Like A Star

"Thank you for bringing your son here to me," the cold voice pierced the warm summer night. Three black robed figures stood huddled together at the edge of a forest. A large field spread out before them, with a weather-beaten shack off in the distance. The two smaller figures cowered in front of the tallest. The taller figure reached out a long, pale, bony hand and placed in the head of the smallest figure. The hood of the cloak the boy wore fell back revealing a

"Harry, wake up! Classes start today!" Ron exclaimed, throwing the curtains on Harry's bed back. Harry was instantly bathed in sunlight.

"Damnit Ron!" Harry cried.

"Touchy," Ron muttered and walked back towards his bed muttering something about how people should be thankful to not be late for the first day of classes.

"I was having that dream again!" Harry exclaimed.

"The same one you had at Hermione's?" Ron asked. He instantly forgot Harry's expletives from earlier and turned to look at his friend.

"Yeah, the same one. And SOMEONE" Harry flashed a pointed look in Ron's direction "woke me up at the exact same point!"

"Did you see the kid?" Ron asked.

"Did p>

"I just came down the stairs a moment ago. The only thing I actually heard was Malfoy calling me a mudblood, Ginny a weaslette, and then make a particularly rotten comment about Harry involving Cedric," Hermione said truthfully.

"Malfoy, you're a prefect, as are you Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall exclaimed. "For once, I think Mr. Potter and Miss Granger just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," McGonagall said. "I heard most of what happened from in the Great Hall, so I'm taking 50 points from Slytherin and giving both of you detention for unprovoked comments towards fellow students." McGonagall said. Draco opened his mouth to protest. "If you say a word, Mr. Malfoy, it will be 50 points per male Malfoy." Draco's mouth closed as quickly as it had fallen open. McGonagall continued doling out punishments. "Fifteen points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley, for that unprovoked comment about Mr. Malfoy's sexuality." She turned her back to the male Malfoys as she said this, and gave Ron a slight tight-lipped smile that almost said she agreed with what he had said. "And Miss Malfoy, 15 points from Gryffindor and a detention for you for pulling your wand on your brother." With that, she turned and headed back into the Great Hall.

"Stupid Mudblood," Draco muttered when he thought McGonagall was out of earshot.

"I heard that Mr. Malfoy! Another detention and 50 more points from Slytherin!" McGonagall called. Draco and Keiran glared at the five people still left in the Entrance Hall and headed in to breakfast.

"I've got detention before I've even had a class!" Astrid muttered, shaking her head like she couldn't believe herself.

"I think you may have just broken one of Fred and George's records!" Ron said, laughing at the little girl. Astrid's eyes widened. "Really?"

"You should go ask them," Ginny suggested. Astrid turned on her heel and ran into the Great Hall in search of Hogwarts' two eldest Weasleys.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as soon as Astrid was in the Great Hall. All three friends turned to look at Harry.

"Suddenly, I have no appetite," He mumbled. Before anyone could say anything else, he sprang up and ran back up the stairs. Ginny made a motion to chase him, but Hermione caught her by her elbow.

"Let him be," Ron instructed. The three of them slowly turned and made their way into the great hall.

"Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah?" Ron replied.

"Don't you and Harry hold the particular detention recorurned to look at his friend. "Yes, as a matter of fact we do. We got our earliest detention during the Welcome Feast in second year." All three of them laughed at the memory, so were in slightly better moods when they took their seats with Astrid, the twins and Lee Jordan at the end of the table.

"Ron, we've got a little prankster on our hands!" Fred said as Hermione, Ron and Ginny were sitting down.

"Really?" Ron asked, smiling at Astrid.

"Astrid officially holds the record for the earliest detention," George said. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all three shook their heads.

"She doesn't?" Lee asked.

"But you said I broke the twins record!&rdquol" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"And she did! We didn't get our first detention until AFTER breakfast on our first day," George said.

"But Harry and I had them for the car incident in second year," Ron said, smiling.

"Oh yeah!" Fred exclaimed. He smiled evilly.

"Timetables!" Alicia announced. She walked up behind Ron and handed each person a piece of parchment. She handed Hermione one for Harry also. Her presence canceled the rest of whatever Fred was going to say as they all began reviewing their schedules.

mal" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

Harry dashed into the first room he got to on the second floor. Luckily enough for him, it was a bathroom as he thought he was going to be sick. He closed himself in the first stall and proceeded to up a mouthful of stomach acid into the toilet. He repeated his action twice more before feeling any better.

"Hey! Watch it!" A misty voice cried from somewhere in the toilet. The pigtailed bespectacled face of a girl appeared in the hole at the bottom of the toilet. Harry groaned and fell against the wall of the stall.

"Oh it's you," Myrtle said sweetly. She came completely up out of the toilet and floated a few inches above the seat. "If any one else had thrown up stomach acid on me, I would have had to flood the place!"

"Sfont>

"Why don't you come visit me anymore?"

"It's a girls bathroom," Harry replied.

"That's not stopping you now is it?" Myrtle asked.

"I'm sick," Harry replied.

"Sshhh, someone's coming!" Myrtle hissed. Harry felt too weak to get up off of the floor, so he hoped whoever walked in wouldn't notice him.

"I wonder where he was today at breakfast!" a girl's voice said as the bath" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"I wonder if it has anything to do with the way McGonagall ran out at the very beginning," another voice said. Harry saw two pairs of legs walk over to the sink area.

"Its very unlike him to miss breakfast, especially since Ron and Hermione were both there," said the first voice. Only then did Harry realize he was the topic of the girls' conversation.

"You know, this just might be the year I make my move," the second voice said.

"Oh please."

"You never know! I may get paired with him in Herbology!"

“And you'd sit there and stutter and turn red every time he looks at you,” chided the first girl. The thought that a Hufflepuff had a crush on him was enough to almost fully clear his mind of Malfoy's below the belt comment about Cedric.

"What about that best friend of his?"

"Ron? He's SO HOT!" squealed the first girl. Harry reached over and flushed the toilet. He could just imagine the surprised looks on the two girls faces.

"There's someone in here!" the first girl squealed. In a clattering of shoes on stone floor, a snapping of bags, and a swish of robes, they were out of the bathroom. Harry slowly got to his feet and unlocked the door of the stall.

"See you later Myrtle," He said. She didn't reply. She was busy flushing toilets, turning on sinks, and muttering something about revenge. Harry let himself out of the bathroom and decided it was about time for breakfast. He started the steps just outside.

"Alright Harry?' Ron asked. He held out a couple of pieces of toast to Harry. Harry accepted them but didn't eat.

"No," he replied honestly.

"Harry James Potter, don't let what that git said get to you!" Hermione scolded. Harry looked down at his feet. Hermione slipped her arm around his waist and pulled him close to her in a sort of hug.

"How can I not?" he asked. Before anyone could say anything else, students started trickling out of the Great Hall. Hermione let go of Harry and handed him his class schedule.

"We have Defense Against the Dark Arts first!" Ron exclaimed as the three friends turned on the steps and started todiv name="Normal" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"That's a first!" Harry laughed half-heartedly.

"At least we don't have to put up with the Slytherins," Hermione cheered happily. Harry glared at her.

"So has any one solved the mystery of the defense teacher yet?" Ron asked to cease the tension between Harry and Hermione.

"I have a theory as to who it is, but I'd rather not say," Hermione said.

"Oh come on, Hermione, you can tell us," Ron insisted.

"Yeah, Hermione,"real Mad Eye Moody or maybe Lupin's back."

"What if Sirius got cleared and he's our new professor!" Ron exclaimed.

"Good idea, but I think I would know if my own god-father got cleared of his murder charges," Harry said.

"Come on you two think about it. They didn't introduce anyone at the ceremony last night," Hermione prompted.

"Would that mean that the new teacher is already on staff?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded in the affirmative. Ron and Harry exchanged terrified looks. "SNAPE!"

"Quite the contrary, Potter and Weasley," a greasy voice behind them said. They all three turned to look at their least favorite professor. "ob got started, because I'm perfectly happy in potions." Before they could reply, he stepped around them and continued down the hall.

"Snape? Happy?" Ron asked.

"Novel idea, isn't it?" Hermione laughed. Ron and Harry both looked at her. Hermione never criticized a professor other than Trelawney.

The three friends were among the last Gryffindors to appear in the Defense classroom.

"Maybe Lockhart is back!" Ron said when he walked in, as the new teacher hadn't appeared yet.

"Is the room wall papered with his horrid picture?" Harry asked. Ron looked around him as he took his seat behind Hermione. "No, I guess you're right."

"I heard its Lupin," Lavender said from behind Harry.

"I heard it's the real Moody," Parvati said.

"Well I heard its Arabella Figg," Seamus stated.

"Close, but no cigar," said a familiar voice from the front of the room. The voice, however, didn't have a body. Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at each other startled.

"You all CAN hear that, can't you?" Harry asked. After second year with the Basilisk in the pipes, he didn't want to take any chances.

&lp>

"Too bad," Seamus remarked, "That would be quite a useful skill."

"I think the school governors would think me even more mad if I taught my students to be invisible. Imagine the problems it would cause," Dumbledore continued. Harry, Ron and Hermione all laughed nervously. No one else did. Dumbledore smiled benevolently at them.

"So why are you our Defense teacher?" Parvati asked. If Dumbledore noticed the bluntness of her comments, he pretended not to notice.

"I was afraid I was getting out of touch with as well as my head master duties," Dumbledore explained.

"There weren't any suitable candidates were there?" Hermione queried.

"Sadly, Miss Granger, no. We, as a community are approaching dark times. I would trust few wizards with what could be the most important classes in your magical careers," Dumbledore said. The class got silent and a few members exchanged nervous glances. "With that being said," Dumbledore clapped his hands and smiled down at his students, "we're going on a scavenger hunt!" Parvati and Lavender exchanged incredulous glances. Seamus and Dean looked excited. Neville looked a little confused. Harry and Hermione smiled to themselves.

"A WHAT?" The ever-vocal Ron asked.

"A scavenger hunt, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore replied, "It's a form of entertainment favored by muggle children where they are given a list of objects to find and they must find as many of the objecrdquo; Looks of understanding crossed Ron's and Neville's faces.

"Cool!" Ron exclaimed.

"I'm glad you approve Mr. Weasley. Now I'm going to split you into groups and you will have the next hour and a half to find all of the objects on the list," Dumbledore said. "You may use magic to obtain assistance in getting the objects, but you cannot produce the objects from magic. And you cannot summon the objects either, however you can summon aides to getting the object." With this, he flashed a pointed look at Harry. "Some of the objects will be very easy to find and some will be much more difficult. How would you like the groups to be split?" Hermione, Ron and Harry instantly moved closer together. Dean and Seamus moved closer and Neville edged his way towards them. Lavender and Parvati smiled broadly at each other.

"I see you've made my job easier, but Miss Brown and Miss Patil, you're at a distinct disadvantage," Dumbledore said.

're not," Parvati said.

"We're girls. We shop. Finding things is no problem," Lavender assured the headmaster. Dumbledore smiled at them. He pulled three pieces of parchment from a stack on his desk. He handed one to Hermione, one to Neville and one to Lavender. Hermione surveyed the list before her. A smile broke across her face.

"Go!" Dumbledore exclaimed. Neville, Dean, and Seamus instantly darted from the room. Lavender and Parvati left a little slower. Harry and Ron hurried towards the door.

"Whoa boys, game plan here!" Hermione exclaimed at their retreating backs. They stopped dead in their tracks and turned to face their friend.

"What all do we need to find?" Harry asked. Hermione handed the paper to him and he and Ron looked at it.

Sneakoscope

Spork

Holyhead Harpies Hat

Page 5032 of Hogwarts; a History

Gillyweed

A Picture of Rowena Ravenclaw

Biro

The Daily Prophet

Recipe from Witch Weekly

Beater bat

Scarf from another house

Tea cozy

Branch from the Whomping Willow

Nail polish

Skelegrow

Cauldron scrub brush

Air from the Divination classroom

C.D.

Romeo and Juliet

Moste Potente Potions

Extra

Phoenix Feather

"Oh my goodness this is ridiculous!" Ron exclaimed. His face was red and his hands were clenched into fists.

"It's really not that bad," Hermione reasoned.

"How do you figure?" Ron asked, looking at his friend like she was crazy.

"Well, lets first go through and see which of these we have in our possession. We can get those and then split up the remaining items and figure out ways to get them," Hermione suggested.

"Hermione's right," Harry said. He finally looked up from the list. "I have a sneakoscope, a Daily Prophet, a biro, and a beater bat. The branch won't be difficult to get, and we can always get the tea cozy from Dobby."

"Right, and I have Moste Potente Potions and Hogwarts a History," Hermione offered, "and we can get Romeo and Juliet from the library."

"A Holyhead Harpies hat?" Harry asked, looking over the list again.

"My sister is a fan. She's got a free period right now, I'll find her and get her hat," Ron ign="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Get Colin Creevey's camera too," Hermione instructed Ron.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"I have a theory on the Ravenclaw picture and we'll need Colin's camera," Hermione replied.

"A lot of this stuff comes from the kitchen." Harry said. He was still looking over the list.

"We need the cloak too," Hermione added as an afterthought.

"Gryffindor tower?" Ron asked. Hermione jumped to her feet and they started towardscouring the list.

When they arrived at Gryffindor tower a moment later, they found the other two teams already inside. Hermione instantly ran up to her dorm and returned a few moments later with her books. Ron went up to the boys' dorm and searched around for the items Harry was supposed to have. Harry took a seat next to the fireplace and listened to the other two teams closely.

"Parvati! That tree is horrid! I AM NOT going near it!" Lavender shrieked.

"Come on Lav. All you have to do is grab a branch!" Parvati coaxed.

"It'll kill me!"

"No. It will probably just maim you. And then you'll have to go to Madame Pomfrey to get the Skelegrow!" Parvati reasonleft" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Parvati, you're insane!" Lavender squealed. Harry laughed to himself and turned to listen to the boy's team.

"Well. I think I know where to get the Gillyweed," Neville offered.

"What about the blasted tree?" Seamus asked.

"I can't handle that," Neville said.

"Why not, you're the bloody Herbology genius!" Dean cried.

"Yeah. But that tree is the Blast-Ended Skrewt of the Herbology world," Neville spat. A great idea struckv>

"What was that about?" Ron asked.

"I got us nail polish and Gillyweed," Harry replied with a sly smile.

"Did you make deals with the other groups?" Hermione asked. Her arms were full of large books.

"Sure did!" Harry said with a smile. Hermione and smiled too.

"The Whomping Willow," Harry replied. Ron's face reddened.

"NOT THAT WAY!" Hermione shrieked when she realized what Ron's blush insinuated. Ron smiled mischievously.

"Why did you pick that?" Ron asked.

"Because the passage under it is protected only by the tree. If everyone and their mother knows how to control the tree, there is suddenly an entrance for people we may not want on the grounds," Harry explained. Hermione and Ron both smiled at him.

"Good thinking Harry," Hermione said.

"So what all do we have already?" Harry asked.

"I've got Hogwarts; a History and Moste Potente Potions," Hermione said. "Plus I got Ginny's Harpies hat, my Alanis Morrisette CD, and the copy of "Witch Weekly" I kept from the Skeeter mess last year."

"I've got the sneakoscope, a beater bat, the newspaper, and a biro," Ron said, "And Colin's camera and the cloak."

"So lets go to the kitchen. Dobby will be more than happy to lend us his tea cozy and a spork," Harry said.

"Good thinking," Hermione said. Ron had already headed out of the portrait hole. Hermione had thought to bring down a magically enlarged book bag. She put all of the things they had gathered so far in it and slung iThey walked in silence so as not to disturb the classes that were going on.

When they reached the kitchen, Ron tickled the pear. The three friends entered the room where the house elves were busy preparing lunch.

"Mr. Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby cried. He appeared in front of Harry. He was wearing the same clothes as last time, only with a pink and orange plaid sock on one foot and a red and purple sock on the other foot. He had on the Weasley sweater, shrunk to fit his minute frame and his necktie tie hung down over it.

"Hi Dobby," Harry said.

"How is Harry Potter?" Dobby asked.

"I'm doing fine Dobby," Harry replied.

"Hello Dobby," Hermione said.

"What can Dobby get for Harry Potter today?"

"Actually, Dobby, can we have a spork, a cauldron scrub brush, and your hat?" Ron asked.

"Why is you needing my hat?" Dobby asked.

"For an assignment for Dumbledore. We'll bring it back," Hermione said quickly. Dobby disappeared for a moment and then reappeared with the requested items.

"How should we do this?" Hermione asked as the three friends approached the tree in question.

"Use a long stick to touch the knot then remove the branches," Harry suggested.

"What if it gets mad if we break its branches?" Ron asked.

"Ask it first," suggested Hermione.

"Excuse me Mr. Tree, I would like to break oin a little girls voice, "Yes, I'm sure that will go over quite well." He glared pointedly at Hermione.

"I think it's a girl tree," Hermione replied, "you might offend it by calling it mister."

"You're right. Nothing male could be that moody and temperamental," Ron cracked.

"Nothing male would have that much of a desire to protect itself from the weaker gender," Hermione replied.

"Are you calling us weak, Granger?" Ron asked.

"That, I am, Weasley!" Hermione replied.

"Guys! Calm down!" Harry exclaimed. They were getting a little closer to the psychotic tree. "So how are we going to go about this?"

"Ron can press the knot and I'll talk to the tree and get some of her branches," Hermione replied simply.

"Like the tree is really a girl," Ron said. Before he could say anything else, he was swept off of his feet by a mighty swing from one of the tree's branches.

"I think you offended her," Harry laughed. He grabbed a stick and ran up close enough to press the knot to freeze the tree. As soon as the branches had stopped moving, Hermione got closer to the tree too. Ron was lying in a heap on the ground, some 10 meters away, clutching his stomach where the tree had hit him.

"Miss Willow Tree," Hermione began. Her voice shook audibly. "We are doing a project for Professor Dumbledore up at the school. We werhes. That is, if you've got three small ones to spare." The tree didn't move. She couldn't, as Harry still had the knot pressed, but three small branches floated down from somewhere near the top of her.

"Thank you Miss Willow!" Harry said. Hermione ran over and collected the branches when they hit the ground. Then she went over to Ron and Harry moved the stick from the knot and ran for his life. Surprisingly, the tree didn't swing at him.

"Hermione, I hate to say it, but you were right," Ron said. He was still clutching his stomach. Hermione added the branches to the collection in her bag and smiled smugly at her friend.

"What all do we have left?" Harry asked, preventing an imminent war between Ron and Hermione.

"A scarf from another house," Ron said, looking at the list.

"The Marauder's Map would come in handy right now," Harry said. He thought back to the incident in the bathroom earlier this morning. He knew if he could find the Hufflepuff fifth year girls, he would be able to get a scarf from one of them. And he knew he could recognize her shoes if he saw them.

"Summon it," Hermione said simply. Harry turned to Hermione and placed both hands on her shoulders.

"You're a GENIUS Hermione Granger!" He cried, shaking her vigorously.

"I'm going to be a genius with a brain injury if you shake me any more!" She exclaimed, "and then what good would I be?" Ron laughed, but Harry had already torn into the entrance hall of the school.

"Accio Marauders Map!" he cried. The three friends stood and looked at each other, wondering ifd appeared.

"I don't think it worked," Harry said. He looked a bit dejected.

"How could it not have? You summoned a broom from Gryffindor tower to the bloody Quidditch pitch!" Ron cried.

"Maybe the map isn't anywhere near," Hermione suggested.

"Hermione's probably right," Harry said. Ron simply screamed and dived into a suit of armor in the corner. Hermione and Harry spun around to face the steps just in time to see Filch's desk barreling straight towards them. Hermione dived after Ron and Harry simply ducked. The desk skidded to a halt right in front of them.

"I think it worked," Hermione said meekly. She peeked over Ron's shoulder at Harry andrmal" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"I think that's an understatement," Ron laughed. Harry pointed his wand at the desk, unlocked it and removed the map from the desk drawer. A bright smile cracked over his face.

"MEROW!" a mangy cat let out a shriek from the corner. She glared at the three friends through her beady red eyes.

"Bloody sodding ruddy--!" Ron began. Before he could spew any more expletives, Hermione calmly reached over and clamped her hand over his mouth.

"RUN!" Harry cried. He tore out of the hall and up the stairs. Hermione and Ron followed close on his heels.

"Stop Running!" Hermione cried. She had fallen severely behind as she wasn't as tall as the boys. They both skidded to stops and turned to lookign="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Act innocent!" she gasped.

"Right," Harry said. He shoved the map in his pocket and began walking. Hermione quickly caught up with the boys.

"To the library," she said, "for Romeo and Juliet." Harry pulled open the doors of the library and led them back to Madame Pince.

"Madame Pince, we need to borrow a copy of Romeo and Juliet," Hermione said. Her breathing had finally returned to a normal rate after their physical exertion.

"I'm sorry. That Ravenclaw Patil was just took my last copy," Madame Pince replied, looking down at her nose at the three Gryffindoeft" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Oh no!" Hermione replied. She pulled the boys back towards the entrance.

"Is that a problem? Can't we just ask Padma?" Harry asked.

"It wasn't Padma," Hermione spat, "Parvati and Lavender can't check out books since they spilled nail polish on one very rare one back in third year. I'm willing to bet that was Parvati in Padma's scarf," Hermione replied. Faintly from the entrance Hall, they heard Filch threatening dismemberment, castration, and other general bodily harm if he ever caught the terrors responsible for his desk. Hermione gulped and looked at the boys.

"So what do we do? She got the last copy!" Ron cried.

"We think about it while we're on the way to get the air from Trelawney's parchment from her pocket and transfigured it into a jar to hold the air. The friends walked in relative silence, all thinking about the Romeo and Juliet problem.

"I'm not going up there!" Hermione insisted when they finally reached Trelawney's ladder.

"I don't want to either!" Harry said.

"NO FAIR!" Ron cried.

"She hates me, and she's convinced he's going to die. You're the only logical choice," Hermione pointed out. Ron took the jar from her and headed up the stepladder, glaring at his friends as he went.

"You two owe me!" He exclaimed. He returned a few moments later with a jar fule="Normal" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"She wasn't up there," He said as he handed the jar back to Hermione to put into the backpack.

"So we stayed down here for nothing," Harry laughed.

"We've still got to get a picture of Rowena Ravenclaw, a scarf, Skelegrow and Romeo and Juliet!" Hermione cried. "And we've only got 30 minutes!"

"Don't panic. Any ideas about the picture?" Harry asked.

"Yes. I know exactly how to take care of that. There is only one known picture of Rowena Ravenclaw because she had issues with most artists and only sat for one portrait. I'm going to take a picture of the portrait with Colin's camera covered by the invisibility cloak," Hermione sai" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"So what do we do?" Harry asked.

"Weasel some Skelegrow and meet me back at the library in 15 minutes," Hermione instructed. She turned on her heel and left before Ron could complain about the pun. Harry pulled the map out of his pocket.

"The fifth year Hufflepuffs are coming this way!" he cried. He took off in their direction with Ron close on his heels.

"Why are the fifth year Hufflepuffs so important?" Ron asked. His question fell on deaf ears, as Harry had turned the corner and ran right into the middle of a group of Hufflepuffs. He instantly began looking at the feet of every girl in the group. He finally found the pair of shoes he was searching for and looked up at their owner. He found himself staring into the eyes of one Hannah Abbott. She had grown over the summer, and when she grew, she got skinnier. Her blonde pigtails had been abandoned in favor of short blonde layers. She had also disposed of her glasses so her blue eyes sparkled brightly.

"Hannah!" Harry mumbled, staring instantly back at her shoes.

"Hi Harry!" She said.

"CanIborrowyourscarf?" Harry asked. He instantly remembered asking Cho to the ball in quite the same fashion.

"I'm sorry, what was that Harry?" Hannah asked.

"May I please borrow your scarf?" Harry replied more slowly.

"Why?" Hannah asked.

"Only if you give me collateral," Hannah replied sweetly.

"What do you want?" Harry asked.

"Why don't we just change scarves?" Hannah replied.

"Sounds good," Harry replied.

"Accio scarf!" Hannah and Harry cried at the same time. A minute later, Harry caught his scarf. About thirty seconds after that, Hannah caught hers. She handed it to Harry and took his scarf from his out stretched hand.

"Thanks Hannah!" he cried and headed off down the hall.

"We'll trade back later," she called at his retreating form. He waved over his shoulder. Ron jogged off to catch up with him.

"Man, how did you know to do that?" Ron asked once they were out of earshot of the Hufflepuffs.

"I overheard a conversation because I accidentally went in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom earlier," Harry replied.

"And Hannah Abbott fancies you!" Ron exclaimed.

"Ah, something to that effect," Harry sa" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Harry man! That's great!" Ron cried.

"How are we going to get Skelegrow?" Harry asked, obviously changing the subject.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean we've got to come up with Skelegrow in the next 10 minutes," Harry said.

"I have no clue," Ron admitted.

"How about you let me break your finger and then go get Skelegrow from Madame Pomfrey," Harry suggested, only half jokingly.

"Won't I have to take the Skelegrow?" Ron asked.

"No. You'll pretend to take it, claim your finger feels better and that you simply must get back to class, and then we'll just have to let your finger heal on its own. The Muggle way," Harry replied.

"You must be daft!" Ron cried.

"Do you have a better plan?" Harry asked.

"YES!" insisted Ron.

"That doesn't involve the words 'break your own bloody finger'," Harry amended.

"We could go second year style and one of us can cause a diversion while the other sneaks in and steals the Skelegrow," Harry suggested.

"That might be a little obvious and Hermione has the invisibility cloak," Ron replied.

"We didn't use the invisibility cloak in second year," Harry pointed out.

"How about we charm your finger to look boneless. You go in and ask for the Skelegrow, then end the charm on your finger, claim its better, and leave with the Skelegrow in your pocket," Ron suggested.

"Ron, that's bloody brilliant!" Harry cried. He jumped around in front of Ron.

"You really don't need to shake me!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his hands up to stop Harry from grabbing his shoulders.

"Right," Harry muttered. He turned away from his friend and quickly placed a charm on his left pointer finger to make it appear and feel boneless. Ron smiled at his friend's handiwork as he pulled open the door of the Hospital Wing to allow Harry to pass through.

"It's you!" Madam Pomfrey said when she saw Harry. She sounded a little less than enthusiastic about his appearance.

"Hello to you, too," Harry laughed.

irst day of classes!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed.

"I need some Skelegrow. A bit of a mishap in class made me loose the bones in my finger," Harry said, ignoring the matron's admonitions. He held up his limp finger for her to inspect.

"Right then," Madam Pomfrey said. She directed him to a bed and returned a moment later with a bottle of Skelegrow. She poured a small cup and handed it to Harry. He paused for a moment to give her time to leave before he hid the cup, but she seemed intent on watching him drink the potion. He smiled at her to encourage her to leave. She crossed her arms across her chest and tapped her foot impatiently at him. He finally tilted his head back and poured the foul potion into his mouth. He pretended to swallow and smiled at her broadly with closed lips. She reached over and affectionately ruffled his hair.

"I'll be back in a moment. I need to go document this," Madame Pomfrey said. Harry nodded vigorously. The potion was possibly the most retched thing he had ever been asked to hold in his mouth. Not that he necessarily made a habit of holding random liquids in his mouth. Madam Pomfrey made her way slowly back into her office. Harry waited until she closed the dood tore out of the hospital wing.

"Did you get it?" Ron asked excitedly. Harry's tongue was starting to go numb. He nodded vigorously and motioned for Ron to conjure some sort of container for him to spit the liquid into. Ron didn't notice Harry's plight but instead lead the way to Hermione at the library. Harry vainly tried to get Ron's attention, as he couldn't conjure the container himself because his mouth was full to the point he couldn't speak. As Ron was taller, he stayed a few steps in front of Harry the entire walk to the library. Harry didn't want to try to tackle Ron for fear of accidentally swallowing the mouthful of potion, and he couldn't catch up with Ron.

"Boys!" Hermione cried when they got to the library.

"Hey Hermione, did you get the picture?" Ron asked.

"Yes," she waved a still-drying photograph at him.

"And I developed it the Muggle way so she's not going anywhere!" Hermione cried gleefully, "I don't think she's very happy with me."

"What about Romeo and Juliet?" Ron asked.

"I have that too," Hermione said. She slipped the photograph into her bag. Ron handed her the scarf to put in the bag also. Harry tried to get Hermione's attention to get a container for the potion. She didn't notice him either.

"What about the potion?" Hermione asked.

"Harry has that," Ron replied. Harry waved furiously at them and pointed to his mouth.

"Yes, Harry the potion tastes bad," Hermione said before turning towards the Defense classroom.

"Did you get the things from the other two groups?" Ron asked Hermione as they walked.

"Yes, and I gave them their Willow branches," Hermione replied. She turned into the classroom. Ron followed, and Harry joined them. He had finally quit trying to get their attention and resigned himself to the fact that he would hold the Skelegrow in his mouth until Dumbledore asked for it. He took his seat next to his two friends.

"Alright class, now that Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, and Mr. Potter have decided to grace us with their presence, we shall gannounced, "but first I would like you all to put all of the objects in these bags and bring them to the front of the room."

"Harry, where is the Skelegrow?" Hermione asked. Harry vigorously pointed to his mouth.

"You're HOLDING it in your MOUTH!" Hermione cried. Harry nodded fiercely.

"Get the boy something to spit it into!" Ron cried.

"What do I get?" Hermione asked, "And where from!"

"I believe you and Harry went over this in first year! You're a witch!" Ron cried.

"Right," Hermione muttered. She quickly transfigured another jar and handed it to Harry, who promptly spit the potion into it.

"Wow Harry, why didn't you tell me?" Ron asked.

"What do you THINK all of the waving and pointing and not speaking was about?" Harry replied. He muttered a charm to make his finger return to normal.

"Sorry," Ron said, more to the top of his desk than to his friend.

"It's alright," Harry replied, "It's not like I have any extra teeth or anything." He smiled at his friends.

"Well Mr. Potter, that is quite admirable of you," Dumbledore saise was?"

"To teach us about our surroundings in a fun way," Hermione replied promptly. Just like Hermione to know the answer to a question meant to make the students think.

"Right in one Miss Granger," Dumbledore replied, "what was the hardest part of each of you?"

"Figuring out what a Holyhead Harpy was," Lavender exclaimed. Every boy in the room and Hermione cringed at her statement.

"The Skelegrow," Ron and Harry said, while Hermione added, "Romeo and Juliet."

"Romeo and Juliet, Miss Granger?&rdquoNormal" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"All of the copies of the play were checked out of the Library by the time we got there," Hermione replied.

"Ah, I see," Dumbledore said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"How did you two finally get the Skelegrow boys?" Dumbledore asked, "I'm particularly interested due to the fact that the sample was carried in Mr. Potter's mouth."

"I charmed my finger to look boneless and told Madame Pomfrey I needed some. I was just going to slip it into my pocket and then un charm my finger and leave, but she stood there until it was actually in my mouth. Then she went into her office so I ran out. Ron didn't understand that I needed something to put the Skelegrow in so I just left it until a few minutes ago," Harry explained.

"Our issue at first was with the Whomping Willow," Seamus said, but before he could reveal how that problem had actually been taken care of, the bell rang signaling the end of class. Everyone jumped up, grabbed their bags and headed for the door.

"Students!" Dumbledore called. They all turned to look at him. "Do any of you have a Phoenix Feather?" Dean, Seamus, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati all nodded dumbly. As none of them had come up with a spork, the feather didn't really matter. Rom and Hermione exchanged a panicked look, but Harry walked calmly over to professor Dumbledore. He withdrew his wand from his pocket and handed it to Dumbledore.

"Excellent Harry! I'll make note of that," Dumbledore said, "As you can't leave that with me." Harry smiled broadly at his two friends. Everyone else had already left the class.

"Phoenix Feather core," Ron explained.

"HARRY YOU'RE A GENIUS!" Hermione cried. She ran over to him and gave his shoulders a hard shake. All three friends laughed and Dumbledore just gave his characteristic smile. Then he said the five words that made Harry's entire morning seem fine.

"Harry, Quidditch trials are Friday."