Jigsaw Puzzle

Class sign-up sheets were handed out the next morning at breakfast, along with schedules.

"Hey, Harry!" said Colin Creevey, suddenly appearing with his younger brother Dennis to sit by Ron and Harry. "Guess what?"

"What?" Harry said automatically.

"There's a photography class on the list! Isn't that great? I'm so excited!"

Colin didn't follow Harry around snapping pictures every two seconds anymore, but he still looked up to him, and he had also developed a lasting interest in magical photography.

"That's great, Colin!"

"Yeah..."

"Which of these do you think sounds easiest?" Harry asked Ron as they looked over the sheets. "Maybe a literature class? We'd only have to read stuff in class and discuss it, probably..."

"You kidding?" exclaimed Ron. "Do you really want reading assignments every night?"

"Good point..."

"Hey! This won't be too bad! There's a magical invention class!" exclaimed Fred.

"Really? Where?" asked George.

"Right there." Fred pointed to where the class was on the sheet.

Fred and George got identical evil grins on their faces as they both marked their lists.

"Easy for you," grumbled Ron. "You're good at inventing things. I'm not good at any of this stuff."

"Well, what are you good at?" interrogated George.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"Aw, Come on. Nobody's good at nothing..."

"Okay, not nothing. I'm good at chess. That isn't going to help me with any classes, though."

"You never know..." said Fred mysteriously.

"Just shut up and let me look at the list."

"At least we don't have to choose right away," said Harry. "Says here we have a week to decide."

"That's good," Ron replied. "Anybody know what they'll be taking?" he said to the whole Gryffindor table, hoping for ideas.

"I'm taking art, of course!" said Dean immediately. "Maybe you and Harry should give it a try."

"Nah. I'm no artist."

"It's graded on effort, not ability, you know..."

Ron turned to look at Harry. "What do you think?"

Harry shrugged. "Why not? I'll sign up for it if you do."

"All right then," said Ron. He and Harry both marked drawing on their lists. "Now we'll just have to hand these in to McGonagall."

Owls began arriving with the mail. "What's happening?" asked a small First Year boy fearfully, looking up at all of the fluttering of wings and dropping of packages.

Ron turned to the first year and opened his mouth to explain, but that was all the further he got.

"You must be Muggle-born," Hermione said kindly to the boy.

The boy nodded.

"I'm Muggle-born, too. Well, an owl came to your house and gave you your Hogwarts letter, right?"

The boy nodded again.

"Well, that's how wizards always deliver mail. Here at Hogwarts, the mail is delivered by owls every morning at this time. It seems weird at first, but you'll get used to it."

"Thank you," said the boy rather shyly.

"Any time. What's your name, by the way?"

"Andrew. Andrew Carter. Everybody calls me Andy."

"I'm Hermione Granger. You have any friends here, Andy?"

Andy shook his head sadly. "I was excited to come, of course, but it's kind of frightening. All this new stuff and nobody I know to talk to..."

Hermione smiled knowingly. "I know just what you mean. I was like that when I first came here."

"Yeah, I guess she was like that," thought Ron. "She kept going on about all sorts of spells and such, but I guess she was trying to cover up how scared she really was...and then she didn't really have any friends, until that Wingardium Leviosa incident, and then the troll..."

"Really?"

"Yes. Don't worry, you'll get used to everything here after a while, and you'll like it here. You'll probably make some new friends, too. If you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Yeah, Hermione has certainly gotten used to things in the magical world. She's way better than me at all of the subjects...Harry and I probably wouldn't have passed that first year without her help...and she still helps us..."

"Thank you," mumbled the boy. "You're really nice to do that for me..."

"She's nice to help Harry and me, too, come to think of it. She doesn't have to. She could just get tired of us being stupid and let us fail..."

"Hey, you know what?" said Hermione suddenly. "I think I know the perfect person to help you get situated here..." She looked across the table to where Harry and Ron were sitting.

"She can't possibly mean me," thought Ron. "She better not. I don't want to be stuck showing some scared little First Year around..."

"Colin?" said Hermione. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Er, Okay. What is it?"

"Could you show Andy here around and help him get situated here?"

"I'd be delighted to! Oh, you're going to love it here, Andy! It's the most wonderful school in the world! It's a bit hard getting around at first, 'cuz the staircases move and everything, but I'll help you. Then there's Quidditch, and flying lessons..."

Colin was soon deep in conversation with Andy, telling him everything about Hogwarts while the little First Year listened to every word, wide-eyed, asking a lot of questions.

"Now they'll both be happy," said Hermione to Harry, grinning.

Harry laughed. Ron started to laugh, too, but stopped himself suddenly. He was angry with Hermione...

Just then, he had forgotten.