Neville just whimpered while Harry gave signs he'd gone catatonic.
The girls all grinned at each other. The boys in the student body sitting near by just thanked Merlin they were not on the receiving end of the punishment Harry and Neville were obviously receiving.
February turned into March and then April. There'd been no further attacks since the one just before Christmas break and Easter was fast approaching.
Harry had played another game of inter-House Quidditch playing as seeker for Ravenclaw against Slytherin. And this time there was no psychotic bludger to deal with.
However, the entire Slytherin team were on brand new Nimbus 2001s with Draco Malfoy as seeker. Harry thought it was going to be a difficult game and they'd be lucky to win. However, what was even worse was the level of cheating the Slytherins engaged in.
Harry was often pinned in both sides by opposing players. And he received a belting from a beater's bat on more than one occasion. He was just thankful he now wore top quality armour under his outer robes. Otherwise, he'd have been knocked off his broom, or seriously injured, before the game was even partway through.
By the time Harry had caught the snitch one of the Ravenclaw beaters and one chaser were out due to injury. Harry thought the game lost, at that point. However, Draco was such a poor seeker Ravenclaw were able to scrape a win by ten points once he caught the snitch simply by outflying his wanna-be nemesis.
During their Easter holidays, the Second Years were given something new to think about. The time had come to choose their subjects for their third year, a matter the entire group took very seriously.
"It could affect our whole future," She told the others as they pored over lists of new subjects, marking them with checks.
"I just want to give up Potions," said Harry.
"We can't," said Neville, gloomily. "We keep all our old subjects, or I would have ditched Potions, too."
"But that's very important!" said Hermione, shocked. "Especially if you want to go into Herbology, Neville." "Not the way Snape teaches it," said Harry. "I haven't learned anything from him except how not to be a professor. Everything I've learned in that class I've taught myself from the texts. In class, I just do everything from what I've learned through the books, and tend to ignore him."
Neville had been sent letters from all the witches and wizards in his family, all giving him different advice on what to choose. Confused and worried, he sat reading the subject lists with his tongue poking out, asking people whether they thought Arithmancy sounded more difficult than the study of Ancient Runes.
Eventually, Hannah took pity on him and helped him to choose Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes. And explained how they would both help in a career in Herbology. Hermione took nobody's advice and signed up for everything.
Harry smiled grimly to himself at the thought of what Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would have said if he tried to discuss his career in wizardry with them. Not that he didn't get any guidance; Cygnus, Isabel, Sirius and even Remus were eager to share their experiences.
"Depends where you want to go, Harry," said Sirius via mirror-to-mirror. "It's never too early to think about the future, so I'd recommend Divination. People say Muggle Studies is a soft option, but I personally think wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working in close contact with them. Play to your strengths, Harry."
But the only thing Harry felt he was really good at was memorising, Quidditch, and losing his temper. In the end, he chose the same new subjects as Daphne, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, feeling that if he was lousy at them, at least he'd have someone friendly to help him. And he was told they were both devilishly hard subjects. At least it could be something that would be a challenge for him. He hoped.
At the last moment, he also added Muggle Studies to the list. He'd heard from older muggleborns and -raised the previous year just how out of date the subject material actually was. And wanted to see it for himself. If it proved too antiquated he could easily drop it early for no penalty.
When he finally got in to see Professor Flitwick to discuss his choices the little professor was genuinely quite excited. "Just like your mother!" he exclaimed. "Mind you, she dropped Muggle Studies like a hot dragon's egg after only a few weeks. She mentioned something about let's see - antediluvian notions of what's right under our noses - yes, I remember it well because I had to look the word up. Imagine that! And it's never wise to insult a goblin's nose, you know."
When his Head of House finally calmed down he told Harry he was more than happy to accept his choices, and that he'd also be winning a bet with 'some' of the other staff about what he'd choose. "Professor Dumbledore seemed to be of the belief you'd choose Divination and Muggle Studies, as it's be the easy option for you," he said. "I have no idea why. You're one of our top students!"
Harry left the interview happy with his choices and amused at his Head of House's antics. On Saturday, the eighth of May, Harry hurried down to the Quidditch pitch early to talk to the Weasley twins about the weaknesses on the Hufflepuff team. He was hoping the Gryffindor team would defeat the 'Puffs to make the last game of the season, Ravenclaw against Gryffindor, the decider.
So far Hufflepuff had defeated Slytherin, Ravenclaw had defeated Hufflepuff, Slytherin had defeated Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw had defeated Slytherin. That left the Gryffindor against Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor against Ravenclaw matches.
Gryffindor had already lost to the Slytherins due to a weak performance by their seeker. But their chasers and beaters were extraordinary. When Malfoy finally caught the snitch, Gryffindor were only 120 points ahead. Though they had already lost a game each, both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had racked up considerable points with Hufflepuff slightly ahead; and it was the points that decided who won the Quidditch Cup. Hence, Harry was hoping the Gryff's would win.
He was in with the boys, talking, when Lee Jordan burst in. "The game's been cancelled," he blurted. "There's been another attack." before running out again.
Harry sighed and said, "Well, at least I can't be blamed for this one. I've been with you guys all morning."
"And we'll swear by that..."
"... for you, Harrikins!"
"As will we," said Alicia Spinnet, one of their chasers, who'd just walked in with the other two girls. "Thank you," said a very heartfelt Harry.
Harry waited for the Gryff's to get changed out of where they'd gotten to in their Quidditch robes and walked with them back to the castle.
As they were approaching the main doors, Professor Flitwick was waiting for them. The diminutive professor looked quite anxious.
"Professor?" asked Harry. "We heard of the attack."
"Yes, Mister Potter, I know," he said. "Please come with me."
With a sigh, Harry said, "Surely, Dumbledore doesn't still think I had anything to do with these attacks, does he?"
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