A/N: Hello and welcome back to another chapter in this story.
This chapter is once again a bit longer, as i wanted those scenes together in one chapter, and HowInMadeHowie helped me adding some more details, so also once again he is the coauthor for this chapter. Please go to his profile and look at the storys there, maybe you find something you like too.
Now, off with you and have fun reading this chapter. Until next time
Up in his office, Dumbledore listened to the report from Cortana that she had received from Callie, on what had happened down in the third year Care of Magical Creatures class. He was unsure if it would have been too soon for Hippogriffs to be studied in the class, but as Newt was also there Dumbledore knew that nothing bad could happen. After all, Newt had grown up almost around Hippogriffs when he was a boy. Now Dumbledore had to prepare himself for the tirade the young Malfoy would try to dish out as soon he would come into his office. But while Dumbledore waited, he asked Cortana if there was any news from the Ministry.
Cortana snorted in amusement as she read the latest report from the Ministry. "As a matter of fact, yes there is. It seems that Minister Fudge is now running around in the Ministry to put out the 'fires' that were kindled by the Dementors on the train. He did not read your letter until now or any letter that was sent to him since then for that matter, just for your information. He just heard that Umbridge was being suspended and now wants to know what happened and how it happened. Oh, according to the sensors Mr. Scamander and Mr. Malfoy are now on the steps to your office, so I will leave you alone for a while." Cortana vanished from Dumbledore's glasses when there was a knock on the door.
Dumbledore sat up straight in his chair and ordered his visitor to enter, to which the door opened and Newt and Draco Malfoy, dragged behind Newt by the arm, came to his office. "Hello Albus. I have a student here who does not want to listen to Professor Hagrid." Before Newt could speak another word, it seemed that Malfoy could not hold back his vile attitude.
"That oaf is a stupid teacher; he fumbles around and cannot demand the respect a good wizard could do. And I still do not see what I did wrong in this stupid class of his." Malfoy twisted his arm out the grip of the old wizard, not thinking about what Scamander had told him while he was confronted up to the castle from the paddock, but obviously that was something he should not have done.
Scamander turned around, anger blazing in his eyes. Something that did not happen often, as the normally gentle soul worked with magical creatures daily. "Ah, I see now, it is all three things I asked what you are: suicidal, stupid and deaf. I am a witness that Professor Hagrid told you all what not to do in the presence of a Hippogriff, you even had your book open where in big letters it says 'DO NOT INSULT HIPPOGRIFFS IN ANY WAY OR FORM''! So why, do tell, did you just walk up to Buckbeak and insult him right off the bat? If you really do not take this class seriously you will not only be hurt, but you could also get yourself or someone else killed. And this is a risk I cannot allow, even if you are so stupid."
Turning back to Dumbledore, Newt had a serious tone in his voice. "Headmaster Dumbledore, I would suggest removing this idiot from Care of Magical Creatures and put him in another class. Of course, I know that his head of house would also like to have his word, but I must return to the paddock and see how the rest is doing down there. I am sure that the Hippogriffs did not hurt anyone, as the example this fool had shown must have left an impression." Scamander bowed to Dumbledore before turning around and opening the door, where Snape was waiting for his summons from the headmaster.
"Wow, you are quick Professor Snape. I guess that the headmaster already knew that I was coming up with the Malfoy boy and asked you to come? Well, I'll leave it in your hands." Scamander walked around the Potion master and down the castle, with another question in his mind.
Dumbledore greeted his Potions Master as he closed the door after Newt left his office. "Ah, Severus. I do apologize for taking you away from your class but I feel that Mr. Malfoy here has created a situation of his own making that requires attention." Dumbledore's tone was rather grave, telling Snape that Malfoy really stepped in it this time.
Snape glared at Malfoy, who gulped nervously at seeing his godfather's angry look. "Really? Do tell, Headmaster, what did Mr. Malfoy do?" Snape crossed his arms over his chest as he turned back to Dumbledore waiting for the explanation.
Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "Hagrid decided to open his first Care of Magical Creatures class with Hippogriffs. And as you know, insulting a hippogriff is something you only do if you have no care for your own safety. From what I understand Hagrid warned the students of this fact as did the class textbook. Yet, Mr. Malfoy ignored all warnings and walked up to a Hippogriff and wasted no time insulting one." Dumbledore frowned. "Curious, Newt left out how it was that Mr. Malfoy escaped injury. Care to enlighten us Mr. Malfoy?"
Malfoy, heedless of the trouble he was in, thought to try to get Potter in trouble instead. "Potter attacked me! He pushed me out of the way for no-" Malfoy's tantrum was cut off by Snape.
Snape snapped at Malfoy. "ENOUGH! You are alrighty in trouble Draco, trying to get others in for something you created is not helping your situation. The fact that Mr. Potter SAVED your life is a credit to the boy not to you." Malfoy flushed at the rebuke.
Dumbledore's brow raised in a curious look. "Indeed? Harry saved your life? Well, if he has not earned points to Gryffindor I will have to remember to reward him in the Great Hall at dinner. But the fact remains, if you can stay in Care of Magical Creatures class." Looking over to Snape Dumbledore posed the question. "I was under the impression you explained that this was a class that required students to behave responsibly and listen to the teacher."
Snape huffed in exasperation. "I did. I warned him explicitly that this was a class that had no room for fooling around or ignoring the teacher. It seems he has not learned his lesson from last term. Unless I'm mistaken Chief Wulf still has the say in how to handle Mr. Malfoy's detention. I think a week's worth would be sufficient."
Malfoy was not having it, he was not going through that muggle's mad courses again. "I will not! That is for muggles! I-"
Snape's cold voice cut Malfoy off. "Then perhaps two weeks would make you realize that your ignorance has a price. I warned you when you signed up for this class that this would be the case if you caused trouble. You couldn't even last a day!" Malfoy winced at Snape's sharp tone.
Dumbledore nodded. "Also, Newt recommended that Mr. Malfoy be removed from the class. He is concerned that Mr. Malfoy will not take it seriously and will be a danger to himself and others. Given your past history Mr. Malfoy I'm inclined to agree." Dumbledore's stern tone was a rare thing but being at the receiving end of it was not making Malfoy feel better.
Snape frowned. "He still needs two electives though. Perhaps something more benign like Muggle studies to go with his Divination."
Malfoy grimaced at the idea of taking Muggle studies but he wisely kept his mouth shut.
Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. "Very well, I will inform Professor Burbage of the change. I trust you will send an owl to his parents to inform them of the situation? I would do it myself but I fear Lucius will try to use this against Hagrid somehow if I send the letter."
Snape nodded curtly. "Fine, I'll take Mr. Malfoy here and walk him to his common room on my back to my classroom. Good afternoon Headmaster." Snape grabbed Malfoy's arm and dragged him out of the office. He was not done lecturing the fool.
Scamander soon arrived back by the paddock, where the other third years were sitting around the Hippogriffs who were laying on the ground and being worked with. He had a smile on his lips, being happy to see that the students really liked the Hippogriffs, with some of them even leaning against the flank of the creatures, when they allowed it. Some students even twirled around some feathers in their hands, either picking them off the ground or even being gifted one from a very nice Hippogriff, the one he recognized as the mate from Buckbeak. Newt looked around and soon found Harry sitting with his friends next to Buckbeak who was pushing his beak into the hands of the Slytherin girl from whom he knew she was a Greengrass. The blond hair was almost a giveaway.
Hagrid walked over to him with a grateful smile on his lips. "Thank you, Mr. Scamander, for how you handled Malfoy. To be honest, I would not have known what to do if he would be hurt by Buckbeak, but luckily Harry was close by to save him."
"Speaking of that, Professor Hagrid, I noticed that Buckbeak looked at Mr. Potter with an almost unnatural intensity. Do you know why?" Scamander looked at the half giant with curiosity, as Hagrid began to blush a bit.
"To be honest with you Mr. Scamander, I am not sure if I should tell you where Harry grew up. Please ask Professor Dumbledore the next time you see him." Hagrid turned back towards the students as he heard a small commotion in the paddock, when a Hippogriff stood back up and nudged a student to climb up its back. Both adult wizards were now smiling at the peaceful sight before them.
In the Ministry, Fudge was doing something he did not like to do, namely running around. Since he became Minister of Magic, he delegated most of his work around while getting paid and just taking visitors when he felt like it. But today, after receiving so many letters because Dementors had boarded the Hogwarts Express the previous evening, he had wondered why these letters arrived on his desk and not by his Undersecretary. After arriving at the door to her office, he saw a notice on said door that Dolores Umbridge was suspended by the order of the DMLE because of the suspicion of misuse of power.
Fudge wanted to know what really had happened and was now running towards Amelia Bones's office, ignoring the looks from the Aurors in their small cubicles. If this was an unfunded accusation, he would cut their budget even more in the next Wizengamot session. He opened the door to Amelia's office without knocking, interrupting a meeting between her and Kingsley Shacklebolt. "What is the meaning of the notice on Dolores's door? And what it this I read about Dementors on the Hogwarts Express?"
Amelia, slightly angry that the Minister seemed to have forgotten even the slightest bit of decency, turned to him and looked at him quizzically. "Minister, do you even read the letters and notes we sent you? Umbridge is under investigation for misuse of power because she had signed an arrest warrant to take a minor into custody without either you or my signature cosigning it. If you want, I have the warrant right here, brought to me by senior Auror who had accompanied her to Hogwarts. As to our regulations she was suspended until the investigation will be finished. And as for the incident with the Dementors, we also suspect her of ordering those to board the train in search of Black, even if there was not even a logical reason for him to be there. We found the form for that in her office too." She held up the parchments so Fudge could see them. It pleased her when she noticed him becoming paler at the sight of the evidence.
Fudge cleared his throat while he tried to calm himself down. Thinking about the political implications that could have followed if a Dementor would have attacked a student, he was glad that Umbridge could be held up as a scapegoat for now. "Well, seeing that I understand now why all the letters landed on my desk. I did not know that she thought that she could decide for herself in this manner, but I will see that the letters will be answered as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep up the good work Amelia." Fudge left Amelia's office and walked back to his, passing the desk from Mrs. Smith who was writing something on her desk. When he saw that it was a statement to the Daily Prophet, he asked her from where she knew what had happened.
"Well, you see Minister, while you were out of your office a reporter came by and wanted to speak with you about the Dementors that are stationed around Hogwarts and why they were on the train without any indication that they had a reason to be there. I told her that you will write a statement to the Daily Prophet. Of course, I would show you what I wrote before sending it off to the Prophet." She handed him over the parchment, where she had written that the Dementors are around Hogwarts to protect those who could not protect themselves from Black, as the security that John Wulf provided was not all powerful.
Mrs. Smith was just following orders that she had received from ONI, as they wanted to keep the Minister in the seat for a bit longer. If they had wanted, they could remove him with just a flick of the wrist, so to speak, by revealing all the bribes he had taken to favor the pureblood supremacists. There was even an investigation that Fudge even partaken in some not so savory party's and if the opposition would get wind of those, he surely would have to clean out his office before the evening. But for now, she saw him smile and told her that he could send that statement to the Daily Prophet, while he would answer the letters in his office. Mrs. Smith wondered when he would come out with those and placed it on her desk and asked her if she could write those letters too.
Back in Hogwarts, Harry was walking back up to the castle after the Care of Magical Creatures class with his friends; discussing when they should do their homework they had gotten that day. Ron was once again a bit miffed that the others wanted to work on them already, when they were not due until the next week. But he just told them that he would be in the common room and discussing with Seamus what Malfoy could receive as a punishment for disrupting the class.
Just as the group was about to enter the castle a voice called out to Harry to make him stop. "Mr. Potter, can you wait a moment? I wanted to talk with you about today's class if you don't mind." Scamander walked up behind them, showing a youthful step that someone would not expect from such an old wizard.
Harry wondered what that could be about, maybe Mr. Scamander wanted to make sure that Harry was truly unhurt thanks to his jacket. Harry said to the others that he would meet them in the common room and followed the old magizoologist and soon found himself in an empty classroom.
After Mr. Scamander had made sure that there was no one around the empty classroom who could listen in, he closed the door and placed a privacy charm on it before he turned towards Harry. "Firstly, I wanted to congratulate you on the display you had shown today and saving Mr. Malfoy. Even if he is daft, being hurt by a Hippogriff would only have resulted in the death of the magnificent creature. Now, to the real reason I wanted to talk with you Mr. Potter. I wanted to know what a young Witcher like yourself is doing in a school for witches and wizards?"
Harry looked at him with a curious glance, asking himself when he would have revealed himself to the old wizard. "Why do you think that I am a Witcher, Mr. Scamander? I mean I have read about them once when I was doing some homework for History class."
Harry heard the old wizard laugh loudly and pointed it towards the door. A light gleam could be noticed on the door, showing Harry that Mr. Scamander had taken precaution so they could speak in absolute privacy. "Please Mr. Potter, I lived long enough with all those dangerous creatures and through two wizarding wars as I would miss the small signs that you held back in your speed when Buckbeak slashed you. Even with your dragonhide jacket, the talons of a Hippogriff are sharp enough to at least cut the jacket in half. But seeing that your jacket is still in perfect condition, I would have guessed that you evaded the slash as close as possible so the others would not notice it. I even have worked with a very good Witcher once in pursuit of a beast that I wanted too safe. Your movement was too much like the Witcher as I could have mistaken it. So please, tell me who has taught you. And how do you hide your eyes? I guess you have done the ritual already?"
Harry saw that he was caught, but he did not mind as he also noticed the genuine curiosity in the old wizard's face. Harry took a deep breath and began to answer the question. "Please do not misunderstand me Mr. Scamander, I did not want to deceive you, but I was told to keep it a secret what I am or where I live except the few who know already. But seeing that you deduced at least that I am indeed a Witcher, all I can tell you is that I am a member of the Wolf school. Professor Dumbledore knows already, so you can talk with him. So, if this was all, I hope you do not mind when I go back to my friends. I need to do my homework." Harry saw Mr. Scamander smiling and nodding towards the door.
"Please, I do not mind Mr. Potter. I never had anything against Witchers as I had seen them save a creature that was falsely accused of killing someone. And I am glad that such a young Witcher as yourself only proves to me that the rumor that Witchers don't have feelings is wrong. I hope you enjoy the rest of the day and keep up with your studies." Mr. Scamander opened the door after removing the privacy charm and watched Harry walking past him and out to the Gryffindor common room to relax before dinner.
"Well Pickle, I am glad that we had the opportunity to get to know that boy. Now let's see what Albus can tell us about him." Scamander opened his pocket, where a small Bowtruckle was sitting. He smiled down on his oldest friend and then walked up to the headmaster's office.
Life at school has been peaceful since the incident in Care of Magical Creatures class on the first day, even with the Dementors patrolling the border of Hogwarts. Harry was still smiling at the punishment Malfoy had gotten, something he heard about from Daphne and Tracey while they did their homework. "Oh man, for someone like Malfoy Muggle studies must be so humiliating. How did the others from Slytherin react to it?" Susan was almost rolling on the floor with Hannah, but she managed to control herself as they were in the library.
"Well, the older students just shrugged their shoulders, as some who also took Care of Magical Creatures in their third year had to agree that Professor Hagrid brought a fresh air in the class, and together with Mr. Scamander they also learned more about things that were not written in a book, not even in his own book. Something along the line like, 'If I had published that, we would have to re-educate almost everyone in the Ministry, as I could have proven that I was correct. But for those who had to know that an Acromantula only needed to be imprinted on you so it would not eat you when it grew up while you get their poison for your potions, to those my information were almost a godsend.' And I must agree, even if Mr. Scamander would have been a good Professor, Hagrid is still youthful and can do the job for a longer time. And learning about such beautiful creatures like Hippogriffs was so much fun. So Hermione, when do you finally get over your fear of heights and climb on the back of Buckbeak? He must be losing his patience with you soon." With a grin, Daphne observed Hermione once again becoming pale and hiding her face behind a book.
Hermione spoke behind the book, so the others would not see her face heat up when she thought of how Harry looked on the back of Buckbeak. "Well, I told him that I am afraid of heights and that I needed more time to trust him to not let me fall. Maybe in another week or two I will have the courage to ride him. But let's change the subject, and I do not mean homework. As the date for our first Hogsmeade visit is now fixed, I wonder what your plan is to visit first in the village." Hermione was glad as she noticed the others brightened up and then discussed if they should go first into the sweetshop or in another establishment.
Harry wanted to see the Quidditch shop, but the girls at the table groaned at that suggestion. Harry let out a laugh at their reaction, but then there was a subject he was not prepared for that was asked by Tracey. "So, tell me Harry, do you plan to take someone with you to see something special?" Now it was the time for Susan, Daphne and Hermione to blush, as they knew what Tracey meant. Meanwhile Harry was oblivious to what she meant and just said that they could travel all in a group.
Callie facepalmed in Harry's glasses, causing the boy to lift a brow in response to that gesture.
As the week continued the day for their first Defense Against the Dark Arts was now upon the third year Gryffindor and Slytherin students. Harry thought about the last two, three if one counted Triss taking over from Lockhart, teachers in the subject. He wondered how Lupin would teach them these classes, as the door to the classroom opened. But instead of letting the students enter the classroom, Lupin told them to follow him and Triss towards another place, as today's class was more practical. As they walked through the corridors of the castle, Harry studied the new teacher in front of him.
Lupin walked with an ease through the halls as if he had an AI supporting him. Harry knew that Lupin was also once a student in this castle, so for him that was reason enough to believe that he knew those passages by heart. When they turned a corner, they met the poltergeist Peeves who was pushing something into a look on a door.
Peeves had noticed them and began his teasing of the new teacher, but when he saw Triss's red hair he moved backwards through a wall behind him. Lupin turned around with a smile. "Well, look at that. I did not know that Peeves is afraid of you Ms. Merigold. That makes things much easier for us, as I am sure that he will not disturb us in the future. Oh, all those times he floated through Herbology while I was a student here does bring back some memories. Now let us continue on our way. We will go to the teacher's lounge, as we will have our class today there."
When they arrived at the previously mentioned lounge, Lupin opened the door and let the students inside, where a single man was sitting in a chair. Snape was reading the day's Prophet and watched the students walking in behind Harry, as Lupin and Triss were still standing outside the room to lead the students in.
Snape scanned Harry with his eyes, as if he wanted to see if he was alright. Turning towards Lupin afterwards, Snape stood up and folded the newspaper before placing it on the table. "Good day Professor Lupin. I see that you want to go through with your plan to deal with the Boggart. I know that you can handle it, but i want to warn you to watch out for Longbottom, he is a bit clumsy. But I am sure that he will handle everything you need him to do. Now if you'll excuse me." Snape was now walking past them, surprise evident on Lupin's face. Harry could read in the body language of the new teacher that he was not used to being treated so humanely, that was another evidence that something was off with Lupin. Harry would observe him more when they would have their classes, just to make sure.
Lupin shook off the surprise and turned to face the class with a smile. "Ah, it seems Professor Snape has given away today's topic: Boggarts. Who can tell me what a boggart is?"
To no one's surprise, Hermiones and Harry's hands were up just after Lupin finished his question. Lupin chuckled, having heard from Triss that those two had a kind of friendly rivalry to answer the teacher's questions. He wondered what Harry would know and pointed to him to answer the question.
"A Boggart is a shapeshifting monster, as it changes into the thing someone fears the most, feeding off that fear. No one knows what it really looks like. It likes to hide itself in dark and tight spaces, just like that wardrobe over there." Harry pointed to the wardrobe he had mentioned, as it shook just a moment later. All the other students stepped back one step, while Hermione glared at Harry for stealing that point in their game.
Seeing the reaction from Hermione, Triss smiled at the sight of it. She had prepared a small shield to protect those who were not on their turn to face the Boggart. Just as she had checked that it worked properly,
Lupin smiled and nodded at Harry's answer. "Correct. But we have an advantage here though. Hermione, can you guess what it is?"
Hermione promptly answered using her logical mind. "There's too many of us to focus on, it would be confused who to target."
Lupin nodded his head in agreement. "Indeed, so I have set a spot here for whoever will face it." Lupin had explained the spell they would use against the Boggart. "Now, for the first one, I would like for Neville to come forth and stand on that marked spot. As the spell is only one part to fight a Boggart, I need you all to envision your greatest fear. Then next, think about how to make it hideous, so you have to laugh out loud after seeing it change to that picture due to the spell used. Now Neville, could you whisper to my ear what your greatest fear is? Then I could give you some hints on how to make it look funny."
Thanks to his enhanced hearing, Harry could hear that Neville was still afraid of Snape, even if it was not as strong as it was when they were in their first year. Harry also heard that Lupin told him that he should try to envision Snape in hisgrandmother's clothes, but Neville shook his head. "No, that would be demeaning, even if it is not the real Professor Snape. I'll think of something else."
After a few short moments, Neville stepped up to the marked spot with an amused glint in his eyes and lifted his wand, showing that he was ready. After Lupin opened the wardrobe with a small flick off his wand, all the other students saw Professor Snape stepping out of it.
In the back of the lounge, Malfoy was curious what would happen next. Meanwhile Neville, shaking a bit, took a deep breath and then used the spell. "RIDDIKULUS!"
After a small bang, all they could see in place of Boggart-Snape was a cloud of steam. After it lifted, they saw in his place Draco Malfoy, throwing a tantrum in a dress that could have been modern in the 17th century. Neville laughed as Malfoy stumbled mid tantrum and landed face first on the ground, which had the entire class bar Malfoy laughing in turn. As it was only the fact to change the boggart into something funny, it had not to be specifically similar to the fear that the Boggqrt visualized.
Lupin asked Neville to step back, so his classmates could also have a turn. After a Banshee being made mute, a snake tying itself into a knot and a spider losing all its legs, Lupin ended the class as the time was up. "Now, for your homework I want an essay about Boggarts, and also practice the spell so the ones who have not had a turn yet can try it themselves. Class dismissed."
In no time Lupin became a favorite especially among the third year students. Malfoy's mood has not improved since he tried to fake an arm injury days after his close call with Buckbeak. Days soon turned to weeks and before Harry and his friends knew it was time for their first Hogsmeade visit which happened to be on Halloween; something Harry still was not happy to celebrate. But maybe the visit to the village would distract him from the day his parents had died all those years ago.
As the students that wanted to visit the village walked through the doors from the castle entrance, they were checked by Filch if their names were on the list with the signed form of their parents or guardians that they could visit the village.
Harry stood next to Hermione and Ron and waited for their turn. Harry saw how Malfoy tried to push forward, but as an older student from Slytherin looked at him angrily and pushed him back. Malfoy let out another tirade like "My father hears about this!" before the older student told him off.
"Oh, for the love of Salazar, shut up Malfoy. Your father is no longer on the board of governors and as such, he no longer has any power over Hogwarts or us. So throwing around his name only shows that you should be back in the first year, as you are obviously not mature enough to stand for your own mistakes. For example, look at Greengrass. Her father is almost as rich as your family, but she never uses her name to get out of trouble or any kind of responsibility for her mistakes. So how about you try that for once and just keep quiet?" The older Slytherin's patronizing tone had several of their housemates snickering at Malfoy's reddening face,
Harry watched how Malfoy walked back into the line of waiting students, with his "'friend" standing with him. Harry noticed that Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson did not look so happy right now, Harry guessed that Malfoy had promised that he could bring them out earlier.
Ron laughed quietly enough so only Harry and Hermione would hear him at the predicament Malfoy had found himself in, but the three Gryffindors were soon in the front of the queue to be checked.
Filch looked at them with intent and then looked down on his list. "Very well, you are on the list. Now go, I have more of you to check."
Harry nodded and walked towards the carriages, where he saw that Daphne, Tracey and Susan were already waiting for them.
Susan smiled when she saw that Harry was coming to their carriage together with Hermione and Ron. "Hello to you all. Hannah and Neville have already gone on ahead to enjoy their time until we meet them in the Three Broomsticks for lunch. So, what do you say we are going as well? I am eager to see Honeyduke's for myself." The teenagers climbed inside the carriage, with Ron glaring a bit hostile towards the two Slytherin students. Harry saw that and really wished that Ron would finally cut it out, as those girls never had done something bad to him. At least Ron kept it quiet until they arrived in Hogsmeade.
Ron, being the first one to climb out of their carriage, stretched himself and walked towards the village gate. "I cannot believe that students had to walk here in the past, thankfully they got those carriages now. So, Harry, anywhere specific you want to look at?" Ron turned around to see Harry helping the girls out of the carriage; making Ron just a bit angry that he was ignored. Every time they were together with those snakes and that one 'Puff, Harry would concentrate on them and while not blatantly ignoring him. Ron wanted Harry to at least talk to him the most. After all, he was the best friend of the 'Boy-Who-Lived'.
Susan thanked Harry as she stepped away from the carriage and joined Hermione staring at the gate to the village, even if she knew some villages where magicals had some businesses in them. But standing in front of a village where the only residents living there were witches and wizards was still special for them. Susan looked over the entrance until she noticed how much Hermione was shaking in anticipation. Following her gaze, she saw why as there was a bookshop almost directly at the entrance they were standing. "Go on Hermione, we will follow you if you want." Susan smiled knowingly, remembering how Hermione acted in Kear Morhen's library.
Just after Susan had finished her sentence, the only sign that there was a young witch standing beside her before was a small cloud of dust that led to the bookshop. Susan could hear Harry and Daphne laugh from behind her. "Ah, it is always funny to see her so eager to look for a new book to read. It was almost obvious that she would go to that shop as soon as she saw the sign over the door. So, how about we go as well and see if she has already read through half of what is in there?" Harry walked up to Susan, but stopped when he heard Ron snort.
"Come on Harry, you cannot be serious. Do you really want to visit a bookshop if we have a whole library in Hogwarts? Come with me, there is the sweet shop Honeyduke's to visit and Zonko's Jokeshop is not far from here and on the way to the Three Broomsticks."
Ron walked back to Harry after he had dusted himself off but before he could come even closer to them, Harry told him that he would catch up with Ron later in the day in the shops he mentioned, as he would like to browse the different shops of Hogsmeade so he would know where to find things quickly if he needed to.
Ron now stood with an open mouth in front of the others, but he just shrugged and turned around and walked away. When he was far enough away so he could not hear them, Tracey turned to Harry and looked him straight in the eyes. "How can you still be his friend Harry? He is almost as bad as Malfoy, and the only reason he is not up there is that he does not call muggleborns by the other M-word. He is petty, attention-seeking and straight up lazy. I wonder how he passes all those exams."
Harry looked her straight in the eyes with a grin. "You mean like Crabbe and Goyle? Ron at least learns some things when he glances over to me and Hermione while we do our homework. But let's not talk about this and just enjoy this day. 5 Sickles says Hermione almost read through the whole shop by now."
"Sucker's bet Potter, and you know it." Tracey placed her hand on her hips while Daphne and Susan were giggling behind her.
"Well yes, that is the reason why I offered 5 Sickles and not 5 Galleons." Harry now walked to the bookshop while shrugging his shoulders. When he arrived in front of the bookshop, he looked through the window; he saw a happy Hermione with a big smile on her face balancing at least 5 books in her arms. The sight once again caused Harry to feel funny in his gut. 'Damn, what is this? I think I need to see Madam Pomfrey.'
For the rest of the day, Harry was used by the girls to carry their purchases. He carried the bags from the bookshop for Hermione, a small bag with writing supplies for Daphne, some clothes for Tracey and Susan and just a very small bag from the Quidditch shop with a practice snitch inside, that is designed to stay in a 2.5 meter radius around the owner. While they walked around, they decided that they could go to the sweetshop the next time they visited Hogsmeade and walked over to the Three Broomsticks.
Just as the group neared their destination a student came out of a shop suddenly causing Harry to stumble over, but Susan helped him stand up straight again. "You know, you could shrink those bags? We are in a magical village after all." Harry gave the redhead a deadpan look why no one suggested this before.
Harry wanted to facepalm but he had to remember his hands were full. In his mind he asked Callie why she did not tell him. The only answer was a giggle from his AI partner, before he placed the bags on the ground and pulled out his wand. After casting a shrinking charm on the bags, he grabbed the smaller bags and placed them in his jacket pocket. "Now, all I have to do is to make sure to not spill anything that is inside those bags. Maybe a stasis charm?" With that sorted, they walked up to the famous pub in the village. When they opened the door, the smell of cooked meat and different beverages hit their noses, with Harry scrunching his nose as his senses were more sensitive even without concentrating on them. They heard Ron calling them over and soon sat down at the table where the redhead was sitting with Hannah and Neville.
"There you are, finally. We waited for quite some time. Here, have a butterbeer." Ron placed multiple mugs in front of Harry, Hermione and Susan, but he ignored the two Slytherins at the table, even after Hannah placed the mugs for them in front of Daphne and Tracey.
Harry saw that too, now he was really getting irritated with Ron's behavior; even if it was obvious that there were enough mugs with butterbeer for them all on the table. "Ron, how often do I have to ask you why you are so mean to Daphne and Tracey? What have they done to you personally that you decided to just ignore them?"
Ron was now even angrier now then he was before when they had arrived in the village. "Why do you ask? Because they are Slytherins. All Slytherins have the potential to become dark, just because they are in that house in Hogwarts. So, I am just cautious." Ron shrugged as if he didn't see it as a big deal.
"Being cautious and mean are two different things. And just because they are in Slytherin, does not mean that they are dark. I studied with them for the last two years and several weeks into our third year, so I pride myself on knowing them well enough by now to be a good judge of character, and both girls were always nice to us or other students in Hogwarts. And believe me, while I agree with you that Malfoy is a bad example of humanity, you do not treat another witch or wizard like that only because you know him, so you know that every human being is different. But you draw the line by the house they are sorted in by a hat? Even you cannot be that daft." Harry now stood up, almost reaching into his pocket where he had his blade, but Harry knew pulling that out would be a bad idea and settled for being ready to draw his wand.
Ron's face was now almost as red as his hair, when he stood up, placed a few coins on the table and stormed out of the pub to the street. But before he reached the door, he turned around and looked at Harry, who also had turned around. "Well excuse me Harry, but I do not trust anyone from Slytherin, period. And if you believe that those two do not have an ulterior motive by befriending you, I wonder how you survived until now with your naivete. We see each other back in school, I need to get some fresh air." With those words, he left the pub now and left Harry and his friends behind.
Neville let out a breath he had held with Hannah, who was clamping onto his left arm. In his right hand he held his wand under the table, just in case Ron had tried something stupid.
Harry was now breathing hard and sat back down, when Hermione reached out to him and placed her hand on his back. "Calm down Harry please. Ron had that confrontation coming, and you knew that. He will calm down and then come crawling back to us when he cannot solve a problem on his homework. But maybe we let him stew for a few days, so he finally tries to learn?" Hermione used the most soothing voice she could muster, even if she was a bit shaken.
The magical power that had just radiated from Harry in his anger was really frightening, and she was sure if Harry would not have been so disciplined, Ron would have been thrown out the pub at least.
Daphne looked at Harry with a new admiration, her fluttering heart beating so fast it felt like it wanted to jump out. Harry just stood up for her and Tracey, even if it meant to fight against one of his best friends. After she had taken in a deep breath, she looked at Harry and thanked him for what he had done. "Thank you, Harry. It was nice to hear that from you, but I do not want that to be a burden in your house. So, if it would be easier for you to not see us as much as you did until now, we would understand." But before she could stand fully up, Harry grabbed her arm as she had sat beside him, and she was pulled back down on her seat.
"You do not need to leave Daphne, please. You are my friend, just like the rest at this table right now. Ron was a prick just now, and maybe he will calm down and apologize to us all, but until then I will be only nice enough to greet him. And don't be afraid, the others in our house are not so close minded to give me grief for being friends with a Slytherin. If you do not believe me, ask your 6-year Prefect who her boyfriend is. Now, let's enjoy the rest of the day and then return to the castle for the feast." Harry straightened back up in his seat and took the mug full of butterbeer. "Well, it is a nice flavor I have to admit."
When they were sitting in the Great Hall during the Halloween feast, Harry noticed that Ron was sitting further up the table and was still pouting in his direction while devouring his meal.
Ginny, who was sitting on the other side of the table from Harry, was glancing up to her brother and asked Harry what had happened. After some small explanation, she huffed and told him that she would ask her other brothers to speak with him, as this was just petty. "I mean, I met Astoria Greengrass today in the library, and she was just a bag full of joy in there. So, I talked with her, and we agreed to meet more often in the library to study and just talk with each other. Even Luna was smiling about making another friend, so I see how you like to be friends with Daphne."
Harry thanked her, but told her that she should not worry too much about him and Ron. If the time comes, they will speak with each other again.
After the feast was finished, the Gryffindors walked up the stairs to their common room, but when they were in the corridor that led to the portrait of the Fat Lady, there was something off as almost every Gryffindor stood in that corridor. Percy made his way through the students, asking them if all had forgotten the password. But as Harry could catch a glimpse of the portrait himself, all he saw was a slashed portrait and hearing Percy telling another student to get the headmaster, Harry asked Callie if she could ask Cortana for the video feed from the security cameras.
While they waited for Dumbledore, Harry was granted access to the video archive and saw how a big, black dog was walking through the corridors before it changed into a man, demanding entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Facial recognition came up with a name as the man turned around after slashing the portrait with a knife after he was rejected by the Fat Lady, it just stated "Sirius Black".