Chapter 43: Speak Now/Haunted
Harry stepped out of the carriage first, conjured an umbrella to keep the rain off him and turned back to offer a hand to Hermione and Luna. Neville then stepped down to the do the same for Hannah and Susan. Harry didn't even get inside the doors before being waylaid.
"Is it true what they said?" Draco Malfoy's contemptuous voice cut through the throng of students. "You and Longbottom passed out on the train. The Boy-Who-Lived? Felled by a single Dementor. What a hero."
Malfoy laughed and led his usual posse through the doors into the entryway.
"Seriously?" A taller boy wearing Hufflepuff robes piped up. "A Dementor is enough to make Potter pass out? What an embarrassment to the Potter name."
Harry's cheeks heated up. He didn't even know the boy's name, yet he had the audacity to insult not only him but his entire family?
"Shove it, Smith," Susan said. "Take your arrogant arse elsewhere; the courtyard's too crowded as it is."
Turning back to Harry she gave him an apologetic expression.
"Sorry about him. He's Zacharias Smith. Everyone in Hufflepuff wishes he'd sod off to another place... like Mars."
In spite of his rage, Harry laughed.
"Leave them to their daft opinions," Harry turned to see Daphne walking up with Tracey, Vinny and Greg bringing up the rear. "Everyone with a brain knows Dementors bring out the worst memories. Only thing Draco would experience would be the one time his mum wasn't there to properly wipe him."
Thankful for a release of tension, Harry laughed uproariously at the image.
"Thank you, Daphne," Harry said. "Let me know when would be a good time and place to meet."
"Will do, Potter," she gave him a small smile and they headed in toward the Great Hall.
"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall spotted him and made a beeline for him. "I was told you had an issue with the Dementor on the train. Madam Pomfrey is just over here in the antechamber next to the Hall. Mr. Longbottom? Miss Lovegood? How are you feeling? Professor Lupin said your reactions were rather severe."
"I am better, professor," Luna said. "Professor Lupin gave us chocolate and Harry was very supportive. I would like to eat something soon, however."
"I am okay," Neville was still shaken. "It's not an experience I would wish to repeat, however."
"Alright," McGonagall nodded after scrutinizing them both. "Mr. Potter, if you'll follow me."
"I'll save you a seat," Hermione said as they separated. McGonagall lead him to a cozy-looking room where a frantic Madam Pomfrey was pacing.
"About time," Pomfrey said. "I received word that you collapsed on the train. How are you?"
"I am recovering," Harry said. "It wasn't pleasant but after some chocolate, I feel better."
"Chocolate," Pomfrey sounded surprised.
"Professor Lupin gave some to us on the train," Harry explained. "He said it helps."
"Thank goodness we seem to have a competent defense professor this year," Pomfrey said. "Are you feeling anything else?"
"Now that you say that my arm feels really cold from where the Dementor grabbed me," Harry flexed his left hand as he spoke.
"Wait, it touched you!?" McGonagall's face reddened. "Where?"
Harry rolled up his sleeve where a black mark in the shape of a hand was still apparent.
"According to Hermione," Harry couldn't take his eyes of the marred skin. "The Dementor was trying to drag me away before Professor Lupin and Auror Tonks drove it away."
"Dementors are some of the foulest creatures around," McGonagall said. "Their touch has been known to cause severe frostbite. If they hold on long enough, it'll cause the skin to deteriorate to the point where amputation is necessary."
Harry blanched at McGonagall's explanation and moved his right hand protectively over his left arm.
"Do not worry," Pomfrey consoled as she withdrew a container from her bag. "You will have to put this on. It is a cream made from the saliva of a Fire Crab. If you put it on nightly, you will see the skin start to heal."
"If that is all," McGonagall was forestalled by the door opening with Dumbledore on the other side. He was wearing midnight robes with stars on them. In spite of himself, Harry snorted.
"Something funny?" Dumbledore's eye twinkled as he addressed Harry.
"Have you ever seen Fantasia?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"I do make it a point to spend time in the muggle world. A wonderful film if I do say so."
"Well your robes look like the wizard in The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment," Harry chuckled.
"I guess they do. I never considered that," Dumbledore laughed as the two witches stared in amazement. "I heard from Professor Lupin you came into direct contact with a Dementor. I wanted to stop in to make sure you are okay."
"Thank you, headmaster," Harry rolled his sleeve back again. "Not too serious and I've got something from Madam Pomfrey to help."
"I am sorry you had to experience this," Dumbledore said and Harry swore he saw his eyes harden for a moment. "They will be deployed at the boundary to the grounds. I have the assurances of the Minister that is where they will stay. Minerva, please feel free to get started with the feast. I need to make a call."
Back in London, Amelia Bones was on the warpath. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors as she sped toward her destination.
"I'm sorry Madam," the woman sitting at the desk tried to forestall her. "The Minister told me not to interrupt him."
"Stow it, Miss Edgecombe," Amelia said. "Whatever the Minister is doing, it isn't more important than this. Tell Cornelius to make himself decent; I am going to be inside his office in 30 seconds.
True to her word, Amelia Bones walked through the threshold to the office 30 seconds later. Fudge was breathing hard and sweating as he rapidly closed the drawer to his desk.
"Madam Bones!" Fudge tried to sound jovial when instead he was panicking on the inside. "How may I help you?"
"I have just received a report from one of the Aurors I placed on the Hogwarts Express," Amelia withdrew a sheet of parchment. "Three Dementors searching the train, supposedly for Sirius Black. She has here two students who collapsed, at least one traumatized and the Dementors actually made physical contact with a student. That was one compartment, Cornelius.
"I told you, Cornelius," Amelia was hitting her stride. "I told you the Dementors were a bad idea. These are children! A host of children who will have no defense from them, should they decide a host of warm-bodied humans is a meal too enticing to ignore."
"I'm sure Dumbledore..." Fudge's next point was lost when the fire lit up to reveal the Hogwarts headmaster.
"Ah Madam Bones," Dumbledore addressed Amelia. "I might be too late. If my guess is correct, she is in your office for the same reason I am calling. Dementors searched the train and, in doing so, traumatized my students. Our agreement was very clear: the Dementors will not come close to any of my students. I am running a school here, not a prison."
"But Sirius-"
"-Sirius Black is a person," Amelia shot back. "He has already escaped the Dementors once and we don't know how. My aurors are not Pettigrew and the staff are all relatively skilled in combat."
"But they can't be everywhere, can they?" Fudge felt he finally had a foothold on which to stand in this argument. "There's more students than there are staff or aurors. The Dementors will stay, to help protect the students."
"If any of my students are seriously harmed by those creatures," Dumbledore said. "I will make sure everyone know where the blame for the ensuing fiasco falls. Think hard about this, Cornelius."
With that, Dumbledore vanished from the fireplace.
"I couldn't agree more," Amelia said. "I will be keeping a squad of aurors on site, both to look for Black and protect the students. Good night, Minister."
Amelia turned on her heel and stormed from the office.
"This is getting serious," Fudge slumped in his seat.
"It takes a special person to weather storms such as this," Lucius Malfoy pulled off an invisibility cloak. "You certainly have the ability to bear it. When the Dementors bring in Black, you will be vindicated. Thank you for lending me your cloak, by the way."
"You're welcome, Lucius," Fudge said as he stowed the cloak back within his desk drawer. As Minister, he was provided with a cloak, just in case someone had the idea to take his life. It came in handy, if not for the purpose it was provided. "I just wish Dumbledore could see the benefits. His students are safer with them at the castle. If not for them, Black could just wander right up to the gates, I'm sure."
"Well you just keep your resolve," Malfoy said. "You will be rewarded in the end."
"I would rather be rewarded now," Fudge glanced up at Malfoy. Malfoy snorted and withdrew a small pouch. He tossed the bag, coins clinking as he did, to Fudge. "Always a pleasure, Lucius."
"You have no idea," Malfoy smiled as he walked out of the office. He passed by Umbridge's office and mouthed the word more. She nodded and pulled a drawer open.
Up at the castle, the sorting had just wrapped up. Harry didn't pay a whole lot of attention except for when he heard the name "Greengrass" called. The girl, Astoria, was a polar opposite to what Harry assumed was her sister Daphne. She had dark hair and looked to have a boisterous amount of energy. The hat placed her in Slytherin and Harry was convinced when Astoria sat next to Daphne at the Slytherin table.
Dumbledore arrived halfway through and when the feast ended, he stood to address the students.
"To our new students, welcome and to our returning students, we have missed you," he gestured to the staff behind him. "I have a few staff changed to address. First, welcome Professor Lupin who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Look at Snape!" Ron called out as the students applauded. Harry gazed at the Potions Master and saw him giving Lupin a look reminiscent of the one he gave Harry. Even after McGonagall and Dumbledore got him to back off, Snape was still bitter to him. No longer cruel but just simply bitter.
"Also," Dumbledore cut through conversation. "Professor Kettleburn has decided to retire, preferring to take his remaining limbs to a warmer climate where he can spend his days in peace. As such, our gamekeeper Hagrid has agreed to assume the post of Care of Magical Creatures. Welcome to you, Professor Hagrid."
Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table with a smattering of polite clapping from the other students.
"Of course," Ron said. "Who else would assign a biting book."
"Look at Malfoy," Harry poked Hermione. Malfoy was sat with Nott and Parkinson. They put their heads together, muttering something to one another.
"We need to keep an eye on him," Hermione said. "The git would love nothing more than to get Hagrid fired for his first lesson."
"One last piece of business," Dumbledore continued. "As you are now aware, Hogwarts will unfortunately be playing host to the Dementors of Azkaban this year as the search for Sirius Black (his eyes flicked to Harry) is ongoing. With Black on the loose and recent werewolf attacks, I must express extreme caution to you all. A Dementor is not one to distinguish friend from foe. They know not the term mercy and if you cross them, they will not give you any warning. As for the werewolves, the wards of the castle have been upgraded to keep werewolves from accessing the grounds. For that reason, the Forbidden Forest is not a place any student should find themselves. I say that every year but it is especially true this year. Due to the wild magic within, it is impossible to ward. I will be looking to our prefects and especially our Head Boy and Girl to keep track of everyone. If you see something that is amiss, say something. Now on your notice boards, you will see all the information for Quidditch tryouts, as well as any club information. Any club that was formed last year has automatically been approved for the coming year. Now I can see your attention is focused on your warm beds and less on the old fool talking. Off to bed, pip pip!"
Languidly, the assembled students trudged toward their dormitories. Harry pulled Neville over toward the fireplace and sat him down. Curious, Lavender and Parvati joined them, along with Hermione and Luna.
"Are you okay if other people hear this?" Neville asked.
"I trust everyone here but ultimately it is up to you," Harry's green locked on to Neville's blue. Neville held his gaze for a minute before nodding. Hermione cast a few privacy spells and Harry began the story.
He watched Neville's face as he recited the prophecy that put a target on both their heads. Neville figured it out quickly how the prophecy could have applied to both of them.
"Neither can live..." Neville repeated the refrain.
"While the other survives, yes," Harry nodded. Lavender's eye widened and Parvati leaned back heavily as the weight of that line sunk in.
"Which is irrelevant, really," Luna said. "You-Know-Who's goals were juxtaposed to the values of both of your families, to a lot of our families. None of us could have really 'lived' had he remained in power. That's why we celebrate you, Harry."
"But he's gone, right?" Parvati asked.
"No," Hermione said, making every head bar Harry and Neville snap to her. "He was riding shotgun on the back of Professor Quirrell's head first year."
"That must be why he smelled so horrible," Lavender crinkled her nose at the remembered stench.
"We fought him at the end of first year," Hermione said as pieced clicked into place.
"That's why you both were in the Wing at the end of the year, wasn't it?" Parvati asked the rhetorical question.
"Yes and he's still out there, a shade of his former self but he's out there," Harry said. "One day he will return, I'm sure. And on that day, me and everyone I love will be put right in the crosshairs."
"The power he knows not," Neville recalled the line. "What do you think that might be?"
"I'm not sure. Dumbledore thinks it is love, I think it is friendship," Harry said. "Voldemort (everyone bar Hermione flinched) has followers but no friends. There's a limit to where you'll follow someone. But for me, there's nowhere I'll go where Hermione won't follow, which is valuable. Who knows, though? It could be something different altogether."
"Well whatever it is, I'll be with you," Neville shook her blonde hair ferociously. "Wherever a Potter goes, a Longbottom follows."
"And where there is a Longbottom, there will always be a Potter," Harry finished the line. It was written in his family grimoire, after all.
"I'll be there too," Luna said. "I stand for truth and justice. You-Know-Who would oppose both of those ideals."
"And we'll be there too," Lavender grabbed Parvati's hand as both nodded vigorously.
"Hopefully that's years away," Harry said. "I'm hoping to enjoy the time we have until that point, starting with this year."
"Speaking of which," Hermione pointed to Percy Weasley moving around the common room. "It's late. We should head to bed."
"Agreed," Harry said, barely restraining himself from kissing her goodnight. They parted sorrowfully and headed up their respective doorways. Keeping this secret isn't going to be easy... or fun, Harry thought as he tucked himself into bed.
Hermione had a rough time sleeping. Every time she nodded off, her dreams were filled with images of the Dementors dragging a screaming Harry out of the compartment. That he was unconscious didn't factor into her dreams as she watched Harry dragged time-after-time, each time more brutal. At last, she gave up trying to sleep, venturing down to the common room to try and read.
"Couldn't sleep?" The voice she most needed to hear spoke out. "Me either."
"I kept reliving the train ride," Hermione said. "Every time in my dreams I wasn't strong enough, quick enough and you were dragged away."
"Shh" Harry soothed, nearly sprinting to hug his girlfriend. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm here."
Silent tears fell down her cheeks as Harry held her.
"But what if they attack again," Hermione wept. "If it weren't for Tonks and Professor Lupin, we'd have been totally helpless. Next time we might not have them."
"I know. It's why I came down. Well that and my arm hurts like you wouldn't believe," Harry rubbed the spot where the Dementor touched him. "I wanted to read the book Tonks gave me on Defense to see if there was anything about Dementors and the spell they used to repel them."
"Do you think Professor Lupin would be willing to teach us?" Hermione asked, finally relaxing from her hysterics. Harry walked them over to the couch next to the dying fire. Harry laid down with his arm wrapped around Hermione.
"We could certainly ask," Harry said. "Or maybe Professor Flitwick would know?"
"That sounds good," Hermione nodded and cuddled in close to him. "Where is this book?"
Harry chuckled and summoned it to them. With one hand pinned, he held the book while Hermione turned pages. That soon became irrelevant as both sets of eyes gave in to their tiredness.
Some time later, Harry was prodded awake by Dobby.
"Excuse me, Master Harry," Dobby said. "It is almost 6. Dobby was worried you might oversleep."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry whispered before shaking the bushy mess of hair taking up residence on his left side, using his chest for a pillow. Hermione moaned as she woke.
"Good morning, girlfriend," Harry loved calling her that and, since there wasn't anyone in the common room, he was free to say it aloud.
"Good morning, boyfriend," Hermione said sleepily, a smile on her face. She gazed over her shoulder with a smile. "What time is it?"
"A little before six," Harry said. "I hope you don't mind being woken but I'm sure you'd like to get ready for today."
"Unfortunately, yes," Hermione said. "Though I do have to say you are a wonderful cure for insomnia. And an even better pillow."
"Glad to hear it," Harry chuckled and gave her a kiss that turned into a bit of a snog before Hermione suddenly pulled back.
"Ugh," she grimaced. "Morning breath and snogging; not the ideal combination."
"I'll be sure to brush my teeth then," Harry's eyes sparkled in mirth, causing her to laugh. "I'll see you back down here at 7?"
"You've got it."
"Are you ready to head down?" Harry asked when he reappeared in the common room. Hermione beamed, slipped a hand into his, threw open the portrait hole and together they headed down to the Great Hall. As they arrived at the lower level, the pulled their hands apart.
Settling down halfway along the benches, they started to serve themselves breakfast. As the rest of the student body filled out, a groggy Ron and Seamus lollygagged behind a chipper-looking Dean.
Ron brightened when he sat down across from Hermione and caught the enticing aroma of bacon. While he was serving himself a healthy portion, Professor McGonagall went down the table handing out schedules.
With gusto, Hermione grabbed hers, eagerly memorizing her schedule.
"Here you go, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "I must say I am impressed with your decision on electives. Lily would have approved greatly."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry took his schedule. "It'll be a challenge but after this summer, I think I'm ready for it."
"Now Professor Flitwick told me he would speak to you both after your first Charms class which I believe is tomorrow."
"What're you taking?" Ron asked with his mouth full of his bacon-and-egg sandwich.
"Please swallow before asking next time," Harry admonished to general appreciation of everyone nearby. "I've got Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes, of course. I also decided to pick up Arithmancy. Oh it looks like we start that today. That and Care."
"Why're you taking all the hard classes?" Ron said before catching himself and turning to Hermione. "Though mum did say I have to work harder this year. Hermione, would you be willing to help me with some homework this year, to help me improve my grades?"
Ron gave her a pleading look that, in Harry's mind, looked utterly terrible and made him uneasy. Hermione, to her credit, rolled with it in stride.
"If you've done the work ahead of time," Hermione said in a tone reminiscent of McGonagall. "Then I would be happy with look it over."
"Thanks, Hermione. You're really saving my bacon," Ron laughed at the pun he made. "Looks like I've got Divination first, all the way up in the North Tower. Would you know where that is?"
"No idea," Harry had never ventured into that part of the castle. "Ask one of the portraits for help."
"If you stick close to us," Parvati said. "We'll show you the way. We've been up there before. Nobody goes there so it's a good place for Lavender and I to work away from everyone."
Ron brightened as Harry looked onto his schedule. Used to having a single class on Friday, he was surprised to see a second class add there. They'd have Charms every Monday, Wednesday and Friday now. Transfiguration was now a double period on Tuesday with a single period on Thursday, sandwiched around Arithmancy and lunch with Herbology and Care in the afternoons.
"Well I'd like to go find the Arithmancy classroom early, if you don't mind," Hermione swung her shoulder bag around as she stood, careful not to hit anyone in the general vicinity.
"Sounds good," Harry grabbed his bag as well to follow her. Thanks to a helpful painting of Seven dwarves in a mine shaft, they soon found themselves outside of the Arithmancy classroom. Hermione pulled out their course book to reread the introduction while Harry just marveled at the castle. The classroom was on the fourth floor which they had rarely traversed.
"Good morning, Potter," Harry turned to see Daphne and Tracey walking up.
"Miss Greengrass," Harry bowed as Neville taught him to do. "Miss Davis. How are you doing today?"
"We are well," Tracey said. "Summer was good and we are looking forward to the year."
"Have you found a particular time you would like to meet?" Harry pressed the elegant blonde on setting up the meeting.
"I am free on Friday," Daphne said. "There is a meeting room on the second floor by the tapestry of the school coat of arms that would work nicely for our chat. Feel free to bring Granger with you but aside from that, I would prefer to keep what we speak of confidential."
"Sounds good, I will add you to my schedule," Harry said. Before they could talk further, the rest of the class appeared. Susan came to stand next to them while Ernie MacMillan preferred to lean into the wall a ways away. The rest of the class was made up of Ravenclaws. Lisa Turpin flicked her shoulder length honey-colored blonde hair over her shoulder as she sauntered closer and batted her eyelashes at Harry. Glad that Hermione was enamored in her book, Harry instead engaged the quiet Padma Patil whom she only knew because of her sister.
"Good morning, Miss Patil," Harry bowed to her. "How are you this morning."
"I am well, Mr. Potter," Padma said without a trace of emotion. "I have heard positive things about you and Miss Granger from my sister. I hope half of what she says is true. You know my sister; she loves to exaggerate."
"That she does," Harry laughed. "Sorry I have not properly introduced myself before now."
"Hopefully we will get to know one another better through our electives," Padma gave him her first smile, reserved as it was.
Any conversation was drowned out as a tall brunette strolled down the hall. She tapped the door to the classroom five times in three different locations to unlock it.
"Welcome everyone to Arithmancy," she addressed the assembled students. "I am Professor Vector. Everyone file in and find a seat and pull out your books. Class will begin in 60 seconds precisely."
Thinking he had encountered a woman who was 60 percent McGonagall and 40 percent Snape, Harry hastened to find a seat in the front row. Hermione slid into the seat to her right. Next to her sat Tracey and Daphne with Susan finding her seat next to Harry. Padma sat right behind Harry with the rest of the Ravenclaws who all chose to sit in the second row. Ernie was the lone person to sit in the third row.
"Good morning, class," Vector, true to her word, started lecturing precisely 60 seconds later. "As I said in the hallway, this is Arithmancy and I am Professor Vector. Arithmancy is one of the more difficult arms of magic that you can learn. It is all based on precise calculations to help witches and wizards guide themselves to the logical solution. Some of your yearmates are currently in Divination looking up at the stars and into glass balls to try to divine the future. In this class, we cannot predict what will happen anymore than they will in that class but, using Arithmancy, we will be able to tell the dates that are significant for a ritual to happen or something that is significant to you personally.
"For example, I am sorry Mister Potter but October 31," Harry flinched at the date mentioned. "It is exactly three months from your birthday and is also Samhain where the Feast of the Dead happens. Samhain, both solstices- winter and summer- and Beltane are examples of significant dates on the calendar. As three is a magical number and Samhain is a hallowed day, it would serve us to predict something significant to happen to you that day.
"Nothing is guaranteed but you can see the pattern and with the equations you will learn, you will be able to better anticipate when something significant will happen. In Arithmancy you will learn about magical numbers and how they are relevant to magic as a whole."
Vector walked to the board at the head of the classroom and started writing.
"1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13 are some examples of magically-powerful numbers," Vector said. "A lot of this is important in spell work. Somebody give me a spell."
Susan raised her hand and said "Levitation."
"Ah yes, one of the earliest spells you learned," Vector wrote out the name. "Wingadium Leviosa."
"It's Levi-O-sa, not Levio-saur" Harry whispered to Hermione who laughed in spite of herself.
"The spell in question has four syllables in each word with two parts to the wand motion," Vector said. "That's why the pronunciation is incredibly important. Even when you do spells nonverbally, in your mind you are still reciting the incantation. Another spell."
"Summoning," Harry said.
"Ah yes, not one I usually get the first day," Vector looked impressed. "Acc-io with a flick up. In this case you have two syllables with one motion. Two times one equals two and two plus one equals three. You will find magical structures within every spell. In this class you will learn how the two correlate. You will also learn about magical dates within the calendar and why they are magical."
The rest of the class had a particular focus on equations and mathematical properties. An hour later, Harry left the classroom an hour later with his brain hurting. There were so many numbers and equations and probabilities, it gave him a headache. Meanwhile, Hermione seemed alight with energy. Harry was still processing the class so intensely, he never noticed the somber mood of the other Gryffindors who arrived. Transfiguration was with Hufflepuff with Susan joined by a paler than normal Hannah.
"What's the matter?" Susan said. Hannah looked from Harry to the pale Neville who sat down heavily next to Hermione. She shook her head and continued to stare forward.
McGonagall went on to give her usual speech regarding Animagus transformations as they were set to begin the year on animate to inanimate transfiguration, the next level on the complexity of Transfiguration since you have to envision the way the item looks before and how that will have to transform to fit. She warned them about a misstep in the mice-to-snuffbox transfiguration where the student failed to properly take this into account and the internal organs were still there when they opened the box itself.
She then offset her lecture by transforming into her cat form and back into human again.
"What is up with you?" She wondered aloud. "This class has never been this quiet and this is the first time you've not applauded that particular transformation."
"Sorry professor," Lavender said. "We've just come from Divination."
"Ah, I see," McGonagall rubbed her temples at the thought of the irritating gypsy she was forced to call a colleague. "Who is it this year?"
"Pardon?" Harry thrust his Arithmancy lesson into the back of his head to focus on the here and now.
"Which of you is supposed to die," McGonagall said.
"Me," Neville said. "And, apparently, Harry."
Harry, Hermione and even McGonagall startled at that.
"We were doing tea leaves and she saw the Grim and two sevens in my cup," Neville said, not looking up from the blank sheet of parchment he was supposed to be transcribing notes onto. "She told me that there was a 'grim future for those born in the seventh month. That's me... and Harry."
"I hate to break whatever spell she has on you," McGonagall said. "But Professor Trelawney has been teaching her for 15 years. Every year she introduces herself to her class by claiming one of her students will die. She has yet to be correct. But if it is still making you uneasy, rest assured that if you die, I will not expect you to turn in the homework I assign."
"Oh that's a relief," Harry said. "Though if I didn't turn in a piece of homework, I'd expect Hermione to dig me up and revive me just long enough to turn it in, I assure you."
Hermione yelped and glared at his attempt at dark humor.
"20 points for delving into Necromancy to assure Mr. Potter doesn't fail," the corner of the stern professor's mouth flicked up. That cut the tension as the rest of the class started to chuckle to which Dean added "Weekend at Bernie's, Hogwarts Edition."
The purebloods were too far gone on the first joke to worry about the second one yet Dean's joke made Hermione snort which started a whole new wave of laughter.
"10 points for alleviating the tension, Mr. Thomas," McGonagall said. "Now back to the assignment at hand.
A while later, the class filed out and Ron cornered them.
"So you guys haven't seen the Grim, have you?"
"What's the Grim?" Harry asked as the group walked toward lunch.
"A big, mangy dog," Neville said. "Purported to be harbinger of death to come."
"Well we saw a big dog in our park this summer," Hermione said to general gasps. "He was cute, really playful and everything."
"But that's... that's bad," Ron said. "Everyone who sees the Grim dies shortly thereafter."
"No idea on the timing but we're both still fine," Harry said plainly, his stomach grumbling the closer they got to the Great Hall.
"But everyone who sees the Grim dies," Ron said.
"Everyone dies, Ron," Hermione reasoned. "It's the just manner and time that is different."
"This is serious, Hermione," Ron argued back. "My uncle Bilius saw the Grim and died a week later."
"That's either a major coincidence or a self-fulfilling prophecy," Neville flinched at Hermione's phrase.
"It doesn't matter, Ron," Harry said. "I'm not going to let some tea leaves dictate how I'm going to live my life. If I die, tomorrow then I am going to enjoy life as long as I can, okay?"
"If you ask me, Divination sounds like a wooly subject," Hermione said haughtily. They finally arrived at the Great Hall with the smells of hot soup beckoning them. Harry wouldn't have been surprised if he were floating, nose-first, to the table like in the cartoons. "I'm so glad I didn't end up taking it, thank you for talking me out of it, Harry. I much prefer our Arithmancy lesson. Didn't you think it was fascinating how she went into the different equations to explain how spells are created?"
"Yes but it was also very confusing," Harry said. "I feel like my brain is tired from trying to comprehend it all."
"But by learning it, you learn why each spell is constructed the way it is," Hermione said eagerly. "It opens up so many different opportunities to understand the magical world."
Harry laughed at his girlfriend, how her eyes lit up with the possibilities Arithmancy offered. He turned back to Neville who still seemed off.
"What's going on, Neville?" Harry asked.
"But what about the prophecy," Neville dropped his voice just above a whisper. "Neither can live…"
"I can understand," Harry said. "Now that you know that prophecies are real, you're wondering if every spoken word in Divination is truth. According to Dumbledore himself, prophecies are few and far between with a lot of them being vague. Don't let the prospect of a grim future keep you from experiencing a full life. Now eat up; you'll need your energy for Herbology."
At the mention of his favorite subject, Neville brightened. Harry dug into his lunch, wondering what the rest of this day would bring.
(A/N: Oh I'm loving the corrupt Fudge so much and I'm meticulously planning how this is all going to end for him, for Umbridge and for Malfoy. As for why Dumbledore can call right in to the minister's office: remember that Fudge used to lean on Dumbledore's advice for a while there, giving Dumbledore carte blanche to call whenever and Fudge obviously forgot that)
Chapter 45: Fly Like an Eagle
After a toasted cheese sandwich and bowl of tomato soup, Harry was revved up and ready for the afternoon outside. Lucky for him as they were introduced to Venomous Tentacula which appeared to love Harry's arms. It wasn't like Harry was poor at Herbology, he just didn't care much for it, nor was he great. Thanks to Neville Harry was kept from visiting the Hospital Wing, as they wrestled with the venomous vines that were apparently cousins with Devil's Snare.
"You doing okay, Harry?" Hermione asked as Harry fought with a particularly fierce vine.
"I'm just having flashbacks to the musical you showed me," Harry said. "I'm wondering if this plant showed up after a solar eclipse because this mean, green mother just seems out for my blood."
"You just need to know how to pacify it," Neville stroked the vine in the right place to relax it as Hermione laughed at Harry's comparison.
Washing up after their battle with the plant, Harry led the trio toward the enclosures at the back of the castle where the Care classes were held. Standing next to them was Hagrid, beaming at the trio approaching.
"Good afternoon, Professor," Harry put special weight on the title, making Hagrid beam.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter," Hagrid returned the greeting. Looking up, he saw the rest of the class walking up. "Everyone gather close now. I got summat special for yer today."
Harry looked around to see who else was in the class. He spotted Daphne standing with Tracey, Vinny and Greg; Susan with Hannah, Justin and Ernie and, much to Harry's displeasure, Draco Malfoy leaned on a tree, trying to look aloof while also entertaining Pansy and Theo with something amusing. He also noticed Millicent Bulstrode standing by herself. Seeing that he still had some time, he walked up to her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Bulstrode," Harry bowed. "How are you today?"
"You're talking to me?" Harry realized he had never spoken with her before. Surprisingly, he discovered she had a very sweet-sounding voice.
"Why not?" Harry recognized the signs of ostracization that Hermione once had. "You've done nothing to me and I thought you looked a little lonely."
"Most people just ignore me," Millicent said. "They can't be bothered to spend time with someone as ugly as me."
"You're not ugly," Harry said. "You've got great eyes and a wonderful voice. Would you like to join me and my friends?"
"I think I would like that," she blushed and walked back toward the group with him. "And you can call me Millie."
"Harry," his green eyes shone as she walked with him to stand with Hermione, Neville, Parvati, Lavender and the Slytherin Four.
"Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures," Hagrid said. "I am Professor Hagrid, though Hagrid will do just fine. In this class we will be studying the creatures of the magical world, many of whom live in this very forest. Now everyone listen closely because I won't say this twice: if yer not paying attention in this class, you will be putting yerself and yer classmates in danger. These are all wild animals I will be introducing you to; if you don't respect 'em, they will react as a wild animal would. Not paying attention in Charms will make it impossible ter do proper spells. Not paying attention here could lose you limbs or worse. Got it?"
The class muttered their assent.
"In this class we'll study everything from Flobberworms to… oh my," Hagrid stopped his speech as a unicorn walked out of the forest. Harry saw the creature with its pure-white coat and an ugly red scar running down its side: it was the unicorn he encountered in his first year.
"Remember this day, class" Hagrid was awed. "Unicorns are some of the rarest magical creatures you can find and they rarely ever make themselves seen."
As Hagrid talked, the unicorn trotted closer to the class. Hagrid told the class to hold their position to not spook the creature. Harry watched with wide eyes as the unicorn came to next to him, with his head between him and Hermione. Dropping its head down, the unicorn allowed Harry to reach a hand out and stroke down his side. Hermione, awed at the scene stood stock-still. Once Harry's hand made contact, Hermione moved hers up to pet the creature as well. They were so enamored, they didn't realize Hagrid using this moment to teach.
"…are very proud creatures and exceptionally skittish around males," Hagrid said. "What yer witnessing is one of the rarest moments you'll ever get."
"Glad you're doing okay," Harry patted the unicorns neck. "I've been wondering about you for some time."
As soon as it came, the unicorn stamped its hooves, let out a breath and turned back to the forest.
"10 points to Gryffindor for… whatever that was," Hagrid said. "Now if yer come over here, you'll see the creature I picked out for your first class. Here they are."
Inside the enclosure, a herd of the oddest looking birds they had ever seen. They appeared to have the body of a horse with the front legs and talons of a bird of prey with a matching eagle-like head.
"Beautiful aren't they?" Hagrid beamed. "Hippogriffs. A magnificent horse, with the brain of a bird. Now pay attention, the first thing you have ter know about Hippogriffs is they are very proud creatures, especially the alpha."
Harry looked over his shoulder to see Malfoy pantomiming Hagrid's actions to mock Hagrid while also ignoring what he was saying.
"Now in order for the herd to accept ya, the alpha must first accept ya. His name is Buckbeak but I just call him Beaky," Hagrid said. "Who will be first?"
The entire class stepped back except for Harry and, because he was standing behind her, Hermione. She tried to move back yet only succeeded in falling backward into Harry.
"Knew it would be the two of yer!" Hagrid's smile grew wider. "Now enter the enclosure and step up until Beaky notices you. Once he notices you, bow deeply while keeping eye contact. Be sure not ter blink too much, nor should you challenge him. Let him accept you."
Hermione fell a half step behind Harry as they slowly trudged toward the majestic bird. Suddenly its head snapped to one side and regarded them with one yellow eye. Harry took the lead and bowed his head, Hermione following a second later. Buckbeak turned his entire body to face them.
"Easy now," worry creeped into Hagrid's voice for the first time. "Back off slowly."
Before they could move, Buckbeak bent his knobby knees to allow the duo to approach.
"There you go," Hagrid tried to keep the relief from his voice. "Nothing to it."
Harry smiled as he felt the bird's surprisingly soft feathers under his fingers. He was apparently doing something right because Buckbeak leaned his head into Harry's shoulder and let its eyes relax as Hermione stroked the feathers along his neck.
"Alrigh' I think he'll let you ride him now," Hagrid said. Hermione's eyes widened as she whipped her head back around.
"Ride?" Hermione tried to stake a hasty retreat but soon had no way to run as Hagrid hefted her up onto Buckbeaks back. Harry was plopped behind her a second later. "This is not quite what I had in miiiiiind."
Hermione's remonstration was lost as Hagrid slapped Buckbeak on the hindquarters. The birdhorse hybrid broke into a full gallop, its wings extending and soon Harry felt the similar thrill of flight overtake him. Buckbeak climbed to the height of the astronomy tower, taking them on an aerial tour of the castle and its grounds. Harry could feel Hermione shaking in fear, much like she was on the Eifel Tower.
"It's okay," Harry said, securing her in a tight hug. "I'm here. We're safe."
"I really don't like heights…." Hermione's squeaky reply came.
"I know," Harry soothed. "I've got you and Buckbeak isn't going to let you fall, are you Beaky?"
Buckbeak screeched in reply, banking down toward the lake.
"But you'll never get a view like that, I'm sure," Harry pointed to the sun starting to slip beyond the mountains, its golden light reflecting on the lake.
"It is beautiful," Hermione admitted.
"Still not as beautiful as you," Harry grinned cheekily.
"Keep that up…" Hermione turned her head toward him.
"And what?" Harry cocked an eyebrow.
"And I'll just have to reward you," She giggled impishly before leaning back, turning her head to kiss him. Buckbeak took one more lap around the grounds before coming in for a landing. They were greeted to cheers, though Harry's seeker eyes still spotted Malfoy scoffing from his position.
"Well done the both of you!" Hagrid applauded to which the class joined in. "25 points to the both of you for an exceptional demonstration.
"How am I doing?" Hagrid asked the pair after he helped them dismount.
"Interesting first class," Harry said but his eyes were drawn to motion over Hagrid's shoulder. "Watch out, Malfoy!"
Hagrid whipped around as the blonde jerk advanced quickly on Buckbeak.
"Yeah you're not so terrifying are you?" Draco smirked. "Though I didn't think I'd see any creature with a larger front tooth than you, Granger.
Hermione flushed in anger as both Hagrid and Harry of them sprinted toward Buckbeak. Hagrid reached out with his gargantuan hand to pull Malfoy back from the suddenly-irate Buckbeak. Malfoy's eyes widened as Buckbeak's talons missed him by inches. Harry stepped up to Buckbeak and locked eyes with him.
"Easy, Beaky," Harry stood resolute in front of the thrashing bird. "Easy, boy. It's okay, I know he's an idiot but the only one you'll harm is you. I'm sure he'd love nothing more than to have his father put you down."
Buckbeak screeched again and scraped his razor sharp talons along the dirt. Behind him, the rest of the herd approached at their alpha's distress.
"Hey!" Harry shouted, thrusting his arms wide and advancing on the herd. "Back! Back now!"
Buckbeak stopped thrashing and scrutinized Harry with another harsh stare. The rest of the class watched with bated breath, none more than Hermione who chewed her nails, afraid of what would happen next. Silence reigned for entirely too long before Buckbeak relaxed and let out a little trill. The rest of the herd surrounded Harry to greet the boy whom their alpha accepted.
"Hermione…" Harry looked around him as the birdhorses danced and rubbed their heads along his body. "Neville? Susan? Anyone have any suggestions?"
"I think they like you, Potter," a voice Harry recognized as Vinny said. "Just let the females down easy, would you? They'll be disappointed when they find you can't mate with them."
That did it. Hermione fell to her knees in hysterical laughter. Her boyfriend was almost obscured from view by the Hippogriffs. The rest of the class joined in with one exception.
"What did I just tell yer!" Hagrid shouted. Everyone was used to the kind-hearted gentle giant. This was a new side. "I said not ter offend them as Hippogriffs are very proud. 50 points from Slytherin and a detention with me, cleaning these creatures stables. If you do anything like this again, you will dismissed from class and not welcome back, yer hear?"
Draco nodded dumbly, allowing Hagrid to turn back. The Hippogriff herd parted to reveal a thoroughly disheveled Harry with feathers of every color sticking to his robes, his hair messier than anyone had ever seen it.
"In all my life…" Hagrid marveled. "Nobody bar me has been able ter stand up ter Buckbeak and get him to back down. Well done, Harry."
"Just a simple territorial display," Harry said. Trapped in the cupboard all those years, he absorbed a lot of the nature documentaries Petunia favored. "I knew if I backed down, the rest of the class wouldn't be accepted. Now it looks like the herd is ready to greet the rest of the class."
True to his word, the herd of Hippogriffs now stood at the fence of the enclosure, ready for the class to greet them.
Harry walked away, plucking the feathers from his robes, paying special attention to the grey ones which came from Buckbeak. He was so focused on the feathers; he didn't notice the bushy-haired missile headed his way.
"Oof" Harry felt the air leave his lungs.
"Harry. James. Potter," Harry tried to escape; he knew the use of his middle name didn't purport good things on the horizon. "Why did you charge an angry hippogriff!?"
"I thought if I didn't, the class would be in danger," he admitted. "Sorry to worry you."
"At least it wasn't all a loss," Hermione admitted. "You should have seen the look on Malfoy's face. I'll remember that as long as I live."
"Well done, Harry!" Ron clapped him on the shoulder. "You showed the filthy snake what for!"
Harry pried his hand off him and returned a forced smile.
"That was amazing," Lavender said as she pet Buckbeak. "You two got to actually fly on this majestic beauty."
Buckbeak gave a quick chirp and rubbed his head along Lavenders.
"I think you've made a friend, Lav," Parvati said from the other side of Buckbeak. "I'm surprised at how soft they are. I must say once you get over the initial shock, they are quite gorgeous."
"Thank you for getting them to accept us, Potter," Daphne said. She, Tracey, Vinny and Greg were at the next Hippogriff, its chestnut coloring standing in stark in its difference to Buckbeak. "I was nervous that we started with Hippogriffs, thought it was a little early to introduce as potentially dangerous but I'm glad. They're fascinating animals."
Class went along smoothly thereafter with the class learning about hippogriff coloring and behavior while Malfoy sulked far away from the creatures under the watchful gaze of Hagrid. Class was dismissed and the assembled students talked animatedly about their exciting first lesson.
"Did you have fun?" Neville asked. "I thought they were great, very beautiful creatures."
"Yes I did," Harry admitted. "But right now, I'm just hungry. Again."
"Onward!" Neville slapped him on the shoulder and frog marched him up to the castle. "To Lamb Stew! To Steak-and-Kidney Pie!"
"To Treacle Tart!" Harry joined in. Together, as brothers, Harry and Neville marched toward the epic meal that was promised as Hermione and the girls rolled their eyes.
Hell of a first day, eh Potter? Hermione thought with a smile, following them back into the castle.
(A/N: A shorter chapter following some long ones. I know there was recently a debate on KitKatPotter's Harmony Reimagined fiction regarding Hagrid and I've got to say, I come out on the side of the author. As he was written, Hagrid was a pretty poor teacher. He never seemed to have a plan for classes. Skrewts were a debacle and while Hippogriffs weren't especially dangerous but he lost track of what his class was doing. As such, I wanted a Hagrid who embraces his role of professor more than he ever did in canon.)
Chapter 46: Don't Speak
The tired group of third years sat down to dinner when they were joined by the Weasley twins.
"Have you had him yet?" The asked excitedly.
"Who?" Ron asked as he loaded his plate up.
"Lupin," Fred said. "We just came from his first lesson. He's amazing; he actually knows his stuff and can really teach it to us."
"We don't have him until Monday," Harry said. "We have him and our first Runes class that day."
"Too bad," Fred said. "We'll be seeing you."
After dinner, Harry met with Daphne as scheduled. Inside the room she designated, they found a long conference table. Harry stood at the middle of the table with Hermione by his side. Daphne was on the other side with Tracey standing by her side. At her gesture, they sat, Harry allowing the ladies to sit before he took his as was the norm.
"Thank you for meeting with us," Daphne said, cutting straight to business. "My father has tasked me with a special task, one that I and only I can achieve."
Harry just inclined his head, silently imploring her to continue.
"During the last war, my family was pressured by the Death Eaters. My family has always been neutral since our arrival from Sweden centuries ago. We worked hard to stay out of the conflict but that wasn't good enough for the Eaters. The Death Eaters had two options: join or pay.
"When You-Know-Who fell, the Death Eaters had to back off which was good since our gold was running low," Daphne fidgeted with the table. "Listen, my father has seen the signs and the last two years, the Death Eaters are getting bolder once again. The rumor is that You-Know-Who isn't actually gone, that he was merely defeated."
Daphne never asked the question yet she asked for confirmation all the same.
"You are correct," Harry said. "First year, he thumbed a lift on the back of Professor Quirrell's head. Second year, it was his diary that was coercing a little girl into opening the chamber. He's not gone."
"We figured as much which means it is only a matter of time before the Eaters come knocking."
"What do you need?" Harry decided to take a leaf from her book and be direct.
"We, that is to say my father and I," Daphne began to fidget with the table again. "Would like to form a formal alliance with House Potter. With an alliance to the Potters, they would know not to bother us, not unless they want to experience fully armed and operational wards around our properties."
"That seems rather straight forward," Harry leaned his elbows onto the table. "Why do I get the feeling it isn't, actually?"
"Potters have always been a part of the light faction," Daphne's hair danced around her head as she cocked her head from side-to-side. "For them to formally align with a grey house would be unprecedented. There's not much you could do for the time being seeing as you are underage but it would still be gigantic. We would align our political and financial interests."
As well as keep him from having sell off me or my sister, Daphne finished inwardly.
"If that is to be the case," Harry leaned back again. "How does your father feel about First Gen Witches and Wizards? What is his stance on the blood bigots?"
"He's not a bigot," Daphne said. "Though he is still old-fashioned. He thinks too much change, too quickly would rapidly devolve our society."
"In the same respect," Harry turned his head as Hermione spoke for the first time. "If a society fails to adapt, it will collapse from within. Just talk to the Romans."
"That is something we can discuss," Harry cut across the argument before it devolved into a circular one. "As for House Potter joining forces with a neutral house, I am fine with that. I've had thoughts regarding the reformation of the Great Alliance- which I would not have learned about if you had not recommended that book so thank you- and growing it. I want to cut Voldemort off at the knees."
Tracey and Daphne flinched at the name but still looked intrigued.
"I am told he gained a lot of power by building a following and then dividing the rest of Wizarding Britain. If he is going to rise again, and I have reason to believe he will one day, it is my goal to make the landscape harder for him to gain a foothold. I can only do that by forging new alliances and building bridges where Voldemort would have us build walls.
"You can tell your father that I am amenable to an alliance where we strive to work together to achieve our political and economic goals, provided he can accept that my closest friend and confidant is a First Generation Witch and, if he has a problem with it, have him talk to Gripclaw at Gringotts. Tell him I sent him and that he should ask about our investments. That should change his point of view."
"I will pass the word along," Daphne looked surprised. "Oh and this might feel tacked on but House Davis would come part-and-parcel to the deal."
Daphne, always reserved in her physical actions, reached out and took the hand of Tracey.
"I figured," Harry chuckled. "She wouldn't have been here unless you trusted her implicitly. Plus, she's the only one I've seen who can make you laugh. That's a bonus, for sure."
"Until next time, Potter," Daphne waived lazily as she strode from the meeting room.
"If it would help," Daphne paused as Harry spoke and looked over her shoulder. "I am having the goblins harvest the Basilisk I slew last spring. You are welcome to be there to see the creature and relay any information and observations to your father. That might should convince him if his meeting with the goblins doesn't."
Daphne nodded and turned away. Tracey leaned in and whispered in her ear, to which Daphne laughed.
"What did she say?" Hermione's curious mind couldn't resist asking the question.
"She said, and I quote 'I thought this meeting would be normal,'" Daphne said, making Hermione laugh.
"It's becoming a common phrase," Hermione said in between laughs. "Harry Potter doesn't do normal."
Harry facepalmed, leading to more laughter from the three girls.
The next day, Harry and Hermione had their first Charms class after which Flitwick, true to his word, asked them to remain. Per his request, they were going to both be studying Advanced Charms under him. That night, he took them through everything they were going to learn.
"This class is going to be called Advanced Charms but what this basically is," Flitwick said, his tone serious. "Is a precursor to an apprenticeship. Usually a professor will only take one apprentice at a time, sort of an unwritten Rule of Two thing but I am bending it for you. You both are adept at Charms though Miss Granger your strength comes in gaining knowledge and memorization while Mr. Potter, you are more adept at casting. While Miss Granger will learn the theory quickly, you have a unique brain for learning how to cast it. Your two paths to the same endpoint allows for one of you to have more exacting precision and the other to be more flexible and powerful.
"It has been my goal to one day find a student who can challenge on the dueling circuit and one to advance the theory of Charms beyond where it is. I believe I have finally found what I am looking for, oddly at the same time. The two of you are well-suited to one another.
"Taking this on will not be easy. I am going to push you to your very limits and beyond them," Hermione looked awed while Harry's eyes shone with determination. "Just this year, you will be moved on to curriculum I do not teach until sixth year.
"I think you are ready but you also have be willing to commit to this," Flitwick said.
"Count me in," Harry said firmly. "I can't wait to begin."
"Where he goes, I go," Hermione nodded fiercely.
"Excellent!" Flitwick clapped his hands and stood up from his desk. "First things first: you both have good repertoire for spells and we will continue to build on that by allowing you to build more and increasingly more complex spell chains.
"What we will also focus on is silent casting," Flitwick flicked his wand to push all the chairs up against the wall. "What do you think would be a benefit to silent casting?"
Hermione, the practice ingrained into her very being, shot her hand toward the sky.
"There's only three of us, Miss Granger," Flitwick smiled at the now crimson brunette. "You can just call out your answer."
"By doing the casting silently, you keep your enemy from knowing when the curse is coming, allowing you possibly get the drop on someone."
"And?" Flitwick looked to Harry. "What other advantages might there be?"
"Well," Harry looked pensive for a moment. "As you are not saying the words, it will be harder for your opponent or adversary to know what you are casting. They won't necessarily know what the counter curse would be. All you have are the movements and the color of the spell. Red could be a stunner, a disarmer or any other range of spells.
"Furthermore, silent casting probably relies more on intent than anything, giving you more flexibility in the casting."
"Excellent summary," Flitwick said. "You lose a little bit of power in casting silently and there are some spells you cannot cast silently, like the Unforgiveables. Those rely on power and emotion. Casting it silently would be pointless. Now, I'd like to start with the most simple spells and work our way up. I want you to light your spells wordlessly."
For the next half hour the young duo had a look of intense concentration as they tried to light their wands. The only sounds were of Flitwick writing and the cracking of the logs in the fireplace when finally…
"I did it!" Hermione had her wand lit.
"Nicely done," Flitwick said. "Why don't you move through the first year catalogue of spells and get familiar with this way of casting."
Ten minutes later, Hermione was levitating papers and books while Harry was sweating, trying to get his wand to light.
"Take a break," Flitwick ordered.
"I just can't do this," Harry fumed in frustration. His legs gave out and he collapsed to the stone floor. "I know the movements, I know what I need to do but I just. Can't. Do it!"
"You can do it," Flitwick walked up to the teenager.
"Sure," Harry said. "In sixth year, I'm sure I'll get it."
"You've done it before," Flitwick said. "Part of the perks of my unique heritage is my ability to be accepted by the Goblin Nation. As such, I was fortunate enough to watch the orb of your battle with the Basilisk. The blue flame balls you shot at the Basilisk- something I have never seen before, by the way- were conjured and shot without you saying a word."
"I… never realized," Harry said. "I was running on adrenaline so I guess I just never noticed."
"I did," Hermione said. "I was initially miffed that you learned silent casting before me so I studied up on the theory. You're a great wizard, Harry but you are at your weakest when you are forcing an issue. Relax and you will get it. I know it."
"Okay," Harry stood up, rolled his shoulders and brushed his bangs back. Lumos, he thought. A light shone from his wand, brighter than Hermione's before.
"Excellent!" Hermione clapped.
"Most excellent!" Flitwick shielded his eyes from the light with his hand. "Now both of you work on regulating and controlling the light, like we did in your first lesson."
Hermione silently lit her wand and focused on the beam. She made it brighter and then dimmed it. Meanwhile, now that he was relaxed, Harry's mind was changing the color of the light from bright white to pale yellow, ending in an amber glow. He lengthened the light before focusing it into a single point while making it shine all the brighter.
"How are you doing that?" Hermione asked with her light flickering.
"I am just imagining the light in different ways," Harry said, turning his light green for effect. "I was curious how flexible the spells would be after Professor Flitwick mentioned it so now I'm testing that."
"Ugh!" Hermione's light would only flicker, her rigid mind incapable of allowing her to envision it as something other than the light it usually is.
"Close your eyes," Harry said. Hermione huffed and finally relented. "Picture the light in your mind."
Hermione pictured light in her favorite color of Periwinkle Blue.
"Now push that idea into your wand," Hermione had no idea how to do that. "You know how to feel for your magic and its connection with your wand. Connect your visual with your magic."
Hermione was trying to make her vision become reality when she felt Harry come behind her, smelled his cologne and heard him breathing. She could picture his emerald green eyes. Exhaling out slowly, Hermione pushed with her magic.
"You did it!" Hermione opened her eyes to see a Periwinkle ball of light at the end of her wand. Smiling at last, Hermione willed the ball to grow and then to shrink.
"Excellent!" Once again Hermione forgot about their professor. "Just as Mr. Potter struggles on the front side, you struggle with intent after the spell is cast. Your mind is brilliant, one of the better I have ever seen in fact, but that brilliance is also extremely rigid. One of the reasons the dynamic of you two works so very well. The only word I can use to describe it is harmonious.
"Now that you have the basics on silent casting, we will spend the first half of our time on that and the second building spell chains," Flitwick said. "I think that will do for tonight, however. I know you have an early morning for the goblins to render down the Basilisk for you.
"One last thing: I have been told you have had the Nation craft daggers for you and that your plan is to dip it into Basilisk venom?"
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded. "We were hoping you would teach us how to wield them."
"I can teach you the basics but to become a master takes time," Flitwick laced his hands behind his back as he paced in front of them. "Before you become a master and even after, it is not outside the realm of possibility that you would cut yourself.
"Tell me, Mr. Potter. What is the antidote to Basilisk venom?"
"Phoenix tears, sir," Harry said, cottoning on to where the half-goblin was leading them.
"Do you plan to carry a vial of Phoenix tears around with you, in case you should you cut yourself or another?"
Harry paled as he had not considered the side effects of his desired weapon.
"We just wanted something that could kill a werewolf," Harry said. "If we ever needed to defend ourselves."
"The only way to fight a werewolf is to train," Flitwick said. "Your best weapon is, and always has been, your mind. It was your mind that turned a wooden club into a spear-sized knitting needle that incapacitated a full-grown troll. That was you at 11; that was what drew my attention.
"A dagger might be a good second option," Flitwick drew a dagger from an ankle holster. "I myself carry one just in case I need a second weapon. I will teach you to wield it; I just recommend that you forgo the venom."
The duo left the classroom slowly as they absorbed everything as they meandered through the halls toward their common room.
"Shall we start on our homework?" Hermione asked as they reached stairway to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Can we take the night off?" Harry asked. "It's Friday night so we'll have Saturday and Sunday to work through it."
"We shouldn't procrastinate!" Hermione argued. "We have a heavier class load and as such we need to work to stay up on everything. We can't afford to fall behind."
"I agree," Harry said. "But we also need to keep ourselves fresh. I don't know about you but my mind is wiped from everything today. I don't feel I would be very productive and my quality of work would be poor."
"That's why we'll revise our homework on Sunday before it's due," Hermione said brightly, thinking she had won the argument.
"How about," Harry turned to her. "We work for an hour and then find something to do to relax thereafter. We'll get enough done we won't fall behind but we also won't burn ourselves out.
"I'm worried, Hermione," Harry said. "With all of our classes, plus Quidditch for me and the Potions Club and the D.A., I don't want to become an overstressed husk whose only value is warming the classroom. I need to relax; I need some time away from all that so I can actually enjoy my time here."
"Okay," Hermione let out a breath that pushed her hair away from her face. "We'll work for one hour and then go from there. Does that sound good?"
"Yes," Harry said. "And let me know if you're feeling rung out, if you need a relaxation break as well."
"Well that was adorable," Harry startled as the Fat Lady addressed them. "Now are you going to give the password or shall I start to perform Madam Butterfly."
"Umm sorry. Carmina Burana" Hermione gave the password hastily, knowing the Fat Lady's singing prowess matched her own (non-existent) singing skills. True to her word, they spent an hour on their assignment which turned out to be enough to complete a rough draft of the Potions essay Snape assigned before relaxing with Lavender, Parvati and Neville. With the five of them, Lavender broke out MagicAsk a card game similar to Go Fish which, if you guessed wrong, you had to draw a punishment card laced with a compulsion to do what it said. Hermione had to chirp like a canary, Harry had to bay like Fang and Lavender chittered like a chipmunk, among the other punishments doled out.
"This is fun!" Hermione said after watching Neville imitate a Giraffe.
"Yeah," Lavender agreed as she laughed at Neville's misfortune. "There's even an adult version of the game. Let's just say the punishments aren't much of a punishment."
"Probably not a game to play in the common room, then?" Parvati giggled at the embarrassed looks on Harry's and Neville's faces, to say nothing of the nervous giggles Hermione was giving off.
After a few more rounds of the game, the group all decided to turn in, especially since Neville, Harry and Hermione needed to be up early to receive the goblins. The next morning, Harry was buttering a piece of toast as the doors to the Great Hall burst open with a loud bang.
"Dumbledore!" Malfoy shouted as he entered the Great Hall at breakfast the next day. As it was Saturday, the hall was sparsely populated. Harry, Hermione, Neville, Colin and Ginny were in the hall, waiting for the goblins to arrive. Invites had been sent out to Cho, Filch and Justin with only Justin replying he had no interest in seeing the corpse of the snake that attacked him.
"How may I help you?" Dumbledore didn't even bother to rise from his chair. He simply set down his fork and steepled his fingers as Malfoy stormed up to the head table. The younger Malfoy strutted from the Slytherin table to join his father.
"Why have you not responded to my letters regarding the beast that almost killed my son?" Malfoy shouted.
"Ah yes. I heard of the incident from our Care of Magical Creatures professor," Dumbledore indicated Hagrid's presence with his hand. "According to my professor, your son didn't listen to the professor's warning and antagonized the hippogriff in question."
"He did not!" Malfoy's pale cheeks took on some color. Usually he was calm, collected and in control. "Fine then I'll just have to take this to the ministry. I'm sure the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures would love to investigate this."
"As I'm sure is your right," Dumbledore said. "We'll just call them to my office right away, use my pensieve to watch your son's memory as well as the memory a few of his classmates to corroborate what happened."
"My memory?" Draco whimpered out. At this point, Harry and Hermione were silently laughing. Neville was biting his hand to keep from laughing out loud.
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "We'll just watch that memory and it'll be easy to decide just how dangerous this creature is."
"Sounds excellent," Lucius said but was stopped by a hand tugging on his robes.
"I don't think that's necessary, father," Draco mumbled.
"But you told me the creature almost killed you, that it was dangerous," Lucius said. Draco wouldn't meet his eyes, deciding instead to stare at his feet. "Irrelevant! I will take this to the Minister himself."
"And my response will be the same," Dumbledore said and finally looked over at Harry. "I'm sure there will be someone who would be willing to step forward and provide their point of view to what happened."
"So long as it isn't your golden boy Potter," Lucius spat.
"I'll be happy to provide my memory," a new voice made both Malfoys turn. Standing there was Millicent Bulstrode, bold as brass against the Malfoys. "I was there for that class. I heard the warning given by Professor Hagrid and heard Malfoy taunt the hippogriff in question."
"Blood traitor!" Draco stepped up toward the bigger girl and regretted it. "I'll have your hide for thi-"
Malfoy's tirade was silenced by a slap heard all the way up at the Astronomy Tower.
"I am the heiress to the Noble House of Bulstrode," she stated proudly. "Our house has a long, proud history of nobility and grace. There is nothing to be gained by lying about the truth of what really happened in class. The fact you wish me silenced says more about you then it does for me."
"10 points from Slytherin for assaulting a student," Dumbledore's voice cut through the both of them. His eyes looked severe until a smile graced his lips. "20 points to Slytherin for having the courage to speak truth to lies.
"Feel free to speak to the Minister at your convenience," Dumbledore's eyes flashed warningly. "I am sure the Minister loves hearing from his friends and I'm sure he'll believe what you say. You word, no doubt, is gold, right?"
Malfoy stewed in rage. His son had lied to him about what happened, hurt his standing in his own house even more and removed any leverage he had.
"This isn't over," Malfoy said. Clasping his traveling cloak around him, he strode from the hall, leaving a dumbstruck Draco in his wake.
"Father.." Draco ran to catch up.
"Not now, Draco," Malfoy Senior never even looked at his son. "We will speak later, I guarantee you that."
Without a second glance, Malfoy strode from the castle.
"Did you see that?" Susan Bones whispered as she passed Harry's spot at the table. She entered the hall right after Malfoy and got a free show before her breakfast.
"Yep," Harry said with satisfaction. "Lucy is slipping. You should let your aunt know. If she is waiting for him to slip up, it might happen soon. I don't know who has made him angrier: me, your aunt, Dumbledore or his son."
"If you'll excuse me," Susan said. "I have a letter to write."
"Or you could just tell your aunt yourself," Harry said. "She's coming to see the Basilisk rendered, right?"
"Of course!" Susan smacked herself on the forehead. "Forgot that was today. You still don't mind if I tag along?"
"Not at all," Harry said. "Luna expressed interest as well. In fact the goblins should be here in about a half hour."
"Sounds great," Susan beamed.
"Well I don't know about you," Neville said in between laughs. "But this day couldn't be starting any better if you told me we just got a new shipment of Venomous Tentacula."
"We did," Hermione said.
"We did?" Neville's eyes brightened.
"We didn't," Harry groaned.
"No," Hermione beamed. "I just wanted to see the two of your reactions."
"You're a riot," Harry groaned as his head slammed into the table.
"I know," Hermione's smile grew even wider. "That's why you love me."
Hermione widened her eyes after her phrase and Neville looked away, suddenly very interested in the stained glass above the Head Table. Harry meanwhile abruptly picked up his head, looking at his girlfriend with wide eyes.
Do I love her? Harry wondered. I mean yes, I love being around her but am I IN love with her?
Idiot! Hermione chastised. We just started dating and you're already hinting the L-word! Idiot!
Breakfast passed in a nervous silence. Luna sat down and struck up a pleasant conversation until the clock rang at 9 and it was time to meet the goblins. Harry appeared to have let the moment drop which finally allowed Hermione to relax. Seeing as the hall was sparsely populated, Hermione chose to snake her hand through the crook of Harry's elbow and together with Neville and Luna on either side, they exited the hall toward the courtyard where they would greet the goblins.