Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the characters, settings, etc., etc. Belong to J.K. Rowling
Chapter One -
It was one of those rare moments when no one has to speak in order to achieve a common understanding. Harry Potter gazed around the small circle of friends that had congregated outside Gryffindor Tower. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were on either side of him, neither finding words necessary either. Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood completed the circle. It was their first night back at Hogwarts after a long summer meant to ease the repercussions of June's events, and all six felt that it was proper to wish each other a good year.
"Well, we should all probably get to bed...with classes in the morning and everything," Hermione said, breaking the restful silence.
"I need to get back to Ravenclaw," Luna mumbled, dropping a clump of knotted hair that she had been chewing the past five minutes.
"Have a good year everyone," Ginny said cheerily, moving toward the portrait hole.
"Yeah, see everybody tomorrow," Harry added, clapping Ron on the shoulder and waving good-bye to Luna who was disappearing around the corner.
Harry, Ron, and Neville spent the next hour unpacking and trading stories from their summers. Neville hadn't done much, although he had made it to the Quidditch World Cup. However, he was extremely interested in Harry and Ron's summer at Grimmauld Place with the Order.
"We didn't learn much of anything. Sure, Mundungus would forget we were there and slip up on a piece of information every now and then, and Tonks always seemed keen in letting us know what was going on, but my mum's had a load of practice at keeping stuff from us," Ron explained.
"Maybe we can get some information out of Tonks this year," Harry said, hopefully, "her being the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and everything."
The position had been left empty for the fifth year in a row, and after some trouble that Tonks had gotten into in the ministry for blowing her cover up during an assignment, Dumbledore pleaded that she come to Hogwarts for at least a year and instruct the students. She would also be able to more freely work for the Order under Dumbledore's employment.
"What do you think he's up to this year?" Neville asked a bit nervously.
"Who?" Harry inquired, trying to force Neville into saying Voldemort's name.
"You know...the bad guy."
Harry sighed, "Who knows what Voldemort's doing. He's probably planning massacres and gathering monsters to be on his side. But I do know one thing, he's not getting any information from me. I practiced occlumency all summer -- ."
"This is true," Ron interjected, "I think Harry knows just about all of the embarrassing moments of the Order members that came in and out of Grimmauld place this summer. By the way, are you sure we can't tell Hermione we know about what happened to her in grammar school?"
"No," Harry said flatly, "Anyway -- ."
"C'mon, what happened?" Neville asked, pleadingly.
"Well," Ron began excitedly, "It starts out with a whole bunch of hamsters that she tried to save - ?"
"Ron," Harry interrupted threateningly.
The three boys turned at the moaning of the door. Seamus walked in, looking ruffled and tired.
"We thought you weren't coming," Neville told him as he helped Seamus pull his trunk over to the fifth four poster in the room.
"Missed the train. My mum had to bring me up here," Seamus said, "Long story."
Harry smiled at Seamus, hoping the year wouldn't start off on a similar foot as the previous.
"Oh, before I forget," Seamus reached into his cloak and extracted a small brown box, "It's for you, Harry." Harry took the box. "It's from my mum."
There was an expensive inkwell inside.
"Said she picked up on an extra when she did my shopping and to give it to the Potter boy," Seamus grinned.
Harry laughed and thanked Seamus before announcing that he would soon fall dead to the floor if he didn't get some sleep. Dean returned from the common
room a few minutes later, and all five boys went to bed. Harry lay awake for a while though, despite his aching tiredness. It was his tradition to meditate his
first night back, to listen to the lull of Hogwarts castle....
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"Ya' know I no'iced a pa'ern' wi' the firs' br'fas'," Ron stated philosophically through a mouthful of sausage and syrup.
"That the Gryffindors build little fortresses of dishes around their food to keep you from snatching everything edible within your reach?" Hermione offered, grabbing the orange juice pitcher as Ron began to reach for it.
Ron swallowed hard, "No, that it's always sausage and hot cakes and potato shavings."
Hermione blinked, "We've a prodigy in our midst."
"And why are you being so sarcastic this morning?" Ron demanded, taking the bread bowl from Harry.
"Because my first sight of another human being was you, speaking through the syrup drool in the side of your mouth -- .
"Schedules!" Harry proclaimed, relieved as he shoved an envelope at Hermione and another at Ron.
"We start in the greenhouses again," Hermione informed Harry, who was comparing his schedule's with her's, "What about you, Ron?"
"Yup...but wait!" Ron seized Harry's schedule, "The only other class that I have with either of you is Defense Against the Dark Arts! We're in different places the rest of the week!"
"Harry and I have all of the same classes," Hermione observed, gently prying Harry's schedule from Ron, who was in shock.
"Who am I going to copy off of?"
"Clearly, you're devastated that you don't have the pleasant company of your friends," Hermione said grumpily, "That's what you get for choosing a schedule that isn't specific to a future occupation."
"But if we have the same classes," Harry motioned to himself and Hermione, "then you chose classes that you need to be an auror."
"So?"
"So, I didn't know you wanted to be an auror."
Hermione sighed, looking at the table as she spoke, "The skills might prove useful some day."
Harry didn't press the matter, mainly because Dumbledore approached the Gryffindor table and asked if he could speak with Harry for a moment. Harry allowed himself to be led into the Entrance Hall by the headmaster.
"Harry, I wanted to speak with you about Tonk's Defense Against the Dark Arts class," Dumbledore said, suppressing a smile.
"Yes," Harry couldn't help speaking a little stiffly with Dumbledore. A sore had been left in their relationship since fifth year when Harry learned Dumbledore had been withholding the prophecy from him.
"Would you mind assisting her with her Defense classes?"
"How do you mean?"
"Help her teach the classes. I know that the students could learn from your experiences and would willingly listen to what you have to say. I was highly impressed with uh..Dumbledore's Army, as you called it, and I would like your enthusiasm to be incorporated into the curriculum. What do you say?"
Harry stood still for moment. He didn't know if he was capable of teaching his peers, "Er...sure."
"Excellent," Dumbledore smiled and pulled a piece of paper from his cloak, "Here is an addition to your class schedule. I hope to here of the progress you and Tonks make."
The headmaster turned and walked down a flight of stairs, leaving Harry to goggle at his hefty new schedule.
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"What did Dumbledore want, Harry?" Hermione asked as she, Harry, and Ron walked toward the greenhouses for Herbology.
"Oh, he wanted to know if I'd help teach Defense," Harry murmured, anticipating Hermione's reaction.
"Harry! That's wonderful! It will be such a good experience. I absolutely cannot wait for your first lesson. What do you think you'll teach on? How about defense against mild curses or perhaps a little history on the origin of some of the Unforgivables, really start the year off right," Hermione was bouncing as they walked and excitedly talked with her hands.
"You know, I probably won't even get to do that much. I'm sure Tonks has it under control --."
"Don't say that -- ."
Ron cleared his throat, and Harry turned to him. Ron extracted a bulky envelope from his bag.
"Take a peek, mate," he grinned.
Harry took the envelope and lifted the flap. Two flesh-colored cords were wrapped inside.
"Extendable Ears?"
"Yup. Fred and George sent them to me! The owls arrived while you were talking to Dumbledore," Ron informed him proudly.
"Wow, this is great Ron!" Harry fingered the Extendable Ears before passing the envelope back to Ron, who clutched it in his hand like it was a saber, "What are you going to do with them first?"
"I don't know, but no time better than the present," Ron said, gentle pulling the cords from their envelope.
Hermione, who had been watching purse-lipped, waved her hand frantically in front of Ron, "Don't pull those out now!"
She looked around at the clumps of students making their way across the lawn, "Honestly, people's private conversations are their own business, and you shouldn't be using those things on school grounds. I don't even know why Fred and George sent you those. They can be so --."
Ron placed the flexible tabs into his ears and let the cords dangle along the ground. His attention was soon directed to Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown who were walking about twenty feet ahead of them. Harry and Hermione exchanged a look and suppressed laughter when Ron paled.
"Not exactly your favorite topic?" Hermione sniggered.
Ron ripped the Extendable Ears from his ears, "They're talking about Justin Finch Fletchley. Evidently his the greatest thing since the cauldron!"
"See, those things are worthless devices aside from petty gossip," Hermione said pointedly.
A mild expression of amusement crossed Ron's face, then he bit down on his lip and waved the Extendable Ears in his fist, "That's it Hermione! I've thought of the perfect use for these things!"
"What?" Harry inquired.
"Oh, this is rich! This is going to be good. Harry, mate, finally we shall prevail!" Ron whooped.
"What's he talking about?" Harry looked at Hermione.
Hermione returned to pursing her lips and sending menacing glances Ron's way.
A/N: Please Review! And thanks so much for reading!