HP8 (On Hold)

Day's that are Special

January flashed by, lessons had stepped up a level, they were now even more complicated and they were being given more homework than ever before, as well as giving coaching sessions to Billy, Harry found he had little time for anything else.  But unlike previous years he found he was coping a lot better, partly this was due to the number of free periods that they had, this enabled Harry to clear large amounts of homework during the day rather than having to rush through everything each evening. 

February arrived with wet and cold weather, Professor Sprout amazed them all by telling them that they had completed everything already in the curriculum, so she had spoken to Professor McGonagall and there NEWT exam would take place on February 22nd. 

Professor Hobbs had also indicated that they were getting through the DADA subject so quick it was likely that they might have an early exam time for that subject too. 

It was strange yet the lesson Harry looked forward to now more than any other was potions, previously a lesson Harry had dreaded when taken by Snape, he now revelled in the challenge of brewing ever more difficult potions.  The class had now moved on to potions which took time to brew, sometimes a few days, others like polyjuice needing a full moon cycle, Professor Slughorn was still very complimentary about Harry’s ability in Potions, he was now on a par with Hermione in being able to produce the potions to the correct colour and consistency, but he still wished for Snape’s ex text book as he felt sure there would have been tips in making the potions easier to brew. 

Professor Slughorn was still throwing his little and sometimes large parties, Harry was consistently invited, as was Ginny and Hermione, but all three managed to avoid attending most of the time, if they did get manoeuvred into attending, at least they were able to attend together, which made them more bearable. 

Hermione was a lot easier to get on with recently, this was partly due to lessons, because of their complexity and increased volumes there was little time left for brooding, she was also now getting regular letters from Ron, which seemed to have cheered her up, Harry had received a couple as well, both told Harry that Ron was loving working with George, they were coming up with whole new lines of products, that he didn’t miss Hogwarts at all, though he was missing Hermione.  At the end of the second letter he mentioned that he had a surprise planned for sometime in February, but he didn’t give any clue as to what it could be. 

The first Saturday in February was the sixth, Harry had a Quidditch training session planned with Billy, but he had made sure that it was early on as it was Hermione’s birthday, he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible as he reckoned she might be feeling a little upset that she wouldn’t be able to share the day with Ron.  It was also a special Birthday for Hermione, unlike witches who come of age at seventeen, Muggles Girls come of age at eighteen, and as her parents were Muggles Hermione had been brought up expecting to be classed as an adult on her eighteenth birthday. 

Harry got up very early, he met Billy and Ginny in the main hall, both were yawning and looked like they wished they hadn’t agreed to get up so early.  It was still dark and there was a light mist as the made their way down to the Quidditch pitch to practice, to make the practice fairer on Billy, Harry was using Ginny’s old broom, they discussed what they would practice as they waited for it to get light enough.  As the sun came up they took off, Ginny sitting high over the pitch, she then sped off down the pitch and would drop a golf ball, it was up to Billy to try and beat Harry to each ball, even on the lesser broom, Harry was still getting the majority of the catches, after half an hour they all landed to discuss tactics. 

“Your flying isn’t a problem Billy.”  Harry stated, “Your fast enough and your catching ability is fine, it’s your match flying that we need to work on.”