Harry Potter and the American

Chapter Three: Something New

'Harry was standing in a empty clearing in the middle of a forest. He looked around and he thought he was alone. Where he was standing was really creepy for Harry. All the stuff that he's been through, and this was creepy?

"Get me Wormtail," said a high-pitched voice that Harry recognized as Voldemort.

"Yes, Lord," Wormtail said as he bowed down on his knees in front of his master.

"Where is Nagini?" asked Voldemort.

"Over there, my lord," Wormtail replied pointing across the clearing to a hole in the ground. "I believe that she is sleeping Lord."

"Well, wake her up!" screamed Voldemort in the high voice. "I need her to help me!"

"Yes, my Lord," Wormtail went over to the hole and yelled into it trying to rouse Nagini.

The snake came out of the hole and slithered over to Lord Voldemort. He pet her and started to speak in Parseltongue. Normally Harry could understand this language but Voldemort spoke so quietly that he could not hear. He only caught the last bit of the command. "Remember who it is you must bring to me: Harry Potter."'

"Harry!" Ron yelled trying to wake up his screaming friend.

Harry woke up with an instant. "More dreams?" asked Ron. "What did you dream about now?"

Harry went into a full explanation of what happened and Ron listened in horror.

"Go to Dumbledore," Ron said still looking terrified. "He'll want to know that you're dreaming about You-Know-Who plotting to kill you. Normally, your dreams have some of the truth in them don't they?"

Ron had a point. Last year he had a dream that he was the snake and he bit Mr. Weasley. He told Dumbledore and it was true. He was supposed to take Occlumency lessons last year so Voldemort could not control his mind but he stopped the lessons. Harry agreed with Ron and got dressed so he could go to Dumbledore's office.

When he got there he stood in front of the Gargoyle statue trying to think what the password might be. "Fizzing Whizbee," he said but the statue did not move. He started rattling off candies. "Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Canary Creams, Ton-Tongue Toffee,...er...Skiving Snackboxes!" The Gargoyle moved as Harry yelled Skiving Snackboxes. Harry couldn't believe that Dumbledore's password was a Weasley invention. The Snackboxes were an invention that allowed students to skive off classes. You ate one end of the chew and you either vomited, developed a fever, or had a nosebleed. After you were sent from class, you ate the other part and you were fine again. Harry was amazed at Dumbledore's choosing of the password.

"Yes?" called Dumbledore as Harry entered the office.

"Umm...sorry to bother you, but I had another dream," Harry told him the entire story of how Voldemort was sending Nagini, the snake, to bring him to Voldemort. Dumbledore did not interrupt but he nodded between important information.

"Thank you, Harry. You have provided the school and Ministry with important information about Voldemort's plot," Dumbledore told Harry. "I will also tell the Order. Thanks for telling me, Harry."

"No problem. Do you want me to tell you if I have another dream like that?" he asked before leaving.

"Yes, and by the way Harry. A hint for the password. This year I will use Weasley candy for the password. That might narrow it down for you."

"Thanks," Harry said and headed down to breakfast.

He entered the Great Hall and went to the Gryffindor table. He went to go sit by Hermione. "Where have you been? I was waiting for you in the common room!" she asked Harry as he sat down.

"Yea, Harry," Ron butted in. "She was almost in hysterics!"

"Hermione, I had another dream and I had to tell Dumbledore," Harry said now turning to Hermione. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"Awwww."

"Shut up!" Harry and Hermione both yelled at Ron.

"Sorry!"

Professor McGonagall passed out their schedules. The Gyffindors all groaned as they looked at their lists. "Double Potions! With the Slytherins!" yelled Ron.

"Yea I know. It's even the last thing we have today! What a way to end the day." said Harry sarcastically.

After breakfast they had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. They went to Greenhouse three and waited for instructions. Herbology went pretty well since they were potting Mandrakes again. They had to be paired up. Professor Sprout paired them up for them. Harry was lucky that she paired him with Hermione. Ron was paired with Neville and that was a good thing also. Neville's best class was Herbology because he loved magical plants.

After the bell rang, the Gryffindors headed down to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures class. When they got there, Hagrid waved to them. "Hey. How are yeh?" he asked them. "Doin' alrigh'?"

"Yep!" they all answered in unison.

"Hey guess what happened over the summer!" cried Ron. Hermione and Harry looked horrified.

"What?" Hagrid asked.

"Harry and Hermione are dating!" he yelled so that everyone in the class could hear, including the Slytherins. Harry groaned and looked at Ron.

"Sorry, Harry," said Ron looking ashamed.

"So. Potter and Granger." said Malfoy coming forward. Draco Malfoy was a Slytherin that Harry and his friends loathed. "Potter, what made you want know-it-all Mudblood?" Hermione almost cried.

"Hey, Hey, Hey!" boomed Hagrid. "Tha's enough o' tha'! Ten points from Slytherin."

After class, the Gryffindors headed to lunch. "That Malfoy. I hate him!" Hermione was in tears now. Malfoy called her a Mudblood. Mudblood was a dirty name for someone who wasn't 'pureblood.' It meant that she had Muggle parentage.

"It's alright, Hermione," Harry said as they sat down. She cried into his shoulder. He looked at Ron who looked like he was about to say "Awwww." but he didn't. He looked worried for Hermione. Malfoy called her Mudblood often but it still hurt her. Malfoy was the kind of person that promoted ridding the muggle-borns of the school.

After lunch, Harry and Ron had Divination and Hermione had Arithmancy. When the three came to the spot that the boys would split from Hermione, she said, "I'll see you later, Harry. You too Ron."

"Man, she really likes you, Harry." Ron said as the made their way to the North Tower.

"I know. I really like her too." Harry replied trying not to blush.

"You make me sick." Ron said with a laugh.

When they got to the Divination room, Harry and Ron sat down at their normal table. It was hot in there. Professor Trelawney never put out the fire.

"I have some good news for you," she said to the class.

"For once," Ron mumbled and Harry tried not to laugh.

"Firenze, the centaur that took over for me last year, decided to stay. Every other class, you will be going to the room that he taught you in last year," she said. "Up here you will learn the normal stuff that you would in my room. Down there you will learn to read the skies and planets as the centaurs do."

Harry was thrilled. He liked the classes with Firenze. Anything that kept Harry away from Professor Trelawney was great, even if he had to see her half of the time. That day in class, all they did was read tea leaves again. Ron didn't know what Harry's meant to so he asked for Trelawney's help.

"Oh dear," she said in horror. "I am afraid that you will die very shortly."

After class, Harry and Ron talked about the class and how Harry would soon die. They made their way to the common room to drop off their stuff and get their Potions books. Harry and Ron met up with Hermione. As they walked down to the dungeons, Harry told her about what Trelawney had said.

"Don't even listen to that old bat!" Hermione said while Ron laughed. They then headed down to Potions. Potions was by far worse than even History of Magic. Harry loathed the Professor. His name was Snape. He loathed everything about Harry, too. The Gryffindors and the Slytherins stood outside of the class waiting for the bell to ring. The bell rang and the door opened. It was not Snape standing there, though. It was someone new. Harry thought that Snape must have finally got the job as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"If Snape is not here, where is he?" asked Hermione.

"I hope it's not what I think it is," said Harry horrified.

They filed into the classroom and sat at a table. Harry looked over at Malfoy and he looked shocked. He looked like he was about to cry.

"Hello class. My name is Professor Brown," said the man standing at the desk. "I will be your new teacher this year for Potions class."

Everyone in the class gasped. Harry and the others found that Brown was a far better teacher than Snape. They concocted a sleeping draught and the antidote and Harry finally did it right. It was almost as good as Hermione's. That was an accomplishment. Harry thought he was beginning to like Potions. 'Why didn't this guy come last year. I would have done better on my Potions O.W.L.'

After Potions class had ended, everyone went up to the Great Hall for dinner. It seemed that everyone was talking about the Potions class.

"Where's Snape?" asked Seamus. "Is he the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"I don't know," replied Harry. He then looked up at the staff table and Snape was nowhere to be found. He saw all of the normal teachers except for one, sitting in the Defense Against the Dark Arts seat.

"Look! Everybody, look!" Harry exclaimed pointing at the staff table. "It's Lupin!"

Everybody looked and was excited. They couldn't wait until the next day when they had Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin was Harry's favorite teacher. Lupin showed them things that nobody else would. In his third year, they were taught how to get rid of boggarts and he showed Harry how to produce a Patronus to defend himself against Dementors. Harry wondered why Lupin was back. He had resigned after the third year because he was a werewolf. He, Ron, and Hermione went up to the staff table to talk to him.

"Professor Lupin!" Harry said to him. "What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't teach anymore?"

"Well, here I am," he replied. "Some Scientist of Magic discovered a cure for werewolves and I volunteered to be the tester and it's working. I told Dumbledore and he hired me on the spot."

"Can I ask you a question," asked Ron.

"You just asked a question," said Lupin with a smile. Harry laughed.

"Okay. Can I ask you two questions?" Lupin nodded. "Where is Professor Snape?"

"I was wondering that myself," replied Lupin. "Excuse me, but I am going to talk to Dumbledore. I will tell you tomorrow after class." With that, he waked down the table to Dumbledore.

After dinner, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went up to the common room to talk. "I can't believe that Lupin is back!" screamed Hermione.

"Hermione, is he your new heartthrob?" asked Ron.

"Nope," Hermione replied. "Harry is my heartthrob."

"Awwww."

"Shut up," said Harry calmly. He smiled at Hermione.

"You make me sick." said Ron making disgusting noises.

Ron sat on the armchair while Harry and Hermione sat on the loveseat. Ron yet again made another "Awwww" noise when he noticed this. They talked about their day and Hermione told them about Arithmancy which they found rather boring. Harry got his new wizard's chess set out and played with Ron. Hermione watched and cheered for only Harry. After several hours of the game, the common room was empty except for the three of them.

"I'm going to bed," said Ron. "Are you coming, Harry?"

"I will be there in a couple of minutes," Harry said. He then whispered, "I'm just going to say goodnight to Hermione." Ron looked disgusted.

After Harry heard the dormitory door shut, he turned to Hermione. "Hey, got anything new in the diary?" he asked.

"No, not yet," she said. "I will let you know when I do." Harry nodded.

"I'm glad we are back to Hogwarts," Harry said.

"I know. It is pretty much your home," she said to him.

"Yeah..." he said.

"Harry, can I tell you something?" she asked him.

"Sure." he replied.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm glad that you said yes to being my boyfriend," she said. "I really love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life." Harry was sure that if Ron was there, he would have either puked or said "Awwww."

"I love you too, Hermione," he said to her.

He took her in his arms and kissed her softly. "I'm glad you asked me to be your boyfriend." He smiled at her.

"Goodnight, Harry. I love you," she said as she headed to the stairs.

"Love you too."

He then went up to his dormitory. He put on his pajamas and laid down on his bed. Ron was already asleep. He laid awake in his bed for hours. He could not fall asleep. When he finally felt himself drifting to sleep, he was being shaken in his bed. He looked up and saw Hermione standing there in tears.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry. "Are you alright? Go down to the common room, and I will be there shortly. We can talk." He was definitely worried for his girlfriend. He stood up and hugged her. "It's going to be alright." She left the room. Harry put on his glasses and went downstairs to find Hermione crying into a pillow on the couch.

"Hermione?" he said quietly so he wouldn't scare her.

"Oh, Harry!" she said as she lunged at him and he held her in his arms. "I had a dream...a very bad dream! I dreamt that...that...you were, killed!"

"It was just a nightmare," said Harry reassuringly.

"But it was so real! I walked into a room and I saw you laying on the floor dead. You were bleeding all over the place and I sat there with you until someone came."

"It's okay, Hermione," he said calmly to her. "I'm here."

By the time he finished calming her down, it was almost 5:00 in the morning. Hermione decided that she would go change into her clothes for the day and Harry did so too. 'I wouldn't be able to sleep either if I had a dream about the one I love dies' he thought while walking down the stairs. Hermione hadn't returned yet. He sat on the couch and stared into the fire. He heard a door open and Hermione came down the steps still crying.