Author's Note: You all are smart, I'll give you that. And that's good. It makes things so much more enjoyable for me, the writer. Thanks again for all of your wonderful reviews. Seeing the feedback you all give me makes writing this some much more worth it. Special thanks go out to Jessica, for quickly reading through this, and Nitya, who also did a beta job on this chapter. Thanks you two!
CHAPTER TWELVE
SCHEDULES AND SPHINXES
Morning arrived and Harry awoke with a start. He didn't understand why he was up so early, especially since he had fallen asleep very late the previous night, thinking of his mother's diary. He drew back the hangings on his four poster and looked out the window at the pale dawn, but it wasn't his mother's diary that was bothering him. Surprisingly, it was the role of parchment that Harry had not touched since the night the vampires attacked Ottery St. Catchpole. It was the broomstick. He had to make the broomstick, but he did not know how. He'd need wood and twigs and complicated spells.
The moment I try to fly it, he thought to himself, it'll probably break apart.
Maybe he could pick Hermione's brain about it. She would surely know what to do. Certainly she would not approve of him making a broomstick, but if he was subtle enough…
His resolve strengthened, he slipped out of bed and dug around in his trunk, looking for the blueprints. When he found them, he laid back in bed and opened them up, studying them as carefully as he had before he left the Burrow.
Pretty soon, he felt his stomach grumble, which seemed impossible considering how stuffed he was after the feast the night before. Putting the scroll back in the trunk, he grabbed his clothes, a set of robes, his mother's diary and then closed the trunk before getting dressed. Then, very quietly as not to wake his fellow dorm mates, he opened the door and left, heading down towards the common room.
When he reached the common room, he was surprised to see a small girl, a first year no doubt, with blonde hair and brown eyes sitting in one of the big armchairs with her nose in a book. She looked positively Hermione-ish, in Harry's opinion. He sat down on one of the cushy sofas and said, "Good morning."
The girl looked up, startled. "Oh! Good morning," she said as her eyes rested on Harry. She eyed him up and down before gasping and asking, "Are you Harry Potter?"
Harry wondered what her reaction would be before saying, "Yes." He was quite surprised to see a smile form on her face and to hear her say, "It's nice to meet you."
He blinked. "Thanks. What's your name?"
"Alison Warrick, but everyone called me Ally."
"Well, it's nice to meet you too, Ally," he said. He was very pleased that she didn't seem either excited or afraid to meet him. He grinned. "What are you reading?"
"Number the Stars," she replied, "by Lois Lowry."
Again, all Harry could do was blink. "Is that a Muggle book?"
She nodded. "It's about this girl and her Jewish friend during the Nazi regime in Denmark."
"Are you a Muggle-born?" he asked before he could stop himself.
She smiled again. "No. I'm a half-blood. My mother is a pureblood witch and my father is Muggle-born."
"My parents were like that too, except my mother was Muggle-born," Harry told her.
The door to the dormitories opened behind them and Harry turned around to see the same boy he had noticed the night before during the sorting ceremony.
"'Morning, Hunter," Ally said.
"'Morning," he mumbled, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
"What are you doing up so early?" she asked him.
"Couldn't sleep," he replied, plopping down into the chair across from the first year girl.
Ally sighed, but then asked, "Have you met Harry Potter yet?" The boy known as Hunter cast his eyes over in Harry's direction before shaking his head. "Well now you can," Ally said. "Harry Potter, this is Hunter Farrell. Hunter, meet Harry Potter."
"Hello," Harry said with a small smile.
"Hello," the boy replied back in the same monotonous tone.
"I take it you two know each other?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Ally replied. "Our dads-" Hunter stiffened. "-are best friends."
"Were best friends," Hunter corrected quietly.
Harry thought about asking what the boy meant by that, but he decided it was best not to. The three sat in silence for a few moments before the door to the girls' dormitories opened and both Hermione and Ginny walked out. Spotting Harry, Hermione smiled and said, "My, aren't we an early riser today."
"Speak for yourself," Harry replied, checking his watch. "They won't even start serving breakfast for another two hours."
"I couldn't wait," Hermione said, a gleam coming into her eye. "N.E.W.T. level classes start today."
"And you, Ginny?" he asked, turning to the redhead.
"One of the girls was snoring loudly. I couldn't sleep," she replied with a yawn.
"You get that problem too?" Harry asked. "Ron and Neville could wake the dead."
Ginny giggled before sitting down. "Well, I knew Ron was bad…"
Hermione was looking over at the other two occupants of the room. Obviously recognizing that they were first years, she smiled brightly and said, "Hello."
Hunter, who had been staring into the fire, glanced over and muttered, "Hi," before turning back to the flames. Ally, however, closed her book and said cheerfully, "Hello."
"I'm Hermione Granger."
"Ally Warrick, and he's Hunter Farrell," she replied, gesturing to Hunter. "He doesn't talk much."
Hermione smiled at Hunter, who merely continued to watch the fire. "Well, look, if you two ever need help," She tapped her prefect's badge, "don't hesitate to ask."
"Oh! You're a prefect!" Ally said. She seemed more excited about meeting a prefect than she was Harry, much to his surprise. Not that he was complaining. "That must be so cool!"
"It's interesting, to say the least," Hermione said, grinning. She sat down next to Harry, while Ginny sat down next to her.
"So what do you have to do?" Ally asked.
Harry rolled his eyes and opened his mother's diary as Hermione launched into an explanation of her prefect duties. He turned the pages until he finally found where he had left off the night before. Shifting into a more comfortable position, he began to read.
8 September, 1971
I have just realized something! I have been writing in this diary for a week and I still have yet to say anything about myself. How incredibly silly of me!
My name is Lily Diane Evans and I was born on 8, February 1960. I am the second and youngest daughter of Charles and Rose Evans, who are both Muggles. My older sister's name is Petunia. My hair is red and my eyes are green, like my mother's.
When I started to show magical abilities, my sister was terrified. Mum and Dad just thought I was "special." They had no idea how "special" I was until I received my Hogwarts letter a few months ago. My sister looked more horrified than ever. I can't understand what her problem is.
So here I am, learning everything I need to know to become an accomplished witch. In seven years' time I should be able to perform the most complicated of spells.
While in Potions today, I met a boy named Remus Lupin. I think he may be a friend of that Potter and Black, because he kept glancing over at their table and they kept winking back at him. But he's a nice boy, unlike that Potter and Black, who both walk around like they run the place. Their arrogance will be their undoing, I swear.
Remus is a shy person, that much is clear. He is very polite too. I could also tell, when Potter and Black weren't distracting him, that he can also be very studious. He didn't need to ask questions. He understood what he had to do and he did it, with my help. I wouldn't mind being his partner again.
I do have something that I must learn about though, and fast. Several of my fellow classmates talk about Quidditch. A few of my dorm mates and practically all of the boys talk about it as if it was the greatest thing in the world. I understand it's a sport, but can it be that great a thing?
Lily
Harry chuckled about his mother's ponderings about Quidditch. She sounded like somebody he knew, but he couldn't place his finger on it.
The door to the boys' dorm opened and a few fourth years stepped out, followed by Dean, Seamus, and Ron. Ginny looked over at Dean, scowled, and turned around, folding her arms across her chest.
"'Morning," Ron said with a yawn as he rubbed his eyes.
"'Morning," Harry replied and slipped the diary underneath his robes. For some odd reason he didn't want Ron knowing about his mother's diary.
"How much longer until breakfast? I'm hungry!" Ron groaned.
Harry checked his watch. "We could go down there now. We'll be a good ten minutes early though."
Ron considered this for a moment and said, "But then we'll be the first to get food. Let's go!"
Harry grinned. "Let me just go put something back and we can go," he said, getting up and walking over to the door leading up to the boys' dormitory.
"Okay, but be quick."
Harry laughed and pulled open the door before running up the steps, taking them three at a time. After putting the diary back in his trunk, he headed back down the stairs and into the common room, where Ron was waiting for him by the portrait hole.
"Come on," Ron said exasperatedly.
"Where are you two going?" asked Hermione as she stepped up behind them. It was apparent that her conversation with Ginny and the first year girl was over.
"Down to the Great Hall," Ron said. "I'm hungry."
"When aren't you?" she muttered. "I'll come with you. I'm anxious to get my schedule. I really want to attend my classes."
"When don't you?" Ron muttered as he opened the portrait and climbed out.
No one was in the Great Hall when they entered, yet plates were already set out. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their customary seats towards the middle of the table.
"So," Ron said, "when are we holding Quidditch tryouts?"
Harry shrugged. "I thought I'd wait a few weeks, let people get adjusted to being back in school, then hold them."
Hermione looked very approving of this idea, but Ron just scowled. "We need to start soon. We've got to replace at least two people. We need to gain balance so we can win the Quidditch Cup again!"
Harry blinked and then started to laugh. "Ron, you have no idea how much you sounded like Wood just there."
"Wood knew what needed to be done when it came to the Quidditch team," Ron said sharply.
"And so do I," Harry said, not laughing anymore. "There's a reason why I'm the captain, Ron."
"And you asked me to help you, to give you advice. That's my advice: start as early as you can," Ron said.
"But I think Harry has the right idea, letting people settle in first," Hermione said.
Ron sighed. "Forgive me, Hermione, but you know nothing about Quidditch."
Harry laughed and Hermione scowled. "Sorry, Hermione, but he does have a point, on both matters," he said, turning back to Ron. "I see your point, Ron, I really do, but I don't think it would be wise to begin the first week of school, or even the second week. Tell you what, the day I see the notice for flying lessons for the first years, is the day I'll post the announcement for tryouts."
Ron frowned, but nodded his head. "Okay."
By this time several people were starting to file into the Great Hall. Harry noticed Cho Chang walk in with a group of Ravenclaw girls, one of which was Marietta Edgecombe, who had betrayed Harry and the rest of the D.A. the year before when she told Dolores Umbridge of its existence.
"There's the traitor," Rom muttered, looking off in the same direction as Harry. He then turned to Hermione. "It's a good thing you put that jinx on that paper. No one dared to say a word after the incident."
Hermione was beaming with pride when Harry turned back to them. "With Lupin back," he said, "there really is no point to continue the D.A. is there?"
"I still think it's a good idea," Hermione said. "It could become an official club."
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Look at the loads of stuff you were able to teach us. I actually could pay attention."
"But we have Lupin back," Harry said. "He's the greatest Dark Arts teacher we've ever had. And his classes are never dull. Even Ron can stay awake," he said, nudging Ron in the ribs.
"Hey!"
Food appeared on the table and everyone began to dig in. Harry immediately tucked himself into a plate full of sausage, eggs, and toast.
"Ow, don' et me ong, I love m'Mum' coo'in', bu' 'Ogwar's makes th'bes' foo," Ron said around a mouthful of hash-browns and pancakes.
"That's all house-elf labor," Hermione muttered.
"Wha'? Choo still not on abou' tha' spew, are ya?" Ron muttered and swallowed his food.
"When will you get that it's S.P.E.W.?" Hermione scowled.
"Yeah, spew," Ron muttered. "You're still not going through with that, are you?"
"Of course I am! But I'm not worried about just the house-elves anymore," she replied, causing Ron to spit out the pumpkin juice he was drinking.
"What!"
"Centaurs need rights, too," Hermione said.
"Centaurs! Centaurs!" he turned to Harry, flabbergasted.
"Er…Hermione, I don't think the centaurs want or care about rights," Harry said, thinking of the time both he and Hermione were nearly killed by them in the Forbidden Forest.
"Look at Firenze," Hermione said shrilly. "He's an outcast in society."
"Yeah, centaur society!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron's got a point, Hermione. Firenze was cast out of the Forest because he helped Dumbledore. You know just as well as I do about centaurs not wanting to help humans," Harry said.
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Fine, take his side."
"No, no," Harry said, "I'm not taking sides. House-elves are one thing, Hermione, but centaurs are completely different."
"Yeah. Just work on house-elf freedom first, and then move your way up," Ron said before shoveling yet another forkful of hash-browns in his mouth.
Hermione scowled, but muttered, "Fine," before going back to her breakfast.
Before they were finished, Professor McGonagall was sweeping up and down the table, handing out schedules.
"Double Transfiguration," Ron groaned as he looked at his schedule. "Then after lunch we have double Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"I also have Arithmancy and Ancient Runes today," Hermione commented. Ron looked at her. "What? Did you honestly think I would give up those classes?"
Ron glanced back down at his schedule. "I've got a lot of breaks in mine. And yes!" he shouted, pumping his fist into the air. "No more Potions!"
"Speak for yourself," Harry muttered. He was scheduled for double Potions on Tuesdays and another class first thing in the morning on Thursday.
"Bad luck, mate," Ron murmured, patting Harry on the back.
"But it looks like we both have Friday afternoons off after Defense Against the Dark Arts. How about you, Hermione?" Harry asked, examining both his and Ron's new N.E.W.T. schedules.
"No," Hermione replied. "I have Defense Against the Dark Arts and then Ancient Runes."
"Do you have a break at all?" Ron asked.
"Er…yes-right after Charms tomorrow," she replied.
Harry and Ron turned to each other, apparently both thinking the same thing, by the look of horror Harry saw on Ron's face.
"Well, come on," Hermione said, getting up. "We've got to go collect our things for Transfiguration."
Ten minutes later, they were inside Professor McGonagall's class, taking their seats towards the middle of the classroom.
"Congratulations on making it into N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration," McGonagall said once everyone had taken their seats. "I told you that you could all make it."
Harry looked around. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil smiled at each other while Neville looked extremely shocked to have the class at all.
"Now, you may have been having thoughts over the summer that now that your O.W.L.s are over, you are going to have an easier time. Let me take this time to strike that notion from your minds. Things are going to get harder, much harder. Before you had five years to learn the necessary skills to pass your O.W.L.s; now you only have two. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get out your wands and begin."
Professor McGonagall spent the entire class putting them all through the ringer. She made them vanish fetal pigs and turn ropes into snakes. Harry and Ron had trouble. The tail could still be seen on Ron's pig and Harry's snake had frayed ends. Hermione, however, was having no trouble at all. She vanished three pigs and turned four ropes into snakes.
"Excellent, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said. "Ten points to Gryffindor. Homework, two sheets of parchment on transfiguring animals into other animals."
Hermione was very pleased when the bell rang. "That was fun," she said.
"To you it was," Ron muttered.
"I'll see you two at lunch, right? I have to go to my Ancient Runes class," Hermione said happily.
"Yeah," Harry said as they parted ways on the staircases.
Harry and Ron climbed a flight of steps, as Ron grumbled, "I'll need this break just to get ready for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Can you believe McGonagall?"
"That snake of mine was horrible," Harry muttered as they passed a group of giggling second year girls.
They spent their time before lunch playing wizard's chess and then met Hermione in the Great Hall. After eating their share of sandwiches, they headed up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room to see what Lupin had in store for their first class.
Lupin was standing at the head of the class, waiting for it to begin. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took a seat at the very front of the classroom, knowing that they were going to have a good experience that year. But who entered the classroom next made Harry's stomach drop.
Draco Malfoy sauntered in followed by Pansy Parkinson and several other Slytherins.
"What's he doing here?" Ron hissed.
"We must have Defense Against the Dark Arts with Slytherin now," Hermione murmured and they all groaned.
By the time the whole class arrived, Lupin was smiling. "Welcome back," he said. "I hope you all had a good summer."
"Apparently you haven't," Malfoy muttered to his group, so loud that Harry could hear him, as could Professor Lupin. Lupin, however, was still smiling.
"I have quite a lesson for you all today, so, put your books away, grab your wands, and follow me," he said, heading off towards the back of the class and to the door.
Harry felt a rush of excitement. It had been a long time since he had had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The whole class followed Lupin down the corridor and down the staircases, down the marble stairs and through the entrance hall all the way outside before leading around the castle and near the lake, where a magnificent sight beheld them.
"So," said Professor Lupin, "who can tell me what that is?"
Hermione raised her hand, still staring at the sight in awe.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"It's a sphinx," Hermione uttered.
"Excellent! And who can tell me about the sphinx?" Hermione's hand shot up again. "Hermione?"
"The sphinx has a human head on a lion's body, as we can all see. For over a thousand years it has been used by witches and wizards to guard valuables and secret hideaways. Highly intelligent, the sphinx delights in puzzles and riddles. It is usually dangerous only when what it is guarding is threatened," she said, sounding like she was reciting a book.
"That correct. Ten points for Gryffindor," Lupin said, still smiling. "Now, our sphinx is not guarding anything, but she still is tricky. Today we are going to work on safely warding her off, without having to go through one of her tedious riddles. Repeat after me please. Discedo!"
"Discedo!" the class repeated.
"Alright, I have a cage over by the edge of the Forest. You all, one by one, are going to walk up to the sphinx, slowly," he added, "then, brandish your wand, and thus cry, discendo! The sphinx should be forced away from you. Try to force her towards the cage. Who wants to go first?"
Much of the class moved backwards, trying to stay away from the sphinx. "Ron," Professor Lupin said, "how about you?" Gulping, Ron stepped forward. "Very good. Now, just remember to approach the sphinx slowly."
Ron gulped again and set off at a slow pace. The sphinx, who was gazing off in the direction of the lake, turned and peered down at Ron, who paused, eyes wide in horror, and then took off again. When he was about twenty feet from her, he took out his wand, causing her to tilt her head to the side. Then, in barely more than a gasp, he uttered, "Discedo!"
The sphinx leapt to her feet, causing Ron to stumble backwards. Yet instead of harming him, she simply turned around and walked away before settling back down on another patch of grass.
"Very good, Ron, very good!" Professor Lupin said, beaming. "Okay, who's next?"
"I'll go!" shouted a Slytherin boy as Ron returned to where Harry and Hermione were standing.
"Excellent, Mr. Zabini. Go right ahead," Lupin said.
"Good job, Ron," Hermione said as Blaise Zabini stepped forward.
"Yeah, Ron, that was great," Harry said.
Ron beamed. "I thought she was going to kill me when she jumped up, but I kept my cool."
After most of the class went, including Malfoy, his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson, Hermione finally went up for her turn. They were very close to the cage by the Forest's edge. Hermione edged forward slowly, then shouted, "Discedo!" The sphinx yet again jumped up and moved away.
"Wonderful Hermione," Lupin said. "That just leaves Harry."
Harry stepped up as Hermione passed him. The sphinx eyed him, obviously knowing what lied ahead. Harry inched forward slowly, keeping eye contact with the sphinx.
"That's it, Harry," Professor Lupin whispered. "Very good."
Slowly, Harry removed his wand from his robes and scooted about two more feet forward before coming to a halt. "Discedo!" he yelled and the sphinx jumped up.
"Great, Harry, now walk her slowly to the cage," Professor Lupin instructed.
Harry walked slowly forward, forcing the sphinx backwards. Just as she was about to hit the cage, Lupin walked forward and smiled. "That's good enough, Harry. Thank you. For homework, please write a page on sphinxes and some of their famous riddles, due by the next class. You're dismissed!"
The class headed back up towards the castle, the Gryffindors all talking excitedly about Lupin's class.
"That was awesome," Dean Thomas commented.
"That was bullocks!" Malfoy drawled from behind them all. "Sphinxes! Since when did this class turn into that oaf's Care of Magical Creatures class? And I was hoping to actually learn something this year."
"You would if you'd quit sneering!" Hermione muttered.
"Maybe I would if you would stop trying to be the teacher's pet, you little Mudblood," Malfoy spat, making both Harry and Ron turn on him.
"Watch your mouth, Malfoy," Ron warned.
"Or you'll live to regret it," Harry added.
"Come on," Hermione muttered. "He's not worth it."
"You're lucky, Malfoy," Ron said, turning back towards the castle. By the time they reached the oak front doors, he was muttering, "If only I could get my hands on that slimy git without getting in trouble. That'll show him!"
"Plan your revenge later, Ron; you have homework to do," Hermione said. "I'll see you both later. I have Arithmancy."
"Homework," Ron groaned as they parted ways with Hermione. "Must she bring that up?"
Harry shrugged. "Want to have a game of Exploding Snap?"
"Good idea," Ron said as they made their way back to the common room, happy to have survived their first day of classes.