Harry’s Summer of Change

"I'm not usually one either," Harry told her introspectively. "But I got into a routine over the summer, and running in the morning really helps to wake you up. It probably doesn't hurt that I don't have nightmares any more keeping me awake half the night and that my visions of Voldemort are few and far between."

"You had nightmares? I mean besides the visions?" she asked, honest curiosity emblazoned across her face.

"Practically every night for a long time," Harry deadpanned. "This summer started out especially terrible. But after a little while I managed to come to terms with things. I made peace with Sirius, and I adopted a new outlook on life. I started studying Occlumency on my own this summer too, and let me tell you, Snape didn't teach me a thing. Imagine my surprise when I opened a book on the subject and found that there was so much more to it than "Clear your mind." Anyway, I think that helped as well. It forced me to go through and sort all of my memories. I'm still not completely okay with everything, but it's been enough to keep me going."

"Wow," she replied. "You really were busy this summer, weren't you?"

"You have no idea," he answered.

"Care to enlighten me?" she asked, perking up.

Harry smiled at her enthusiasm. "I can't tell you everything, at least not yet. But it would be nice to have someone I can talk to, and you're already onto some of my secrets," he added with a wink. He glanced over at the staircases and found Ron coming down. "We'll talk about that later though. There's your brother, but where is Hermione?"

"Oh she's probably already down in the Great Hall for breakfast making sure all the young'uns are eating a balanced meal to help them start the day."

Harry chuckled "You know, I wouldn't be at all surprised. Come on, let's grab Ron and head down," he said as he stood up and held out hand to help her up. She took it with a grateful smile, and they intercepted Ron who was halfway across the common room. "Come on Ron, let's get some breakfast."

Ron nodded and grumbled a bit but followed as Harry and Ginny walked out of the common room. When they arrived in the Great Hall, they found it half filled with students. Hermione, as expected, was already at the Gryffindor table, but she was not, at least at the moment, lecturing the First Years who were sitting at the end of the table closest to the exit.

"Morning 'Mione" Harry called as the trio approached the table.

Hermione looked up and smiled at her three friends. "Good morning Harry, Ron, Ginny. Grab some breakfast; you'll want to get a good meal in before classes start." Harry and Ginny shared a smile. "I wish Professor McGonagall would hand out the schedules already. I want to know what classes we're starting with today."

"Bloody hell, woman," Ron groused. "You're not supposed to be so cheerful about going to classes. It's unnatural."

"Watch your language, Ron," Hermione admonished. "You're a prefect; you should be setting a good example for all the younger students."

Ron rolled his eyes, "Well at least there's one thing I can be cheerful about: no more potions with Snape… ever again." Ron smiled as he loaded up his plate.

"Professor Snape, Ron," Hermione corrected automatically.

"Cheers to you, mate," Harry replied glumly as he dumped some eggs onto his plate. "I wish I was that lucky."

"You had your chance," Ron reminded him in between bites, "but no, you just had to go and get an Outstanding on the OWL. I still don't know how you managed it. You're as bad at potions as I am."

"Well the subject is a whole lot easier without Snape breathing down your neck and Slytherins sabotaging half your potions," Harry retorted.

"Well Professor Snape can't berate your potions abilities this year," Hermione chimed in optimistically. "You got an O on your OWL fair and square. He'll have to admit that you know what you're doing."

Harry put his fork down and looked incredulously at his friend. "Hermione," Harry began as though he were talking to a small child, "what planet have you been on for the past five years? Do you think he cares how well I did or didn't do on my exam? The man hates me. He's hated me since before he even met me. Nothing will make him act civil with me. I guarantee you; this year will be no different than any others."

Hermione made to interrupt when Ron piped up, mouth full of food "Don' no' wh' 'oo e'en trie'n ma'e. 'S'no' wor't 'n my book."

Hermione's attention shifted to Ron as she set down her fork and pushed her plate away in disgust. "That's disgusting. I do wish you'd learn some manners, Ronald Weasley."

Ron took a drink from his goblet and retorted, "And I wish you'd stop bossing me around so much. You act like you're my mother or something."

"Well someone's got to keep you in line when she's not around," Hermione huffed haughtily. Their argument was interrupted by Professor McGonagall as she handed out class schedules to all the students. Hermione's attention was diverted to the slip of paper in her hands. She could be seen muttering to herself, trying to memorize her new schedule as quickly as possible.

Harry looked down at his own schedule and commented, "Well it's McGonagall to start with double Transfiguration. I've got a break before lunch, then Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid afterwards. I tried to get him to tell me what we'd be studying this morning, but he wouldn't give anything away."

"You went to see Hagrid this morning?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I stopped by after my jog because I saw the light on in his hut," Harry responded.

"You went for a jog this morning?" Ron asked looking at him incredulously.

"Yeah, I jog every morning, started over the summer."

"Well how are we supposed to know these things when you don't tell us anything any more?" Ron asked with a scathing undertone.

"Well I've got Transfiguration this morning," Hermione interrupted, "then History right before lunch. I've got a break after that and…"

"You're not taking Hagrid's class?" Harry cut in disbelievingly.

Hermione at least had the decency to look sheepish. "Well, I don't really need it for any of the career paths I'm considering."

"But Hagrid's your friend," Harry blurted out. "I don't need his class for anything, but I took it because he's my friend, and I want to help him."

"Well of course he's my friend too," Hermione soothed, "but my schedule was already full enough without adding a class where I won't learn anything useful."

Harry glared at his bushy haired friend when Ron spoke up, "I've got Hagrid with you, mate."

Harry smiled at Ron, but he was still upset that Hermione would just leave Hagrid behind like that just because his class didn't fit into her career path. He didn't have time to dwell on the topic, though, because they only had fifteen minutes to run upstairs to grab their books before the bell rung. As they were walking back to the 7th floor, Harry turned to Ginny. "So what do you have first, Gin?"

She made a face at him and said, "Double potions."

"Ouch," Harry replied with a grimace. "Well at least you'll be getting it out of the way first thing. You won't have to worry about a double dose of Snape for the rest of the week."

"I didn't think of it like that," Ginny smiled. "Your new glass is half full attitude is a remarkable improvement over the doom and gloom one you were sporting last year."

"Umm… thanks?" Harry replied uncertainly.

....

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