Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

Harry left the Hall in such a huff; he didn't realize he was being followed. He made it as far as the first corridor before Draco called his name.

"Oh," he said flustered, "yes?"

"Don't get to excited there Harry," Draco said in a teasing manner.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking," he told the blonde boy.

"I could tell, that's why I called for you," he said. "I was wondering why you want to meet in a girl's lavatory," he asked narrowing his eyes.

"There's something I want to show you there. Oh, here comes Hermione, don't mention it in front of her, or she'll go ballistic," Harry said as Hermione came walking up to him.

"Are you alright Harry? You know Ron's just being a prat, he'll come around," she said then turned to look at Draco, "I want to apologize on behalf of Ron, because he'll never do it," she said honestly.

"Well, I won't accept his apology from you, especially since you and Harry here had to patch me up. Bloody git," he said grinding his teeth.

"Well, at least we agree on something," Hermione said quirking her mouth up slightly almost into a Slytherin worthy grin.

"Right, what do you have first 'Mione, I didn't get my time table. I think I have to see Dumbledore to get mine," he said.

"Why do you have to see him? I have Double Arithmancy first," she said without looking at her timetable.

"I have the same," Draco said looking at his own timetable.

"Well, let me go see the Headmaster, and I'll most likely meet you both there, I have after all chosen it as my new elective. Professor Vector wasn't too keen on accepting me. Even after Dumbledore told her I could catch up, she still seemed only partial to the idea until he mentioned that I was friends with both of you, and that we'd be in a small study group," Harry laughed, "I guess it pays to have friends that are at the top of our class." They both blushed.

They departed, and as far as Harry could tell, no one had unfrozen Ron yet, not that he cared at the moment, but he decided that if someone hadn't by the end of lunch, then he would.

"Canary Creams," Harry said reaching Dumbledore's gargoyle. The statue sprang aside and Harry couldn't help but grin at the Headmaster for using Weasley's Wizard Wheezes candies for passwords. Harry knocked on the door firmly, but not loudly.

"Come in Harry," Dumbledore said just as he was sitting down behind his seat.

"Sir, I realized that Professor McGonagall didn't give me a time table this morning when she handed them out. I didn't say anything due to a small dispute with Ron," Harry said sitting in the plush chair across from the Headmaster's desk.

"Ah, yes. I'm assuming you heard the news this morning about the Professor Aide spots?" he asked, his eyes twinkling madly, which to Harry could be a very bad thing in a serious situation. He was now just waiting for the blow of the news.

"Yes," he answered shortly.

"I was wondering if I may take you on as my personal aide. I'll be able to instruct you on the majority of your new training. Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick have vowed to help anyway possible," he said. "I could also use a break every once in a while and can think of no better person to bestow the responsibility on than you. You're a born leader Harry and you tend to take charge of a situation without knowing you do. I would like to nurture that gift," he said again letting his eyes be engulfed by their damned twinkling.

"Sir, I was under the impression that that's why you have a Deputy Headmistress," Harry implored.

"It is, but that does not help if she has to teach classes. The only classes you have to teach are the DA a few times a week. I understand the amount of homework given to you will be a burden, so I'm willing to write you a waver as long as you agree to read the assigned sections, and make sure you're able to do the practical part of the classes. You'll be responsible for reading course material, being able to brew potions, cast charms, and transfigure. I know with your Occlumency training you're able to absorb information easier, I had that side effect also, though Severus did not. If you agree, all written work will be waved," Dumbledore said looking intently at him.

"This sounds very much like a bribe sir," Harry said bluntly. It did, to him, sound like he was being bribed to become Dumbledore's assistant.

"Is there someone else you'd rather apprentice for?" the Headmaster asked him. Harry could see the hope in his eyes. Hope that he didn't want to train with anyone else.

"I thought about the DADA Professor, but I'm afraid with all the reading and practicing I've done, I may be able to teach the course myself," Harry snorted. Dumbledore too chuckled.

"I have to say Harry; it wouldn't be a bad idea if you weren't a student. But I'm taking it my offer has been accepted?" the Headmaster asked again. Harry got the distinct feeling Dumbledore was trying to pressure him into it. He really didn't have to, Harry wanted to do it, he just didn't trust the twinkle as much as he used to.

"Yes sir. As I told Hermione this morning, I wouldn't feel comfortable training with anyone else," Harry said modestly.

"Ah, this is grand!" Dumbledore said as he stood up and threw a stack of parchments into the fire.

"Sir, what was that?" Harry beseeched.

"The waver I was speaking of. Here is your time table. Each time you have a slot that says AD, please come here. While you are my assistant for the next two years, you are allowed to address me as Albus, I'll expect nothing more. I'd offer to pay you, but I have a feeling you won't accept it," Dumbledore said. "There is one last thing I want you to do before you go." The Headmaster stood and rounded the desk and leaned on it from the front.

"Every Headmaster has to ground themselves to the wards of the castle. This is what keeps them intact most of the time. Should they ever be breeched, or shall I have to fight in this war, I may be terminated. Should that occur, there will need to be someone to ground the wards to. Professor McGonagall cannot handle the wards, she complains about migraines every time. Professor Snape just hates the feeling of the pressure on himself. I want you to train to hold the wards through everyday function. Today will be your first day. The longer you have them on the heavier they'll get, but the key is a strong mind and I'm hoping that with your Mastery of Occlumency, you'll be able to control them. Should they slip today, they will automatically ground back to me," Albus said reassuring the frightened boy in front of him. He seemed to slightly relax at the last statement.

"Now, close your eyes and concentrate on keeping your walls up so the wards don't flood your mind. Ready?" Albus asked, and Harry nodded. Pointing his wand at Harry, he recited a few very quiet incantations and Harry began to feel the weight. Before he knew it, it was as if he was carrying a ten pound bag of rice on his head, but he was abuzz with energy. He could feel his magic like never before. It was in his head, his feet, fingers, veins. He could feel it everywhere.

"How does it feel Harry," Dumbledore asked Harry who still had his eyes closed relishing the feeling.

"Great, I've never been able to feel my own magic before, but it tingles," he said giving a small giggle. Dumbledore chuckled.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't have a problem with this. Now, off to class and I'll see you the next time your timetable tells you to see me," Albus said stretching sitting down in his chair. Harry could have sworn he was having a much needed vacation away from the wards.

***

Harry went to Arithmancy with Draco and Hermione. Professor Vector skipped all introductions and settled on diving right into the theory. Hermione, Draco, and he all grouped up to figure out a prophecy from long ago using star charts and birthdays. Harry found it actually quite easy, at the same time intriguing. It was like doing algebra to work out someone's future. The class passed quickly and he bid both Draco and Hermione good-bye, neither of them was taking DADA at the same time as he due to conflicting schedules. Neither seemed bothered by this because Hermione was in Harry's DA class and Draco had opted to join if he would be accepted. Harry of course told him to bring anyone from Slytherin that could be deemed safe and they'd vote them in.

He met Albus for a short while just to make sure he was having no after effects of carrying the wards. Albus told him he was doing fine, but Harry still felt like he had too much pinned up energy.

Walking down the corridor, Harry was on his way to DADA. He was going to be slightly late, he hoped that the Professor wouldn't be too mean; after all, he was carrying the wards to the castle. He made it to the door and heard a few people laugh out loud about something before he opened the door. He was hoping for a quiet entrance, but that hope was short lived.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, finally decided to grace us with your presence?" a small young blonde asked raising on of her petite eyebrows.

"Sorry, I was speaking with the Headmaster," he said standing just in front of the door; he hadn't moved to get a seat yet.

"Yes, I know, he told me you would be late, well, take a seat," she said impatiently. "I am Miss Moon, your Defence against the Dark Arts teacher." Harry nodded quickly and sat close to the door to get the attention away from him.

"Not there Potter, here," she said pointing to a front row seat. So again, he got up, all eyes on him, and moved to a seat that was in the front row, next to Neville.

"Now, I'm assuming you've gone over the first couple of chapters for this class?" she asked smirking as if she were going to catch him and bring him down to size on the first day.

"Yes ma'am," he said courteously.

"Oh, is that so. Well, care to give the class a short summary?" she asked crossing her arms and leaning back on her desk.

"Well, the first couple of chapters discuss duelling with shields. I'm not entirely sure why they seem to think magical shields are the only thing that can be used, but they tend to focus a lot on them," he explained.

"Care to elaborate on why magical shields are not the best to use," she asked in a bored tone.

"I tend to lean toward animated duelling rather than classical or eccentric. I like my options more that way," he said.

"Meaning?" she lead on again drawing it out as if it were killing her to simply talk about this.

"I mean, in animated duelling, you can use anything for a shield, where as in classical you use a barrier shield and dodge a lot, and in eccentric, you use strong barriers. I would just rather not run around when duelling, after all, who thinks well on the run," he said furrowing his brow as if thinking about something else also.

"Oh, so you don't like to dodge, well what do you do when a spell is cast your way?" she asked.

"Banish it, have a phoenix eat it, throw up a puny shield to deflect just that one spell, transfigure something to take the heat, animate something nearby with a strong shielding charm to run in the way. The possibilities are endless," he said lightly.

"Fine, if you're so adamant about proving your style to be better than everyone else's, we'll give the class a demonstration. Front and center Potter!" she yelled. Startled Harry got up and made his way to the front of the room.

"Ma'am, I was going to ask you this after class, but now seems a more appropriate time. Do you wish me to use a wand or not?" Harry asked wincing at the gasps from the rest of the people in the room.

"Oh, so you think you're good enough at wandless magic to duel with it?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"That's the reason I was asking. I want to get better at it. I can do it, but it's not perfect," he admitted.

"Well, then use both," she said as if it were the obvious answer.

"Right," he said trying to be agreeable.

"Now bow Potter," she said bowing to him.

"I'm duelling you!" he said surprised.

"Of course, who else would you be duelling?" she asked smirking.

"Um---of course, sorry," he said bowing her also.

They began to circle each other. Miss Moon made several fake attempts to curse him but didn't. Not wanting this to last all day, he did what he usually did first, made a small distraction.

"Avis!" he shouted at her with his palm pointed out. There was a gunshot sound and three phoenixes burst forth and started to circle him.

"Evanesco!" she said trying to banish the birds, but Harry just summoned a quill into the air in the way of the spell and it consumed the quill instead. "Stupefy!" she yelled again as a phoenix swooped down and swallowed the curse. Harry quickly summoned a parchment from her desk and transfigured a brick wall from it. Knowing that she was probably going to either blast through it, or sneak around it and try to stun him; he decided to try an invisibility spell that he knew. He'd never performed it, (it would have been much too difficult to do wandless) much like the majority of the spells he knew, but he wanted to try anyway. He looked at the class, who were the only ones that could see him, mainly Gryffindor's, thank goodness, and pressed his fingers to his lips in a "shhh' gesture. He swirled his wand and spun in a circle vanishing under his cloak then vanishing all together. He knew it worked because the side of the class he could see looked ready to faint. Harry snuck around the wall and around her desk. He walked behind her and waved his hand at the wall, the wall collapsed to show nothing behind it, now everyone in the room gasped.

"Where did he go?" she asked one boy who had a view of what was behind the wall. He just shook his head confused.

There were still phoenixes flying around the room so Harry decided to make this a spectacular show. Crouching down behind her desk, he revealed his invisibility and conjured a snake giving it directions to go after the Professor, but not to bite her, just scare her. The snake was all for the idea and took off as Harry changed into his Animagus form and acted to be biting at the snake before he saw the Professor, then acted as if he didn't want to mess with her, and left to join the others who were still flying around the room. Naturally, thinking that the bird and snake were both conjured by Harry from behind the desk, leapt upon the desk and did a revealing spell, only to get nothing.

Harry flew around with the other birds for ten minutes while she cast revealing wards around the room. In the end he'd gotten so bored that he landed on Neville's shoulder and got comfortable watching the show. Miss Moon was livid; apparently she'd never lost a duel before. Though technically, she didn't loose, she just didn't gain any honour or authority by winning.

The other birds too finally settled down on someone's shoulder. The class was no longer watching the deranged teacher look frantically for the Boy-Who-Lived, but instead just examined and petted the phoenixes.

"Excuse me, Miss. Moon?" A stern voice interrupted her from her search.

"Yes?" the teacher asked brushing hair out of her face.

"I was wondering if I may speak with Mr. Potter?" she asked looking around the room.

"If you can find him be my guest," Moon said dryly.

"He's not in class?" she asked, her lips coming to a stern line.

"Well, we were duelling and he kind of disappeared," she said leaning on her desk, again pushing strands of blonde hair that was astray, behind her ear.

"Oh, um--well if you see him, could you have him to see me as soon as possible," she asked.

Ever since Harry had heard his name the first time, he had flown off and was walking around on the ground in no particular motion. Finally after McGonagall's last sentence, he went a flight and landed on her shoulder.

"What on Earth are all these birds doing here?" she asked.

"He cast the Avis. I knew he could conjure a phoenix, but not four at the same time," Moon said as if she were unimpressed.

"Oh, right well I'll be in my office. If you see him, tell him to take the birds to the Owlery and come see me. Afternoon," she said as she left the DADA classroom going to her office.

When they were in her office she sat down behind her desk and got out a book. She lifted the bird from her shoulder and set it on a chair next to her. Then she finally took a glance at it.

"My word. You are the most peculiar phoenix I've ever seen. I've never seen a phoenix that had feathers outlined in black, nor emerald green---," she stopped there and gaped for a moment. Harry jumped back onto her desk and transformed back.

"MR. POTTER! What is the meaning of this? Do you have any idea how much trouble you could be in if the Ministry found out about this?" she was shrieking and looking up at him, as he was still standing on her desk in front of her.

"I'm sorry Professor, but that woman was being insufferable. She was intentionally trying to humiliate me in front of the class. She's a female version of Professor Snape," he said jumping off her desk and sitting in a chair.

"She seemed to be eager to meet you at the staff meeting, maybe she just didn't want you to think you were going to have it easy in her class," McGonagall said logically.

"Well, she could have just ignored me," Harry said sarcastically.

"I'll speak with her Mr. Potter. Now, I want to speak with you about two things, the first was going to be Animagus lessons. Albus saw fit to inform me that you've accepted his offer to be his aide," she said looking at him sternly, "but it seems that you apparently haven't told him that you're already an Animagus."

"I haven't told anyone, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't either. I really need all the surprises possible if I'm going to face Voldemort again," he explained.

"I do agree, but could you at least tell the Headmaster, he is, after all, training you personally," she expressed.

"I guess, but I'm not telling anyone else. There's someone else who wanted to show you their form also," Harry said with a smile playing at his lips.

"And who would that be?" she asked in an annoyed tone. Harry had the feeling that she didn't like not being consulted on such issues. After all, it was her expertise.

"I'm not telling in case the person has changed their mind, but just know that if I have anything to do with it, you will know. You may be the only one, but you'll know," Harry said mysteriously.

"Fine, fine. Now, next order of business, Quidditch. Any ideas on the people who are going to be filling in for the chaser positions?" she asked sliding a book over to him.

"Um--no. We'll also be filling the keeper position too, and possibly the beaters. I'm not impressed with the team as of right now," Harry said.

"Well you know you're captain by default. It was a toss-up between you and Ronald Weasley, but Dumbledore saw it fit to remove him from the team for the first term. I'm not impressed with the beaters either. I'd recommend that you have full tryouts, this includes yourself. Virginia was an excellent seeker last term, but if you can beat her, perhaps she can play chaser?" she said.

"I was hoping for the same thing," Harry said.

"Well, I suggest you make a poster for the common room. Tryouts will be held the first Saturday of October. Please have a roster before then. I have contacted Oliver Wood to help you with the process so that you don't spend all day out on the pitch. He's agreed to look at the beaters and keeper while you look after the seeker and chaser position. Any questions?" she asked looking at him appraisingly.

"No, but I do have a favour. If you would, please send a note to the Quidditch supply store in Diagon Alley and tell them to prepare for fittings of seven players from Gryffindor. Please inform them also that I would like a Firebolt reprehensive present. I want custom made brooms for the team so that their broom meets the needs of their positions," Harry said standing and making his way to the door.

"Are you funding this?" she asked shocked.

"I am. I see no reason why a team that will be working as hard as ours to get in shape should not have the best. I will also need a teacher to be able to escort us there. We can take floo from Hogsmeade to the Leaky Cauldron," he said with an air of dignity.

"Yes of course. I'll run the idea by the Headmaster to make sure its okay, but other then that, I'll be the one escorting you. You may go," she said as if she needed a nap.

"One more thing Professor," he said standing half in the empty doorway.

"Yes Mr. Potter?" she asked messaging her temples.

"I was wondering if you knew how to get rid of all this pinned up energy. It made me conjure three birds in my Defence class and there's still plenty to dispel," he said rather annoyed.

"Pinned up energy?" she said confused.

"Oh, sorry, I was vague. I'm carrying the wards for Professor Dumbledore. He wanted to teach me how, but I'm all abuzz with energy and it's driving me nuts. I have to get rid of some of it. I cast some powerful spells, including an invisibility spell, in Defence and I still feel like I could take on Dumbledore in a duel and come out on top, and I've seen the Headmaster duel, brilliant," he added as an afterthought.

"The wards!" she exclaimed. "He's letting you do something like that! That's totally irresponsible of him, how could he?" she screeched. "Mr. Potter you must transfer them over to me at once. This is very unacceptable," she said standing and making her way towards Harry.

"But I thought you didn't like them because they gave you a headache," Harry said in confusion.

"They don't give you one?" she asked stopping half way between her desk and the door to the office.

"No, but if I don't get rid of this stupid buzz I'm going to go spare!" he said exasperated.

"Did you tell the Headmaster about it, it could be a very bad side effect," she said again in her 'Hermione-logic' tone.

"Yes, but all he does is twinkle at me and tell me I'm doing excellent. That doesn't help alleviate the problem much does it?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yes, the twinkling does get a bit annoying. It usually means he's planning something so watch yourself Potter," she said turning back and sitting behind the chair at her desk.

"So I've noticed. His eyes were the worst I've ever seen them this morning when he was talking me into the apprenticeship," he said rolling his eyes. "Anyway, I guess I'll try to get an answer from Snape tomorrow, maybe he has this effect too," Harry said offhandedly.

"Right, see you in class tomorrow Mr. Potter, and remember to post the tryouts in the common room," she said as he was walking out the door.

"Will do Professor, good afternoon," he said closing the door.

***

Harry's last class for the afternoon was Spell Invention. When Harry arrived, he was shocked to see that the class was very small. It consisted of about eight people. There were Hermione, Draco, a few Slytherin's, one Hufflepuff, and the rest were Ravenclaw's. He took his seat between Draco and Hermione and looked around. They all seemed too smart. Then he realized what the class actually was, it was comprised of the top students in their class. He hadn't even known that he was in the top ten. Of course Hermione and Draco were here, they were always battling it out for the top spot. I'm going to drown in here, he though. As the thought left his head, Dumbledore entered the room.

"Welcome students. I'm sure you're all wondering what this class is. Well as it said in you Hogwarts letters, this class is the Theory of Spell Invention. You have all been selected though your performances throughout your studies, and have voted upon by your Professors. We usually teach this class every year to the top five students. Because there is not a lot of Scopiries in the world today, that is spell inventors, we have a great need for new material. With the dark times a head, we have been entrusted by the Ministry to supply Auror's with new material."

"Now, the majority of spells are done in Latin, but there is no need to keep it this way. The spell must have a reaction with your wand movement, as I'm sure Professor Flitwick has explained. The first thing you must learn is what movements of the wand do. For every action, there is an effect, observe," Dumbledore said as he raised his wand. He moved it in an intrigued pattern and ended it with an incantation. "The wand movement actually does the work; the words you use just execute the spell and tell it what to do. You may be asking, if that is the case, then why is there no wand movement for the Killing Curse, or the Cruciatus Curse. This is because these curses, like a lot of curses, are made completely by feeling. Hate, rage, vengeance, these are all feelings that help invoke the killing curse. With these feelings, all that is needed is a word of execution, and the function can be carried out. Does everyone understand?" he asked looking around but no one was even stirring, in fact, Harry noticed that they were all staring intently at the Headmaster. Hermione finally raised her hand.

"Yes Miss Granger?" he asked ever so politely.

"You make it sound so simple, which I know it's not, but why are there no Scopiries anymore?" she asked, "It seems like it would be a fascinating job."

"That is where the catch is. For a long time now, the Ministry has forbidden anyone to create a spell without letting them know so that there will be documentation on it. And if a spell is invented, the most a Scopiries would get is an award of some kind. It may sometimes take years to perfect a spell, then the Ministry just take it and give you a piece of parchment for recognition. That's no way to support a family," he said. "I also have to add that for every spell invented now, there must also be a counter. This was put into effect around my fifth birthday. Most invent their spells around the universal Finite Incantatem. This makes for an easier job. Even a weak Imperius Curse can be broken by this. People found out early that it's much easier to create two spells with the same counter, rather than two spells with two counters," he said.

"Well that makes sense. If we didn't want to revolve our spells around the universal counter, would the Ministry look down upon us?" she asked apprehensively.

"Absolutely not. They realized now that with the same counter for everything, they have no advantage, but still yet, they make the conditions for Scopiries no better, so no one creates spells that are better," he said lightly. Hermione just nodded her head in understanding. "Now, the books for this art are not published as textbooks, but as advanced guides. Now that you know how and have an understanding, I'm sorry to say, you are on your own. This class will meet here once a week to go over any questions or comments that you have. I want two groups of four working on a project at all times. The groups will meet everyday, wherever you are comfortable, and will work on a new spell. Some may grasp this right away, while some may dwindle, but the art will never become easy," he said modestly.

"Professor I have one more question," Hermione said.

"Ask away Miss Granger," he said twinkling, he was obviously enjoying himself.

"If the Unforgivables are due to pure emotion, then why can't there be a counter spell that is pure emotion also. You would have to be in the frame of mind as you were casting a Patronus, but it wouldn't be impossible," Hermione said with her brow furrowed. Harry grinned at his brilliant friend; the wheels in her head were already turning.

"First there would have to be a feeling of wanting to live, which may not be hard most of the time, but have you ever been on the receiving end of the killing curse? It would be hard for anyone to cast a spell with the emotion of life if they heard the words Avada Kedavra yelled at them. Secondly, the incantation would have to be very powerful in itself and it's much easier to cast a spell with hate than it is to cast a spell with love and life at an enemy," he concluded with various nods of agreement.

Harry, Hermione, and Draco were very surprised that everyone automatically assumed they would be in a group. Everyone else but Susan Bones automatically huddled together and started planning.

"Hi, I'm Susan, do mind if I join you?" she asked sheepishly, it wasn't like she really had a choice; there were already two Ravenclaw's, and two Slytherin's in the other group.

"We'd be happy to have you," Hermione said. Harry remembered Susan from the DA; she was quite good with charms if he remembered correctly.

"So," Hermione said taking charge, this was after all her area, "Where to meet, any suggestions?" she asked taking out a piece of parchment. Harry glanced over at the other table to see if any of them were DA members, they weren't.

"Room of Requirement. None of them are from the DA so they wouldn't know where it is, it should be free," Harry said. Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Times," she stated then got an odd look on her face, "I really don't have a lot of time because I have a lot of elective classes. How about we all compare schedules real quick and we can look for empty time slots," she suggested. They all took out their time tables and began searching.

"I don't see any free times besides dinner and lunch," Draco said looking them over one last time. "Harry, what kind of class do you have at seven o'clock in the evening till nine?" he asked looking up from the timetable and addressing Harry.

"Well, a position has been graciously offered to me. The opportunity was too good to give up, well actually I think I was being bribed into taking it in the first place, but there's perks," he said with a mischievous grin.

"What are you talking about? Position? Perks? Spill," Said Hermione in a demanding tone. Harry just snorted a laugh at her.

"Dumbledore coned, bribed, and pressured me into taking his apprentice position. I get extra training in the evening on anything that can protect me from Voldemort," Harry said while Susan gasped. "Susan, I'm not trying to be rude, but everyone is this group calls him by Voldemort, or Tom Riddle, which is his real name. We don't do the whole He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or You-Know-Who, he has a name and we're using it. If you can't use his name in front of us, then don't talk about him," Harry said in a serious tone that said there was no objecting to this.

"Susan, I don't think he meant that to sound so harsh, but it's true, we use his name because we refuse to fear a name, call it Gryffindor if you like, but all that You-Know-Who nonsense only creates more fear," Hermione said in her logical tone. Susan nodded in agreement, but said nothing more.

"So you're getting personal training from the greatest wizard in this millennium?" Draco asked with a smirk.

"Well I'm not sure about the title but yes I'm getting training from him. Actually Hermione, I was wondering something. He has me carrying the wards and I have this constant buzz of energy. There's no way I can sleep like this, do you have any idea what to do, I need to get rid of some of it," he said in an annoyed voice.

"You're WHAT?!" Draco and Hermione asked at the same time.

"Carrying the wards. Oh please don't do the McGonagall thing to me, she's already berated me for it, and it wasn't even my idea. Albus said he needed a break and McGonagall gets a headache from it, while Snape doesn't like to hold them due to the extra weight. So he wants to train me to hold them while he's around, in case I drop them," Harry tried to say nonchalantly. They left the conversation at that. Hermione simply answered that, no, she didn't know how to get rid of the extra energy and they left agreeing to meet during dinner every day until they could find a way to make a change in their schedules. They would have the house elves bring their dinner up to the Room of Requirement. Then Harry would already be there for his lessons when the students came after dinner.

***

It was dinner time now and Harry was just making his way to the Great Hall with Susan, Draco, and Hermione. They were coming down from the third corridor when the staircases started moving.

"Not now," Harry said in an exasperated voice. The staircases all stopped in place. Harry panicked, what did he do? They all looked at each other in shock. "What the hell just happened," Harry said looking at the others.

"She's listening to you," Susan said in a whisper.

"Who?" they all said in unison.

"Hogwarts. You're carrying the wards; she's doing what you say. Tell her to move back the staircases the way they were," she said with excitement in her whisper. Harry clearly wasn't excited about this. Why would Hogwarts listen to him, he was just a temporary relief for Albus. It was very disturbing.

"Please move the staircases back until we reach the Great Hall," Harry said aloud looking around as if looking for Hogwarts herself. For a second nothing happened, and then they started retreating to their original position. Okay, this is a little too much, Harry thought

"That was really weird," Hermione said spooked. She wasn't the only one; Draco had gone even paler, if that was possible. His milky white skin was already almost transparent.

"Dumbledore's going to flip when he hears about this," Harry said with a grin. This could be fun. This would be a way to pay Albus back for making him feel like he was vibrating all day. "He won't believe it."

"Let's go before she changes her mind," Draco said hurrying down the stairs. Apparently the thought of something as big as Hogwarts listening to commands was a little much for him.

They entered the Great Hall where they all went to their own tables except Harry. Feeling quite flustered and annoyed at the recent events, he strode straight up to the Head table to demand an answer from Albus.

"Ah, Harry, I'm assuming your first day was good?" he said, but then his expression changed. "What's bothering you?" he asked skipping riddles.

"Albus, why did the staircases stop when I asked them to?" he demanded. He was not going to let Albus get away with one of his vague excuses.

"Excuse me?" Professor McGonagall said raising an eyebrow. She was either surprised about him calling the Headmaster 'Albus', or about Hogwarts listening to his commands, he couldn't tell.

"We were just on our way down to dinner when the staircases started to move. I was already tired from a full day of lessons and said 'not now' in a tired voice and they stopped, all of them. Susan told me to tell them to go back and they did. Why is Hogwarts listening to me? Does she do that for you also?" he asked Albus. The Headmaster looked to be pondering something.

"No, well, yes in a way," he answered changing his mind rather quickly. "I make simple request for the wards only, but she's never really listened to anything else I have to say," Dumbledore said, though the twinkle came back ten-fold.

"Stop twinkling Albus and tell me what's going on," Harry demanded. McGonagall snorted at this while Albus chuckled.

"My dear boy, it has long since been a rumour that Hogwarts used to listen to commands. Godric Gryffindor himself said that he made changes to the castle all the time using this method. All the founder could do it, though I'm not sure why you can unless-," he trailed off in thought.

"Unless?" Harry prompted. There he goes again with the riddles and vagueness.

"Harry, there is a Heritage Potion we will be making tonight in your private lessons. I want you to acquire the book that I sent to your house called, Potions for the Advance Brewer: by Nathan Mugwart," he said looking at Harry intently.

"I've already read it and know the potion. I was going to ask you about it later. I'll meet you in the dungeons at seven o'clock to brew the potion," Harry said with a curt nod before moving to his own table before Albus could spew out any more riddles. He made have made amends with that man, but he still hated being left in the dark.

"What did he say?" Hermione asked when Harry took a seat beside her.

"We're brewing a potion tonight that should answer some questions, I'll let you know the result when we return," Harry said digging into his meal, it felt as if he hadn't eaten for ages. He was completely famished.

Harry looked across the table to see Ron, he hadn't thought all day about a reason why Albus shouldn't expel him. As he looked at Ron, it now seemed like he was an empty shell. He had no emotions on his face, no emotions in his eyes, he just looked empty, un-aroused, and without energy. The look was familiar to Harry, though he wasn't sure where he had seen it before, but the Moody from fourth year kept coming back to him. Then it hit him.

"Oh, gods," he mumbled in a whisper.

"What?" Hermione asked somewhat louder than she should have. Everyone looked at her.

"I think Ron's under the Imperius Curse," he said leaning down and whispering in her ear. She looked at Ron intently for a minute before she looked at Harry and nodded in agreement of the possibility. Hermione stood up and shouted at Ron,

"Petrificus Totalus!" her face was red with determination as Ron stiffened like a board and slid between the bench and the table. Well, that's one way to get him to follow along, Harry though sarcastically.

"Hey, he wasn't even doing anything this time," Seamus exclaimed getting up to help Ron out from under the table.

"Don't touch him!" Harry exclaimed getting up and hauling Ron out from under the table. Apparently the curse was a strong one or Ron would have been able to beat it off, meaning Harry was taking no chances on having to duel his best friend with all the students in the Great Hall in the vicinity. It could get dirty.

"Harry what are you doing?" Dean said confused.

"Something's wrong. I'll explain tonight but right now we have to get him to the headmaster's office," Harry said as he levitated him and strode up to the staff table with Ron trailing along.

"Mr. Potter what is the meaning of this?" Professor McGonagall said clearly flustered.

"I think you both should leave for the headmaster's office now. I'm pretty sure Ron is under the Imperius Curse. It may do well for us to get a memory enhancer to see if we can see who did this," he said. Dumbledore didn't question him or skip a beat. Without pause orders were given out.

"Minerva please inform Severus that we will need the memory enhancer as soon as possible, then floo the Weasley's and invite them to my office. Harry you and Miss Granger please make your way to my office, I will be with you shortly," Albus said standing. Harry gave a curt nod and left the Great Hall with Hermione in tow, his stomach was protesting every step of the way.