Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch

"And you remember when you fell off your broom in the third year?" Ron asked. Hermione started to protest.
"Oh, Ron, don't - "
Ron brushed her off impatiently. "She was so worried, she was crying her eyes out over worry on you."
Hermione looked earthwards this time, glancing nervously at Harry to gauge his reaction.
Harry just smiled at her.
"Quotable quotes." Ron told the Fat Lady, who swung open to admit the large crowd of Gryffindors.
" 'Night." yawned Ron, and went up to the boy's dormitories.
" 'Night." said Hermione. She seemed to want to hug Harry, thought better of it, and left.
*
Harry woke up later than usual the next morning; only Ron was still in bed. Harry shook him awake, they both got dressed quickly and went downstairs.
Hermione was waiting for them, holding toast in one hand.
"What's up?" Ron asked, yawning widely.
"The usual rubbish," she said. "Right now, I'm currently waiting for the Daily Prophet to arrive - "
As if waiting her cue, post owls flew in, hooting. A large tawny owl dropped a large newspaper on Hermione's bacon.
She opened it up, biting her toast as she did so.
Hermione looked at the first page, spat in suprise, and began coughing up bread crumbs.
"What?" Harry asked in alarm.

carry on!

Ron deftly snatched the newspaper out of Hermione's failing grip. Harry pounded her on the back to stop her choking on her own food.
"What?" Ron exclaimed.
"What?" Harry asked. Ron showed him the headline.

FUDGE RESIGNS AS MINISTER FOR MAGIC

"What? Let me see that!" Harry said loudly, but Ron withheld the newspaper, still reading.
"He's given it up to Madam Bones!" Ron said.
"Well, that isn't so bad, is it?" Harry said slowly.
"I know, but still..." Ron muttered.
"Ron's right," Hermione said, having cleared her throat quite thoroughly. "I wouldn't have expected this of Fudge. I thought he loved power, didn't he?"
"These aren't normal times anymore," Harry sighed. "Fudge didn't know really what the terror was like. I'm willing to bet anything that Fudge would have given the job to Mr. Crouch if he were still alive."
"What do you reckon Dumbledore's going to do?" Ron asked Hermione.
She shrugged helplessly.

The students seemed to be quoting the article everywhere in the halls that day. McGonagall was quite annoyed with them when even Hermione, who was top in the class, failed to conjure a simple turkey sandwich.
"Really, I don't know what has gotten into this class! I agree that the news of the Minister of Magic is very shocking, but I fail to see how it can interfere with your studies!"
She rounded off the lesson by assigning them an essay on the mental exercises on how to conjure food and why they are important, to be handed back in two days time.
Charms was rather more tolerable, since the excited chatter had died down somewhat. Since they finished early on the water-based charms unit, Flitwick allowed them to stand around and talk.
"Do you think Madam Bones can handle it?" Ron wondered.
"She's certainly tough enough," Harry said."I would know, she was at my hearing, remember?"

BRILLIANT!!!!

AUTHOR'S REPLY-Thank you!

Gryffindor's common room was either depressed or excited when Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived there after supper. In between did not exist.
Harry found the Transfiguration essay quite easy, to his great suprise. He supposed that mainly it was due to the mental exersizes that he had been doing with Professor Dumbledore, as they were similar to transfiguration.
Professor Dumbledore continued to give Harry kindly advice, which Harry found an outstanding improvement to Snape's usual sneers and greasy remarks.
The last lesson had been draining Harry, but his headmaster told him to go and stroke Fawkes. As soon as Harry touched the phoenix's feathers, he felt a warming strength flow through him, as if he had swallowed an entire flagon of Butterbeer in a single draught.
He had learned how to nearly block legilimency, by thinking of such barriers as brick walls or vault doors. Dumbledore had approved wholeheartedly, but warned Harry that if he attempted that while Lord Voldemort was trying to possess him, he would know that Harry was trying to stop it, and try even harder to possess.
"What am I supposed to do, let him possess me?" Harry asked grumpily.
"No," Dumbledore replied softly. "But you must concentrate on something that will not let him know that you are trying to stop him."
"Like what?"
"Summon from your mind an innocent memory, that will make Voldemort waste time examining it, and possibly buy some time to ensure a more proper defense."
Harry understood.

After assisting Ron to finish his essay, with the help of Hermione, they went down to see Hagrid. The weather was warmer than usual today, and all three of them enjoyed the friendly elements.
"Finally!" They heard Hagrid exclaim, after they knocked. "Thought you lot migh' have forgotten that I work here!"
Harry grinned as Hagrid opened the large door of his cabin, holding back Fang the boarhound as he did so. The friendly half-giant beamed at them. "Well, come on in."
"So, how are you, Hagrid?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Fine, fine...." Hagrid started making tea.

BRILLIANT AGAIN!!!!(XD having fun rateing both stories)

I'm sure you are 🙂
I'm brainstorming currently, so won't post til monday morning MT.

ok

Ron yawned. "How's Grawp?"
"Oh, he's fine." Hagrid said indifferently. "I've found him some friends."
Behind him, Harry could hear Hermione whimper. Ron apparently also felt worried.
"Er, Hagrid - what do you exactly mean by 'friends'?"
Hagrid set the kettle on the stove. "Two giants came back. I'll show yeh them after tea."
Ron made a sound like the air being let out of a tire. Harry quickly said, "Hagrid, please tell me you're pulling our legs."
Hagrid looked politely puzzled. "Wha'? No, I'm tellin' yer the truth. And don't look afraid," he added to Hermione, chuckling. "They won't hurt yeh as long as I'm with yeh."
"Are you so sure?" Hermione said, very anxiously.
"Course I'm sure!" Hagrid said indignantly. "I even trained him up, civilized him a bit - "
"How much so?" Harry asked, frowning.
Hagrid grinned very secretively. "Yeh'll soon see."

**

Harry honestly did not know which would be worse, waiting until after tea to visit the forest, or going straightaway. Both Ron and Hermione insisted on having a reassuring cup of tea before they went, so Hagrid decided to stay.
"Course, they ain't fully fluent in English yet..."
"Of course not." Ron said sardonically.
"How many others are there, Hagrid?"
"Jus' two." he sighed.
"Just two others?" Hermione scoffed. "Hagrid, you realise what three giants in the forest can do?"
"Don' worry!" he waved it off. "They're definitely more docile. They ain't violent or anythin'."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nervous glances nevertheless.

**

Hagrid took them into the forest without the help of Fang or his revered large crossbow. Ron didn't take this so well, and contented himself by hiding behind Hagrid's massive frame.
"Do you know their names, Hagrid?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice.
"Course I do." Hagrid grunted. "The second tallest is Torgus, and the biggest is Rawth. And the smallest is Grawp, of course."
"How much taller than Grawp are they?" Harry asked.
"Erm..." Hagrid thought. "I reckon Rawth's 'bout a yard or two taller than Grawp."
Ron looked at Hermione and Harry, silently interrogating. Hermione nodded, indicating that Rawth and Torgus were indeed huge.
"I'll just give 'em a call..."
"No!" Harry, Hermione, and Ron said together. Hagrid looked at them impatiently.
"Oh, get a grip, yeh three...they're nice and all. Rawth and Grawpy are actually pretty good at English, you know."
They were of course not at all consoled by this news.
Before they could stop Hagrid, he tilted back his head and bellowed at the top of his voice(making all three of them jump), "GRAWPY! TORGUS! RAWTH! IT'S ME! I'VE GOT SOME FRIENDS I WANT YOU TO MEET!"
By the time the echoes died down, Harry was nursing his ears. Ron and Hermione were still tightly clutching their ears and shutting their eyes, apparently oblivious to the fact that Hagrid had stopped shouting. However, the thudding of tonne-heavy footfalls brought them to their senses.
Grawp emerged from the trees into the clearing they were standing in.
He was wearing armour; a large battle helmet with shoulder pads, and chest, groin, and shin protectors. He was loosely holding a gigantic broadsword roughly four times the height of Professor McGonagall.

Ron's knees gave way. Harry turned to Hagrid.
"Where in blazes did you get him armour and weapons?"
"Oh, that." Hagrid said nonchalantly. "Dumbledore seemed to think it was best, gave the others armour and weapons too."
"Dumbledore knows?"
"Of course he does!"
Harry was prevented from berating Hagrid further by the entrance of Torgus and Rawth.

Hagrid had not fibbed; they were simply enormous, but muscular. They were armoured in similar fashion to Grawp, but carrying different combat untensils; Torgus a tower shield and short ax, Rawth a titanic warhammer, which he hefted with relative ease. The latter spoke up first.
"Who they?" he nodded at Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"These are friends of mine, Rawth!" Hagrid called. "I've brought them here to meet you and Torgus!"
Grawp crouched down, and spoke.
"Hermy," he rumbled. "Are you well?"
"I'm - I'm....I'm fine, thanks." stammered Hermione.
Grawp nodded at her, and stood again. "Who he?" He pointed at Ron.
"Another friend." Ron said, more bravely than Hermione.
"His name's Ron!" Hagrid said loudly.
Grawp was trying to pronouce Ron's name. "Ron. Roooooooonnn......" After a while, he told Hagrid abruptly, "Short. Good."
"I'm not short!" Ron said. "I'm taller than either Harry or Hermione - "
"No, he means your name." Hagrid laughed, patting Grawp's ankle affectionately.
"You know how fight?" Torgus asked.
Hagrid snorted. "Not the way you've been taught, you three. He knows magic."
"Magic?" Rawth asked interestedly, his huge voice forcing several birds to abandom their nests, chicks, and all. "Show us." He grunted.
Harry looked to Hagrid for guidance, who shrugged. Grawp, Rawth, and Torgus were watching Harry closely.

Harry sighed resignedly, took out his wand, and aimed at a large juniper sapling.
"[i]Selphius![i/]"
A large, sparking, magic arrow erupted from Harry's wand-tip, and neatly chopped the sapling down. This was one of their most recently mastered spells in Dumbledore's Army.

The giants grunted in approval. Rawth growled softly, "He shows making of warrior spirit, this one."
Harry, to his suprise, felt blessed and pleased at Rawth's unexpected compliment.
"Thank you. Er...good luck with your training."
Rawth and Torgus nodded. Grawp turned to Hermione again. "May your axe arm be strong." he told her in his huge voice.
Hermione smiled shakily, and Ron gazed at her in amazement.
"How come Hagrid's 'little' brother is nice to you?" he asked ten minutes later, as they were walking up the steps to Hogwarts castle. It was early evening, and a light breeze played about them as they strode inside the entrance hall.
"Oh, I dunno." Hermione said lightly. "I suppose it's because I was the one who met him first."
"Lucky you." Ron grunted.
"Yes, lucky me." Hermione grinned at Harry cheerfully.
Harry could not help but laugh. "Last year, you were terrified of him, Hermione. Now, look at you!"
"So, he was much more impolite last year, tried to scoop me up in his hand, remember?"
"Oh, yeah."

wonderfull!!! How did u think of having mkore giants? It's perfect!!!

I was watching Lord of the Rings, that's how i got the idea.

Ron shook his head. "He tried to grab you?"
"Yes."
"Well, maybe he thought you were food."
Hermione shot an annoyed look at him. "Anyways...when's the next Quidditch game?"
"Oh, McGonagall's posted in the Gryffindor bulletin board, it's going to be on Sunday," Ron said happily. "And Saturday we get to visit Hogsmeade...it's going to be a great weekend."
Harry smiled. "Yeah, it is. When's our practise?"
"Tomorrow evening."

The sixth years were actually being let off from homework slightly, even more so from the heads of houses for Gryffindor and Slytherin, McGonagall and Snape. Of course, this was due to the largely intense rivalry between the two houses, and Minerva McGonagall's or Snape's fierce desire to win.
Snape was obviously even more horrible than usual, but even Harry was suprised to see Hermione stamp down to them at lunchtime the next day, throw down her bag angrily, and sit fuming miserably until Harry sat down next to her, and threw an arm around her shoulder sympathetically.
"What's wrong?"
"Malfoy 'accidentally' knocked my Skin-Strengthening Solution. And, well...you know Snape..." He voice trailed off depressedly.
"Oh, cheer up," Harry told her, patting her back. "It's only one mark. You'll just have to be more careful around Malfoy from now on, OK?"
"And he if does that again," Ron said acidly. "I'll see to Malfoy for you."
Hermione smiled.
"Well, I'd better eat quickly and be off." She said brightly. "I want to seee Professor Flitwick about that Shape-Shift Charms essay before we start..."
"Malfoy's getting worse." Ron said in a low voice to Harry.
"Still, we're better than him in a duel."
"Yeah." Ron smiled, very evilly. "One silver arrow spell and - (Here Ron made a violent movement in front of his neck) - Crack! Problem solved."

Even Harry grimaced.
"Well, we'd better get a move on. Come on....Charms."

**

Ron, with the help of Professor McGonagall, had managed to book the Quidditch pitch Friday evening for two hours. He, Harry, and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team felt that this was the perfect way to cap off the week.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione proceeded to carry the balls and equipment down the pitch early, as Hermione had helped them with homework yet again, and the pile upstairs was quickly dwindling. Harry's cheerfulness broke like a dropped bottle however, as all-too familiar figures called down to them from the low stands.
"Potty! Weasel! I don't really find that it makes sense for you to practise, it's no use anyways. You are all pathetic."
"Hey, Potter! I'll be sure to have someone hold a trampoline underneath you, Crabbe's vowed to knock a Bludger at your head."
"Granger! Did you book your bed in the hospital wing yet? Because Potter and Weasley's going to be filling up the wards!"
The hairs rose on the back of Harry's neck, and his temper threatened to surface. Ron narrowed his eyes at Malfoy, but Hermione took the last comment lightly.
"No I haven't, actually," she said, smirking at Pansy Parkinson, who had made the last comment. "I did Malfoy a favour, and booked his. His ego's been growing lately, and I wouldn't be suprised if one of these days his fat head's going to be the fall of him. And Malfoy, your bed's the second one on the left."
Ron and Harry laughed loudly.
The rest of the Gryffindor team arrived on the spot. Ginny seemed to understand the scene immediately, dropped her broom, and pulled out her wand. Malfoy eyed it contemptuously.
"Ah, don't make me jinx you, Weasel's snotty little sister."
In a rage, Ron pulled out his own wand. Ginny signalled him to lower his.
She gave Malfoy an ice-cold, dangerous smile.
"Would you like to try then?"
The color drained from Malfoy's face, and Harry could see it even in the early evening light. It gave the rest of the Gryffindor team deep satisfaction, particularly Ron, Hermione, and Harry. They knew why Malfoy was unwilling to duel with Ginny.
Last year, Ginny had put a Bat-Bogey Hex on Malfoy. The results were quite disturbing, as it consisted of Malfoy's own snot flapping out of his nose and slapping him all over the face.
Malfoy glared murderously at Ginny, and departe, along with the rest of the Slytherins.

Great!!! That was one of my favorite parts of the fifth book...Ginny putting the bat-bogey curse on Malfloy that is...

Dean smiled at Ginny affectionately. Ron was watching closely.
"Come on, then." he growled.
Harry's eyes were keen even in evening light. After Ron had released the Snitch, a Bludger, and the Quaffle, Harry found the tiny golden ball whizzing around near the ground on the left stands. After he had caught it twice more, Ron allowed Harry to join the Chasers, acting as last Chaser back, with Ron in goal.
Hermione, Ginny, and Parvati had obviously had some time to devise plans in their dormitory, as Harry was very hard pressed to prevent Hermione, who was the fastest, from taking a fast break at Ron and scoring on him.
After the fifth goal in a row, an increasingly frustrated Ron told Harry to switch with Ginny. Things became much smoother after that with Ginny on defense, and Ron became more confident.
Seamus and Dean, both on Cleansweep Tens, were having no trouble with the single Bludger that Ron had let loose. They were relaxed, almost idle.

When night fell, they trooped back to the Gryffindor dressing room, most of them exhilirated. Even Ron seemed very pleased with himself as they draped their school robes back on their shoulders, took their shin and arm guards off, and walked out with their brooms on their shoulders, chatting to each other.
"Well, that was pretty good, wasn't it?" Ron said to Harry and Hermione, towseling his red hair unneccessarily.
A voice hailed them from the warm, inviting doors. "Ronald! There you are! I've brought you some food from the kitchen, thought you might be hungry after practise. How was it, by the way?"
Luna stepped out of the doorway, smiled at Ron, and waved at Harry, Hermione, and the rest of the team. Dean and Seamus clapped Ron so hard on the back that he lost his breath for a moment. Luna was carrying a small bowl of leftover chicken legs, which she handed to Ron, a very amused look on her face.
"Thanks." Ron told her, very gratefully. "And practise was great."
He ate refreshingly as they progressed through the castle. Luna asked him,"So where do you want to go in Hogsmeade tomorrow, Ronald?"
"I dunno, really," Ron said, considering. "And please, less of the Ronald. Only my mother calls me that."
Luna smiled wider. "All right then...Ron."
"Much better." Ron said.
They bid Luna good night at the fourth floor. As soon as she was out of earshot, Dean and Seamus rounded on Ron.
"Marry her." they told Ron simutaneously. Everyone chuckled. Ron flushed.
Ginny engaged Dean in conversation, Parvati with Seamus, and Ron pulled ahead. Hermione elbowed Harry in the ribs.
"So where do you want to go together tomorrow?"
"Well..." Harry suddenly remember that he inadverdantly asked Hermione out some time before.
She seemed to read his mind, and sighed with frustration.
"Honestly, Harry, don't tell me you've forgotten about the - "
"Yeah, I know, Hermione." Harry said heavily.
"You know, girls find it insulting when you forget your date."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be taking it better than others, at least."
"Because I've been around boys too much."
"True, true." Harry yawned. "Well, night."
" 'Night."
Harry and the rest of the males on the team trooped up to their dormitory, where they fell asleep without a word.

The next morning dawned bright and cheery for Harry, and lightened his mood a tad. Which was a good thing, really, he wanted a positive attitude so that Hermione would be pleased with him.
Ron, Dean, and Seamus were also quite conscious of their mood and particularly their physical appearance. Harry had figured that Dean was anxious because of Ginny. When he asked Seamus why he was also nervous, Seamus said, "I'm going out with Parvati."
"Oh."
"Harry, you've gone out with her, haven't you?" Seamus asked. "What's she like?"
Harry started to grow impatient. "I wouldn't count us at the Yule Ball a date. Besides, it wasn't great."
"Well, what do you know about her?"
"Well...she's nice. She likes dancing, apparently."
"That's all."
Harry was suprised by Seamus's overreaction. "What do you want from me, a poem? A love song? Sorry, no can do."
Seamus was grumpy for the next hour.
Harry went down to breakfast, and ate without thinking. After he was contented and happy like a maggot on a dead animal, Hermione sat down beside him.
"Are you finished?" she asked.
Harry grunted. Hermione took that as a yes.
"OK then, I was thinking that we'd go a tad early, have a bit of time off to ourselves - "
"What?" Harry asked alarmedly.
"Oh, get a grip, Harry." Hermione snarled.
Two minutes later they were walking outside, Hermione's hair(shiny, tied in a ponytail) flowing in the light breeze.
"Nice hair." Harry told her.
"Thank you very much," she said. "I used Sleekeazy's and ironed it with my wand."
"You know," Harry said thoughtfully. "I dunno why you go through all this trouble to look good. I like you just the way you are, you know. Lots of people do."
She took his hand. "Spoken like a true gentleman."
"I am not a gentleman." Harry insisted.
"Excuse me," Hermione said irritably. "You are a gentleman if I say you are. And I say you are."
"OK, then." Harry had a very strange feeling in his insides, as if half of them melted, and the other half were floating. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that she was still squeezing his hand as if it were a lifeline.

Harry happened to glance behind him and saw Dean and Ginny running at them. Glad for the company, he stopped to let the pair catch up.
"How're you two?" he asked them.
"Good."
"Good."
"Hey, Harry..." Dean leaned close to Harry's ear confidentially. "Marry her. Ooh, invite us to the wedding."
Harry gave Dean an elbow drop across the shoulder.
"Will you stop saying that?" he asked impatiently. "It's annoying enough with people betting on us."
Harry said the word 'betting' with all the contempt that it deserved. In his opinion, anyways. He looked to Hermione for assurance, but Hermione seemed greatly amused or discomforted, he couldn't tell.
"What?" he asked suspiciously.
"Try not to fly off the handle, all right, Harry? But I've made a bit of money - "
"You WHAT?" Harry said, dropping her hand.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Hermione said quickly, matching his glare. "But seeing as we're the so-called 'victims', we might as well make some profit out of it."
This did very little to ease Harry's grouchiness.
They strode the rest of the way toward the gate of Hogsmeade in relative misery.
After five minutes that seemed like an eternity, they apologized to each other; Harry for his slight overreaction, Hermione for her brashness.

lol, having Hermione be part of the betting was a great idea, it fits in nicely