Harry sat with the Weasleys again on the Hogwarts Express. The ride was smooth with no dementors and no talk about Sirius escaping, since it didn't happen. They discussed Hogsmead. Ron was really excited about going there finally. In the middle, Draco came in with Crabbe and Goyle.

"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley," said Malfoy.

"Did you come to say congratulations?" Harry asked.

Draco sighed. "You're no fun anymore, Potter," he said.

"Sorry about that," Harry said. "We were just talking about Hogsmead. That should be fun."

The conversations continued until they reached Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore announced that Hagrid was the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Harry's first course on his first day was Divination. On his way upstairs, he warned Ron, Hermione, and Neville that Trelwaney was a fake. When Trelwaney tried to say that Harry had the grim, Harry responded that it looks exactly like his godfather. Trelwaney wasn't amused. Harry laughed when McGonagall said that he's excused from homework if he dies. At lunch, Harry kept reassuring Ron that Trelwaney doesn't know what she's talking about.

The next class was Care of Magical Creatures. When Hagrid asked if anyone opened their books, Harry raised his hand.

"I think we could learn something from how the book opens," he said. "Since you have to stroke it to get it open, I think it's a reminder that you have to be gentle with magical creatures."

Hagrid beamed. Harry volunteered to be the first one to approach a hippogriff and successfully rode Buckbeak. When he got off, he made sure to stay with Draco.

"This is very easy," Malfoy drawled.

"That's right," Harry said. "Similar to how being nice to Dobby results in Dobby being nice to you. You just need to remember to be nice to Buckbeak so he doesn't hurt you."

Draco didn't get hurt while under Harry's watchful eye, and Hagrid's first lesson was a success.

The next day in Potions, the class was making shrinking potion.

"Orange, Longbottom," said Snape, ladling some up and allowing it to splash back into the cauldron, so that everyone could see.

"Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours?"

"Excuse me, Professor," Harry interrupted. "Neville's skull is fine, but when you yell at him, you make him nervous."

"Nobody asked you, Potter," Snape snapped. "Shut your mouth."

"Please, sir," said Hermione, "please, I could help Neville put it right."

"I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville.

"She's not trying to show off, Professor," Harry said. "She's trying to help."

"One point from Gryffindor," barked Snape. "I asked you to be quiet."

"Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."

Hermione whispered instructions to Neville while the class finished their potions.

"Everyone gather 'round," said Snape, his black eyes glittering, "and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a shrinking solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned."

"Professor," Harry said, "I don't think you are being fair to Neville. I'm sure he got the potion right."

"Potter, you just lost Gryffindor five points," Snape snapped. "I asked you to be quiet."

The potion worked as expected.

"Five points from Gryffindor," said Snape, which wiped the smiles from every face. "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger."

"Professor, if you take five points for having the potion right, what would you do if it's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape barked. "I asked you to keep your mouth shut."

When they had the first Defense Against Dark Arts class of the year, the class was excited to hear they would have another practical lesson. All of Lupin's lessons were exciting, and there was no reason to expect this one to be different. They all followed him to the staff room. As Professor Lupin came in and made to close the door behind him, Snape said, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this."

Remus winked at Harry who suddenly had a coughing fit in an attempt to keep from laughing. Snape glared at Harry. At the doorway he turned on his heel and said, "You already know that this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."

"I believe you are justified in not wanting to watch," Lupin said, smiling at Harry. "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and I am sure he will perform it admirably."

The lesson continued with the introduction to boggarts. After Neville admitted he was scared of Snape, Lupin gave Harry a knowing look and went on about his grandmother's clothes. Harry tried to shake his head at Lupin, but Remus said under his breath that he deserves it. As Lupin went on about making boggarts look comical, he brought up the concern about Harry's boggart.

"My original plan was not to let Harry have a turn with the boggart," he told the class, "in order to save you from the form his boggart will take. Harry did not like this idea, so I'm am requesting that Harry go last, and that whoever wants to leave before Harry's boggart could step out of the room for a minute until it is gone. If you do stay, make sure to stay a very safe distance away from his boggart. Anyone staying in the room will be given chocolate afterwards in order to heal from the harm inflicted by this particular form."

Harry watched Professor Snape in Neville's grandmother's clothes, followed by a variety of scary, comical objects. Hermione had a turn this time, but couldn't do anything comical about Professor McGonagall telling her that she failed everything. Finally, it was Harry's turn.

"Anyone who wants to step out for a minute is excused," Lupin reminded everyone.

Neville was the only one who stepped out.

"Everyone give Harry lots of space," Lupin said. "Are you ready?'

Harry watched the dementor appear and made a patronus before it did much damage. He then said, "Riddikulus" and watched the dementor fall on its face. Lupin had Neville finish off the boggart before passing out chocolate. He rewarded points to everyone who fought the boggart with additional points for answering questions. He gave Harry five extra points for the patronus. The class was excited and cheerful as they left the classroom.