chapter 29

"Should we continue with Divination and Care for Magical Creatures?" Ron asked as they made their way down the stairs to the common room. It was a good question, they had only chosen those for either an easy O or because they wanted to support Hagrid, not because those classes interested them.

"Care for Magical Creatures is out," Harry said. "Hagrid is firmly on Dumbledore's side," he said lowly to Ron, "and he isn't really that good a teacher" he added.

Ron nod along, agreeing with Harry, "We'll have to talk with McGonagall about changing classes. I kind of want to try divination again, actually trying this time." They looked around when they step of the last step and into the common room, looking around for Hermione. Luckily, she wasn't in there. Fred and George were there though and were quick to come up to them.

Harry and Ron just continued talking, trying to decide what class to take, as the four of them walked out the portrait hole and towards the Great Hall. "Hermione don't have Ancient Runes this year, we could take that? It sounds interesting, too," Harry suggested.

"Yeah, without Hermione we can actually relax somewhat," Ron agreed, "And she can't 'help' us with homework." With that decided they changed the subject until they reach the Great Hall. They split with Fred and George halfway up the Gryffindor table, they sat down, and Harry and Ron continued up to the teacher's table. They stood in front of the sitting McGonagall, "Professor McGonagall?" Ron asked her.

She placed her spoon down in her porridge, "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, the class schedules are over there," she indicated the closest end on the Gryffindor table. When they didn't move, she frowned, "Did you have something to ask?" she asked.

"Well, Professor," Harry began after a quick look between him and Ron, "We were wondering if we could change one of our classes?" Harry began.

"Go on," she said.

"We would like to have Ancient Runes instead of Care for Magical Creatures," Ron answered. she looked back and forth between Ron and Harry.

"Well," she said, "this decision is in the nick of time. the opportunity to change classes close after breakfast," Harry didn't know that, good they decided to ask before eating. "You boys will have to order the books through post," she waved her wand, making two of the class schedules fly to them. She grabbed them and waved her wand over them before giving them to Harry and Ron. "There, your new schedules," she said, "Was that all?"

"Yes, thank you, Professor," Harry and Ron said before turning and going back to where Fred and George sat eating.

"How did -"

"-it go?" they asked when Harry and Ron sat down. Ron answered as Harry began putting food on his plate.

They had just finished telling what McGonagall had said when Hermione came and sat herself beside Ron. She began talking, ignoring whatever they had been talking about before she came. She had already been to the library and had all intention to rub it in their faces how good a student she was. "We have Herbology with Hufflepuff, Care for Magical Creatures, and I have double Arithmancy. Then it's double potions before dinner," she said when they were on their way out of the Great Hall.

"We know," Harry said to her, "We also have our schedules." They reached the entrance hall and before Hermione could answer back Harry turned to Fred and George. "We'll meet at lunch?"

"Of course, Harry!" Fred said.

"See you then," George added. They turned to go up the marble staircase while Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned towards the exit, beginning the walk to the greenhouses.

Herbology was over and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking back towards the main entrance. As they came to a fork on the cobble path Hermione turned to the left, while Harry and Ron turned right. They only got a few steps up the path before Hermione stopped them, "Where are you going?! We have Care for Magical Creatures down by Hagrid's hut!"

"Actually, no," Harry said.

"We have Ancient Runes," Ron said waving his pointing finger between himself and Harry.

"WHAT?! Why did you guys change Care for Magical Creatures?"

"Didn't feel like having it this year," Ron answered Hermione. Harry just shrugged, nodding to what Ron said when Hermione's glare turned to him. "Anyway, don't wanna be late, and neither do you."

"Bye, Hermione," Harry wave at her as they began to continue up the path leading to the giant oak doors. "See you at lunch?" he asked over his shoulder, but only get an aggravated huff in return. They continued walking, making their way through the oak doors and entrance hall.

"Where was the classroom again?" Harry asked, rummaging through his bag for the schedule where the classes' locations were written. "Fourth floor… okay, I know where we are going," Harry said to Ron, walking with more determination. Up the marble staircase, down the hallway to the other staircases, up three more floors, and down the hall to the left, turning down the third to the right. The door was on the first on the left, and they walked in and sat at one of the desks in the back.

The walk up was faster and easier that both Harry and Ron thought, usually they need double the time – having unpredictably moving stairs wasn't always fun – and at least four detours. It wasn't only them that struggled with that though, there was a reason the breaks between classes are so long. Sometimes people have their next class on the other side of the castle, both vertically and horizontally.

They had only sat there for a few minutes when the door opened, and Draco stepped in. Draco looked around as he closed the door, probably making sure no one else was there, before making eye contact with them. "Hey, guys. You also switch classes to avoid your 'friends'?" he asked as he sat down in front of then turning around to look at them.

"Yes," Harry didn't feel bad in admitting that was exactly what they had done.

"Already loving it," Ron added.

"Yeah, same. I really was such a brat before the cleansing," Draco said, huffing at the end, likely remembering one instance of "brat"-iness. "Vincent and Gregory have been trying to 'tent to my every need', whatever that means." Harry stayed silent, he glanced at Ron, who did the same thing.

"…Vincent and Gregory…?" Ron asked carefully.

Draco actually facepalmed, hard, "Crabbe and Goyle," he said with a sigh, "Really? You don't know the names of 'your worst enemy's' lackeys?" Draco sounded almost disappointed, but he was smiling, and soon all three of them were laughing. After they had all stopped laughing Draco asked something, "Do you guys want to put on a little show before dinner?" He was smirking as he asked, and it only grew at their confused faces. "Remember, we're 'enemies', we should act like it."

"Are you thinking about acting out a fight?" Harry smirked at the idea and Ron joined in when Draco nodded. They began planning the confrontation right away, they didn't plan all that much, only things like "you say something like this," and "you react like that,". They did make sure that whatever they said – insults to them or others – would be okay with everyone.

Soon, the other students began arriving. They all sat down, slowly filling the classroom. The teacher was the last to arrive, a woman with curly brown hair, olive skin and red-rimmed glasses. Her robes were open, reviling a white blouse tucked into a long, blue skirt. "Hello, class. I am Bathsheda Ballling, or Professor Babbling," she said in calm but authorial voice. "I will start straight away with tell how this class course operate. You are on level 1, where you learn rune-alphabets. It is only next year, level 2, that you will begin learning about different rune-magicks," she began explaining. "The years after that, in level 3, – sixth and seventh year – you will learn rune-spells, rune-circles, and wards."

Professor Babbling then began talking in more detail how this year would operate, "My teaching methods are a bit controversial, as the other Professors puts it. For the first half of the month, I will be teaching theory, there will be small assignments, but nothing more," She said, "When we get to the halfway mark you will – in set groups – have to de-code or write an essay – that have to be at least five pages – in the ancient alphabet that we are studying that month. You can either choose to do this in the classroom, where I will be and be able to help, or anywhere else. At the end of the month your group will hand in the translated essay, complete with a summary and a description of who translated what part – if it is a joint effort, write that! Then the circle starts anew, and we begin with a new alphabet," she finally finished.

Harry already liked this, a combination between theory and practice! The only thing Harry was a little scared of would be about the groups. She had said "set groups" which indicated that it would be the same groups every time. Hopefully the people in class wouldn't be fanatics that put "The-Boy-Who-Lived" on a pedestal.

"Today we begin with the Elder Futhark script!" she waved her wand, and the words wrote themselves on the blackboard. "Find your parchment and quill! Take notes as I talk, raise your hand if I need to repeat myself, or if I need to explain something in greater detail." Professor Babbling talked for the rest of the class, explaining which rune mean what letter, where the runes originated, and how they changed through time. the only times she stopped talking was when someone raised their hand, but only long enough to hear their question before continued, explaining, or repeating herself.

Both him and Ron had filled two sheets of parchment by the time class was over. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley! Stay behind," Professor Babbling said over the scraping of chairs as students began leaving. They gave each other a glance but complied to her demand. They packed their bags and came up to her desk. "You three will be one group," she said, surprising all three of them. "I have already made groups for everyone else, before school started. I am not making totally new groups just because you three decided to change classes so late," Professor Babbling told them.

"Okay, Professor," Draco was the first to answer. Harry and Ron just nodded along.

"And I expect you three to work together. I know of your rivalry and that will not be a good enough reason to not do your group assignments," she said sternly. "Now get to lunch!" and with that they were "shoo"-ed out of the classroom.

With the roles they still had to maintain, Harry and Ron couldn't be seen getting along with Draco, so they said their goodbyes and took different routes towards the Great Hall.

Harry and Ron had already began eating their lunches when Hermione plopped down across the table and began ladening her plate with food without a word. "You okay…?" Ron asked as he and Harry stared at her.

"McGonagall refused to let me take ancient runes," Hermione began complaining with her mouth full. "Sighting it's too late and that she won't play favorites." Harry, nor Ron, said anything and just watched as Hermione ate her food at record speed. She placed her fork down after scooping the last of the scrambled eggs into her mouth, swallowed, and said "I am going to the library!" She didn't wait for a response before she left.

"See you at dinner…?" Ron tried to say to her, but it ended up being to her back.

"Hopefully not," Harry whispered as soon as Hermione were out of range. They continue to watch her back as she made her way towards the entrance hall. Just as she rounded the corner of the Gryffindor table she walked into Fred and George. Harry could see Hermione's magical signature prickle in annoyance, and she quickly righted herself before breezing past them, but Harry's eyes didn't follow her anymore. They were firmly placed on the twins that were slowly making their way towards them.

"Seeing something you like?" Ron's voice came teasingly from behind Harry. Harry didn't get a chance to respond before Fred and George had sat down opposite them.

"Hey, Harry!" Fred and George began, "and hello, baby brother," they joked. They ignored Ron's indagated "Oy!" and began filling their plates with eggs and sausages. "So, how has the -"

"-first day been so far?" George finished the question. Harry and Ron switched back and forth telling them about their day so far. The conversation jumped here and there, and before they knew it, lunch was almost over, and divination would begin soon. They quickly finished the last few scraps on their plated before leaving the Great Hall.

"Why is basically every Gryffindor taking Divination, anyway?" Harry asked as they walked up the marble stairs.

"Donno, probably 'cus it's an 'easy O'? that was our reason last year," Ron shrugged.

"It may be an easy -" George began.

"-O, but the woman is mental," Fred finished.

"Hear, hear," Harry and Ron said in sync as they reached the end of the staircase. Fred and George separated with them and went down the corridor to the left while Harry and Ron continued towards the staircases leading to the higher floors.

They just managed to make it in time, being hit by the sickening sweet smell of incents as they came in. Harry tried to not look around at all the different colored shawls and beads as they began walking towards two open seats.

"There has been a change in your futures…" Trelawney suddenly said from the front of the classroom. "My inner eye can see past all disguise to the soul within," she said with cloudy unfocused eyes.

"Okay…" Ron said, and they got to their seats. The class was, expectantly, dreadfully boring after that. Trelawney presented the class with complicated birth charts they had to fill out. The room was, for the most part, quiet after that. Harry and Ron, for once, actually tried. They looked up in their books and read the whole section.

Suddenly there were excited squeals from the other side if the classroom. Harry turned to see Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil excitedly call for Trelawney. "Oh, Professor, look! I think I've got an unaspected planet! Oooh, which one's that, Professor?"

Trelawney came swaying over to them and peered over Lavender's shoulder. "It is Uranus, my dear," she said, still looking down at the chart. Harry heard a small "oh" from Lavender and he saw her sag down with pink-tinted cheeks.

Trelawney had walked past Harry and Ron's desk and were helping another table when Ron turned to Lavender and Parvati. "Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" Ron jokingly asked her. Most unfortunately, Professor Trelawney heard him, and it was this, perhaps, that made her give them so much homework to finish by Friday next week.

"Potter!" Harry's head shot up from where he was about to cut up the Sopophorous bean to see Severus standing at the front of the potions classroom. "Have you been reading the board or taking instructions from Weasley?" Harry heard the snickering of the Slytherins in the room but didn't let that bother him. He looked up at the board, reading the instructions again.

His eyes scanned the board until he saw Sopophorous bean juice. He was supposed to crush them with the flat side of his silver dagger. He found the silver dagger and was just about to crush the beans when Hermione stopped him.

"Harry, what are you doing? The book says to cut them!" she whisper-yelled at him.

"The instructions on the board says to crush them," Harry whispered back.

"Follow the book," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

Harry ignored her.