A/N: This is a new fic that I have started due to the lack of truthful Harry Potter fics. When I say truthful, I mean that Harry is not too overly strong, overly smart, or overly naïve. I mean that Harry learns at a quickened pace, maybe in the middle of second year he is starting at third year.
Summary: Harry ends up actually trying after he gets his mid-year report (not sure if they actually have these or not, but I do in my story.) and sees that he is average. He goes to the teachers for help after Hermione ignores him and Ron acts stupid. Harry finds out that a number of people are doing poorly in some of their classes and decides to help them out. Harry/harem. Stronger-but-realistic Harry!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I do, however, own any of the spells that I invent.
Chapter 1
Harry wasn't that shocked at his card. His deeply ingrained habit of just getting by with Dudley got in his way of trying. Harry then had a mutinous thought. Why was he trying not to upstage Dudley, if Dudley wasn't even there?
Harry promptly decided that there was no reason for it and he would actually try from then on, and not just slack off.
"Err, Hermione?" Harry called out questioningly, not knowing what to expect.
Hermione looked irritated at having to look up from her work before she responded, "What is it now, Harry? I am trying to do research."
"I was wondering if you could help me with my grades. I want to get them up some, and need some help with it." Harry responded nervously.
"Just study." Hermione waved him off.
Harry just felt a twitch of anger at his so-called friend just writing him off like he was nothing. Hermione obviously didn't care as she just went back to reading her book.
"Why do you need to get your grades up, mate? You're the boy-who-lived. There is no way you wouldn't get a job or anything you want." Ron responded, being the usual jealous idiot.
"Well, maybe I want to know that I can actually do something without having to rely on fame that I don't want. I mean, have you ever thought of how I got my fame. My parents were killed by Voldemort, while I survived. I asked Dumbledore how I survived and he said that it was my mom who saved my life at the cost of her own!" Harry looked enraged at this point of time.
"So? I would gladly give any member of my family for fame like you have." Ron said, looking giddy at the prospect.
Harry just left the library, looking at Ron like he was the worst person in the world.
How am I going to get my grades up? Harry thought when the answer walked past him in the hall taking points off of a Slytherin trying to hex one of her students.
"Professor Sprout!" Harry called out.
"Yes, Harry? What may I do for you?" Prof. Sprout asked, a little bit curious, as this was one of the students who had never bothered to talk to her outside of class.
"Um, I was wondering if…" Harry trailed off, not sure how to complete the question, but Professor Sprout seemed to know what he wanted.
"You want me to tutor you in Herbology." The professor said, understanding his hesitance, "I am tutoring two Hufflepuffs already, but I can fit you in at the same time as then, with one condition." Professor Sprout said.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"You must invite Neville into this session." Sprout said.
Harry could understand the sentiment. Neville was a prodigy in herbology. Any herbalist would be glad to have said that they had taught him any of the stuff he knew, no matter how basic (I am showing more of his Slytherin side in this fic than is seen in the books).
"Done. I think that he would love this opportunity." Harry agreed.
A few hours later…
Harry had gotten Neville to agree quite easily to the deal that Sprout had asked. It seemed Neville was just as eager to learn more about Herbology as Harry was to help his grades and gain more knowledge.
Harry was just outside of the DADA class waiting for the class to end so that he could talk to McGonagall to see if she could help tutor him.
"Professor McGonagall?" Harry said.
"What is it, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked.
"Could you please help me with my grades?" Harry asked.
McGonagall was actually surprised. She had never been asked to help a student out before. Sure, Slytherins had demanded it, Hufflepuffs had never asked (preferring to ask a friend), and Ravenclaw had just talked to her about where to go for information. "Why do you want this, Mr. Potter?" She asked in a stern tone of voice with her lips pursed in thought.
"Well, I noticed that I was barely passing in your class due to my lack of trying. Could you help me get back up to speed?" Harry asked in a hopeful tone.
Minerva was relieved that one of her lions had finally come up to her and asked for help, instead of just trying to get by. She was also relieved at the fact that Harry was finally coming up to her for help, and showing the initiative.
"Very well Mr. Potter, I shall help you. Meet me at noon on Saturday and Monday at four for a long study session. We will be beginning at the very beginning of this year so as to rehash your knowledge of the subjects." McGonagall said after a few moments of wallowing in the fact that one of her lions had finally asked for extra help.
Harry, on the other hand, was relieved that he was able to work at a different time than his Herbology lessons. The next teacher that he would go to was flitwick, then he would stop by Astrology, then Divination, and finally…Potions.
Harry took the little walk to the charms' classroom with ease.
"Come in Mr. Potter!" Flitwick said excitably.
"How did you know it was me?" Harry asked, a bit curious about the response.
"I have charms set up that tell me when someone is coming and who it is via magical signature." Flitwick said.
"Amazing," Harry whispered, as they had not gotten that far along in charms yet.
"Err, yes, well, what do you need, Mr. Potter?" Flitwick asked.
"I was wondering if you could give me some help with charms." Harry said.
Flitwick was excited that someone had finally come to ask him for help. The Ravenclaws would just look the stuff up, Gryffindor was too brash, Slytherin too arrogant, and Hufflepuffs just asked their friends instead of coming to a teacher for help.
"Of course I will help, Mr. Potter! I am always happy to help a student in need." The excited Flitwick said.
"Just contact me on Wednesdays at 4 and Saturday mornings at 8. I will be free then."
Harry was again relieved at the fact that he didn't have any schedule conflicts.
"Thank you," Harry said before rushing to Astronomy.
"Professor Vector?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry?" Vector asked.
"I was wondering if you would help me with my Astronomy." Harry replied.
Vector was proud that Harry had come to her for help on this. "I can help you on Fridays at 4 and Sundays at eight am." Vector responded.
"Oh, yeah, do you have any tips for staying awake at midnight." Harry asked.
"Look up Occulumency. It is the protection of one's mind, but can be used to help one's memory, focus, and stay awake for long periods of time." She replied.
Harry was finally on his way to his last Point of Interest, the eighth wonder of the world, Snape's hair!
"Professor Snape, sir?" Harry asked.
"What is it that you have done to earn you a detention with me?" Snape asked with a sneer.
"Err, no, I am not here for a detention." Harry replied.
"Then what are you here for?" Snape demanded.
"I was wondering if I could get some extra help in potions. I noticed how horrible my grade was and want to bring it up a bit." Harry said.
Snape actually pondered over the question for a few minutes. Why shouldn't he? It's not like he wasn't currently bored since none of the Slytherins, even the ones who were failing, wanted his help, why couldn't he?
"Very well, Mr. Potter." Snape said, "But, if you are not paying attention, or are here to annoy me, you will receive no more pity from me after I fail you and force you to repeat the year. Here is some material for you to read by Sunday at 4. That and right now are when I shall be teaching you. Be warned, if you are even a second late, I will cancel your lessons."
"Thank you Professor." Harry said.
"Very well, we shall start with the boil cure potion, I know you did this already, but I want it perfect and it is a good exercise to help your potions habits." Snape replied.
The lesson continued like this for a while, eventually, they were finished and they went their separate ways.
Done! I hope you like this chapter! Please read and review.