Rosabella Black |Daughter of Sirius Black| (Book 6)

The Half-Blood Prince

Rosabella's Point of View:
Harry and Ron met Hermione and me in the common room before breakfast the next morning. Hoping for some support in his theory, Harry lost no time in telling Hermione what he had overheard Malfoy saying on the Hogwarts Express.
    "But he was obviously showing off for Parkinson, wasn't he?" Ron interjected quickly, before Hermione could say anything.
    "Well, I don't know. It would be like Malfoy to make himself seem more important than he is . . . but that's a big lie to tell . . . " Hermione said, uncertainly.
   "Exactly." Harry said, but he could nor press the point because so many people were trying to listen in to his conversation, not to mention staring at him and whispering behind their hands.
   "It's rude to point." Ron snapped at a particularly minuscule first - year boy as we joined the queue to climb out of the portrait hole.
The boy, who had been muttering something about Harry behind his hand to his friend, promptly turned scarlet and toppled out of the hole in alarm.
Ron sniggered.
   "I love being a sixth year. And we're going to be getting free time this year. Whole periods when we can just sit up here and relax." Ron said, happily.
I raised my eyebrow in disbelief.
   "Your deluded if you think that's happening. We're doing N.E.W.Ts now and it's not going to be a picnic." I said to Ron.
    "We're going to need that time for studying, Ron!" Hermione said, as we set off down the corridor.
Winter walked next to me.
    "Yeah, but not today. Today's going to be a real loss, I reckon." Ron said.
    "Hold it!" Hermione said, throwing out an arm and halting a passing fourth year, who was attempting to push past her with a lime - green disk clutched tightly in his hand.
    "Fanged Frisbees are banned, hand it over." Hermione told him sternly.
The scowling boy handed over the snarling Frisbee, ducked under her arm, and took off after his friends. Ron waited for him to vanish, then tugged the Frisbee from Hermione's grip.
    "Excellent, I've always wanted one of these." Ron said.
Hermione's remonstration was drowned by a loud giggle. Lavender Brown had apparently found Ron's remark highly amusing. She continued to laugh as she passed them, glancing back at Ron over her shoulder. Ron looked rather pleased with himself. I stared after Lavender, curious. I glanced at Hermione to see if she was thinking what I was, but Hermione stared after Lavender angrily. Hermione remained determinedly quite as we walked to the Great Hall. After descending the marble staircase case, Winter ran off towards the Forbidden Forest to get breakfast.
The ceiling of the Great Hall was serenely blue and streaked with frail, wispy clouds, just like the squares of sky visible through the high mullioned windows. While we tucked into porridge and eggs and bacon, Harry, Ron and I told Hermione about our embarassing conversation with Hagrid the previous evening.
   "But he can't really think we'd continue Care of Magical Creatures! I mean, when has any of us expressed . . . you know . . . any enthusiasm?" Hermione said, looking distressed.
    "That's it, though, innit?" Ron said, swallowing an entire fried egg whole.
I nodded.
    "We were the ones who made the most effort in classes because we like Hagrid. But now he thinks we liked the subject. D'ya reckon anyone's going to go on to N.E.W.T.?" I said, nervously.
No one answered. There was no need. We knew perfectly well that nobody in our year would want to continue Care of Magical Creatures. We avoided Hagrid's eye and returned his cheery wave only half - heartedly when he left the staff table ten minutes later.
After we had eaten, we remained in our places, awaiting Professor McGonagall's descent from the staff table. The distribution of class schedules was more complicated than usual this year, for Professor McGonagall needed first to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.s.

Hermione and I were immediately cleared to continue with Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions. Hermione shot off to our first period Ancient Runes class without further ado but I hung back. Neville took a little longer to sort out. His round face was anxious as Professor McGonagall looked down his application and then consulted his O.W.L. results.
   "Herbology, fine. Professor Sprout will be delighted to see you back with an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. And you qualify for Defense Against the Dark Arts with 'Exceeds Expectations.' But the problem is Transfiguration. I'm sorry, Longbottom, but an 'Acceptable' really isn't good enough to continue to N.E.W.T. level. I just don't think you'd be able to cope with the coursework." McGonagall said.
Neville hung his head. Professor McGonagall peered at him through her square spectacles.
    "Why do you want to continue with Transfiguration, anyway? I've never had the impression that you particularly enjoyed it." McGonagall questioned and Winter came running over to me, finishing hunting and eating her breakfast.
Neville looked miserable and muttered something about 'my grandmother wants.'
    "Hmph." Professor McGonagall snorted.
    "It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have - particularly after what happened at the Ministry." McGonagall said and Neville turned very pink and blinked confusedly. Professor McGonagall had never paid him a compliment before.
    "I'm sorry, Longbottom, but I cannot let you into my N.E.W.T. class. I see that you have an 'Exceeds Expectations' in Charms however - why not try for a N.E.W.T. in Charms?" Professor McGonagall asked.
    "My grandmother thinks Charms is a soft option." Neville mumbled.
    "Take Charms, and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless." Professor McGonagall said, smiling slightly at the look of delighted incredulity on Neville's face.
Professor McGonagall tapped a blank schedule with the tip of her wand and handed it, now carrying details of his new classes, to Neville.
Professor McGonagall turned next to Parvati Patil, whose first question was whether Firenze, the handsome centaur, was still teaching Divination.
    "He and Professor Trelawney are dividing classes between them this year." Professor McGonagall said, a hint of disapproval in her voice.
It was common knowledge that she despised the subject of Divination.
   "The sixth year is being taken by Professor Trelawney." McGonagall said.
Parvati set off for Divination five minutes later looking slightly crestfallen.
I saw Michael sitting not far from me with his friends. He was looking between Parvati and McGonagall. He had heard the whole thing. Michael and I caught each other's eyes and I nodded in Parvati's direction as she was leaving and rolled my eyes at him. Michael laughed slightly.
    "So, Potter, Potter . . ." Professor McGonagall said, consulting her notes as she turned to Harry.
    "Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration . . . all fine. I must say, I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased. Now, why haven't you applied to continue with Potions? I thought it was your ambition to become an Auror?" McGonagall said.
   "It was, but you told me I had to get an 'Outstanding' in my O.W.L., Professor." Harry said.
  "And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching the subject. Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with 'Exceeds Expectations' at O.W.L. Do you wish to proceed with Potions?"
    "Yes, but I didn't buy the books or any ingredients or anything -" Harry said and I beamed at the fact Harry now could continue with his ambition to be an Auror.
   "I'm sure Professor Slughorn will be able to lend you some. Very well, Potter, here is your schedule. Oh, by the way - twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I shall pass the list to you in due course and you can fix up trials at your leisure." Professor McGonagall said.
A few minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as Harry, and the three of us left the table together. Winter bounded along happily next to me.
    "Look, we've got a free period now and a free period after break . . . and after lunch . . . excellent." Ron said delightedly, gazing ar his schedule.
   "Oh, lucky you." I said, rolling my eyes.
I kissed Harry goodbye and I sprinted of to Ancient Runes with Winter easily keeping pace.
I got to class just in time and I settled down in the seat next to Hermione.
    "Spill." I immediately said to her.
    "I have no idea what you're talking about." Hermione said quickly in a defensive voice.
I gave her a 'I don't believe you for a second' look. Hermione looked back determinedly at me.
    "Hermione, I've known you since we were five. I've known you more then long enough to know when somethings wrong. I saw the way you glared at Lavender and it wasn't just because her giggling was a bit annoying. Her just being annoying wouldn't of made you that angry." I said, firmly.
Hermione bit her lip and then sighed.
    "Sometimes I hate the fact you know me so well." Hermione moaned.
I smiled at her.
    "Feelings mutual. I can barely hide anything from you, sometimes it seems you know me better then I know myself." I said and Hermione and I both smiled at each other.
    "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" I asked, softly.
Hermione hesitated.
    "I . . . I - I like Ron." Hermione confessed.
My eyes widened and I squealed. Professor Bathsheda Babbling told us to pay attention with a scolding look.
    "This is great!" I whispered, enthusiastically.
  "I don't know what to do. . ." Hermione whispered, uncertainly.
I smiled reassuringly at her.
    "Well . . . there are a few things you could try." I said and Hermione and I discussed some of best ways forward.