HP & the Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 8: Snape Victorious
Harry finds himself in a real pickle after his violent encounter with Malfoy. Bleeding, hurt and invisible, he wonders if anyone will come looking for him and if they do, will they be able to find him. As he feels the Hogwarts Express lurch, Tonks lifts the Cloak off of him and rescues him in the nick of time. She heals his broken nose and takes him to school.
But she is not the Tonks from Order. She seemed older and much more serious and purposeful (US ed, 158), and lacking in colourful hair. As they arrive at the gate of the school, it is locked with enchanted chains. And --oh joy!--Snape strides up to admit Harry. He takes a pointed dig at Tonks's new Patronus (which is significant much later on). Snape being typical Snape enjoys taunting Harry as they walk to the castle for wanting to "make an entrance" and docking points for his clothing and being late. Harry says nothing. at. all. which is quite a change for him, and joins his mates at the table, who are relieved to see him.
Poor Harry gets little to eat (at least he can enjoy the treacle tart), and the feast is the typical feast. The teachers are all there, Malfoy is Malfoy, Nearly Headless Nick assures Harry of his confidence. Dumbledore then makes his usual start-of-school announcements, and SHOCKER! Snape is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, much to Harry's dismay and eveyone else's surprise.
Harry & Ron discuss the nose incident on the way up to Gryffindor Tower (It was a mark of the strength of their friendship that Ron did not laugh, 169.) Hagrid joins them and tells them that Grawp is getting much better, and is thinking of training the giant to be his assistant. After the genial professor leaves, the boys realize neither is taking Magical Creatures, and they feel rather badly about it.
Anyone still awake?
Harry finds himself in a real pickle after his violent encounter with Malfoy. Bleeding, hurt and invisible, he wonders if anyone will come looking for him and if they do, will they be able to find him. As he feels the Hogwarts Express lurch, Tonks lifts the Cloak off of him and rescues him in the nick of time. She heals his broken nose and takes him to school.
But she is not the Tonks from Order. She seemed older and much more serious and purposeful (US ed, 158), and lacking in colourful hair. As they arrive at the gate of the school, it is locked with enchanted chains. And --oh joy!--Snape strides up to admit Harry. He takes a pointed dig at Tonks's new Patronus (which is significant much later on). Snape being typical Snape enjoys taunting Harry as they walk to the castle for wanting to "make an entrance" and docking points for his clothing and being late. Harry says nothing. at. all. which is quite a change for him, and joins his mates at the table, who are relieved to see him.
Poor Harry gets little to eat (at least he can enjoy the treacle tart), and the feast is the typical feast. The teachers are all there, Malfoy is Malfoy, Nearly Headless Nick assures Harry of his confidence. Dumbledore then makes his usual start-of-school announcements, and SHOCKER! Snape is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, much to Harry's dismay and eveyone else's surprise.
Harry & Ron discuss the nose incident on the way up to Gryffindor Tower (It was a mark of the strength of their friendship that Ron did not laugh, 169.) Hagrid joins them and tells them that Grawp is getting much better, and is thinking of training the giant to be his assistant. After the genial professor leaves, the boys realize neither is taking Magical Creatures, and they feel rather badly about it.
Anyone still awake?