Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Chapter 6

Fixing Hermione

The first day of November fell on a Friday. Unlike on the first of October, Harry checked the notice board before going out for his morning run. Taking a quick glance at the other years, Harry saw that Nikki was still top of the first years and Ginny and Luna had swapped places from the previous fifth year list, but there in black and white he once again found his own name at the top of the sixth year list. Hermione's had moved up from fifth to third and Malfoy had fallen from fourth to sixth, but otherwise the list had not changed much.

"Oh, no," thought Harry. "Now Hermione will be worse than ever."

Without waiting to see if anyone else was coming to check the rankings, Harry left the common room and went outside for his run. His usual companions were already running. Following his normal routine, Harry did his pre-run stretches, ran his laps, did his cool down stretches, and went back to the tower where he enjoyed a long, hot shower. He dressed, grabbed his books, and without a second glance, bypassed the students crowded around the notice board and went into breakfast.

With the exception of attending Friday classes rather than Tuesday ones, the first of November was exactly like the first of October had been. Dumbledore congratulated the top students at breakfast; each of the teachers congratulated them during class; friends congratulated each other during meals; and Hermione was no where to be found for the entire day until after dinner when she requested notes and homework assignments only to disappear once Harry and his friends had provided them. Harry and the others decided to give Hermione a few days to return to normal before going to Professor McGonagall about her behavior.

By the next Friday, it was obvious to everyone in Gryffindor tower that Hermione's obsession with studying had reached new heights. With the exception of breakfast, which she ate while reading and taking notes, Hermione was no longer seen at meals or in the common room. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, her dorm-mates, reported that she rose at dawn and returned after curfew. Hermione had not interacted with her first years since October and had stopped doing her prefect patrols. She had also failed to attend the last prefects' meeting (on November 1) and had been chased from the library by Madame Pince, the librarian, every night for a week.

Harry, Neville, Ron, and Ginny agreed something had to be done about their over-achieving friend and decided to talk to their head of house on Saturday morning. The delegation knocked on Professor McGonagall's office door at ten o'clock. The surprise on their professor's face would have been comical had the situation not been so dire.

"May I help you," asked their professor.

Harry had been elected spokesperson. "May we come in, Professor," he asked. "We need to talk to you about Hermione."

"About Miss Granger," gasped McGonagall.

"Yes, ma'am," said Harry.

"Come in, then," she said moving back to allow the students to pass.

After sitting in the chairs before their head of house's desk, Harry, with occasional help from the other three, detailed Hermione's behavior for the past five weeks. He left out nothing and included Hermione's abandonment of her assigned first years and failure to attend their first quidditch match and the Hogsmeade trip.

Professional McGonagall listened to their tale without comment until Harry concluded with Hermione's skipping meals including breakfast that morning. The transfiguration professor's face had grown grimmer as Harry had detailed each aspect of his friend's withdrawal into her studies.

"I admit I had noticed Miss Granger's increased intensity toward her class work," said the professor, "but I had no idea it had reached this level. What, exactly, do you believe is the cause?"

Her four students looked at each other. "To be completely honest," said Ginny, "we think Hermione lost confidence in herself when she did so poorly on her wizarding culture exam last summer term. Hermione is used to always doing well at school and having to take all those classes in the summer threw her."

Harry added, "When the Tonkses hired me private tutors and she wasn't allowed to share them, she only got worse. She refused to believe I could have tested out of any subject she did not, no matter how many times I told her otherwise."

"When she got her OWL results, Hermione went a little nuts because she didn't have all O's," interjected Ginny. "She seemed to take it as an insult that Harry had gotten an O in DADA and that she shared her O in herbology with Neville."

"She was upset that Harry learned two years of summer work in six weeks as well," added Ron. "Hermione bugged Harry about his summer lessons and grades for the whole week they were both at the Burrow."

"When those monthly class rankings came out and she wasn't first, Hermione started doing nothing but study and go to class," said Neville. "She doesn't spend time in the common room or go outside during breaks. She's ignoring her first years and hasn't done her prefect stuff in weeks."

"From what you have told me," said the professor, "Miss Granger's problems are deeper than jealousy over others outscoring her."

"I agree," said Ginny. "I almost wrote her parents about it, but I was afraid they were the cause of her problems."

"Thank you all for bringing this to my attention," said the professor rising from her seat behind her desk. "I will have a talk with Miss Granger and see if her problems can be resolved. In the meantime, continue to help her all you can."

The four students realized they were being dismissed and left their head of house's office. Although each hoped their professor would be able to help Hermione, none of them really held out much hope for a quick solution.

The rest of the weekend passed lazily. Harry spent time with Nikki and Billy helping both of them with their flying. Privately, Harry believed Nikki was a natural who could have easily taken Malfoy's spot at seeker on the Slytherin house team. Unfortunately, the Slytherin team captain would never dismiss the student whose father provided the team's brooms. Billy, once he was in the air, was a good flyer as well. He just lacked confidence in his abilities. Harry encouraged both of them to go out for reserve positions on their house teams the next year. He knew he would be happy to put Billy on Gryffindor's team.

In Tuesday morning's DADA class, Snape announced that the class had advanced far enough in silent casting to permit small, non-lethal dueling. After a strict lecture on dueling safety and an admonishment to use no spells that could actually cause injury, Snape chose Harry and Hermione to compete in the first duel. The professor led the class outside near the lake and, after reminding them once more of the rules, told the couple to begin.

It was only Harry's quick reflexes that allowed him to dodge Hermione's first spell, a cutting spell Harry had often seen Mrs. Weasley use to slice vegetables. Even though he was surprised at the viciousness of Hermione's spell, he countered with a sneezing charm, which Hermione's shield blocked easily. She then cast a cleaning spell originally intended as a paint stripper. Harry would have been seriously injured had his shield not blocked the spell. Vaguely, as he countered with a trip jinx, Harry wondered why Professor Snape had not said something to Hermione about her choice of spells.

Hermione's next spell was even more dangerous—a choking charm generally used to wring the necks of chickens and other farm birds. As he leapt out of the way, Harry sent a powerful stunner toward Hermione. Her shield was not strong enough to block it and she was knocked unconscious.

Professor Snape declared Harry the winner and walked over to revive Hermione. Once she was awake and standing, Professor Snape turned to the class and asked Harry, "Mr. Potter, please tell the class the spells Miss Granger cast at you, their purpose, and what would have resulted had you not managed to avoid them."

Harry looked at the professor in surprise but gamely answered, "All of Hermione's spells were common household ones. The first is a spell used to slice fruits and vegetables into quarter inch strips often before sautéeing. Had it hit my hand, I probably would have lost my fingers. More fleshy areas would have sustained vertical gashes. The next one was a paint stripping spell. If it had hit bare skin, it would have stripped it to the bone. The final one is used for wringing chickens' necks. It could have cut off my air supply and possibly broken my neck."

Snape turned to Hermione who was standing stoically next to Ron and Neville. "Miss Granger, please tell us about the spells Mr. Potter cast."

Hermione recited Harry's spells and their probable results like an automaton. Her expression and demeanor never changed.

"Now, Miss Granger," said the professor, his tone surprisingly encouraging, "tell the class what types of spells I said were permissible in this duel."

Still completely expressionless, Hermione replied, "Non-lethal spells only."

In a deceptively quiet voice, Professor Snape, the person who had ridiculed and demeaned Harry since the first time they had met in Harry's first potions class, demanded, "By what reasoning were the spells you used not considered lethal?"

Hermione answered off-handily, the way someone else would have commented on the weather, "They're common household spells. No book lists them as particularly dangerous, and it's perfectly legal for anyone to use them."

"It's legal, Miss Granger," said the professor his anger obvious to all, "to use them to slice vegetables, remove paint, and kill chickens; however, I did not state that you could use any non-lethal spell. I limited the duel to spells that could not cause injury. Mr. Potter's spells, with the exception of his stunner, would not have injured you. I believe his use of a stunner was justified, though, as you seemed determined to cause him harm. Fifty points from Gryffindor and a month's detention for purposely disobeying the rules of the duel. If anyone else fails to comprehend the difference between 'failing to cause injury' and 'non-lethal,' please see me after class. Miss Abbott, Mr. Longbottom, I believe it is your turn to duel."

Hannah and Neville traded common first year jinxes and spells until they were both laughing so hard that they could no longer concentrate enough to cast silently. Snape declared their duel a draw and cited them as the example to follow in their particular dueling situation—in a controlled environment with no danger and with no expectation of winning or losing. He added that the purpose of these duels was to practice silent casting and to improve their speed at doing so and not to hurt each other or to strive to "be the best." Three more comical duels occurred before Snape escorted them back to the classroom. He finished the class by assigning a twelve inch essay on how common spells could be successfully used to disable an opponent and then asked Harry to remain after class.

Harry gathered his things and reluctantly approached his professor's desk. "Mr. Potter," said Snape, "you should know that the staff have discussed Miss Granger's current behavior. Professor McGonagall has spoken with her, but obviously, her words have had no effect. It has been decided that Professors McGonagall and Flitwick will visit her parents later today. Until then, I advise you to stay out of her way as much as possible. I have already warned Miss Turpin (Lisa was currently second in their year). I will not make the two of you dueling partners again until Miss Granger's attitude has changed. I admit I put you together today as an assessment tool. You may find yourselves partnered in other classes for the same reason. Do be careful especially in potions."

Surprised not only by his professor's candor but by his apparent concern, Harry nodded and said, "Yes, sir." For the first time since he had met the man, Harry actually felt a measure of respect for him. "Good-bye, sir," he added as he left the classroom for the Great Hall and lunch.

Harry had a great deal to think about and, although he did answer his friends when they spoke to him, his replies were monosyllabic and he quickly resumed his thinking. Finally, toward the end of the meal, at which Hermione had never appeared, Harry told Ron and Neville what Professor Snape had said.

"Ron," said Harry, "there are only seven of us in potions. You've got to make sure you join Hermione and my group to help distract her."

"I will," agreed Ron.

"I'll help you in herbology," said Neville. "I know the three of us are tied for the highest grade and so Professor Sprout will think nothing of us working together."

"Thanks, Neville," said Harry. "The problem is charms and transfiguration have so many people in them that, if McGonagall and Flitwick put us together, no one else will have a good reason to join us."

The three were about to leave to go their separate ways when Professor McGonagall approached them. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Weasley," she said, "Please come to my office. I need to discuss something with you."

Mystified, the three sixth years followed their head of house to her office. Once inside, their professor closed the door and cast privacy and locking charms. "Please be seated," she said taking her own seat behind her desk. She took a deep breath and said, "Is it true that Miss Granger nearly killed Mr. Potter in defense class this morning?"

The three boys looked at each other. "Well," said Ron after a few moments, "if Harry's shield hadn't blocked that choking spell…"

"That paint stripping spell could have been nasty, too," agreed Neville.

"And that slicing spell," interjected Ron.

It had not escaped Professor McGonagall's notice that Harry had said nothing so far. "Well, Mr. Potter, you have been very quiet. What do you think?"

"Truly, Professor, I don't think she intentionally tried to hurt me," explained Harry. "I'm pretty sure she knew I'd be able to either dodge or block any spell she cast. Besides, technically, she was correct that, as a rule, those spells are not generally dangerous. Of course, neither is wingardium leviosa, but if I cast it on you, floated you off a cliff, and then cancelled the spell, you'd probably be dead." Harry took a deep breath. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that Hermione would never consciously try to kill except in self-defense. Subconsciously, though, I cannot say."

"Harry's right," said Ron. "Mum taught her those spells so that she could help around the house. Since Mum would never think to use them as weapons, she probably didn't warn Hermione of just how dangerous they could be."

Neville said timidly, "What bothers me, though, is when Professor Snape asked her why her spells were non-lethal, she said that no book classified them as particularly dangerous and that it is perfectly legal to use them."

"And Hermione attacked Harry," threw in Ron.

"What do you mean, Mr. Weasley," asked Professor McGonagall.

"She didn't…" interrupted Harry.

"Let Mr. Weasley answer the question, Mr. Potter. You will have your turn to speak," admonished the professor.

Harry nodded and Ron continued, "I mean, Professor Snape had barely said, 'begin,' before Hermione cast that slicing spell. She never casts the first spell because Harry taught us in the DA to wait and see what your opponent does before you do anything and if you absolutely cannot wait, cast a mild spell to see how they react."

"Now, Mr. Potter," said the professor turning toward him, "what did you want to say?"

"Hermione didn't attack me exactly. She just fired the first spell. If I had been a death eater, her spells would have been considered inspired," defended Harry.

"And, if they had made contact, you would have been seriously injured or even killed and Miss Granger would be either expelled or in Askaban," countered Professor McGonagall. She pulled a piece of parchment from a desk drawer and began to write. When she finished, she handed the note to Ron, "Mr. Weasley, please give this note to Professor Slughorn. Thank you, gentlemen for your honesty."

The three students left their head of house's office. Neville went in the direction of the library and Ron and Harry went to potions. They were slightly tardy but were sure the note Ron carried would excuse them.

When they arrived in the potions classroom, Professor Slughorn told them to come in and get to work. Ron handed him the note and the rotund professor nodded. "Miss Granger," he said, "you are to report to Madame Pomfrey immediately."

Hermione frowned in confusion, but quickly cleaned up her workstation, gathered her things, and left the dungeon classroom. The rest of the class stared at her but said nothing. As soon as she left they resumed their potions brewing. After handing in their completed potions, Ron and Harry prepared to leave the classroom.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, please remain behind for a moment," said Slughorn as the two headed for the door.

"We have charms next," said Ron in an attempt to speed the professor.

"I've already written an excuse for your tardiness," replied the portly man. "I wanted to let you know that Professor McGonagall has ordered Miss Granger to be confined to the infirmary for the next few days. At the moment, Professor McGonagall has decided to limit visitors to evenings after dinner for no longer than fifteen or twenty minutes. Unless Madame Pomfrey tells you otherwise, avoid all mentions of school work, exams, or class rankings and do not take her any books or homework assignments. If she brings it up, change the subject to quidditch or pranks or something of that nature."

"Yes, sir," said Harry and Ron.

"How long will she be there?" asked Harry.

"Not long, I'm sure, but she needs complete rest," said Slughorn. "Until Madame Pomfrey believes she has gotten it, Miss Granger will remain in the hospital wing. Here is the note for Professor Flitwick. Hurry before you are any later."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," called the two boys as they hurried through the door.

The charms classroom was remarkably quiet when Harry and Ron arrived. Professor Flitwick had decided to give a pop quiz and everyone was diligently working on it. Harry handed the diminutive professor Slughorn's note. He read it and handed the two their copies of the quiz.

After quickly taking their seats, Harry and Ron began to answer the questions. Once everyone had finished their quizzes, the professor dismissed the students. Since the class period was less than half over, they were all surprised at his actions. What they couldn't know was that Professor Flitwick was on his way to accompany Professor McGonagall to meet with Hermione's parents.

The rest of the month of November ambled along. Harry and his friends made it a point to visit Hermione daily. After two weeks, she began acting more normally and they were permitted to extend their visits. Near the end of the month, they were finally allowed to answer her questions about class work and assignments. Madame Pomfrey had told them if she continued to improve, soon they would be able to provide her textbooks and she could began to work on some of her missed assignments.

On December 1, Harry was once again embarrassed to find his own name at the top of the sixth year rankings. Since Hermione had missed most of her classes for the previous month, her name was left off the list. At breakfast that morning, Professor Dumbledore happily announced that no points were to be taken from any house or year as with one or two exceptions, all of the students had achieved grades of at least "acceptable" in all their classes. The exceptions would be receiving extra tutoring during the Christmas holidays.

After the second week in December, a much subdued Hermione was allowed to leave the hospital wing and to resume her class schedule. She would not be permitted to resume her prefect duties until after the holidays, however. Although she was unfailingly polite, Hermione remained quiet when in the company of her fellow Gryffindors. In class, she stopped volunteering to answer questions though she would do so if called upon. Harry and his friends were still very worried about her as this quiet girl was not "their" Hermione.

The last day of term finally arrived. The students who were going home for the holidays were packed and ready to leave. During breakfast, the school's house elves moved the students' trunks to the train platform. Each student was responsible for loading his or her own trunk onto the train, but it was nice not to have to wrestle them up or down the stairs or into and from the carriages.

On the train, Harry and his friends played games between taking turns patrolling. When the snack cart came around they bought modest quantities of sweets knowing that they'd soon be home. Conversation quickly moved to holiday plans.

"We're having a quiet Christmas with relatives coming over for Boxing Day," said Neville.

His friends knew that he and his grandmother visited his parents, who resided in the long-term spell damage ward at St. Mungo's, every year on Christmas Day.

"We're going to have a quiet Christmas, too," said Ginny. "Everyone but Charlie will be home and so the house will be pretty crowded."

"Daddy and I are going to Sweden," said Luna in her usual dreamy tones. "He's going to interview a farmer about a snorkack sighting."

"Mum and Dad are taking me to stay in the country with my grandmother," said Hermione. "Since I'm not allowed to open any non-fiction books, I don't know how I'm going to occupy myself."

Her friends looked at her in surprise. This was the most Hermione had said at one time in weeks. "I'm sure you'll find something to do," comforted Ginny. "Grandmothers always have tons of chores and lots of them turn out to be a lot of fun."

Luna and Ron expressed their agreement.

"What are you doing, Harry," asked Luna.

"We're attending the ministry Christmas ball on Christmas Eve," said Harry. "And sometime before the New Year will be Remus and Tonks's betrothment ceremony."

"Oooh," squealed Ginny. "I wonder if we're invited? Who's preforming the blessing?"

"I don't know about the guest list," said Harry, "but as head of the Black family, I'm doing the blessing. I just hope I don't screw it up."

"You'll be fine, Harry," said Hermione unexpectedly. "I know you must have learned what to do in your summer classes. Just try not to be too nervous and it will be okay."

"Thanks, Hermione," said Harry. For the first time since October 1, he felt he might be getting his female best friend back.

"If you need any pointers," said Ron, "ask Bill. He's done it about twenty times for girls in the Prewett family."

"Why did Bill do it for the Prewetts," asked Hermione. "I noticed during the summer that he was listed as Lord Prewett, but I never remembered to ask until now."

"Because of Voldemort," said Ginny, "there were no male Prewetts left. Bill is the oldest grandson and so he became head of the family when Uncle Fabian died. Actually, Bill and Fleur's first born son will carry the name of Prewett rather than Weasley so that the name doesn't die out."

"Does that happen often," asked Hermione. "I mean a child with a different last name so that the name doesn't die out?"

"More since Voldemort's time," said Ron, "but it was always an option."

"I don't mean to be nosy, but why has Bill only performed blessings for Prewett girls? Are there no other boys," asked Hermione.

"In the betrothal ceremony," said Neville, "the head of the girl's family does the blessing."

"Oh," said Hermione. "I'm sorry if I'm prying, but does the boy's family have a role to play?"

"When the official courtship papers are signed, the head of the boy's family is in charge and gives the formal blessing," explained Harry. "The girl's head of family serves as the witness. In the betrothal ceremony, the girl's head of family does the blessing and the boy's family head witnesses the documents. At the wedding, both family heads perform blessings and the best man and maid or matron of honor are the official witnesses."

"I see," said Hermione.

The compartment was quiet for a while as everyone was lost in his or her own thoughts. Finally, Hermione broke the silence saying, "I want to thank all of you for going to Professor McGonagall when I got so consumed with studying. I just felt so much pressure on all sides that I couldn't stop. Those three weeks in the hospital wing with no responsibilities were boring, but I needed the break. So thanks."

"You would have done the same for any of us," said Ron.

Hermione smiled and nodded.

"Hermione," asked Ginny tentatively, "you don't have to answer, but…exactly what happened to make you so…driven?"

"It was a combination of things," said Hermione. "You know I had to take all those classes in the summer?"

The others nodded.

"Well," she continued, "my parents really didn't understand why I had to take them. I guess I didn't explain it very well, but they thought I must have done very poorly last year if I was taking all my classes over during the summer. Then when the OWLs came, they still couldn't understand how I could have had the highest score in so many subjects and still required summer school. I tried to explain that the two were completely unrelated, but I suppose I was so disappointed that I didn't have all O's that I couldn't get the message across. I know it didn't help when at the end of the letter with my summer grades was a reminder to appear at the ministry for classes next summer.

"Then when the first class rankings came out, I was so disappointed to be fifth. That morning, after I saw you, Harry, my parents sent me a letter telling me how worried they were that my grades had dropped from first to fifth. I'm their only child, and I'm not used to them being disappointed in me. I had to bring my grades back up to first and the only way I knew to do so was to study even harder.

"When the October rankings came out, I got another letter. This time, my parents were happy that I had moved up to third and told me to keep up the good work. I was terrified that, if I studied less, I would fall back down to fifth or even lower and I'd get another 'we're worried,' which I took to mean 'disappointed,' letter so I kept on studying.

"Even though I fought it at the time, confining me to the hospital wing was probably the best thing Professor McGonagall could have done for me. Madame Pomfrey made me rest and wouldn't even let me peek at a textbook unless it had something to do with Professor Snape's detention."

"You still had to serve that detention," exclaimed Ron.

"Oh, yes," said Hermione. "All the teachers agreed. Since I let my mind be so clouded by studying that I couldn't tell the difference between dangerous and non-dangerous spells and could have seriously injured Harry, I had to serve the detention."

"What did he make you do," asked Neville nervously.

"I had to go through all these cooking and household charms books and write down exactly what would happen if someone used the spells on a person. Once I finished, Professor Snape gave me an oral exam on the information. The exam served as my grade in defense for the month of November."

"Well, at least you got a grade in something after doing all that work," said Ron.

"Harry, I am so sorry," said Hermione. "At the time, I honestly thought the spells were harmless. It never crossed my mind that I could have hurt you."

"Don't worry about it, Hermione," said Harry. "You didn't hurt me and now you know tons of household spells you can teach the rest of us for when we leave school."

Luna looked up from the magazine she was reading and said in a more serious tone than they were used to her using, "Remember those spells, Hermione. If a death eater attacks, they may just come in handy. Since they're not unforgivables, you won't go to Askaban for using them in self defense." Then her tone became more teasing, "Just don't use any of them on us."

Luna's little joke had lightened the mood a bit, but Harry felt he had to ask, "Hermione, do your parents understand about the summer classes now?"

"I believe so," answered Hermione. "Professor McGonagall told me she and Professor Flitwick met with them to explain what I was doing. My parents were horrified that I almost hurt my best friend due to overwork. They explained the purpose of the summer classes and that they have no bearing on regular school work. My parents even made a suggestion that I think they're actually going to implement."

"Really," said Neville. "What?"

"Mum and Dad suggested that, instead of offering the classes to rising sixth and seventh years, they should start with the rising second years and offer two or three subjects per summer for only six weeks each with weekends off," she began enthusiastically. "That way no one would get burned out, but everyone would be able to take the classes they need and finish the entire subject in one summer. Since no one ever needs all twelve subjects, it should work. They're going to try it with the rising second, third, and fourth years this summer. If it works out, it will become permanent. The rest of us are still stuck with the old model though.

"My parents also suggested meeting with students before they receive their Hogwarts letters to encourage them to study at least Latin and French in primary school, but, since no one really knows who's on the acceptance list until the letters go out, that will probably never happen except for some of the half-bloods who attend muggle schools. I know I plan to make sure my own children are more prepared to live in the magical world than I was."

"Of course you will," said Luna in her normal, dreamy voice. "Your children will be raised magical. It will be the muggle world they'll have trouble with."

"You're right, Luna," said Hermione. She looked pensive for a moment and then asked, "Harry, what about Tonks? Did she have to take summer classes?"

"Sort of, but only in Latin," said Harry. "Andie and Ted raised her as a witch. She had plenty of contact with her muggle relations, but their lifestyle is completely magical. Tonks had to be home schooled since there are no wizarding primary schools and she had to learn to control her metamorph abilities. Andie said they never could find the time to let Tonks study more than basic Latin and so she had to take the summer course. Andie wanted to hire a tutor, but Tonks's best friend was taking the summer Latin class at the ministry and so Tonks did, too. Back then, each class met for four hours one day each week and only the dimmest students had to take two classes every day. Even when Ted had to take them, the students had weekends off. That's why Andie and Ted were so surprised at the schedules the ministry had assigned for us."

"Well," said Ron a bit tactlessly, "I'm glad I never had to take any of those summer classes!"

Ginny elbowed her brother in the ribs and ignored his wince to say, "I'm glad they're rethinking the classes. Everybody needs a break from school. Anyway, I'm glad you're better, Hermione. I missed you."

"Thanks, Ginny," answered Hermione.

The friends spent the rest of the journey to King's Cross talking quietly and, occasionally even lightly dozing in the weak winter sun. All in all, it had been an unusual term. Harry hoped the second term would be better than the first one.

The End.

A/N: I am sorry for the delay in posting. Originally, I had intended to have this out just after Chapter 5, but a storm took out power, phones, Internet access, and [worst of all!] my satellite tv! Since I live in the county rather than the city, it took more than a week to get it all back. By then, real life had kicked in and I had no time to post. Thank goodness for the MLK holiday weekend. Without it, who knows when this story would have gotten finished.

Thanks to all those who responded to the questions about alerting completed stories! I learned a lot from you all. Also, I want to thank everyone who alerted, favorited, reviewed, or even read this little story. I haven't decided if I'll write a sequel, but if I do, I'll let everyone know.