Harry read the letter twice before showing it to Ron and Hermione who read it and looked at Harry shocked.
“I can’t believe it.” Hermione said after reading the letter for the third time.
“Yeah. Why does he want to know when the Hogsmead trip is?” Ron asked puzzled.
“Well he’s obviously back in Hogsmead isn’t he. Maybe he came back from Lu…” Harry stopped and looked at Michele, who was reading a letter. She looked up and looked at Harry.
“What?” She asked Harry.
“Oh, nothing, never mind.” Harry said quickly. “Look there is something you have to know Michele.” Harry started.
“What?” Michele asked suspiciously.
“Harry is this really the time or the place?” Hermione butted in giving Harry a cruel look.
“Yes it is the time and the place. We should be on even footing from day one.” Harry told Hermione who shrugged and carried on eating her sausage.
“Michele, do you know Sirius Black?” Harry asked.
“Yes why?”
“Well, I don’t know how to put this.” Harry continued trying to find the right words.
“Michele, Sirius is Harry’s godfather. He was innocent of the crime he was accused of and he writes to Harry to give him advice on stuff.” Ron said in a very matter of fact way. Michele looked from Harry to Ron then to Hermione who was nodding.
“Oh. Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.” Michele said dazed. “So he is a good guy. No killing little wizards called Peter Petigrew or something like that.” Michele probed.
“No, oh and by the way. Peter has the nickname Wormtail, he is Voldemort’s servant and he faked his own death and until a year ago he was living as Ron’s pet rat.” Harry continued. Harry looked at Michele who was now shaking violently.
“What’s wrong?” Harmione asked reaching over to Michele.
“Nothing I’m fine.” Michele said quickly. “Look I have to go and get my books. I’ll see you in class.” Michele stood up, ran from the hall and up the stairs.
“Hmm. Well it seems that Michele has met our little friend Wormtail then.” Ron said as he turned back around from watching Michele.
“Yeah we better be careful what we say about Voldemort from now on. Also about what happened to her. Not till she is ready to tell us. So don’t let on that you know.” Harry said looking at his bowl of porridge.
When Harry looked at his timetable he saw that he had Divination first. Harry knew that this year would be another of making up disastrous fortunes for himself and being told that he would die every lesson by Professor Trelawney.
“Hey Ron. Are you ready to make up terrible deaths for yourself again this year?” Harry asked jokingly.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Ron answered getting his wand out. “Hey maybe we could foretell Professor Trelawney’s death this year. That would make her think twice.”
Harry laughed. He thought that that would be a good idea. Professor should be able to handle it.
“Hermione what have you got first?” Ron asked trying to see her timetable.
“Arithmacy. Then we all have potions before lunch.” Hermione said consulting her timetable.
“OK well we will see you after Divination then.” Harry said getting up and walking down the hall.
“OK bye.” Hermione said going along the hall when they got out to the stairs.
Harry and Ron walked up the stairs to the Divination classroom. Harry knew that it would be stuffy and hot in there so he fumbled around inside his robes and took off the jumper he had on under them. They climbed more and more stairs till they reached the trapdoor, which was already open with the silver ladder coming down from it.
Ron found a table with Dean and Neville and sat down at it. Harry followed suit and sat next to Ron.
“Good morning children.” Professor Trelawney whispered eerily coming out from the shadows. “I see someone is not here yet.”
Everyone looked around puzzled at who was missing. Suddenly a noise came from the trapdoor and Michele climbed through it.
“Sorry I am late. I couldn’t find the classroom.” Michele said sitting down next to Harry.
“My Dear, you will be late next week as well. And you will miss a few classes in the first week of October due to an incident.” Professor Trelawney explained.
“Yeah, ok then.” Michele agreed smiling disbelievingly. Harry leaned over and whispered to Michele.
“All you have to do to get through this class is predict death all the time. She loves that.” Harry nodded towards Professor Trelawney who was now telling the class they would be moving back to the crystal ball.
“I’ll remember that.” Michele assured Harry.
The class went past slowly. They gazed into their crystal balls. Harry and Ron made horrible predictions all through the class until…
“I see a death.” Michele said aloud.
“That’s great.” Harry whispered.
“No I really do.” Michele said shakily. Professor Trelawney bounded over at once.
“A death my dear? Whose death?” Professor Trelawney looked over at Harry sadly.
“A woman. She is lying on the floor. I can’t see her face.” Michele carried on. By this time everyone in the room was crowded around Harry’s table watching Michele make her prediction. Lavender and Parvati had their hands to their faces. Everyone else wasn’t sure what to think. They were so used to Professor Trelawney making death predictions they usually shut them out but this time it was more real. Everyone was shocked and upset.
“A man, standing by the body. I can’t see him very well. He’s bending down to see the body. He is conjuring something. Smoke, yes it’s a smoke shape. A…. a skull. I think it’s a skull, I can’t be sure.” Michele explained to everyone who was trying to see into her crystal ball trying to see what she could see. Harry looked at Ron and mouthed “the dark mark.” To him. Ron saw him and looked puzzled. “Is this for real?” he mouthed back. Harry shrugged.
“He’s gone. The man he vanished. But another, another is running in, he sees the body. He is upset. He is holding the body to him. It’s Snape. I can see his face more clearly. It is definitely Snape. He is yelling.” She paused. “It’s gone. I can’t see a thing now. The whole picture just went.” Michele said trying to find the picture again. Professor Trelawney looked around. Harry could tell she was annoyed that everyone was so much more interested in Michele’s prediction than hers. Everyone went back to work. When everyone was settled Harry leaned over to Michele.
“Were you serious? Or are you just really good at making up stuff for this class?”
“Harry I was just about to make a false prediction when I saw it. That body. I swear I was telling the truth. It looked so real. Like I was remembering something that never happened. Do you think I could have seen a real prediction?” Michele asked looking meaningfully at Harry.
“Maybe you are the first person in here to actually have the sight.” Harry said nudging her arm.

Chapter Seven

Snape’s Good Mood.

“She made a real prediction?” Hermione asked in disbelief.
“Yes she saw everything. You should have seen her Hermione she was as freaked out as the rest of us at what she was seeing.” Ron answered. “Look she can see things that we can’t, she can see what Professor Trelawney can’t see. She was mad Hermione, jealous even.”
“Look we have to talk to her about it. Ask her if she saw anything else. If she can picture it again for us. If Snape is involved, this death will be happening at Hogwarts.” Harry continued. Hermione looked at Harry alarmed.
“Harry come-on. How could a killer get into Hogwarts?” Hermione asked.
“Maybe the same way Sirius Black did. Or maybe the way Barty Crouch did. Or maybe the way Wormtail did. ” Harry snapped back.
“Sirius isn’t a killer Harry.” Ron answered quietly.
“I know that! But you get my point on how they can get in.” Harry answered more calmly. Suddenly a voice behind them made them jump.
“What are u lot up to?”
Harry spun around to see Michele standing behind him carrying her cauldron.
“You look surprised. Am I meant to be late for every class?” Michele laughed.
“No sorry you just, I mean I just… you just made me jump that’s all.” Harry spluttered, secretly hoping Michele hadn’t heard what he had said about killers getting into Hogwarts.
“So is this class good, I heard the potions master is really good.” Michele hinted.
“Yeah he’s good at giving detentions!” Ron snarled.
“Yes Mr. Weasley. He is also good at standing behind people who are looking in the other direction.” Snape hissed from behind Ron, who jumped so high he nearly hit his head on the ceiling.
“I’m sorry sir. I was joking. I’m sorry.” Ron spluttered
“It’s ok Mr. Weasley. You should be thankful I am in a good mood.” He then turned to Michele. “How are you? I mean,” Snape paused; he looked at Michele’s scar. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine Severus. I won’t be going to that house for a while. And I won’t be trying to walk into curtain people for a while but Grandfather promised to protect me so I am doing ok.” Michele continued like she and Snape were old friends. Snape turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
“What are you three still doing out here. Go in and sit down please.” Snape snapped.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all went into the classroom and found seats at the back of the classroom. Snape and Michele however stayed outside for a few minutes before coming inside and sitting down.
“What was that about?” Harry whispered as Michele sat next to Hermione.
“Nothing. He just looks out for me sometimes.” Michele whispered back. Harry was about to ask her about Snape being in the vision when Snape started talking to the class.
“Now today I will put you in pairs and you will research and make a potion and it’s antidote. It must be a potion that we have not covered, and it must also contain powdered unicorn horn, boomslang skin and dragon blood. There are many different potions that can be made with these three ingredients. You must be able to make it in one lesson. Right I will now read out the list.”
Harry listened to the list. Hermione was paired with Neville and Ron was paired with Lavender.
“Mr. Goyle will work with Mr. Crabb. Miss Patil will work with Mr. Finnigan. Miss Lupin will work with…” Snape continued. As soon as Harry heard Michele’s name he started praying Snape would read his name out.
“Miss Lupin shall work with Mr. Malfoy. And Mr. Potter will work with Mr. Thomas. You may move so you are sitting next to your partners and start researching potions.” Snape finished and then he sat and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and started writing what looked to Harry like a letter.
Harry spent the lesson looking through the potions book looking in the index for the three ingredients. Every so often he would look over to Michele to see her reading and talking to Malfoy who looked very smug at the fact that he had Michele for a partner.
“Hey what about a backwards potion?” Dean asked Harry half way through the lesson.
“What does it do?” Harry asked looking for the page with the backwards potions on it.
“Makes you talk backwards.” Dean continued reading from the paragraph.
“What would the point in that be?” Harry asked puzzled as he suddenly found the page. Dean looked at the paragraph and began to read.
“The backwards potion makes the drinker able to talk backwards and able to understand other people talking backwards. This potion was very useful for private messaging and coding private locations.”
“That sounds cool.” Harry started. He then lowered his voice so only Dean could hear. “We could call Snape a stupid git without him knowing. Dean started laughing and that sorted the matter. Harry and Dean were making a backwards potion.
The rest of the lesson went rather quickly for Harry. He spent the time copying ingredients, and methods to make the backwards potion. He then had to look up the forward potion and copy the antidote. By the end of the lesson Harry had one and a half sheets of parchment of theories, notes, and warnings for the backwards potion. About five minutes from the end Snape stopped them all.
“Right. I have given you sufficient time to find a potion and it’s antidote. I will now ask each pair what their potion is and what its uses are.” Snape consulted his list and started with Hermione and Neville. Hermione straightened up and started talking.
“We are going to make the stealth potion. Meaning nobody can hear you at all.”
“Thank you Miss. Granger. Do you need any other ingredients that you do not have in your pack?” Snape asked Hermione in a surprisingly more civil tone than he would of usually used with Hermione.
“Umm, One phoenix feather.” Hermione answered consulting her parchment.
“Ok.” Snape continued scribbling down Hermione’s request.
“Mr. Weasley what about you?” Snape asked Ron still writing on the piece of parchment Harry had seen him write on at the beginning of the class.
“We are doing the stealth potion as well sir.” Ron answered nervously. Snape however didn’t seem to care.
“Ok so one more phoenix feather for you then.” Snape said casually writing it on the list he was making.
Harry looked at Ron who was looking totally bewildered at the fact Snape hadn’t found a reason to yell at him all lesson. Snape was now asking Crabb and Goyle what they were making. Harry started mouthing to Ron. “Maybe he found a heart.”
“Mr. Potter, what about you?” Snape asked making Harry jump.
“We are making a backwards potion. It makes you talk backwards.”
“What else do you need?” Snape asked still writing the letter on his desk.
“Mandrake juice, and bubertuber puss sir.” Harry said nervously, not knowing if Snape was going to explode.
“Miss Lupin what about you?” Snape continued.
“Charm potion sir. Makes the person seem more charming to others.” Michele answered more timidly than Harry had seen her talk to Snape. Snape looked up as soon as he heard it.
“Whose idea was that Miss. Lupin?” Snape asked curiously
“Mine sir.” Malfoy answered making Harry nearly explode with laughter. Harry looked over to see Ron and the other Gryffindors were also having a hard time containing themselves.
“Ok what else do you need?” Snape continued also a little surprised at Malfoy’s answer.
“Mermaid hair, polar bear tooth.” Michele answered.
“OK I will try and get all the items you all requested. You may pack up your things. Snape paused for a minute. “Miss Lupin may you stay behind for a minute?” He added before sitting down and continuing to write.
“Harry wait for me outside will you?” Michele asked before Harry left. “Hermione and Ron two. I need to tell you all something.”
“Sure. I’ll tell Hermione and Ron to wait.”
“Thanks.” Michele answered, packing up her books. After everyone had left Michele stayed behind to talk to Snape.
Harry told Ron and Hermione to wait for Michele. Hermione was very interested in what this was going to be about.
“Maybe she is going to tell us about her grandfather. And who he is.” She started.
“But make sure you don’t force her to tell everything. Just let her tell us what she wants to tell. Don’t ask loads of questions.” Harry added. Just then the door to Snape’s classroom opened and Snape appeared.
“What are you three hanging around for?” Snape asked curiously.
“They were waiting for me Sir.” Michele answered from behind Snape.
“Ok then. Well remember what I said Miss Lupin and read that piece of parchment. Ok?” Snape continued.
“Ok Sir.” Michele said. Snape went back into his classroom and Michele shoved the letter in her robe pocket.

Chapter Eight

Knowing the Truth.

“Thanks for waiting.” She said turning to Harry Ron and Hermione.
“So why are we waiting?” Harry asked, probing into what she was going to tell them.
“Umm can we go and grab some food and take it outside?” Michele asked rapidly changing the subject.
“Sure.” Hermione chipped in before Harry or Ron could say anything.
“Good.” Michele said leading the way to the Hall. After getting sandwiches from the hall the four of them went and sat on the lawn waiting for Michele to tell them what she said she had wanted to.
“Ok I know you are wondering what everyone else is wondering about me.” Michele began. She paused, Hermione then jumped in.
“Look if you are not ready to tell us then it doesn’t matter.” She said. The truth was it did matter to Harry. He wanted to know more about Michele and fast. But Hermione was right. She had the right to tell them when she was ready. Michele brushed back her hair and rubbed off the powder covering her scar.
“Harry you were right. It is a curse scar.” Michele started.
Harry looked at Hermione and Ron, to show he was right when it hit him. How did Michele know he thought that?
“Wait how did you know I thought it was a curse scar?” Harry asked, thinking about when he had said anything.
“When I left the compartment you lot were in on the train I stayed outside for a minute. My head hurt and I asked Draco to let me sit down for a minute while my head stopped spinning. I then heard Ron say that you were right about it having a weird origin.” Michele explained. Harry looked at Ron who had gone bright red and was looking at his shoes.
“The reason I didn’t say anything about it was I was shocked. I couldn’t help thinking people would judge me. I mean my own father, well my stepfather, had tried to kill me. And then there was the fact that the only person that had ever survived the killing curse was the guy I bumped into on my way out of a book shop.” Michele paused and smiled.
“I already said that that was my fault.” Harry reminded her.
“I didn’t really have my head screwed on correctly that day.” Michele continued.
“Anyway, how I got the scar. I was at home. And when my step dad got home I heard three people coming in. one was my dad and…” Michele carried on but Harry cut her off and finished her sentence.
“And two were masked. One was short and the other was very tall and thin.” Michele looked at Harry shocked.
“How did you know that?” She asked Harry.
“You probably won’t believe this but I have a knack for dreaming things that happened. I had a dream about a girl being attacked by her father. Voldemort was there.”
“You mean to tell me that you saw everything that happened in the house that day?” Michele started
“No I only saw from you screaming ‘what is going on’ to the flash of green light and you lying on the floor with your father lying dead next to you.”
“So what happened in between those two times because I still don’t know.” Hermione queried.
“Yeah I don’t know either.” Ron told Michele.
“Well my dad came in with the two masked men and I asked what was going on.” Harry could see a tear coming down Michele’s cheek. “The first man unmasked himself and it was Voldemort.”
Ron flinched at the sound of the Voldemort’s name. He knew he should be used to it, hanging around with Harry but he still found he flinched when he heard it, Michele however hadn’t noticed.
“He told me that I was to be bait so that my grandfather would come to find him. Voldemort then said he would kill him. That was when I realised that my father wasn’t joking anymore. He put the cruciatus curse on me.” Michele continued to tell Ron and Hermione about what had happened that night. Harry tried to keep listening but the scream from his dream kept coming back clearer and clearer. Suddenly Harry was pulled back into reality.
“Voldemort called the man Wormtail. I didn’t know who he was but that name, it seemed familiar to me. Voldemort called me the second Harry Potter. Of course I knew who you were. My grandfather told me stories about what you get up to at school.” She added smiling at Harry.
“When my mum got home she called my grandfather straight away. He was always the only one who I would talk to. He was also the only one who could explain to me why this had happened. He told me that he had suspected that my stepfather was a death eater for a few months. He always suddenly had to go somewhere. He had forced me to go to Durmstrang, where they teach the dark arts. He hated my grandfather.” Michele paused as if trying to find words for what she needed to say.
“Well anyway, as soon as grandfather had suspicions he put a protective curse on me from my father. I still don’t know how it works but it means that he couldn’t hurt me. Well when my father tried to kill me it rebounded and killed him. Voldemort then told me to tell my grandfather that he would be back, then they just left.”
“So just before he tried to perform the curse your step father told you who your real father was?” Hermione asked still a bit confused.
“Yes. He said to tell…” Michele continued but again Harry took over.
“To tell your mother that he was sorry.” Harry said. “I remember because I was worried. How could you tell your mother that he was sorry, you would have been dead?”
There was an awkward silence. Harry was thinking about what Michele’s grandfather had told her about him. Who was her grandfather? Michele however was thinking about how she couldn’t of thought about what Mr. Henley had said.
“I never thought about that.” Michele said. “Man, how could I have missed that?”
“Well given that he had just tried to kill you, that sentence doesn’t seem that important.” Ron answered.
“Oh my god.” Hermione shrieked.
“What?” Harry asked, annoyed because he was just about to ask whom Michele’s grandfather was.
“We are five minutes late for charms! Come on!” Hermione shrieked grabbing her bags and running up the steps.
The four of them sprinted all the way to the classroom. When they reached the door Michele went in first. She pushed the door open, the whole class turned to look at them including Professor Flitwick who was standing on his usual pile of books.
“I am so sorry Professor. I was trying to find my grandfather and I dragged these three along to help me find him. Unfortunately we couldn’t and that was when we realised we were late for your class.”
“That is alright Miss Lupin. Just try to make sure you don’t make this a habit.” Flitwick answered.
“Yes of course sir.” Michele answered smiling. The four of them went to the back of the class and pulled out their books, quills and parchment.
“As I was saying, the bubble head charm was used be two of the champions in the Triwizard Tournament. It is extremely useful for underwater adventures.”
Their Charms lesson was rather boring for Harry. They spent the lesson copying notes and methods of different underwater charms.
“Where was this last year?” Harry asked Hermione jokingly. “It would have helped us not have to spend every second in the library.”
“Yeah I know. That was the first thing I thought when he said about bubble head charms.” Hermione answered.
“Was the Tournament fun? Harry I heard you were really good against the Horntail.” Michele said turning around so the four of them made a square.
“Well it was fun until the whole portkey bit.” Harry said annoyed.
“Yeah Grandfather told me about that.” She paused looking at her watch. “This is the last lesson of the day right?”
“Yeah. What do we have tomorrow?” Ron asked. Hermione pulled out her timetable.
“Transfiguration, Defence against the dark arts and care of magical creatures.”
“Brilliant.” Michele said a little louder than she should of making the whole class look at them.
“Miss Lupin, what is going on?” Professor Flitwick asked walking over to their table.
“Oh we were reading a story about a guy who used the bubble head charm to stop himself drowning. It was a great idea. I just love charms.” Michele said quickly flipping to the bubble head charm page.
“Well that is great Miss Lupin. I am glad you find these things so interesting.” Flitwick told her, positively beaming.
“That is ok Professor.” Michele said smiling. Flitwick walked back up to the front of the classroom and started writing one more charm on the board. Hermione flipped to the page with bubble head charms on it and read the whole page.
“How did you know that?” Hermione hissed up to Michele.
“Know what?” Michele hissed back.
“That there is a story about someone using the bubble head charm to stop themselves drowning?” Hermione asked. “Even I didn’t know that!”
“Flitwick mentioned it as a good read up on the bubble head charm near the beginning of the lesson.” Michele answered laughing.
“Oh.” Hermione answered. The rest of lesson the four of them sat in silence, copying notes. At the end of the lesson Flitwick said that for the next lesson they had to find the names of three charms to survive at high altitudes.
After dinner they all went up to the common room and sat in the corner. After playing chess Harry and Ron decided to do their charms homework. Michele was sitting next to Hermione talking quietly.
No I am sure that that one is for space.” She was saying.
“Yeah which would be a high altitude. Wouldn’t it?” Hermione answered as if the answer was totally obvious. Michele laughed.
“I suppose.” Michele answered scribbling it onto her page.
“Hey have you two got three?” Ron asked Michele looking at her parchment.
“Yep just got our third!” Michele answered smugly.
“Can we see?” Ron asked.
“Do you think that I would stoop so low as to give you my homework?” Michele asked shocked.
“I err, I err,” Ron stuttered his ears turning redder that his hair.
“Sure I would, here it is.” Michele answered laughing at the look on Ron’s face.
“Oh err, thanks.” Ron said as Michele handed him the parchment and walked over to Fred and George who were sitting in the corner writing on a piece of parchment.
When Harry had finished his charms homework he decided he was going to go to bed and get a decent nights sleep. He said goodnight to Ron and Hermione who were now playing wizard chess, then walked over to Michele and said goodnight to her. Harry walked into the dormitory, got changed and got into bed. Harry thought that because he had tried to go to bed early he would not get any sleep but as soon as his head hit the pillow he fell into a light sleep.

Chapter Nine

Transfiguration.

The next morning Harry woke up feeling great. He went downstairs and found a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione who was eating bacon and eggs.
“Morning.” Harry said as he sat down.
“Good morning.” Hermione answered. The two of them didn’t speak much during breakfast, which Harry was grateful for. He liked these silent times with Hermione. When Harry went back up to the dormitory Ron was getting dressed.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Ron asked trying to put his trousers on at top speed.
“Ron your not late. I got up early.” Harry assured him.
“Oh ok then.” Ron said. “Wait how come?”
“I just woke up early and didn’t feel like lying in bed.” Harry answered rummaging in his trunk for his transfiguration book. One Ron and had gone down to breakfast Harry went into the common room and sat by the fire for a while. He was about to drift back off to sleep when someone tipped back the chair, shocking Harry.
“What are you doing all on your own?” Fred asked from Harry’s left.
“Yeah are you planning something?” George asked from his right.
“Actually I was just sitting.” Harry said trying to get out of the tipped back chair. The twins tipped the chair back even further so it was impossible for him to get out.
“Do you know about what the scar is about yet then?” Fred asked.
“Or who her grandfather is?” George asked before Harry could answer the first question.
“Or how she knows Malfoy?” Fred jumped in. Harry felt his head was going to explode.
“No, no and no.” Harry answered. The truth was he knew the answer to the first question but he didn’t feel that it was right to tell the twins that was for Michele to do.
“I hope you two don’t harass everyone about me like this?” Michele asked from behind the twins.
Fred and George jumped, let go of the chair, which fell backwards making Harry roll over his head out of it. Michele moved backwards, keeling over with laughter. When Harry straightened himself up he admitted it must have been a funny sight.
Fred and George, who were now safely back on the ground, turned around and started making apologies to Michele about asking about her behind her back. Each twin seemed to be finishing the others sentence.
“Well we knew you were hanging around with Harry,” George started. “And we weren’t sure you would want to talk about it.” Fred continued.
“Ok, ok. Calm down.” Michele said. Her eyes confused about who she was meant to answer first. “It’s ok, I don’t mind. Just next time ask me about me. I would know.” She smiled. Harry could see she was purposefully not telling the twins the answers to their questions. “By the way do any of you three know when quidditch starts again?”
Harry looked dumbfounded. He hadn’t even thought to ask about the quidditch cup this year. Fred and George however looked please.
“Thinking of trying out are you? We need a new keeper.” Fred started.
“Yeah Angelina’s our new captain.” George said. “Lets hope she isn’t as boring as Wood.” George added smiling at Harry. Harry smiled and looked at Michele. Maybe she would try out.
“Oh definitely. The idea of zooming around on a broomstick trying to catch a big red ball while these two black balls chase you trying to whack you in the head is too good to miss.” Michele answered sarcastically.
“Well that’s what we are there for.” Fred told Michele. We chase those black balls trying to whack them so they whack Malfoy in the head.” George smiled and Harry bust out laughing.
“I’m sorry but that is a nice thought.” Harry said between laughs.
“Don’t get me wrong I love broomsticks. But I am no good at quidditch. Plus I might miss that lovely sight of Malfoy being hit in the head by the big black ball if I am chasing the big red ball.” Michele told Fred and George who caught on to the idea. “Plus I would get a better view of you three if I am in the stands.” She added smiling before going into the girl’s dormitory.
Fred stood watching her walk to the other end of the common room then as soon as the door had closed he turned around to George and Harry, who were watching him watch Michele.
“Fred you have got it bad.” George told Fred putting his arm around Fred’s shoulder.
“Yeah right.” Fred answered ducking out of George’s grip on him. “I just think she’s a cool person. Nice sense of humour.” Fred said quickly.
“Uh huh,” George continued. “Whatever you say.”
“Hey when does quidditch training start again?” Harry asked the twins who were now staring at each other trying to make the other laugh.
“Saturday.” Fred answered. “Angelina is putting up posters this week for tryouts.”
“Ok,” Harry replied. “Well I better go. I have McGonagall first.”
“See you Harry,” George called as Harry picked up his back and walked over to the portrait hole.
In Transfiguration Professor McGonagall had told them that this year they would be learning to transfigure larger animals.
“You will be transfiguring animals such as badgers, racoons, and some magical animals. You will also be learning how to transfigure inanimate objects into animals.”
Today they were trying to transfigure cats into pillows. As usual Hermione was the only person who got it right the first time. Harry’s pillow however still hissed when you put your head on it. By the end of the lesson Ron was very chuffed at the fact he had made a very nice looking pillow. It was still a bit furry at the edges but Ron had told them that that was for decoration. Michele had made a pillow but if you stroked it the pillow still purred. “I think that’s kind of cool. Who else has a pillow that purrs?” Michele had said. At once Harry had replied. “Well with you and me we could make a pillow shop. We could make one’s that bark, purr, hiss, even bite your ears.” Everyone had laughed except Professor McGonagall who thought that they were not taking their work seriously enough.
“Can we keep the pillows Professor?” Hermione had asked as she had thought her pillow would match her sheets.
“Yes you may Hermione. If anyone would like to sort out the glitches before we go. So that we don’t have pillows that are biting off people’s ears as Mr. Potter had suggested.” Professor McGonagall had told the class. There was a long line of people trying to get the mistakes out of their pillows. Michele however was not in it.”
“Well look, I can put my head on it and it is fine. Mine has a nice glitch. Plus it is still furry. I like furry pillows. They are a lot softer.” Michele smiled at Harry who was in the line to stop his pillow moving.
“I don’t like the idea of having a pillow that moves more than I do when I am in bed.” He laughed.

Chapter Ten

The New Teacher.

“What do we have next?” Hermione asked as they left the Transfiguration classroom.
“Defence Against the Dark Arts.” Michele answered looking in her bag. “Haven’t you lot had a different teacher every year for that class?”
“Yes. They each die, or leave, or are really werewolves, or are really dark wizards.” Harry started.
“Or they have Voldemort attached to the back of their head.” Ron finished. Harry looked at Ron. He hadn’t planned to say that. Michele looked at Ron in a confused way.
“I think I’ll just have to trust you on that one.” She told Ron.
When they got to the Defence against the dark arts classroom the door was open but nobody was inside.
“Well we might as well go in and get good seats.” Ron started. Going in and finding a nice seat at the back of the room. After a few minutes the classroom was full but the teacher still wasn’t there.
“This isn’t very professional.” Hermione complained but just as she did the door opened and the new teacher walked in. Harry knew who it was straight away. It was Fleur Delacour. “Morning Class.” She said in her French accent. A chorus of Mornings came back.
“I will be your new Defence teacher.” She started. “My name is Fleur. You may call me zis.”
“Harry this is going to be a fun year.” Ron whispered to Harry who smiled back.
“Zis year you will be learning more about curses and more about dark magical objects, or about how magical objects can be used to ze dark arts advantages.” Fleur continued. “Now I thought zat today we could learn about ow portkeys could be used by ze dark arts. As I know zat it was done last year.” Fleur looked at Harry who had now gone bright red.
That lesson they copied notes on portkeys and had a discussion on how they could be used to the advantage of dark wizards. They had failed however to come up with a way to protect portkeys from being changed for the dark arts. When the bell rang everyone was rather upset to go.
“Now for ze ‘omework I would like you to write about ow portkeys can be used for dark arts and how zis can be prevented.” She paused as everyone wrote down the homework. “You may go now.”
“Right, off to lunch then?” Michele asked as they left the classroom.
“Brilliant, I’m starving.” Hermione said walking towards the Great Hall. They walked to the Hall, talking about the last class which everyone had found rather interesting.
“It wasn’t as interesting as Moody or Lupin’s classes.” Ron was saying.
“Yeah Neville turning the Snape shaped boggart wear his grandmother’s clothes was very funny.” Harry told Michele.
“What did Snape think?” Michele asked.
“Well let’s just say he wasn’t keen on the idea.” Hermione chipped in.
“I’ll have to remind him of that at some point.” Michele laughed. “So who were the other Defence against the dark arts teachers then?” Michele asked after a minute. “I know Mad-Eye Moody. And Lupin?” Michele stopped talking Harry presumed it had suddenly hit her that her father had worked here. “What was Lupin’s first name?”
“Remus.” Harry said quietly. “Your father was working here.”
“What?” Michele asked, not sure she believed what Harry had told her. “But my grandfather. He would of told me.”
“Well he was here for a year.” Hermione continued. “He left at the end of our third year.”
“Well I will have to ask about that.” Michele said going back to her lunch.
“So down for Hagrid’s class then?” Michele asked, positively beaming.
“What are you so happy about?” Harry asked.
“Lets just say that it will be an interesting class.” Michele answered fumbling with her bag.”
“Oh come on.” Ron begged.
“No.” Michele answered trying to stop herself smiling but she couldn’t do it. “All I’ll say is, it’s Chinese and Malfoy won’t be finding classes so boring for a while.”

back to Chapters 1-5
Chapters 11-15