Stranger Things Have Happened

Lady Starlight so kiss my ass

Chapter Seven – So It Begins.

Hermione was the first Gryffindor awake the next morning. By six-thirty she was up, showered, dressed and ready for breakfast. At six forty-five she made her way into the boys' dorm and proceeded to wake up Harry and Ron with years of practice.

By 7:03 the Gryffindor sixth year boys were awake and ready for school. That was when Hermione grabbed her two best friends by the arms and literally dragged them out of the Common Room and down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

When Harry, Ron and Hermione walked into the Great Hall the first thing they saw was Tonks. She had neon green hair this time and was talking to Dumbledore. As they moved closer Harry snickered as he realized she was trying to get him to change his hair to the same twinkling blue of his eyes.

The Headmaster seemed interested.

Harry waved to Tonks, whom had spotted him and started waving happily.

Gryffindor's Golden Trio hurried to sit down and Albus raised an eyebrow when several students from Gryffindor walked over to them. Harry, Hermione and Ron talked easily with those around them and didn't seem to be worried that members of other houses were joining them as well. Even though they had been trying to stop that from happening.

The Slytherins noticed though and most of them watched in disgust as two of their House-Mates walked towards Potter, the Mudblood and Weasel. There were sneers, which were ignored by the two older Slytherins, but Serenity Malfoy looked back at the Slytherin table more then once. Beside her Amelia, Mark and Adrian talked happily, making sure to include the surprisingly shy Malfoy in their conversations.

"HHHHHHHAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY!" Amelia grinned as Harry tensed. Instead of jumping on him she jumped on the unexpecting Blaises' back.

"Amelia!" Blaise groaned and shifted the girl so that she wasn't strangling him. "Couldn't you have jumped on Harry pet?"

"But Blaise!" Amelia scolded. "That would have been predictable." Amelia hopped off her cousin and smiled at the people around them. "You should eat your breakfast quickly. The teachers are handing out schedules now."

The students glanced up and many cursed, most flew back to their tables to eat so something before classes start. The two Slytherins winked at Amelia before heading back to their own table. Amelia sat beside Hermione and grinned innocently at all those around her.

Professor Minerva McGonagall walked up and handed Amelia her schedule first. "Very interesting Miss. Moon," McGonagall whispered in amusement. Amelia just smiled at her.

"Thank you Professor."

The Sixth Years got their schedules and Hermione grinned. "Defence first!" All the Sixth Years in Gryffindor cheered loudly. When Harry glanced over at Tonks and Remus he smirked when he noticed both of them blushing horribly.

"No problems with your schedules then?" McGonagall asked with a semi-stern look. Only those that knew her well could see the smile in her eyes.

"None at all Professor." Harry said easily, smiling up at her. "We are all just waiting for our first Defence class."

"Yes…" McGonagall studied Harry intensely. "It was quite interesting to myself and the Headmaster just how many Fifth Year students signed up and were excepted into N.E.W.T.S Denfence Against the Dark Arts. The Sixth Years must have studied hard hmmm Potter?"

"Of course Professor McGonagall." Harry continued to smile at her, an innocent look in his emerald eyes. "How else would they have gotten into the N.E.W.T.S? It must have taken them a long time to learn everything they needed. After all, if you remember, we did not have a promising Defence Teacher last year, unlike the ones we have currently."

McGonagall pursed her lips, trying to remain stern, but she failed. Her eyes lightened on Harry and she did something completely out of character. She smiled.

"Yes, Potter, I am sure that is it." McGonagall turned to walk past him and her voice lowered. "I am never sure whom you are more like. Your father, your mother, Remus or Sirius. You share quality's from all." McGonagall watched for Harry's reaction and was shocked when the young hero looked to the ground before raising to meet her eyes. The tears in the emeralds did not surprise her as much as she thought they would.

"Thank you Professor." McGonagall nodded and walked away. Harry glanced at the floor again and discreetly whipped the tears away. There were times he wasn't able to fake the strength and courage everyone thought he had to have.

Times when Sirius was mentioned.

Harry quickly at some toast and followed Hermione out of the Great Hall, they had to drag Ron with them. Ron stopped complaining when they were out of sight of the Great Hall.

"Hermione, why are you coming up to the Boys Dorm?" Ron asked when Hermione made no attempt to go to her own dorm room.

Hermione sat on Harry's bed and looked at Harry thoughtfully, though she answered Ron all the same. "I had to make sure you actually got your stuff, not just went back to bed. What are you looking for Harry?"

Harry didn't hear her as he muttered "Accio Wand," over his trunk. Hermione's mouth fell open as Harry's new wand flew into his hand. Ron didn't seem to notice as he was to busy looking through his trunk for his school books that he would need for the morning.

When the boys had their books Hermione grabbed them both and pulled them with her. She stopped them in front of the girls' dorms and gave Lavender Brown instructions to make sure they don't fall asleep. Then she hurried up to her room. Harry snickered as Ron nearly fell over his feet to stay up; Lavender didn't look any better.

"At least we have Defence first." Lavender said. "Professor Lupin won't give us homework right away."

"Professor Tonks might," Ron whispered before giggling. "Tonks is a Professor!"

"It is Professor Tonks Ronald. She is a Professor now." Hermione lectured as she came down the stairs.

"Which is strange in itself." Harry said. When Hermione glared at him Harry just smiled back at her. The four of them walked towards the portrait door and were meet up with Dean, Seamus and Neville.

The group of them walked together toward the Defence Class and they met up with others they knew were taking the class. When they got to the door Harry opened it to a pacing Tonks. Tonks' hair was dark black with hints of blue in it. Her eyes' were a very familiar blue, the colour of Sirius' eyes. Her outfit was calm even, which surprised the teenagers who knew her so well.

"What am I doing Remus?" Tonks asked as she continued pacing. "I don't know what I'm going to do! I can't teach!"

"You did just fine this summer Tonks," Remus reminded her. He glanced at the door and winked at Harry.

"Yeah, well, that was Harry and his friends, not a group of people I have never meet."

"Don't tell me you're nervous Tonks?" Harry teased and her head whipped up to glare at him. Her eyes widened at the group of people and she stumbled back into Remus. The Werewolf straightened her as the students took their seats.

"Thanks Wolf-Man." Tonks said as she regained her balance. "And Harry, brat, you KNOW better then to sneak up on me! I could have crashed into something other then Wolfy here."

"But Tonks," Harry asked, amusement clear in his eyes. "Isn't that why you are an Auror?" Tonks scoffed and bonked Harry on the head. "So, thanks to you I am teaching all seven of the Sixth Year Gryffindors."'

"Thanks to me, you're teaching most of your students, in the NEWTS level. Seventeen in fact. And I know Blaise and Ebony are in NEWTS Defence."

"Yes, and Draco Malfoy and Millicent Bulstrode," Tonks sighed and gave Harry a warning look. "No fighting Har, can you do that for me?"

"Does out right ignoring him count as fighting sis?" Their voices were low so only Hermione and Ron, who were sitting beside Harry, and Remus could hear the conversation. Tonks smiled at Harry.

"No kiddo, that would work great."

"Ok then." Harry's eyes suddenly hardened. "But no promises if he mentions Siri."

"I wouldn't expect one," Tonks agrees. She looked around the class and frowned. "I KNOW I have Slytherins and Hufflepuffs in this class. Where are they?" As soon as the words were out of Tonks' mouth the classroom door opened again and the four Hufflepuffs filed in. Minutes later Blaise and Ebony did the same. They took their seats, at a table beside Harry, and a minute before the bell would ring, signaling the start of class, Malfoy and Bulstrode strolled in and took a seat at the back of the class, as far away from Harry as possible.

"Ok," Tonks started. "So, this is NEWTS level of Defence Against the Dark Arts, if you aren't supposed to be in this class, please leave and go to your proper class." When no one got up Tonks nodded to herself. "So this year we will be going deeper into the Arts and their Defences. We will be looking more into the Forbidden Curses, yes I know Crouch taught you something about those, but you can never go over them enough." Tonks snickered as she walked around the class. "But seeing as we are in a War now, Headmaster Dumbledore has personally asked that we start this year off with the Dark Creatures. So that's what we are going to be doing." Cheerful as ever Tonks walked to the front of the class and smiled at the students. "I know you will hate hearing these words, but put your wands away and please take out a quill."

The class groaned expectantly and Tonks laughed.

"We will start with the Dementors as it is clear that they have joined forces with Voldemort." Tonks waited as several students, including Ron, winced. Harry rolled his eyes and groaned as a couple of the girls shrieked and one of the Ravenclaws fell off their chair. Tonks huffed in annoyance and Remus had trouble keeping the smirk off his face.

"I want you to write down anything you feel you might want to remember. Anything you hear in class today that you feel you should know." Tonks picked up a textbook and scowled in disgust, her neon green hair turned a silky, shiny red as she tossed the textbook behind her. Tonks looked around the class and started walking through the desks again.

"So, what can you tell me about Dementors?" She asked. "What stands out to you about them?" Tonks looked around the class when no one raised a hand. She winked at Harry and tossed her wand in the air again. "Draco, dear cousin, what stands out for you?"

"They float," Malfoy said dryly. Beside him Milli giggled, clearly everyone was remembering the Quidditch Game in their third year. Draco jabbed Milli with his quill and the brunette just smirked at him.

"They're disgusting creatures," Milli said. "Sucking the happiness right out of you."

"You feel really cold when they're around, kind of sick," Hermione supplied. She glanced around the class and noticed people seemed to be waiting for Harry to answer the question.

"If you are around them long enough, they can drive you insane," Ron said.

"They feed on your happiness," Ebony added.

Tonks listened as the class started up. They seemed to know a lot about the Dementors. Tonks glanced at Remus and they shared a smile.

Harry really was good.

And he hadn't answered anything yet.

"Alright then," Remus said. "Since you know so much about the Dementors, what do you know about the Patronus?"

Again everyone turned to look at Harry.

"They're fueled on good, happy emotions, and memories," Harry answered. "The stronger the emotion, or memory is, the stronger the Patronus will be. Though the Wizard casting the Patronus has to be strong as well. It is exceedingly rare for someone, anyone, to cast a fully formed, solid, Patronus, even among some of the stronger, and older, Auror's and Wizards."

Tonks beamed at Harry. "Very good, fifteen points to Gryffindor for that Harry. Ten to everyone else who has given an answer." Tonks sat on the desk in the front and smiled at everyone. "I've always wanted to say that."

The class laughed and Tonks crossed her legs and glanced at Remus. The Werewolf moved away from the wall and spoke to the class.

"Does anyone know the incantation for the Patronus Charm?" He asked.

"Expecto Patronum," the students who were in the DA chanted and Harry blushed again. Remus raised an eyebrow at Harry but continued to instruct the class.

"Very good then. In that case, for homework," there were the expected groans. "I want you to search your memory for a good, happy memory. On Wednesday we will start casting. Though we do not expect you to be able to cast them very well."

The students got together their belongings as the bell rang. Their first class was over. Now only a bazillion more till summer. As Harry's friends talked around him Harry was looking over his schedule again, trying to decide when the best time to hold Quidditch Tryouts would be.

The Sixth Years around Harry walked to the green houses. Most of them had Herbology after DADA. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Blaise and Ebony made sure to grab a work area together. Madam Sprout grinned at all her students.

"Hello children, it is good to have you back in my class. This year," Professor Sprout said happily. "We will be growing Oxssies." She flickered her wand and an image of a big, bushy plant with purple, red, pink, blue and yellow leaves appeared in the air.

"Looks like Grangers hair," sneered Pansy Parkinson. A moment later she screamed as her hair changed to match the plant, leaves, colors and all.

Hermione didn't bat an eye at the insult, instead she turned her piercing gaze to Harry, who was studding the Oxssies with interest. Ron and Blaise were laughing their heads off as Ebony rolled her eyes.

"DRACO FIX IT!" Pansy screeched.

'Why would I want to?' Draco thought with a snicker. 'It looks better this way.' He rolled his head and gave her a lazy stare.

"Can't you do a simple transfiguration spell Pansy?" Ebony asked silkily.

Pansy turned to snarl at her but ended up with her face in the dirt.

"Didn't know you were so clumsy Pansy," Milli giggled.

"Alright, alright, that is enough, Ms Parkinson do get up. We have a class to get through." Pansy stumbled to her feet, her face bright red. The moment she reached for her want her hair changed back to normal.

Professor Sprout barely gave her a second glance as she continued with her class. She did not want to waste any more time. "Can anyone tell me why we would want to grow Oxssies?" Sprout asked and Neville hand beat Hermione's.

"Mr. Longbottom, tell me?"

"Well, the main reason you would grow Oxssies would be for the Brivi Siosany, dog like creatures with black fur. Though sometimes, rarely, they can have white fur. They are extremely powerful with the elements, such as Water and Fire. As such they need a powerful food source. The Oxssie plants, for reasons still unknown, seem to increase the growth rate and power of the Brivi." Neville paused and blushed at the stares he received before continuing on. "Oxssies are also used in come powerful potions, like the Truth potion and the Strength and Speed potion's. Though the last two are illigal because they are highly addictive.:

"Very good Mr. Longbottom, ten points to Gryffindor." Sprout beamed at him. "Now, this project will take all term, working on and off. If you haven't realized it yet, when the Oxssies are done growing they will be given to Hagrid for part of your Care of Magical Creatures assignment. So if you screw this up, you screw that up."

"Ouch," Ron mumbled.

"Better not screw up Ronald," Hermione hissed at him.

"Yah, yah, stop whining," Ron growled back.

"This will be fun," Harry smiled at them.

Milli snorted, she and Draco had overheard their conversation. "Obviously you have no idea how picky Oxssies can be," Milli muttered.

Harry glanced at her and gave her a considering stare. "Obviously not," he said. "I still think it could be fun." He turned his head away and stared at the image again.

Hermione stepped up beside Harry and squeezed his hand tightly. The two stood side by side, listening to Sprout. Hermione's hand was still in Harry's, but neither of them seemed to notice. Ron noticed however, but he mentioned nothing as he stepped up beside Hermione. He didn't let himself think of what it would be like if they started dating. He never did.

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Reviewers - Manatheron - Yes! FINALLY! This chapter is FINISHED, Romulus Magnus, darthdrew1704, fiora illuser, hiddenprincess818, just a little paranoid - Thank you, sorry I didn't update sooner, but the rest of chapter six wouldnt come to me. I hate when that happens.I love the cousin thing. FrequencyQueen - I love Draco, and yes, I think he can be absolutely evil at times, but when it comes to family? He can't be all that bad. Gryffindors - Sometimes having it move fast is ok, but I think is can make a story tacky if things move to quickly, so I'm going to take my time with them. Nutty Al - I hope it will be a long one, I love writing long stories.

Rambles - Sorry that it took so long, contrary to popular believe I am not dead. I've just been busy and on a writers block. Enjoy and reviews please.

Luv ya'll

Lady Starlight :D