Quaffles, Anyone?

Chapter Two

Orientation on N.E.W.T.

Harry woke up at six in the morning. He stretched and scratched his back. He dressed up groggily and quietly trying to not wake anyone up. Today is the first day of term. Today, he must get some `Outstanding' grades if he wants to be an Auror, especially on Potions class.

After getting dressed, he went down to the common room. Seeing it was too early, he sat on the squashy armchair that he usual sits. Thinking what his N.E.W.T. classes will be. He bet it will be murder… this year will be the calm before the storm, next year will be the war, he thought. When the sun hit the windows of the Gryffindor Tower, Harry stood up and walked out of the portrait hole.

“There you are Harry!” said Ron at the Great Hall thirty minutes later “I thought you were lost so I searched around the common room then realize you could be at the -” he paused looking at Harry who gave him `I get your point' look

“Anyway” said Ron sitting beside Harry “What do you reckon will be Chaser for Gryffindor?”

Harry felt good that Ron was keen to get the third chaser.

“I think Lavender will” said Harry with sarcasm

“I think so… but will quit when she breaks a nail” said Ron laughing

“We will see when Saturday comes” said Harry as Hermione came into the Great Hall and sat opposite of them.

“Ron? Were you cleaning the common room a while ago?” asked Hermione tying her bushy hair into a ponytail.

“Nope, I was looking for a weapon to hit Malfoy with. Pity I didn't find one. Malfoy is going to get more livid since you brought his father to jail” said Ron patting Harry at the back.

They all ate breakfast and as Harry was going to have his second serving of breakfast rolls (bacon and cheese wrapped in breaded chicken) Professor McGonagall handed out their schedules. Harry scanned his; it had the same subjects like last except they were going to be graded in N.E.W.T. standards. He remembered the letter he received when he received his O.W.L. results:

`…Your sixth year will determine which class you will be accepted at when your N.E.W.T. year (seventh year) comes…'

“The line-ups good” said Ron “We get Charms first then Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and - what?”

“Why?” asked Harry

“We get double Defense Against the Dark Arts? And in exchange… we have no Double Potions! Ha! Too bad it's after lunch” said Ron happily “I just hope Professor Raptor gives us a good time”

“Hey, if we don't want to be late for Charms, I suggest we move now” said Hermione looking at her wristwatch

- - -

“This year you will be preparing for your N.E.W.T. year which will take place next year” squeaked tiny Professor Flitwick “And I won't accept any student to my N.E.W.T. classes unless they average in `Outstanding'. I can see a few people here who are worthy to enter already” he added looking at Hermione who smiled sheepishly.

“Anyway, Charms is a universal subject, it is needed in most career paths in the Wizarding world. So for those who would want to be a Healer, Professor, Charm-Breakers, Aurors, etc. you will have to average an `Outstanding' grade from me. Understand? Good.”

They spent the whole class by discussing about N.E.W.T.s, it was then followed by a brief discussion of a new Charm which is in N.E.W.T. standards. The Protean Charm. A very advance spell which can make an object mimic the appearance of the master object you conjured, like what Hermione did with the fake Galleons in the D.A. meetings last year. Hermione got high marks for demonstrating it perfectly, she earned ten points for her house and high five from Harry as she sat beside him. Flitwick then gave them an essay about the Protean Charm which will be due next week.

They left the Charms classrooms and started moving to the entrance hall and out to the grounds where they will have their Care of Magical Creatures class.

“I wonder how Grawpy's doing?” said Ron as they stopped when they reached Hagrid's Hut together with the Gryffindors. Fortunately, the Slytherins haven't arrived yet.

“I dunno” said Harry tying his shoes “I hope he's okay”

“If he tries to enter the school, Hagrid will be in big trouble” said Hermione

“You're just getting nervous because of the N.E.W.T.s, Hermy” Harry teased

“I told you don't call me that!” said Hermione turning pink

“You're so cute when you get angry” said Ron

“Thanks for the compliment Ronald” said Hermione

“I like `Hermy', its nice” said Harry

“I prefer `Mudblood' if you ask me” said a drawling voice from behind.

The Slytherins have arrived with Malfoy in the lead. His cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were just beside him.

“No one asked you” said Ron

“Don't mind him” said Hermione holding Ron's shoulder

“In fact, when the Dark Lord breaks my father out of prison, I will ask him to hex all Mudbloods in the school starting with you” said Malfoy smirking

“Shut up Malfoy! Or I'll -”

“Or you'll what Weasley? Try to buy some Filibuster fireworks to blow up my house? Oh wait, you can't do that since you are the `poor' type”

“Don't give a go at my family again” said Ron, trying to free himself from Hermione

“Let's go guys” said Malfoy “we don't want any filth from the slums in our robes do we?”

The Slytherins passed them by and stood at the other side of the hut.

“Just because his father is in jail doesn't mean he has to act like he's king” said Ron looking very angry, he glared at Hermione “why did you hold me back?”

“I don't want any risks, what if you get expelled? And besides, if Voldemort - oh get use to the name Ron - tries to do that attempt, the Order will know what to do. So don't worry about me or any Muggle-born students in Hogwarts”

This made Ron calm down, she was right, the Order will take care of everything.

“But he gave a go at my family again”

“So? At least your mum and dad aren't in a wizard prison” said Hermione in a matter-of-factly tone.

“Well, at least I have morning break to look forward to” said Ron as Hagrid came.

To no ones surprise, Hagrid talked about the N.E.W.T.s, how important is his subject for anyone who wants to go into Dragon breeding, monster hunting and the like.

He gave them homework, try to explain what a Demiguise is and who are the wizards/witches that discovered this amazing creature.

They went to the Great Hall for morning break; they took a seat just somewhere near Ginny.

“Oooh! Clubhouse sandwiches!” said Ron grabbing one and stuffing it in his mouth.

“How was your day?” asked Ginny trying to get some cookies.

“Fine, you?” said Seamus who arrived and sat beside Ron “That Protean Charm looks hell! I wonder how you do it” he said looking at Hermione

“You just have to learn it, that's all” replied Hermione

“Anyway” said Ginny “I had a great start”

“Why? You found Malfoy stabbing himself?” said Ron

“No, it was the Double Defense Against the Dark Arts class that made my morning happy” said Ginny with a smile

“What did that bloke teach you?” said Seamus eating some apple pies

“He's not a bloke! He's a great teacher, anyway, he has this optimistic aura around him. He's very positive in all things” she said with widened eyes “He could get cocky at some point but he's cool. He teaches things that we wizard don't know. He's half-blood you know” she added

“He's half-blood? How about his companion?” asked Ron

“She's very nice, she mentioned you Ron, and she said you're funny when she met you last night. She even mentioned you Harry, she wanted to meet you” she said to Harry

“Looks like Harry has a new Cho” said Seamus

“Shut up” said Harry grabbing his third helpings of chocolate cupcakes

“Well, in other words, Professor Raptor has great teaching skills, he could be the next best thing to Lupin” and with that Ginny left for her next class

“Damn” said Ron looking at his schedule “Our Double Defense Against the Dark Arts is at last period and Potions comes before it”

“If this Professor Raptor guy is great as what Ginny said then I'm in for a great year” said Seamus eating an apple.

The Double Defense Against the Dark Arts class was like the main event of the day since most of the Gryffindors in Harry's year were getting excited.

“I bet he will teach us how mind control” said Lavender who was talking with Parvati as the group of Gryffindors queued outside of the Transfiguration classroom.

“I hope he doesn't hex us like what Professor Moody did last time” said Neville

“Ginny said that he could get a bit cocky in some point” said Ron “That's not good right?”

“That depends” said Hermione trying to search her bag for her Advance Guide To Transfiguration book

The conversation of Professor Raptor ended when Professor McGonagall called the class to enter the classroom.

Just like the last two subjects, Professor McGonagall talked about N.E.W.T.s and that she won't accept anyone to her N.E.W.T. class if they get below `Outstanding'. To add to the homework, she let them write an essay about Metamorphmagus and how does it work. Harry knew one thing about a Metamorphmagus, they are born not made.

After some N.E.W.T. Orientation, they started transfiguring an apple to a mango which was hard since you must change the color of the red apple to a yellow one. Ron had so much difficulty he changed his apple to a red mango that made Harry sick. It looked like someone pour blood on it. Hermione had no difficulty, like always, she perfectly changed her apple to a yellow mango earning her ten points to Gryffindor.

“How did you do that?” said Ron as they went down to the Greenhouses for Herbology.

“I learn Ron, not ask” said Hermione as they stopped at the entrance of the greenhouse since it was occupied by second years

“Hey look!” squeaked a second year through the glass

“It's Harry Potter!”

Hermione grabbed Harry by the wrist and moved him to a tree where he wasn't seen by the students who were pressing their faces against the glass pane to get a look at Harry.

“I hate Voldemort and this scar” said Harry sarcastically as Hermione and Ron smirked at him.

- - -

They ate lunch early so they can go to the library since Hermione needed some reference books for the Metamorphmagi essay.

“We can just send an owl to Tonks, she's a Metamorphmagus herself” said Ron shutting From Noses to Pig Snouts

“I rather learn it first hand” said Hermione trying to reach a book at the shelf, Harry smiled when she tried reaching the book. He finds it amusing to see Hermione trying to defy her physical attributes like reaching an object from a tall area but can't get it since she's short.

“Here, I'll help you with that” said Ron

“No, I can get it myself” said Hermione

“Hermione, you're too small to reach that” said Harry

“I'm not small!” argued Hermione “I'm just suffering from uh…”

“Shortness?” said Ron grinning

“Yes, I mean no! I mean - alright, you win, get that big blue one over there” she said putting her right fist on her waist

“Alright” Ron got the book and gave it to Hermione. She read it and closed it quickly

“Wrong book, what I need is a -”

“A stepping stool?” said Ron

“Shut up!”

“Shhh!” hissed Madam Pince, the librarian.

“Sorry” Hermione said softly

“What do you mean by `wrong book'?” Harry asked as he looked at the book she got, it was dedicated to spiders facts.

“I'm sure it was here” said Hermione looking at the bookshelves “It's a big blue book dedicated to Metamorphmagi, it has a black spine, just like that one” she added pointing to the spider book “I wonder who could borrow it?”

“I think I know” said Harry

“Who?” asked Ron

Harry pointed to the other end of the library, wearing a black hood with matching cape and white robes underneath, a girl was reading a blue book that said on the cover Metamorphosis of The Human Body, A Guide to Metamorphmagi.

“What does she think she is?” said Hermione looking a bit annoyed “as if she owns the library -”

“Hermione, you do that too when other students need does books” Harry explained. He remembered every year when he needed a reference book for his essays, Hermione would beat him to the book with the most references, he would get annoyed at her but at least she would lend it to him after using it.

“Whoops, sorry” said Hermione whose cheeks turned red “I just want to do the essay now”

“Get a grip” said Ron “It's just first day of term and you act as if next week is the actual N.E.W.T. exams”

“Alright, I'll try to calm down” she removed the band that was holding her hair, her hair then fell down to shoulders as she shook her head slowly to make them flow around her head. This made Harry knees a bit weak, but why?

“Much better” said Hermione sliding her hands through her brown hair which had blonde streaks.

“Do you need this?” said a small voice behind Harry, Harry turned and saw the girl named Fiyuna handing out the blue book to Hermione

“Err… yes. Thank you” added Hermione

“Pleasure” she said. She turned her gaze to Harry. Even though her eyes were covered, Harry could tell she was looking at his scar, he held his bangs to hide it.

“I'm not looking at your scar” she said “I'm looking at your eyes”

“My eyes?”

“Yes, they look like your mother's. They look beautiful” she said “It's a pity they're gone. Voldemort's has got more than he bargained for” she added with a smile

“Er… You just said You-Know-Who's name” said Ron who looked pale since three of his companions would say Voldemort's name without difficulty

“I did, because Dumbledore told me, he told me if you fear the name you fear itself. He's a wise man”

“Is Fiyuna your real name?” asked Harry

Fiyuna bit her lower lip

“Er… Maybe” she said and smiled at Harry

“What do you mean by -?”

“Oh look at the time!” Fiyuna said “it's nice meeting you Harry, I think I might have someone to talk with apart from Professor Raptor” she bade goodbye and left

“She's a nutter you know” said Ron

“She's nice” said Hermione “and I think she fancies you Harry” she added

“For the last time -”

“Shut it, I know” said Hermione

- - -

“A point taken from Gryffindor... for disrupting my class” said Professor Snape glaring at Seamus and Dean who were sniggering at Neville's clumsiness with his quill.

“As I was saying, my N.E.W.T. classes are only open to all students who average in `Outstanding'. Not `Acceptable' not `Exceed Expectations, just `Outstanding. I have lots of clues on who will not be staying in my class for next year” he said looking at Harry. “Unless of course, their career paths require my teachings then I will not be easy on you” he added. Harry had the impression Snape knew what career track Harry chose, Legilimency?

“That would end the N.E.W.T. orientation. For today, you will be studying a very advance potion… very advance that students who are absent-minded klutz” he looks at Neville who shuddered “should be very careful. A mistake could be the last time we might me see each other and say goodbye to your careers. The potion I'm mentioning is the Panacea Healing Potion. A potion so powerful, it can heal any ailment, but if used too much, you will be overdosed and you'll suffer dizziness and hallucinate. If that ever happens in my class I will be forced to expel them from my classes”

If he wanted to be Auror, he had to keep up with his grades in Potions, so he copied his note and listened to Snape very carefully. After the discussion on the Panacea Healing Potion, Snape gave out the ingredients in the blackboard.

“The concoction of this potion is very sensitive. What I mean is that if you get one ingredient wrong… You will be forced to drink the potion you made… If it poisons you then I will heal you with some antidote. But be careful, because it is very unfortunate I have a limited supply of antidote and I'm afraid it might have no room for all of you who loves to break rules” he said looking at Harry

“That will be all for today and for your homework write an essay on the creation of the panacea potion. Brief essays won't be honored also bring the following ingredients next week for the concoction, three of these ingredients can be found in the cupboard behind you” he gestured to the cabinet at the back of the classroom “the others are not in the cupboard so I encourage some students to improvise. Dismiss”

“What a day! Four essays, ingredients and a drawing of a Venomous Tentacula, my N.E.W.T. year must be murder” said Ron as they lined up for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class “Finally! We can see what this professor is made of”

They stayed outside for three minutes already

“Shouldn't we supposed to be inside?” asked Harry looking at his wristwatch

Cue to this the doorknob clicked and the door opened. Without haste, everyone came in. Ginny was right… he was a half-blood. The classroom was decorated with lots of muggle stuff except for the pictures, they were moving like every other portrait in Hogwarts. There was a hat stand in the corner of the classroom were a coat hung, a model of a car from the 1930's was displayed at a glass case at the back of the room, books were filled with muggle books, a kettle whistled near the fireplace where the teacher's desk stood beside it. The desk was the most muggle-ish item in the room; it had an old fashioned radio which played a swing tune, there was also a lamp that's usually seen in banks, a folder which said on the surface “Gryffindor Students” and three others that were dedicated to the other three houses. But what kept Harry from looking around was the sword that hung on top of the fireplace… it looked brilliant, it had a gold handle and it gave a reddish glow in the blade, there was a name on the blade but Harry couldn't make any of it.

They all sat down at their seats still looking at the muggle artifacts around them. It was quiet. The only sound that could be heard was the brief whistling of the kettle and the swing song that is being played in the radio on the desk.

“His office is cool… Hey look, a fellytone” said Ron pointing to a red phone which was displayed on an end table

“Telephone Ron” Hermione corrected

“Let him say anything Ms. Granger. That word might enter in the dictionary you know” came a voice.

They all looked up and saw Professor Raptor come out of his office.

“Ah yes, the telephone” he walked down the stone steps and moved forward to the end table where the telephone stayed “Alexander Graham Bell made this contraption to communicate with his buddies” He looked at the class behind him

“Oh yes, anyway, my name is Rapticon Sr., you can call me Professor Raptor or just plain Rapticon Sr. if you want” he continued down the aisle between the chairs and tables. “Granger!” he called making everyone jump “Your record is so spotless I want to spit on it. Just kidding” he added looking at the fear on her face “What I mean is that, according to McGonagall, you are the cleverest witch in Hogwarts and I just want to warn you that we should give chance to others and not hog all the answers… we don't want the others to feel stupid right?” he said smiling mischievously at Hermione

“Er… no professor” squeaked Hermione

“Good, I like that kind of spirit” he said “Anyway, this year will be the final year before your raging hormones rage up - I'm kidding” he added to the surprise faces of the students “I mean that this year we will be preparing for the most important part of your school and that is the N dot E dot W dot T dot or AKA Nastily Exhausting Wizards Test” he went to sit his desk and got the folder Harry saw earlier, he opened it and said “I see, looks like Potter's the best in his year… Don't worry Granger, you can do Transfiguration a lot better than Mr. Potter here” he chuckled. Harry looked at Hermione who looked red but smiled.

“I'm not saying I hate you, I like smart people, I really do, it's just that they tend to hog all the questions from others”

Hermione raised her hand

“Yes Ms. Granger?”

“Why is your machinery working? Isn't Hogwarts machine protected?

“Hogwarts a crapshoot when it comes to machines, but I asked Dumbledore if he can conjure a charm around the room so I can use my muggle stuff freely” he said taping his radio

“Where were we? Oh yeah, N.E.W.T.s, this year we will be studying about mummies… but before I continue, who is afraid of mummies?”

Only Parvati raised her hand

“I see, well, unfortunately, we will be learning about mummies, its history, famous wizards or witches who were mummies, how to fight mummies, how make them and of course a hands-on with them”

“What do you mean by `hands-on'?” Ron asked

“You are going to make them with your own bare cold hands if that's what you're looking for” Rapticon Sr. said

“Don't worry professor, Weasley has his share of filth. And this one is going to be added to it” spat Malfoy making the Slytherins snicker which made Ron's ears turn red.

“Malfoy?” said Rapticon Sr. as he got another folder and read the contents “Are you Lucius Malfoy's son?”

“Yes, professor” answered Malfoy with pride

“I dunno what you're proud of Malfoy” said Rapticon Sr. holding his hands “your hair or having a git for a father… Whoops, did I say that?” he added making the Gryffindors chuckle together with some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs

“Hey! Don't give a go at my father!” Malfoy answered back

“It's not my fault” said Rapticon Sr. raising both of his hands apologetically “you teased - or should I say insulted - Ronald's family first, I rest my case”

“How did you know that?” asked Malfoy and Harry together

“Obvious, a student told another student then a teacher overhears then tells the other teachers and - you know what I mean”

“But it's true” Malfoy muttered

“It may be true Mr. Malfoy, but it doesn't change the fact that the Weasleys are rich with goodness and if you utter any insults to a fellow students or teacher I will be forced to do something excruciating”

Harry didn't know what to do, enjoy what's happening to Malfoy or pity his lost of words.

“What a nutter” Harry heard Malfoy said to his Slytherin pals who agreed

“That's it” Rapticon Sr. said standing up and opening a drawer in his desk “I warned you Malfoy but nothing will get into that thick square of yours you call a head” he sat down and held something metal which Harry recognized as a pistol.

“What's that? A tickling instrument or something?” asked Seamus

“No Mr. Finnigan, if you are curious then -” he loaded it and aimed at Malfoy's direction

BANG!

The bullet hit the flagged stone wall making all the students jumped

“Aw… to bad it didn't hit Mr. Malfoy”

“What was that thing?” said Ron

“A gun or in your terms a metal wand… It only has one spell”

“What is it?”

“Avada Kedavra”

BANG!

This time he shot the glass window but repaired it after.

“Professor!” shouted Hermione closing her ears

“Sorry” he said putting the gun away “I was just testing it that's all” he looked out of the window “By God! Was that an owl I hit? Better call Hagrid later”

They spent the next hour talking about N.E.W.T.s and mummies, Rapticon Sr. even told them funny stories and lots of interesting facts about the muggle world.

“Why didn't you take Muggle Studies professor?” asked Dean

“I hate Muggle Studies, makes you plain”

Before the end of the period Rapticon Sr. said

“Looks like we are in the end of our double period” he looks at the clock “but before we leave lets toss some quaffles, I'm bored” he went to a cabinet and tossed two quaffles at the class who were already standing.

“This is a weird teacher” said Hermione happily as she passed the quaffles to Neville who dropped it

“Ginny was right, he is cocky” said Harry dodging intentional throws by Malfoy

Before they knew it, the bell rang and they all left. But before Harry could reach the door to follow Ron and Hermione -

“Potter, wait a minute, I want to talk to you for a second” said Rapticon Sr. stuffing the quaffles at the cabinet. Harry noticed an engine of a car and five books that had colors for each one. The first was brown, the second was red, the third was green, the fourth was green but had brown colors and the fifth was blue, he noticed the blue book's cover; a boy with black hair holding a wand in a room lit with blue candles. Before he could question what those books were, Rapticon Sr. said

“So, before I reached Hogwarts, I heard a lot about you” he said taking a seat behind his desk and asking Harry to have a seat “my companion, Fiyuna, she heard about you too and wanted to meet you”

“Why?” Harry asked, he noticed a portrait of thirteen people having a meal at a long table, the one in the middle had long brown hair and matching beard.

“Never you mind” he said “The more important thing is that I want to ask you one question”

“What is it?”

“Do you like going on an adventure?”

“Why'd you ask?

“Just asking”

“If I didn't have this burden on my shoulders then I would love too”

“I take that as a yes”

“Are you going to take me to an adventure?”

“If you like, unless you are ready”

“I will decide it with you when I'm ready” said Harry

“Good, now move along, your friends are waiting” Rapticon Sr. said waving his hand lazily

“Thank you sir” Harry said, before he turned “Sir?”

“Yes Harry?”

“Why are you acting like that to Hermione?”

“I just wanna see how you react”

“What do you mean?”

“I was expecting you to defend her but no dice”

“Are you saying that I like -”

“Damn, my throat hurts” Rapticon Sr. said rubbing his throat “I gotta rest Harry, stop asking questions right now. Shoo!” he said leaving Harry stunned on what Rapticon Sr. said about him and Hermione.

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