Harry was in a particularly good mood after he jinxed Malfoy and Hermione got Crabbe. The friends continued towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and when they entered, they saw that all of the desks were pushed to the side, and that Sirius was standing next to a huge chest. He noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione come in, then told them "We're going to be learning counter-jinxes today. We'll keep on with it for about a week, then we'll start practicing defensive charms. So much to do for many of my students, but the Fifth Years are my priority, since you lot have O.W.L.s coming up." Harry then pulled Sirius to the side to tell him something.
"I'm to take Occlumency with you this year, Sirius." Sirius looked at Harry, then a big smile split his face, as he replied "That's fine and well, but we'll have to talk later. The other students are starting to arrive." Hermione and Ron took a seat in a desk next to to Harry and Daphne, while everyone else was chatting with each other. "Hello class," Sirius told them. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I am your teacher, Professor Sirius Orion Black The Third, but you may call me Professor Black. During this year, I will mostly have practical lessons and very little homework, but I will still be challenging you in your studies since this is your O.W.L year. Any questions?" Several of the girls who were staring at Sirius dreamily, rose their hand in eagerness. Sirius pointed at Pansy, and asked "Yes, Ms. Parkinson?" Pansy asked him "How did you manage to escape from Azkaban?"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Daphne glared at her for asking that question, but before any of them could tell her off, Sirius answered "That I cannot answer. Now, does anybody have any questions regarding this class? Nobody then? Well let's get started. Today, we're going to be learning some of the more advanced counter-jinxes, so I want you all to pick a partner, and stand by one of the cushions I've laid out." With a flick of his wand, Sirius conjured many magical throw cushions on the floor. Harry and Daphne paired up obviously, while Ron and Hermione did the same. "Okay. The first counter-jinx we're going to learn is the Impediment Jinx, Impedimenta. You will take turns casting it at each other. The person who is not casting is going to run at the person casting, and the Impediment Jinx will stop them in their tracks. Whenever you are ready begin." Sirius told the whole class.
In a matter of moments, all you could hear was people casting "Impedimenta!" and bodies hitting the ground, as people were stopped in their tracks and fell forward. After a half hour, Sirius stopped the class "That was really well done, all of you. The next thing we'll learn is the Shield Charm, Protego. It creates a blue shield that will protect you from incoming spells or projectiles. A lot of you will not be able to use the charm at first, because like the Patronus Charm, it requires a great deal of concentration and skill. Also, just use Expelliarmus to try to disarm your opponent, as we don't want any accidents here. Begin." he told them. Once again, the room was filled with the sounds of bodies falling and spells being casted. Daphne casted "Expelliarmus!" at Harry, but Harry deflected it with "Protego!" sending it back towards Daphne.
Harry felt a hand grab his shoulder, and he turned around and was about to stun the person, until he saw that it was Sirius. "Good job Harry. You're doing really well." Harry replied to his godfather "I've had a great teacher. I owe it all to him." Sirius smiled and clapped Harry on the back. "You've also got a natural talent for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and that's saying something. You've seemed to inherit that from your father, along with most of his other abilities." Harry asked Sirius "What other abilities?" Sirius answered "Well, your Patronus and his are the same, you're a natural at Defense Against the Dark Arts like he was, you're an excellent Quidditch player like he was, and I'm pretty sure if you learned to become an Animagus, then you'll have the same form he took when he transformed."
Harry thought about what his godfather just told him, but he forgot he was in the middle of a lesson, so Daphne blasted him with a Disarming Jinx. He flew back two feet, and landed on the throw pillow Sirius conjured, then looked at Daphne with a look of irritation. She walked over to him, and told him "I'm sorry. I thought you were paying attention." Harry couldn't be mad at her when he stared into her sapphire blue eyes, and hugged her while saying "It's alright Daph. You didn't know." They spent all of their double period casting jinxes and shield charms, and by the time the bell rang, no one wanted to leave the classroom. "That's all for today class," Sirius told them. "The next lesson, I'm afraid isn't a practical lesson, but we'll be learning about something exciting. I can promise you that."
Everyone walked out of the classroom, but when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Daphne were about to leave, Sirius called out "Harry? May I have a word?" Harry looked at his friends and told them "I'll catch up with you guys soon. I'll be done in a few moments." Hermione, Ron, and Daphne looked at him and nodded at him. When they left the classroom, Sirius told Harry "I assume Snivellus already told you about your Occlumency lessons. I already know you've chosen me over him, and I wanted to let you know that your lessons begin on Thursday, since you have no classes on that day. Let's say about one o'clock in the evening?" Harry nodded his head, and replied "That'll be brilliant. I can't wait Sirius."
Sirius smiled at his godson, then told him "Go on now. Your friends are waiting for you, but know this, we're a proper family now so come to me when you need anything. I do mean anything Harry, especially new ways of pranking a certain blonde student whose name rhymes with 'potato'. I saw what you did to the boy, and I've got to say that if it were James and I, we would've settled for public humiliation to the highest degree, instead of knocking them unconscious." Harry smiled at Sirius, then grabbed his bag and headed out of the door. Just like Sirius said, his friends were waiting for him, and Ron was holding something that heavily resembled an Extendable Ear. "You three wouldn't have been eavesdropping on me and Sirius' conversation, would you?"
Daphne gave Harry a nervous laugh, Ron whistled inconspicuously into the air looking guilty, and Hermione was looking out of one of the many windows in Hogwarts. "God you guys. You know I would've told you, and you really didn't have to pull a Fred and George. Speaking of those two, where are they? I haven't seen them since the Start-Of-Term Feast yesterday." Finally dropping the charade of being innocent, Ron told Harry "They've been holing themselves up in Gryffindor Tower after their Charms lesson. I guess they're working on their Skiving Snackboxes." Harry asked Ron in a confused voice "What are Skiving Snackboxes?"
Hermione then told Harry rather hotly "They are sweets that make you physically ill, so that you can skip any lesson that you see as boring. Don't you dare think of buying any Harry, because you are a Prefect, and shouldn't approve such ridiculous behavior such as skipping class!" Harry then looked at Hermione in shock, then told her "Oy Hermione, calm down. I just asked what they are, not where to get them. Besides, Fred and George are probably going to make a load of money off of it." Hermione shot Harry a glare that could kill even a Basilisk, and Harry just dropped the subject of Skiving Snackboxes, along with Ron, only because Daphne knew better than to say anything on the subject. They walked outside for some fresh air, and sat at their favorite spot by the Black Lake, where they watched the giant squid swim around in the water, and a select few of brave first years, who tried to approach the giant squid.
"I think it's going to be a good year this year. I mean hopefully it will be a good year this year." Harry told the others. Daphne who had her head in Harry's lap, looked up at him and nodded her head in agreement. Hermione just started reading her Ancient Runes book, then Ron jinxed them by saying "Harry, this is us we're talking about. Something is bound to happen, we don't know when, but it's coming. Let's admit, that ever since we came to Hogwarts, we've attracted nothing but trouble in the form of: Professor Quirrell, the Basilisk, the Dementors and Sirius when he was an escaped convict, and the Triwizard Tournament." Harry knew Ron was right, but he just wanted to be hopeful for once.
"Well, if something does happen, then we'll handle it like we always do: together. Until then, I say we enjoy these peaceful days we have until the war with Voldemort begins." Harry told them. Hermione smiled behind her book, Daphne nodded her head in Harry's lap, and Ron shook his head in agreement. "That's for certain mate. We can't have you playing the hero all by yourself, now can we?" teased Ron. Harry laughed and replied "No, we can't have that. If that happens, everybody is going to be unhappy. Especially all of the Death Eaters." Everyone started laughing, but none of them noticed that Draco and his goons were walking up to Harry, except Neville Longbottom. Neville saw that Draco had his wand pulled out, so he quickly pulled out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy. He casted "Petrificus Totalus" and the spell flew at Malfoy, and hit him. Malfoy yelled when his body hit the ground, and that got Harry and the other's attention.
"Look who it is. Looks like little Malfoy was going to try to attack, but he forgot I have friends." Harry told the blonde ferret. He then looked at Neville and nodded at him. He then told him "Thanks for the help, Neville." Neville walked away, while Malfoy was trying to glare at the one who froze them. "I thought I told you to leave us alone, you slimy git." Harry told Malfoy. Malfoy mumbled what he was saying, because the Full-Body Bind Curse was still affecting him, but Harry could tell Malfoy was trying to say 'Wait until my father hears about this'. "Malfoy, you won't be able to hide behind your father forever, so stop acting like a scared little boy and fight your own battles. Besides, the way I look at, your father will be chucked in Azkaban along with his demented sister-in-law Bellatrix Lestrange, who's been there for quite awhile." Harry then turned and told his friends "Let's go guys. Crabbe and Goyle aren't going to do anything without Malfoy's orders."
Crabbe and Goyle proved Harry's point, when they stood rooted to the spot after their leader was taken out. Harry, Daphne, Ron, Hermione, and Draco walked inside of the castle, and headed to the kitchens, since they got hungry and dinner wasn't for another four hours. They went to the basement of Hogwarts to the portrait with a bowl of fruit on it. Hermione tickled the pear and it started to squirm until the portrait opened. Immediately, the House-Elves stopped everything and asked in one unified voice "Hellos, Misters and Misses. What may we's be getting you?" Harry told them "We'd like some food if it isn't too much to ask. I'd like some Chinese food, preferably: Egg Rolls, Crab Rangoons, Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, and Chow Mein." Ron told them "I'd like some Italian food. Like Pizza, Linguini, Macaroni, and Ravioli." Daphne answered "I'd like a few small Chocolate Cakes with Vanilla frosting." Hermione answered "I'd like a Baguette, a Chocolate Eclair, some Crepes, and some Bouillabaisse." The House-Elves eyes grew wide with joy when they heard their orders, and every House-Elf in the kitchen started doing different things trying to complete the order.
Dobby however, conjured a table long and wide enough for four people, and escorted Harry and the others to it. "Harry Potter sir, Dobby be's happy to serve you again. How's has you been, Harry Potter sir?" Dobby asked Harry. Harry answered "I've been good Dobby. How have you been?" Dobby replied back "I's been good, Harry Potter sir. I's been working in Hogwarts Castle, I's has." Harry smiled at the House-Elf that has been one of his friends since his Second Year, although that was all after Dobby tried to seriously injure him to keep him away from Hogwarts. It was all for a good cause, because Dobby knew about the Basilisk at Hogwarts, and the Chamber of Secrets, so he was trying to save Harry's life. About twenty minutes later, the House-Elves finished the food they made, and served it to it's rightful owner.
It was an enjoyable post-lunch snack for the group, and Ron asked for thirds after he finished his seconds. "Honestly Ron, you're going to be full for dinner later." Hermione scolded him. Daphne did the same when Harry asked for seconds. "I don't see how you two can eat that much and still be hungry." Daphne told them both. "When I was living with the Dursley's, I was always being underfed. It became a habit to eat a lot of food, a bad one but at the same time a good one." Harry explained to them. Ron told them "I don't know why I eat a lot. I guess I have a high metabolism or something, but all I know is I get full after thirds or fourths." To prove his point, he asked the House-Elves for fourths, and Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
When they were finished with their "snack", Harry went to take Daphne to the Slytherin Common Room, while Hermione and Ron went to the Gryffindor Common Room. While heading to the dungeons, Harry heard something that he heard before, and he sucked air in through his teeth while glaring at the walls. Daphne looked at Harry in worry, then carefully asked him "What's wrong Harry?" Harry stopped glaring at the walls and looked at his girlfriend, he then told her the truth "There's another Basilisk in the school. I can hear the same weird voices I heard in my Second Year. I need to go talk to Dumbledore. I'm sorry." Before Daphne could ask him what he was sorry for, Harry kissed her fully on the lips and ran towards the Grand Staircase, making his way to the Third Floor where the Headmaster's Office was.
Harry reached the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's Office within five minutes, and he was clutching his ribcage and breathing really hard when he reached the gargoyle. He told the gargoyle "I need to talk to Professor Dumbledore now. It's an emergency that concerns the students of the school, and their personal safety." The gargoyle looked at him, but wasn't really looking at him. He was getting orders from Dumbledore at that very moment, and when he was finished getting those orders, he hopped aside and let Harry up the stairs. Harry rushed into the Headmaster's Office, while forgetting to knock on the door. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the Minister of Magic standing right in front of him, along with a woman wearing an ugly pink bow in her hair that Harry saw at his hearing during the summer. "Professor, what are they doing here?" Harry asked in speculation.