Harry closed the door to Hermione's and his room behind him and sat next to Hermione who was apparently in her own world.
"Hermione? Are you okay? What did he say to you?"
"Yes Harry, you did a brilliant job on that spell, well done," Hermione said in a monotone voice.
Harry put his hands on her shoulders and shook her lightly.
"Hermione, what happened?"
"Ron asked me to the ball, I said yes."
"You did," he asked.
"Yes, you think I shouldn't have?"
"No," he said quickly, "Is this like a date?"
"Yes."
"Okay... er... I'm going to go work on that spell again."
Harry turned to leave, but went back to Hermione.
"Why did you... Does it have to be a date?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because what if... What if I don't want it to be a date," he said.
Harry kept watching his hands and not her, not able for some reason to look at her face.
"Why wouldn't you want it to be a date?" Hermione tried to hide the hope she felt.
"God Hermione, I don't feel like playing twenty questions with you right now..." he said as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"My answer depends on your answer," she said.
"Because... I don't want things to change," he lied.
"That's a poor excuse Harry."
"Well then why him of all people?"
"He asked."
"Er... Krum, he won't like this. What are you going to tell him?"
"We haven't kept in touch, he didn't like my friends..." she said.
"He could be right you know, we could be awful friends...."
"Harry...."
"Fine," Harry's hands went up in defeat, "I'll just be alone then."
"Harry, you have a lot of better things to worry about than who takes who to some silly dance. Besides, if you haven't looked at your schedule yet, we've got double Potions in the morning."
* * *
"What are you doing here Potter," Malfoy sneered.
"Got an O on my OWLs. Those extra Potions lessons helped. I'm guessing your father's bank account helped you get here."
"Anymore out of you Potter and I'll take points away from Gryffindor," Snape said as he entered the room in his usual over dramatic fashion.
"This is NEWT level Potions, only half of you here are going to come close to passing this class, if you don't feel up to it don't waste my time. For the rest of you, I want you to try to complete the first part of the 'potion used to help werewolves' potion."
Hermione and Harry shared a glance.
"Begin." And that was the last word said for the rest of the entire class.
Lunch came sooner than Harry expected. He thought it might have to do with the fact that Snape didn't berate him during class, which made the time seem to fly by. Ron, being able to sleep in didn't make things easy though.
"Harry, you should drop Potions. I'm serious this is great. Plus, you wouldn't have to see Snape hardly at all."
"Sorry, can't. So you've just been sleeping this entire time?"
Ron nodded proudly.
"So where are you two off to after lunch?"
"History of Magic," Hermione said over the Daily Prophet.
"Why do you still read that, they admit Voldemort's back," Ron asked.
"Can never be too careful."
"What does it say?"
"Did you wonder why Professor Lupin was late the first day? They tried to interview him.... They don't say anything too bad, just that he's a werewolf...."
"Is it any of their bloody business if he is," Ron asked.
"I'm just saying what was in the article," she said.
"We'd better head over to class," Harry said as he looked down at his watch.
"I'm going back up to Gryffindor tower, maybe I can catch a nap..." Ron said as he stretched.
"There are some times I hate him. You know that could have been us taking a nap.... Why did we take this class, even you can barely stay awake."
"If it's still just as bad then I'm sure Dumbledore will let us drop it. Who knows, maybe Binns actually looks to see if we're still breathing...."
They entered the classroom and it was not as they had remembered it. There seemed to be a large box in the middle of the room. The top was at least six feet in the air and there seemed to be a ledge there at least a foot an a half wide along all sides. Other students came pouring into the classroom and began to whisper on what they thought was inside. The chatter became louder and louder as the time for class to officially start came and went.
"Sorry I'm late.... did you know there's a ghost in the woman's loo?"
A woman in her mid twenties approached them then stood in front of the mystery box. She wore a dress and glasses that made her look like she was from a 50s black and white television show. Her hair was black and put up in a messy bun with a pencil poking out of it.
"If you haven't guessed I am your new History of Magic teacher. Professor Binns has passed on, but considering his situation I hardly believe that's a surprise. My name... well just call me Dr. Sam and we'll be fine. Any questions?"
"How come we haven't seen you until just now?"
"I've been working hard on this," she said pointing to the 'box'.
"Come on now."
She took the large stools from against the wall and put them next to the box. The students followed, eager to see what was in there. Once they climbed up the stools and sat down they could see perfectly into the box.
"This is an exact replica of the Giant battle of 1743 on Boxer Hill."
Inside little giants were marching across the battlefield.
"I was never for the verbal... I think you may get a better understanding of things by actually seeing them, of course there is-"
A giant beheaded three men, their heads making tiny thuds against the side of the box as the entire class 'ewwww'ed.
"A gore factor. Now that was Yurk, the one that did the beheading. He was known in the giant world for being a fierce warrior, we'll find out what happens to him once we see the trials after the war," Dr. Sam said.
"We'll be able to watch the trials like this," Hermione asked.
"Of course. I will be expecting all of you to take notes and remember what happens each class, the beginning of the next class we'll have a quiz on what was learned and if I don't like the test scores then we'll go back to the way Professor Binns taught. At least, that's what I've threatened all my other classes with. Seeing as you are my NEWTs class, I don't think we'll have a problem."
For the first time in years Harry not only stayed conscious during class, but he actually took notes. When the class ended they got down from the stools and headed out the doors.
"Now remember, next week we continue with the battle and we see how Sir Jeeves Calihad wins. And if anyone needs extra help feel free to come by after classes," Dr. Sam yelled at them.
"That was the best History of Magic ever," Harry said as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
"Do you think she's a muggle," Hermione asked.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well she is a doctor, which is a muggle degree, and she didn't do any magic through the entire class."
"How would she know so much about history of magic? Why would it matter anyway?"
"In hiring a muggle Dumbledore would be clearly making a statement. Everyone knows where Fudge stood with the purebloods before Voldemort came back, in hiring a werewolf and a muggle Dumbledore could clearly be making a statement to the wizarding community...."
"While he's also helping out Madame Maxime who is clearly-"
"A half- giant," she finished.
They put their books down at a table and sat down.
"Wait... what if it's not just to the wizards," he said.
Hermione gave him a questioning look.
"What if it's to the entire magical world? A statement saying wizards in high places would be willing to help them if they come out against Voldemort."
"That's brilliant Harry, of course. Guaranteed protection against Voldemort from the only wizard he fears, it's got to be a tempting offer."
"Plus it's all under Fudge's nose, and he only thinks Dumbledore's being a sympathetic old man," Harry sat back in his chair.
"If we're wrong we'll be the most paranoid people in the universe," he added.
* * *
The next day they had Herbology, which was the first class Ron had with them. They were trimming the Australian Goat-Eater plants, which, thankfully, had yet to try to kill a student. Lavender was excitedly telling Parvati that Dumbledore had kept both Trelawny and Firenze so they would have double classes. That's when Hermione's head came up and her eyes met Harry's.
"A centaur's also on his payroll," she said.
"What's this all about," Ron asked.
"Nothing," Hermione said before Harry could try and explain.
"Did you hear? Professor Lupin is back at Hogwarts. I am so glad we don't have to take that class again, I don't want him biting me..." Parvati said.
"Don't you dare say another word about Professor Lupin," Harry threatened, giving both girls a fierce look.
"You shouldn't have done that. Don't let them get to you..." Hermione said.
"Yeah mate, everyone knows they don't know what their talking about, why else would Trelawney be their favorite teacher," Ron said.
As the class ended and they headed to Hagrid's cabin Hermione fell behind them obviously afraid what Hagrid had in store for them this year. She became increasingly jumpy around Hagrid since she 'met' Grawp.
As they approached they saw something they thought, or rather hoped, they'd never see. A dragon was getting scratched behind it's ear by a very excited Hagrid. Seeing their approach Hagrid pointed emphatically at the dragon at his side as if they could miss it.
"Norbert's come home!" he said with tears in his eyes.
"Bloody hell.... That's it, I'm going back to Gryffindor tower and waking myself up from this nightmare," Ron said, as he tried to make his way back towards the castle both Harry and Hermione grabbed an arm, making his escape impossible.
"Isn't he supposed to be in a colony in Romania," Hermione asked.
"He flew away! Came right back to his mummy, he did."
"You can't actually keep him can you," Ron asked still hopeful.
"Yeah, he's going to stay in the forest with Grawp. It's a trial basis, if he behaves himself like I know he will he'll be able to stay."
As the other students made their way down to the hut Hagrid began his lesson, which was indeed on Norwegian Ridgebacks, namely Norbert.