Daphne is known as the 'Ice Queen' of Slytherin as she rebuffs anyone who approaches her. She is very smart, coming in very close to me in our year's overall rankings and I think she has a sister who is in her First Year at the moment." Hermione reeled off what she knew of her.
"Dumbledore also says that the Greengrass Family is one of the Neutral section of the Wizengamot." Harry added, "They weren't Voldemort -oh, stop flinching at the name already Ron!- Voldemort supporters or Death Eaters in the last war, they kept out of it."
"So…a possible?" Hermione asked delicately.
"I don't know her from a hole in the wall Hermione." Harry said, "And if she's anything like you, she'll have taken Study of Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, not Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Although…"
He trailed off and looked thoughtful. "I've been thinking…" Harry continued slowly, "In First Year, we had Quirrellmort and the Philosopher's Stone and this Year we had the whole 'Heir of Slytherin' incident and the Basilisk. If things keep happening like this, I think I'm going to have to study a lot harder if I want to survive."
"Hate to say it, but you do have a point mate." Ron said with a grimace.
"So?" Hermione had guessed what Harry was going to say, but waited to hear him say it.
"Looking at it, I don't really think that Divination will help me much." Harry said firmly, "I mean, sure, IF I were a Seer, it would be useful, but I'm not. I think I'll speak to McGonagall and see If I can drop Divination and take Study of Ancient Runes and Arithmancy instead."
"Oh Harry!" Hermione squealed, "I am SO proud of you!"
She leaned over and hugged him as she spoke, then leaned back and beamed at him. She loved learning and was frequently alone in her seriousness in studying, even with the more mature members of her year, so she was delighted that Harry was finally taking his studies seriously.
"Blimey, mate. You want to take the maximum amount of classes you're allowed to take?" Ron asked in amazement.
Harry shrugged and said, "CoMC will be useful for any Dark creature s I have to face…like bloody Basilisks! Arithmancy is used to scientifically predict the future based on numerology, as well as create spells. Runes will let me make wards and improve my ability to enchant and augment items."
He caught Hermione and Ron's looks of amazement. "Hey, I've been thinking about this since just after I killed the Basilisk, alright…and doing some reading." he defended himself.
"I know." Hermione smiled, "You weren't exactly subtle about it, you know."
"To most people, I was subtle." Harry retorted, "You just know me too well."
"I would have to agree with Harry here." an amused voice said from the door. Albus Dumbledore stood in the open door, a tray of scones, jam and butter in one hand, his eyes twinkling in amusement.
"He is actually very stealthy and unobtrusive when he wishes to, particularly when he uses that rather magnificent cloak of his father's." the elderly man continued as he strode around his desk and placed the tray in front of the trio.
"Help yourselves." He invited as he spread a thick coat of butter across one scone and bit into it.
Ron needed no second invitation and eagerly dug in. Harry and Hermione exchanged a look of mingled fondness and exasperation with their gluttonous friend and silently agreed to put off any further discussion of Harry's problem until later.
"When did you get here sir?" Harry asked as he reached for a scone himself, "I didn't hear you come in."
"Around about the time you were discussing changing your electives." Dumbledore replied, "I must agree with your choices Harry. I have never liked the art of Divination myself and would have preferred to discontinue the subject. Alas, the Headmaster's Oath means that so long as I can find teachers for a subject, I must continue them."
"Do you mean the oath written by Rowena Ravenclaw just before she fell prey to the wasting sickness that killed her?" Hermione asked.
"The very same." Dumbledore nodded as he spread some raspberry jam over another scone, "But to be precise, she ensured that each Founder wrote a part of the Oath. Her own section of the Oath was 'I do solemnly swear to keep this bastion of knowledge available to all who would learn, and I do vow that all knowledge will be of equal standing and available to all students.'"I read that some subject have been removed from the curriculum by past Headmasters though." Hermione said with a frown.
"True, but that was in response to changing times." Dumbledore replied, "Sword Duelling was removed when Muggles outlawed any but the military from carrying them. Alchemy was discontinued due to the fact it was outdated and had long since been surpassed by other branches of magic, other than the Philosopher's Stone. Most of the textbooks are actually still in the Library, so feel free to study them if you wish."
"So…you think I am doing the right thing by changing my courses then, sir?" Harry asked.
"Oh, quite so." Dumbledore replied, "In fact, allow me to pass your course changes on to Professor McGonagall for you, dear boy."
"Thank you sir." Harry said in surprise.
Think nothing of it." Dumbledore waved Harry's thanks away airily, "Now, I would suggest you three head back to your common room for a while, taking care to stay away from the Grand Staircase as Peeves has a rather nasty prank in mind for the next person who tries to ascend them."
"Thanks for the tip sir." Harry replied as he and his friends rose to leave.
"Bye sir." Ron said as he surreptitiously wiped the scone crumbs from his robes.
Ron!" Hermione noticed despite his attempted stealth and quickly Scourgified the offending crumbs before beginning to scold him
As they left the office, still squabbling, Dumbledore was chuckling at the antics of the two friends and exchanged an amused glance with Harry before he followed his friends out the door.