Percy Jackson and Harry Potter Halfblood Heroes (Book 6)

Chapter 4

Harry and Ron met Hermione and Percy in the common room before breakfast the next morning. Hoping forsome support in his theory.

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

"Well," she said uncertainly, "I don't know...It would be like Malfoy to make himself seemmore important than he is...but that's a big lie to tell..."

"Exactly," said Harry,

"It's rude to point," Ron snapped at a particularly minuscule first-year boy as they joined the queue to climb out of the portrait hole. The boy, who had been muttering something about Harry behind his hand to his friend, promptly turned scarlet and toppled out of the hole in alarm. Ron sniggered. "I love being a sixth year. And were going to be getting free time this year. Whole periods when we can just sit up here and relax."

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

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

"Hold it!" said Hermione, throwing out an arm and halting a passing fourth year, who wasattempting to push past her with a lime-green disk clutched tightly in his hand. "Fanged Frisbeesbanned, hand it over," she told him sternly.

The scowling boy handed over the snarling Frisbee,ducked under her arm, and took off after his friends. Ron waited for him to vanish, then tugged theFrisbee from Hermione's grip."Excellent, I've always wanted one of these."

Hermione's remonstration was drowned by a loud giggle; Lavender Brown had apparently foundRon's remark highly amusing. She continued to laugh as she passed them, glancing back at Ron overher shoulder. Ron looked rather pleased with himself. 

The ceiling of the Great Hall was serenely blue and streaked with frail, wispy clouds, just like thesquares of sky visible through the high mullioned windows. While they tucked into porridge andeggs and bacon, Harry and Ron told Hermione and Percy about their embarrassing conversation with Hagridthe previous evening.

"But he can't really think we'd continue Care of Magical Creatures!" she said, looking distressed."I mean, when has any of us expressed...you know...any enthusiasm?"

"That's it, though, innit?" said Ron, swallowing an entire fried egg whole. "We were the oneswho made the most effort in classes because we like Hagrid. But he thinks we liked the stupidsubject. D'ya reckon anyone's going to go on to N.E.W.T.?" 

"I'm taking it," said Percy. "I'll just make an excuse for why you lot couldn't take the subject."." 

But they still avoided Hagrid's eye and returnedhis cheery wave only half-heartedly when he left the staff table ten minutes later.

After they had eaten, they remained in their places, awaiting Professor McGonagall's descent from the staff table. The distribution of timetables was more complicated than usual this year, for ProfessorMcGonagall needed first to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their 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.

'So, Jackson...' said Professor McGonagall, consulting her notes as she turned to Percy. 'Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Professor Flitwick would be delighted to have you back, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration ... all fine. I must say, I was very pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Jackson, very pleased. Keep up the good work. Here is your timetable.'