The ride to the castle with the carriages was interesting for Harry as he hadn't used them last year as Ron and he had used the old Ford Anglia of Mr. Weasley to fly to Hogwarts after missing the train. They had greeted Hagrid in passing as he had been collecting the first years for the travel over the lake. Harry was glad he didn't have to go over there. The weather was bad enough as it was, thank you very much.
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The carriages went their way up to the school and when they passed the gates, two other hooded dementors stood there. Their presence made Harry shiver again. Thankfully it didn't last very long until their range was passed by the carriage. They reached the big main door and hurriedly made the way out of the rain and into the castle. Promptly they were stopped by Malfoy and his goons Crabbe and Goyle.
Discover moreDownload Sci-Fi BooksExplore Top AudiobooksDiscover Picture BooksDiscover Fantasy BooksRead Fan Fiction"Hey Potter, I heard some interesting news, is it true you nearly fainted because of the big bad dementor searching the train?" He laughed.
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"You should get your information network checked out Malfoy. I would expect a pureblood wizard like yourself making sure your back is covered from false information. Greengrass, I know you are way better at observation and information gathering than him, care to tell him your intel?" Harry stated calmly and politely, stopping all conversation around them.
Nobody had ever seen Harry Potter of all people showing that much dignity and aloofness. Daphne Greengrass a third year Slytherin was especially surprised by Harry's question but nonetheless pleased with his knowledge of her specialty. After all, normally Gryffindors didn't acknowledge the abilities of Slytherins. While Malfoy was her housemate, her own chance to show her superiority in this field was too good to pass on.
Discover moreMobile app developmentComics fanfiction storiesFan merchandiseCartoons fanfiction storiesComics"Well, I hate to admit it, but Potter is right. Malfoy you haven't done your research thoroughly enough. While he has had problems with the dementors he was able to cast a weak patronus charm. Nowhere near powerful enough to drive the dementor away of course, but it stopped the dementor from progressing and offered a little protection to Potter. Following my information it was the new teacher who also was in the compartment who drove the dementor away."
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Harry smiled. "See Malfoy, that is correct and most importantly complete information. You can only gain an advantage over an opponent if you know the complete picture and not only a part of it. Otherwise it may fire back in your face whatever you have planned. You have handled this as it was to be expected from the heiress of the ancient and noble house of Greengrass. Now excuse me, I want to go to the great hall to get warm again. The weather is horrible outside."
Discover moreAnime fanfiction storiesCrossover fiction guidesMobile app marketingPlays fanfiction storiesDownload FanFiction appHarry smiled gave a little respectful bow to Daphne Greengrass and did as he said and took off in the direction of the great hall, leaving a stunned Malfoy and five other mildly impressed Slytherins behind him. That show was pureblood attitude at its finest. And to see it with Potter was quite confusing. Not to mention that he had managed to bring a little blush on the cheeks of the normally perfectly controlled Greengrass heiress.
"Harry that was brilliant." Hermione beamed at him.
Neville and Ron just nodded.
Discover moreExplore Paranormal GearExplore Sci-Fi MoviesBooksFan fiction booksMovies"Thanks. P- Uncle was right, smart ass responses are really fun to use against Malfoy. Did you see his stunned face? Priceless."
Harry laughed and tried to overplay his near slip of tongue. Nobody was to know of his adoption yet. He just hoped nobody had caught on it and it seemed he was lucky this time.
"Potter, Granger, I need a quick word with you." Suddenly the voice of Minerva McGonagall was heard.
The two turned towards their head of house.
"Why? We were just going to the feast." Harry said.
"Don't worry, I just have something to discuss with you. Please follow me, Weasley, Longbottom, go on to the hall, these two will join you later." She said sternly.
Neville and Ron shrugged their shoulders and went on following the constant stream of students.
McGonagall lead Harry and Hermione to her office. Waiting there was Madam Pomfrey.
"Of course, it's you Potter." Madam Pomfrey said. "What did you do this time? What dangerous thing have you gotten yourself into this time?" She demanded to know.
"It was a dementor Poppy." McGonagall interrupted.
"Let me guess, he fainted due to the memories the dementor conjured in him. Horrible things. How could they post them around the school?"
"No Poppy, Mr. Potter didn't faint, he produced some kind of weak patronus from what Professor Lupin told in his notice. Remarkable for a thirteen year old I must say." She said proudly.
"Thanks Professor." Harry said grinning.
"Well, he still looks a bit pale. Perhaps it would be good for him to spend the night at the infirmary." Madam Pomfrey suggested.
"No, absolutely not. I thank you for your concern Madam Pomfrey, but I am fine. I want to go to the feast and sleep in my own bed in Gryffindor tower. If I was to go to the infirmary because of being pale after being confronted with a dementor, all the students in this school would have to stay over at the infirmary for the night." Harry argued.
Madam Pomfrey huffed, but he had a point.
"Why don't you just give a little speech at the beginning of the feast, that every student should eat some chocolate to counter the after-effects of the dementors? I know that it helped after Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave all of us who were in the compartment at the time some." Harry told them.
"Oh, so we finally have a teacher in Defense against the Dark Arts who knows his remedies. Very well Mr. Potter, your suggestion is good. I will talk with the headmaster to give this little speech. And I will talk with the house elves so that they send some chocolate up to the tables."
Madam Pomfrey left the office to get to Dumbledore.
"You have changed over the summer Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall stated.
"Yes I have. Sometimes we have to change to …" He stopped looking into space not knowing what to tell his head of house.
"I see. Well, so far I like the changes. I hope you will apply yourself in your studies this year. That beginning of a patronus gives me hope for good results in your classes. Well, if something comes up, you want to speak about, feel free to look for me Mr. Potter. Now if you could please give me a few minutes alone with Ms. Granger, than we can go to the feast together."
Harry nodded and left the office to wait at the corridor.
Minutes later Hermione came out of the office beaming, followed by Professor McGonagall. They went down to the great hall where McGonagall walked to the staff table and Harry and Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Ron and Neville who had kept two seats for them. The sorting had just finished and Harry let his eyes wander over the new first year Gryffindors. Four boys and five girls. Well, he would probably get to know them with time.
Dumbledore stood up to give his welcoming speech. Harry tried his hardest not to make a face. He really wanted to hex the man for everything he had done to him. But he knew he wasn't ready yet. While being a totally insane control freak he was still a very powerful wizard. And for all the things Dumbledore had done, he first had to get rid of Voldemort. Sadly Dumbles was the only wizard Voldy had ever feared. Having him as a symbol for the dark psychopath to not be too full of himself, was a necessary evil until he was ready.
"Welcome back to a new year at Hogwarts. I think it would be best to get over with the announcements before we fill ourselves with the fantastic feast that is waiting for us. As you have seen, Hogwarts at the moment hosts some of the dementors of Azkaban as protection against the escaped mass murderer Sirius Black."
'Mass murderer my ass.' Harry thought.
"Dementors are not built to grant mercy, so I request from all of you not to aggravate the dementors. They are dangerous creatures and are not to be meddled with. So give them no reason to harm you. In regard to the effects of the dementors on humans, Madam Pomfrey our school healer has organized bars of chocolate for every house table. Make sure all of you eat some, because it neutralizes the effects of the dementors. After the search of the Hogwarts express it will do you good.
"The forbidden forest is out of bounds for all students. This is a warning especially to the first years, but some of the older students might want to remember it as well." He pointedly looked at the Gryffindor table, where Harry could care less.
Hermione recognized that Harry was behaving slightly strange. Something had happened in the summer and it wasn't just the incident with his aunt, he accidentally blew up. More was going on and she would find out what was bothering Harry.
"I also want to greet the new additions to our staff. Professor Remus Lupin will be taking the post of Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher..." There was some polite applause, which was a lot louder from those who had been in the same compartment with him on the train, "...and as Professor Kettleburn has retired at the end of last year I am pleased to introduce Rubeus Hagrid as the new teacher for Care of Magical Creatures."
The applause Hagrid got was way louder than that for Lupin, especially at the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore continued after the clapping had died down.
"Mr. Filch has asked me to remember all of you, that magic on the corridors is forbidden and that a list of all banned magical objects in the school could be looked at, at his office door. Now that the serious part is done, let the feast begin."
Harry had had a good night's sleep in his four poster bed in Gryffindor tower and was now waiting in the common room for Ron and Hermione to go down for having breakfast. They arrived just a few minutes later and they made their way down to the great hall. A lot of other students were already there to have breakfast. They met the twins, who were busily discussing a new prank or something.
"Good morning." They greeted the younger ones.
"Good morning." They answered.
Harry placed his hands on his plate and shortly closed his eyes. Soon his breakfast appeared.
"Harry what was that?" Ron asked.
"Well, I had symptoms of malnutrition from my time at the Dursleys and the healer my uncle got for me, gave me a plan how my diet should be built. Uncle Orion wrote to Madam Pomfrey to make sure I kept up with the diet like I am supposed to. She gave the plan to the house elves in the kitchen and all I have to do now is to place my hand on the plate, push a little magic into my hand and the elves will know it is me and send up the things I am supposed to eat in the mornings. It's not so bad. I have taken quite a liking to having fresh fruits and milk in the morning. And I have no restrictions at feasts like yesterday, where I can eat and drink whatever I want to."
True to Harry's words there was a bowl of fresh cut fruits, cereals, milk, some honey to sweet the cereals, some slices of dark bread, cheese and bacon. A cooked egg rounded the whole thing.
"Wow that is great Harry." Fred said.
For once the twins didn't try to annoy someone. They knew too well how Harry had been treated at his muggle relatives' home. They had after all rescued him last year's summer from there. They both knew how much it meant to Harry to have an adult who really cared for him.
Harry dug in while still remembering the etiquette training Sirius had put him through and Ron and Hermione followed with their own breakfasts. While they ate Professor McGonagall went around the table and passed out the timetables for the students. Harry, Ron and Hermione got the new plans for the third years.
"Oh good, we are starting with some new subjects today" Hermione declared happily.
They looked at it and Ron immediately spotted a problem for Hermione when he looked at her timetable.
"Hermione, they really have messed up your timetable. They have you down for ten subjects all day. There just isn't enough time for it. Look, you even have got some subjects at the same time. Nine o'clock Divination, then nine o'clock Muggle Studies and also nine o'clock Arithmancy. I know you are good, but you can't be at three places at the same time." Ron exclaimed.
"Don't be silly Ron, of course I can't be at three places at the same time. But I have fixed everything with Professor McGonagall. Please pass the marmalade." She said.
"But..." Ron started.
"Ron, what does it interest you if my timetable is slightly full? I told you I have everything fixed with Professor McGonagall."
Just then Hagrid entered the great hall. He was wearing his long moleskin overcoat.
"All right? Yer in my firs' ever lesson! Right after lunch. Bin up since five in the mornin' getting everythin' ready … hope it's OK … me a teacher … hones'ly…" He grinned broadly and then headed to the staff table.
"Wonder what he has been getting ready." Said Ron a note of anxiety in his voice.
The Great hall emptied as students walked towards their lessons.
"We should get going Hermione. Divination is at the top of north tower and it is a long distance to walk. Or are you going to one of the other subjects first?" Ron asked.
"I will come with you, you are right, we should get going. See you later Harry." Hermione said and followed Ron.
Harry got up to get his books for the morning. He also wondered how Hermione wanted to manage her timetable as she couldn't expect to be able to do her classes while not being able to attend some of them because they overlapped.
Harry looked at his timetable.
Timetable Harry James Potter
Monday
09.00 – 10.50 Arithmancy (all houses)
11.00 – 12.50 Transfiguration (Gryffindor)
13.00 – 14.00 lunch
14.00 – 15.50 Care of Magical Creatures (Gryffindor, Slytherin)
16.00 – 16.55 Charms (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw)
Tuesday
09.00 – 10.50 Ancient Runes (all houses)
11.00 – 12.50 History of Magic (all houses)
13.00 – 14.00 lunch
14.00 – 15.50 Herbology (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff)
16.00 – 16.55 free
21.00 – 22.55 Astronomy (all houses)
Wednesday
09.00 – 10.50 Charms (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw)
11.00 – 12.50 Defense against the Dark Arts (Gryffindor)
13.00 – 14.00 lunch
14.00 – 14.55 Arithmancy (all houses)
15.00 – 15.55 free
16.00 – 16.55 History of Magic (all houses)
Thursday
09.00 – 10.50 Ancient Runes (all houses)
11.00 – 12.50 Potions (Gryffindor, Slytherin)
13.00 – 14.00 lunch
14.00 – 15.50 Defense against the Dark Arts (Gryffindor)
16.00 – 16.55 free
Friday
09.00 – 10.50 Herbology (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff)
11.00 – 12.50 Potions (Gryffindor, Slytherin)
13.00 – 14.00 lunch
14.00 – 15.50 Transfiguration (Gryffindor)
16.00 – 16.55 free
So far he had enough work to do. He also wondered how Hermione was supposed to do all the work she had signed up for. He had a suspicion that she had something to help her attend all her classes. Perhaps his father had an idea how that would be possible. But as he himself had a lot of secrets to keep this year, he wouldn't dig for Hermione's. If she didn't want to tell them or couldn't he would respect that. He went to get his books for Arithmancy and Transfiguration and went to the classroom.
As he suspected he saw Hermione with twelve other students waiting in front of the room.
"Hey Hermione." He greeted.
"Hey Harry. Are you also curious what this subject will be like?" She asked.
"Yes I am. But I have some idea as I already told you. I am looking forward to these lessons."
He looked around to see which of the other students he knew. There were four Ravenclaws, three Hufflepuffs, two Slytherins and two other Gryffindors, Dean Thomas and Katherine Romell. The Ravenclaws were Lisa Turpin, Padma Patil, Terry Boot and Christopher Langan. The Hufflepuffs were Earnie McMillan, Hannah Abbot and Stephanie Glowers. The Slytherins were Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass.
Harry nodded politely to the others. Then the door opened and a brown haired witch in a dark blue cloak let them into the room. Harry and Hermione took seats in the middle of the room. With only thirteen students there was enough space for all of them. The walls in the room were decorated with several charts of numbers, calculations of the properties of several potion ingredients and star charts.
"Welcome to your first lesson of Arithmancy. My name is Professor Septima Vector and I will be your teacher. In this class you will learn how to analyze the structure of spells and potion ingredients, about the influence of the environment to magic, your own special powers and the importance of your dates of birth. Everything in magic can be somewhat analyzed. An example for a career that heavily builds around arithmetical calculations is the curse-breaker. The job would be way too dangerous if the curse-breaker couldn't analyze the protections or traps he is confronted with. For an introduction please open your book at page six and read about the meanings of numbers in magical dates of birth. We will then analyze the birthdays of everybody in this class and discuss what the conclusions you could come to from the things stated in the book are.
"As there will be not that much practical work until you have gotten a solid understanding of the basics I want to keep things interesting by giving you opportunities to discuss the things you read. When you have built a good understanding of the subject, probably we will reach this point in your fifth year, we can start for you to create your own spells under supervision. I think that is one of the more interesting parts of this subject. But if you don't understand what you are doing, things could go horribly wrong. So know that I won't allow any goofing around in my class when we are working on something."
The students nodded. The opportunity to create their own spells was intriguing them. They didn't want to ruin it. They all got their books out and began to read the introduction of numbers in dates of birth.
Harry was happy. Arithmancy had been a really good lesson and he had gotten into some really interesting discussions with his classmates. Lisa Turpin had asked some really good questions about how you were to break down your date of birth into numbers. The months were the easy part as each month had a number from one to twelve, which each had certain strength to it. Especially three, seven and thirteen were strong numbers, but as there were only twelve months, thirteen wasn't relevant for this part, it only became included with the dates. He found out, that Earnie was just seven days younger than him, born on the 7th August. Padma was born in April on the 16th, Hermione September 19th, he had already planned her birthday present, it was well hidden in his three compartment trunk his Pa had gotten him, and Katherine was born January 4th.
They had calculated and from what they found out, Blaise was leaning towards theoretical subjects from his date of birth. Those born in November were normally born with a big patience and that was necessary for success in studies. The 24th was a combination of several numbers as the number could be split in several others. They found out, that cunning and taking advantage of opportunities was always found in those who were born on dates with high numbers. It didn't mean one was always doing the things their birthdays hinted upon, but it was a high probability.
Harry had gotten along with the others really well. He enjoyed making new acquaintances. Even the two Slytherins were speaking normally with him and didn't sneer at him all the time like they did in potions. Well, most of them. Harry had to admit he didn't really pay that much attention to all the Slytherins as Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were really annoying him most of the time. Those who kept to the back of the Slytherin side of the room, he didn't really know about. While Blaise was more arrogant than Harry really liked, he was tolerable to be around. And Harry didn't want to make enemies, so he kept the conversation with him polite but distant.
He had gotten the impression that the Ravenclaws were especially surprised about his analytical abilities. Arithmancy really was an ideal subject for him now that his analytical abilities were no longer blocked. Hermione told him how proud she was, that he now took his studies more serious. Harry just smiled at this. It was too early to let Hermione and Ron know about everything.
They met Ron at the classroom for Transfiguration. Harry noticed, that the others were weirdly subdued. What the hell had happened?
"Ron, why are you so glumly?" He asked his best friend.
Ron attempted to answer as Professor McGonagall entered the room. The students stopped whatever little talk had been going on. Harry was still confused. He was really impressed by McGonagall's animagus transformation and he wondered why he seemingly was one of three who was. The others were Dean and Katherine. Even Hermione seemed glum and she had been perfectly content after their Arithmancy lesson.
"Alright, what is wrong with you? This is the first time I didn't get applause for my transformation from one of my classes." She asked.
She sternly observed the faces of her students. Finally Hermione raised her hand.
"We just had our first Divination lesson Professor." She began.
"No need to tell me more Miss Granger. So please enlighten me, which of you is going to die this year?" She asked.
The students looked at her shocked. Harry tried not to grin. From McGonagall's reaction this was a common occurrence. The Divination teacher really had to be a fraud to be that predictable.
Neville raised his hand. He looked really terrified. Harry was mad. Why did it have to be Neville? Didn't he have to suffer enough because of what had happened to his parents when he was seventeen months old? Stupid teacher he decided for himself.
"Well, I want to let you all know that Sybil Trelawney has predicted the death of one student each year without fail and until now all of them are still alive and really healthy. Mr. Longbottom, you don't look like you would die on me any moment so I hope you will forgive me, if I don't except you from doing your homework. But be assured you won't be asked to hand it in if you should really die." She said.
Neville didn't look really convinced.
"Relax Neville. Divination is a very unreliable branch of magic and it can't be learned at all if you aren't born with the gift to be a seer. True seers are really rare from what I have heard. The only way a seer is able to predict something is if they fall in a kind of trance. I would be really surprised if Professor Trelawney did so while teaching the class. It would be highly unprofessional to leave her class unsupervised. I think most of her predictions are what the muggles call hocus pocus. Not reliable at all." Harry added.
Nearly everybody stared at him. They were not used to a Harry Potter who so openly spoke his mind.
"Very well said Mr. Potter. Five points to Gryffindor for a highly logical analysis. Mr. Potter is right. Not all predictions are true and true seers are very rare. But now let us continue with the topic of animagi. The transformation from a human into an animal is highly advanced magic. There are many things that could go wrong if somebody doesn't undergo the transformation with the acquired care. Therefore the Ministry of Magic strictly controls those who become animagi. More so, there are many ways to abuse the powers. All animagi are requested to register with the Ministry or are to face severe punishment."
Harry raised his hand.
"Yes Mr. Potter?"
"Professor, are there ways to identify an animagus? I mean, how can we tell if an animal is a transformed wizard in reality?"
"Good question Mr. Potter. Well, there is only one way to really be sure and that is the animagus revealing spell. We will cover the spell later in the year and you all will learn it. For now I can tell you, that it has two forms. One is to force the animagus to reveal his real form and another to just show the caster if an animal is an animagus. The spell will give the animal a glow. If it glows green it is a normal animal. If it glows blue it is a magical animal, if it glows red it is an animagus."
Harry nodded. This was important to know. If they used their own animals for this lesson, he could reveal Scabbers as an animagus in front of McGonagall's eyes. A better opportunity would be hard to find. After all, he couldn't prove that Scabbers was Pettigrew and Ron wouldn't accept it if Harry just stole the rat.
They ate lunch and Ron grilled Harry about his sudden increase in knowledge.
"It's really easy Ron." Harry began explaining.
All the other Gryffindor third years were listening intently.
"You all know what happened this summer. I ran away from the muggles who raised and abused me because I couldn't take it anymore. Then Uncle Orion found me and gave me a real home. He is like the father I never had after my own parents were murdered. Living with him is so easy. He is a really intelligent wizard and he didn't hesitate to take me in, even if he and my parents were only shortly friends from a holiday where they met. I don't want to disappoint him by slacking at school. The Dursleys never cared about my grades, in primary school; I was punished if I outdid Dudley, but now there is someone who is interested in me.
"And he likes me how I am, not The-Boy-Who-Lived, he likes me as Harry. Just Harry. I want to make him proud of me and I want to live up to my parent's memory. I have found out, that both of them were really good at school. So I used the time I spent at my uncle's home to read up on several subjects. I reviewed the stuff we learned in first and second year to be sure, I really knew it and did some research on the new subjects. Uncle Orion was really helpful in this. He was the one who told me about the true seers and what kind of deception some people used to appear like a seer.
"That was the main reason I changed my electives. I'm really glad I did. Arithmancy is so fascinating. I'm curious how Ancient Runes will be. And what kind of creatures Hagrid will show us today. I hope they are cool." He said, getting some chuckles from his classmates.
Ron accepted this. While he was a bit jealous of Harry's new wealth he couldn't really begrudge his best friend of his happiness. Harry had for the first time somebody he could really call family. He was really happy for him. It just seemed so unfair, that his family was so poor even if his father worked really hard at the Ministry. Unknown to Ron, Harry had already begun to remedy this situation.
Arthur Weasley was looking over some bills that had come in at the burrow. It was always the same. Money was always an issue at the Weasley's home. When he had applied for a job at the Ministry after graduating from Hogwarts, he had thought he could make a good salary for a living there. Ministry jobs were highly respected and as a pureblood he was accepted rather easily. But then with time he found out more and more about some prejudices towards his family.
The Weasleys had always been liberal in their views of muggles and their world. They didn't think the wizards were better than them. He especially was fascinated with the things that the muggles invented to ease their lives. Things that replaced magic. But sadly many other workers at the Ministry didn't share his views. They thought he lacked proper wizard pride. He was subtly discarded as the head of the Department of Misuse of Muggle artifacts. Any other Department head earned more than him.
His colleagues liked him well as a person, but the higher ups only belittled his efforts. With so many children Molly had been forced to stay at home to care for them. And only as Ginny had started Hogwarts she could have started working again. But who would employ a witch who had been out of job over two decades? Molly never regretted choosing to raise their children but the problems with money were a steady reminder of what could have been.
He opened the next letter. He stopped surprised reading the sender's name. What did Juneur Wizarding Technologies want? He never had any contact with them. He was fascinated with their research of ways to combine muggle technologies with magic, they were the basis of his old Ford Anglia after all, but he never contacted them. Well he would know if he read the letter.
His face grew pale when he was finished with the letter.
"Molly." he cried.
Molly Weasley came into the kitchen.
"What's the matter Arthur dear?" She asked.
"Read this please, I can't believe it" he said and held the letter for her to take. Molly took it and began reading.
Dear Arthur Weasley,
A reliable source brought to our attention, that you are quite knowledgeable in regard of combining muggle technologies with magic. Our company, founded by Estelle Juneur in 1908, is operating in this field to improve the living standards of the wizarding community by fusing the best inventions of both worlds.
Our company has recently had a change in ownership and our new owner wants to have new ideas integrated in our products. So we are looking for outstanding wizards and witches in this special field of knowledge and you are one of those we would like to offer an employment.
Our Department for the Development of Magical Daily Items wants to offer you a position as one of our Inventors. The salary is 2000 galleons a month with additional bonuses if a new product is introduced into the market.
We hope to hear from you soon Mr. Weasley and would be delighted to greet you as one of our employees.
Yours sincerely
Howard O'Brian
Chief Executive Officer
Juneur Wizarding Technologies
"Oh my god Arthur." Molly said overwhelmed.
"Yes I know it's incredible. The salary is double of what I earn at the Ministry and it would be working at something I really enjoy doing. I could proudly say I am working to develop our world. There are so many inventions made by muggles that would help us wizards immensely. Just a bit tweaking here and there and it would work."
Molly looked at her husband with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she knew he loved exploring muggle things and changing them to work for wizards. On the other hand he had a respectable position at the Ministry of Magic. But on second thought they had always held him back from advancing in the ranks. There were no illusions on her part that this would change anytime soon with Fudge being Minister. Even as purebloods the Weasleys were ridiculed for their way of thinking and for being poor. Why should they accept this, if Arthur was singled out by a well-known company to work for them for double his Ministry salary?
"I think you should at least go there and see for yourself what the job would involve Arthur. It is a great opportunity. The Ministry has been hindering you for years and if this is what you want to do, then do it. I will always support you. I know you love everything muggle related." Molly said.
Arthur smiled at his wife.
"What would I do without you Molly? You are an incredible woman. I know it was the best thing happening to me when I fell in love with you." He answered.
She blushed. He was really good at making compliments.
At Hogwarts Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way down to Hagrid's hut where they would start their first lesson of Care of Magical Creatures. They were chattering about the animals they would see. The only thing they regretted was, that they were having the class with the Slytherins. They met Hagrid and were led around an edge of the forest to a perch, where they looked around, but didn't see any magical creatures.
There was an awkward moment first as Hagrid had to tell everybody that they had to stroke the back of their books to open them. Harry, determined to make Hagrid's first lesson a success, stopped Malfoy from saying more nasty rubbish than usual.
"Be careful Potter, the dementors are coming for you." Malfoy jeered and he, Crabbe and Goyle pretended to wear hooded cloaks.
"Please Malfoy, how old are you? Five? If a child would behave like you are, I would understand, but you are thirteen. Don't you think you should show a bit more decorum? And here I thought Slytherins were cunning." He said shaking his head, getting laughs from his fellow Gryffindors while Malfoy left him furious how he was belittled.
While Harry was busy putting Malfoy in his place and coolly ignoring his taints because of his problems with dementors, Hagrid got the creatures. He came back with a dozen of bizarre beasts that seemed to be a crossbreed between an eagle and a horse.
"Those are Hippogriffs." Hagrid declared proudly. "Aren' they beautiful?" He asked.
Harry could see what Hagrid meant. After getting over the first shock, the Hippogriffs had a certain charm to them.
"Now come a bit nearer." Hagrid declared, after tying the Hippogriffs collars to the fence.
Nearly nobody wanted to get too neat to the Hippogriffs. Harry, Ron and Hermione however went a bit nearer.
"Firs' thin' yer have ter know about Hippogriffs is that they're proud bein's. Never insult a Hippogriff, it could be the last thin' yer do."
Most of the class listened intently except for Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle who were undoubtedly planning how to sabotage the class best. Harry was cautious to keep those three in his view to prevent whatever they had planned.
"Yer always wait for the Hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yer walk towards him and bow and yer wait. If he bows back, yer allowed to touch him. If he doesn't bow, get away from him, 'cause those talons hurt."
The class looked slightly uncomfortable with this announcement.
"Right – who wants ter go firs'?" Hagrid asked.
The whole class backed away.
"No one?" Hagrid sounded disappointed.
"I'll do it." Harry said and stepped forward.
"Good man Harry, let's see how you get along with Buckbeak."
Hagrid loosened one of the chains and pulled a gray Hippogriff away from the others, then undid the collar.
"Yeh have to keep eye contact with him Harry. Hippogriffs don't trust yeh, if yer blink too much. Then yer bow and wait." Hagrid instructed.
Harry did what he was told and made eye contact with Buckbeak. He suppressed the urge to blink even if his eyes began watering and bowed to the Hippogriff. It took several seconds. Hagrid was getting nervous and came over to take Harry away from Buckbeak, when the Hippogriff bent his front knees and bowed to Harry.
"Well done Harry, well done." Hagrid beamed. "Now you can touch him."
Harry was not really sure, if this was the best thing to do, but he complied and carefully closed in with his hand to Buckbeak's head. He found the feathers at the top of the beasts head were surprisingly soft. He was happy for his accomplishments but then Hagrid went insane, or at least Harry thought he did. He told him to ride Buckbeak. Harry found himself sitting on the back of the hippogriff, looking for a way to hold onto the Hippogriff, because he suspected it wouldn't take it too well, if he pulled out feathers. Then it ran across the clearing and took off into the sky.
It wasn't like riding a broom at all, Harry found out. The wings of Buckbeak flapped and it was more of an up and down, but after some minutes Harry got comfortable and enjoyed the ride. The only problem he saw was landing. Harry heard Hagrid whistle for Buckbeak and sure enough the Hippogriff went down to land again. Harry lent back and tried to get as much of his weight as possible back, to not fall of Buckbeak.
He succeeded and got a lot of applause from his fellow Gryffindors. Then the others, inspired by Harry's success, became braver and teamed up with the other Hippogriffs. Malfoy was trying his luck with Buckbeak now, while Ron and Hermione practiced with a chestnut colored one.
Hagrid came over to ask Harry how he did in his first lesson. Harry assured him it was great, but he never let his eyes leave Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy had gotten Buckbeak to bow to him and was now patting his head.
"I knew this couldn't be this hard, as Potter was able to do it. You aren't really dangerous, right, you ugly feather ball?" He asked Buckbeak.
The Hippogriff didn't take this insult well and rose to his hind legs, ready to strike at Malfoy. But the attack never connected.
"Protego!" Harry yelled, a hand pointing at Malfoy. He didn't have time to draw his wand, so Harry used his abilities in wandless magic to cast the shield charm.
Buckbeak's talons connected with the shield, but it held. Malfoy was quivering under the shield. Harry got Buckbeak's attention and managed to calm the Hippogriff down with Hagrid's help.
"How dump can you be Malfoy? Insulting a Hippogriff, when the teacher clearly told us all to not do this under any circumstances. Be glad, that I was watching and cast the shield in time to protect you. It would have been a shame to waste Madam Pomfrey's time with your whimpering. I really advise you to listen next time something is explained in class or it could backfire. While I would find it highly amusing to see you messing up a transfiguration on yourself" he added like an afterthought, earning laughs from his fellow Gryffindors.
Hagrid looked relieved.
"Ten points to Gryffindor for outstanding reactions in a dire situation and ten points from Slytherin for not listening to a teacher's instructions nearly resulting in an accident." Hagrid called, remembering the power he had as a teacher.
Harry found it really amusing. Hagrid being able to punish Malfoy and him getting rewarded for showing the arrogant Slytherin up.
"Harry that was amazing, how were you able to do it? You didn't have your wand out." Hermione asked.
"I don't really know, I just had to act unless Malfoy would get ammunition to give Hagrid a hard time. I just cast the spell. Must be a new ability I have. Can you be gifted to use wandless magic? Do you know Hermione?" Harry asked innocently.
"Oh yes, it is possible, but it is a rare gift. I have read about it in the library last year. Some really famous witches and wizards had this ability, the most well-known was Merlin himself."
"Cool. I never would have thought I could have a similar ability like Merlin. Perhaps that can help me finishing the dark annoyance." He said, looking at his hands as if he had just won the lottery.
Harry had fun pretending to not know about his abilities. He had to put up a good show for everybody, so Dumbledore didn't get suspicious. It was well reported, that new abilities normally tended to emerge under stress or total relaxation. Well stopping a rampaging Hippogriff would be a case of enormous stress he figured. He really would like to see Dumbledore's face when Hagrid boasted about Harry's new ability. The old coot would have to look pleased while fuming on the inside. Ha, more reason to celebrate. He would have to write his father about this.
The Slytherins were divided. On the one hand, they couldn't stand Harry, on the other hand he had just saved one of them and even the one he liked least. Pureblood honor required treating somebody this powerful with respect, but it was Harry Potter, Gryffindor's golden boy who had trashed Slytherin's achievements more than once. The loss of the house cup in first and second year was mostly his fault. So they decided to observe the Gryffindor. No reason to make a probably really powerful wizard mad. And Potter would be a political force in the future. Being the heir of the Noble and most Ancient House of Potter and the infamous Boy-Who-Lived. No, most Slytherins were too cunning for this.
So that was it for this week. I will still update at