) Also, I chose my member name before ever coming up with this fanfic, and I thought that it would be a cool ad-in for a piece of the story. Anyway, I hope you like it, and please tell me what you honestly think! Thanks! 
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Chapter One: Beginning Again
It was the first day back at Hogwarts after… an eventful summer. Somehow, despite many arguments and awkward conversations, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley and Ronald Weasley had managed to convince Harry Potter to return to Hogwarts once more, if only for a little while. So far, the return to their once warm and inviting school had been completely ordinary, which was fairly unordinary for the quartet of friends. Now in the Great Hall, Ginny Weasley left to sit with those in her year, as previously discussed on the train ride, and Harry, Hermione, and Ron found a section of the Gryffindor table close to the teacher’s table, fairly apart from the rest of the students. So much had happened over the past summer, over the past year, that Harry found himself slightly shocked at the three-quarters-full Hall.
“Wow. I can’t believe this many students returned… and there are still first years to add!” Hermione exclaimed, confirming Harry’s thoughts.
“Yeah, well I guess that most parents figure that Hogwarts has gotta be safer than most places with Dumbledore; or at least just as safe. And their kids are learning how to protect themselves, so that’s gotta mean something.” Ron presumed.
“Hmm, I guess you’re right.” Hermione agreed, secretly in awe of Ron’s ability to create his theory.
This new contentment between Hermione and Ron was still new to everyone, but at least, Harry thought, it was better than the incessant bickering of years past.
“Welcome! Before any announcements are made, let us sort the new students into their houses!” boomed Professor Dumbledore, and every returning student’s head peered towards the doors of the Great Hall where the first year students piled in following Professor McGonagall.
Despite the Wizarding War still waging outside the castle walls, there were about thirty students following the Deputy Headmistress into the Great Hall, only ten shy of the usual amount. Harry let his brain disengage as Professor McGonagall called out names and petrified first years were sorted into their houses, only paying enough attention to clap when “GRYFFINDOR” was exclaimed from the enchanted Sorting Hat. After what seemed like hours had passed, Harry awoke from his stupor to find that despite all first years having been sorted, Professor McGonagall was still standing at the head of the Hall, hat and parchment in hand, looking expectant. As he looked around the teachers’ table, he found every teacher looking just as bewildered as he himself was, except for Dumbledore.
“What do you think she’s waiting for?” Harry whispered to Hermione and Ron.
“Haven’t you been paying attention?” inquired Hermione, to which both Harry and Ron shook their heads. Sighing, Hermione continued “Professor McGonagall called out another name, even though there aren’t any first years left!”
“Do you think she’s finally gone off her rocker, then?”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Ron. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing… I just don’t know what she’s doing…” Hermione sunk into a pensive state and stared directly at the Transfiguration teacher, as if trying to perform Legilimency. “I wish I knew, though.”
“Don’t worry, Hermione, I’m sure we’re going to find out soon enough.” Harry stated in his best attempt at lazy disinterest. “Wait a minute, where’s Hagrid? Did anyone see him when we got off the train?” Hermione and Ron shook their heads, and Harry began to chastise himself for not paying better attention. How could he miss Hagrid? Where was he? He had just see Hagrid over the summer at the Weasley’s… where was he?
After a few more minutes had passed, Professor McGonagall exclaimed “WOOD, RYAN ARCHER” to the waiting crowd in the Hall.
After receiving this news, Harry turned to his friends, no longer trying to hide his interest and whispered “Wood? I didn’t know Oliver had a little brother… Where do you think he is?” As Hermione opened her mouth, no doubt to explain how Wood was a very common name and the new student probably had no relation to Oliver Wood, a large bang came from outside the Great Hall, followed by thundering footsteps.
“Well” Ron asserted, “I think we know where Hagrid is…”
Sure enough, the shadow of Rubeus Hagrid preceded him into the Great Hall, and the buzz of noise that had filled the giant room quickly died away. Sopping wet from the storm raging outside (When did that start, Harry thought), Hagrid marched into the Hall, apparently straining from carrying something. Then, Harry spotted it: a figure draped in a hooded cloak being dragged along in Hagrid’s wake, seemingly against its will. “That is by far the tallest first year I have ever seen in my life!” exclaimed Ron. Harry and Hermione nodded their agreement, but stayed fixed to the sight of Hagrid straining to bring an eleven year old one-fourth his size to the head of the Hall, despite the boy’s unusual height. As Hagrid and his delivery reached Professor McGonagall, Hagrid seemed to strain even further trying to disengage the Wood, Ryan Archer from struggling. Harry found himself glued to the scene, deeply interested in the outcome of Hagrid’s struggle; he only glanced away for a moment to see what Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore thought of the situation, and found himself even more interested as both teachers’ faces wore looks of concern and worry.
Hagrid’s struggle became more and more intense, as Harry could hear him panting with strain and fatigue, until Hagrid seemed to heave the boy towards the stool upon which he would be sorted. A gasp filled the Hall as the boy landed on the stool and began the pitch backwards, and everyone seemed transfixed in anticipation; even Harry found himself leaning towards the action as the stool tumbled backwards with the young boy in tow, a few feet from where Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table. It seemed like the stool took ages to fall over, when the boy reached into his cloak and withdrew his wand quick as the blink of an eye, and pointed it straight at the ground. Everything seemed to stop as abruptly as it began, and the boy, whose wand was barely an inch from the ground, began to rise – on the stool – back to a resting position, and the hood fell away from the new student’s face.
Harry barely registered Hagrid’s apologies and Professor McGonagall’s inquiries to the new student, as he was transfixed upon her face. It wasn’t a boy at all, and she certainly wasn’t eleven. Her hair was soaking wet from the rain (Really, when did that start? Harry asked himself again), and fell a bit past her shoulders in heavy black curls that may have been short, brown ringlets if her hair was dry. Her skin was like peach porcelain, not too tan and not too pale, and certainly not from anywhere around Hogwarts. Her mouth was small, but her lips shined like they had perma-gloss on them, and despite the heavy black eyeliner, or maybe because of it, her startling eyes sparkled. What color were they? Harry thought. Her eyes weren’t really green, but not really blue nor gray… There should be a color named after her eyes, Harry wistfully considered. Wait, what the hell was he thinking? He loved Ginny! Ginerva Weasley. He didn’t even know this girl; and she’s eleven! I don’t think so, a voice in his brain told him, and what’s the harm in thinking she’s pretty? Pretty, she’s stunning, Harry reflected. Harry quickly checked to see if Ron was looking at him, praying that he wasn’t able to read his thoughts from his face, but Ron had the same dreamy expression on his own face that Harry felt. Thank goodness, Harry thought. Hermione, however, was looking from Ron to Harry, and her face seemed to get redder by the minute. Before she had the chance to reprimand either of the boys, Professor McGonagall spoke again, this time clearer than before. “Wood, Ryanne Archer”.
“That” stammered Ron, “is not Oliver Wood’s littler brother.”
“I don’t even think it’s his sister.” Harry concurred.
“If you two don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you would both put your tongues back in your heads and stop staring like imbecile baboons!” Hermione hissed in a whisper.
“Hermione, we think she’s really, really ugly…” Harry quickly retorted, remembering something Hermione had told him two years ago about girls, “we’re just impressed with her use of… of nonverbal spells!” he quickly finished.
“Yeah, nonverbal spells” muttered Ron from his dreamy state. Hermione tried to maintain her reproachful stare, but couldn’t help herself and giggled at the boys’ attempts to validate themselves. Harry gave Hermione a fleeting wink before drawing his gaze back to Wood, Ryanne Archer, who was receiving the Sorting Hat from Professor McGonagall. After the hat was upon her head (and what a lovely head she has, Harry sighed to himself), everyone in the Great Hall waited with bated breath for the House in which she would be sorted. After a few minutes of silence, the brim of the hat seemed to rip open, and it exclaimed “GRYFF….RAVEN…SLYTHER….PUFF!” to which each House cheered when the bits of its name where called. Harry himself was clapping enthusiastically when “GRYFF” was called. Apparently Wood, Ryanne Archer did not know that Gryffravenslytherpuff was not a House name, and got from the stool and removed the hat from her head to hand to Professor McGonagall. Dumbstruck by this turn of events, Professor McGonagall whispered to the girl and she sat back down, and once again the Sorting Hat was placed upon her head. Another hush fell upon the Hall, and everyone waited in silence as minutes passed, until “RAVE…UFFLE…YTHER…INDOR!” This time, the girl just glanced at Professor McGonagall, scanning her expression for answers. Professor McGonagall removed the hat from her head and looked inside for whatever may be causing the malfunction. Harry took this break from the action to exchange glances of concern with his friends, who were just as confused and intrigued by the passing events. Professor McGonagall gave up examining the Sorting Hat and placed it upon Wood, Ryanne Archer’s head a third time, and it immediately opened its brim wide and cried out “GRYFFINDOR!”
Hope you enjoyed chapter one, and please tell me what you think!
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Chapter Two: Meetings
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, and if Harry had been paying attention he would have noticed that most, if not all, of the cheering voices were male. There was no denying it, this girl was beautiful. Ryanne Archer Wood got up to leave the head of the Hall, when Professor McGonagall took her by the elbow, whispered in her ear, and led her off behind the teacher’s table into a door on the end of the Great Hall.
“What do you think that was all about?” Harry inquired.
“I don’t know, but that girl is not eleven. Maybe she’s like a foreign exchange student or something, you know? Like she goes to Beauxbatons but is spending the semester here?” Ron offered.
Harry began to ponder this theory, when Hermione spoke up. “Maybe, I mean, it’s a possibility… but did you see the look on her face? She does not want to be here; and Hagrid had to practically drag her in. Something’s just not right, I ca---“ But Hermione was cut off there, as Professor Dumbledore stood up to speak.
“To our new students, welcome! To the rest of us oldies, welcome back! I have a few notices to announce before we dine! Firstly, Professor Slughorn has changed his mind about coming out of retirement, and decided to give it another go; therefore, Professor Snape will resume his position as Potions professor. Assuming the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is none other than my own brother, Aberforth Dumbledore!” At this announcement, an excited buzz filled the Great Hall as the students speculated about the Headmaster’s brother. “Unfortunately,” Dumbledore continued “Professor Dumbledore missed the train to Hogwarts and shall be arriving tomorrow for the start of term. In addition, I would like to inform new students that the Forbidden Forest…”
“Dumbledore’s brother? Teaching Defense? That should be interesting.” whispered Ron.
“No kidding. Moody told me that he was a little weird, but he only met him once, so I dunno.” Harry supplied.
“I’m sure he’ll be really interesting, I mean he’s got to be! He’s an old member of the Order, and he grew up with Dumbledore as a brother. I wonder if they have any other siblings?” Hermione offered in a hushed voice.
“…and if anyone has any questions they can see Mr. Filch. Now, if that’s all, I say we begin the feast! Dig in!”
During the rest of the feast, Harry, Ron, and Hermione speculated about Dumbledore’s brother, almost entirely forgetting about the event prior to Dumbledore’s announcements. Nearing the end of the meal, Hermione rose from her seat; “Well, I’ve got to go find Ernie. We said we’d meet right before the end of dinner to get a headstart on duties. I’m so excited to be Head Girl!” Hermione squealed, and she turned towards the Hufflepuff table.
“Thank goodness I wasn’t made Head Boy. Fred ‘n George would’ve never let me forget it.”
“Do you really think that after last year Dumbledore would’ve made you Head Boy? You were barely a prefect!” Harry laughed.
“Exactly. See, it was all part of my ingenious plan to not be Head Boy! Skive off duties, and you won’t be given any more!” Ron exclaimed.
“Whatever. Come on, everyone’s leaving and we’d better get up to the dormitories.”
Harry and Ron got up from their table along with the rest of the Gryffindors, and hurried towards the end of the Great Hall so they could proceed to the Gryffindor common room without having to deal with the throng of lower year students. Taking one of their shortcuts, Harry and Ron ended up at the door to the common room within minutes, and realized their problem. “How is it that we’re friends with Head Girl, and we don’t know the password?” Harry asked no one in particular.
“Because we’re geniuses, that’s why. We don’t have time to ask silly questions – everyone should just tell us the answers” Ron sarcastically muttered. Ron and Harry sat down at the steps outside the portrait to their common room, waiting for someone more knowledgeable than themselves to let them in. It came as quite a surprise when that person turned up in the form of Professor McGonagall, looking concerned and flustered.
“What are you boys doing out here? Oh, never mind. Come on, let’s go in. Hinkypunk!” exclaimed Professor McGonagall, and the portrait to the Gryffindor common room swung open.
“Well, we could’ve just yelled rubbish at the Fat Lady and sorted that one out, couldn’t we?” muttered Ron.
“What did you have to say, Mr. Weasley?”
“Huh? Um, nothing… ma’am.”
“Too right you are.” Professor McGonagall declared to Ron. They were the only three in the common room, and Harry had every intention of going straight to his dormitory; while he liked Professor McGonagall, she was definitely no one to mess with. “Right, now stay here, we’re going to have a little house meeting before you go up to your dormitories”. Harry and Ron exchanged glances of annoyance and worry, and they slumped into their favorite cushy armchairs in the common room and waited. Over the next half hour, the rest of the Gryffindors piled into the common room and were told to wait. Finally, the last Gryffindors (with Neville Longbottom bringing up the rear) came into the common room and found a place to sit.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, which immediately commanded silence among the housemates. “Now that we’re all here, I need to make a few… ah, announcements to you before term begins tomorrow. As you know, Gryffindor has added a, shall we say, extra student this year. Ms. Wood is a transfer student to Hogwarts this year, and it beginning her seventh year with us. Now, Ms. Wood is a long way from home and I expect each and every one of you to treat her with kindness and respect. Furthermore, Professor Dumbledore and I have decided that Ms. Wood will be given a separate room from the rest of the Gryffindor seventh year girls, in the event that Ms. Patil returns to Hogwarts later in the year. The Headmaster and I will be in and out of Gryffindor House over the next few days to ensure the construction of Ms. Wood’s room. That is all for now, and I expect every Gryffindor to be a positive testament to the house. Oh, and welcome first years.” The students began to stir and make their way to their respective dormitories, as Professor McGonagall made her way to where Hermione, Ron, and Harry were positioned. “Ms. Granger, a word?” Hermione followed Professor McGonagall out the common room and Harry and Ron were suddenly left alone in the common room.
“Well, that was weird” Ron flatly stated.
“You’re not kidding. We’ve never had Professor McGonagall give us house meetings, at least not right after the start of term feast. Something odd is going on” Harry pondered outloud, just as Hermione crawled through the portrait hole again. “What was that all about?” Harry inquired.
“Oh, nothing much. The new girl, Ryanne, is staying in the hospital wing until the professors get her room ready, and they wanted to me to kind of, show her around and stuff. You know, ‘welcome wagon’ and all that.” she explained.
“’Welcome wagon?’” Ron interjected.
“It’s all kind of – off, isn’t it? I mean, there’s no way that Parvati is coming back, so why is she getting her own room? And I’m sure that McGonagall or Dumbledore could easily expand the size of the dormitory to add another bed, which would be much easier than adding a whole new wing just for her. And that speech! What was that all about? It’s like when we had the Triwizard Tournament and we were supposed to be giving Hogwarts a good name, put on a good show. This is just weird.” Hermione concluded. “And anyway,” she exclaimed, gathering a second wind “McGonagall never even told me what school she was from, so I don’t know if she speaks English or Russian or Swahili!”
“Jambo!” Ron offered.
“Oh, shut it.” Hermione laughed. “Well, I’ve got to go to bed; I have to wake up early to meet with Ryanne Archer Wood.” she sighed, and with that she gave Ron a kiss on the cheek and went off to bed.
“So, do you think that it’s true that you can’t have your cake and eat it too?” Ron questioned Harry.
“What? Do you mean date Hermione and stare at the new girl like she’s a piece of meat at the same time? No, I don’t think that's a good idea.”
“Damn.”
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Chapter Three: In the Hospital Wing
Ron and Harry trudged up towards the dormitories, both boys’ brains too rattled from the evening’s events to discuss anything anymore. They said hello to their fellow seventh years, all of whom had returned, and got into their pajamas and finally into bed. Harry lay staring at the ceiling, his mind swirling from the excitement of the day, when he had a spark of thought. Moving swiftly and quietly, so as not to wake his dorm-mates, Harry went to his trunk and retrieved the Marauder’s Map. Back in bed, Harry spoke in incantation “I solemnly swear I am up to no good” to reveal the map of Hogwarts, and searched the paper for the Hospital Wing. There, at the far end of the Wing next to the last bed, Harry saw the name RYANNE WOOD pacing back and forth, surrounded by the names SEVERUS SNAPE, MINERVA MCGONAGALL, ABERFORTH DUMBLEBORE, and ALBUS DUMBLEDORE.
That can’t be right, Harry thought to himself; Dumbledore said that his brother missed the train and wouldn’t be arriving until morning… well, technically it is morning, but still. Harry scratched his head in wonder; what were they doing? He had a fleeting desire to get his invisibility cloak and discover what was going on, but it soon left as he realized it was not particularly smart to go wandering around after hours around three of the smartest wizards and witches he knew. Harry wiped the map clean, stuffed it under his pillow, and lay down once again. There was something wrong about this whole situation, and he was going to find out what – but not tonight. Harry closed his eyes and drifted off into slumber.
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Despite the day’s events, Harry had a peaceful sleep, and awoke refreshed the next morning. Harry glanced around the room to see who else was around, and then pulled out the Marauders’ Map after deciding he was the only Gryffindor awake in the room. Harry said the incantation and looked quickly to the Hospital Wing on the page. To his astonishment, RYANNE WOOD was in the last bed of the Wing, with ABERFORTH DUMBLEDORE and SEVERUS SNAPE posted on either side of her bed. How long had they been there? Were they guarding her? Protecting her.. or everyone else? Why hadn’t he checked the map earlier? Disappointed with himself, Harry wiped the map clean and vowed to keep it with him the rest of the day. After waking Ron, the boys got dressed and met Hermione in the common room, then proceeded into the Great Hall for breakfast.
During breakfast, schedules were handed out, mainly received with moans and groans. “You know? I thought for sure we would be rid of Snape this year. I mean, the Defense position is cursed so no one can hold it for more than a year!” sighed Ron.
“But he didn’t hold it for more than a year. He was Defense professor, now he’s not. In fact, I’d say he got away pretty unscathed compared to our previous professors in Defense.” explained Hermione.
“Still, he should’ve at least gotten punched or something. I’m totally regretting getting good grades in Slughorn’s class now. Yeah, so he saved Dumbledore after he and Harry returned from getting the… you-know-what, but something’s still not right with that guy. I mean, we never saw him over the summer. Ne-ver. Is he still working for the Or… well, the good guys? Harry, you said that after he gave Dumbledore a potion and you went back to the dormitories that he and Dumbledore were still together on the map… do you have any idea what they talked about?” Ron asked, exasperated.
Harry sighed. “I’ve told you a thousand times, I don’t know. Dumbledore won’t tell me.”
“He must have taken him off the Defense position.” Hermione wondered aloud. “I mean, he didn’t give us the final exam - McGonagall administered it. Maybe something that was supposed to happen didn’t, and Dumbledore took Snape off the position as soon as possible so nothing… nothing unexpected or terrible would happen.” Harry and Ron just stared open-mouthed at Hermione. “Well, it was just a thought.” she meekly finished.
“Why didn’t you say that before? Over the summer? When we were talking about this almost everyday?” Ron asked offensively.
“I didn’t know that he wasn’t the Defense professor anymore! Don’t get affronted with me because I didn’t see the future. In case you forgot, I dropped Divination three years ago!”
“Sorry! I just, ahm, didn’t think? …I love you?” Ron suggested.
Hermione gave him a playful punch in the arm. “Oh, shut it.” she supplied, followed by a brief kiss. “Well, let’s get going, we have double Potions first.” This information was followed by a groan of consent, and an idea by Harry.
“Wait, if we’re going to Potions, that must mean….” Harry trailed off, pulling the map from his bag. “I solemnly swear I am up to no good. Come on, come on, where are you?” At this, Hermione and Ron exchanged looks of concern.
“Uh, Harry? You’re doing what Hermione does. How about letting us in on your… whatever it is you're doing.” Ron suggested.
“A-ha! Found you.” Harry exclaimed. “What? Oh, sorry. I looked at the map this morning and Dumbledore’s brother and Snape were with the new girl in the hospital wing this morning. Now, Dumbledore’s brother is still there, but Snape has left and McGonagall took his place. It’s just weird that this girl needs two professors around her at all times, don’t you think?”
“That is weird. But Harry, you said that Snape had left?” Hermione asked.
“Yeah, McGonagall’s there instead. Why?”
“Because that means he’s on his way to class and we’re going to be late!” Hermione cried.
“Oh no…” The three friends tore out of the Great Hall and down the stairs to the dungeons. Despite the mutual disdain they harbored for their Potions professor, he was still someone who instilled fear in all of them.
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Chapter Four: Mixing Potions
Harry, Hermione, and Ron arrived at the dungeon door out of breath and panting, and quickly shuffled inside. They had just found a table and sat down when Professor Snape slithered inside. “Despite what any of you may presume, most of you should not be in this class. However, after a discussion with the Headmaster I have decided that maybe you are not all “lost causes” and may still have some... undiscovered potential. Now, that theory is extremely unlikely and I do not intend for it to come true. Nonetheless, I am stuck here teaching you and you will learn, whether you want to or not. Take out your books, turn to page 54 and begin reading.”
During the scuffle of books being pulled from their bags, Ron muttered to Harry “That was almost optimistic for Snape. Maybe his mum finally hugged him.” Harry stifled a laugh, and managed to pass it off as a violent cough. Hermione shot both of them reproachful looks and mouthed don’t make him mad at the snickering best friends. After thirty minutes, nothing had changed in the class and everyone was still reading; about this time, Harry was seriously regretting getting a new Advanced Potion Making book in Diagon Alley to replace the Prince’s he had last year. Abruptly, the doors to the classroom boomed open to reveal Professor McGonagall, what had to be Aberforth Dumbledore (owing to his long, white beard), and Ryanne Wood standing in between looking extremely annoying at the whole situation.
“Ah, yes. I was expecting you. Take a seat, Ms. Wood.” Snape hissed, his voice dripping with malice despite his attempt at manners.
“I’m sorry we are late Professor Snape, but we had a few, ahm, minor discrepancies to smooth out before we could make it here.” Professor McGonagall stated.
“Well, you’re here now.” Snape flatly stated. There was too much anticipation, too much eagerness in his voice, Harry thought. “I can take it from this point.”
There was worry written all over Professor McGonagall’s face as she scanned the classroom, eyeing each of the other six students in turn. “Well, just let me know if you need anything.” Professor McGonagall gave the new student an apologetic look as Aberforth Dumbledore nodded, and they exited the classroom. Ryanne Archer Wood was left standing next to the last table of the classroom, looking irritated and impatient with her arms folded across her chest, leaning her weight on her left leg so her left hip jutted out. Harry couldn’t help but stare at Ryanne Wood, the mere sight of her in the dungeon, in Hogwarts at all, was just too bizarre. She was not dressed in Hogwarts robes at all, but rather head to toe in muggle-wear. Her hair was dark golden brown, pulled back into a ponytail that hung stick-straight just past her shoulders; with soft bangs that fell in a side part just past her eyes, so much so that her left eye was hidde, and her right eye had the same kohl liner as the night before. She looked so out of place in a room full of robed students, wearing a long sleeve chocolate brown undershirt, covered by a baby blue polo shirt with a large “A” with some kind of detailing around it where the left pocket would be, and brown-belted low-rise khaki pants that showed a sliver of her stomach. Ryanne Wood stood a defiant outsider in the dungeon classroom, tapping her clunky steel-toed shoe in impatience as she waited for instructions from Professor Snape.
The rest of the students, granted there were only five, seemed just as in awe of Ryanne Wood as Harry himself, and had all abandoned their reading to openly stare at her. “Follow me” Snape ordered in a threatening and spiteful tone, as he beckoned her to the middle table in the second row – next to that of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Also, Harry thought, next to Draco Malfoy’s table. Harry hadn’t really thought about Malfoy, and he had yet to have any run-ins with his enemy as of yet. But I will, he scowled to himself, Malfoy will be sure to see to it that we have plenty of encounters. Ryanne Wood slumped into the empty table chair, keeping her arms across her chest and slinking down to stick out her legs and cross her feet. Snape’s face broke into a wicked grin, and he almost joyfully exclaimed “That is enough reading for today. Break into pairs and create the Sleeping Solution. Ms. Wood! It seems that we have an uneven number among us, so you will be working with me.” That’s why he’s so happy, Harry thought, he has a new Gryffindor to humiliate – even though Ernie Macmillan, a Ravenclaw Harry didn’t know, and Malfoy were moving towards her table to work with her. Seemingly unfazed, Ryanne rolled her eyes and moved to the table in front of Snape’s desk and began to measure the ingredients he had already prepared.
Over the next hour and a half, Snape’s mood worsened and worsened as the class’ progress got better and better. In fact, Ryanne Wood was doing so well that Hermione was trying to sneak peaks at her potion. “If I could just see what she’s doing differently!” an exasperated Hermione declared. “I wish we had that stupid Prince book back.”
At this, Ron and Harry (working with Ernie at the next table) gaped openly at her. “You wish what?” Ron exclaimed.
“It’s just like last year! I’m doing what the book says and someone’s doing better than I am!”
Ron tried to calm his frustrated girlfriend. “Hey, it’s okay. Our potion looks perfect, exactly like the book says it should! If it weren’t for you, I’d totally have mucked it up!”
“Too true, Weasley.” Snape mocked. “Next time, Granger, you should let your partner participate. TIME’S UP! Bottle your potions and place them on my desk.” The class did as they were told, and began to clean up before their next period. As soon as Harry, Ron, and Hermione were outside the classroom, they stopped to catch a breath, for it seemed like they had been holding it for the last two hours.
“Wow. Snape’s in a right state.” Ron murmured.
Harry agreed “You’re not kidding. Why are we waiting here?”
“I told you last night,” Hermione heaved, “I have to show the new girl around. Where is she?”
The three friends peeked inside the classroom doors, and found Snape lecturing their newest classmate. “… and if you so much as consider disrespecting me in this class, you will sorely regret it. Do you understand me, Wood? You may think that you are too good for all this, but I know better. You are just the same as every other miserable student in this school, and you will not make a fool of me!”
“Oh my gosh!” Hermione whimpered. “Can he say that to her?”
“Shh! She’s coming!” Ron whispered, and they pulled themselves from the doors further into the dungeon hallway. To their surprise, the new girl exited the classroom with a triumphant grin upon her face.
Hermione quickly approached her. “Hi! You must be Ry-anne. I’m Hermione, and this is my boyfriend Ron and my friend Harry. I’m sorry about Professor Snape, he can be kind of, well, mean sometimes. But at least we only have him twice a week! Well, anyway, I’m Head Girl and I was wondering if you’d like me to show you around Hogwarts, so you can, you know, get the feel of the place… I got lost a ton of times when I first started here, especially since the staircases kept moving, but I got it eventually. So, um, where do you want to start?”
“Whoa, breathe Hermione” Ron muttered under his breath. Ryanne Wood seemed perplexed by Hermione’s rant (and who wouldn’t be, thought Harry), and just gave her a worried look, put her hands in her pants pockets, took a few backwards steps and turned around to leave in the other direction.
“Well, that was strange” Harry offered.
“Ugh! Did you see the look she gave me? Like I was an idiot! I bet she saw my potion and thinks I’m just some stupid suck-up!”
Ron stifled a laugh. “I’m sure it was just confusion. You spoke really fast and I’m not sure you were completely, ahm, comprehendible.”
“It’s not funny, Ron! I’m supposed to be Head Girl! I’m going to Arithmancy. I’ll see you two later!” With that, she gave Ron a kiss on the cheek and headed off.
“Sometimes I wonder what’s wrong with her.” Ron pondered.
Laughing, Harry inquired “Which ‘her’ do you mean?”
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Chapter Five: Dungeons and Dragons
Harry and Ron gladly left the dungeons to enjoy their free period before Herbology. “So…” Ron began cautiously, “how’re things with you and Ginny?”
Harry let out a deep sigh. “I’m not really sure. We haven’t talked since the train ride, but I told her that it was probably better this way. I think it’ll be safer if she looks like my best friend’s sister, nothing more. Besides, Malfoy is still on campus, and I don’t want him feeding any information to Voldemort that could help him in any way.”
Ron let out an involuntary twitch at the sound of the name. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. If she dates anyone else, though, she’ll be getting an earful from me!”
Harry couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, Ron, but I don’t think that’ll happen. We still care about each other and all, I just don’t want anyone getting hurt… or being in any more unnecessary danger because of me.”
“Thanks? Who cares if she hurts your pride! She’s my little sister and she needs to discuss all romantic inquiries with me, thank you very much!”
“Well, thanks for the concern, at least.” Harry couldn’t help himself and let out a nervous laugh, hoping that his friend was joking.
Noticing his concern, Ron affirmed “She still cares about you, too, mate. And Ginny’s not the kind of girl to go around with just any guy… well, except that git, Terry Boot.”
Harry and Ron joked and laughed the rest of the way to the Gryffindor common room, and once inside Ron scared a few second years out of their favorite seats and plopped down. A few minutes of comfortable silence passed, when a gaggle of sixth year girls entered the common room. “… he was so interesting!”
“A little weird…”
“But interesting!”
“He’s the best Defense professor we’ve had!”
“Why didn’t Dumbledore ask him to teach earlier, especially if they’re brothers?”
“The position’s cursed! Dumbledore wouldn’t want to curse his brother!”
“Then why is he professor now?”
Ron called out to one of the girls, “Ginny! Hey, Ginny! Did you already have Defense?”
Ginny walked over warily towards Harry and Ron, “Yeah, it was great. Professor Dumbledore, you know, Aberforth Dumbledore, was really interesting. He was a little disorganized and spoke in weird streams of consciousness, but he knows his stuff!”
Harry braved a conversation with his former girlfriend. “What do you mean? Was he like Moody, or Lupin?”
Ginny seemed a bit taken aback by Harry’s entrance into the conversation. “Uhm, yes and no. He’s just as smart as Moody and Lupin, probably smarter, but he’s not a werewolf and he’s not completely loopy. It’s hard to describe… He just knows things, information you would never find in a book. It’s weird, but really fascinating!”
“He seems cool, and we’ll have him tomorrow so we can follow what you’re saying!” Harry smiled.
Ginny relaxed her shoulders a bit. “You’ll love it. It’s almost like being back in the D.A, only with a, ahm, a wiser teacher.” Ginny grinned.
Laughing, Harry replied “Good, ‘cause we all know I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed!”
Harry, Ron, and Ginny all laughed, much more at ease with the conversation than before. “Well,” Ginny said, “I’ve got to begin my Defense homework before Divination. I’ll see you two around.” And with that, she was off.
Harry sunk back in his chair and took a deep breath, followed by a great sigh mixed with relief and longing. “Cheer up, mate. It’ll all be over one day.” Ron offered.
Hopefully soon, Harry thought.
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Harry and Ron met Neville, Dean, and Seamus in the Gryffindor common room, and they all walked to the Greenhouses across the grounds together for Herbology. Neville was carrying on about NEWT level plants and what they might be learning, when Harry spotted a twosome a few hundred feet in front of them. “Correct me if I’m wrong…” Harry whispered to Ron, “but that looks like Dumbledore walking with the new girl.”
“I think you’re right,” Ron responded, “but I thought that she was being flanked by two professors at all times?”
“Most of them are probably teaching, and Dumbledore is more powerful that half the staff combined.” Harry thought out loud.
“Hmm, I guess you’re right. Well, at least she’s on time for Herbology. She needs to pick which professors to irritate better.” Ron chuckled. They continued across the grounds quietly, with only the sounds of Neville continuing to discuss the new strain of Ritunglia Ragweed that will cut off your nose if you get too close to them.
Herbology began unusually in Greenhouse seven, where to Harry’s horror, the NEWT students were repotting Ritunglia Ragweed. Ryanne Wood, however, did not have to pick a partner for this class. Professor Dumbledore stayed throughout the class, during which time both he and the new girl sat in a corner to watch her new fellows struggle in between sneezes with the ragweed. “I need a gas mask” Harry wheezed.
“Gas mask?” Ron asked.
Harry sneezed again. “Nevermind. I. Hate. This. Stupid. Plant! Is Dumbledore leaving?”
Hermione peered over to where the Headmaster and the new girl were seated. “I think so… but class is almost over so I’m sure that someone’s probably coming to relieve him from babysitting duty.” she scathingly retorted. Harry and Ron stared open mouthed at Hermione and her departure from her normal, optimistic self. “What?” she innocently asked them. “That’s what the professors are doing – babysitting her! She’s at least seventeen, an adult!” Hermione couldn’t continue, as she let out a particularly violent sneeze and had to duck to avoid the ragweed from swiping at her nose with its sharp tendrils.
“Well, finish up, finish up! That’s all for today! For homework, I want you to write 16 inches on the properties of Ritunglia Ragweed, including its healing purposes! Oh, and if anyone gets a nosebleed, please see Madam Pomphrey immediately!” Professor Sprout shouted to her NEWT students above the noise. Harry quickly put his gloved hand to his nose and checked it to make sure he was not bleeding, then finished adding soil and cleaned up his station. After wiping his face with a clean cloth (provided by Professor Sprout), Harry looked up to see if the new student and Headmaster were still among them. To his surprise, Ryanne Wood was standing alone near the doors leaning against the glass windows, looking directly at Harry. Feeling extremely self-conscious about the possibility of more dirt being on his face, Harry wiped it clean again and moved towards the door where she stood.
There, Ryanne spoke her first word of the day; “Potter?” she questioned him.
Harry managed a confirming nod, to which Ryanne rolled her eyes and handed him a parchment from her back pants pocket and rolled on her shoulders to leave the Greenhouse. Harry stared at Ryanne’s back as she left, too stunned to say anything. Harry found himself hurt and slightly abashed that the new girl didn't know who he was, nor did she care? Didn't she know his story? Shut up! he told himself. He did, however, notice something he hadn’t seen before; across the back of Ryanne’s baby blue polo was a large printed dragon in full wingspan, covered in navy colored scales with piercing white eyes. The print covered the entire back of her shirt, and Harry wondered why he hadn’t noticed it before. Because you were too busy staring at her face to notice anything else, a truthful voice told him. Harry finally looked down at the parchment where he recognized the familiar slanted writing, and set off to find his friends.
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Chapter Six: Implications
“So what does it say?”
“Dumbledore says to meet him at his office at eight o’clock tonight. I wonder what could be so urgent?”
Hermione pondered this for a while. “Maybe it’s something he couldn’t tell you over the summer?”
“I doubt it. I mean, not that it’s not a great theory… it’s just that something feels rushed or out of order. I can’t explain it.” Harry surmised.
Hermione, Ron and Harry stayed in the common room until six o’clock when they left for dinner. Harry scanned the table up and down several times to see if Ryanne was sitting among them, and when he couldn’t find her decided to check his map. She wasn’t in the hospital wing, or Gryffindor tower, or McGonagall’s office, or Snape’s office (you never know, Harry thought), or the library. Finally, Harry found the dot labeled RYANNE WOOD inside Professor Dumbledore’s office, next to ROBERT WOOD and ALBUS DUMBLEDORE. “Ron, Hermione! Look at this!” Harry passed the map discretely to his friends.
“Robert Wood? D’you suppose that’s her father?” Hermione considered.
“I dunno, but I wonder if this has anything to do with my meeting with Dumbledore later!” Harry exclaimed, excited and anxious.
“Ron and I will meet you in the common room after your meeting, okay? We want to know everything!”
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After a long dinner with his friends, Harry proceeded to Dumbledore’s office half an hour early, knowing Ryanne was still inside (even though ROBERT WOOD had left). As he arrived at the gargoyle outside the office, Harry glanced at his parchment from Dumbledore and spoke aloud “Tootsie Rolls”. The gargoyle leapt aside, and Harry stepped onto the moving staircase to reach Dumbledore’s office. Harry considered waiting outside the door for a few moments before knocking to catch snippets of Ryanne and the Headmaster talking, but he heard nothing but silence and clanged the griffin knocker.
“Enter” a familiar voice beckoned.
“Good evening, sir – I hope I’m not too early” Harry quickly apologized.
“Not at all, not at all. We were actually finished with our previous conversation and were awaiting your arrival.” Dumbledore seemed tired, yet there was concern in his voice that Harry couldn’t ignore. Deciding it was futile to feign ignorance, seeing as how Dumbledore knew about the map, Harry simply looked to the chair in which Ryanne was sitting and nodded his understanding.
“Well, let’s get down to business. I presume you two have already met,” (was that a scowl on Ryanne’s face?) “especially since you share identical schedules. Harry, I can assume that you noticed Professor Snape’s return to the position of Potions master?” Harry once again nodded his understanding (how could I have missed it, he thought). “Good. Professor Snape was, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about continuing the education of some of Professor Slughorn’s NEWT students, but nevertheless agreed to do so under the condition that those students would be tutored throughout the year.
“Ms. Granger has already agreed to tutor Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Macmillan from Hufflepuff has agreed to do the same for Mr. Cantorre from Ravenclaw. Harry, it would be in your best interest to be tutored by Ms. Wood here, so that you may continue your Potions studies and your pursuit of becoming an auror.”
“I, uhm, I… what?” Was all Harry could manage.
“Ms. Wood is an excellent potion maker, to say the least, and I think you could both learn a lot from each other. She has already agreed to tutor you,” Harry glanced a look at Ryanne, who had defeat and contempt written clearly upon her face. “… but at the moment your tutoring sessions will be placed on hold, at least until Ms. Wood’s room is ready. Ms. Wood will give you notice for when your sessions are to take place, and I will be checking up with both of you to ensure they are taking place. That is all for tonight. Harry, you are excused. Ms. Wood, please follow me.” Professor Dumbledore rose swiftly from his chair, followed by a bewildered Harry and an extremely displeased Ryanne. Harry was the first to leave Dumbledore’s office, and headed straight for Gryffindor tower without even a glace backwards.
Chapter 7: Stairway to Nowhere
Harry clambered through the portrait hole close to 8:30; for such an important meeting, it sure hadn’t lasted long. Harry quickly found Hermione and Ron sharing a soft chair in one of the corners next to a window, and dashed straight for them. “Harry! You’re back! What happened?” Hermione interrogated. Harry told his friends of the meeting exactly as it unfolded, not pausing for their gasps of concern and grunts of disapproval. Finally, Harry finished leaving the trio in a state of confused silence.
“So… when exactly were you planning on telling me that you had to tutor me in potions?” Ron asked Hermione as a sly grin broke across his face.
“Oh! I, well I just got the news today and I didn’t want it to come across as a superiority thing…” Hermione meekly answered.
Ron laughed. “Hermione, of course you’re superior to me! At least when it comes to grades!”
Harry gaped at his friends. “Hello? What about the new girl tutoring me? And why was Dumbledore practically singing her potion-brewing praises?” he demanded.
“I don’t know, Harry, but that’s really weird. It’s just normal enough to fly under the radar, but bizarre enough to spark questions. There’s definitely something wrong with her.” Hermione concluded.
Harry sighed and pulled his map from his pocket and began to scan the pages for the umpteenth time that day. “Look!” he exclaimed to his friends, “she’s back in the hospital wing with McGonagall, both Dumbledores, and Snape! This is just too weird!” Harry was at a loss for anything else to say.
“You’re not joking…” Ron started, “look!” Ron pointed past Harry’s chair to a large obstruction; where a large window used to be stood a steep straight staircase.
Harry looked round his friends, “How long has it been there?”
“I dunno, mate, but I didn’t notice it before…”
Harry scanned the rest of the Gryffindor common room. Apparently, no one else had noticed the staircase besides them. Harry hastily rose from his seat and approached the staircase; it was covered in an arch that shadowed most of the stairs. With a glance to Ron and Hermione, Harry began to climb the stairs slowly and cautiously. As he reached the seventh step, Harry found himself in complete darkness and pulled out his wand, muttering “Lumos”.
Nothing happened.
“Lumos!” Harry exclaimed, much louder and forcefully. Yet again, nothing happened. Harry turned around on his stair towards the light from the common room below and practically yelled “LUMOS!” at his wand. This time, his wand shone brightly in the darkness, and Harry could see his friends’ alarmed faces staring up at him from below. Harry steadily turned around to walk up the stairs once more, and his wandlight flickered as he took a step upwards, but remained glowing nevertheless. Harry put his hand to the wooden arched wall to guide his ever-cautious steps upward. Finally, he reached the landing at the top of the stairs and held his wand out to see where it led. Harry gasped and grabbed onto the edge of the wall to stop himself from falling either forwards or backwards; the stairway had stopped. Actually it ended, leaving Harry standing in open air; the stairway led outside the castle… it was a passage to nowhere.
I put both chapters in since they were so short. I hope you enjoy them! Please review! http://www.veritaserum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14694[/url]
