Harry sat with Neville, Luna and Ginny on the Hogwarts Express. Neville was looking for his toad, and Luna was reading the Quibbler. Around lunchtime, Ron and Hermione came into their compartment. When the train was getting closer to Hogwarts, Harry put on his robe and said he's going to visit Draco for a minute. He noticed the others giving each other strange looks, but he ignored them and went to find Draco.
Draco was sitting with Crabbe, Goyle, Blaise Zambini, and Pansy Parkingson.
"Hi, Draco," Harry said when he found their compartment.
"Are you here for what I think you're here for?" Draco asked with a big smile.
Harry nodded. Draco rolled up his sleeve, letting Harry see his arm. He pulled his sleeve back down and punched Harry hard in the stomach. Harry lost his balance and fell over. Immediately, Ron, Hermione, and Neville ran into the compartment.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked angrily.
"Harry said I could hit him if he ever starts talking like the dark lord," Draco explained.
"Not that hard!" Hermione said.
"I'm sorry," Draco said. "I guess I was showing off. I didn't mean to hurt him."
Draco and Ron helped Harry up.
"It's fine," Harry told Draco. "You just made me less likely to accuse you in the future."
Harry returned to his compartment and got off the train with his friends.
The next day, Harry and Ron signed up for the courses they need to become an auror. McGonagall was surprised they managed to get O in Potions.
"Snape tutored us," Harry said. "Otherwise we would have failed."
In the first Potions class, Snape instructed everyone the Draught of Living Death. Harry whispered to Hermione and Ron to crush the bean with the flat side of a silver dagger.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Snape told me during the summer that it releases juice better than cutting," Harry said.
"So why doesn't he tell everyone?" Hermione asked.
"He gave me some remedial potions again," Harry lied. "That was one of the tricks he told me. The other trick he mentioned for this potion is to add a clockwise stir after every seventh counterclockwise stir."
When Ron, Hermione, and Harry all had perfect potions, Snape gave each a piercing glare. Harry smiled at him and kept his mind closed, but he realized Snape could still get the information he wants from Ron and Hermione.
"Next time, keep your mouth shut," Snape told Harry fiercely, "or I'll have to deduct points for cheating."
"It wasn't cheating, professor," Harry said, "We just followed your directions."
Snape glared at him again but didn't say anything.
The day of quidditch tryouts, Harry asked Sirius if there were any dementor attacks. He was relieved when Sirius said no, and went to the tryouts. Harry announced to all those who came that they only had openings for beaters and two chasers. He saw the look of disappointment on Cormac's face and said that they also need to have some substitutes. He managed to get the same team as he had in his dream without giving Cormac a chance to try out for keeper.
Harry invited Draco to join him and his friends for their next Hogsmeade outing. He was relieved that Draco didn't have detention. It was a lively group that went to Honeydukes. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle seemed a little out of place with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, but they managed not to insult anyone. After Honeydukes, they went to the Three Broomsticks.
"Is there a way to tell if Madam Rosmerta is under an imperius curse?" Harry asked.
"Who would do that to her?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked at Draco.
"Are you accusing me?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded hesitantly. Draco rolled up his sleeve, showed Harry his arm, and pulled his sleeve down. He then shot water from his wand on Harry's head.
"Thank you," Harry said, wiping the water from his face.
"I'm confused," Ron said.
"Are you still having Tom dreams?" Hermione asked.
"Once in a while," Harry said.
"And Draco is a death eater in the dreams?" she asked again.
"I told him that anytime I ask him about a death eater activity, he should first show me he doesn't have a mark, and then he could pick my consequence as long as it doesn't involve me losing a quidditch match or anything that will really hurt me," Harry explained.
When they left the Three Broomsticks, they saw Katie and Leanne.
"Is Katie under an imperius curse?" Harry asked.
"You really need to do your occlumency more," Hermione said as Draco slapped Harry hard on the face.
Harry stood still, rubbing his cheek for a few minutes.
"Thanks," he finally said. "I think I'm back to myself now."
At the next quidditch practice, Ron messed up big time. Harry tried to stay calm. After practice, he found Hermione in the library.
"Could you do me a favor?" he asked.
"Do you need help with school work again?" she asked.
"I'm concerned about Ron," Harry said. "He's not acting like himself. He just punched someone in the mouth at practice and he keeps yelling at everyone. I tried talking to him to see what's bothering him, but he won't tell me anything. I know he likes you. Maybe if you talk to him, he'll tell you what's going on."
"I'll try," Hermione said.
"Thanks," Harry told her.
They walked to the common room together.
"Come walk with me," Hermione said to Ron. The two of them left the common room together. When they came back right before curfew, they both looked very happy.
"He should be back to himself," Hermione told Harry.
"Thank you," Harry said.
"It was just a bad case of nerves," she said.
The first game of the year was against Slytherin. Ron was much happier since he had his walk with Hermione. Draco was at the game, and Harry was determined to beat him. Smith gave a not very nice commentary. Ron did a great job blocking while directing Weasley is King. Harry got the snitch right before Draco.
"That was close," he told him.
"I thought maybe you would let me get it," Draco said.
"Sorry," Harry said. "I never let anyone else win."
Harry joined the laughter when Ginny crashed into Smith. The party in the common room was fun. Ron hung out with Hermione. Harry was relieved that he wasn't interested in Lavender.