The Traitor's Blood

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The castle was very quiet and empty as Harry made his way through the corridors to the Gryffindor Common Room. He was so deep in his own thoughts that he did not hear a second set of footsteps drawing nearer on the stone floor. He only realised he was not alone when a hand on his shoulder made him jump and reach for his wand.

"Put that away, Potter."

Harry span around, his wand held out in front of him, only to come face to face with Professor McGonagall. He stuffed his wand back into his robes, feeling extremely embarrassed.

"I didn't see you at the start-of-term feast," said McGonagall in her usual stern voice.

"I, um, went for a walk," mumbled Harry.

"Well, I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to ask you something."

Harry looked at her expectantly.

"Now I'll understand if you decline," McGonagall continued, "but, as you know, Miss Johnson has left us and you are the obvious choice to replace her."

Harry was extremely taken aback. Angelina Johnson had been the captain of the Quidditch team last year. Harry was amazed that McGonagall thought of him as 'the obvious choice' to take the position. But he was also amazed at the cautious way in which she was offering him the position.

"What about the life-time ban?" he asked.

"There is no need to worry about that," she replied. "I have taken care of it."

Harry stared blankly at McGonagall. He was completely lost for words.

"You do not need to give me an answer today," McGonagall continued. "Sleep on it and ..."

"No, no," Harry interrupted her. "I'd love to be captain!"

"That is wonderful!" exclaimed McGonagall, a small smile stretching across her tight lips. "Come to my office tomorrow at six and we can discuss the position officially."

"Thanks," Harry grinned as he turned towards the common room.

"Oh, Potter!" McGonagall called after him.

Harry turned back.

"Congratulations. You deserve it." McGonagall turned away quickly and disappeared down a side corridor.

Harry was still very shocked by McGonagall's behaviour towards him as he continued on his way to the common room. It was not long before Harry found himself standing in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. He mumbled the password and the painting swung forward.

The noise from inside told Harry that he was wrong to think everyone would be in bed by now. He reluctantly crawled inside, hoping he would be able to find Ron and Hermione easily and tell them that he had been made Quidditch captain.

As soon as he entered the room it fell silent. Every face was looking in his direction. Harry was just about to turn and leave again when someone started clapping. Then someone else joined in, and another, until the room was filled with the sound of applause.

Harry looked quizzically around the room until he caught sight of Hermione grinning at him. She came towards him and gave him a tight hug, whispering in his ear:

"Congratulations!"

"But..." Harry began.

"News travels fast in this castle!" Ron joined them near the entrance and nodded in the direction of the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"But why haven't you all gone to bed?" asked Harry.

"We asked everyone to wait up for you," replied Hermione. "Everyone believes you, Harry! No one believes that you murdered that man. We're all on your side. I wanted you to see it for yourself!"

Harry could not help grinning. He hated Hermione's interfering, but he felt so relieved to know that everyone believed him.

"Who wants food?" Ginny shouted above the noise.

Harry turned to see Ginny dishing out cakes to the other students.

"Where did you get all of those?" Harry asked her.

"Fred and George taught me a few things before they left," she replied briskly, handing Harry a Cauldron Cake.

Harry had one of the best evenings he had had in a long time. They all stayed up until the early hours of the morning, catching up on news from the summer and eating cakes until they were too tired and bloated to talk anymore. Slowly, people started drifting up to their dormitories. But Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny did not get that far. At some point the four of them must have drifted off, because the next thing Harry knew, it was morning and Hermione was shaking him awake.

He was still sitting in the armchair by the fire. Ginny was curled up on the chair next to him and Ron was lying across a sofa, fast asleep with his mouth wide open.

"Wake up." Hermione shook him again.

"Alright, I'm awake," he mumbled. Harry sat up and rubbed his eyes as Hermione moved across to Ginny and started shaking her.

It was a beautifully sunny morning. Harry knew he must have only got a couple of hours sleep, but he now felt more refreshed than he had done in a long time.

In the Great Hall at breakfast, everyone at the Gryffindor table looked a little worse for wear. Harry helped himself to plenty of scrambled eggs, toast and bacon, as Hermione handed timetables out to all the students, her Prefect badge pinned proudly to her chest. She dropped a large piece of parchment in front of Harry. He glanced over it as he continued eating his breakfast.

"Look at this," Ron nudged him in the side and pointed at his own timetable. "Look how many free periods we have!"

Harry leaned over and looked at all the empty spaces on Ron's timetable, then looked back at his own, which appeared to have considerably less free space.

"They're not free periods" interjected Hermione. "They're study periods."

She sat down on Harry's other side and started pouring over her own timetable. Harry peaked across and noticed that Hermione had quite a few study periods, too. He looked back over his own timetable and realised he had twice as many Potions lessons than any other subject.

"There must be a mistake," he said to Hermione.

"What's the matter?" Hermione followed Harry's gaze down to his timetable.

"They must have scheduled me for two Potions classes by mistake," he said decidedly and started rolling up the parchment.

"I think you had better check with McGonagall," said Hermione bossily.

"What's that?" Ron joined in, his mouth full of egg.

"Harry's been scheduled for double Potions," Hermione replied.

"Double Potions?!" Ron's mouth was open so wide that some of the egg fell out onto the table. "That means double Snape! Why did you sign up for that, Harry?"

"I didn't," Harry said, while impatiently stuffing the piece of parchment into his bag. "It's a mistake."

He swung his bag onto his bag and started making his way out of the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione quickly followed suit and all three of them headed towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom in silence. When they reached the room the door was locked, so they stood outside and waited.

"So, what do you think this new professor will be like?" Ron asked suddenly.

"What new professor?" Harry had forgotten that there must be a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"His name's Professor Whiting. He seems really nice. He was at the feast last night," replied Hermione.

Harry had forgotten about the feast as well. "Was ..." he began.

"No, Dumbledore wasn't there," Hermione answered his unasked question. "McGonagall did the notices, but she just said that Dumbledore was out-of-town, whatever that means. She said he would be back soon, though."

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the wonderful Harry Potter," came the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. "Murdered any more Muggles lately, Potter? I hope you enjoyed your time in Azkaban because you're going to be spending a lot more time there in the future. That's if you don't get yourself killed first."

Ron moved towards his wand but Harry grasped his arm tightly to stop him. At the same moment, the door to the classroom opened and a tall man with short, scruffy blonde hair appeared in the doorway.

"Welcome to my Defence Against the Dark Arts class," announced Professor Whiting.