On Storm Tossed Seas

Chapter 1: A New Class and Professor

"Move it, Mudblood!"

Hermione jumped at the sharp command dropping the book she had been engrossed in. She glared up to find herself looking into the steel gray eyes of Malfoy.

"Oh, look who it is. The son of the Death Eater," she glared, reaching for the book she had dropped.

They stared daggers at each other before each moving their own way, Draco, as usual, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. 'Really,' thought Hermione, 'he is such a jerk.'

"Hey, Hermione," a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts, "wait up."

She turned, a smile painting itself across her features, as she watched the tall, lanky form of Harry moving down the hall.

"What did Malfoy want?" he questioned, a cold look crossing his normally warm features.

"Oh, him? Nothing." They walked down the hall heading towards their Charms class. "He was just being his typical jerk self."

"Just checking." Harry ran a hand through his ever unkempt hair. "You know, I am surprised that Dumbledore has let him continue here. What with his father being so involved in everything that happened last year." A fleeting look of pain crossed his face as unwanted memories tugged at him.

"Well, Dumbledore has always been known to believe in second chances," Hermione intoned as her hand reached to push open the door for Professor Flitwick's class.

"I know," Harry murmured, stopping and leaning against the wall. "I just wonder if---"

"Come on, Harry," Hermione interrupted. "Ron is saving us seats, we can worry about this later," she said, reaching up with her right hand to rest it gently on his shoulder. "I know that there is a lot to understand and figure out, but right now, we must focus on our classes. We have to take OWLs this year, remember?"

Harry gently grasped Hermione's right hand and brought it down to cup between his two larger ones, looking down into her warm brown eyes. "Yeah, I know. It's just been a rough summer," he said, a small sigh escaping him. The door suddenly burst open causing both Hermione and Harry to jump.

"Hey, there you guys are!" Ron exclaimed. "Are you coming, or what?"

"Yeah, we're coming," Hermione said, sharing a last look with Harry.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

"Boy, Professor Flitwick certainly was excited about teaching us Glitter Charms today," Ron muttered, unsuccessfully attempting to brush the obstinate glitter off his robes. "Geez, I mean, what is the purpose of a Glitter Charm anyhow?"

Harry and Hermione laughed at him.

"Thanks for you support," Ron smirked.

"Oh, Ron," Hermione attempted to muffle her laughter, "we're not really laughing at you, but you do look ridiculous with glitter still trickling out of your hair." At that both Harry and Hermione practically fell to the floor in peals of laughter.

"Ha, ha, very funny," Ron said, performing a quick spell to end the offense trickle of glitter. "May we move on now? I'm starving."

After composing themselves, Harry and Hermione grinned at each other and followed after a still annoyed Ron. They reached the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, took their customary places, and began to heap various foods onto their dinner plates.

"What classes are you taking this year, Hermione?" Ron asked, taking a bite of fried chicken. "I mean, besides the eight with us?"

"Oh, you know, pretty much the same as last year. I will be taking Advanced Arithmancy on Thursdays and Fridays, and then all the others with you two," she commented, pausing to pick up a pitcher of pumpkin juice. "I am really looking forward to Arithmancy this year. We will be having a guest professor in our class. From what I've heard, he's brilliant," she answered as she finished pouring some pumpkin juice into her glass.

"Do you know who the new professor is?" Harry asked, passing a platter of poached pears to Neville.

"No," she answered, "but if Dumbledore choose him, he must be good."

"Yeah, 'cause we all know how good Professor Lockhart was," Ron stated, receiving a glare from Hermione and a grin from Harry. Before they could continue their discussion, Professor Dumbledore stood up, the silence in the room occurring almost instantaneously.

"Good evening, students. I hope that you have all enjoyed your first three days back at Hogwarts," he commented. "I also trust that all the first years had very few problems getting to classes on time. I have a brief announcement that I hope will be met with much enthusiasm." His eyes twinkled like stars as he surveyed the room, pausing to catch the eyes of various students.

"We will be adding a new class to everyone's schedule...," he paused as the room broke into groans. Patiently, he put his hand up and waited until all eyes were back on him. "Now, hold on, let me finish," he smiled. "Everyone will be taking a new class to prepare them for a two week long field trip we will all be going on in April. Your prefects will provide more information to you this evening at eight o'clock in your common rooms. Thank you. You may continue your feasting," he concluded, sitting down to enjoy his own feast.

"Are you serious? Another class? He's lost it, he really has! As if we don't already--" Ron complained.

"We get the point, Ron!" Hermione interrupted.

"I wonder where we're going to go, on the field trip?" Harry mused.

"I bet it's something really cool," Ron stated firmly, quickly getting caught up in the idea of two weeks out of class, even if it wasn't for eight more months. "Maybe we'll go to Romania and learn how to handle dragons!" he said, wistfully.

"Oh, be serious, Ron!" Hermione huffed. "Dumbledore wouldn't take us to someplace so dangerous."

"Dragons aren't all that dangerous," he countered. "Charlie works with them all the time, and he's--"

"Well trained, and eight months is not going to get us 'well trained'" Hermione interrupted.

"Yeah, but he wasn't always," Ron muttered.

"I hope that whatever it is, it's not some silly little romp," Hermione intoned.

"Knowing Dumbledore, it will be a little of everything, don't you think?" questioned Harry.

"You're probably right," Hermione agreed.

Stomachs full, the three Gryffindors stood and moved out of the hall.

"Hurry up, guys. I'm going to try and get some studying done for Arithmancy before the meeting," said Hermione, as they moved amongst the crowds of students.

"You haven't even had the class yet," complained Ron. "How do you know what to study?"

"Well, I'm going to brush up, then," she corrected.

"Yeah, you would do something like that," Ron grumbled.

"What's with you?" she frowned. "Why are you so concerned that I'm going to study tonight?"

"Oh, just ignore Ron," Harry interjected. "He's just feeling guilty because he hasn't even started on tomorrow's Divination homework that was given on Monday."

"Then Ron, you should get out your books and we can study together," she suggested.

"Oh, it's no use trying to get him to do that," Harry said, knowingly.

"And why, may I ask, not?" Hermione asked.

"He's planning on meeting--"

"Shut up, Harry," Ron growled.

Harry grinned innocently at Ron.

"Who are you meeting?" Hermione questioned.

"None of your business," Ron grumbled, glaring at Harry once again.

"Are you keeping secrets from me? From your best friend?" Hermione asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Yes! No! I mean...'fairy rings'," he concluded, escaping into the Gryffindor common room as the Pink Lady yawned.

"Ron!" Hermione screeched, giving chase as a bemused Harry followed at a slower pace.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

Thirty minutes later, a dejected Hermione sat at one of the tables by the window burying herself in Arithmancy, still fuming about where Ron had disappeared to. Harry was patiently playing Neville a game of wizard's chess, trying hard to not win too quickly. Over the past hour the room had become rather crowed as the students congregated. There was a hushed level of excitement in the room as the many Gryffindors attempted various activities to pass the time.

Ron crept back into the common room just as Dean Thomas, the Gryffindor prefect, entered the room.

"Okay, everyone, pay attention," Dean stated, and the room dropped to a complete silence.

"As Dumbledore announced, next week we will be starting a new class to prepare us for our upcoming field trip. The goal of this class, and trip, is to build inter-house relations in the midst of hard work," he paused to let the groans die out.

"Now, what we are going to be doing is very exciting. But first, let me tell you which houses each year will be grouped with. First years will be with first years, second years with second, etcetera."

"First years, Hufflepuff."

"Second years, Hufflepuff."

"Third years, Ravenclaw."

"Fourth years, Ravenclaw."

"Fifth years, Slytherin."

"What!" interjected a shocked Ron.

Dean glanced up, glared at Ron, and continued.

"Sixth years, Slytherin."

"Seventh years, Ravenclaw."

"Now, as to where we are going. Dumbledore has procured the use of several sailing ships. You will be given a new schedule to reflect your added class. Classes will only meet once a week. All other information will be given in your class by one of your professors," he concluded, turning to head back to the prefects common room.

"Well, of all the bloody luck!" Ron bellowed, once again. "To be stuck with a bunch of mangy Slytherins for another dumb class!"

Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

Hermione eagerly marched to her Advanced Arithmancy class on Thursday. At least the new class could be forgotten until Friday evening. She was ready to throw herself into her favorite subject once again. Nodding to a fellow Gryffindor she took her seat, preparing her supplies quickly. Then, they waited.

"Good afternoon," Professor Vector chimed, entering from a side door. "It is so wonderful to see you all again. As you know, this is the Advanced Arithmancy class, and will, therefore, be quite a bit more challenging than your previous years.

"You may have also heard that this year you will be having a guest instructor. That information is correct. Though I enjoy teaching Arithmancy, the opportunity to have this particular instructor is not something to pass up.

"Before I introduce your instructor, let me tell you a bit about him. He has worked for the last thirty years for the Ministry of Magic. When he first began at the Ministry, the subject of Arithmancy was considered, by most, unnecessary. However, his work in the area brought about a paradigm shift in the way that the public viewed Arithmancy. He has proven, through much sweat and hard work, just how vital Arithmancy is to the everyday lives of all.

"After ten years of hard work, he completed a paper entitled, ::The Shifting Sands of Arithmancy::. In this work, he explained, in simplistic terms, the importance of Arithmancy and proved that many theories, both his and his predecessors, were, in fact, valid.

"He won the prestigious Jonas Wizard Award, and was given a promotion and a new job title, Minister of Arithmantic Theories. He has been working steadily at his job these last number of years, but has grown weary of the daily grind. He called Dumbledore; Dumbledore contacted me; and now you are privileged to have Dr. Gavin Branefeld for your instructor this year," Professor Vector concluded.

"Dr. Branefeld, you may come forward."

"Why thank you so much for your introduction," he replied in a warm voice, as he moved his way down the aisle. "Arithmancy," he began, adjusting his wire rimmed glasses, through which he peered with deep blue eyes, "is a subject worthy of your full devotion. Through a proper and deep involvement of the subject, you will find your life to be enhanced," he paused, ran a hand through his still thick mane of dark blond hair, and looked each student in the eye.

Hermione grinned at him when his eyes met hers. Here was a person who understood exactly how she felt about Arithmancy.

"Well, I don't know what we are waiting for," he chuckled. "Shall we begin?" With that he dove into the most exciting and challenging lesson Hermione had yet had.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

"How was your new class?" Harry asked Hermione, ducking as one of the Weasley twins' new Weasley's Wizard Wheezes invention buzzed over his head, only to explode with a loud snapping sound as it hit the wall. Harry glared at Fred, who gave an innocent shrug before turning back to whisper conspiratorially with George.

"Oh, it was amazing," Hermione breathed, her face lighting up as she thought about the wonderful things she had learned today.

"Who is the guest instructor?"

"Dr. Gavin Branefeld. I should have guessed," she said, turning to grab both of Harry's hands. "I read his work in the library two years ago. I found it simply amazing!," she exclaimed, practically jumping with excitement. "I find him simply amazing! The way he is able to bring alive the subject is simply amazing! This year, Arithmancy is going to be--"

"Simply amazing?" teased Harry.

She grinned sheepishly at him. "Yeah," she giggled, letting go of Harry. "Sorry for being a little excited, it's just, I couldn't have asked for a better year."

"Sorry to burst your bubble," Ron chimed in, side-stepping a large, flying ball of liquid that burst into a cloud of glitter over a first year, causing her to shriek. Peals of laughter could be heard from the corner of the room as two red heads prepared another onslaught.

"I mean, how could this be a good year when we have to have another class with Slytherin?" he groaned.

"Oh, Ron," an exasperated Hermione sighed. "It won't be that bad. It's only for two hours a week."

"Two hours!" he yelled, his facing turning red in anger. Everyone turned to look at him, the room instantly quiet, his face now red from embarrassment. A loud squawking from the Weasley twins' corner turned the attention off him. To the amusement of all, Fred had sprouted a beak.

"Serves him right," muttered a student, several nodding heads silently agreeing.

"Two hours?" he questioned again, quietly.

Hermione shook her brown head in amusement. "Didn't you even check your new schedule?" she questioned, pulling hers out of her robe and handing it to Ron. "We have class every Monday, 6:00-8:00 A.M."

Staring at the offensive schedule, Ron grumbled something about six in the morning being too early to have to put up with a Slytherin.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

Morning classes passed quickly on Friday, too quickly, in Ron's opinion.

"Only seven more hours before we have to deal with the Slytherins," he groaned, as the three Gryffindors sat in their usual spots at their table.

"Actually, you forgot that we have Double Potions after lunch on Friday's," Harry interjected.

"Thanks for reminding me. Now my lunch is completely ruined," he claimed, pushing his plate away from him.

"Seriously, Ron, get over it. There is nothing we can do about the whole thing," an exasperated Hermione chimed in. "I'm not any happier about the whole thing than you are, but really, you have to deal with it."

Ron glared across the table at Hermione. "Harry, how about we ditch Double Potions today?" he asked, half-jokingly.

"Yeah, sure Ron, whatever you want to do. How about if we go and see if Filch wants to hang out? We could do something really fun, like a tea party," Harry's eyes twinkled, and he grinned over at a laughing Hermione.

"Ha, ha, very funny!"

Throughout the rest of lunch, Ron kept his mouth shut while Harry and Hermione discussed Charms. The bell rang and students began exiting the Great Hall and moving towards their afternoon double classes.

Double Potions went rather well, with the exception of Neville accidentally adding ground wolfbane to his potion. The effect caused a rather noxious gas to permeate the room. Snape took thirty points from Gryffindor and gave Neville zero points on his potion.

Hermione engrossed herself in her Arithmancy class. They studied the effects of Arithmantic theories on the probability of determining who would when the next Quidditch World Cup. It turned out that Dr. Branefeld had a passion for Quidditch.

Dinner was served and the students all threw themselves into the delicious roast beef meal. Dumbledore waited until he saw that most students were done eating, then he stood; the room became silent.

"I hope you have all enjoyed the delicious meal we have had this evening. I would like to give you a bit of information about tonight. After dinner, you will have one hour of free time. At 7:30, please meet back here. We will then divide you into your new classes," he smiled in anticipation. "You should have all received your new schedule. If you have not, please don't hesitate to ask for it.

"I am pleased to announce that the primary teacher for this class will be none other than Dr. Branefeld," he paused for the scattered applause, and nodded at Dr. Branefeld who was sitting next to Professor Vector. "Those of you taking the Advanced Arithmancy class have met him already. His love of all things sailing is second only to his passion for Arithmancy.

"I am sure that you will all enjoy your class, even if some of you must get up a few hours early once a week," his eyes twinkled as groans filled the air. "Well, that is it. You may be dismissed to your common rooms, please."

"Oh my gosh, I am so excited!" squealed Hermione, as the trio got up from the table. "You guys are gonna love Dr. Branefeld. He is amazing. If he knows sailing half as well as he knows Arithmancy then this will be a real treat."

"Have you ever been sailing, Harry?" Ron asked.

"No. The Dursleys went once, but Dudley threw up and they never went again."

"Really? Why did he throw up?" Ron quizzed, as the group waited patiently for a set of stairs to move their way.

"Probably he became seasick. Some people get seasick when they are on water," Hermione stated. "It happens because the inner ear, the body and the eyes are all sending different signals to the brain."

"Really? Does it happen to lots of people?"

"Yeah, most people," Hermione answered. "However, I don't get seasick. I've been on my Grandpa's sailboat often. I used to get seasick at first, but I haven't in the last five summers or so."

"You never told us that you had a Grandpa," Harry said, stepping onto the newly arrived staircase closely followed by the others.

Hermione blushed. "Yeah, well, I just didn't feel that it was all that important. I just like to keep some things private."

"Oh, so you can keep things private, but not me?" Ron interjected, remembering Hermione's anger the other night.

"Okay, that's fair. But still, it's different. I don't know everything about your home lives, but I like to think that we can share everything about our lives here at Hogwarts. I would never keep anything secret from you guys about here. Especially if it involved someone of the opposite sex," she said, glancing at a red-faced Ron.

"Well, that may be good for you, but I think a guy is entitled to a little privacy, right Harry?"

"Don't look at me. I have no desire to get involved."

"That certainly didn't stop you the other day," Ron fumed.

"Look, I don't see what the big deal is Ron. Why can't you tell me who you like?" Hermione questioned.

"I just don't feel like it, yet," he answered.

"Okay. Just so long as you know I would never keep a secret from you guys about my love life."

"Well, that's you," Ron stated.

"Fairy rings," Harry recited, stepping through the opening with the other two.

Harry and Ron played Wizard's Chess while Hermione pulled out her Arithmancy text to continue studying, much to Ron's amusement. Harry was on his third loss when Dean entered, telling the students that it was time to head to the Great Hall to be put into their classes.

Talking excitedly, the students made their way to the Great Hall. Dumbledore waited patiently as they all filed in. The long tables had been moved, so the students simply gathered in the front of the room. As soon as they quieted down, Dumbledore began.

"Well, we begin," he smiled. "Your prefects should have told you with which house you will each be grouped, however, I will repeat it. This time, however, I will also tell you the name of your secondary instructor. This instructor will attend all your classes and aid Dr. Branefeld in your course work. I will call the name of the professor, then I call your year and house, please follow your professor. Let the grouping begin."

"Professor McGonagall, first years Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs," Dumbledore began, as the first years watched for Professor McGonagall and moved towards the exit of the Great Hall.

"Professor Snape, first year Ravenclaws and Slytherins."

Dumbledore continued to call out the names of professors and students as those called made their ways out of the Great Hall.

"Professor Sinistra, fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins."

Ron made a face and moved with the rest of his year towards the back of the Great Hall. They followed Professor Sinistra through the halls and entered a classroom. The Slytherins and Gryffindors sat down on opposite sides of the room.

"Good evening, class," Professor Sinistra said. "As you should all know by now, our class will meet first thing every Monday morning. That would be 6:00 AM -8:00 AM. You are expected to be on time. A small breakfast will be provided for you in our class," she continued.

"Our first few classes will be held in this room, with subsequent classes meeting outside at the lake. Homework will be given and collected each week." A few groans interrupted her speech.

"I am sorry if some feel that homework is a hardship, however, it is a necessity. At the end of the class, we will be out on the high seas without our wands. These next few months are extremely important. Now, I will be putting you into pairs. This individual will be the person with whom you will work in and out of class. You will be responsible to watch for each other's safety when our class moves on to the more active portion of our class," she concluded, pulling out a list.

"Lavender Brown and Vincent Crabbe."

"Seamus Finnigan and Tracey Davis."

"Harry Potter and Blaise Zabini."

"Ron Weasley and Pansy Parkinson." Ron rolled his eyes as he moved across the room.

"Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy."

Hermione's eyes widened as her name was paired with Draco. From across the room, Harry and Ron shared a sympathetic look with Hermione, while Professor Sinistra continued to pair up the students.