A Vampire, an Ex-Demon, and the Power of Voodoo

Chapter Three: Carriage Rides and Old Loves

As the train pulled up at Hogsmeade Station, Harry, Ron, and Hermione clambered about to gather their luggage and animals.

"What do you think that new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is?" Ron asked, heaving Pig's cage over his shoulder.

"What do you mean what?" said Hermione giving Ron a sidelong glance.

"Well, let's see; first year: Quirrell, he was a paranoid lunatic who was possessed by You-Know-Who; second year: Lockhart, he's now locked up in St. Mungos as a long-term resident for trying to gather an army of those bloody pixies; third year: Lupin, he was a great teacher and all, but he was a werewolf; fourth year: Moody, well he was locked up in a trunk the whole year so there's not much to say about him; and fifth year: that foul Umbridge cow, she was a hopping-mad toad with an IQ of 6. We've never really had what you'd call a normal defense teacher."

"Well I suppose," Hermione finally said after a few moments of thought, "But we don't really go to a normal school now do we?"

"But still, Ron's right, we must have someone interesting this year knowing Dumbledore," said Harry.

As they climbed into the carriage led by the strange thestrals invisible to most, Harry couldn't get the thought of the new professor out of his head. What kind of person was this new teacher?

"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked, looking at Harry with concern written all over her face.

"What?" Harry said suddenly snapping back to reality. He hadn't realized he was being watched.

"I said, are you okay?"

"Oh...yeah...fine," said Harry, simply blowing off the statement.

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, they knew Harry would tell them later, now just wasn't the time.

"So," Ron said, breaking the silence, "Do you still fancy Cho?"

"Ron!" Hermione scolded, "He doesn't want to talk about that!"

Harry was shocked, he hadn't thought about Cho at all during their summer break. If truth be told, he actually found her rather annoying. Yes, he did feel sorry for her loss, but every time they were together, there she was, bawling her eyes out over Cedric. It was him who had to watch Cedric die, it was him who had to endure the nightmares, and it was him who had to live with the guilt.

"It's okay, actually, I don't much care for her anymore."

Ron's mouth gaped open. "Really Harry? Wow! Last year you were crazy for her, couldn't even talk straight when you were near her. What made you change your mind?"

"Well," Harry shifted uncomfortably. He had never talked about her much to anyone. "She wasn't really my type. All of our dates consisted of tears and Cedric, Cedric, Cedric. It just got too annoying. And she was blaming me for being inconsiderate! I had to put up with her!"
"Wow Harry, I didn't know. How come you never said anything?" Ron asked, still in shock.

"I don't know. I've just been preoccupied. We'd better get our things together," Harry said, quickly changing the subject, "We'll be there any minute now."

And sure enough, just as Harry finished his statement, the carriage came to a stop.