chap7pg1

After the feast, Harry and Ron walked up towards the Gryffindor common room. Hermione, being a prefect, had to show the 1st years where the room was. They could hear her trying to usher the dazed new students, and she even had to pull one out of a trick stair when the little boy had stepped on it.
�I wonder if she�s having fun,� said Ron, smirking. They watched her struggle to pull the child out of the hole, while the crowd of first years grew quite panicky.
�D�you think we should help her?� Harry asked. He couldn�t help but feel sorry for Hermione. After finally yanking the boy out of the opening, there was a cheer among the first years. She rolled her eyes, then continued to direct them up the stairs.
�I think she can handle it,� Ron chuckled. They both watched her for a minute. �Harry,� started Ron, �Did you notice that Hermione looks a little� well, different this year? She looks� more�� he stuttered.
�Pretty?� blurted Harry. He suddenly turned red, and Ron laughed.
�Yeah, I guess you could say that!� Ron giggled.
Harry blushed again, and his face felt a little hot. He had noticed before that Hermione had looked much more like a girl this year. Her figure had improved, and her hair looked less bushy. In fact, it looked nicely curled and crimped, and much less frizzy than before. Harry wondered if maybe she had used some magic to get her hair like that.
�Come on, Harry, let�s go!� said Ron, tugging on Harry�s arm.
�Oh,� stammered Harry, �Right.� The two boys climbed the staircase to the picture of the fat lady.
�Password?� she questioned.
�Caput draconis,� said Ron. The portrait swung open, and they climbed in. They walked upstairs. They found their beds, and after changing into their pajamas, they climbed into their beds.
�Well,� said Harry, �G�night Ron.� He pulled his covers on top of him and laid his head on the pillow.
�Oh, I�m not going to bed yet,� Ron responded, �I still have to finish that report on Mandrake raising that Professor Sprout gave us.� He sighed, obviously regretting having waited to the last minute.
Harry yawned and closed his eyes, wrapping himself tightly in the warm blankets.
�Oh, and by the way, Harry�� said Ron.
�Yeah?� asked Harry.
�I promise that I wont tell anyone what you said about Hermione,� he said, stifling a giggle. Harry rolled over in his bed.
�Shut up, Ron,� he said, but he too had to suppress a laugh.

The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione started their lessons. �What�s on the schedule today?� asked Ron
�Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning with Hufflepuff,� answered Hermione, �And Potions with Ravenclaw after lunch.� The boys groaned.
�I guess this means Snape�s back,� complained Harry. �I guess we�ll have a chance to see how Professor Figg is at teaching.� The three made their way to the classroom, where Mrs. Figg was standing at her desk, smiling.
�Ah, Harry!� she exclaimed. Harry forced a smile, and took his seat next to Ron. �Alright class,� she began, �I know that you�ve had many experiences with both good and, well, not so good Defense Against the Dark Arts professors these past few years. I hope that you will find my lessons interesting, and I promise you that I will try my best to make this year enjoyable for you.� She smiled at her students. �Now, if you would all please take out your quills, I am going to pass out an assessment, evaluating how far every individual student has gone in this subject, so I can better plan my lessons.�
The students groaned miserably.
�Now, now,� she said, �This is not worth any points, except I will give 10 points to the person that gets the best score, and I will give 15 points to their house.� The students of Hufflepuff all glared at Hermione, and she shrunk in her seat. After passing out all of the papers, the students began the test.
Harry stared at his paper. The first question said, �What is the best way to defeat a Kappa, the Japanese water demon?� Harry scratched his head. He remembered Snape teaching them about Kappas, but he forgot how to defeat them. He glanced over at Hermione�s paper. She had written, �The best way to defeat a Kappa is to trick it into bowing. When the Kappa bows, all of the water is drained from its head, depriving it of its strength.� Harry copied the answer in his own words.
He looked up at Mrs. Figg. She was staring right at him. Uh oh, thought Harry, I hope she didn�t see me. The last thing Harry wanted was for Mrs. Figg to think he was a cheater. After the class finished the test, they handed in the papers.
�Alright class, that�s it for today. I will evaluate your quizzes today, and give you the results tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.� The students stood up quickly and hustled out of the classroom, and headed for lunch.
�Well,� said Hermione, �Aside from that question about the Lethifold, I found that rather easy.� Ron rolled his eyes.
�Hermione,� he said, �You find every test to be easy.� Hermione frowned at him for a moment, then looked away. �Personally,� said Ron, �I hardly remembered anything about that subject from last year. All that the imposter Moody taught us was about �Constant vigilance� and the Unforgivable Curses.� He sighed. �At least it wasn�t worth points.�