Chapter 2: A Nice Change of Pace

Morning came just a little too early for me after the previous night. I knew what was to come based on my experience from the previous time through this year. I had Herbology in the morning after breakfast, then Care of Magical Creatures, followed by lunch, and then finally an afternoon of Divination. Yeah, that just wasn't going to work for me this time around. I wondered if it was too late to change classes and get something other than Divination. An afternoon with Trelawney, even if it was only once a week, was still too much time spent with the old fraud. I really needed to talk to McGonagall before the afternoon.

Reaching over and grabbing my glasses, I pulled them on and wondered once again if there was some way to correct my vision magically. I was going to have to ask Pomfrey one of these days and not let myself get continually distracted by things like attempts on my life and maniacs trying to kill me. I mean really, everything has to have a priority. Being able to see the beautiful young woman in my bed without needing to put two coke bottles on my face was a fairly big priority for me. Not that this was the first morning I had woken up with Luna in my bed, but if I really had gone back in time then it was the first time I had woken up with her naked in my bed. Oddly, it wasn't as erotic as it was intimate, if that makes any sense. I mean, who am I kidding, I'm a guy and the crack of dawn makes me horny, but seeing Luna curled up next to me with her head on my chest and bare body draped over mine just looked so peaceful and serene. I think it was the most intimate moment I've ever had with her and we've had some extremely up close and personal moments. Too bad that it couldn't last for longer.

"Dobby," I called out, knowing the little elf was always nearby listening for my call.

"Harry Potter, sir, has called for his Dobby?" replied the house-elf a split second later, his voice seeming to come from nowhere as he was currently not visible.

"Yeah, Dobby, I need you to get me a full set of clean robes for myself and Luna, if it wouldn't be a bother?"

"It is never a bother, Harry Potter, sir," Dobby said and instantly there were two full set of robes folded up at the foot of the bed.

If you are wondering, Dobby managed to con me into binding him to the Potter family line during the summer after I freed him. At the time I had no desire to piss off Hermione, so I kept that fact tightly under wraps. Problem was, if I remembered correctly, Dobby would start asking me to bind his "friend" Winky to my family in just a few short days. At least that was the way things had gone the last time. Winky had tried finding a family on her own after the World Cup, but no one wanted a disgraced house-elf and she had eventually ended up at Hogwarts. I wasn't positive when she had first arrived, so there was little I could do about it until Dobby brought the situation to my attention. Last time around, I am ashamed to say, I never bound Winky to my family and lost track of whatever happened to her. This time around I felt it would be a wise idea to correct that mistake. That and Dobby really liked her and he deserved to be happy.

"Wake up, Luna," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "We've got classes today. I'm sure Ron and the others would love to see you like this, but we've got to get you out of here before everyone wakes up."

"Oh, they can go roger themselves for all I care," growled Luna, pulling the covers back over her head and wrapping her arms and legs around me just a little bit tighter.

I couldn't help but laugh, Luna is not a morning person at all, but she is just so cute when you try to wake her. "Fine, you stay here and sleep while I go get a shower, but if you aren't out of bed by the time I get back, I'm not putting up the silencing charms up next time you come by and you'll be forced to listen to Ron snore all night."

"Big deal," mumble Luna from under the covers. "I know how to cast silencing charms, Harry."

"Whatever, just get your cute butt out of bed," was all I could say as it was true, she could cast her own charms and I couldn't imagine listening to Ron snore more than I had to. "My invisibility cloak is under my pillow and your robes are at the foot of the bed. I'll head into the bathroom first to get the hot water flowing, give me about five minutes."

Luna sat up, letting the covers fall back as she stretched and yawned. Now I don't care who you are, that's just sexy as can be first thing in the morning. The fact that she then leaned over and hugged me was enough that I was thinking maybe I needed ten minutes, with the first five being with the cold water turned up full blast. Like I said, I'm a normal hormone driven young man, so seeing Luna naked is going to cause the standard reaction. Most mornings I would be a little too tired to even think about it, but today was special since I had some idea of what was to come. Yeah, I was dreading tonight and I honestly think that's why Luna was being a little more forward than I remembered her being the first time I did this. Last time I had not shared my bed with a naked Luna until after the second task, at which point it became a nightly thing.

"You think my butt is cute?" she asked crawling towards the head of the bed and my father's old cloak, giving me an absolutely perfect view of the posterior in question.

"Luna, without a doubt, your butt is one of the cutest I have ever had the pleasure to see," I informed her with a smile as I grabbed my robes. "I personally think your butt should be immortalized in stone and paint, with poets and bards dedicating verse to its perfection."

Luna just looked back over her should at me as she pulled the invisibility cloak out from its hiding place. "I'm thirteen, Harry, so you can cut the shite. I'm not having sex with you until we are at least sixteen."

Snapping my fingers and watching as her body slowly vanished under the cloak, I hissed, "Damn! It's going to be a long two years."

"Prat!" she whispered, laying back down on the bed and pushing me off the end with one dainty foot. "Go warm up the water and I'll be in shortly."

Releasing the sticking charms on the curtains around my bed, I got my first look at the day. Out the window I could barely see anything save a trace of silver light on the horizon. I tried remembering what the day had been like from the first time around, but my name coming out of the Cup had erased the smaller details from my mind. It had only been the events afterwards that really stuck with me. Fleur calling me a little boy. The argument with Ron. The entire school turning against me until after the first task. As I turned on the water for the shower to warm up, I wondered if I should forgive all the people I did the last time. The people that really mattered were the ones that had stood at my side when we went to the Ministry, the rest of them weren't really worth my time.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Luna as she stepped into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. "I can hear you brooding all the way from your bed."

Watching as Luna set her clean robes on one of the sinks before slipping out of my cloak and walking into the shower stall, I wondered the same thing until my brain engaged again. "I told you it got bad last time around for me, but I'm wondering if I worried too much about making everyone happy and forgot to focus on the ones that really mattered."

"Harry, you have always put everyone before yourself," Luna shouted from the shower. "Since the day I met you I've known that you see your life as being unimportant compared to everyone else. You're a walking martyrdom waiting to happen."

"Gee, thanks," I groused.

Luna stuck her head out of the stall and blew me a kiss before she continued. "Don't get me wrong, you're a good person, but you're right, you need to focus more on you and less on what other people think of you. Hand me a towel."

Grabbing two towels from the pile the house-elves always left for us, I walked over to the shower stall and held them out for her. "Alright, I get what you're saying, so you suggest I put myself first and let everyone else worry about themselves?"

Grabbing the towels from me and wrapping one around her torso and the other around her hair. Luna has a lot of hair, though at this moment and time it wasn't as long as I remembered it. Right now her hair with its dirty blonde color, I had to ask Hermione what that shade of blonde was called, was hanging just under her ribcage. I remember that two nights before we headed to the Ministry it was just touching the top of her highs. Starting this year, after the first task, Luna would start letting me brush her hair for her on the nights she ended up in my bed. Of course Luna had still asked that I not force the issue with her Head of House or her dorm-mates, though this time around I was going to make their lives hell. Stepping into the shower as Luna stepped over to the sink to get ready for the day, I made plans for taking care of the bints that had hurt my friend for so many years.

"No, Harry," I heard Luna say from outside the stall. "I don't need to be a seer to know what you're thinking. Those girls aren't worth it."

"Damnit, Luna," I growled as I lathered up. "You always say that, but the reality is they are getting away with it because you let them. If you would just tell Flitwick, he could stop it Luna!"

"No, I have to be the one to stop it, Harry," I heard her say as I washed my hair.

"Then drop the act," I barked, probably a little harsher than I really meant, but I had just caught my finger in a knot of hair and it hurt. "You say I put everyone else before myself, but you do the same thing. Just once, walk into the Great Hall with me as the amazing young woman I know you are, not the dotty persona you portray."

Silence reigned as finished my shower and turned the water off. I would have thought Luna was gone if she hadn't held a towel out for me when I turned to step out of the stall. She was fully dressed, her hair still a little damp as it hung loosely down over her left shoulder and I've got to admit it looked damned sexy like that. I actually had a brain freeze moment looking at her as I remember that currently she was not the fifteen year-old girl I remembered from just a few days ago, from my point of view at any rate. No, this was a thirteen year-old Luna I was currently having impure thoughts about. Sure, we share a bed most nights and I've seen he naked more times than I can count, don't even get me started on the exploring we were doing, would do, next year. Still, my moral compass was a little messed up at the moment. I had the emotions of an older me running around in the body of a younger me, I was really afraid that was going to cause some issues.

Luna turned around as I got dressed, more for my modesty than hers. Why? I have scars, not just the one on my arm and forehead, but other scars. Most of these are thanks to Dudley and his gang, but one set across my back was a birthday present from my uncle. Madame Pomfrey tried to heal them for me, but they were too old by my first year at Hogwarts for her to be able to do anything. Dumbledore called me up to his office when he found out about my back, honestly I don't know which one of us was the bigger emotional mess by the time I left, me or him. When the time came for me to go home for the summer Dumbledore apologized for the fact I had to return but he never did tell me why. Thankfully the Dursleys, except for Dudley, had not hit me in years, so I just got locked in my room and not beaten. Still, I didn't want Luna to see those scars, which I tell myself she never had, even though we share a bed most nights and I'm pretty sure she had seen them once or twice. It's a little illusion of mine that I cling to for my own piece of mind.

Tucking my shirt into my pants and doing up my belt, I turned and looked at her. "I'm sorry, Luna. I was harsh and I had no right to be."

"No, you were right," she replied with a shrug as she turned to face me. "I'm always telling you what you should do and expecting you to do it, because I care for you and want what's best for you. I forget, you care for me too and want what's best for me as well."

I had to chuckle as I pulled on my socks and did up my shoes. "We're a fine pair, aren't we?"

"That we are," she agreed, walking over and standing beside me. "I'll do it, Harry. 'Looney Lovegood' is gone starting right now if you will put yourself first more often?"

"Deal," I said with a smile, turning and hugging her, a small kiss on her forehead sealing the deal.

Hearing the first signs of someone moving around in the dorm, Luna put my cloak back on and we slipped out of the bathroom before anyone was the wiser. As we normally do, Luna will follow directly behind me as I gather my things and leave the room. I always open the door as wide as possible, letting it swing slowly closed behind me, this gives Luna plenty of time to slip through behind me. Luna doesn't put her shoes on until we get down to the common room where it's carpeted, to keep people from hearing her move around. Once we reach the common room in the morning, we wait for Hermione to join us. Yes, Hermione knows that Luna stays in my room most nights. Believe me, it was not a fun conversation when she found out. Let's just say she wanted to wake me up one morning, managed to unseal my curtains, and reached in to shake my shoulder.

As it turned out it was not my shoulder she grabbed and Luna shrieking because she had just been groped had me pouncing on her attacker in the blink of an eye. Thankfully Hermione had not canceled the silencing charm or everyone would have been awakened by the dual shrieking that morning. Considering it was still around five in the morning on a Saturday, no one was awake save for Hermione who later admitted she was just lonely and needed someone to talk to.

Anyway, we told Hermione what was going on and Luna explained her reasoning for sharing my bed. Obviously the situation did not sit well with Hermione's extreme need to follow the rules, but since neither boys or members of other houses can enter the girl's dormitories, Luna was stuck sharing with me. I wasn't complaining and neither was Luna, though for just a moment I thought I saw a glint of jealousy in Hermione's eyes. So, Hermione was our accomplice in the mornings as Luna would follow her into the girl's bathroom outside the Great Hall where Luna could give her my cloak and we would all act as if nothing had ever happened. On the days that Ron came with us, Luna would just wait a minute or two then she would be off on her way. It worked out fairly well.

Luna and I barely waited thirty seconds before Hermione joined us. "Good morning, Harry!"

"Morning, Hermione," I replied with a grin. "Ready for breakfast?"

"I assume Ronald is not joining us this morning?"

I shook my head, not really sorry for it at all. "No, he's still asleep last I saw. I wasn't in the mood to fight with him to get up, so he can have a bit longer to sleep this morning. I'm sure Seamus will wake him eventually."

Little known fact, Seamus always has a gas attack at some point right before he wakes up. It's another reason Luna and I try to get out as quickly as we can. I'm not kidding when I say that dragon dung fertilizer has nothing on Seamus in the morning. Usually, if you are unlucky enough to still be asleep when Seamus cuts lose, you won't be a few moments later. The coughing, watery eyes, and smell alone is enough to wake you up, but then Seamus starts laughing because he finds it so funny. I got caught several times when I first arrived at Hogwarts and then again in my second year, but Luna only got caught once and since then she has always made sure we were out of the dorm before there was even a chance of our noses being assaulted by that dreaded stench.

"Fine, let him sleep in," complained Hermione. "That boy has no respect for himself or his education."

"Oh, he's not that bad," I replied, trying to defend Ron's reputation.

"He's worse," whispered Luna, which Hermione caught and found funny if her snicker was any indication.

We were out of the Common Room and halfway to the Great Hall when I pulled Hermione into an unused classroom, Luna following right behind us. "Hermione, we've got to talk, now."

No, I didn't tell her about coming back in time, but I did tell her about the decisions Luna and I had come to. Hermione was rather happy about both, but concerned as well when I told her I was not going to be taking as much crap off of people this year. Luna summed it up best when she pointed out that my luck was a fickle thing at best and damned inconvenient at worst. When she reiterated that the Triwizard Tournament and I were in the same school, the chances of it affecting me in some way shape or form was a given. Hermione couldn't help but agree with the statement, which led to her giving me one of her "I'm so worried about you" hugs. They are great hugs until you realize she's doing her best to cut off your oxygen and breathing is becoming an issue.

Eventually, after Hermione stopped trying to suffocate me, the three of us made our way down to the Great Hall. We were forced to walk by the still burning Goblet of Fire, at which point I made a point of keeping my hands in my robes while walking as far away from the thing as I could. Luna and Hermione followed suit, but I noticed a figure standing on the far side of the room watching us, Barty Crouch Junior. I wondered if he had put my name in the Goblet yet, my guess was yes considering I knew now that he had gotten my signature off an old piece of homework, so there was no need for him to wait. My guess, he had my name in the damned thing before the end of the first night. I just wished there was a way I could stop all this before it began, but the little voice in the back of my head that represents my instincts was happy to inform me I couldn't change everything or what I knew of the future would be useless.

We were just about to walk through the doors to the Great Hall when Dobby suddenly appeared in front of me with a small scroll. Without saying a word, he handed me the scroll and vanished with a small popping sound, probably the quietest I had ever heard him arrive or leave. The scroll barely filled the palm of my hand, but I bet you from the feel of the parchment, it was the most expensive scroll I had ever seen. The parchment was pure white, not the yellowish white I normally saw around the school. If I had to really compare it to something I would have said it reminded me of the stationary aunt Petunia uses at Christmas to brag about everything the Dursleys have bought over the course of the year. I have complete trust in Dobby, so I pushed thoughts of my family out of my mined and opened the scroll immediately to read what was written inside.

Harry and Ladies,

Yes, Harry, you can tell Hermione about us, so have fun with that conversation. As we told you last night, we will have your back, but the ladies in your life will be standing beside you and have the right to know what's going on. However, please, no secrets of things to come. Just the basics.

Now, as for today. With the help of your ladies we hope to pull the rug out from under your detractors long before they ever have the chance to besmirch your name and honor. So, if they would not mind playing along, we suggest the following topic of conversation as you enter the Great Hall, the fact that with your standard luck, of course your name is going to come out of the Goblet of Fire.

Of course you will be rather vocal in your feelings regarding that outcome and will get frustrated and swear the oath at the bottom of this page. Remember, it is important to say the oath word for word, trust us. After you give the oath, things will be a bit hectic, but if anyone should ask where you learned an oath like this one, tell them your solicitors forwarded it on to you and they will be more than willing to answer any questions they may have. Then send us a note via Hedwig asking if we can come by tonight after the ceremony.

Oh, this is going to really blow some people's wee little minds.

M & G

Bellow the little letter was a very interesting oath that seemed to have both girls gasping when they read it. "I'm guessing this is a strong oath?"

"Oh, you could say that," confirmed Luna with a rather wicked grin.

Hermione was nodding, her eyes as big as I had ever seen them. "The strongest, Harry. I'm not sure you should even use this. Do you trust these people and who are they that they would suggest something like this? What do they mean you can tell me about them, who are they to tell you what you can and can't tell me? What is going on here and how could you know secrets of things to come?"

I shut her up the easiest way I knew how by hugging her. Hermione is used to her being the one to initiate our hugs, so when I initiate one it causes her neat and orderly mind to grind to a screeching halt until it can figure out what just happened. I know it's a bit underhanded, but sometimes you just have to use the tools you've been given and go from there. With Hermione you want to stop her early when she starts asking you questions back to back, otherwise you'll never get a chance to answer any of them. A simple hug, taking her hand and squeezing it, or in extreme cases a kiss on the forehead will always silence her for a few moments. Just hope you've been able to explain things before she starts again or it was all for nothing.

"I can't tell you everything right now, Hermione," I whispered, looking right into her eyes with a smile. "Not because I don't want to, but because we're a bit exposed at the moment and anyone could be listening in. Okay?"

Hermione forced her mind to restart, then nodded as I continued. "I promise you I will tell you everything tonight after the ceremony. You have my word on it."

"Slumber Party!" crowed Luna, earning a raised eyebrow from Hermione and a snicker from myself.

"Sounds like a plan," I agree, winking at Luna and turning back to a gapping Hermione. I closed her mouth with my finger then smiled at her. "We're walking in now and I think you should be the one to start us off, don't you?"

"I guess," she answered, but I could see she still had a lot of questions.

Nodding and giving a smile to both girls, I turned and pushed open the doors to the Great Hall. Much to my surprise, the moment I dropped my arms Luna had taken my left hand and Hermione took my right hand. Well, if anything was going to announce to the world that Luna was my friend, holding her hand would do that. As for Hermione, I had been holding hands on and off with her since the Troll incident. It would get the message across loud and clear, not to mention it felt good to hold both their hands. So, with a smile on my face, we stepped into the Great Hall and started the show of in style by drawing attention right where we wanted it.

"Honestly, Harry, we're talking about your luck here," Hermione said a little louder than normal. "If anyone could manage to not put their name in that silly Cup and still have it come out, it would be you."

Luna was nodding as she walked at my side, her head resting on my shoulder. "You do seem to have the most unique luck in these types of situations. First year it was a troll and a slew of challenges. Second year you dealt with incompetent teachers and had to kill a basilisk. Last year it was dementors and your godfather's unfortunate legal problems. How can we not expect you to be involved with in the Tournament, whether you like it or not?"

Suddenly feeling my wand being put in my hand by Hermione, I released the girl's hands and sighed. "I keep telling you I won't enter my name in this blasted contest, but I see your point. Still, just so you and everyone else knows..."

Raising my wand I took notice of everyone in the room. The students were all looking at me, though many them were also looking Luna, probably because she sounded so rational currently. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madame Maxine were at the head table looking at us, though in that one moment it looked as if Dumbledore was trying to leap over the head table to stop what he must know what coming next. I also saw Fleur Delacour sitting at the Ravenclaw table, though she seemed to barely pay us any mind. Sitting next to her was Gabrielle, her little sister. Now that surprised me because I had always thought Gabrielle was too young to attend Beauxbatons and had only come for the second task. Evidently that was not the case as she was staring right at me as were a pair of young women sitting across from Fleur. One was about the same age as Fleur, her eyes were focused solely on me and I was instantly entranced by their deep sapphire blue color that seemed to glow as she looked at me. Her heart shaped face was framed by golden hair and I noticed that she seemed to wear no makeup, yet her skin glowed. The younger girl sitting next to her looked almost exactly like her and I was positive they were sisters. What really made me curious was why I didn't remember seeing someone as beautiful as her the last time I did this. Had time been changed, or had I just been that unobservant the first time around. Knowing myself as I do, it was probably the later. Whatever the case may be, I had an oath to give and from the way Dumbledore was sprinting towards me, little or no time to give it.

"Adonai,

I Harry James Potter, last scion of House Potter, do swear oath that I shall not enter my name for the Triwizard Tournament competition, neither by my hand or my intent, nor shall I use another to stand in my place to do the same.

Should I break this oath to You, may my magic be stripped from me.

Should I keep faith with You, I ask Your favor and pray for Your guidance.

In Your name, Adonai, so mote it be!"

Boom!

Figuratively speaking at least, from the moment I began the oath, the whole place exploded into chaos. Every student in the Great Hall was now staring at me intently. Teachers were rushing towards me, though Dumbledore had skidded to a stop a few feet from me with an expression of horror on his face. It took maybe four seconds for McGonagall to reach me and start sputtering at me. I tried to make sense of what she was saying, but mostly it sounded like gibberish. Dumbledore reached me next and I noticed that the ever present twinkle in his eyes was gone. Out of nowhere, Snape appeared right next to McGonagall and he was yelling and snarling at me so viciously that spittle was flying everywhere as he bellowed, not that I understood a damned thing to come out of his mouth due to his incoherent rage.

"What have you done, Harry?" Dumbledore finally asked, looking both worried and angry all at once. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

"Umm, I would say I've just sworn that I will not willingly enter the Triwizard Tournament and that if, as Hermione and Luna think it will, my name should come out of the Goblet of fire it will not have been because I wanted to enter the damed contest," I stated calmly, staring the old man right in the eyes as I did. "I really don't see the problem here, Headmaster."

"The 'problem' you little toe-rag, is that as usual you're trying to gain even more attention to yourself by using an old and forbidden name of power to make your little oath!" roared Snape, literally spraying me with enough spittle that I had to wipe my face off on the sleeve of my robes. "Where you even learned that name, I have no idea as you are nowhere near smart enough to learn it on your own, but I cannot wait to see what happens to you when you are proven to be an oath breaker tonight."

"Harry, my boy, you must rescind that oath, at once!" demanded Dumbledore, looking panicked.

I don't know why I said it, but the way they were both acting just set my teeth on edge. I mean here was the man that had tortured me through most of the last year of my life, even if that year had now been erased. Not to mention the Headmaster's disregard for even looking me in the eyes last year, but now he was standing here demanding that I take back an oath that would insure I would never be seen as a cheater. With those two thoughts running rampant in my head, I just started to laugh at both of them. I couldn't stop it, I really couldn't. Obviously that was not the reaction that either of them expected because they just stood there looking like someone had just smacked them in the face with a wet mackerel.

"I tell you what, Headmaster," I replied with a smirk, "I'll take back my oath right after you give one stating should my name come out of the Goblet that you will compete in my place. Oh, and Snape has to give an oath that he is not now nor has he ever been a Death Eater. You both give me those two oaths to that effect and I'll take back my own oath. Deal?"

You would have thought both of them were sucking on Dumbledore's lemon drops when I said that. At first it was obvious the Headmaster was going to tell me he couldn't swear to something like that and then repeat his request that I take my oath back, but the moment I added the bit about Snap's background he clammed right up. I also proved once and for all that it was indeed possible for Snape to become paler than normal, though that was quickly changed as he started to turn red with rage. I just watched both men, Dumbledore gawping at me like a fish and Snape so furious he was vibrating. It was funny and I wanted to remember it for the rest of my life.

"I'm going to take your silence as a no," I said after a full minute of watching the two of them make fools out of themselves. "Well, since the Headmaster has no desire to protect me should my name come out of the Goblet and Snape can't or won't swear he's never been a Death Eater, I will not be taking back my oath."

Turning my head side to side to smile at Hermione and then Luna, I took both their hands and walked them around the still stunned Headmaster and Potions Prick, excuse me, I mean Potions Master. That's when I felt it, the sensation that someone was stabbing a freezing cold steel spike into my head, or at least the memories inside it. Glancing to the side, I saw Snape had his wand pointed at me. Oddly, I also noticed a second sensation, like a warm and gentle breeze which seemed to fill my head with a desire to relax and just let things go. It was so tempting to do what that gentle breeze wanted, except there was a part of me that was asking why I should relax when I knew for a fact something was wrong, that danger awaited me. I felt Luna and Hermione both squeeze my hands and the spell, or whatever it was, broke and allowed me to see the situation for what it was. Someone invading my mind.

That had to be the first time I ever understood what Snape had been trying to teach me about Occulmency and Legilimency, the knowledge that someone was trying to invade my mind other than Snape. Oh, his methods were easy to remember, just smash your way in and tear the place up till you find what you want. Turning to look Dumbledore right in his twinkling eyes, I just grinned at the old man as I remembered everything I had learned about Occulmency. After that microsecond, considering Snape taught me exactly shite all about it, I fell back on my good old fashioned imagination. I imagined that the steel spike stabbed the warm breeze and that the breeze then set fire to the spike. Amazingly enough, both men suddenly turned chalk white and pulled out of my mind. Dumbledore seemed to recover fairly quickly, but Snape had fallen to his knees and was currently throwing up everything he had eaten in the last month.

"Now, that wasn't polite, was it?" I asked with a smile. "If you have a question, ask it, otherwise stay out of my head or the next time I won't be so polite when I ask you to leave."

"When did you learn Occulmency, Harry?" asked the Headmaster, his eyes worried now.

I jerked my head in Snape's direction, he was still trying to turn himself inside out. "No idea what that is, but I always said Snape could read minds."

"That's Professor Snape, Harry," corrected Dumbledore.

"No, it's Snape till the man earns my respect rather than just demanding it while he acts like a spoiled child who thinks he deserves everything," I countered. "He wanted to know how I know about his past and since I wasn't saying anything, he barged in and tried to take it. You on the other hand, I'm not sure if you were looking for something or just trying to compel me to stop fighting. Two attacks at the same time, it was easy enough to figure out. Did you forget, I can throw off the Imperius Curse, so your little compulsion was nothing by comparison. Then I just imagine both attacks being aimed at each other and there you have it, Snape trying to throw up his shoes and you looking at me as if someone just took away your favorite toy."

"Harry, is that you?" whispered the old man, staring intently into my eyes.

I had to laugh at that one, replying finally, "Of course it's me, Headmaster. Who else would it be, Neville?"

Ignoring the old man and heading to the Gryffindor table with Hermione and Luna holding my hands, I had no idea that conversation was going to come back to haunt me, though I probably should have. I'd barely finished my first helping of eggs and bacon when McGonagall told me I was needed in the Headmaster's office. All I could do was roll my eyes and sigh as I piled some bacon, eggs, and a thick slice of cheese on my toast and followed after the stern old Transfiguration professor. We had barely stepped out of the Great Hall when she started berating me for my disrespect of the Headmaster and Snape, then she started in how disappointed in me she was. Once again, walking through the hallways with students listening in to every insult and jibe she made towards me, I was reminded this was the woman that refused to stand up for me while Umbitch tortured me for a year. I think I finally snapped when I heard her say my parents would be ashamed of me.

"I don't know if my parents would and wouldn't be ashamed of, now would I, McGonagall?" I asked, my voice as cold as ice.

"That will be one night of detention, Mr. Potter, for your lack of respect towards me," she barked, giving me the best glare she could.

"Make it a full year then, McGonagall," I bit back. "I won't serve one of them. I won't serve any detention you set for showing you the respect you deserve. You haven't once shown me one shred of respect on our way here. In case you haven't noticed, we've had a crowd following us since we left the Great Hall, but rather than take our conversation to a private location and treating me with the same respect your demand from me, you've treated me shamefully without even having the full story of what happened in the Great Hall."

Once again I left another teacher sputtering as I walked right past her with a sneer. "You are want me to respect you, why don't you start doing your job and watching over the students of your house and this school rather than being Dumbledore's little lackey? Maybe then I'll show you some respect, till then you're no better than my aunt. Till then, in my eyes, you're no better than Snape."

I kept walking till I was around the corner and out of her sight before I heard McGonagall start yelling after me. By then it was too late as I'd already entered the Headmaster's stairwell and made my way up to his office. Sure, I knew there would be hell to pay, but I was just not in the mood to care at the moment. Luna had summed it up this morning, I was on the fast track to be someone's martyr if I kept letting people walk all over me and forgiving them for it. While it was true that none of the things I was currently blaming the staff of Hogwarts for had happened yet, the behaviors had been there all along. Dumbledore had always behaved as if he was some grandfatherly old man looking out for my best interests, but never once had he done anything to keep me safe other than a vague warning usually too late to do me any good. McGonagall wasn't much better and in fact she was worse, with her claims of loyalty to her students and how your house was your family. Funny, both of those claims had been proven to be false by the end my second year at Hogwarts, what with everyone thinking I was a budding Dark Lord out to kill the Muggle-born in the school. Oh, and let's not forget Snape who has made my life a living hell every chance he's had since the day I first arrived at Hogwarts, he would never change. So, walking into the Headmaster's office and seeing two of my currently least favorite people in front of me with the third behind me, I just knew this would be a long day.

AN: Wow, thanks for the reviews!

Authors Notes moved to my blog, see my profile for the address.

Thanks!

Chris :)

Correction: 8/11/13