Deceiving Magic's Child

In no time at all, Defense Against the Dark Arts... anything bad to say about Professor Lupin.

Lucius sighed. He was beginning to doubt he'd hear anything good about his son in these books.

"Look at the state of his robes... in the dungeons of castles

"There are even some in the Hogwarts dungeons," Severus said. "It's one of the many reasons you have a curfew."

and the potholes of deserted battlefields... he was bullying Neville worse than ever.

Severus sighed. Yes, he would have to make some changes. The other teachers all glared at him.

Harry was also growing to dread the hours he spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room,

Professor Trelawney pouted at that.

deciphering lopsided shapes... as though he were on his deathbed.

Minerva tutted at that. It was a good job the girls weren't present or she'd give them a piece of her mind.

Nobody really liked Care... most boring creatures in existence.

Everyone glared at Draco. It was his fault after all. Hagrid looked fore long to hear that his class was disliked so much.

"Why would anyone bother... discuss tactics for the new season.

Oliver grinned. He really did love Quidditch. And they'd finally won the Quidditch cup that year.

There were seven people... I'll never get another shot at it."

The members of the Gryffindor team that were present all smiled at their captain.

"Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now... "And me," he added as an afterthought.

"You're a brilliant keeper," Harry said.

"And a good captain too," George added, "when you're not being a git."

"We think you're very good too... the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing. . . "

Draco frowned. The Slytherin team had never talked about winning like that.

Wood spoke so dejectedly... three evenings a week.

It was a bit excessive but better than Minerva had expected after what she read about the previous year.

The weather was getting colder and wetter...  "End of October. Halloween. "

The younger ones looked disappointed. If Harry wasn't allowed to go, they wouldn't get to hear about it.

"Excellent,"... He's been sighted once already. "

"That won't change the fact he hasn't got permission," young Percy said matter-of-factly.

"Black's not fool enough... "Harry's supposed to stay in school -"

"Asking a teacher for permission isn't such a bad idea," Mrs Granger scolded her daughter. It was better than some of the other options they could try to get away with going.

"He can't be the only third year left behind,"... "Does he have to eat that in front of us?" said Ron, scowling.

Several people laughed at Ron's reaction.

"Clever Crookshanks... his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron.

"I'm sure Crookshanks wasn't staring at Ron!" Hermione huffed.

"Clearly he was, if the book says so," Ron pointed out.

"Just keep him over there, that's all,"... shoving the chart toward Harry.

"Ronald, that is cheating!" Mrs Weasley complained.

Sirius frowned. He hated to agree with her but... "Harry, you really shouldn't have."

"Yeah, I know. I was just so tired."

Hermione, who disapproved of copying... seizing his bag as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deep inside it

"Do you think he understood Ron?" George asked.

and began tearing ferociously... "Ron, don't hurt him!" squealed Hermione;

"Then do something, Hermione," Mrs Granger said. "Ron is trying to protect his pet. Crookshanks is your responsibility."

the whole common room was watching... Scabbers came flying out of the top -

If they didn't know that Scabbers was actually an animagus, they would all feel pretty bad for the poor rat.

"CATCH THAT CAT!"...  pulled Scabbers out by the tail.

Ron and Hermione glared at each other. This had been a particularly difficult year for their friendship.

"Look at him!"... You keep that cat away from him!"

"You shouldn't dangle him by his tail," Luna said a little waspishly.

"Crookshanks doesn't understand... "All cats chase rats, Ron!"

"But he is your responsibility, Hermione," Mr Granger said sternly. "If you can't trust Crookshanks around Scabbers, you need to keep them separate."

"There's something funny about that animal!"... "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think -"

"Hermione it doesn't matter how he knew," Mrs Granger said. "Ron is perfectly within his rights to want to keep his pet safe. You should sit down and talk about how you can work together to keep Scabbers safe from Crookshanks."

"That cat's got it in for Scabbers!"... out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

Sirius glared at the book. These were Harry's best friends?

Ron was still in a bad mood... Hermione were working together on the same Puffapod.

"Really, Ronald!" Mrs Weasley looked cross. "Surely your friendship with Hermione was more important than that."

"How's Scabbers?"... "He's hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking," said Ron angrily,

Harry frowned. He'd hated being stuck between his friends that year.

missing the pail... "It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox. "

Hermione blushed. She hadn't handled this one very well either. Her parents were going to be cross with her again.

"Oh,"... She was right, she was right!"

Professor Trelawney looked momentarily pleased before pasting on a sympathetic look.

The whole class was gathered... you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?"

Mrs Granger tutted.

"Well, not necessarily by a fox,"... "Was Binky an old rabbit?"

"Hermione! Why are you interrogating the poor girl?" Mrs Granger asked.

"N - no!" sobbed Lavender... Parvati glared at her.

Mrs Granger glared at her daughter too.

"Well, look at it logically," ... Lavender just got the news today -"

"Hermione, that really is unnecessary and surprisingly callus." Mrs Granger looked quite cross now.

Hermione frowned. "Yeah, I know."

Lavender wailed loudly... because it's come as a real shock -"

"HERMIONE!" Mrs Granger almost screeched as loudly as Mrs Weasley.

"Don't mind Hermione, Lavender,"... other people's pets matter very much. "

Harry sighed. Yeah, he hadn't enjoyed this year very much.

Professor McGonagall opened the classroom door... No form, no visiting the village, so don't forget!"

"Here's your chance, Harry," young Ron said eagerly.

Neville put up his hand... Well, that's all, you may leave. "

There was a round of laughter at that. "Your mother was just as forgetful," Sirius said with a smile.

"She was?" Neville asked.

Sirius nodded kindly. "It was quite endearing. I think its one of the things Frank liked most about her."

"Ask her now,"... forgot to sign my form," he said.

Several people laughed at that.

Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles... That's the rule. "

"It really isn't a fair rule of muggle raised kids," Hermione said. "Our guardians have no idea what the village is like."

"We're still your guardians, even if we don't know," Mr Granger said crossly.

"But - Professor, my aunt and uncle... or you'll be late for your next lesson. "

"I'm sorry, Harry," Minerva said softly. "I knew even then it wasn't fair but I couldn't change who your guardians were. It was out of my hands."

There was nothing to be done... Ron even angrier,

Hermione and Ron were back to glaring at one another. Harry really hoped that reading about this year wouldn't negatively affect their friendship.

and Harry had to endure... a day in Hogsmeade with everyone else.

"You're not wrong," Sirius said with a sigh.

Nothing anyone said made him feel any better... that was no good.

Minerva glared at Dean.

Ron halfheartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak... Dementors being able to see through them.

"That would have been very dangerous," Albus said.

Percy had what were possibly the least helpful words of comfort... you're not missing anything. "

"Not missing anything?" George asked with a grin. Sometimes his brother could be really silly.