Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. And while I may use some lines from the books, which won't be often, I make no claim on them.
A/N- 'Thought' - "Spoken" - "Parseltongue" - Written Text -
Chapter 3: The Philosopher's Stone: Part I
oooooooooo: The Hogwarts Express - En Route To Hogsmeade Station
Harry had just settled his trunk and Hedwig's cage when he heard the compartment door slide open behind him. Turning around he saw Ron Weasley standing in the doorway looking at him with a nervous look on his face.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" the note of uncertainty was clear to Harry. "Everywhere else is full."
"Sure, it's Ron right?"
"Yeah, Ron Weasley." he said sticking his hand out and introducing himself properly.
Harry grasped his hand, and returned the shake while saying, "Harry Potter."
Ron's bulging eyes had Harry fighting to maintain his composure.
"Are you really? I mean do you have the scar?" When he heard this Harry did laugh as he raised his bangs to let Ron see the legendary feature. "Wow." he said in awe.
With a look of hesitation Ron asked, "So do you remember anything about that night? I mean,...do you remember what He looked like?"
'Did he really just ask that?' Harry was shocked that he would ask such a thing before remembering that in the Past that was a question that Mrs. Weasley had expressly forbidden as she stood outside the train. Of course he only knew that since he had been listening from the window.
"Of course not, do you remember anything from when you were one?" He said, and watched as Ron's face turned red in embarresment. "It's alright though, I'm sure you won't be the only one to ask."
Even with Harry waving the offending question away Ron couldn't seem to come up with a response, but was saved a moment later as the door opened to reveal the identical forms of the Weasley twins.
"Oh, here you are!" Came Fred's exuberant voice.
"We were coming to see that you had settled." George added in a tone that you would expect at a funeral.
"Yes, Ickle Ronniekins, off to Hogwarts at last" Fred's said in an imitation of his mother.
"So proud, so glad, why it makes my heart flutter to see it." George added having abandoned his previous tone.
"What do you two want?" Ron asked in a mulish voice.
"To see you of course!"
"Why George, I don't think our dear brother is to happy to see us." Fred had a wounded look, as he clutched his robe above his heart.
"No he doesn't seem to be does he? You don't think Ginny hexed him do you?" George was now leaning over Ron, peering closely at him as though he would find something wrong.
"Possibly." Fred replied with a thoughtful look. "Nasty temper on that one."
"It is at that brother o' mine." George said before turning to Harry. "Oh, look Fred. It's that Harry boy from earlier!"
"You don't mean the one that asked to write to our dear sister, do you?"
"Indeed I do, but I can't help to wonder." George said with a thoughtful gaze.
"You can't mean," Fred began, before saying in a stage whisper. "you're thinking of warning him!"
"Warning me about what?" Harry asked, laughing at their antics.
His laughter however caused them to give him looks of pity.
"I think we must, he seems to think it a laughing matter." George said with a sigh.
"What's a laughing matter?" Harry asked, 'I am so lost right now!'
The pitying look had returned as they both said. "Ginny's temper!"
Harry bursted into a fit of laughter at that. 'You're preaching to the choir mates.' It took him a few minutes to calm down enough to reply. "Oh, I think it'll be okay."
Both of the twins looked skeptical at this statement before Fred said, "How can you be so sure? Not even family's safe with that one!"
"Because I'm Harry Potter." He said in imitation of Gilderoy Lockhart.
The Twins, obviously thinking he was joking began laughing and turned to leave.
"I don't think they believed you." Ron said looking at the door, the twins had exited through.
Rolling his eyes he could only think. 'Well spotted Ron.'
"No, I don't think so either. Well I'm going to change." Harry said getting up to retrieve his school robes.
Looking away from the door Ron asked, "So what House do you want to be in Harry?"
"Oh, I don't know. They all suit me actually, but if I had to guess I'd say I probably fit into Ravenclaw or Slytherin the best." He responded thoughtfully. "But if I could choose I'd say Gryffindor."
In truth he wanted to be in Gryffindor again. He wanted the security of the known, of being surrounded by the people he had grown up with. But it was a fool's dream, he knew Ginny had been right. He wouldn't be able to do what was necessary if he was in Gryffindor, as much as he hated to admit it, they were just as bigoted as most Slytherins. To them if you used the Dark Arts then you were automatically evil. And they had that foolish idea that if you do use the Dark Arts for an extended period of time that they corrupt you, and that they become addictive like some Muggle drug. It had taken Ron's death to make him put aside that idea, and when he discovered the truth he couldn't believe it. Most of the spells that were termed Dark by the Ministry caused damage true, and needed intent to work, but in truth they were combat spells Stunning Charms were nice and all in a duel, but duels had rules. If you used one in combat though, all you'll have acheived is wasting time because as soon as your attention is elsewhere that enemy you just put down was revived by someone. Dark Lord's and their follower's knew that though, which is why they use the Dark Arts, they know that in order to win their opponents can't be allowed to get back up. Unfortunately the Dark Arts became guilty by association. No his old house just wouldn't do.
Slytherin on the other hand would throw his enemies off, most likely they would think he sympathized with their beliefs and try to recruit him to their cause, plus any of his darker leanings wouldn't be automatically condemned. If anything it would make everything go smoother, he would have constant communication with the scions of many powerful pureblood families, which would allow him to make many useful connections. Over time he could sway those children to his side, and the idea of recruiting from the heart of Voldemort's power-base did have a certain appeal. Unfortunately, it would also add to Dumbledore's worry that he was becoming another Tom Riddle, and that wasn't acceptable. It would also cause the Gryffindor's to automatically believe he was a traitor to the Light and make them believe it was their personal duty to get revenge. That would also put him fully under Snape's control, which wasn't something he desired.
Ravenclaw could aid him in hiding his expansive pool of magical knowledge though, and were also generally accepted by both Gryffindor and Slytherin, which would allow him to recruit from a much broader portion of the school.
Ron however, didn't hear or chose to ignore, the last part of Harry's statement. Instead he asked. "Why would you want to be in Slytherin? Only Dark Wizards are in there!"
"Don't be stupid Ron!" Harry snapped "Did I say I wanted to be in Slytherin? No I didn't, I said I'd fit in there! Because it's the house of cunning, and determination! I'm both! If you would have listened you would have heard me say I'd fit into Ravenclaw also. And just because someone's in Slytherin it doesn't make them evil, It's peoples choices that do that! And if you didn't hear me before I said I'd choose Gryffindor!"
"But if someone's in Slytherin they are evil Harry! You-Know-Who was in Slytherin!" Ron finished with an emphatic nod, as though Voldemort being in Slytherin proved everything.
"You know, if you replace Slytherin with Muggleborn, and evil with unworthy. You sound just like a Death Eater." He said trying to get Ron to see sense, there was a very real possibility he could end up in Slytherin.
"Tha...That's differant." He spluttered indignantly, while shaking his head in denial.
"Okay let's say you're right," said Harry in an annoyed tone. "That means all Gryffindor's are brave and would never go dark right?"
"Of course!" said Ron with the voice conviction, only a child who saw the world in terms of black and white could possess.
"Have you ever heard of Sirius Black?"
"Yeah. Why?" was the confused response.
"He was in Gryffindor." Harry said smoothly. He was determined to make Ron see reason. If he could do this then he could be in Gryffindor!
Ron leapt to his feet, his face had turned the infamous Weasley red, and his fists were clenched to his sides. "No he wasn't!"
"Okay fine, you don't want to believe that. Then how about this," Harry was getting angry, Ron just wasn't listening. " If Gryffindor's are all brave say his name!"
"Who?" Ron asked, but his face had drained of blood so fast that it left splotches of color all over his face.
"You know exactly who I'm talking about. Voldemort!" Harry watched Ron flich at the name. "Say it, come on! He's been gone for ten years, and you can't possibly remember when he was around so it shouldn't be a big deal! Say it!"
Ron just stood there.
"Voldemort!"
Ron fliched again.
"See, you're even afraid to hear it!" Harry said with contempt. "Some Gryffindor you are!"
Ron's eyes widened at this, and he stormed out of the compartment, slamming the door behind him with as much force as he could.
Harry just watched him leave with a sigh, thinking. 'That could have gone better.' Before narrowing his eyes at the cage on the luggage rack.
'Hello Peter' He thought with a malicious grin, as he stood up and walked over to the cage containing the sleeping form of his parent's betrayer. Drawing his wand and aiming between the bars of the cage he cast. 'IMPERIO'
Peter 'Wormtail' Pettigrew didn't even twitch a whisker as he was placed under the Imperius Curse by the most powerful Dark Wizard in the world.
Having successfully placed Wormtail under the Imperius, Harry returned to his seat and began to think how his argument with Ron would affect their relationship, and he had to admit it didn't look good. Yes, he and Ron had been in fights before, but they had already had years of friendship behind them to fall back on. This time they didn't, and if you added the prospect of them being in seperate houses then the situation became dark indeed. It wouldn't help next year when his 'little sister' would arrive and be the best of friends with someone he would most likely hate. There was a possibility that he could make amends, but with Ron's pride as well as his own he doubted it would matter very much. It would be so much easier if he hadn't said that last comment. But damn, Ron was being such an ass. He would try though, for the sake of the Past Ron, and for Ginny. He knew if he wasn't friendly with Ron, then he would try and interfere with them. It wouldn't work of course but it would be annoying. If it did come to that though he would just stand back and watch as Ginny put him in his place, which would naturally be under her heel. And as much as it hurt it would also keep Ron safer. Yes, in the end it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, he would try in memory of the Past though.
So with that portion of his inner monologue done Harry began to look outside the window, taking in the countryside and marveling at it's beauty. It was odd that a seemingly mundane activity could bring such a strong sense of tranquility, that you could take pleasure in the small details of the landscape without the constant worry of an enemy appearing on the horizon, or sneaking up behind you. Knowing that the world was at peace, Harry allowed himself to be captivated by rolling hills and the reflection of light off the streams and rivers they passed, until the feelings of peace lulled him to sleep.
Harry was dreaming about the day he and Ginny had been married. It had been a small affair, there were no large crowds or bands. Only the few members of the resistance who had taken up residence at Grimmauld Place. Terry had done an excellent job of leading the ceremony while Neville, Luna and Draco sat as witnesses. As he picked his bride up and carried her from the room, followed by the cheers of their friends his dream shifted . He and Ginny had been in the master bedroom of Grimmauld Place, the elf-made wine had lain forgotten on the floor, as the candles burned giving off scents of jasmine, and lavender. Ginny lying in the bed with her hair fanning around her like...."We will be arriving in Hogsmeade Station in fifteen minutes." The volume of the conductor's message startled him to awareness.
Harry instantly saw that he wasn't alone in the compartment. So shaking his head to get rid of the fog at the edges of his mind, he focused on the pale form. This was a conversation he was prepared for, his failed attempt with Ron had shown him that he needed to be more circumspect and had illustrated just how different everybody was now than they had been in the Past. If he was to make any progress in this time he would have to control his anger, and choose his words cautiously. Draco Malfoy looked away from the window as he realised Harry was awake.
"Hello, I'm sorry to intrude." He started, not sounding sorry at all. "But I had heard that Harry Potter was in this compartment, so I came to introduce myself."
"There's no need," Harry said straightening himself in his seat. "You're Draco Malfoy." He finished with a smile, and reaching out his hand for the other boy's.
After returning the gesture Draco asked."Yes, how did you know?"
"Great-Aunt Cassiopeia described you perfectly" Harry said with a smirk. 'Arrogant, and pompous!' he added mentally. "I must admit, I was intending to find you before."
"Oh?" he invited the elaboration.
"Yes, Aunt Cassiopeia informed me that we were cousins, and as I can't bring myself to call those horrid Muggles family, I decided that I would meet my true family. Don't you agree?" 'There I've put forth the effort, now it's your turn.'
"Yes, blood should always come first." 'Oh nice use of double meanings, but it'll take more than that to figure me out.'
Harry not wanting to get into the area of blood suprememacy, immediately change the subject to Houses and subjects that they were looking forward to at the school, which was more than enough to get them into Hogsmeade with no difficulties. It was a relieved Harry that watched the young pureblood leave the room, knowing that the conversation he had just had would set the tone for his future dealings with the boy.
oooooooooo: The Great Hall, Hogwarts
As Harry followed his fellow first years into the Great Hall, he only vaguely heard the voices around him talking about the sight of the enchanted ceiling, or the seemingly endless sea of candles floating in the air above the four House tables. As a matter of fact he was one of the few students not gazing around the room in awe, he like those few others was staring at the floor in front of his feet. Unlike those others this wasn't from nervousness, as a pair of twinkling blue eyes sitting at the head table assumed. No that wasn't the case at all, the truth of the matter was he was sending his mind down a link that he had created earlier that day. A link that he was currently sending orders through. After his orders were relayed Harry maintained his vigil of the flagstones in front of him, in order to keep up his charade of nervousness. It wasn't until he heard the Sorting Hat begin it's song, that he dared to look up.
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
-J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Harry clapped along with the other student's, but once he was done he hung his head again. For the first time since starting this little trip he was worried. He knew that the Sorting Hat couldn't penetrate his Occlumency, but what if it refused to sort him until he allowed access, or if it saw his defences and immediately sorted him into Slytherin since those were the only students likely to show up with them. And why hadn't he thought of this before? Was it because he was so convinced of his own superiority that he thought everything would just fall in place before him, granting him a nice easy road to victory?
'Yep, got it in one didn't you Harry.' was his thought as he heard McGonagall call,
"Potter, Harry"
The whispers started immediately, and the voices of Fred and George were clearly heard as they yelled, "He wasn't kidding!"
Harry who had up until that point been staring at the floor, projecting an air of nervousness thought to himself. 'Time to give them the Boy-Who-Lived they expect.'
Clenching his fists to his side, squaring his shoulders and raising his head high in a feirce show of courage, and determination he strode forward to find out his fate. As he made his way up to the stool on which the Sorting Hat was resting he saw Dumbledore's beaming smile as he drank in the image of a proud, self-assured and apparently fearless Harry Potter. And then he was wearing the sorting hat.
"My, my...."whispered a voice in his ear. "A student whose mind I can't penetrate, don't see that very often. Not at all..." it trailed off thoughtfully. "You must be exceptionally bright to have fully mastered such an arcane branch of magic, not many adult wizards can do so. But it also shows your ability to keep your secrets your own, a sure sign of cunning if ever there was one. But I think it obvious that you are a true..."
"RAVENCLAW!"
Hearing the announcement there was an uproar of joy from the Ravenclaws, The-Boy-Who-Lived was one of theirs. The reaction from the rest of the assembly was more varied however. As Harry moved over to join his new housemates he took the opportunity to observe the other tables. The Hufflepuffs were claping respectfully, but that was to be expected. The Slytherins were all looking confused, it was obvious that they had expected him to be a Gryffindor. It was this last House that surprised Harry the most though. He had thought they would applaud him along with the Hufflepuffs, but as he surveyed them he noticed that most of them bore looks of betrayal, after all he had defeated the Dark Lord and everyone knew that Gryffindors were fully opposed to the Dark.
Harry put these thoughts aside as he sat down at the Ravenclaw table to wait for the end of the Sorting ceremony. By the end of the ceremony the House of Ravenclaw had received seven new students, Harry took this as an omen of good things to come. During the feast Harry just sat back and observed the interaction of the other three boys. Terry Boot was as hilarious as he was in the Past and he made an effort to drag Harry into the conversations, which he did so as not to appear anti-social. Michael Corner on the other hand was just annoying! He couldn't seem to go more than two minutes without starting a story that inevitably led to how brilliant he was. Anthony Goldstein seemed to be more reserved than the other two, but when he spoke it was with confidence.
'Overall they're a rather well balanced group.' Harry thought to himself.
Once the feast had concluded Dumbledore stood to give the start of term notices. Harry who had heard it all before took the opportunity to send out his commands to Wormtail. He would free Sirius tonight, there was no way the Ministry would be able to ignore the confession of a man in front of hundreds of students and staff. All he needed to do was wait for the perfect moment to present itself, and execute his plan. It didn't take long as Dumbledore concluded his speech and set the stage for the school song, but Harry had different plans.
'NOW' Harry screamed inside his mind, as he forced every bit of willpower he possessed into his mental command. And just as Dumbledore raised his wand to begin a horrible rendition of an even worse song, the doors of the Great Hall burst open with a noise reminiscent of a thunder clap. And in ran Peter Pettigrew who stopped in the middle of the Great Hall, and began to cry out for everyone to hear.
"It was me, Dumbledore! I can't keep the truth hidden any longer! I was the Secret Keeper! I was the spy for the Dark Lord!" Gasps swept the room at this pronouncement, but Harry just watched in expectation as the rat continued.
"I was the reason Gideon, Fabian, and the Bones' were targeted! I betrayed James and Lily!" Harry twisted his face into one of stunned cofusion at this point, and waited for him to finish.
"I'm the one that framed Sirius!" Every eye in the Hall was riveted on Pettigrew. None were capable of moving or speaking as the filthy man standing in front of them admitted to commiting some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. "But you have to understand! The Dark Lord! He had terrible weapons, he was winning! What was there to be gained from resisting him? Nothing!"
Dumbledore had apparently regained his ability to speak and asked one whispered word that was still heard by everyone in the Hall, "Why?"
"Because, I was never good enough, I was always the weakest, the dumbest, the one to be last in everything. And the Dark Lord offered me power! POWER!"
Harry who was sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, felt the rage flooding through him, threatening to overwhelm him. Yes he had put the Imperius on Pettigrew and ordered him to come in and cofess his crimes to a Hall of witnesses, but hearing him saying it was destroying his ability to think rationally. He was just barely keeping his rage in check. Pettigrew needed to be alive to get Sirius released right? But Pettigrew wasn't done yet. No, he had one final thing to say.
"POWER DUMBLEDORE! AGAINST THAT WHAT WERE THE LIVES OF BLOOD-TRAITORS, AND SOME MUDBLOOD BITCH!"
With a scream of rage Harry launched himself to his feet, took two running strides that carried him to the Hufflepuff Table, and had it's occupants diving to get out of his way. Allowing his momentum to help propel him, he jumped onto the table, sending the remains of the feast flying in all directions, and took a massive leap towards Pettigrew. With the knife he didn't even remember having grabbed, glinting in the air as he started to descend towards his target. His intent was clear, he would kill the rat and be done with it. But just as he was starting his downward stroke he saw a red light speeding towards him, and he knew it would reach him before he reached Wormtail. So he forced one last command into the connection before everything went black.
The Great Hall watched in shock as Harry Potter was hit by the Stunning Spell, while apparently trying to kill the man that had just come in claiming to have betrayed his parents to Voldemort. That wasn't the biggest shock though, no that distinction belonged to what happened next. The man, after having just been saved from certain death, dove towards the knife that Potter had dropped, picked it up and yelled a scream so primal everyone shivered at the sound of it. Then he raised the knife to his throat and pulled it across in a sharp gesture, and in the same motion, reversed the blade and plunged it into his stomach in an upward motion causing his entrails to spill to the ground around him.
oooooooooo
Harry woke in familiar settings. The blurred white walls, the coarse texture of linen, and the smell of potions could only mean one thing. The Hospital Wing. Feeling around, he located his glasses and sat up just as the door opened to reveal Albus Dumbledore striding towards him.
"Harry, how are you?" he asked with a grim smile.
"I feel like I've been hit by a bus." Harry responded, with a small smile.
The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes seemed to pick up speed at this statement. "Ah yes, my apologies. I'm afraid I may have been a bit overzealous in my efforts to keep you from commiting murder, however justified it was."
'Murder? WORMTAIL!' eyes widening, Harry snapped his head around to look at the venerable Headmaster. "What happened?" he asked in a hard voice.
"I'm afraid that after your attempt to take the life of Mr. Pettigrew, he decided that you had the right idea and killed himself." Dumbledore said this with a small trace of delight present in his voice. "But let me assure you, that you have no need to worry about any repercussions for your attempt. You were clearly not in control of yourself, though I do advise trying to show more restraint in the future."
Harry masked his face into one of shame while he thought of a way to show Dumbledore that he wasn't another Tom Riddle. Then it came to him.
"Sirius!" Harry suddenly exclaimed. "He was framed, I have to tell Aunt Cassiopeia!"
"Cassiopeia Black?" Dumbledore asked in confusion. "I wasn't aware that you knew her."
Harry smiled broadly, "I met her when I went to Diagon Alley, she's the one that bought all my school supplies, and told me about Sirius. She said she was so proud of him, but then he turned out to be working for Voldemort. But if he was framed she needs to know, she was heart broken about it!" Harry finished in a sad whisper. 'There, now you see that I can care for others.'
"Don't worry Harry, as we speak there are release papers on there way to Azkaban to free Sirius." He informed Harry comfortingly, a reassuring smile gracing his heavily lined features. "This will be the front page article of the Daily Prophet in the morning, so she will know soon enough."
"Great! Do you think I'd be able to see him. I mean he's my Godfather, I could live with him. Well hopefully, that would definately be an easy fix for me...." he said trailing off, hoping to prompt the conversation he knew would be coming.
"Yes, I was planning on waiting until the end of the week to have this conversation, that way you would have time to settle in. But in light of recent events now is as good a time as any." He started with his customary twinkle. Harry took this as a sign that he was reassured Harry wasn't another Voldemort in the making. "Harry, I'd like to know how you knew to break the Blood Wards around your Aunt's house?"
"They broke? You mean I was right?" He asked with a surprised voice.
"Harry, I don't think you realize the scope of the danger you've placed yourself or your family in." He started. "I set those wards up to give you a sanctuary from any who would harm you. As it stands those wards can never be replaced."
"Why? Can't you recast them?" Harry asked already knowing the answer, and the reason why.
"I'm afraid not Harry." He began before patiently explaining. "You see the wards were based off of your mother's sacrifice, and once the wards using that sacrifice are broken they can never be restored."
"But why Professor? I still don't understand" Harry hated to sit and be spoon fed information he was already an expert in, but appearances must be made and maintained.
"It's quite simple really. All magic that is based on blood requires a sacrifice." Harry got the impression that Dumbledore was hesitant to speak about the subject, but he continued anyway. "When wards of this nature are dispelled the sacrifice that powers them is destroyed as well."
Nodding in understanding Harry said, "So the only way you would be able to recast them would be to...." Harry's eyes widened in horror.
"Yes Harry, I see that you understand. That is the reason most Blood Magic is considered to be one of the most heinous of acts of Dark Magic." He said severely, "Though when your mother sacrificed herself, it was a willing act of love. And that created a force that no Dark Magic could ever break."
"Love" Harry whispered under his breath.
Dumbledore smiled when he heard this. "Yes, love is by far the most powerful magic in this world. But I should be letting you get some rest, it's been a trying day for you and you must rest for tomorrow."
As he was leaving Dumbledore could only think how misplaced his fears had been. Madame Pomfrey came out of her office ten minutes later and released him after another quick diagnostic. Once she had confirmed everything was in working order she escorted him to Ravenclaw Tower and gave him access to the common room. Harry then found the door designating the first year dormitory, climbed into his bed and fell into a deep sleep.
oooooooooo
The next morning at breakfast Harry recieved his schedule from Professor Flitwick, and with a groan of frustration saw that his first class was to be Double Potions with the Hufflepuffs. He couldn't help but wonder what Professor Snape would be like this time around. He knew that Snape would be impressed with his knowledge, but would that be enough to keep the man from finding some way to belittle him?
'Probably not.' Harry thought sourly, 'I look to much like my father.' But would the fact that he wasn't in Gryffindor make Snape less likely to believe he wasn't like James Potter, but more like his mother? He didn't know, but he had two hours to find out. So with that 'comforting' thought in mind he quickly finished his meal and went to collect his potion supplies. Just as he was leaving the hall however the owl post arrived, and the largest eagle owl he had ever seen swooped down towards him at such a fast speed that he had to fight the urge to draw his wand and blast it from the sky. Instead he settled for jumping out of the way as the bird, talons outstretched tried to land where his shoulder had been moments before. The owl having had his landing perch suddenly removed only recovered an instant before slamming into the ground, flew to the spot he had just vacated and started screeching in a tone that clearly said 'What's wrong with you?' before sticking his leg out and turning his head away from Harry.
'This ruddy bird's crazy!' Harry thought as he withdrew the letter, only to jerk his hand away as the owl tried to bite him, before taking flight. Shaking his head at the owl's actions he opened the letter and felt joy explode inside his heart.
Harry,
I've been informed that you're aware of who I am, and that I'm your Godfather. That said I would like to get a chance to speak with you. I have spoken with Dumbledore and he has agreed that it would be best if I wait for you to get settled before I meet you. There are a few legal matters that I must attend to, but if it's fine by you Dumbledore has agreed that I can visit on Saturday. If this is acceptable then I will see you Saturday. If not, then please send a reply suggesting a better date for you.
-Sirius Black
Harry quickly wrote a reply and turned to tie it to the owl, only to realize that it had flown off earlier. Well, he could always send it off with a school owl this afternoon when he sent his letter to Ginny with Hedwig. But first he had classes and he still had to grab his things, glancing at his watch he saw that he would have to hurry if he wanted to make it on time. Being late to his first class with Snape certainly wouldn't endear him to the man, so he set off at a trot taking every secret passage he knew to make sure he got there on time. He shouldn't have even bothered though.
Professor Severus Snape opened the door to the potions lab to let in his first class of term, only to see one student in the hall. A student that fiiled him with disgust as he took in his appearance.
"Potter! Where are your classmates?" He snapped at the miniature replica of his hated enemy.
Harry though had no intentions of being baited, or intimidated. "I don't know sir. I came down early, I can't wait to learn about potions!" He said with so much enthusiasm that Snape felt ill.
Snape didn't respond except to move out of the doorway and gesture impatiently for him to enter. Harry immediately took a seat in the middle of the classroom, as much as he knew sitting in the front would annoy Snape, he didn't want to be right next to the foul tempered man. After another five minute wait the missing Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs came rushing into the room, out of breath and noticibly worried about Snape's reaction. The Professor waited until they were all settled before saying in a deathly quiet voice.
"I think five points deduced from each of you should be sufficient to stress the importance of being prompt." He said this looking at Harry, who immediately knew he had been counted as well. "And if any of you are late for my class again..." He said triling off with the threat hanging in the air.
"Now that you have decided to grace my classroom with your presence, we shall begin with the roll." And so he began, Harry was wondering if he would single him out again and waited with a kind of eager pessimism. He didn't have to wait long as Snape finally reached. "Harry Potter...our newest celebrity." Before adding with a glare. "You will most likely be favoured by the other teachers here Potter, but rest assured you will receive no such treatment here!" He then turned his attention back to the parchment in his hands and continued until he reached the last name on the list. Stopping only to set the roll down, he launched into his lecture.
"I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that flow through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses." He began in no more than a whisper, the classroom was silent every student hanging on to his every word. "I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, or even stop death." He couldn't seem to stop himself from adding. "That is providing you aren't as inept, as those I usually have to deal with."
After the celebrity jibe Harry knew what to expect next, "Potter!" Snape snapped from his position at the front of the classroom.
Harry just acted like he didn't hear the loathing in his voice and replied, "Yes Professor?"
"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel, to an infusion of wormwood?"
"The Draught of the Living Death sir, it's the most powerful sleeping potion there is." There was an excited tone in Harry's voice.
"Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" He asked intent on seeing how much Harry had truly studied.
"The stomach of a goat sir."
"And what is the differance between monkshood and aconite?"
"Nothing sir, it's the same plant. Muggle's call it aconite as well." Harry said happily.
Snape was looking impressed, grudgingly but still impressed. "And what is the twelfth use of dragon's blood?"
"It's twelfth use is an oven cleaner sir."
Snape chose not to acknowledge the correct answer though and just moved on with the lecture, "You will turn to page six and read the theory of making a simple Boil-Curing Potion, which we will brew in the last hour of class."
By the last half hour of class almost every student in the classroom had made enough minor mistakes that Snape, was moving through the room with his robes billowing in a manner that reflected his fury. This had the unfortunate side effect of terrifying the students so much that by the end of the lesson six different cauldron's had melted and two more had exploded. The only good thing to come from this was that, when Harry turned in his completed potion Snape seemed almost grateful that someone in the class could brew. Not that he said anything to Harry about his success, on the contrary he just continued to ignore him as though he wasn't there.
According to the schedule Thursday morning was the first day that Ravenclaw would share classes with Gryffindor. In the morning it was Transfiguration with Charms in the afternoon, it would also be the first time Harry would see Ron since their argument on the train. He had tried to find the redheaded boy during the week, in order to apologize to him but he had met with failure. He knew the longer it took to at least make an attempt to reconcile their differences the less likely he would be at succeeding. Harry finished his meal quickly and headed in the direction of the Transfiguration classroom, with the hopes that Ron would be sensible.
"Hey Ron." He said to the approaching boy. "I.."
"What do you want Potter?" He snapped. 'Well it's understandable, I did imply he was a coward.'
"I just wanted to apologize for what I said, it was rude and uncalled for."
"So you think saying sorry's going to make it better?" Ron replied snidely.
"No but I was hoping we could start over, you know?" 'Damn I suck at this!'
Ron just looked at him as if he had grown an extra head before saying, "And why would I want to start over? You've already made it clear you're a Slytherin sympathizer!"
"A what?"
"You heard, you're just as bad as them!" He screamed, waving his hand in the air.
Harry just looked at him with contempt. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't try to deny it!" Pointing his finger at Harry he screamed. "You wanted to be in Slytherin! You beat You-Know-Who so you could take his place!"
Harry couldn't help it, he just started laughing uncontrollably, he kept laughing until he heard Ron scream.
"What are you laughing about? You think it's funny! See he doesn't deny it!" Ron's face had now turned an interesting shade of magenta.
"No I just think it's funny how ridiculously stupid that was." He said wiping tears from his eyes.
"Don't try and play innocent Potter, I've already told everyone about you!" Ron yelled, "I wrote home too. So my Mum and sister know to!"
"Wow, you really are stupid." Came Harry's patronizing voice.
"Who are you calling stupid Potter?" Ron yelled, pointing his wand at Harry.
"Here's your one chance, put your wand away!" Harry said in a hard voice. As he saw the door behind Ron open.
"It's time you learned your place Potter!" Ron shreiked, but a moment later his face lost all color as he heard.
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall's lips were set into a firm line, as her eyes burned holes into Ron's head.
"Potter's trying to take over from You-Know-Who!" He said stupidly, while Harry just shook his head and shrugged at her gaze.
"You two will stay after class, but right now everyone inside." She said before waving them in.
oooooooooo
'There's no way I could have had this conversation before.' He thought to himself as Hermione Granger continued to speak. She like hike him had arrived ten minutes before class was due to start, and had introduced herself before starting a discussion on the theory behind their earlier assignment in Transfiguration. After about five minutes their topic shifted to how the intent of the caster, played a crucial role in performing the effect of the spell. They had only just started though, when they were interrupted by Ron.
"Potter! You got me detention!" he said with a glare before turning his eyes to Hermione. "What are you doing here?"
"She's having an intelligent conversation Ron." Harry replied cooly, cutting off whatever response Hermione had. "A concept that's foreign to you I'm sure."
With a scream of rage Ron pulled his wand and yelled, "Tarantallegra"
Harry seeing the Jelly-Legs Jinx flying towards him calmly stepped to the side, while raising his own wand, "Everte Statum"
Everyone watched as Ron was thrown through the air, before landing with a thud. Rolling over from his position on the ground Ron drew his wand back to cast again, only to have his wand pulled from his grasp as a voice said, "Expelliarmus"
After catching Ron's wand Harry walked casually to Ron's semi-prone form. 'Time to use his own insecurities for his benefit.' Harry thought.
"What was that Ron?" came Harry's contemptuous voice. "I'll tell you, it was pathetic! You'll never be able to beat me, you could study all year while I just sat back and relaxed and you'd still be second best." Seeing his face darken Harry thought, 'Good, maybe he'll apply himself in an effort to beat me.' "Although from what I hear you couldn't even claim tenth much less second. And it's true isn't it? You're one of those people who thinks they can just sit back and the answers will come to you, well good luck." He finished as he threw Ron's wand down the corridor. "Fetch."
"Harry, why did you say all those things to Ron?" Hermione asked when he reached her side.
"Because I hate ignorance and the only way to make him see reason, and try to improve is to make him take personal offense." Harry explained quietly. "I don't like saying those things, but if it forces him to try harder, and makes him become a better student then I'll have accomplished something." 'Like making him better prepared.' he added silently.
"But you can get in trouble, duelling is against the rules!" She said looking worried.
"It is, but if it makes Ron do better, then it'll have been worth it." He said looking at her. "Sometimes you have to go against the rules, if you want to accomplish a greater good. And I think this is one of those occasions.
Hermione looked obviously torn between accepting his logic, or going with the established belief that rules were inviolable no matter the circumstance. In the end she settled the matter by saying. "I can see your point, but that doesn't mean you should disregard the rules."
Smiling at her internal compromise he said, "No it doesn't."
By the end of the week Harry's grasp of theoretical knowledge and skill in practical application of magic had the teachers raving in the Staff Room. In Transfiguration he had managed to finish almost ten muntes ahead of the only other student to complete the assignment. He had even gotten into an impromptu discussion with Professor Flitwick over the charms theory they had been studying. Even Snape had to admit that he seemed to be an 'Acceptable' potions brewer. Harry was seen in the library constantly searching the shelves, and spending hours pouring through them. All in all, he was the perfect Ravenclaw.
oooooooooo
'Nothing!' Harry thought viciously, while staring at the book in front of him. He had spent the entire week so far searching for a book on Wandless Magic and had so far come up short. He knew that there had to be a book somewhere that held the information he desired, he also knew that it couldn't be in the Restricted Section they only kept books that contained dangerous knowledge. Glancing at his watch again to check the time, he saw that he had five more minutes before he needed to leave. It was Saturday and he had his meeting with Sirius in the Headmaster's Office.
'Well, it's not like I'll accomplish anything in the next five minutes.' He thought before standing and heading to the meeting. As he walked down the nearly desrted hallways he was lost in thought. Not on the upcoming meeting with Sirius, but on the tasks he needed to accomplish. He knew that as long as Quirrel was here there was no way he could make a move on the Diadem, if Voldemort decided to check up on it and found it to be missing then the game was up. He had already dismissed the idea of killing him outright as he was sure that his defeat of him and Voldemort was what solidified Dumbledore's trust in him in the Past. He planned on getting the Stone before that meeting though, that would give him the added insurance of victory, just in case Quirrel got lucky. Unfortunately, he had no idea where it was currently located which meant he would have to wait for Dumbledore to place it in the Mirror. He had tried to go to the third floor earlier that morning on the off chance that it was already there. Fate it seemed had been against him as Mrs. Norris seemed to know he was there and alerted Filch. He had managed to avoid detection because of his Disillusionment Charm, but Mrs. Norris had his scent now and any time he would approach Filch was called keeping him from entering the room.
'God I hate that cat!' Harry thought as he approached the Gargoyle protecting the Headmaster's Office. Then as he began to climb the stairs he got a wicked smile on his face.
'Manasa just got her first assignment.'
