Harry Potter and the Wizard's Apprentice

Chapter Seven

Faithful Daughter

As the Hogwarts Express slowed down, Harry, Ginny, and Luna gathered up Hedwig, Pigwidgeon, and Crookshanks, and filed out into the corridor with the other students. The train came to a shuddering stop and the doors slid open, causing a scrum with the students in their hurry to exit the train and reach the castle. Harry waited impatiently with the others as the mass of chattering and laughing students slowly emptied the train. Finally, it was their turn and Harry practically bounded down the steps. He shuddered as a wave of icy air hit his face. It was an uncommonly cold night for September, and Harry found himself wishing he had grabbed a cloak from his trunk before leaving the train.

He turned, and realised he had lost Luna and Ginny somewhere in the crowd. Standing on his tiptoes to look for them above the heads of the other students, the lights of Hogsmeade caught his eye. Harry clutched Hedwig's cage in his arms tightly as he recognised the looming shadow of the Shrieking Shack. That was where I first met Sirius, he thought to himself sadly. He shivered again, but this time, it had nothing to do with the cold. How long ago that seemed, in some ways, but in others, not nearly long enough. Harry's throat constricted tightly, and he blinked his eyes rapidly as the lights swam before his eyes. He cast his mind about frantically for something else to think about, he couldn't afford to breakdown-- not now, not yet.

"Firs' years over here... firs' years..."

"Hagrid! Hey, Hagrid!" Harry shouted, as he ran towards the half-giant. His heart felt lighter already at the sight of Hagrid's friendly face.

"All righ' there, Harry?" Hagrid asked, beaming down him.

"I'm... okay," Harry replied. "How's Grawp?"

"Shh! Keep yer voice down!" Hagrid admonished him, in a booming voice loud enough to make several first years turn around in alarm. Hagrid glanced over Harry's shoulder and Harry turned to see Ginny and Luna approaching.

"Listen," Hagrid said. "You lot come down to m' cabin this weekend, an' we'll talk then. You go on up to the castle now. It's freezin' out and it wouldn' do fer you ta catch a cold."

"Hi, Hagrid," Ginny said a bit breathlessly, as she and Luna caught up with them. She turned to speak to Harry. "Ron and Hermione already have a coach saved for us. Hermione says to hurry so she can get to the castle and speak to Professor McGonagall."

"Oh, right! We'll see ya, Hagrid," Harry said, waving goodbye to Hagrid, who looked slightly confused.

He followed Ginny and Luna over to a waiting coach, with its Thestral waiting patiently for them to arrive. On impulse, he stuck out his hand and patted the head of the winged horse, earning him odd looks from several students who were milling about.

"Where have you been?" Hermione demanded edgily from the carriage, her voice sharper than usual.

"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said, abashed, and climbed in after her. He had forgotten all about her meeting with McGonagall once they arrived at the castle.

They rode up to the castle in a tense silence punctuated only by Luna's absent-minded humming. The tune sounded familiar to Harry, but he couldn't quite put his finger on where he had heard it before.

The coach pulled up to the castle and they all jumped out, following Hermione quickly up the stone steps. Once they entered the large wooden doors, Harry saw immediately that Professor McGonagall was waiting for them.

"Miss Granger, if you'll come with me?" she said, not unkindly.

"Oh, yes, Professor," Hermione replied, a bit breathlessly, walking towards the stern teacher. Harry and Ron both made a move to follow her, but stopped short by a sharp look from Professor McGonagall.

"I believe, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter that the Great Hall would be in the other direction? I suggest you take a seat before it fills up. Miss Granger will join you shortly."

"Yes, Professor," Harry and Ron mumbled in unison, as Professor McGonagall turned, and ushered Hermione down the long hallway.

They turned and walked back to Ginny and Luna, who were waiting for them in front of the entrance to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron followed the girls into the Hall, and Luna turned back to walk next to Harry.

"Have you thought any more about it?" she said in a low voice.

"More about what?" he whispered back, distracted by trying to follow Ron through the crowd to the Gryffindor table.

"Whatever's behind that veil, of course."

"What?" he asked, startled, and almost ran into Ron, who had stopped to sit at their table, saving an empty seat on either side of him. Harry searched Luna's silver, protuberant eyes imploringly, not noticing when Ginny left them to go sit next to Dean.

"You do want to talk to your godfather again, don't you?" she replied in a tone of voice that suggested he was being difficult on purpose. Harry sat down abruptly, his legs suddenly unable to hold his weight up. She couldn't mean it, could she? Did she know how to contact the... dead?

Luna sat on the other side of Ron, in the seat he was obviously saving for Hermione, and leaned across him to talk to Harry.

"You know, I've been thinking--"

"What ARE you doing?" Ron interrupted her rudely. "This isn't your table. Go sit with the Ravenclaws."

Luna sat back and blinked. She looked around at him, unperturbed, as always, by Ron's lack of manners.

"Well, Ronald, Harry and I were talking. I was tired of standing, so I sat down, you see."

"But, but-- you, you're not a Gryffindor," Ron spluttered indignantly. You can't sit here throughout the feast. It's not right! It, well, you know... unnatural."

Luna shrugged. "I hardly see what the problem is. We're all friends, right? It's not a school rule that students sit with their houses, after all. However, if you want, I can go. Have a nice evening, then." With that, she rose and glided over to the Ravenclaw table to sit next to some other fifth year students. Harry glared at Ron, but he had turned his attention back to the empty gold plates in front of him. He looked as if he was trying to will food to appear on them.

Harry heard someone sniff disapprovingly, and looked up to see Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil sitting across from him, both staring reproachfully at Luna's retreating back.

"Honestly," Lavender huffed. "Who does she think she is, sitting here like that?"

"Really," Parvati agreed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I think she's great," Harry said stubbornly, and saw out of the corner of his eye Ginny watching the transaction with interest.

"Oh, Harry, you can do better than her," Lavender said, misinterpreting his comment. "If you're looking for a girlfriend, I can tell you several, more qualified candidates." She and Parvati burst into a fit of giggles, and he saw Ginny turn away with disgust written all over her face.

"I-- what?!" Harry stammered, feeling his face grow red all the way up to his ears. He turned, horrified, to look at Ron, who had unfortunately been broken out of his staring contest with the plates, and was now doubled over in laughter.

"You're no help," Harry muttered darkly, wanting to disappear under the table. Fortunately, he was saved further embarrassment by the arrival of Professor Sprout carrying a three-legged stool and the Sorting Hat, and placing them at the front of the room. Harry assumed Professor McGonagall was still busy talking to Hermione. Professor Sprout bustled back out of the Hall, and returned quickly with a line of first years behind her.

"Shorter this year, aren't they?" Ron commented as the students filed in.

"Ron, not everyone was as tall as you were in your first year," Harry said, remembering how small he was when he entered Hogwarts.

"No, I mean-- the line of students; it's shorter this year."

Harry looked closely and saw that Ron was right; there were significantly less new students than last year's group.

He sighed. "I bet a lot of parents didn't want their kids coming to Hogwarts this year, because of everything with Voldemort." He remembered how, last year, Seamus's mum almost didn't let him come back to school because of all the lies printed by the Daily Prophet.

"They're mad!" Ron said incredulously, his blue eyes earnest. "Everyone knows there's no place safer than Hogwarts!"

"Is it still, though?" Harry murmured to himself. He was beginning to feel that anywhere he was, was a dangerous place. He didn't blame parents for wanting to keep their children away from him. As long as Voldemort was after him, no one around him was safe.

A silence fell over the hall, and everyone looked at the Sorting Hat expectantly. After a moment, the rip in its brim opened, and it began to sing:

Another year has come and gone,

Another plan gone wrong.

I want to remind you students, dear,

So come and lend me your ear.

I said before, and I'll say again,

Even if in vain--

'Tis the time to join as one,

For our task is not yet done.

Still at large, an evil haunts,

Let us deny him what he wants.

For discord and enmity is his power,

In the growing darkest hour.

So, listen closely, students dear.

Your time of choice grows ever near.

Will you take the road that's true?

Or is it the easy road for you?

Whatever your choice, students dear,

In the Sorting have no fear.

For in each House there is something good,

Even in the most misunderstood.

In brave Gryffindor, you'll find a friend,

Who will stick by you to the end.

In cunning Slytherin, there lie the kinds

Of folk with ambitious minds.

In clever Ravenclaw, the smartest dwell,

They know every spell.

In warm Hufflepuff you'll greet,

The kindest folk one hopes to meet.

Even so, I hold to this:

Without a friend from each you'll miss,

A bond that can't be broken,

Join together now, my Houses, the Sorting Hat has spoken.

The Great Hall rang with applause. Ron turned to Harry and growled, "Misunderstood? If that Hat is talking about Slytherin... I think we understand all we need to know about that lot."

Harry silently agreed, but did not answer because the Sorting had begun. However, after the first few students were Sorted, his mind started to wander and he found himself staring at the staff table. As usual, Dumbledore sat in the middle, applauding politely for each student. There was an empty chair next to Dumbledore that Harry knew belonged to McGonagall. Sitting next to the empty chair was a young, flaxen-haired woman that Harry had never seen before.

He stared at her, and realised she must be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The woman must have felt his eyes on her for she turned her head and looked straight into his eyes. Before he could turn away, she pulled a grotesque face at him, making him jump in surprise. Then, before his eyes, her nose changed from a small, button size, to a large hawk-shaped one, and then back again. Harry burst out laughing, then clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle the sound as several students turned to glare at him. He glanced quickly up at the teacher's table, to see if any of them had noticed his outburst. Only Dumbledore glanced in his direction, a smile playing around his mouth.

"What are you on about?" Ron hissed. "Have you gone mad?"

Harry shook his head wordlessly, not trusting himself to speak. Instead, he pointed up at the new woman sitting at the head table.

"Who's that? Is she the new--," Ron's sentence broke off as the witch lowered her head, and surreptitiously changed her nose to a beak and back again.

Ron turned and looked wide-eyed at Harry, who grinned.

"Tonks."

~*~

"D'you think she'll make us call her 'Professor'?" Ron asked, after swallowing an alarming mouthful of potato. He grinned, "I'll bet she doesn't give us any homework!"

"Don't be silly, Ron, of course she will," Hermione admonished, looking scared, nonetheless, at the idea of a teacher not giving homework. She and Professor McGonagall had appeared right after Dumbledore's words of welcome.

"I don't care how much work she gives us," Harry said. "She's going to be brilliant. She's already been through Auror training and everything!"

Hermione sighed in contentment. "It will be nice to have a proper Defense professor again. I do wonder whatever happened to Professor Umbridge?"

"Who cares, Hermione? If I never think about her again, it will be too soon." Ron snorted into his pumpkin juice.

"I believe," came the voice of Nearly Headless Nick, "that the Ministry has relocated her to filing room of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

Harry turned to see Nearly Headless Nick floating a few feet off the ground behind them.

"How do you know?" he asked curiously.

"One hears things, as a ghost at Hogwarts. I don't think she is doing very well, however. Something about being afraid to touch any document relating to Centaurs. Odd woman." With that said, Nearly Headless Nick floated off towards the end of the table where a few bewildered looking first years sat.

Hermione tittered into her hand. "Oh, how appropriate! That old hag. See how she likes non-humans now!"

Ron grinned evilly at her. "Just think, Hermione. If you try to promote spew outside of Hogwarts, you'll get to work in the same department as Umbridge!"

Hermione's smile was replaced by a glare faster than Harry could blink. She open her mouth to reply, but was (fortunately for Harry, who was bracing himself for another blazing row) interrupted by Dumbledore standing at the Head table.

"Before your food settles, and sleep sets in, I beg you all to listen for a few minutes to an old man's rambling," Dumbledore said pleasantly, looking around at all four tables.

"Older students, bear with me for the usual start-of-term announcements. Mr. Filch wishes me to remind you all that magic is not allowed in the corridors between classes. He would also like me to inform you that the list of prohibited magical items have been broken down into two separate pieces of parchment on his office door-- the second of which is dedicated to items bought exclusively from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

Dumbledore coughed politely at this; Harry thought it sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

"Also, I want to strongly urge all of you to stay away from the Forbidden Forest. Never before has it been filled with such perils, and if you all wish to keep your limbs intact, you will do best to keep your distance," he continued, looking pointedly at the Gryffindor table.

Harry glanced up in alarm, and saw Hagrid shift uncomfortably down at his end of the head table. He exchanged worried glances with Ron and Hermione before turning his attention back to Dumbledore.

"Now, I am happy to say, and I'm sure that you all will agree, that we have a brand new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I am pleased to say that Miss Nymphadora Tonks will be taking over the position this year."

Tonks smiled at the deafening round of applause that greeted this announcement, but Harry could tell she knew it was mostly in celebration for the permanent departure of Professor Umbridge.

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat before continuing. "You will also be interested that Quidditch trials will be held a week from today. That is all, thank you for your patience, and good night!"

"I'm going to go talk to Tonks," Harry pronounced as they stood up to leave the Great Hall.

"Ooh, good idea, me too," Ron agreed enthusiastically.

"Ron!" Hermione groaned. "Honestly, why did you even accept being a prefect? We need to help the other prefects round up the first years."

"Oh, right," Ron said, looking disappointed and turning to Harry. "Password's Fidelius, they told us on the train."

"Thanks," Harry said, "I'll catch up with you later."

He wound his way through the crowd, proving to be more difficult than he anticipated due to the mass of students walking the opposite direction. He had just surged through the largest group, when he tripped and nearly fell over another student.

"Oof! Sorry...," Harry said, and then looked to see whom he had almost knocked over. Large, dark eyes met his and he flushed with recognition. "Oh. Hi, Cho."

"Hello, Harry," she said a bit breathlessly. They looked at each other uncertainly.

"I--,"

"I--," they said simultaneously, and it was Cho's turn to blush.

"You first," Harry said, a touch distractedly, as he scanned over the heads of the remaining students to where Tonks was sitting next to Hagrid, and the far end of the head table. Tonks met his eye and he gave her a wave before turning to face Cho, who was looking increasingly uncomfortable.

"I, er, just wanted to apologise for how I acted last year. I was terribly unfair to you--."

"Oh! Right," Harry said, surprised. "Well, listen, don't worry about it okay? I'll see you later?" He started backing away towards the head table, and had turned to go, when she called out to him.

"Wait-- Harry!"

"Yeah?" he paused, looking at her.

"What were you going to say?"

"Oh that. It was nothing, honest." He smiled at her and walked away. He had been going to say that he didn't have time to talk, but now didn't want to hurt her feelings. Shaking his head wryly, he continued on to the head table where Tonks paused in her animated conversation with Hagrid to grin at him.

"Wotcher, Harry."

"Hi Tonks! Er, I mean, Professor?"

"Just Tonks will do for now, Harry. All that 'Professor' business makes me feel old. It's great to see you, how have you been?"

"Oh... you know, the same." Harry red, deftly avoiding the question. "How long have you known about teaching here?"

"Not long at all, actually! Found out last week, as a matter of fact. Very exciting, though. I'm thinking of getting some fellow Aurors to come and talk for a lesson or two. What do you think?"

"Ooh... that'd be great!"

Tonks leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered, "Kingsley told me what that nasty Malfoy boy said about Hermione's parents. You tell her not to worry, we'll get 'em first."

"Right, I will! Well, I guess I'd best be getting back up to the tower. G'night!" Harry said all of this hurriedly, having been reminded that Hermione was supposed to tell them what McGonagall said.

"Before you go, Harry," said a serene voice from his right. "I'd like to have a word."

Harry turned to see the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore looking at him. He gulped. Talks with Dumbledore were rarely something he equated with good news.

Dumbledore looked at him kindly. "No need to look as if you spotted a blast-ended skrewt, Harry. I merely wanted to ask you to stop by my office after dinner, tomorrow night."

"Okay...," Harry said hesitantly. "What for?"

Dumbledore smiled again, blues eyes twinkling reassuringly. "Best not talk about it here, Harry. Nothing to be worried about, just something I thought you might be interested in doing. Now go on up to bed before it gets too late. I daresay you, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Granger will be up long enough talking."

Harry flushed. "Right. Tomorrow then." And turned walked quickly out of the Hall, before Dumbledore could add anything else. He made his way to Gryffindor tower as quickly as he could, his heart beating unnaturally fast. 'What could Dumbledore possibly want from him? No more bad news, he chanted silently to himself. He didn't think he cout the moment, and wondered briefly if St. Mungo's had a ward especially for stressed out adolescent boys.

He mumbled the password dully as he reached the Fat Lady's portrait, not even looking up from the ground.

"Well, hello to you too," the Fat Lady said, sounding affronted. "Have a nice summer then?"

"No," Harry said grumpily, wanting nothing more to crawl into his comfortable four-poster and pull the covers over his head.

"Teenagers," the Fat Lady sighed, and opened up to reveal the Gryffindor common room.

He crawled into the common room, eyes blinking to adjust to the dim light. Most of the students were tired from the day's journey, and had retired early to bed, so the fire had been allowed to burn down to embers.

Harry spotted Ron and Hermione sitting in fluffy, overstuffed armchairs in one of the darker corners of the room, with their heads bent together. He headed over to them but then stopped suddenly in his tracks. What if they were having a... private moment. He gulped; he definitely didn't want to intrude on that. Harry hesitated, standing the middle of the room, not sure of what action to take. He had finally settled on walking over to them, making as much noise as possible, so as to not surprise them, when a voice sounded low in his ear.

"What's the matter, Potter? Forget your way around the common room already?" Harry jumped and turned to see Ginny standing behind him, smirking. "Paranoid much? I was just wondering if you were planning on standing here all night, or if we can go on over to Ron and Hermione and find out what McGonagall said?"

Harry paused, not sure if to tell Ginny why exactly he was standing in the middle of the common room. She must've read the look on his face, because she laughed suddenly.

"Oh Harry, really. They're not going to be snogging in the middle of the common room. At least, not until everyone el bed." She grinned wickedly, and headed off towards Ron and Hermione, leaving Harry no choice but to follow her. He glanced around the common room briefly, and spotted Dean Thomas watching him closely before walking up the stairs to the boys' dorm with Seamus.

Harry turned his attention back to Ron and Hermione, and could tell, even in the darkened common room, that whatever Hermione had told Ron, he was not happy about it at all. His lips were pressed together tightly, and the tips of his ears were pink, contrasting horribly with his red hair.

"Ron, be reasonable, it's the only way," Hermione was pleading as they walked up, leaning forward towards Ron with a beseeching look in her eyes. Harry and Ginny exchanged concerned glances, before pulling up chairs to join them.

"What's up?" Harry asked once he sat down, looking back and forth between the pair.

Ron just leaned back in his armchair, scowling, and crossed his arms stubbornly. Hermione sighed. "Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore have come up with a plan to keep my parents safe." Ron snorted derisively, but said nothing.

"Well-- what is it?" Harry practically shouted. He was on edge to begin with, and this was certainly not helping.

"They want me to perform a Fidelius Charm on my parents, so that only muggles and I can ever find them."

He heard Ginny draw in a short breath, but he didn't see what the big deal was.

"Well... that's good, isn't it? They'll be protected, and you won't have to worry."

"That's right," Hermione said, smiling faintly, "but--,"

"But she could be killed in the process," Ron spat.

"What?!" Harry gasped. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Ron," she said, a hint of warning in her voice. "I think you're being a bit dramatic, don't you?"

"ME, DRAMATIC?" Ron yelled. "WHEN AM I EVER DRAMATIC?"

Harry groaned and slid further down in his chair, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He could feel a headache coming on.

"You see, Harry, the Fidelius Charm is dangerous in several small ways," Ron said sarcastically, in a dead-on impersonation of Hermione when she was lecturing them.

"Firstly," Ron continued, in a deadly sweet voice, ignoring Hermione's glares. "It drains some of the Secret-Keeper's magical resources continuously."

"Ron--," Hermione started.

"SECONDLY...," Ron spoke over her, raising his voice to new levels.

Harry exchanged a worried glance with Ginny, and then settled himself in for a long evening.

~*~

Breakfast the next morning came far too early for Harry's liking. He didn't know what time he, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny finally went to bed the night before, but it felt like only minutes since he put his head down that it was time to get up again. Neville and Seamus seemed much too chipper to be allowed, chattering loudly about the upcoming Quidditch tryouts. Dean, however, was as quiet as he and Ron, and Harry wondered briefly if Dean had trouble sleeping last night as well.

He pulled on his robes quickly, not bothering to comb his hair, then joined Ron in walking down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Ginny and Hermione were already situated at the Gryffindor table. Ginny, sitting across from Hermione, was deep in conversation with Dean, and didn't look up as they approached. Hermione smiled at them at they sat down next to her, but her eyes were red and swollen. Harry couldn't tell if it was from crying or lack of sleep.

Yawning deeply, he reached across the table and pulled a bowl of porridge towards himself. Without paying much attention to what he was doing, he wearily began eating the cereal, his mind far up in the Gryffindor Tower and thinking of how comfortable his bed would be about now.

He was brought out of his reverie by the sound of hundreds of wings flapping, signaling the arrival of owl post. Looking up, he saw a large brown owl drop The Daily Prophet in front of Hermione before flying off brusquely, nearly knocking over Neville's pumpkin juice in the process.

"Steady on, Neville," Ron said, grabbing the back of the other boy's robes as he jumped, and nearly fell off the bench.

Hermione grabbed the paper and unrolled it quickly, eyes scanning rapidly across the front page.

Harry peered over her shoulder and saw a color photo of him and Ginny trying to escape the crowd at King's Cross. He rolled his eyes.

"What rubbish does Rita have to say about me this time?" he asked, resignedly. "Now that she's registered her Animagus status, you don't think she'll spill the beans on you keeping her in a jar, do you, Hermione?"

"Nah," Ron said, waving a hand dismissively. "I expect she'd be too embarrassed to tell anyone about that. Rightly so, if you ask me."

Hermione raised her eyebrows at Ron, but turned to Harry instead. "No, Harry, Rita won't say anything about that. Even if she is registered now, it was still illegal for her to sneak onto Hogwart's grounds back in our fourth year. All she says about you is that you looked shifty, and avoided all of her questions at King's Cross. Hmm... She also says that it's your duty 'to the readers' to tell everything you know about You-Know-Who, etc., etc."

Harry snorted. "I have told them all I know. Well, almost, anyway. Besides, her precious readers weren't too keen on hearing what I had to say last year, now were they?"

Hermione shrugged as if to say, 'Well, what else do you expect?' and went back to perusing the front page. It was only a few seconds later, however, before she drew in a long breath, and motioned for Harry and Ron to lean in closer. "Listen to this," she said, and read in a low voice:

Random Violence Baffles Ministry

Ministry officials are befuddled today after a fresh round of random acts of violence occurred again yesterday at precisely six o'clock in the evening, BST. These outbreaks have pitted neighbors against neighbors, coworkers against coworkers, friends against... well you get the idea. Seemingly unconnected incidents, except for the fact that they happen simultaneously, have occurred across Great Britain. "It's like everyone's gone mad!" says one Matilda Merpipe, of Harrogate. "There I was, just minding my own business, out in my garden, you see. The next thing I know, that crazy French bat from next door comes charging over and hits me over the head with my own watering can. The nerve, I tell you! Furriners, you can't trust 'em. I say we toss the lot of 'em out and be done with it." As of press time, Ministry officials have been unavailable for comment.

Hermione let her voice trail off, and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Something about this is just not right," she said matter-of-factly. "I have a hard time believing that these attacks are really random at all. There has to be a common factor! If I could just..."

However, what she was about to say was lost as Professor McGonagall approached with their schedules.

"Oh, no," Harry said, glancing down at his slip of parchment. "It's Potions first off. What a way to start the year."

"Too right," Ron moaned. "And Transfiguration after that, although Herbology shouldn't be so bad... At least it's Friday, and we've got the weekend to look forward to."

Hermione sniffed. "I can't see what you two have to complain about. You've only got three classes a day now; I'm still taking four a day."

"Well, that's your mistake, now isn't it," Ron said cheekily as they got up to walk to class.

"Hang on," Harry said, after inspecting his schedule closer. "This doesn't tell who we're sharing classes with. You don't reckon it's just going to be us Gryffindors, do you?"

"Don't be silly," Hermione said, as they wound their way through students to the dungeon. "We're all mixed up now that we're in our NEWT level classes. Sixth and seventh year students have more specified schedules, so of course there will be smaller classes. No need to limit each class to only two houses."

"Well this should be interesting, then," Ron said, as they entered the Potions classroom.

Harry scanned the room quickly, looking for empty seats. He spotted Dean Thomas already sitting towards the back of the class and headed towards him. Just as he reached the table, a figure darted in front of him and slid in next to Dean. Harry blinked. Smiling up at him was Blaise Zabini.

"Hello, Harry," he said smoothly. "Why don't you join us?"

Harry looked bewildered at Dean, and then turned Ron, who shrugged. "Forget it mate, we'll just grab seats at another table."

Harry glanced around the classroom, but saw few empty chairs. Before he could decide, Snape came swooping in the room, in his usual foul temper.

"Potter! Granger! Weasley! I suggest you find some seats immediately before I have to take points off of Gryffindor already for pure idiocy." The hair on the back of Harry's neck prickled at the mere sight of the potions professor. It was the first time he had been this close to Snape since his Occlumency lesson last year. Scowling, he plopped down in the seat next to Blaise. Ron and Hermione sat quickly a few tables away with Hufflepuffs Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones.

"Splendid," Blaise said, flashing a toothy grin. Harry wanted to retort back, but thought better of it after catching Snape's glare. He settled by exchanging wary looks with Dean instead.

"Today starts the first of your NEWT level classes," Snape began in his oily, sneering voice. "Most of you," he began, smirking at Draco Malfoy, who Harry had just noticed sitting at the front of the room with Pansy Parkinson, "are here because of your exceptional talent in potion making. There are, however, a few of you here because the Headmaster has been lenient." This time, he glared pointedly at Harry, who felt his face go warm. "Make no doubt about it, those of you who are here for anything less than skill alone, will be expected to keep up with the rest of the class, or face my extreme displeasure."

Harry could hear Draco and Pansy laughing heartily from the front of the room, and Harry felt his face was now on fire. However, he refused to let his embarrassment show any further, and sat up straight and proud. He heard Blaise, "Tsk" next to him, and then turned to whisper in Harry's ear.

"Don't worry about Snape, he's harmless. If you need tutoring, I'll help you."

"I. Don't. Need. Tutoring," Harry growled through clenched teeth. "Especially from some slimy Slytherin. And don't talk to me about Snape."

"Suit yourself," Blaise said, in a pleasant sounding voice, and turned his attention back to the front.

"Now," Snape continued. "Today we will be covering a very advanced potion; so advanced that some never manage to make it properly. Open up your books to the section regarding Invisibility Potions, and when you feel like you have read enough that you won't kill yourself in the process of making the potion, the brewing instructions are on the board. I expect a sample vial from each student at the end of class. You may begin."

Harry's interest was piqued from the mention of an Invisibility Potion. Now this was a potion he could use. His cloak was almost too small to hide him, Ron, and Hermione now. He looked around and exchanged glances with Hermione, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Harry pulled out his book, but found he had trouble concentrating. His thoughts kept reverting to the events of last year, and he found himself watching Snape as he walked between the rows of desks, glaring at students as he went. He caught Snape's eye and immediately bent his head over his book and attempted to read the passage in front of him.

The Invisibility Potion is one of the most brilliant discoveries of our time. Created by alchemist Hans von Gottlieber in 1947, it reinvented means of stealth and warfare used by the Ministry in the war against the dark wizard Grindewald... that rotten Snape, I bet he uses the Invisibility Potion all the time to spy on people... In fact, unless a wizard is clumsy enough to reveal himself, the only known way to intercept the potion's use is to detect the invisible person through means of Legilimency... stupid Occlumency, stupid Voldemort, stupid SNAPE! Sirius is dead, and it's all his FAULT!

Red and gold sparks flew out of Harry's wand that he didn't even realise he was holding. Irrational anger bubbled up inside of him. Snape whipped around from the front of the room to face Harry.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Potter?" Snape hissed, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Yes there is," Harry spat furiously, not even aware of what he was going to say next. "And I'd like to see you after class to discuss it." He was so angry he felt like his blood was boiling in his veins. All summer long, he'd done nothing but think about Sirius, and right next to Sirius' memory was the memory of Snape. Snape taking his worst memories and using them against him. Snape laughing at his humiliation. Snape refusing to teach him Occlumency. He glared up at the greasy haired professor, almost expecting sparks to fly out of his eyes as well.

Snape watched him thoughtfully. Opened his mouth to answer then closed it, as if he thought better of what he was going to say. Then only said, "Very well, Mr. Potter. And five points off of Gryffindor for disrupting class."

For the first time, Harry looked around at the rest of the class. They were all staring at him silently. Ron's eyebrows were raised so high they were hidden under the fringe of red hair on his forehead.

He cleared his throat and said, "Right, then," before bending back over his book. Surprising himself, he was able to concentrate on his work for the rest of the class and his sample of potion was almost as silver as Hermione's. He waited patiently for the rest of the class to leave before attempting to approach Snape. Blaise Zabini was the last to leave, and gave him an appraising look before gathering his book bag and quill and leaving the classroom. After Blaise shut the door behind him, Harry remained seated and waited for Snape to speak first. He felt strangely calm. Snape sat at his desk, pretending to grade a paper but Harry could see that his eyes were not moving up and down the parchment, but staring in one spot. Finally, after about five minutes of silence Snape looked up at him.

"Let's hear it, Potter, you've wasted enough of my time as it is."

His eyes never leaving Snape's face, Harry gathered up his book bag and walked slowly up to the front.

"I want you to teach me Occlumency."

Whatever Snape had expected him to say, this definitely was not it. His face registered shock for a split second, before returning to his usual scowl.

"And why on earth would I want to do something like that. It's bad enough I have to suffer your presence in my Potions classroom three days a week."

"You owe me! It's your fault Sirius got killed!"

"I owe you NOTHING! If you were really that concerned with continuing Occlumency lessons perhaps you should have thought of that before snooping in my private thoughts like the nosy little brat that you are!"

Harry flushed. He had forgotten about that. "Look, Sn-, I mean, Professor. That was an accident. I didn't mean-"

Snape sneered at him. "You accidentally fell in my Pensieve? Don't lie. You think you're so much better than everyone else is. Just like your father, you follow your own set of rules, everyone else be damned."

"That's not true!" Harry shouted. "I'm not like that! What he did- what he did to you was wrong. I'm sorry I looked in your stupid Pensieve. I-"

"I don't need your sniveling apologies," Snape hissed. If you want to be taught Occlumency, go to the Headmaster. I'm sure he'd be glad to teach his favorite, precious student."

"I don't want Professor Dumbledore to teach me, I want you to teach me!" Snape raised his eyebrows disbelievingly.

"Look," Harry continued, a note of pleading entering his voice. "I know that you spy for Vold-"

"Hush you idiot boy!" Snape growled, throwing a silencing charm around the room. "Whatever it is you think you know, don't be stupid enough to talk about it out loud!"

"But still," Harry persisted, "I know you have to go up against... certain people with your mind blocked regularly. If you can fool him, then you can teach me to fool him as well. I know I can get Dumbledore to teach me but I trust him-- it would be too easy. I would be better prepared with your help."

"And why should I care?" Snape said, his black eyes gleaming dully. "I have too many things to do as it is, besides babysitting school children."

"Because you know I'm the only one who can defeat Voldemort. And I need to be ready." Harry leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk for support.

Snape took a step back and stared at him for so long that Harry was beginning to believe he should just give up and leave. Finally, Snape spoke, his voice low and thoughtful.

"So Dumbledore told you, did he? I expected he might by now. Very well, Potter, 6:00 sharp on Wednesday evening. Now get out of my sight."

Harry nodded curtly and stepped out of the room, shutting the door to the classroom before breaking into a run to Transfiguration, knowing better than to ask Snape for a note to give Professor McGonagall for being late.

~*~

The rest of the day passed quickly and it wasn't until supper before he had a chance to tell Ron and Hermione about his meeting with Snape. He trudged with them wearily up to the castle from the Herbology greenhouse, Hermione chatting away about the day's lesson of pruning asphodel. They reached the Great Hall and took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table, Ron pulling a dish of roasted Cornish hens towards his seat before sitting down completely.

"Harry, I simply can't wait any longer," Hermione said suddenly, breaking off from her running stream of Herbology commentary. "What in the world did you talk to Snape about?"

"Well," Harry began, lowering his voice so that Ron and Hermione had to lean their heads in close to hear him. "I asked him to continue teaching Occlumency to me."

"What?!" Ron spluttered. "I can understand you being depressed about Sirius, mate, but this is suicidal!"

"No, it isn't!" Harry protested. "If I can block Snape, I can block anyone. I won't have Voldemort messing with my head!"

He looked at Hermione, who was nodding silently, for support. "I agree, Harry," she said finally, smiling at him. "But, Merlin, they didn't put you in Gryffindor for nothing. What did Snape say when you asked him?"

Harry laughed for the first time that day. "Actually, it was brilliant. You should have seen his face--"

"Hello everyone. Sorry to interrupt." Katie Bell, a seventh year Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, had walked down from her seat at the table and was standing behind them.

"Hi Katie, what's up?" Harry asked.

"Well, first off, Angelina voted me for Quidditch captain this year..."

"Right on!" Ron exclaimed.

Katie blushed slightly, but continued. "Er, thanks. Anyway, as you heard Quidditch tryouts are next week and since we have many spaces to fill I thought it would be a good idea to have tryout practises every evening next week. I'll be posting the times up in the common room. Okay?"

"Sounds good," Harry said. And it did, flying always proved to be a good stress reliever and he hadn't been on a broom since his trip to the beach.

"If you two are going to be practising all next week, we'd better get a start on some homework tonight," Hermione said primly after Katie walked off.

Ron groaned. "Already, it starts! I can't believe McGonagall gave us homework on the first day, either."

"You should be used to it by now," Harry said absently, remembering he had that meeting with Dumbledore after dinner tonight, and wouldn't be able to get started on his homework until later that evening.

He finished eating quickly, and excused himself. Not feeling up to a real explanation, he told Ron and Hermione he was going to talk to Dumbledore about restarting the D.A. meetings, and that he would meet them back up in the common room.

Feeling no small amount of trepidation, he left the Great Hall and walked towards Dumbledore's office. As the great stone gargoyles came into view, his feet felt heavier and heavier until he stopped in front of them, his heart beating wildly in his chest. He licked his lips nervously as the gargoyles parted in front of him, revealing a spiral stone staircase. He stepped in and shut his eyes as the steps began to rise. What news did Dumbledore have in store for him this time?