awkward between the two of you for the rest of the year. Just like it was after you made a fool of yourself and asked her out to the Yule Ball.

"Yes Theo?" She asked.

"I umm… I was wondering if you would like to do this again sometime" he said "I mean, it would be nice to have someone to practice with. I mean, if you won't be too busy of course."

"Oh, that sounds good" Hermione said "It would be nice to have a study partner who actually likes to learn for a chance."

"Yah, well I love to learn" Theo said "shall we study other subjects as well?"

"Yes please" Hermione said "I've been struggling with that Healing homework that Madam Pomfrey gave us. How are you going with it?"

"Oh I need some help with it too" Theo lied. He had actually finished it during his free period this morning, but for a chance to spend more time with Hermione, he didn't mind redoing it.

"Perfect. Want to meet up after dinner tomorrow night?"

"Yah sounds good."

"Ok, bye Theo. See you tomorrow."

"Bye Hermione."

She left, and Theo found himself alone with uncontrollable butterflies. It seemed that if anything, his little crush on Hermione Granger wasn't quite so little anymore.

:Meanwhile:

"Blaise, where are you taking me?" Xanthe asked, as Blaise led her through some deserted passageways in the dungeons.

"To the most awesome place in the entire school" he answered.

"The most awesome place in the school?" Xanthe asked "even more awesome then the Room of Requirement or the Music Hall?"

"Yup. Here we are."

They arrived at the end of a hallway, to stand before a door. It was a rather plain looking door, however pasted onto it was a poster of a man with a denim jacket and long hair.

"Hi Blaise, is this your girlfriend?" The poster asked.

"Oh my god it's him" Xanthe gasped.

"Yup" Blaise explained "He won't act much like the real thing; I just played all his albums while I waited for the life coat of paint to dry. Not sure what type of personality he'll end up with. Just that he is awesome."

"Wow. I never knew you could bring muggle posters to life. Has anyone ever done that before?"

"I'm not sure actually."

"Oi" The poster called out "are you going to introduce me or just sit around talking about me as if I wasn't here?"

"Oh Sorry dude" Blaise apologised "Dave, this is Xanthe; my lovely, sexy girlfriend. Xanthe, the one, the only, the greatest guitarist ever – "

"Seriously dude, just call me Dave. As you said, I'm not the real thing."

"You are a god!" Xanthe said to the poster "You're music is wonderful, it's gotten me through some tough times."

"Why, thank you" Dave said "I would play something for you, but unfortunately the poster Blaise used didn't have a guitar."

"Oh, that sucks. Hay, some of the portraits in the Music Hall have guitars. Maybe you can borrow one."

"Yah, I might do that. So, do you two want to go in?"

"Hell yah!" Xanthe said "If the Greatest Rock Star in the World is guarding this place, then it must be the most awesome place in the school."

"Got the password?"

"Hanger Eighteen" Blaise said.

"You got it" Dave said, as the door swang aside

"That is so awesome" Xanthe said as they stepped inside "what is this place?"

'This place', at first glance appeared to be a cross between a teenager's bedroom and a scrap yard. The main feature was a workbench, complete with a vice on one side and some sort of magical apparatus that looked to Xanthe like a death ray from a Martin Miggs comic. On top of it was a red tool box that Xanthe recognised as belonging to Blaise's father, as well as two muggle objects that Blaise had told her were called 'gameboys'.

In the furthest corner was a crate containing an assortment of mechanical parts and muggle objects, as well as a small shelve containing Blaise's Muggle Studies and Magical Machines textbooks, as well as a number of other books.

Blaise obviously hadn't finished moving in yet, but he had already hung up a few posters, and had even found an old desk and placed one of his model cars onto it.

One of the strangest things Xanthe noticed about the dungeon room though, was that instead of being lit by candles, light came from about ten enchanted lava lamps that Blaise had made last year. At the moment they provided normal white light, but Xanthe knew that if she touched one, she could say any colour, and it would change to it.

"This is from Professor Burbage" Blaise explained "it's a workshop; situated where Hogwart's magic is weakest so that I'll have an easier time working with muggle electronics."

"Muggle electronics work here?"

"Well they don't work here, but they will be a bit easier to control" He explained "now I'll be able to make all sorts of things."

"Isn't it a bit dangerous to be locked away in a secluded part of the school while working with muggle technologies?" Xanthe asked.

"At the moment it is" Blaise admitted "but this weekend the Ministry is going to make a rescue-portkey that will take me straight to the Hospital Wing if I bleed or lose consciousness."

"That's good."

"Yah… of course it works if I just touch it too. I wonder if Madam Pomfrey will be upset if I use it as a shortcut to the Third Floor."

"Well I don't think she can blame you. When did you start moving into this place?"

"Just this afternoon. I wanted you to be the first person to see it."

"Wow thanks Blaise."

"I haven't been able to get my gramophone in yet, but next time we can listen to all my Slayer albums. I'll have to transfigure some beanbags too. Make it a bit more comfy."

"I can't wait!" Xanthe said, as she gave her boyfriend a big hug. Grinning from ear to ear, Blaise then went around the room, setting all the lava lamps to red, before returning to Xanthe and proceeding to snog her silly. Xanthe was so glad she had come with Blaise rather than sit around gossiping with Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

:The Next Day:

The next morning at breakfast Harry tried to put that infuriating session with Miss Io out of his mind. He dreaded the thought that he had to go see her every Wednesday night.

Unfortunately, when Hedwig delivered his Daily Prophet, it did provide a distraction; albeit an unwanted one. Death Eaters had made another attack on muggles; this time on a packed peak hour London train.

While most of the school seemed shaken up over the attack, Harry noticed that some people over at the Slytherin table were actually laughing.

"Bloody Slytherin pigs" Ron said "Over two-hundred dead and they find it funny."

They watched on in disgust as Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson and her gang, as well as some fifth years made a toast.

"Just ignore them" Hermione said "those bastards will get what's coming to them after we defeat Voldemort."

"THOSE SCUM!" Matt Powers yelled, standing up. The third year Slytherin was such a common site at the Gryffindor table that no-one tried to shoo him back to his own table. Though Harry had been tempted to when he and Dennis Creevley came up to him and started talking about how Professor Zabini used to be a duelling champion and was the 'best teacher ever'.

"Hay mate, you aren't going to go over there are you?" Dennis asked his best friend.

"Of course I am! It's gits like that who give Slytherins a bad name!"

"If Matt and Dennis go over there, we should help them" Ron said.

"If Matt and Dennis go over there, I think Malfoy will be in serious trouble" Harry said.

Before Matt and Dennis could leave the table though, three third-year Slytherins; two boys and a petit girl, arrived, looks of concern on their faces.

"Hay Matt, are you ok?" asked one of the boys "no-one in your family was hurt in that attack?"

"I doubt it" Matt said "my parents always drive to work. I got a letter from them this morning, so they should be alright."

"What about you Dennis?" the other boy asked "your family don't live in London though do they?"

"Nah, so they'll be fine" Dennis said.

Meanwhile, the girl spotted Ron and Hermione's prefect badges, and timidly approached them.

"Excuse me" she said "do you mind if we sit here; some of the older kids at our table look like they're about to start throwing hexes around."

"No piss off" Ron said.

"Of course you can" Hermione said at the same time. The Slytherins looked confused, but Matt and Dennis quickly urged them to sit down despite Ron's protests.

Harry looked away from the newcomers and examined the Slytherin table again. The first thing he saw was Blaise arguing with Malfoy's group, while Theo tried to hold him back from hexing the lot of them. Elsewhere on the table, there were more subtle signs of division, with people arguing amongst each other, and many people moving to one of the far ends of the table, or to other tables.

"I think it's going to be a strange day" Hermione said "This sort of thing has been brewing for years. I just hope we don't wind up with some sort of civil war in the hallways."

"I just hope that those Slytherins don't do anything too crazy" Ron said "It would suck if everyone got sidetracked and forgot about the Quidditch tryouts tonight."

Harry was glad that Ron had brought up the Quidditch tryouts, since he had completely forgotten himself. As Hermione said, today was going to be a strange day.