September.
Other than the rumours, that the twins were definitely making worse, and the more giggly girls that thought Harry was "oh so brave for slaying that monstrous Hippogriff!", as well as Malfoys confused looks towards him yet refusing to approach him again, not much exciting happened until Thursday during their DADA lesson.
Hermione and Ron had argued on when would be best to steal the Mandrake leaves until Harry pointed out they should probably work on the first step first, then worry about getting the leaves later on, most likely during October or early November.
Their lessons weren't anything crazy, mostly introductions to the curriculum of their year or simple studying and homework.
They had just finished double Potions with the Slytherins and were now heading to DADA. What came to a shock for Harry was how much he liked Potions now, and was finding it easier than he had the previous two years.
Even with Malfoys eyes on him the entire time.
After a whisper to Ron once class was over, as they were walking to lunch, he too said he found it much easier to brew. Bloody fucking Dumbledore and his compulsions. Why did Dumbledore even have them set that way?! It made no sense.
Seamus briefly had mentioned there had been a Sirius Black sighting, reported by a Muggle not too far from Hogwarts, at the end of the lesson when they were packing up. He still didn't have a clue on what Sirius Black may be up to, or any details about the man really, but soon he would he supposed.
When they first walked into their first lesson, their Professor, Lupin, wasn't there, and so the trio sat down by one of the windows as the rest of the class filled in. Everyone was talking amongst themselves when Lupin came in, smiling vague yet warmly to the class. He was as shabby as the train, but at least looked healthier.
"Good afternoon," he said, eyes taking in the class. They lingered a moment longer on Harry, in which he was hit with that strange sense of familiarity once more and made him shift in his seat before the man continued, "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's lesson will be practical. You'll only need your wands."
Everyone did so, curious and cautious looks went flying around the room to one another. They hadn't ever had a practical, unless you counted that one lesson the year before with the pixies.
"Right then," Lupin started once everyone was ready, "If you'd follow me."
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Harry frowned as everyone left the classroom, looking at where the boggart had been before Lupin had stepped in the way. Why had he stepped in front? Hermione and Ron had left, saying they would go get their alcove in the library when they saw he was hesitant to leave, and was thankful for it.
"Excuse me, Sir?" Harry said once the door to the staffroom had shut, leaving just the two in there.
Lupin looked briefly startled to see Harry, quickly masking it with a smile, "Yes, Harry?"
"I wanted to know," He shifted his weight slightly, "Why did- Why'd you stand in front of the Boggart?"
There was a flash of disappointment in the mans eyes, which Harry would definitely be looking into at a later date, before the man shook his head, "I merely worried Harry. I had assumed the Boggart would take form of Voldemort,"
Harry blinked in shock. He hadn't even thought it would turn into Voldemort. After a small silence, he laughed, "No sir, I recon it wouldn't have."
He left before Lupin could respond to that, humouring himself of the image of Voldemort at the back of Quirrells head wearing Neville's Gran's lace dress, red handbag and the strange vulture hat.
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After the first week, it was safe to say DADA was the entire schools favourite subject. According to the 7th years, this was their first actual competent teacher they'd gotten, which really says something about Dumbledore's hiring skills. A ghost who doesn't teach the curriculum, a potions teacher who hates children, and one good DADA in 7 Years? Harry had been to a British public school and even the staff there had been better than that. Hell, he'd heard Dudley complain about his teachers, and they were almost definitely exaggerated and his were still worse.
Harry, Hermione and Ron all worked on perfecting the 3 privacy charms and their homework during free periods, Divination (In which they were mainly self studying for and would either steal or buy a teacup and kettle set from either Trelawny or Hogsmeade when the visits start), and finding their magic core. They quickly found themselves in the library more often than not. Pince didn't know how to react during the first 2 weeks, but that weekend she found herself accepting the trios new found interest in studying and the alcove quickly became theirs.
It was also easier to escape the 1st and 2nd years in the library, which only made it better.
Hermione had read up on how to find a persons magic core within themselves, and the books explained that through mediation, there would be a glimmer, or a flame, something individual to that specific person, over time and they'd have to follow it to their core. It's said to be a long process, the length mainly depending on how big of a magic core one has, and they figured quickly that their free period Wednesday morning would be the best time to do that. The library was usually emptier due to Astronomy classes the night before for the 3rd years, and the fact that every other year par from 6th had a lesson.
In another universe, Hermione probably hated Divination, and thought it was inaccurate or unreliable like McGonagall. That'd be another universe though. Here? Hermione found it fascinating. When the lessons finished, she would complain not about the lesson but about Trelawny and 'how can we learn with a complete fraud for a teacher?! It's absurd!' They, Ron and Harry, had quickly come to realise how easy Divination was for Hermione. Not that the subject was particularly hard, but it just didn't flow between them the way it did for her. They even joked she might be part Seer, in which she threw scrunched up bits of parchment at them until they lost count of how many minutes they'd been laughing.
Hermione wasn't the only one, however, that had a certain affinity in a subject. Harry, alongside DADA, was doing far far better in Potions, brewing every potion since the start of the year perfectly, which he never knew could be possible. Potions. Of all subjects. Snape must be resenting him even more as the lessons go by.
Ron himself was doing a lot better in all his subjects compared to last year, especially Charms. Harry figured it was the combination of the new wand and the removal of compulsions.
In fact, the 3 were practically on their way to being the top 3 of all their classes. McGonagall even held them back one transfiguration lesson to let them know how thankful she was that they were improving their education and not let any distractions (definitely meaning Slytherins or Sirius Black) get in their way.
The rumours and the giggly-thankful girls had, thankfully, died and rested by the time October began.
Malfoy continued to watch the trio, but mainly Harry in particular which a scowl or frown on his face. When they passed in corridors, he looked half expecting him or Ron to insult him, but they never did. Harry found himself thinking about how hilarious Malfoys confused or speculative faces were a few times.
The Thursday before October, Oliver Wood, the captain, had held a meeting in which he informed the team he was determined to win, and the entire team had agreed on 3 evenings a week for Quidditch practice.
However, Harry caught up with Oliver after and practically pleaded to only go to 2 a week due to his class schedule, in which Oliver, twitching the entire time, relented after 10 minutes.
By the time October started, Harry found himself looking forward to the rest of the school year.