So... it's been a really long time, huh? I apologise. Honestly, I might have forgotten about this... maybe. But here is a chapter to make up for my... procrastination? Eh. I hope you enjoy anyway, and I'll try not to leave it so long between chapters next time. I've got some vague idea about the next chapter, so at least that's something. Happy reading, and remember, reviews are my love source :P

Chapter 2

"You're being tested on the Merlin Scale?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrow. "That's... something, I guess."

Harry frowned. "Do you know what I'll have to do?"

Draco shook his head. "I'm not sure. Father was tested, I believe, though he never told me what he scored."

Harry shrugged. "The headmaster and Professor McGonagall have both been tested. They told me yesterday."

Hermione sat forward at the table, looking interested. "Did they tell you what they scored?"

Harry nodded. "I'm not sure if it's meant to be a secret or not though," he hesitated. "I'll tell you what I score though, alright?"

She sighed, but nodded in understanding. "Okay. Will you ask if anyone can be tested?"

Harry grinned. "Sure."

"You can if you pay for it," Draco confirmed. "There's a department in the ministry that you can apply to for it. I'll look into it for you."

"Thanks, Draco."

"What did Sirius say about it?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrow.

Harry shrugged again though his expression fell. "I haven't told him yet. It's not a big deal, and honestly, he's got better things to spend his time on. Clearly."

Ron, Hermione and Ginny frowned.

"He needs to sort out his priorities," Hermione fumed. "Really, after all you suffered, the least he could do is to be there for you now."

Ron nodded in agreement. "She's right," he said when Harry opened his mouth to argue. "I know you're going to say that he went through a lot too, and you'd be right about that, but he agreed to be your Godfather. That's serious business."

"Is it?" Harry asked, looking a little confused.

Draco and Ron both nodded, serious expressions on their faces.

"It is," Draco confirmed. "When you agree to be a godparent, you're entering into a magically binding contract. If he had children of his own, it would be slightly different, but as he doesn't, you should be at the very forefront of his mind at all times."

"But technically, I'm an adult now, so surely that -"

"Doesn't make a difference," Ron interrupted. "Not in the wizarding world, mate. Godparents agree to be there for the child for life."

Harry's shoulders sagged slightly. "It's not like I'm expecting him to drop whatever he's doing to come and see me, you know? It'd be nice to get a reply from him instead of Remus occasionally though."

Hermione rubbed his shoulder. "Never mind, Harry. You've got us, right?"

He smiled. "I know. I should go. I'll find you all later?"

"We'll be in the library, I'm sure," Ron replied, groaning.

"Ronald! You should take your studies more seriously! This is a very important year and..."

Harry walked away, chuckling at the look on Ron's face as Hermione lectured him. Again.

"Ah, Harry, right on time. Come in, come in," Dumbledore greeted cheerfully. He was the only professor in the office this time and he was accompanied by a very nondescript gentleman. "This is Mr Bingley, Harry, he'll be testing your magic."

"Hello, Sir," Harry said, nodding nervously.

"Mr Potter. A pleasure."

"What does the test entail, Professor?" Harry asked, returning his gaze to Dumbledore.

"It's very simple, Harry. You just have to put your finger into this device here," Dumbledore said, gesturing to what Harry would have taken for a very innocent muggle stapler, "And it will print out a reading for you. It's very private, you won't have to share it with anyone you don't want too."

When Harry glanced between the two men, Dumbledore nodded understandingly. He waved his hand for Harry to come forward.

Harry put his finger inside the device, and it closed over it, tight, but not tight enough to cause any discomfort. After a few moments, the devise flashed gold and bleeped three times, before a small piece of paper flew out of the side and it released Harry's finger. Harry picked the paper up before Mr Bingley, who was looking at him with interest, could see it.

"Thank you for coming, old friend," Dumbledore said, shaking Mr Bingley's hand. Harry shook his hand when it was offered, but waited until the man had left the room with the Merlin Scale before to look at the slip of paper.

"Sir..."

"Yes, Harry?"

"I think that... thing must have made a mistake."

"Oh?"

Harry nodded, dropping into the seat in front of Dumbledore's desk. The old man sat facing him, eyes twinkling once more.

"Why would you think that?"

"Well, I mean, it says... It says I'm more powerful than you, Sir. That's... well, it's just not right, is it?"

"I thought it might say that. May I know what you scored, Harry?"

Silently, Harry passed the paper over, watching as Dumbledore's eyes widened slightly.

"You are indeed more powerful than me, dear boy. That surpasses even my expectations."

"Sir?"

"You should be wary of whom you share this information, Harry. There are many... unscrupulous people, who would try and take advantage of such power."

"Yes sir. But... I mean... How am I to learn to control it, Sir?"

"Regardless that you surpass my own power, Harry, I can still help you gain control, as can Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. You see, with so much magic at your disposal, you're going to have to learn a few spells that require a lot of magic so as to not cause a build up of unused magic. That would be very dangerous, not only to you, but to anyone around you."

Harry sat silently, waiting for the further explanation that Dumbledore was sure to give him.

"You see, Harry, if you don't use up a significant amount of your magic, it will build in your magical core, and possibly erupt if left unused for too long. If that was allowed to happen, it could physically hurt you, and anyone or anything around you."

"So I have to find a way to spend my magic, as it were."

"Exactly, Harry."

Harry nodded.

"I'll speak with both Minerva and Severus, and I'll have a schedule prepared for you by dinner time."

Harry smiled bleakly. "Thank you, sir."

"This isn't a bad thing, Harry. Once you are used to expending a portion of your magic, it will become perfectly normal for you."

"Yes, Sir."

"Have you spoken to Sirius about your second maturity?"

Harry shook his head, and he saw a momentary flash of anger in Dumbledore's eyes, followed by sympathy. "Perhaps you could write him. I'm sure he would want to know what is going on in your life."

Shrugging, Harry replied, "Remus will be interested. It's Remus who responds to the letters I send."

"Would you like me to speak with him, Harry?"

"No, thank you, Sir. If Sirius is to take an interest in me, I'd like it to be because he want's too, not because he feels guilty or like he has a responsibility to me. I managed for years without him, and I can do it again now if I must."

Dumbledore sighed. "If that is your wish, Harry. If you need anything, my door is always open to you."

Harry stood up, smiling at the Headmaster. "Thank you, Sir. Have a good afternoon."

Chuckling, Dumbledore nodded. "And you, my boy, and you."

"Well, what did you score?" Ginny asked impatiently as soon as Harry came into view.

He laughed, sitting down and waving his hand around his friends to ensure their privacy. Draco raised his eyebrows.

"That high, huh?"

"Before I tell you, you all need to know that it's important this doesn't get out. It's... Dumbledore thinks it'd be a bad idea, and I agree."

The four of them nodded their heads, all looking at him eagerly. He put the paper on the table for them to look at.

"Bloody fucking hell," Draco muttered. The other three looked between themselves, then at Draco. He rolled his eyes at them. "Merlin himself scored a hundred and two on the scale. He was the one to invent it and nobody has ever matched his score, hence the name."

Hermione and Ginny gasped, and Ron grinned.

"Dude, that's awesome."

Harry shrugged. "I guess. I'll be having extra lessons this year though."

Ron's face fell. "My sympathies, good sir. Why do you need extra lessons?"

"I need to be able to expend some of the extra magic, or I'll implode and destroy things."

The words were said so matter of factly, that Harry's friends all stared at him for a moment before the five of them collapsed into helpless laughter.

"Only you, Harry," Ron gasped out, still choking on his laughter. "Only you could say something like that and not make us run for the hills."

Harry grinned at his best friend.

"Will you teach us what you get taught?" Hermione asked eagerly.

Harry shrugged. "If it's important. Honestly, Hermione, I think I'm going to be learning pointless spells that take a lot of magic, just so I can keep my magic levelled out."

She nodded, accepting his answer for what it was. Harry cancelled the privacy charm with a mere thought, before he rolled his eyes at himself, and the five friends applied themselves to studying.

If Harry and Draco finished early and sat throwing parchment at each other... well, they had time to be adults when they left school.

Harry,

Here is a schedule for the next few weeks. I know we're asking a lot of you, but I know you will manage admirably as always. I shall see you this evening.

Albus Dumbledore.

Harry looked over the schedule and then dropped it on the table, looking forlorn.

"What's that?" Ron asked, thankfully swallowing the food in his mouth before he spoke. Draco, who had taken to eating at the Gryffindor table for the most part, swiped the letter.

"Schedule... Harry, they haven't given you a night off."

Pushing his plate away, suddenly finding himself without an appetite, Harry nodded. "I know. And look at Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Hours on end with Professor Snape."

"It's not like you hate him any more though, is it?" Ginny asked, leaning over Draco's shoulder to look at the schedule.

Harry shook his head. "No. Doesn't mean I want to study Occlumency though. He tried to teach me that in fifth year, remember? That was an unmitigated disaster if ever there was one, and just because I have more power, doesn't mean I'll be able to do it any better this time around."

"It's only once a week," Draco murmured. "I'll coach you, if you want? I know you don't want anyone in your head, but at least you know I won't use it against you, and I'm pretty good at Occlumency."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Draco."

"What has extra potions lessons got to do with magic?" Ron asked after snatching the parchment away from Draco so he and Hermione could read it.

"There are some potions that you have to push a lot of magic into to make them work," Hermione said, perusing the parchment briefly. "He'll probably teach Harry those. The duelling lessons sound interesting though, and conjuration with Professor McGonagall two nights a week will probably be fun as well."

"And you've got two lessons a week with the Headmaster," Ron added looking slightly impressed. "That'll definitely be cool."

Harry took the parchment back, glancing down at it before he stored it in his bag.

Why did it always happen to him?

"Come in, Mr Potter," Professor McGonagall called, and Harry entered her office to find her sitting behind her desk, eyeing him speculatively. "The Headmaster has informed me that your result on the scale was rather surprising, though he hasn't informed me of what that was. He's asked me to work on some conjuration with you, particularly conjuring precious metals, as that takes rather a lot more power than the usual conjuration that we do in class."

Harry nodded, dropping his bag to the side of the chair as he sat down.

"So, I think we'll try gold, first of all, Mr Potter. Take out your wand."

The following three hours passed by quickly, and when it was over, Harry was so tired he was fairly sure he could fall asleep standing up. Sweat ran down his face and he was breathing heavily when he slumped into the chair once more.

"It seems we have a winner, Mr Potter," McGonagall said, triumph in her tone.

"Yes, Professor," Harry agreed, wiping at his brow. "Platinum certainly is tiring."

"Hmm. And how does your magic feel, Mr Potter?"

"I can't feel it in my hands any more, Professor, but I can still use it if necessary."

She nodded with a smile, summoning an elf and ordering cold drinks. When she pushed a glass of lemonade at Harry, he smiled his thanks and drained it in seconds.

"You did wonderfully, Harry. I have a feeling these lessons aren't going to take long at all."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry murmured.

"Go on, to bed with you."

"Goodnight, Professor," he said, walking tiredly to the door. Before he opened it, he turned back. "Professor?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"You trusted me with your score, so... I scored one hundred and one. On the scale. Goodnight Professor."

Harry left the room, leaving behind a very shocked and very proud head of house behind.

Surprised, but somewhat happy, Harry woke up feeling the strum of magic back in his hands the following morning. Throughout his lessons, he concentrated on not using too much magic to cast his spells, and made sure to always use his wand, lest the other students realise that something was going on with his magic.

That evening after dinner, he climbed the familiar stairs to the Headmaster's office, unsurprised to find the door open awaiting him.

"Good evening, Sir," he said when he entered, sitting down in his usual chair. Fawkes launched off his perch and landed happily on Harry's shoulder, trilling in greeting.

"A very good evening to you too, Harry. Minerva tells me that last night was a success? How did you feel this morning?"

"Ah, back to normal this morning, Sir, but Professor McGonagall is correct. I was very tired when we finished last night."

Dumbledore nodded. "That's good news, my boy. Platinum is one of the hardest things to conjure, but it is good that we now have knowledge of how to get rid of your excess magic if the need becomes a necessity."

"Yes, Sir."

"Now then, I'm sure you know that Minerva and Severus will be helping to find ways to tire you out, and Severus will be helping you master keeping your magic levels under control whilst both duelling and brewing potions. I will be helping you master the trickier magic. Such things as glamours, and keeping your magic surrounding you much like I do on occasion. I'm sure you've noticed?"

Harry nodded. There were times when the headmaster practically radiated power, and others when he simply seemed like an old man. Dumbledore spent the next hour explaining the theory around radiating power and how to let it seep out of him without being dangerous. By the time the lesson was almost up, Harry had made a little bit of progress, but he was struggling to keep it at a steady level.

"You're doing very well, Harry. Don't doubt yourself, you'll pick it up in no time. Now, one more matter before I allow you to go and collapse in your bed. The Ministry are having a ball in two weeks, and Minister Fudge is expecting your attendance. You can, of course, decline to attend as is your right, but the decision is yours to make."

Harry groaned. He hated command appearances, and no matter the words Dumbledore used to dress it up, that was exactly what this was. A command performance for the Minister's pleasure.

"The press will be all over it if I don't show, won't they?"

"Indeed, I fear they shall, Harry. However, if you truly don't wish to attend, I am more than sure I can come up with a reasonable explanation for you missing it."

Sighing, Harry shook his head. "I'll go. It's only one night, I suppose."

Dumbledore smiled. "Very good, Harry. I'll alert the Minister. You may floo to the Ministry along with myself and the other teachers who will be in attendance. At least that way, you will miss the press waiting outside the Ministry."

"Thank you," Harry replied, relieved. "Good night, Headmaster."

"Good night, Harry."

"I've got a command performance in a few weeks," Harry told his friends the following morning at breakfast.

"You're going to the Winter formal?" Draco asked, a small smile lighting up his face. When Harry nodded, it turned into a full grin. "Oh, thank Merlin for that. I thought I was going to be stuck with the oldies all night."

"You're going too?" Harry asked, suddenly feeling lighter about having to attend.

"Of course. I'll be taking over from Lucius as Lord Malfoy when I reach my twenty first birthday, so he's forcing me to attend all the crap that comes with it now. Arsehole."

Harry snorted. "You and me both. I've got the Potter Lordship to take up when I get to twenty one. Pain in the bloody backside."

Draco laughed. "Who's acting as your representative?"

"Dumbledore," Harry replied. "He explained it last year. Now that I'm seventeen, if a law interests me, I look it up and he votes for me. Honestly, though, my views are much the same as his for the most part, so it doesn't really matter."

"At least you know he wouldn't touch your inheritance," Draco grumbled. "Lucius has been spending something stupid to get himself back in the good graces of the Ministry."

"No offence, Mate, but even Fudge ain't that stupid. Still, at least everyone knows you stood with Harry before the battle."

Draco nodded. "I know. I've told him to just wait until I take the Lordship, and that our name will be treated with respect once more, but does he listen? Course not."

Ron snorted. "Well, rather the two of you than me. All that Lordship stuff sounds boring as hell to me."

"It is," Harry and Draco replied together, laughing.

"Are you two going to the Winter Formal?" Neville asked, shielding a yawn as he sat down beside Hermione.

Harry and Draco nodded, and Neville sighed. "Oh thank Merlin. Gran's making me go."

"We were just talking about that," Harry said. "You'll be taking up the Longbottom Lordship, right?"

"When I'm twenty one," Neville nodded. "Of course, Gran is making me take Politics at Merlin first."

"Merlin University?" Hermione asked, looking interested.

Neville nodded. "Yeah. I want to be a Herbologist, so I'll be taking Herbology classes and probably some healing classes as well. And Politics."

"I'll be taking business and politics there," Draco added. "And maybe Defence."

"Are you going, Harry?" Neville asked.

Harry shrugged. "It's an option. I got the letter over the summer, I'm guaranteed a place there, but I don't know if I'll go yet. The Headmaster thinks it'll be a good thing for me."

"I didn't know that!" Hermione said , folding her arms crossly. "Why didn't you tell us you got the letter?"

Harry blinked. "Cause I haven't decided if I'm going yet?"

Hermione huffed. Ron and Ginny chuckled.

"If I get the grades, I'll be going straight into the Auror Academy," Ron said, his chest puffing out slightly. Harry grinned and nodded. No matter what people said about Ron, he would make a formidable Auror if he applied himself.

"How does one apply to the university?" Hermione asked, looking between Draco and Neville.

"Write them a letter," Draco replied with a shrug. "Honestly, I'm not completely sure. My name guarantee's me a place, as does Harry's and Longbottom's. I imagine Bones and Abbott will both be going as well and I know for a fact that Pansy and Blaise are going."

Neville nodded. "Hannah's going and Susan's had the letter."

Hermione frowned. "Do you have to be a pureblood to go?"

"No," Neville replied. "But you'll get a scholarship based on your school work, rather than your name is all."

"That's unfair," Hermione murmured, still frowning.

"Not really," Neville rebutted surprisingly. "Pureblood's have grown up with magic, and for the most part, we were taught before Hogwarts as well, so we're well prepared for Merlin. It's different for a lot of muggle borns. They don't all apply themselves quite as much as you do, Hermione."

"Well then why didn't Ron get a letter?"

Ron ducked in his seat.

Draco raised his eyebrow, and Harry started laughing.

"Ronald Weasley! Did you get a letter from Merlin University?"

He nodded, scooting further away from her while the others laughed. Before Hermione could start ranting at him, he stood up.

"Come on then, it's time for class."

With that he walked down the gap between the tables, his friends following behind him, laughing.