"Incredible," Caldwell exclaimed. "It took me a full year of practice to manage a corporeal Patronus. And I was out of Hogwarts at the time. I daresay I may be asking for your assistance more often, Mr. Potter. And I'll have to be on top of my game, lest you steal this job out from under me."
Harry laughed along with his professor. "I don't think you have anything to worry about just yet. I still have another year of classes here after all."
"That didn't stop them from making you an Assistant Professor though, did it?" he teased. "But never mind that. You're free to go now. And thank you for your help."
"You're welcome, Professor." Harry left the classroom then and was surprised to find someone waiting for him.
"Hi Professor Potter," a woman greeted him.
"Oh no, not you too," Harry grunted.
His exclamation earned him a small giggle from the woman. "Wouldn't want to disrespect Hogwarts's newest and most popular professor, would I?"
Harry put his face in his hands and groaned which earned even more laughter from his companion. "I don't think I ever congratulated you on making Head Girl. So congratulations," Harry made an attempt at changing the conversation.
"Thank you, Harry. Congrats to you as well on being named an Assistant Professor," she told him. "And no, I'm not going to let you just change the conversation that easily."
"Thanks Cho," Harry said insincerely.
"Any time, Professor Potter," she answered back with a wide smile. "Come on, it's about time for dinner. I'll walk you down."
"Alright," Harry relented. The two walked down the corridors to the Great Hall talking about how the term was going so far. The conversation was a bit forced but going on well enough when Harry asked, "So how are things with Michael?"
Cho looked at him sharply. "You heard about that?"
Harry returned her gaze, nonplussed. "Yeah, I heard about it on the train home last June."
"Oh," she replied distractedly. "I don't know, things are alright I guess. I'm just not sure he's really my type any more."
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Well, there are plenty of other guys out there. I'm sure you'll find the right one sooner or later."
She smiled at him and said, "Thanks, Harry. That's sweet of you to say."
Harry just smiled back, happy that he was back to Harry instead of Professor Potter. The two entered the Great Hall then and split up to go to their house tables.
His entrance did not go unnoticed by Hermione and Ron, apparently, who wanted to know why he walked in with Cho Chang and what the two were talking about. Harry avoided as much of the interrogation as possible by answering simply and straight forward. Cho waited for him after class and walked with him to the Great Hall. They talked a little about how the year was going so far, that was all. They didn't seem entirely satisfied but dropped the matter when they realized that Harry wasn't going to give them anything else.
The next day, Harry and Ginny met for another one of their animagus training sessions right after lunch. Harry tried to explain to Ginny how to call up her magic to make the change, but nothing he said seemed to help at all. It was hard to describe how to do it when the whole process was mostly instinctual. It was still early in the training, but Ginny was beginning to show signs of frustration. So far she hadn't been able to change anything. Harry kept reminding her that it took Sirius and his dad months to get that far. She would retort by asking him how long it took him to do it. When Harry would refuse to answer, she would let out a harrumph and try again.
They eventually called it quits for the day, and Ginny still had not made any progress. Harry let her know that it wasn't a big deal and that he'd keep working with her no matter how long it took. That seemed to raise her spirits a little, but she still seemed discouraged at her lack of progress.
They split up right outside his office. She went down to the library, while Harry headed up to the common room. Ron and Hermione were both seated in chairs by the fire. Hermione with her head in a book and Ron with a book in his lap, not that it was getting any attention from the redhead. Ron's eyes lit up when he noticed Harry approaching. Hermione was too focuses on her book to take notice of much else.
Harry plopped down on a sofa across from the two chairs and called "What's up, guys?"
Hermione looked up from her book long enough to say "Oh, hi Harry." Before she even finished his name, her face was once again hidden by the tome.
"Harry," Ron called in an urgent whisper. "Where's the Marauder's Map?"
"Huh?" Harry asked him.
"The Marauder's Map, it wasn't in your trunk. Where is it?" Ron asked impatiently, leaning forward on his chair.
"What do you mean it wasn't in my trunk?" Harry asked in a measured tone.
....
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