Chapter 3: Meetings, OWLs and Old friends

Harry struck out with the Kenzai Stave he had borrowed from the village Dojo.

He was running through a Kata he remembered Jinpachiro teaching Yuri when he was younger, out on the hill with the sunset Yuri remembered.

Harry had found that he actually liked martial arts, even before he started having the dreams. They just gave him the advantage that he had more or less three lifetimes of knowledge of martial arts, stealth tactics, assassination techniques, staff combat, sword combat and Bushido. Along with five different Asian language and Russian. But even though he remembered the arts, he still started practicing them.

So he was out at a training ground in the Forest of the Wind, stripped to the waist dancing through the air spinning the stave in his hands.

Harry thrust the stave forward like a spear and it slammed into the wooden training pillar in the centre of the clearing.

Then he spun around and slashed sideways viciously at the pillar. But the force he but behind the strike snapped the stave in half.

But before the broken half could fly off Harry snapped out his left hand and yelled "REPARO" and the broken half flew back and reattached itself to the half in his hand.

In the seconds it took him to realize what he had just done Harry whispered "Holy shit" in fluent Russian

But at the same time he thought "This is going to be fun"

"That was impressive Potter" a voice behind them announced.

Harry smiled as he turned around to see Mad Eye Moody emerge from the tree line, followed by Kingsley Shackbolt, Tonks, Remus, McGonagall, a man who looked a lot like Dumbledore, but Harry could tell he wasn't, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George Weasley.

Harry whistled lowly as he planted the staff in the ground. He hadn't been expecting such a big turnout.

"You've gotten good Potter" Moody said

"Thanks Mad Eye" Harry said "But I didn't ask you here so you could check out my amazing ass. You're here on more pressing business"

"What business" Charlie asked as McGonagall conjured some seats

"Ending the war with Voldemort before any more people lose their lives for nothing" Harry said

"Sirius didn't die for nothing Harry" Remus said

"I wasn't talking about Sirius" Harry snapped "I was talking about people like Cedric and the family Draco Malfoy helped torture in Manchester last week for his Deatheater initiation and the Squib in Glasgow the week before that and the Half-Blood Auror and his three year old daughter who were murdered in Belfast before my birthday. I'm talking about the people Dumbledore is sitting back and doing nothing while they die because of a fucking PROPHECY"

"You know the prophecy?" the Dumbledore look-alike, his older brother Aberoth asked

"Yeah" Harry growled as he sat back "Your bastard of a brother told me the night Sirius died. Who here knows the contents?"

"Nobody" Bill said "All anybody in the order knows is that it involves you and Riddle"

"Correct" Harry replied "I won't tell you the full thing but the jest of it is…Bill could you put up a spell to keep out any unwanted guests, we'll be talking for a while and I don't want to be disturbed"

"No problem" the curse breaker said as he spun his wand in a complex pattern.

"OK" Harry said "Basically a kid was supposed to be born at the end of July with the power to kill Voldemort. That's the part Voldemort knew, the prophecy went on to say that Voldemort would make the kid his equal and that he would have a power Voldemort didn't know. The final part of the prophecy is the kicker…when it comes down to the final showdown between me and Riddle. The fight will be to the death"

Murmuring and swearing spread out among the assembled witches and wizards.

Until Aberoth broke the silence "I can see why you would hate my brother then"

"It's not just the prophecy that makes me hate him" Harry said "It's the fact that he kept it from me for so long. And that he's wasted so much time dancing around Riddle when he could have been gathering more allies and training people to fight. Training me to fight. If he had told me the prophecy when I asked in nineteen ninety two why Riddle tried to kill me I would have trained more. I could have been ready that night in the graveyard. Instead Cedric and Sirius are dead and I'm not ready for a war that's been coming for a decade and a half"

"Add to that the fact that Dumbledore's got our folks, Ron and Granger saying you've gone dark" Fred said.

"WHAT?"

"Yeah" Bill said "Apparently Dumbledore had my…mother arrange for you and Ron to meet on the train. He's been using Ron to watch you, Granger too. I'd say that's why my little brother got the prefect badge when you were the one who deserved it. The old bastard has also been taking money from your trust vault"

"How?" Harry asked "I've been to the vault three times and there's been nothing different about it"

"That's because the Trust Vault your parents set up for you is tied to the main Potter Financial Account" Bill said "I did a check up and found out about it. The trust vault had half a million Galleons put in it when it was set up in nineteen eighty one and Dumbledore has been emptying the vault every year on your birthday and transferring the funds to other vaults, Gringotts hasn't contacted you about it because the money has just been transferred to accounts linked to the Potter account, so…"

"So the money isn't really leaving my account it's just being shifted around" Harry concluded "Is there anything I can do?"

"Well I also found out that your parents left a will" Bill said "When you have free time contact me and meet me at Gringotts in London and you can have it read, as well as claim what Sirius left you. Thankfully Dumbledore can't touch that since it's in the Black Account and he can't control that"

"Only you can" Remus said "He made you his heir in name and title"

"When?" Harry asked

"Third week in July" McGonagall said

"Once you go to Gringotts there isn't a thing Dumbledore can do to stop you" Bill said

"Any idea what the old man has planned for me this year?" Harry asked

"He's having Ron and Hermione trained to incapacitate you if you do anything against his plans" Mad Eye said "But the training isn't going as well as he thinks. Weasley and Granger couldn't take on a Deatheater if their lives depended on it"

"Good" Harry said.

"We heard from Neville Longbottom after your birthday" George said "The traitorous brother of ours got him, Thomas and Finnegan together and told him you were going dark and they he needed their help to spy on you. Neville and Seamus told him to go rot in hell but Thomas is with him"

"Nice to know some Gryffindor's know the meaning of loyalty" Harry muttered "So I'll have three spies this year, what else?"

"Not sure" Mad Eye grunted "We know he plans on having the Deatheater teach you Occlumency again"

"Over my dead body" Harry growled "I'd sooner let Bellatrix Lestrange into my bed than let that greasy bastard Mindfuck me again. All he did was make my connection to Voldemort worse"

"He what?" Shackbolt hissed

"All Snape told me to do was clear my mind and then he attacked" Harry growled "Dragging up the worst of ten years with the Dursley's for his own amusement"

"That is NOT Occlumency" Moody growled

"I know" Harry said "I found that out from the book I ordered at the start of the summer. I've been building my shields up for a month and a half with the help of the meditation techniques described in the book. It's good sometimes when a Muggleborn or Half-Blood writes a book on a topic. They describe things in terms Muggle raised wizards can understand"

"Yeah I noticed that when I was studying the art myself" Shackbolt said "Who's did you read?"

"Hotari Hanzo" Harry said "Flourish recommended it"

"I read him too" Tonks said "The description of the fortress is cool"

"I used both the deception method and the barrier method and a little bit of enchantment protection through the…security in my forest" Harry said with an evil grin "I'd love to see Dumbledore get into my mind"

"Mind if I try?" Remus asked "Just to test the barriers for my own peace of mind"

"No problem" Harry nodded as Remus drew his wand and cast the spell.

A few moments passed before Remus was blown back into his seat for no apparent reason.

"What hit him?" Aberoth asked

"Stupefy" Harry shrugged "When I get back to Hogwarts I'm planning on upgrading all the spells to Class six Interrogation magic, especially for Snape, Dumbledore and Riddle, along with anybody else stupid enough to look into my mind"

"Very impressive" McGonagall said before she revived Remus "Now I have a question, would you be interested in Animagus training?"

"Of course I am Professor" Harry said "But on the full moon I'm going through a ritual that will determine what kind of powers I'm capable of using. If you wait until I get back to Hogwarts I'll let you know if I have the potential"

"Very well" McGonagall said "Now for the last several weeks I have been conversing with your former beaters, chasers and captain in order to determine who between you and Miss Bell should be the next Gryffindor Captain. They all recommended you. And I agree"

Harry smiled "Thank you professor. I won't let you down"

"See that you do not" McGonagall said stiffly "I wouldn't be able to look Severus in the eye if we lost that trophy"

"Well then I'll just have to drive Malfoy and Cho Chang into the ground when we meet on the pitch" Harry chuckled.

"You better" McGonagall said as she reached into her robes and handed Harry a letter "Let us see if you can fulfill your aspirations to become an Auror"

"I've decided to change my plans on that professor" Harry said

"What do you wish to do then?" McGonagall asked.

"I want to teach Defense against the Dark Arts" Harry replied with a grin.

"Teaching?" Remus asked "The son of Prongs wants to teach"

"I was under the impression from what I read in my Genealogy book that my mum taught Ancient Runes while she was pregnant with me" Harry said

"That is true" McGonagall agreed "She taught Runes until she and James took you under the Fidelus Charm. You were a regular fixture behind her desk in the Runes Class room until your first birthday"

"Well" Harry said "Teaching the DA last year was fun so I figure why not do it for a living when my Dark Wizard Killing days are over. I'm not saying I don't want to be an Auror. I just want to become a teacher at some stage after graduation"

"From what I've seen of your Quidditch skills you could go pro if you wanted too" Tonks said "Charlie was good when he played Seeker and not even he could beat you"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence" Charlie grumbled.

"Tonks is right" Shackbolt agreed "Keep your options open"

"I will" Harry said before he turned to McGonagall "Any details on who the new DADA professor is?"

"I'm afraid I do" McGonagall said "You see Albus managed to convince a professor who taught at Hogwarts when I was a student Horace Slughorn. To return to teach Potions"

"Afraid so?" Harry thought. Then he contemplated the words. If this Slughorn guy was back to teach Potions that meant "Oh hell no"

"Yes Potter" McGonagall sighed "Albus has finally given in and given Severus the Defense position"

"Tell me you're shitting me" Harry pleaded "Tell me that greasy bastard is teaching my favorite subject"

"I'm afraid so" McGonagall sighed

(A\N don't worry, the greasy bastard won't live to see the inside of the Defense Classroom)

Harry sighed as he opened the letter.

After tossing aside the boring junk saying that he had his OWL results and he had to use them to decide his subjects for the next year and read the actual results.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Passing Grades

Outstanding: 2 OWLs

Exceeds Expectations: 1 OWL

Acceptable: 1 OWL

Failing Grades

Poor: 0 OWLs

Dreadful: 0 OWLs

Troll: 0 OWLs

Student: Harrison James Potter

Date of Birth: July 31st 1980

School of Attendance: Hogwarts

House: Gryffindor

Harrison James Potter has achieved the following Results

Astronomy- Serena Sinstra

Acceptable (Examination incomplete)

Professor's Comment: Mr. Potter is an excellent student with a good eye for tracking stellar phenomenon

Care of Magical Creatures- Ruberus Hagrid

Outstanding

Professor's Comment: Mr. Potter has a good hand with Animals. He has had several encounters with magical creatures and they have responded well to him. If he chooses it I would welcome him back to the class

Charms- Filius Flitwick

Outstanding

Professors Comment: Harry Potter is one of the most gifted Charms students I have had the pleasure of teaching since his mother's passing. His abilities in advanced charms such as the Patronus are impeccable.

Defense Against the Dark Arts- Delores Umbridge

Highest Honors (This is the highest grade ever achieved in the Wizarding Education Board) this is the equivalent of 4 Owls or 1 Acceptable Grade NEWT)

Professors Comment: Potter is a disruptive student with no work ethic. I believe that his aspirations to become an Auror will go unfulfilled due to this, as well as his criminal record and his disregard for Ministry officials.

Divination- Sybil Trelawney

Poor

Professors Comment: Mister Potter has very little ability for the sights.

Herbology- Pomona Sprout

Exceeds Expectations

Professors Comment: Harry's attention to the care of the plants he works with is matched by only one student in his entire year. He will do well if he reaches NEWT level

History of Magic- Robert Binns

Dreadful

Professors Comment: N/A

Potions- Severus Snape

Exceeds Expectations

Professors Comment: Potter's abilities in potion making, amazingly are superior to his attitude. I believe that if he WORKS, he may make it into the NEWT class.

"I don't believe it" Harry thought "The greasy bastard actually gave me something resembling a compliment"

Transfiguration- Minerva McGonagall

Outstanding

Professors Comment: Potter is an attentive student, who will do well in class if he remains undisrupted by his friend's foolishness.

Looking up at the Transfiguration professor Harry said "We agree on something professor" before going back to the letter.

Total OWLs 14/18

1 NEWT (DADA)

Rank in Class: 4th

Rank in House: 2nd

Congratulations

You are now eligible for NEWT level classes in

Care of Magical Creatures

Charms

Defense against the Dark Arts

Herbology

History of Magic

Potions

Transfiguration

Electives

Practical Dueling- NEWT Charms, Defense, Potions and Transfiguration required (Prerequisite for the Auror Academy, a weekend and evening class)

Healing- Charms, Herbology and Healing required

Apparation- Charms required (Twelve Week Lessons beginning after Christmas must be seventeen before beginning of seventh year, testing in May)

Please fill out the form in this letter and send it to your Deputy Head Mistress immediately.

Good Luck in the coming years

Miranda Goshanks

Department of Magical Education

Ministry of Magic

"How did you do Potter?" Moody asked

"Fourteen" Harry said "Highest Honors in Defense, Outstanding in Charms, Magical Creatures and Transfiguration, Exceeds Expectations in Herbology and Potions, Acceptable in Astronomy, Poor in Divination and dreadful in History of Magic"

"Holy shit" Charlie whispered "Highest Honors is the equivalent of four OWLs or an Acceptable NEWT. Nobody has gotten that grade since"

"Since I graduated" Aberoth said "Before that the record hadn't been broken since Nicolas Flammel and Albert Simon went to Hogwarts seven hundred years ago, although Tom Riddle came close to breaking my record"

"Whoa" Harry said before a thought occurred to him "What's the grade requirement for Slughorn's NEWT Potions?"

"Exceeds Expectations" McGonagall said

"So what're you taking?" Tonks asked

Harry thought for a moment before he turned to Tonks and said "Turn around I need a flat surface to mark the form on" then he took a ball point pen from his jeans pocket and selected:

Charms

Defense against the Dark Arts

Herbology

Potions

Transfiguration

Practical Dueling

Healing

Apparation

"Not a bad workload" Charlie said "I took Apparation in my sixth year"

"Most people do" Bill said "Kids learn to apparate the first chance they get"

"Those to demons you call twin brothers were driving us nuts last year, rubbing our bloody noses in it" Harry grumbled.

"Well you can rub their noses in it as you said by performing your first Apparation before your eighth lesson" McGonagall said with a small smile.

"I will at that" Harry said with a grin.

"OK" Mad Eye said "What now?"

"I'm not sure" Harry replied as he thought back to Jinpachiro's Special Ops training "The logical step would be for us to wait and see what Dumbledore does when I claim what's mine"

"Will you kick him out of Headquarters?" Fred asked

"That depends on whether or not he's a good boy" Harry said with an evil grin "For now we should disperse and we can meet up again when I go back to London in two weeks"

"Agreed" Mad Eye said "But I'll stay in the area if it's OK with you Potter, I may be able to teach you a few things you don't know yet"

"Problem is Mad Eye" Harry replied as he nodded his goodbyes to the others "Aside from the spells I've learned over the years, I know jack shit about Defense or dueling"

"Then we'll have to start from scratch in the morning" Mad Eye said "And by the time I'm done with you Potter I can promise you will hate my guts"

"Probably" Harry agreed as he looked at his watch, now set for local time "Come on, it's dinner time, Gramps is probably wondering where I am" then he smiled to Remus and asked "What about you Moony? Sticking around?"

"Yeah" Remus agreed "It's time I kept my promise to your father that I would look out for you"

Harry nodded as he picked up the button down shirt he wore and the Kenzai stave and walked down the forest trail back to the village.

Before returning to the house Harry went to return the Stave to the rack he had taken it from in the Dojo.

He had just entered the dojo and was crossing the mats when he sense movement behind him and almost on instinct he grabbed the figure who was flying towards him by their arm and hurled them into the wall, but he miscalculated the force of the throw and his unexpected opponent flew upside down crashing through the wall of the dojo.

Harry then looked behind him to see a very shocked Li standing gaping at the man sized hole in his dojo wall.

"Uhhhh" a familiar voice groaned from the hole "Anybody get the number of that Troll?"

Harry stared at the hole as the figure slowly stood up and stepped back through. When he noticed Harry they spoke at almost the same time.

"Harry?"

"Neville?"

BOOM

Done. Next time a reunion and a problem.