Chapter Two:
The article in The Daily Prophet the following day mentioned Harry by name for capturing the death eater known as Barry Crouch Jr. Harry was the talk of the school come September and received congratulations from tons of students, including two female Slitherins in his year that he barely knew.
Mad-eye Moody was somehow an even better teacher in defense than Remus had been. Snape, by contrast, was worse than usual. It was as if he was trying to punish Harry for capturing a death eater.
Last year when he dropped Divination Harry had wanted to start both Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. At the time McGonnigal had allowed him to only take Runes. By the end of the year Hermione had helped him catch up in Runes
Much like how trigonometry and geometry can be taught in any order so long as both are learned before attempting calculus, Arithmancy Basics and Arithmancy Theory can really be taught in either order so long as both were learned before Advanced Arithmancy, which was the fifth year curriculum.
On the first day of the school year Harry sat waiting with Hermione and Ron in the great hall after breakfast awaiting their schedules. McGonnigal had saved him until last.
"Mr. Potter," McGonnigal said. "Last year you requested to join Arithmancy Basics over halfway through the school year and I unfortunately had to tell you no. However, as the subject material in Arithmancy Theory is quite different from Arithmancy Basics, I can allow you to join Arithmancy classes this year with your peers if you would like."
"Thank you very much, Professor," Harry said. "I would like that very much."
"In addition, your schedule allows for you to sit in the third year arithmancy class as well. If you take both at the same time you would be able to sit your O.W.L.S. with the rest of your year."
"I'll give it a try," Harry smiled. "I have Hermione to help me if needed.
"Miss Granger has a very full schedule again this year," McGonnigal informed. "However, I'm sure she can spare some of her time… to help you along," she said with a wink while putting a bit of stress on the word time. "Please, do not abuse her time Mr. Potter." Hermione knew McGonnigal was alluding to her time turner and was voicing her support to use it so long as it was to study and attend classes.
Later that day Harry found himself sitting between a couple of blonde third year girls in Arithmancy Basics waiting for the professor to appear. He kept checking his watch anxiously.
"Don't worry. My sister says professor Vector is always a few minutes late," said the girl to his left.
Harry turned to her and took in her appearance for the first time. Arithmancy class was so small that all four houses took the class in the same sitting. This girl was the only Slytherin in the room.
"Astoria Greengrass. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I know who you are of course," the short girl said, thrusting her hand out.
"Hello, Miss Greengrass," Harry said, taking her hand and shaking it. "I must say this is the kindest interaction I've ever had with a Slytherin. It's quite refreshing actually."
"A simple greeting is the nicest interaction you've had with a Slytherin?" the girl asked. "Who are you talking to? Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe?"
"That's right," Harry said, "and Draco Malfoy of course."
"Draco seems nice enough," she said. "but I'm not sure why he hangs out with those dunderheads."
"I think Malfoy's got you fooled," Harry offered. "I bet he's putting on a show because you're pretty. He's quite vile if you ask me, but let's not talk about Malfoy, Miss Greengrass."
"I'm flattered you find me attractive, Potter. I'll try not to let it go to my head. And please, call me Tori, short for Astoria," she offered.
"I called you pretty didn't I. Well, I meant it. Anyway, I'll call you Tori only if you call me Harry as well," he replied.
Harry looked around the room and realized he didn't know anyone there. A black haired girl in Gryffindor robes sitting with her friends in the other end of the room gave Harry a flirty wave. 'Yep. No clue who that is.' Harry thought.
As his finished his sweep of the room his eyes landed on the girl to his right. Harry was surprised to find the eccentrically dressed Ravenclaw witch was staring at him dreamily. Not in a lustful sort of way like the black haired girl, but in a quizzical sort of way.
"Er… Hello there…" Harry began.
"You're Harry Potter," the witch said with a wide eyed grin. Her brilliant blue eyes caught Harry's attention and he peered back deeply into them caught up in her dreamy gaze. Upon closer inspection her blue eyes had gold speckles all throughout her iris.
After a while Harry blinked and regained his composure. "I, er… yes, I am." Harry replied hesitantly. However, before he could ask the dreamy-eyed girl her name in return, Professor Vector arrived and started class.
…
Harry had arithmancy theory the next day. He was sitting beside Hermione awaiting Professor Vector's late arrival when a blond girl in Slytherin robes casually sauntered in a few minutes late and sat beside him in the only remaining chair in the room
"Tori, what are you doing here?" Harry said, turning to greet his new friend. However after a moment Harry realizes his mistake. This girl has many similar features to Astoria but it was not her.
"You've met my sister," the blond witch said, putting forward a hand to shake hands with Harry. "Daphne Greengrass. It's a pleasure. And don't worry, Mr. Potter, people mistake me and my sister for one another all the time."
"Hi, Daphne!" Hermione exclaimed. "Harry is taking Basics as well as theory to catch up for missing last year."
"That's brilliant, Harry. May I call you Harry? Please call me Daphne."
"Sure thing," Harry said. "It's funny. Your sister is the only Slytherin in Basics and you appear to be the only one in Theory."
"Most pure-bloods don't care how magic works," Daphne said. "And most Slitherins are pure bloods."
…
It was a huge surprise when students from other schools came to Hogwarts to participate in the TriWizard Tournament. Harry was genuinely glad he was too young to compete. If he could have competed, he no doubt would have had people badgering him to put his name into the Goblet of Fire.
During the tournaments welcoming feast just after dessert was served, a beautiful woman from Beauxbatons stood and made her way over to Harry. She was flanked by a few other students from her school who she was apparently friends with.
"You are 'arry Potter, zee wizard who captured zee terrorist a month ago, no?" said the gorgeous blond. The Gryffindor table grew silent as more and more people realized they had a visitor.
"Er, yeah, I'm Harry Potter, yes," Harry said, hastily putting down his fork and standing to greet the foreign witch. "With whom do I have the pleasure."
"My name is Fleur Delecor," she smiled, presenting her hand to Harry, intending to allow him to kiss it.
"Er… it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady," Harry said awkwardly. He took her hand in his and gave her a firm handshake that caught her off guard. Hermione giggled having recognized that the girl had expected a kiss on the back of the hand.
"Zee hour is late but perhaps you can show me around zee castle an' zee grounds zis weekend?" Fluer said flashing a smile and blinking much more rapidly than strictly necessary.
Harry looked over towards Ron and Hermione as if to ask permission to ditch them this coming Saturday. Ron was staring dumbfounded as if the beautiful witch had just proposed sucking him off in a hall cupboard at his earliest convenience. Hermione looked rather confused as to just what the French Witch's intent was with approaching Harry.
She quickly gave Harry a nod indicating she didn't mind him spending time this weekend making a new friend. The goal of the tournament was to make friends in other countries, was it not? Perhaps she would attempt to make friends with students from other schools this weekend as well…
Harry turned back to Fleur. "Yeah, I don't mind," he said politely.
"Zen I will see you zis Saturday," she said with a curtsy before departing with her entourage back to her seat at the Ravenclaw table.
As Harry sat down he recognized the looks on the faces of all the boys nearby. That girl was part veela he thought. Lucky I'm pretty much immune.
"Blimey, mate, why is it you always get to be the lucky one," Ron complained.
"Ron, haven't you already got a witch you're interested in?" Hermione teased.
"Oh, what's this then?" Harry grinned. "Ron, since when do you fancy someone?"
"I don't fancy no one," he said, sounding annoyed. Harry noticed as Ron's eyes darted to the Hufflepuff table… or perhaps the Slytherin one. No, couldn't be a Slytherin, what am I thinking.
"It's Hannah Abbott, isn't it?" Harry guessed. Susan and Hannah were sitting in the general direction of Ron's glance.
"Damn it, Hermione, I told you not to tell Harry," Ron complained. "Now he won't let up until I tell him who I fancy. No, Harry, I don't fancy Hannah."
"But you do fancy someone then," Harry said.
Ron sighed and gave Hermione a glare. "No," he said sharply. "Hermione started suspecting I do last year but I keep telling her she's barmy."
"Ron, I'm so sorry I said that in front of Harry after you asked me not to," Hermione said looking genuinely apologetic. "Harry, it's just a joke between Ron and me. A joke Ron doesn't find funny, actually. I was just teasing him."
Ron was sour with Hermione for the rest of the day. Harry wondered who Hermione suspected Ron of fancying and also why he hadn't caught wind of the idea until today if she'd been teasing him since last year about it. He concluded it must be someone in their muggle studies class. It was the only time they had together without him.
Last year Hermione had stormed out of Trelawney's Divination class halfway through the school year and dropped the subject completely. Harry was fiercely loyal to Hermione so he followed her and Ron had followed him. They all went to McGonnigal and told her the subject was rubbish.
Hermione's schedule went from twelve classes down to eleven when she dropped the subject, but Harry and Ron had been required to choose a replacement class. All students were required to attend nine classes at least.
Ron chose Muggle Studies thinking it would be an easy course to slack off in but he also chose it for his father's love of muggles.
Harry had no use for attending Muggle Studies and instead decided he wanted to take either ancient runes or Arithmancy. Hermione had convinced him to take both promising both him and McGonagall that she would get him caught up in both subjects in no time. McGonagall had denied the request saying he was too far behind to catch up in both subjects and that he needed to pick just one. He ended up settling on Ancient Runes.
At the time McGonagall had awkwardly told Hermione to take as much time as was needed to catch Harry up in Runes, putting a weirdly strong emphasis on the word time.
Harry had soon found out what was meant by this. Hermione shared her time turner with Harry so they had enough time to catch him up.
Dumbledore and McGonagall had given Hermione her own separate dormitory on the seventh floor about halfway between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw common rooms. She could duck into it to study or sleep for as long as needed before going back in time in order to attend whatever class needed attending. The dorm was one of many unused guest rooms and even had its own bathroom and miniature kitchen. The icebox in the kitchen always seemed to be full of food. She called these dormitory rooms her secret rooms.
For several months every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Harry and Hermione would sneak off to Hermione's secret room after breakfast where they would study, eat, and hang out all day. They would then get a shower and a full night's rest before using the time turner to go back a full day and attend all the classes they'd skipped. They continued doing this even after Harry was all caught up in Runes as it was so much fun to have every other day off of classes and just spend time together.
Harry and Hermione had very much wanted to keep the timer turner so they could continue their secret hangout sessions. Plus you never know when you might need to save a hippogryph or a convict from execution. Hermione made sure to keep an impossible schedule of eleven subjects for her fourth year as well so she could keep the artifact. They referred to their extra days in each other's company as Secret Monday, Secret Wednesday, and Secret Friday.
At first, Harry hated keeping their secret days from Ron, but after a while he really grew to enjoy them. Harry understood why Ron wasn't allowed to know about the time turner and so he kept his mouth shut. When they told him how they'd saved Buckbeak and Sirius, they'd made it sound as if Buckbeak had simply run away and that Sirius had simply broken out of Flitwick's office. In any case, by the end of third year there were no doubts about it. Ron may be his best mate, but Hermione was Harry's best friend.