At lunch Harry heard about as much as he could handle of Hermione's chiding about not making it to potions that morning. He should have remembered that. Their first potions class without Snape and he'd ditched.

Hermione then informed him that she had no intention of telling him what the homework was since he'd skipped. Of course, then Ron said that wasn't a problem since he'd tell Harry instead. She sat glaring at the grinning Ron for a while before Ginny sat down and asked if they were having a lovers' quarrel. Hermione' huffed and turned away while Ron's face flooded with color. Ginny winked at Harry who found himself grinning back before she began to eat.

After Hermione had calmed down a little Harry explained about bumping into the Ravenclaw girl but he left out the fact that she was related to Snape. It wasn't her fault, after all, and it's not like she enjoyed it.

"They made her late for class? That's horrible. Why would they do that?" Hermione asked, her narrowed eyes scanning the Ravenclaw table as though she'd catch the culprits. Somehow, in that moment, her prefect badge seemed to catch the light more and shine in her desire to right all wrongs. Harry grinned again.

He looked over at the Ravenclaw table as well and saw the back of the girl's head. She was gesticulating wilding with her hands and the people sitting around her, none of which were in first year, were listening intently and sending warning glares down the table at the offenders. She gestured over her shoulder and Harry then noticed that all those listening turned to stare straight at him. Suddenly he found himself noticing the oddest things about his fork. When he looked back up the girl was no longer moving, and obviously no longer talking since those that had been listening were now talking over each other. He thought he saw one of them say his name so he quickly turned back to his food wondering what they were telling her about him.

Hermione had finally stopped combing the Ravenclaw table with her eyes and was now lecturing Ron who seemed to be finding it hard to get a word in edgewise. Harry had just finished eating when he saw Professor McGonagall making her way to their end of the table. She stopped right behind Ginny and waited, rather impatiently, for Hermione to realize she was there and stop talking. She nodded when Hermione finally closed her mouth and blushed at McGonagall.

It was not to Hermione that she directed her words though, but to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, I'm here to inform you that you are the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain. I'm going to need you to set up practice times and tell me what days you'll be practicing so that I can reserve the pitch. Also, you lost all three of your chasers and I would suggest having tryouts again for your beaters. You do have your seeker back, however," she added smiling down at Harry briefly. "Gryffindor tryouts are this Saturday. I put up a notice in the common room." She nodded again, having imparted the information she had come with, and walked out of the Great Hall.

Harry looked over at Ron who let out a breath that sounded like it had been held the whole time McGonagall had been talking. He looked timidly over at Harry as though expecting an explosion. Harry smiled reassuringly at Ron who took another shaky breath.

"You're not mad at me?" he asked meekly.

Harry laughed. "Of course not! Ron, I'm no longer banned from Quidditch, that's all I care about. Besides, you're ruddy good at strategy, just look at your chess skills. You were the only logical choice. I don't do anything but chase after a little winged ball." He laughed again at the relief on Ron's face. "I'm more worried about Ginny's feelings, now she knows I'm not banned from Quidditch so she's out of a position."

Ginny's chin rose defensively. "I already told you all last year that being a Seeker isn't for me. I'll be trying out for Chaser, and you better choose me for the team." She sniffed in a very Hermione-like way before continuing. "After all, I'm bound to be the best one there." Her arrogant speech was slightly spoiled when she stuck her tongue out at her brother. Ron looked like he was trying to think of a good comeback but when nothing came to him he returned the gesture.

The afternoon classes were fairly uneventful and, remembering last year's O.W.L. preparations, Harry realized how easy sixth year was going to be compared to that.

Back in the common room after a quick dinner Ron was being congratulated on his new position as Quidditch captain, meaning not only friends slapping his back but also gaggles of giggling first and second years girls hovering around him. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Harry's eye caught movement off to one side where Hermione was working on homework by herself. She kept looking toward Ron and the expression on her face surprised Harry. He wasn't the best at this kind of interpretation, but he found he knew what that look meant. Hermione likes Ron!

Harry found himself wondering how long this had been going on. Harry felt someone sit down next to him and looked up at Ginny who was also looking toward Hermione. "So, you finally noticed, huh?" She looked at him, expecting some kind of reaction.

"How long?" he asked simply.

"I'm not sure exactly. I noticed it a little before the whole Yule Ball fiasco back in my third year." She sat there just looking at him for a while, her eyebrows raised, questioning.

"What?" Harry asked confused.

Briefly she looked just confused before answering. "Nothing."

"No, seriously. Why were you looking at me like that?" Harry laughed nervously.

She sighed then shrugged. "I just wondered how you'd take this news."

"How I'd take it? Well, if it'd make you feel better I could go over and tell him how much of a prat he is for flirting with little girls while Hermione sits by herself staring longingly at him." He raised his own eyebrows. "Is that what you expect?"

He thought he saw Ginny blushing but knew that couldn't be the case. He couldn't tell for sure because she turned back to Hermione so that the back of Ginny's head was the only thing he could see clearly.

"No, that's not what I expected."

"What did you expect?"

She shrugged again, still not looking at him. "I don't know. Jealousy?"

It took Harry a few seconds to process this. When he finally did he couldn't help but laugh.

Eventually he was laughing so hard that tears were making their way down his cheeks and he was having a hard time catching his breath. He noticed that everyone that had been swarming around Ron -- including Ron himself -- were all staring at him like he'd gone off the deep end. Harry laughed even harder.

"Harry, stop it!" Ginny yelled, as she too laughed, trying to keep a straight face. Harry knew she wasn't laughing for the same reason as he was. She was laughing at him, but he didn't care.

Ginny thought he'd be jealous! As though he'd ever had feelings other than friendship for Hermione. It was almost ridiculous.

He slowly gained control of himself and sat wiping his eyes with the back of his hands still chuckling occasionally. Everyone else had gotten tired of gawking at Harry. They resumed studying or fawning over Ron. Ginny still sat next to Harry watching him compose himself.

"I hope that helped."

He just nodded, not trusting his voice.

"So," she said casually, not quite masking her smile. "I guess that means you don't like Hermione."

Scratch that. People were just as interested in watching Harry laugh as they had been a few minutes earlier. Ginny, who once again couldn't contain herself watching Harry roll around, excused herself so that she'd have a chance to calm down. Harry continued chuckling until he got ready for bed that night.

Laughing feels good after my months away from school. After the end of last year. After… Harry calmed down immediately and wished vaguely, before drifting off to sleep, that he hadn't thought of this now. Unconsciousness took hold and Harry dreamed of Sirius. The next morning he woke up drained. He remembered dreaming of his godfather, but thankfully he didn't remember any specifics.

As he got ready for class and headed down to breakfast he found it hard to think of anything else. He realized that somehow he'd been in a surprisingly good mood yesterday despite what had happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. He hoped that the same would happen today.

There has to be something to get me back in a good mood.

Breakfast didn't improve his thoughts much, but it did keep him occupied. He found himself aware suddenly of what he had been oblivious to for quite some time. Hermione sat next to Ron; Harry realized this had become normal. She dominated his attention for most of the meal; no one seemed to object. Harry even thought he detected her watching Ron from the corner of her eye while he ate. Ginny noticed his looks and interpreted them correctly. The look that she gave him couldn't have been clearer if she had spoken. "Now you see."

After breakfast Harry, Ron and Hermione said goodbye to Ginny and headed to Charms. Before he had gotten a dozen paces down the hall he felt a tug at his robes. He turned, and from his new height he had acquired over the summer, he almost didn't see the diminutive Ravenclaw at his shoulder.

Her eyes scanned his forehead and Harry sighed in slight disgust. She blushed when she saw the look on his face. "I'm sorry. I thought maybe they had been pulling my leg." He suddenly realized what the other Ravenclaws had been telling her the day before.
She dropped her hand but keep looking at him. "Well, I know who you are now, it's only fair I return the favor." She smiled broadly – she didn't seem to smile any other way. "I'm Emery Bristol. And before you ask, yes, I'm related to him through my mother's side." Harry nodded. He wouldn't have asked but he probably would have wondered about it later.

He stuck his hand out to shake. "Nice to meet you Emery. I'm Harry Potter." She rolled her eyes in a "yes, I know," sort of way before peering to one side of him (she seemed a bit disconcerted about not being able to peer over his shoulder from her current vantage, but she got over it). Harry turned slightly to see Hermione and Ron watching interestedly.

Laughing slightly, Harry made the introductions. "Emery, this is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley." How-do-you-do's were exchanged momentarily before each side realized they would be late if they dawdled any longer.

Hermione gave Harry a sidelong look. "So, that's the Ravenclaw girl, huh? She's kind of cute," she teased.

Ron barked a laugh, sending a feeling of remorse through Harry – it sounded so much like Sirius' laugh. "I couldn't see anything but that hair of hers. She seems to be all hair, doesn't she?"

Hermione looked hurt. "She's short and has wild hair. That's not a bad thing," she added looking up at Ron from her slightly lower stature. Ron sobered up. Blushing slightly and muttering an apology that made Hermione nod before they continued toward the Charms room.

Harry grinned at their antics. I guess she is kind of cute. In a little girl sort of way, of course. Unexpectedly Harry found himself comparing little Emery to Ginny. What are you thinking about Ginny for? Even if you liked her – which you don't! – she's dating Dean Thomas. He resolutely redirected his train of thought before he got himself into trouble.

She did it again, though. She improved my mood, Harry realized as he sat down for Charms. She had distracted his thoughts enough that, even had he wanted to, it would have been difficult to think about Sirius.

~*~*~*~*~

GoddessMoonLady:  Yup.  How'd you like him for an uncle… *ponders* I'm glad you like it, and I agree.  Snape needs to realize that Harry isn't his father…we'll be getting to that ;)

Madame Moony:  That depends on what you mean by "really close."  I mean, she is just an ickle first year, after all.  Sorry to anyone who was hoping for this, but: there will be no romance between Harry and Emery.  None.  Period.  *grins*

Meghan:  I don't intend to leave Luna out, but at the moment she's not extremely important to the plot.  Don't worry.  I hope you continue to think that they're in character…I feel I may be slipping in that regard, but I hope it will be enjoyed regardless.

Remo Con:  *salutes*  Yes sir!  Update now at 21 hundred hours (or there about) only three days after initial update.  I hope this is satisfactory, sir!  *shuffles feet*  I'm sorry you think I'm cruel…I hope that opinion has changed.  I like cliffies, though *grins*

The Breeze:  *bows down* A compliment like that coming from you is a great honor.  I love your writing.  I hope you enjoyed the subsequent chapters as well.  And I hope you enjoyed this one!

Lady Lily3:  *crosses arms and blinks* Your wish is my command.  Update!  Enjoy :)