Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

Harry was, as of right now, lying on a couch in Albus's office. It was supposed to happen any minute now. Albus had already cast a pain relieving charm on him and took the wards from him. Harry told him that it was just a little pain, and that he should be able to keep the wards stable, but Albus argued and told him it was better safe than sorry.

Harry began to feel a tingly burning feeling on his back. Out of instinct, he automatically sat up to not to put pressure on the area. Albus looked up from some work he was going over and stood up behind his desk.

"It's going to be on my back," Harry said trying to slip into his mind games so he could push the pain away.

"No, Harry, don't. I don't want you getting stuck if they pain is too much. You'll have to stay alert," Dumbledore said as he saw Harry's emerald orbs start to glaze over.

The pain was becoming more intense and Harry started to grit his teeth. Flames.

"Dear boy, if you want to scream, do so. It does not make you less of a man," he said trying to reason with the boy who was no sitting straight up on the couch and arching his back. Dumbledore waved his wand and stripped Harry of his shirt to get rid of any discomfort.

Harry glared at Albus for his nakedness, but said nothing in fear that he might cry out. The pain was fast approaching that of the Cruciatus and Harry was now gripping the cushions so hard that the bones in his hands hurt. The pain was throbbing and dull, but nagging. As soon as Harry thought the pain was going to start subsiding, it hit again with full force at a ten fold. He threw himself on the ground on knees and clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth felt like they may crush one another at anytime. He dug in fingers into the hearth rug under him as the fire traveled up his back. He was vaguely aware of Albus sucking in a quick breath as he watched with fascination and horror.

Harry was starting to let out a strangled cry, but caught himself, he was totally aware of his surrounds, but cared not. The flesh on his back was melting away, peeling off as the fire started at the small of his back and moved up as the flames licked and tore at his skin, or so that's what it felt like was happening. Fawks started trilling loudly as Harry cried out once, and then pushed the pain back down his throat where it had escaped from.

It had been close to eight minutes now, and Harry was starting to feel the exhaustion of the pain, and not having the wards. He began to get dizzy. He became vaguely aware that Albus was trying to talk to him in soothing tones. Then the final stage happened, or what he hopped was the final stage. Thorns seemed to be entwining around his spinal cord with such ferocity that he felt he would be crippled. The pain was too much. He let the black nothingness engulf him taking him out of his pain, and into a slumber of unconsciousness.

***

Harry woke feeling very odd. The pain was no more and he was again buzzing with magic. He had the wards back, but why? He became aware of voices around him. Hermione and Ron were having a debate over something. Both his hands were entwined with others. The first was the familiar Draco's, soft but firm, but whose did the other belong to? He pried his eyes open to see flaming red hair, Ginny. He gave her hand a squeeze in thanks as she looked down at him and smiled.

"Hello sleepy head," she said in a soft soothing tone. He smiled at her while squeezing Draco's hand too.

"Merlin Harry, you had us all scared stiff," Draco said as he brushed back hair out of Harry's face.

"How long have I been out? And why did Albus give the wards back so early?" he asked confused. Better safe than sorry does not mean giving an unconscious boy wards.

"What do you mean? You've been carrying the wards all day," Hermione said.

"No, Albus took them before the potion took effect. He didn't want anything to happen while I was in pain. Better safe than sorry, he told me," Harry conveyed to them.

"I'll get Madam Pomfrey," Ron said standing. He wanted to call out to Ron so he wouldn't get her yet, but his throat was still too sore to yell. Seeing the discomfort in his face, Neville handed him a glass of water.

"Thanks Nev," he said in a scratchy voice. Neville just nodded in return, not wanting Harry to speak.

"Why did you use the Heritage Potion?" Luna finally asked. Harry looked over behind Draco to see her standing behind him, one hand on his shoulder showing support.

"Curiosity, and Albus was hoping that it would solve some mysteries about why I was becoming so powerful and why Hogwarts listened to me," Harry explained.

"I'm assuming the tattoo is on your back," Hermione spoke up looking at him intently. Harry nodded.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"Harry, you're not laying on the bed, you hovering above it," Draco said. Harry was all the sudden aware of it, but did nothing to make a sudden move afraid of falling on his back.

"Why didn't she just lay me on my stomach?" he asked confused.

"She's not the one who levitated you, you're doing it yourself," Ginny said smirking.

"What?!" he said twisting and trying to move, but to no avail. He was sudden aware that he had cried out because his throat began to sting as if raw. He closed his eyes and put his hand to his throat. Luna pressed his glass of water into his free hand again. He gave her a look of thanks and sipped it again.

"Never in all my years here have I seen such reckless behavior. A duel, then that horrible potion! Lord knows what happened to Albus!" the voice of Madam Pomfrey said making her way to him. Harry smiled at the medi-witch.

"Hello Poppy, sorry to grace you with my presence again, but at least this time you knew I was coming," He said as if that fixed everything.

"Well its not as if it does any good, I can't heal you. You're stubborn even when you're unconscious. Haven't been able to so much as cast a revealing charm on you to see what's wrong," she fussed.

"Huh?" he said sounding rather stupid, but he was confused again. "What do you mean you can't do magic on me?"

"I just can't, all my spells go astray, won't even touch you, just veer off course," she said flustered.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't doing it intentionally. Tell me, do you know why Albus gave me the wards back for?" he asked her.

"I have no idea why he did. I'd ask him if he wasn't out like a light too!" she said accusingly.

"What!" he screamed again then winced at his throat. "What do you mean Albus is out? Do you mean unconscious?" he asked.

"Yes, neither of you showed up so I went to go check with him when I found you both on the floor. You were shirtless and had a very large, but odd tattoo on your back, and he was lying not far from you gone to the world. I've been expecting him to wake up anytime, but he hasn't yet," she said motioning to a bed across from the foot of his. Harry tilted his head up to see, but could only see what he presumed was the Headmaster's feet under a sheet.

"Well, can I sit up? I want you guys to tell me what the tattoo on my back is," Harry asked the medi-witch.

"I'm not keeping you restrained, you're doing it yourself," she said. Then Harry realized what he thought was happening.

"Please release me," he said out loud much to everyone's confusion, but then started to drift down towards the bed slowly.

"Were you talking to her, I mean Hogwarts?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.

"Hogwarts? What do you mean?" Poppy asked, now confused herself.

"Hogwarts listens to him," Draco explained.

"How?" Poppy asked shocked.

"We don't know why. The Headmaster was hopping that the Heritage Potion would explain something," Hermione said. "Lean up Harry so we can have a look."

"Wait," he said quickly, "I only want Poppy, Draco, and Hermione to see it first. I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude, but Draco and Hermione have had runes for years now and this is Poppy's ward. I'll let you back in as soon as I know what they mean, I promise," Harry said with a pleading eye to his other friends. Neville and Luna nodded in understanding, but Ron looked mad.

"That's not fair, I've been your friend for years, doesn't that mean anything?" He asked hurt.

"Ron, it's not like that. If there's something on my back that is bad, the less that anyone knows the better," he said. Ron looked thoughtful for a second before he finally nodded defeated and headed out with Luna and Neville.

Harry held his hand out to Draco to help him sit up. As he did, he felt the skin on his back stretch painfully. He grimaced before Poppy took action and placed a pain relieving spell on his back. There were gasps all around when he finally sat all the way up and the while sheet fell.

"What? What is it?" he asked harshly.

"You have Heir runes on your shoulder blades and one right below the neck line," Hermione said.

"The Heir Runes of who?" he asked.

"On your right blade there's the golden rune of Gryffindore. On the middle of your back, there's a golden griffin, it's quite large," Hermione said.

"You said blades, what's on the other one? Harry asked.

"It's silver, and it's the rune for Slytherin, there's a snake that keeps moving around the Griffin's feet, but it's not hostile looking, but graceful," Draco said thoughtfully. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breathe,

"Animated, the book didn't say anything about animated tattoos," he said in a dreadful tone, "And the one below my neck line?" he finally asked.

"Its sky blue, but I have no idea what it means. It could be a new heir rune for those who are heirs of both Salazar and Godric, but we'll have to look it up. Wait and I'll make a copy of it," Hermione said grabbing a piece of parchment and drawing intricately.

"Do you think that Hogwarts is keeping Albus out?" Poppy said looking back at the other man.

"Could be, I'll ask that she let him wake," he said, but didn't have to ask because Albus started to stir. "Well, I guess she heard me," Harry said amused.

"Harry what are you going to do? Do you want everyone knowing that you're the heir of Slytherin also?" Hermione asked hesitantly. "I'm not sure how Ron would react," she finished.

"I know what you mean, but I have no idea what I'm going to do. I think we should keep the whole thing quiet until we find out what the last rune is," Harry said.

"But the other's are going to want to know," Draco reasoned.

"Tell them that the blue rune is the only one there right now. They can help look it up, and when we find out, we'll let them know," Harry said. He didn't like the fact that Ron would once more go ballistic on him.

"I understand," Hermione said as she stood and walked over to Albus's bed where Poppy was helping him sit up.

While the others tended to the Headmaster, Harry looked over to where Snape was laid on his own bed, with the curtains half closed. The man was still unconscious from a simple stunning spell. Granted, it was done with the Hogwarts decompressing the magic in him, making it fiercer than it would have normally been, but it was just hard to believe that a fully trained wizard would be out for that long over a simple stunner. He suddenly got the urge to wake him. He didn't know why, or even how, he just knew he had to.

From where he was sitting on the side of his bed, shirtless, he raised his arm and pointed a single finger at Snape. Threads of gold light began to flow out of his finger. The color was almost mesmerizing as they flowed though out the room seeking their common destination. The fifty or so threads sought out Snape and began to wrap themselves around him. The Potions master began to lift up out of the bed as the threads became more stable and before he knew it, he was no longer in a laying position, but in a supine one. The threads worked their way around his body as they sought for errors in him. How Harry knew this he had no idea, it just seemed like he knew that every imperfection in Professor Snape was, at this moment, being healed by the mysterious webbing that connected his body to Snape's.

Poppy looked furious for a second, before Albus got her attention and held her back, making her calm down in the process. The threads began to recede back to him. As the last of the webbing made its way back into his pointer finger, Snape's eyes snapped open holding a glossy daze. The threads snapped back suddenly as if being sucked up by Harry and he suddenly felt spent. He sat on the bed, slightly panting as the put his face in his hands. A cold sweat had appeared on his face, and his hands were clammy from the experience. He closed his eyes when he realized that he was slightly shaking and decided to lie back on the bed. He covered up with the blanks as Poppy shuffled over to Snape to examine him.

"Shock," Poppy said shortly before turning to Harry with an accusing glare, "What did you do to him?"

"I---I don't know," he said stuttering. He was trying to keep from shivering uncontrollably. "I think I was healing him, though I don't know what of," he said in a small voice that would have been expected of a first year, or that he himself would have used when he was still living with the Dursleys.

"Well, then it didn't work, you just brought him out of a semi-coma, and put him into a state of shock," she said disapprovingly.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I did it, or even how I did it. I just knew that he needed to be woken up, so some instinct took over and did it," he said. His voice was a bit more confident this time, but not by much. The covers seemed to be doing the job of warming him back up.

"Will magic," Albus said instantly.

"Headmaster, that's only a theory, there's no way he could have done that, he's only a boy," Poppy retorted in a very Hermione like way.

"I dare say Poppy, he's surprised us more than once," Albus said walking over to Snape. "Harry, do you know what you were curing him of?" he asked after a second.

"I initially thought he just needed to wake, but then the threads started looking for imperfections I think," he said as he pulled the covers up to his neck and burrowed into them. The warmer he got the more security he felt. Seeing this, Draco came out of his shock and sat on the bed next to him and began running his fingers through his hair in a soothing fashion.

"Well, I think I know what put him in a state of shock Poppy," the headmaster said after a second of close examination.

"What?" she asked curious but still in her stern tone.

"The Dark Mark is gone, completely vanished," he said beaming at Harry. Albus helped Snape back into bed and cast a sleeping charm on him that would relax him and let him wake from the shock while sleeping. At the moment, Harry didn't care, he just wanted to sleep. Whatever he just did had drained him, and he needed rest, regardless of the wards giving him energy or not.

***

Harry was awakened by Poppy arguing with Professor McGonagall. Harry propped himself up on his elbows to watch the show. Of all the professors in the school, these were probably the two that were most alike and compatible as far as personalities go. When Professor McGonagall noticed that he was smirking while watching the show, she ignored Poppy and approached him.

"Potter, get dressed, you are needed in the Headmaster's office immediately," she said turning and briskly walking out, ignoring the scowl from Poppy.

Harry did as he was told. He got up and made himself presentable before making his way down to the Entrance Hall. It was now that he noticed that it must have been dinner time because all the students were in the Great Hall eating. He passed the doors and proceeded up the staircases that led to the second floor, and where the gargoyle sat. After giving the correct password to the statue, he made his way up to the office.

"Come in Harry," Dumbledore said before he even had a chance to knock on the door. He walked in and took a seat in one of the comfy chairs.

The look on the Headmaster's face was not one of pleasure, but of grief and graveness.

"What's happened?" Harry asked cautiously not sure if he even wanted to know.

"Three Muggle primary schools were attacked this morning. Over three thousand children were lost, and there are still attacks springing up all over the country. I'm not sure what spurred the attacks, but there was one wall unaffected at the third school. The wall said 'my dedication to Potter'," Dumbledore said shaking his head. "I know he's just trying to break you, make you feel guilty for not being able to help those children, but what you have to understand Harry, is that this is the way he works. He likes to feed off people's emotions, that's why he relishes the fact that no one will say his name out of fear," Albus explained. Harry sat numb, saying nothing.

"There's more," Professor McGonagall prompted gravely. Albus again took the lead.

"Narcissa Malfoy has gone to the ministry and asked for help. She claims that Lucius put her under the Imperius and that she was just able to get away. Because Sirius was your Godfather, and you have proved his innocence, she is claiming custody of you because she was the next in relation to Sirius. Your vaults at Gringotts have been frozen until a custody hearing is set up. Tonks has agreed to fight for your custody but the chances that she gets her way are very small. Narcissa has been given the Malfoy estate, and the fortune back, and is now claiming yours as rightfully hers due to you being in her family via Sirius's relationship to you," Dumbledore said. Harry just heard his whole world falling to the ground around him.

"What are the chances that this is all Voldemort's doing?" he asked in a small voice.

"Very, very high. He has developed a potion that the Vertiserum cannot break. No one will ever know the truth, and thus, she is within her legal rights," Albus said shaking his head. "I'll help you in anyway I can, but I must warn you that all the conditions fit exactly as they should for her to win the case. Our only chance is that the judge overseeing the custody hearing is not blind and deaf of the ways of Voldemort."

"And Draco?" he prompted.

"He will have to return home. He is no longer under my custody," Albus whispered.

"What if we told the new Minister of Magic about the prophecy, will that increase my chances of winning the hearing and being able to preside with Tonks as my magical guardian?" he asked.

"Harry, I don't think you understand. She is not only your magical guardian, but your only guardian. Because your aunt and uncle weren't actually pointed out as your guardian, Narcissia is the only one that can claim it respectfully," Albus said. "This means when you leave here, you'll be returning to the Malfoy manner for the Holiday. She has already requested you attend a Christmas party at the manner."

"As for revealing the prophecy, it will be a great risk, but it may work. If it doesn't, then we risk the fact that Voldemort may find out," he finished. Tears were starting to stain his cheeks. His whole world, everything he'd worked for, and that the Headmaster has worked for was crashing down around him in blurred movements.

"Will the Weasleys be loosing the money I gave them from the Black Family Trust?" Harry asked dreading the answer.

"No, what's gone is gone, she cannot have it back. The Potter trust will also be under the Malfoy's control should this take place. You will be left with nothing as far as money. It will all be added to the Malfoy vault which, as I said, is back in her control," Dumbledore said.

"Do you think the Goblins will resort to bribery? If I give them a percentage of what is in my vaults, will they let me transfer the money into someone else's vault?" he asked carefully.

"Goblins are greedy, but they are greedy legally. I don't think they will agree, especially since the next largest line of vaults belongs to the Malfoys. I'm sorry," he said.

Harry, now thoroughly depressed sat in thought for a moment. Why had his parents given him a godfather, but no godmother? That could have fixed everything. He wanted to be mad at their attempt to keep him safe, but at the same time found it hard to mean ill at a dead person. He sighed in exasperation.

"All because of no godmother," he muttered. Professor McGonagall sat up at this.

"Excuse me?" she asked somewhat distractedly while looking at Albus.

"I'm sorry, I mean, this could have all been avoided if my parents would have appointed a godmother for me," he said somewhat embarrassed.

"But they did Harry," Albus said giving him a confused look, "Sirius never told you?"

"What? No, he never told me, who is it?" he asked perking up a bit.

"Well, it wouldn't matter, she's somewhat unavailable," McGonagall said stiffly as if she didn't want to pursue the subject.

"Well, are you going to tell me or avoid the question until I have a chance to ask Remus?" he asked annoyed. He was beginning to feel like it was his fifth year again and he was being kept in the dark.

"Alice Longbottom, she and your mother were very close. They were in the same year in school and both joined the order together, not to mention carried children at the same time," Albus enlightened him.

"Oh," he said somewhat dejected. He knew now why she was unavailable. She was in St. Mungo's for being tortured under the Cruciatus for too long and had gone insane. "Wait," Harry said pensively for a moment, "If my godmother is unavailable than why not just move down the line like Narcissa did?" Harry asked.

"I'm not following Harry," professor McGonagall said briskly.

"Next in kin, same as Narcissa is to Sirius," he said thoughtfully.

"Harry, that would be Neville. He's too young to plea for custody," she said as if it were obvious.

"No, no, don't go down, go up," he said accusingly as if she were deliberately trying to annoy him now.

"Neville's grandmother?" she asked like she was appalled.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Harry, you don't even know her! Don't you think it would be a bit rude of you to ask her to take custody of you when she doesn't even know you?" she reprimanded him. Harry let out of sigh of annoyance.

"I can't go home with her for holidays because I have to go to my aunts. She wouldn't even have to do anything but represent me at the hearing. If she gets custody and I get my accounts back, I'll pay her for her trouble, though if she's anything like Neville says she is, she wouldn't accept it. He even said that she believed Albus when it came out the Voldemort was back. I think she'd be perfect," he said adamantly.

"Well, instead of trying to guess what she'd say, why don't we ask her? She is, after all, part of the Order," Albus said standing up and making his way to the fire place. He threw in some floo powder and called for her.

"Yes?" said a vaguely familiar voice, "Oh, Albus, how wonderful to hear from you. Is Neville alright?" she asked, a tinge of concern in her voice.

"Yes, yes, everything's fine, I was wondering if you could join me in my office briefly for a discussion," he said graciously. The old woman looked at him for a second before nodding.

"Of course Albus," she said as the headmaster drew away from the fireplace. There was a rise of green flames and a swoosh before Mrs. Longbottom stepped out in a dignified manner. "Oh, hello Minerva, and Oh, Mr. Potter, you grown quite a bit since out last meeting at St. Mungo's," she said looking at the three of them. Harry took out his wand and gave it a tight flick to produce a very comfortable looking chair. It was cushy and was covered in purple velvet. "Quite fancy," she said taking it graciously.

"Practice," he murmured, before looking back at Albus for direction.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" she said briskly getting comfortable in her fancy chair.

"As you are aware, Harry godfather was recently killed helping protect him and your grandson, as well as others, at the Ministry last term," Albus explain calmly. Mrs. Longbottom just nodded in agreement.

"It seems that upon his dismissal, Narcissia Malfoy has taken it upon herself to claim custody of him due to her relation with Sirius," he said gravely. Mrs. Longbottom sucked in a sharp breath.

"You're kidding, how could she after Lucius is a known Deatheater, and when she helped harbor him. I don't understand how she was even able to get to the Ministry to file without being apprehended," she said. Harry noticed she looked quite angry. He could only assume it was because her son's torturer was Narcissia's sister.

"She claimed Lucius had her under the Imperius and she was just able to get away. She has frozen all of Harry's vaults so he can't use any of his money or inheritance from the Black Family Trust, or that from the Potter Fortune. This is because if she indeed gets custody, it will all become hers, thus giving the Dark Lord an unlimited amount of money for terror purposes," Albus explained.

"You poor boy. Do those ministry officials have no decency in their bodies? It's too big a risk to allow such a thing. But I'm still not clear as to why I'm here?" she said looking at Harry with pity.

"Well, we seem to think we can take a leaf out of her book, as the Muggle term goes. Because Alice was Harry's godmother, you have just as much right to fight for him as Narcissa does. Mind, you wouldn't really have to take him in, he lives with his Muggle relatives anyway, it's safer. We were just wondering if there could be anyway you would stand with him in a custody hearing. Harry is willing to pay all the charges and some extra if needed," Albus ended smoothly.

Mrs. Longbottom looked taken aback for a moment. She was clearly debating over whether to except or not.

"Mrs. Longbottom," Harry addressed her, "I would understand completely if you don't want to do this. It would be a huge risk for you and Neville should the wizarding world find out that you are my guardian. But on the other hand, I'm sure that there will be plenty of protection from both the order and the ministry. I would even be willing to hire Aurors to take watch over you and your house. They're not part of the ministry anyway, no one can actually call them off but the Director of Defense, though I think Madam Bones is quite fond of me and my Patronus," Harry said sarcastically referring to the way she like to watch his demonstrations of magic.

"Have you discussed this with my grandson yet?" she asked using her piercing glare on Harry.

"No ma'am, but I will if you see fit," he said respectively.

"You speak about this to Neville in private, do not pressure him, he folds very easily, and if he agrees, we'll do it. I for one will be happy to do so, but I just want to make sure Neville is comfortable with the situation due to it becoming dangerous to him too. After all, Lucius's son does go to school here too," she said disapprovingly.

"I can assure you you'll meet no resistance out of Draco. He's on our side. My next task is finding a way that he won't have to go back to his family. He doesn't know his mother's done this yet, but he's going to be furious at this stunt, I can already tell," Harry said grimacing at the argument that he was going to be encountering later.

"So, your friends with Mr. Malfoy?" she said again giving him one of her piercing glares.

"You could say that," he said not meeting her eye.

"Well, now that that's settled, Harry has to get to dinner before the Hall empties," Dumbledore said. Harry could almost swear that he was trying to save him from an explanation.

***

It had been two days since the ordeal with Snape and the filing for custody from Narcissa. Harry was, as of right now, making his way to another potions class with Draco. Snape had taken to completely ignoring him. Harry did feel slightly bad for making him look bad in the duel, but he was in no way going to apologize. After all, he did get rid of the man's dreaded Dark Mark, though, the professor did put up a small complaint about how he wouldn't be able to know when Voldemort called now. Dumbledore reminded him that he had two seventh year students that were too marked, and told him to tell them to immediately tell Snape when they were summoned; this would hopefully take care of that.

Harry had still not yet told Draco about his mother's stunt, which was hopefully going to come tonight, if they got away.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked as he walked into the room and took his seat at the station next to Hermione.

"Speaking with Draco. We've been trying to get time together for days, but something always comes up. We're meeting tonight finally, well, that is, if nothing comes up," he said wryly. She just snorted.

"Today we will be working on a light version of polyjuice potion," Snape said as he walked in the room and up to his desk before turning around to face the class. "It will take approximately two weeks to have the desired effect. Instead of lasting an hour, as does usual, it will last for only ten minutes. Cauldrons out, the ingredients and instructions are on the board," he said sitting back down and retrieving a book from his drawers.

The rest of the class proceeded in this fashion. Snape didn't usually walk around in this class; most of the students were good enough to not have to worry about blowing anything up.

"So where are you meeting him?" Hermione asked as they made their way out of the potions lab.

"Sorry, no can tell," he teased.

"What? Are you not telling me because I'm a prefect and where you're meeting isn't allowed, or is it after curfew?" she asked putting her chin in the air.

"Not telling," he reminded her as he walked faster down the corridor to meet Ron in the Entrance Hall where he just got back from Care of Magical Creatures.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked Hermione, who must have had a look of dejection on her face.

"I'm meeting Draco tonight and won't tell her where or when. She's a bit miffed about it," Harry stated walking into the Great Hall for lunch.

"So then when and where are you meeting him?" Ron asked. He hadn't been exactly happy about finding out there was romance between the two of them, but didn't argue due to Harry's recent display of power. It was intimidating.

"If I'm not telling her, I think its safe to assume you're not finding out either," he said sitting down on one of the benches and putting a small club sandwich on his plate.

"Fine, have it your way. But if you go missing, don't expect us to come and find you, after all, we won't know when or where," Ron said with a grin. Harry just rolled his eyes.

"So have you found anything out about the rune?" Harry asked looking at Hermione as he took a bit of his sandwich.

"No, Neville, Luna and I have looked in every book that is in the Hogwarts library that would even be related to Runes, nothing," she confirmed taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"I still haven't seen it yet," Ron said put out.

"Pining away at seeing me with my shirt off?" Harry said teasingly, but none-the-less effectively changing the subject at Ron's grimace and glare. Harry just laughed.

"Has Defense gotten any better?" Hermione asked. She and Ron had it together, but he had to take it at a different time due to scheduling. He assumed that's the reason Neville had it with him also. They also meet everyday now due to the ministry admitting Voldemort's return.

"Actually, yes, she even complemented me on my dueling. Though she took points for leaving her class, or so she thinks I did," he said grinning. He had told them about using his animagus form to slip out on McGonagall's shoulder without her even noticing; Hermione thought it was reckless, while Ron thought it was brilliant. He couldn't hide the fact that he was an animagus because Snape blurted it out in front of them in Dumbledore's office.

"Do you think she was just trying to put you in place the first time because you were late?" Hermione explored in reasoning.

"Yes, though I still don't understand why she would do that, I was with Dumbledore and she knew. She even knew he was giving me the wards," he said rolling his eyes at the teachers attempt to humiliate him. Dumbledore had later told him he woke up in the hospital wing with the wards because they fought Dumbledore off seeking out Harry while he was in pain. This was also the assumed reason Albus was passed out. It was easier for the transfer of the wards while the Headmaster was unconscious and not fighting. Harry could not give them back now, Hogwarts just wouldn't have it.

"Well, at least you get recognition in one class," Hermione said sarcastically no doubt thinking of Snape.

"Fine by me, the less attention the better. I don't want anyone finding out that I'm carrying the wards, or that I can do 'Will magic' though I still don't see the difference between that and wandless magic, I mean, not really," he said.

"What is the difference?" Ron asked for the second time. Harry just rolled his eyes while he let Hermione answer, yet again.

"Wandless magic is magic that has an incantation, but it doesn't necessarily have to be said out loud because you aim with your mind and execute with your hand. You still have to say the incantation in your head to get the desired effect. 'Will magic' is when you just will something to happen. There is no specific incantation needed, it just does what you want it to because focus is so strong. Usually only people with supremely strong minds can achieve it. Very difficult," Hermione summed up.

"Well, I'm sure that Dumbledore could do it," Ron said looking at her oddly.

"Maybe a small amount, like controlling something like a small flame or shaping something like a drop of water, but he wouldn't be able to heal, or transfigure with it. It's almost impossible," she said matter-of-factly.

"So, if Harry had the killing cures coming at him, would he be able to will it to veer off course?" he asked skeptically.

"Well, he'd have to be really powerful to do that, but you know Harry, full of surprises that one," she said glancing Harry before she rolled her eyes like she was annoyed by it. Harry just snorted while Ron looked confused.

"I need to get to Defense early, I'll see you two after classes," Harry said standing.

"You still have ten minutes mate, stick around," Ron said furrowing his brow.

"I can't, I want to test that theory with Professor Moon," he said throwing his bag over his shoulder.

"What theory?" Ron asked.

"You're going to have her throw curses at you to see if you can make them veer off course?" Hermione asked in awe.

"Ron suggested it," Harry said lightly as he made off out of the Hall. He looked back to see Hermione glaring at Ron. Ron looked oblivious.

***

"Hello Harry," Professor Moon said as he walked into class.

"Afternoon Professor," he said making his way to the front and setting his bag down.

"You're here early. What do I owe thee," she said grinning at him. He didn't especially like that grin. Over the past few days he'd been getting it a lot, it made him uncomfortable, but he tried not to let on that he noticed it.

"There was a theory at lunch that I may be able to make curses veer off by using will magic, I was wondering if you'd be willing to throw a few curses at me so I can find out," he asked.

"Sure, front and center," she said striding out from behind her desk and taking a dueling position. Harry just stood there until she finally looked ready. He nodded to her to tell her to start anytime and she muttered under her breath. His shirt robes and shirt were ripped off.

He looked at her thoroughly offended but narrowed his eyes at her. No sooner did another curse hit him, but this time it had been more effective making his hands clap to his sides and him fall on his front stiff as a board. If his chest was smaller his face would have been thoroughly smashed. Thank god for Quidditch, he though.

He heard her coming closer and then take in a sharp breath. He assumed it was due to his tattoos. He inwardly groaned at this.

"Finite Incantatum," she said backing up and sitting on her desk. He glared at her as he waved his hand and repaired his shirt and robes before slipping them back on.

"Does anyone know that?" she asked motioning to his back.

"A few choice people," he said defiantly.

"You do know any pureblooded which would die to get their hands on you right?" she said as if it were everyday conversation. "Your looks and talent would only come in a close second."

"No, I didn't know that," he said harshly as he slipped his robes back over his head.

"Just letting you know," she said as she walked around her desk and sat down in her chair. "What's the blue rune?"

"We don't know, haven't been able to find it yet," he was now annoyed.

"No idea at all?" she asked trying to sound like she wasn't prying, though Harry could tell she was.

"No," he answered shortly. She dropped the topic.

"Any plans for tonight? If not we can continue this lesson," she asked. Harry though he saw something like hope flicker across her eyes, but thought better of it.

"Yes, actually, I'm meeting someone to study. I can probably get him to throw curses at me. If not, I'll just go down to the Slytherin common room," he said. She laughed at his humor.

"I don't think they all hate you," she said politely as if she didn't want to let the cat out of the bag.

"All but the one I'm dating," he said casually. She looked up shocked for a moment and looked like he wanted to peruse the subject, but students started to file in. Harry was eternally grateful.

"Come in early tomorrow, we'll try again," she said as she stood to meet the class. Harry groaned, and hoped her methods of trying to hex and jinx him wouldn't involve stripping him.

The class was dueling, but she didn't let Harry participate due to the duel with Professor Snape. Instead, after the small lecture, he got to sit at her desk and work on any other homework (though he really didn't have to do it) or read while she instructed the class on dueling.

"Transfiguration next," Hermione announced as she meet her outside the defense room. It was the only class they all had together this term. Harry was grateful in a way. He was sure Ron would do the whole jealous thing if he had to do participate in class while Harry sat behind the professor's desk and did nothing the whole class.

They made their way a little ways down the corridor and entered the class room. Unlike other days, there was nothing sitting on everyone's desk. There was usually some sort of prop they'd be changing into a different object.

The class filed in while Harry, Hermione, and Ron all took seats next to one another. Draco took a seat across from Harry at the next table and grinned. He was obviously excited at the prospect of finally getting to meet that evening.

"Today we will not be transfiguring anything, we will be conjuring. This is usually taught in charms because it is a branch of magic used both in charms and transfiguration, but due to the number of first years this year, I have gladly taken the topic for Professor Flitwick," Professor McGonagall announced once everyone was seated.

"To conjure, you simply concentrate on the item you want to appear then flick your wand as if there's water on the end of it and say 'costruire'," she said flicking her wand as she said and producing a feather. "It takes a lot of concentration at first, but as you get the hang of it, it will become easier," she said. "We'll start off with feathers, you may begin," she said as she started pacing around the room. Harry had gotten his book about 'Will Magic' back out and started reading it again. As she approached, she looked at him sternly before clearing her throat.

"Mr. Potter," she said trying not to gain the attention of the rest of the class, though those around him looked up at her.

"Yes Professor," he asked closing his book, but keeping a finger in it to mark his place.

"Why are you not participating?" she asked irritated.

"You saw me conjure a chair yesterday ma'am, I didn't think it would be necessary for me to conjure a feather, I'm sorry," he said waving his hand vaguely and conjuring a beautiful phoenix feather. Hermione picked it up fascinated and started turning it around in her fingers.

"Yes, well, I expect you to push yourself," she said as she flicked her wand and produced a list of items that he had to conjure. He nodded and put away his book. She walked away satisfied.

"Harry, do you think you can conjure all this?" Hermione whispered looking at the list. He just shrugged and took the list back starting from the second object, due to the first being a feather. The second was a goblet. He waved his hand again and produced a jewel encrusted goblet. Hermione gasped but he ignored her. Not getting rid of the feather or goblet, he went on to the third item which was an apple. He waved his hand and produced a shiny red apple of perfect size. He too put that aside before moving on to the next.

By the end of class he had made his way through to the end the list of fifty items. There were perfect artifacts all around him. He had yet to notice that the class was staring at him intently as he produced yet another object which was a chair, well, some would probably call it a thrown. Finally the last was a table. Not knowing if he could produce it with his hand or not, he took out his wand and walked around his desk to have more room. Yet, he still did not take notice of the class following him with their gaze.

Holding his wand above his head to get a clear shot, he flicked it and muttered the incantation producing a moderately sized cherry wood table. It didn't look fancy like the rest of his things, just shiny. He wasn't too thrilled at this. Deciding to try some 'will magic' he raised his hand to the table and closed his eyes.

He willed the table to have legs like that of a lions, with claws at the feet of the table. He then willed the table top to be trimmed in small lion heads and finally willed the table to be animated so it could be moved without having to cast any spells on it. He opened his eyes to see just that. There were still strands of gold around the table, but they were receding to his hand. Happy, he took his seat beside Hermione, who for once had abandoned her lesson long ago to watch him also, and started messaging his temple. He was beginning to get a headache from the intense concentration of will magic.

"Thirty points to Gryffindore for Potter's excellent conjuring," McGonagall said as she finally approached him. As she did, the table scurried out of her way and she gave a very uncharacteristic squeal of fright. "Did you animate it?" she asked confused.

"Just the legs so it was easier to move, and would move on it's own for you," he said shrugging, "I wouldn't want to lug around that thing," he said nodding to the table. She seemed to understand because she gave a curt nod and released the class for the day.

"Harry, that was great!" Hermione gushed as soon as the level of sound in the room rose.

"Mr. Potter, please stay after class," the professor said over the noise. Harry sighed hopping that he wasn't going to get accused of being a show off, or asked to do something extra. He approached her desk as soon as the class was out the door.

"Yes Professor?" he asked settling his bag more comfortably on his shoulder.

"How did you do all that?" she said motioning to the conjured items.

"I've mastered Occlumency ma'am. You'd be surprised how much concentration you can achieve with it."

"Well, you've just conjured all the items for the whole semester. We were going to be working on an item a week," she said as if thinking of something. "What was the gold stringy thing you did?" she asked boring into his eyes with her own.

"It's called 'will magic'. It's hard to explain what it is. I'd say ask Hermione if you want a good definition," he said flustered.

"That's quite alright Mr. Potter, I know what it is. Does Albus know you can do that?" she asked peering over her glasses.

"Yes ma'am, he's the one who pointed out what it was the first time I used it," Harry explained not really seeing where this was going.

"From now on, in this class, you will be using will magic to complete all your transfigurations. It would be a great feat to do this. It wouldn't be wise to use a wand with it, I'm not sure what would happen if you conjured whole items using will magic, with your wand, especially after I heard what you did to Professor Snape," she said disapprovingly.

"Yes ma'am," he answered as she released him from class.