Lost Memories

xlvi. switched professors

Before breakfast the next morning, Harry and Ron met Hermione and me, hoping for some moral support on their theory about Draco. Harry told Hermione and me what he'd overheard Draco say on the Hogwarts Express.

"But he was obviously showing off for Parkinson, wasn't he?" interjected Ron quickly, before Hermione could say anything.

"Well," she said uncertainly, "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—"

"You guys were right," I muttered sadly.

None of them were able to answer as people were trying to listen into our conversation, not to mention staring at Harry and whispering behind their hands.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners?" I snapped, yelling at no one in particular. People around us scurried off to their own corners or out the portrait hole.

"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 chuckled.

"We're going to need that time for studying, Ron!" said Hermione, as they set off down the corridor.

"Yeah, but not today," said Ron. "Today's going to be a real doss, I reckon."

"Come on," I mumbled.

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 oatmeal and eggs and bacon, Harry and Ron told Hermione and me about their embarrassing conversation with Hagrid the previous evening about us not taking Cares this term.

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 our chosen N.E.W.T.s.

Hermione was immediately cleared to continue with Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, and shot off to a first period Ancient Runes class without further ado.

I was cleared to continue Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, but had to verify my other classes. Professor McGonagall allowed me to continue taking Charms and Transfiguration because my written exam was perfect and I showed "great promise" in the practicals. Like Hermione, I went off to Ancient Runes.

An hour later, I waited with Hermione for Harry and Ron outside of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. When they arrived, Hermione complained about a load of homework and readings we had to do by Wednesday. Ron didn't even pretend to care, earning a glare from Hermione.

The classroom door opened as she spoke, and Snape stepped into the corridor, his sallow face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair. Silence fell over the queue immediately.

"Inside," he said.

I looked around as we entered. Snape had imposed his personality upon the room already; it was gloomier than usual, as curtains had been drawn over the windows, and was lit by candlelight.

"I have not asked you to take out your books," said Snape, closing the door and moving to face the class from behind his desk; Hermione hastily dropped her copy of Confronting the Faceless back into her bag and stowed it under her chair. "I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention."

His black eyes roved over their upturned faces, lingering for a fraction of a second longer on mine than anyone else's– even Harry's.

"I'd like to start off the class by addressing something I have heard being floated around the castle," Snape began.