Drifting

Chapter 21: Fall Back to Routine

"I write about the things I never know,

And I can't find a moment just to slow down,

To figure out what it's all about,

So tell me,

What it's all about-"

Michelle Branch, Where Are You Now?

~*~

Harry trudged behind Ginny back up to the Headmaster's office. He had just been there not even a day before and he wasn't exactly eager to be back.

"Harry!"

Harry snapped back to reality and realized that he and Ginny were standing right in front of the stone gargoyle at the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

Talk about deja vu, Harry thought amusedly.

"Skiving Snackboxes," he said, recalling the password from the night before.

The gargoyle allowed them entrance. Ginny and Harry stepped onto the rising staircase. Soon they were at the door to Dumbledore's office. Ginny raised her fist and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Dumbledore's voice called.

Ginny opened the door and led Harry in. The door shut behind them with a wave of Dumbledore's hand.

"Sit," he said, gesturing at the two chairs next to Draco and Blaise.

"Merlin, Harry. How long can it take you to get up here?" Draco asked in a slightly amused tone.

"I just woke up," Harry replied smoothly, sitting down.

"And you were sleeping late because of what? Have a mad, passionate interlude with Ginny in your common room before falling asleep on the couch?" Blaise asked, her voice full of humor.

"Please stop," Harry said quietly.

Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry. Harry saw and launched into an explanation. However, his tone wasn't mad. He spoke quietly, as if it pained him to talk about it. In a way, it did. Dudley and his friends had teased Harry endlessly when he was a little kid and it always turned out horrible for him.

"Haven't you ever noticed that all those times you used to tease me in the halls I hated it?"

Draco thought for a moment. Harry always had a highly upset look on his face when Draco would start his sentence but it was so quickly masked by anger that Draco had thought it hadn't actually happened.

"Yeah. You always had this upset look when I started."

Harry nodded. "I can't stand it when people tease me. I don't take a joke well at all. Dudley ruined it for me when I was just a little kid. My first day at public school he humiliated me in front of the entire class. No one talked to me after that and I suppose the memory of it just never went away." He paused and drew in a long breath. "Anyway, what's done is done and I've moved on."

The evident strain in Harry's voice told the others that he had by no means moved on from the events of his childhood. It was times like these when Dumbledore wondered how such a harsh upbringing of a child could result in one that was simply amazing.

"Oh," was all Draco could say.

Ginny could tell the situation was getting very uncomfortable. She decided to get them off this topic before it headed in a very dangerous direction.

"So, Professor, why did you call us up here?" she asked.

Immediately Harry, Draco, and Blaise's heads all whipped around to look at Dumbledore. They had forgotten that he was there.

"Thank you, Miss Weasley. Now, I trust that you all remember the notices I sent you about your special training?" The four teens nodded. "I have worked out a schedule. I may as well give you your timetables now so you can see what will happen."

He reached over his desk and handed the four timetables to Blaise, who was closest to him. She took hers and passed the other three out to their respective owners.

"As you will note, the training period takes the place of when your sixth N.E.W.T. course would have been. Now, trainings are going to be every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. If need be I will begin to take you out of classes to train you more. Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, and Miss Zabini, you will each not have a sixth elective course and will miss one of your free periods each week. If you see any problems with this, please feel free to tell me."

"What are we supposed to tell our friends, Professor?" Blaise asked. "They're going to wonder why we don't have a sixth elective."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he smiled at the four teens sitting in front of him.

"There is something that wasn't sent in your Hogwarts letters and O.W.L. scores. Only five N.E.W.T.s are required. The sixth course is a backup course in case you need to drop out of another. Some students are overly confident that they will not have the need to drop one of their five courses so they opt not to take a sixth class. It's either that or they just don't want the work," Dumbledore said, chuckling. "Since I knew your training would conflict with your classes if you took a sixth one, I did not give that option to you. I also felt you would be a little busy and wouldn't want the burden of a sixth class. Tell all your friends that you have an extra free period."

Blaise nodded, satisfied with the explanation. However, this still left Ginny with a problem, as she wasn't in her sixth year yet. She voiced this problem to the Headmaster.

"Ah, yes. I have everything worked out. You will not be taking fifth year Defense classes."

"What?" Ginny shouted. "But then I'll be further behind Harry, Draco, and Blaise than I already am!"

Dumbledore shook his head, smiling all the while.

"Actually, Miss Weasley, you will be on the exact same page as they are at the exact same time. You will be taking sixth year Defense Against the Dark Arts with Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, and Miss Zabini."

"How?" Ginny asked in a tone of disbelief.

"You may want to thank Mr. Potter for this. In the D.A. he taught nearly the entire fifth year curriculum and some spells that most of our students don't learn until their seventh year. I am confident that if you were given the practical Defense O.W.L. right now you would be able to get an Outstanding on it. Therefore, you will be taking your Defense O.W.L. in December during the winter holidays. You may use Miss Granger's excellent notes to study if she will let you-"

"Wait, if we're not allowed to tell anyone, how is Ginny going to explain this to Hermione?" Harry interrupted.

"Hermione will be the only soul who knows besides myself and a few of the staff. I will be talking to her about this shortly. Also, she will be there to tutor any of you if you fall behind in your classes. Mr. Potter, if you happen to fall behind in Care of Magical Creatures, you will need to find someone else or go ask Hagrid himself, since Miss Granger is not continuing that class. She will be sworn to secrecy under a wizard's oath."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't known how he was going to keep this from Hermione. He was immensely glad that she was going to be in on this. Harry had a strong feeling that when things would begin to overwhelm him, he'd be relying heavily on Hermione for support and help this year.

"Miss Weasley, you do not have your correct schedule. I was saving it for after I told you about your course change. Here you are."

Dumbledore handed Ginny her new schedule. She looked it over and a curious look formed on her face.

"Why is one of my Ancient Runes classes crossed off and Defense written over it?" she asked.

"Your Ancient Runes class has been split up this year because your Professor was worried the students wouldn't get the individual help they needed for the O.W.L.s if the class remained so large. There is a morning and afternoon class on Wednesday, which is where the cross out was made. You will be attending the morning classes of Ancient Runes during the week but on Wednesday it conflicts with the Defense schedule so you will be missing that class only on that day. One of your classmates should be able to catch you up. This leaves you with a free period in place of the afternoon class you would have been in. This is when the other three have their free period and training will take place." Dumbledore looked at the four teens in front of him. "Does this answer all your questions?"

The four teens nodded.

"Good. Then rest up and I'll see you in the Room of Requirement at the beginning of the last period tomorrow for training."

~*~

Harry followed Ginny down the stairs as they exited Dumbledore's office. He was once again lost in his thoughts. This time it was of what Dumbledore had just told them. He didn't even notice that Ginny had stopped walking and had turned around and shoved him against the wall until he felt his head hit something hard.

"Are you and Hermione playing some sort of game behind my back?" she asked with anger lacing her voice.

Harry blinked, coming back to reality. "Huh?"

Ginny, if possible, only seemed to become angrier at this. Harry was positive that he saw smoke coming out of her ears.

"ARE YOU AND HERMIONE DATING BEHIND MY BACK?" she yelled.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Harry said, annoyed that Ginny would even think that.

"You and Hermione. Is the concept of it that hard for you to grasp? How long have you been cheating on me for?" Ginny said, her eyes filling with tears.

Realization was beginning to dawn on Harry. He put a hand on her cheek and brushed away a tear that had fallen with his thumb. In response, Ginny reached up and smacked him hard on the cheek. It left a red mark that they were both sure would bruise.

"Where did you even get that idea from, Gin?"

"Don't lie about it," she started. "I saw you and Hermione this morning when I came to get you. You kissed her! I didn't think anything would happen when I left you two alone up there, neither did Ron. We were the last two to leave, you know. Hermione had woken up but complained that she was still tired so she went back to sleep. You were still sleeping and I didn't think you would wake up when she was awake. Yet I come back up there to find you lying in her lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Then you kiss her! I'll bet you told her who the boy you and Dumbledore saw was too!"

Harry stared at her. "You think that I'm in love with Hermione?"

"No! I..."

"Yes you do. Let me straighten you out here. Hermione is my sister, I'm quite surprised you haven't figured that out, you're quite bright after all-"

Ginny wondered how he could put a compliment in an insult like that.

"-I'll bet you kissed one of you brothers on the cheek before. The position? Yeah, it is natural, because that's the position we had over the summer whenever she would come over after driving and it was just the two of us. It's how we felt most comfortable. I can trust Hermione, and I can't trust many people. You know that she was the only person who knew how much I loved you before I told you? I only kissed her for helping me. I was going to tell you about Nev- I mean, the boy, too, it's just I saw Hermione first. She didn't get to see the memory in the Pensieve but I was going to show it to you. Honestly, now I don't think I'm going to tell you at all," Harry said, his voice rising.

"So you don't want to marry Hermione?" Ginny asked quietly.

Harry burst out laughing. "That's what Ron wants to do." Ginny's eyes trailed a line on the floor. "But I don't. I've already found the person I want to spend my life with and she's standing right in front of me."

Harry cupped her face with his hands and leaned down to kiss her. She welcomed the kiss and returned it passionately. Her arms slid to lock around his neck, pulling him closer to her. His tongue teased her lips, and she opened them, allowing him entrance to her mouth.

A loud cough interrupted them. Ginny pulled back reluctantly as she saw Dumbledore standing before them.

"Normally points would be taken for inappropriate behavior in the corridors but this time I'll let you off with only a warning," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.

Both Harry and Ginny blushed furiously.

"Now, off to lunch with the two of you."

Harry and Ginny nodded and took off down the hall.

~*~

Professor McGonagall made her way down the table the following morning as she handed out timetables. She paused when she got to where Harry, Ginny, and the rest of the sixth years were sitting. She gave the group their schedules and then turned to address Harry and Ginny.

"I don't seem to have your schedules."

Harry smiled. "We already got them from the Headmaster yesterday, Professor."

McGonagall's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Then she remembered what Dumbledore had told her about Harry, Ginny, Draco, and Blaise and their special training.

"All right then," she said, and moved on.

Harry took his schedule out of his pocket once she had left. He unfolded it and began to read it. He hadn't had much of a chance to see what classes he had first yesterday.

"Herbology, Double Charms, Defense, and a free period," Ron said. "What've you got, Harry?"

"Potions, Double Charms, Defense, and a free."

Ron stared at Harry incredulously. "You managed to get into Snape's class?"

Harry opened his mouth to retort but Hermione cut in.

"Yes, and it's not that hard to believe. Harry, when he bothers to apply himself, is actually quite smart. He just chooses not to care."

Harry narrowed his eyes at his sister. Hermione caught his glare and laughed.

"Oh, please. We all know you try."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You've got the same as me, right?"

Hermione glanced at her schedule. "Yeah."

"But how can you take Potions and Herbology when the classes are at the same time you two?" Ron asked.

Harry glanced at Hermione. He was surprised she didn't tell him what classes she was taking. Ron was her boyfriend after all.

"Ron, dear, Harry and I aren't taking Herbology this year," Hermione said.

"What?" Ron half-yelled, standing up. "You mean I have to take that class all alone?"

His rant began to attract stares from all around the Hall. In an instant Ron forgot the fact that things between himself and Harry had been mended. He suddenly hated Harry right then.

"You're supposed to be my friend! You didn't even tell me your bloody O.W.L. scores! Now you're going to leave me to take Herbology by myself?"

"I'm taking it too," Neville spoke up quietly.

Ron sat down fuming. He didn't talk to anyone for the rest of breakfast as he sat shoveling food into his mouth.

~*~

"Patil - not you, Padma, your sister - and Turpin; Boot and Macmillan; Abbot and Brown; Zabini and Granger; Malfoy and Potter-" Snape said as he read through the groups for the year.

The N.E.W.T. level courses were with combined classes from all houses. Since not everyone took the N.E.W.T. level courses for every subject, the classes would be too small if it was just two houses combined. Now all of Harry's classes consisted of students from all four houses.

When Snape was done he rolled the parchment back up and placed it on his desk. He waited for the class to move to sit next to their partners. Once they were all situated, he spoke.

"This is N.E.W.T. level Potions. The person I have partnered you with will be your partner for the rest of the year in this class." Several groans met this statement. "If you have any complaints, keep them to yourselves. Now, this year is going to be far tougher than any you have encountered before when dealing with potions. Some of the potions we will be brewing are highly dangerous and if brewed wrong I shudder to think what might happen."

Hermione raised her hand to ask exactly what types of potions they would be brewing. Snape, as usual, ignored her hand. After a few minutes Hermione put her hand down, looking defeated.

"Some of you," Snape continued, oblivious to Hermione, "deserve to be in this class." He eyed several of the Slytherins as he said this. "However, some of you," he said, glaring at Harry, "I have no idea how you got into this class as you dearly need help."

Hermione turned around to see Harry, who sat directly behind her. She watched as he glared right back at Snape, his gaze never breaking. After about a minute, Snape walked away.

No one except Harry knew that Snape had just performed Legilimency on him to test his Occlumency. Harry had managed to block him out after a few seconds. He was finding it a little easier to clear his mind now that he had the Pensieve. Anything horrible enough was in there. Most of it consisted of nightmares about Voldemort, his friends dead, Sirius, and now Neville in the alternate world.

As Snape moved away and continued his talk, Harry snapped back into a concentration mode. Snape told the class to take out their books and turn to page seven and read the chapter on a certain type of healing potion. When everyone began to read, the classroom became silent and stayed that way until the bell rang in the distance, signaling the end of class.

~*~

Defense Against the Dark Arts is going considerably better than Potions did, Harry thought as he sat back in his chair. Moody was an excellent professor, who just like the fourth year imposter, really knew his stuff. And the best part is that Ginny's right here next to me.

Indeed, Ginny sat next to Harry. Ron had looked like he was going mad when he saw Ginny enter the class as the bell rang and sit calmly next to Harry. The whole class looked shocked, besides Harry, Blaise, and Draco.

"Ginny, you're in the wrong class," Hermione said.

Ginny shook her head as she set her books down next to Harry.

"Look at my schedule."

Hermione grabbed her schedule and gasped.

"How?" she asked.

Harry, Blaise, and Draco sat there with identical smirks of knowledge on their faces. It was quite eerie to see all three of them with the exact same expression on their faces.

"Miss Weasley is in this class on Professor Dumbledore's orders. If you would like to know why, go ask the Headmaster yourself," Moody interrupted.

Ron caught Harry's smirk and glared at him.

"You know about this?" he hissed.

Harry shrugged. "Yeah. I was sworn to secrecy, however, so if you want to know why only Dumbledore is allowed to tell you."

Ron raised his eyebrows at Harry as if he thought Harry was covering up for something. Then he shrugged and turned away, focusing back on Moody.

Harry shrugged the memory off and returned his attention to Moody's lecture.

"Now this year we will be working on our dueling skills. After we learn the offensive and defensive spells we need we will proceed to have a class competition to see who is the best dueler. The competition will consist of a double elimination tournament between classmates. More will be explained later. Remember, CONSTANT VIGILENCE!"

Harry smiled. Some things never change.

~*~

Harry, Ginny, Draco, and Blaise were the first out of class. The girls walked ahead of Harry and Draco on the way to the Room of Requirement, leaving the two boys to talk.

"I don't think we can do this," Draco said.

"Do what?"

"Be friends. In public, I mean."

Harry, instead of looking mad or shocked like Draco had thought he would, looked understanding.

"I know. People are going to begin to wonder about it. News will reach Voldemort and it won't be a pretty sight," Harry stated.

The two boys walked up a flight of stairs in silence.

"So what are we going to do?" Draco asked.

Harry sighed. "It's going to be hard but I think we're going to have to start fighting again, only worse than before. We need to make it seem as if things have only gotten worse to keep people from finding out."

"I don't think I could fight you like that anymore."

"Do you have any other solution?" Harry asked.

Draco shook his head. He didn't want to be in a constant fight with Harry. They were too close now to have to do this just to maintain an image. Still, Draco knew that if the Dark Lord found out about his and Harry's friendship that something horrible would happen, most likely resulting in death.

"We'll still be friends, right? Like in training and in Potions when no one's looking we can talk to each other, right? If no one's around in the halls or if we sneak out to the Quidditch pitch late at night?" Draco asked, fearing the loss of friendship with Harry.

"Of course!" Harry exclaimed. "I don't think I'd be able to live properly if I knew the fights had really started again. But that means that in the halls and stuff, we can't be seen together. Like right now."

Draco nodded. Harry "accidentally" dropped his books. As he bent down to pick them up he whispered a message to Draco.

"Go now so it won't look like we're going to the same place."

Draco nodded once more and took off, leaving Harry to take his time to pick up his fallen supplies.

"Where is Harry?" Ginny asked when Draco entered the Room of Requirement alone.

"Stalling."

Ginny raised her eyebrows at him but didn't press the matter. Draco knew she'd find out from Harry later.

Just then, Harry ducked into the room.

"Sorry," he said, panting slightly. "I had to go the long way because Ron saw me. Where's Dumbledore?"

"I'm right behind you, Harry," said a voice that was unmistakably Dumbledore's.

Harry whirled around but only saw a blank wall. He stared at it for a few seconds as the others did the same. He knew it was no joke and he racked his brain to think of the spell that Dumbledore had put on himself.

"A Disillusionment Charm?" Harry guessed, remembering the charm that was put on him when the advance guard had picked him up the summer after his fourth year.

Dumbledore appeared before them suddenly, the spell had been taken off.

"Correct, Harry, very good. On the battlefield, some of your opponents may use this spell. You must be prepared for attacks from the seemingly invisible at all times."

The four teens nodded.

"Training will start out relatively simply," Dumbledore continued. "First we will be reviewing and learning any spell you may need or encounter. You will also be learning all the counter spells to those spells. Next I will show you how to duel properly. You will practice against me a few times and then will fight as if in a life or death situation against another one of the four of you. Then we'll take it from there."

Draco raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco glanced at Harry as he began to speak. "Last year during the O.W.L. exams, I saw your Patronus. I read in my father's journal that Voldemort had many Dementors at his service. If he builds up his army like he did the last time, that means the Dementors will most likely leave Azkaban. If we're going to be fighting the Dark Lord and his followers, aren't we going to encounter Dementors? I want to be able to fight them."

"I'd like some practice with it too," Ginny put in.

Dumbledore nodded and turned to Harry. "I will be running a few minutes late on Wednesday because of a meeting with another Professor. Mr. Potter, I would like you to teach Mr. Malfoy and Miss Zabini the Patronus Charm and review it with Miss Weasley."

"Of course, Professor."

Vaguely, Harry wondered if he could still perform the Patronus Charm and actually produce a corporeal Patronus. He was starting to get afraid of the fact that he was losing memory of the few things that had made him happy in his life. Everything that was going on now and had been going on in the past year seemed to overshadow anything good that had happened to him.

Suddenly, as if thinking about his dark past had led him there, Harry thought of Voldemort.

The next second Harry had fallen to the floor, his mouth open as an ear splitting scream issued from it.

~~**~~