Chasing a Dream

Chapter 16

Got Any Plans for Saturday and the New Keepers

All of the students attending Hogwarts, except the first years, clambered into the horseless carriages at Hogsmeade Station. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Neville all shared one on their way to the school. Harry was very thankful for no run-ins with Malfoy yet. No doubt, he'd be very sore after their last encounter.

The castle loomed into view, lights gleaming through the night like a welcoming friend, the reflection wavering on the surface of the lake. They were back at Hogwarts at last.

_-_-_

Harry had chosen a seat next to Hermione at the Gryffindor table. He was eager to begin the feast, but first they had to wait for the Sorting to end.

As Professor McGonagall read through the list, Harry's eyes wandered around the Great Hall. The seat for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was empty. Malfoy was sitting at the Slytherin table, applauding with the rest of his table. His hair was very bleached looking. A strand of white-blonde hair fell into his eyes. His sharp silvery eyes were locked somewhere on the ceiling. He appeared to be daydreaming. Something about him was different, yet Harry couldn't place his finger on it.

Harry shook himself mentally. Malfoy is Malfoy. He told himself and his eyes fell on a certain raven haired Ravenclaw.

Cho was looking solemn. Her hair was sleek and shiny; she was as beautiful as ever. Yet... Harry felt nothing. No jerk in his stomach. No butterflies or pounding heartbeat.

He turned to look at Hermione. Harry's stomach flipped over, doing summersaults, his heart was beating against his ribcage, and his face flushed. She was looking straight at him.

Her eyes were the most beautiful amber color. Her hair, no longer bushy, fell in gentle waves around her face. She smiled at him and then turned back to the Sorting.

Then, a name was called that made Harry's head snap up. Ron moaned in agony.

"Creevey, Colleen."

The mousy haired girl who'd snapped Harry's picture on Platform 9 3/4. She sat on the stool and was sorted into Gryffindor.

"Creevey, Denise."

There were two! Colleen's twin sister sat down on the stool. Harry thought swiftly of Parvati and Padama. They were twins and they weren't in the same house! Oh, please! Let her go to Ravenclaw, anywhere but...

"Gryffindor!"

The hat shouted. Ron was pounding his head on the table. Four Creeveys. Colin, Denis, Colleen, and Denise! Hermione was shaking with laughter at the looks on Harry and Ron's faces.

Colin Creevy was frantically trying to get Harry's attention. He was waving his arms around so much that he accidentally smacked Neville in the face.

Maybe it won't be so bad.

Or maybe it will.

And so, the school year began...

~_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-~

"Wasn't he at the feast last night?"

"No, he just flew in. No one has seen him yet. I wonder who has him first?"

"Who?"

Hermione's voice said from behind them, causing Ron to jump. Harry turned to look at her. She was wearing her school robes, and (as always) was clutching a book to her chest. She set it down and took a seat next to Harry. Ron sniffed.

"The new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Geeze, here I thought you knew everything."

He teased. Hermione retorted by sticking out her tongue childishly. Ron was about to say something when someone plopped down beside him.

"Hi!"

Ron choked on his toast. It was Lavender. Ron's ears began to burn red, but she took no notice. Hermione tugged on Harry's sleeve. Soon, her hot breath on his ear had caused him to go red, too.

"Let's leave the two alone with their breakfast."

She hissed in his ear. She winked and picked up her tray. Harry did the same. Ron was about to protest but Lavender had just asked him a question about their Potions essay from over the summer.

Harry followed Hermione out to the grounds. He knew where she was taking them. The lake. She stopped by a giant tree, perfect for climbing. She leaned against the tree and slid down its trunk until she was sitting on the grassy ground. Harry followed suit.

Harry stared out at the lake. The September wind chased the ripples across the surface of the water.

"Guess what we have first?"

"What?"

Harry hadn't looked at his schedule yet.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts"

His curiosity sparked, Harry sat up straighter.

"What is he like?"

"All I know is that his name is Professor Lawrence."

"Professor Lawrence,"

Harry repeated. There was a pause that stretched for a few minutes.

"Harry?"

"Yeah, Mione?"

"You want to do something this Saturday?"

"What?"

"I don't know. It's just that we said we'd do some more stuff together, just the two of us. I thought we might be able to work things out on Saturdays. We don't have to if you don't want to."

"I do. What time?"

"How 'bout three-thirty?"

"Sorry, Mione, I don't like to get up that early."

She smacked him on the arm.

"You know what I mean."

"Ok, ok."

"So, it's a plan?"

"You bet, Mione."

"Uh-oh!"

"What?"

"Were going to be late!"

_-_-_-_

The two of them ran through the halls to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. They tried to slip through the door unnoticed, but weren't so lucky.

"You're late."

Harry couldn't help gawking. Perhaps it was because Professor Lawrence wasn't, as they'd thought, a man, but a woman. Or maybe it was because she was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen.

She was tall and lean, about twenty-three. Her skin was pale and contrasted nicely with her midnight black hair. Her hair was wrapped up in a bun at the top of her head. She had beautiful eyes. They were a radiant blue, though not like the neon blue Hermione's had turned. Her eyes sparkled. Her face was young, and her full lips were pressed firmly together, doing a very good impression of Professor McGonagall.

"I would appreciate it if you would be on time next time. Take your seats."

She pointed to two empty seats at the front. Professor Lawrence strolled gracefully up to her desk and turned to face the class.

"My name is Professor Angelica Lawrence and I will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

_-_-_-_-_

"Great! Another McGonagall!"

Ron muttered darkly as the trio sat down to lunch. Hermione sniffed.

"I like her."

"You would."

Hermione smacked Ron on the back of his head.

"She's pretty, I'll give her that."

Ron said and laughed, he continued.

"They even look somewhat the same! They have the same hair and everything!"

"Did you just call Professor McGonagall pretty? Does Ronnie have a crush on our Transfiguration teacher?"

Hermione teased. Ron picked up his roll and chucked it in her face.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"Line up!"

Angelina shouted at the people trying out for the Quidditch team. Everyone leapt to attention. Harry sniggered. He was perched up in the bleachers, watching an exasperated Angelina Johnson, the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, trying to find a new Keeper. Fred and George weren't helping. They kept transfiguring rocks and such into animals, making the younger kids laugh.

"Harry!"

Alicia Spinnet shouted up to him, motioning for him to come down. Harry laughed and snatched up his Firebolt. He soared down to the Quidditch pitch. Angelina stormed over to him, five Gryffindors trailing behind her.

Harry watched as Ron, a short third year girl, a boy in fourth year, and (to his surprise) Colleen and Denise Creevey marched into a straight line.

"Time to put you guys to the test. Katie, Alicia, Harry, Fred, George, and I will play each of you one at a time. Ron, you first."

They proceeded to play out a game. Katie, Alicia, and Angelina would try and score goals against the people auditioning, while Fred and George would randomly pelt Bludgers at them. Harry would flit around and try to distract them.

They all did very well. Angelina and the others scored eight goals against Ron, twelve against the third year, and eleven against the fourth year. But, to everyone's amazement, especially Ron and Harry's, the two Creevey twins did the best. Denise stunned them when only five goals got past, and they were all dumbfounded when only three got past Colleen! And they came from Muggle heritage!

"Alright! Colleen Creevey, welcome to the team! Denise, you're her second. The rest of you are dismissed."

Ron was shocked.

"Looks like your record for being the only first year to get on the team is gone, mate."

Colleen and Denise were jumping around, cheering and giving each other high-fives. Harry couldn't help but smile. Despite his dislike for their two older brothers, the Creevey twins were, well, adorable.

They both were completely identical, though it was very easy to figure out which one was which, unlike Fred and George. Colleen had her tan hair cut short, while Denise always wore hers in long pigtails. Both had hair that fell about their heads in gentle waves.

They had huge brown eyes that got even wider when they were plotting something, and they were always plotting something. You couldn't turn your back on them for a minute.

The two were best friends and their favorite activity/hobby was causing trouble for the staff. The two of them idolized Fred and George like Colin and Denis idolized Harry. Fred and George didn't seem to mind.

They played harmless pranks and had the funniest little squeal of a laugh. They were like the little sisters of everybody in Gryffindor. All accept, strangely enough, their real older brothers who found them annoying.

"They can have the record. I don't like anything that makes me stand out anyway."

"Come on, Harry!"

"Yeah, get the lead out!"

Colleen squealed as they ran over to where the team had gathered. Harry said goodbye to Ron and ran over to the others.

"Time for Quidditch practice."

_-_-_-_-_

"I think you're almost as bad as Oliver, Angelina!"

He laughed as he watched Fred and George race the Colleen and Denise around the stadium. Angelina, Katie and Alicia were hovering on their broomsticks by Harry. It had been an especially hard Quidditch practice. Harry glanced at the new watch Sirius had given him.

Three twenty-five p.m.

"Oh, God! I've got to go, Angelina, bye!"

He had almost completely forgotten about his plans with Hermione that afternoon. He had five minutes to get there! He dove to the ground, changed clothes, and tore off for Gryffindor tower.

He was momentarily delayed by Filch who yelled at him for running through the halls.

He finally reached the Fat Lady and muttered the password (dragon fang). He ran up to the girl's dormitories. He realized where he was and opened the door shyly. There she was.

She was sitting on the window seat, a book propped up in her lap. Her head was leaning against the glass of the window and her eyes were darting around as if looking for something outside. Harry noticed her wand in her hand as she moved into a kneeling position so she could see through the window better. The hand grasping her wand clenched tighter.

"Where'd he go? Where's Harry!?"