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Harry began packing up his books, parchment and quills into his bag. The Gryffindor's had just had Transfiguration, the last lesson of the day, and all of the first years were eager to head off to the common room and have some down time. However, as Harry finished packing up his books, he heard Professor McGonagall call out, "A moment, Potter". Harry sighed, turning back to the professor.

"You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up to you later," he said, addressing Neville and Hermione. They complied, and left the classroom quickly, leaving Harry alone with the transfiguration teacher.

"Mr Potter, I have been told that the headmaster wishes to speak to you."

"Me? Why would Professor Dumbledore want to speak to me, Professor?"

"I don't know. I suggest that you could find out by going to his office and talking to him," She said, smiling.

"But I don't know where the headmaster's office is, Professor."

"And even if you did, you wouldn't be able to get in," said Dumbledore, who had just entered the classroom. Harry instantly stood up a little straighter, and looked at the Professor. "There's a password; good for security, but it does discourage visitors…"

"I was just about to bring young Mr Potter up to see you, Albus."

"Very kind of you Minerva, but as I am here, there is really no need." The elderly man smiled down at Harry, peering over his half mooned spectacles. "If you'll follow me Harry, we'll leave your esteemed teacher to get on with what is most definitely some very important work." He inclined his head at McGonagall politely, and walked out of the room, Harry following closely at his side.

The duo walked briskly through the sunlit hallways, passing students before they came to a large, ugly gargoyle. Dumbledore said, "Chocolate Frogs," in a clear voice, and the gargoyle jumped aside, the wall behind him splitting apart. Harry looked around Dumbledore's figure in wonder, as behind the wall was a stone staircase that was rotating and moving upwards into the air. Dumbledore looked around at Harry; "After you my dear boy".

Harry stepped onto the stair in front of him nervously, and found himself moving upwards smoothly. Dumbledore stepped on behind him, and Harry could hear the wall sliding shut with a low grinding noise. They were being propelled upwards quite quickly, leading Harry to assume that they were in one of the towers. After a short while, they arrived at a gleaming oak door with a large, brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. Dumbledore leaned around Harry and pushed open the door, revealing a large room.

It was comprised of three circular rooms, and had curved walls. Lining these were shelves filled with all manor magical apparatus. In the middle of the room was a large desk, behind which rose a balcony, and an archway that Harry assumed lead to the place where Dumbledore lived. Standing on a golden perch was a magnificent red plumed bird, which let out a call of greeting to Dumbledore – a deep, melodic note which immediately made Harry feel relaxed. Lining the walls were portraits of elderly witches and wizards, all of whom were talking quietly to each other, sleeping, or – to Harry's amusement – playing table tennis, the ball bouncing from one picture frame to the other.

Dumbledore stepped forward, and took a seat behind his desk. Harry stood for a moment longer, continuing to look around the room in wonderment. However, he was pulled out of his daze by Dumbledore, who cleared his throat quietly. Harry looked at him, and saw that he was smiling up at Harry. "Would you like a seat?" he inquired, quietly amused.

"Ah, yes, that would be nice, thank you." One immediately appeared in front of the desk, and Harry sat down in it, looking at Dumbledore expectantly.

"You must be wondering why I have asked that you come and see me Harry. I must confess, it is partly due to my own interest, and partly because I have something to give you. But first, how are you my boy?"

Harry started – he hadn't expected that he had been called here for a chat. Momentarily confused, he replied, "I'm fine sir. What about you?"

Dumbledore chuckled, "How nice of you to ask. Not many people do nowadays – I suppose they feel that they must complete their business as quickly as possible and let me get on with my day. A pity - I do enjoy a nice chat. But to answer your question, I am well, quite well for someone of my considerable age.

"However, as nice as it is to engage in idle chit chat, I didn't ask you here solely to talk. I have something to give you. Or rather, I have something to return to you, for it was your father's." He reached under the desk and pulled out a large bundle of silvery cloth. He placed it on the table, and slid it across into Harry's hands.

Harry looked down excitedly. He didn't have anything that belonged to his parents – before he'd seen the money that they had left him, he'd believed that all of their possessions must have been either destroyed the night that they had died, or been sold off in the following years. Harry's aunt and uncle had never shown the slightest interest in telling Harry about his parents, and had even lied to him about them – he'd never expected that they would have kept anything to remind them of the Potter's, much less shown it to Harry. But now he held something in his hands that had belonged to his father. It awoke a deep sense of longing in Harry, a need to know more about them.

Harry was about to pick it up and see what it was, but Dumbledore laid a hand on the bundle. "Might be best to wait for Miss Granger and Mr Longbottom, don't you think Harry?" Harry stopped his hand close to the bundle. Slowly, he nodded, and then looked at Dumbledore.

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"You already have, but you may ask another."

"What were they like? My parents? I've never heard anything about them – I was beaten every time I asked about them at home…"

Dumbledore looked momentarily shocked, but soon regained his composed look. "I am sorry that you knew nothing of your parents Harry, deeply so. I'll try and answer your questions as best I can. However, I can see this taking longer than I had planned, so we will need some food." With a snap of his fingers, a platter of sandwiches appeared on the table in front of Harry. "Much better. Now, where to begin…

"I had the liberty of being headmaster during your parent's education at this school. Your father was an incredible able wizard, but not as academic as your mother, nor as hard working. He was friends with a group of three other boys – inseparable young lads. Wherever your father was, his friends would be too. Caused quite a bit of mayhem and trouble too – much like the Weasley twins.

"James's best friend was Sirius Black. Also in the group were Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Peter is now dead, Sirius Black is outside of the country and Remus currently lives in London.

"Your mother, on the other hand, and few friends, preferring instead to focus her time on studies. She was, much as your friend Miss Granger is, the brightest witch in her year – best in class for everything. Although she didn't have many friends, those that she did have were even more precious to her. Two stick out in my memory – Alice Nuren, and Severus Snape."

"But sir, I don't understand. If my mother and Professor Snape were friends, why does he dislike me so much?"

"Because whilst your mother was friends with Severus, your father and him were constantly at each other's throats. I believe that he sees you as James's son more than Lily's." Harry sat in silence for a few moments, soaking in the information. "I am sorry Harry; I have no more information for you. I suggest that if you wish to find out more about your parents, you ask your teachers. The likelihood is that they either went to school with them, or taught them during their time here. I am sorry I could not tell you more."

"Don't apologise sir! You've told me more than I knew before, lots more. Thank you Professor."

"You are most welcome my boy. Now, I suggest you return to Gryffindor tower – your friends are probably wondering what has been keeping you." Harry stood to leave, but momentarily paused.

"Sir," he said, then stopped. "Yes Harry. Is there something further you wish to discuss with me?"

"It's more of an observation, Professor. Professor Quirrell doesn't seem to be teaching us much – he usually just tells us stories of adventures he's been on, but when we ask him any more about them, he is too timid to tell us."

Dumbledore looked at Harry for a few moments, before nodding. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention Harry. I'll look into it in due course."

"Thank you sir." Harry stood, picked up the bundle of slivery cloth in front of him, took one last sandwich, and left the room.

It was dark by the time Harry managed to get back into the Gryffindor Common room. Neville and Hermione were sitting in the chairs by the fireplace, having obviously just eaten. They looked up when he walked in, and then jumped up to say hello. Harry quickly filled them in on what had occurred – his meeting with Professor Dumbledore, the gift of the cloak, and the information about his parents. He saw Neville start when he heard mention of Alice Nuren, and made a mental note to ask him about it when he next had a moment.

Both friends seemed very interested when he showed them the cloak, and encouraged him to try it out. Harry barely needed the encouragement; picking it up, he swung it around his shoulders. He heard his friends gasp, yet he felt no different. However, when he looked down at his body, he couldn't see anything. "That's an invisibility cloak Harry!" Neville exclaimed excitedly.

"I got that from the fact I'm invisible, Neville," Harry said, laughing. "What's so special about it?"

"They're really rare, and really expensive. I think my dad had one, but then he… You know." He looked down, sadly.

"Neville, did you know Alice Nuren? You seemed startled when I mentioned her."

"She's my mother," Neville said, close to tears. Hermione immediately moved to comfort him, putting her arm around him. Neville shrugged her off quickly. "I just need some time alone, I think," he said, just before taking off up the staircase to the dorms. Harry moved to go after him, but was stopped by Hermione "Give him some time Harry. He's obviously upset, and as much as you want to help you might not be able to."

Harry looked up the stairs, wanting to comfort his friend, but didn't make any movement. He saw the wisdom in Hermione's words, and knew that it wouldn't help. Sighing, he slumped back down into the comfy armchair.

Harry awoke the next morning to sunlight streaming in through the curtains, illuminating the circular room. He looked over and saw that Neville was already out of bed, his covers thrown back. Harry quickly dressed, and headed down the stairs to the common room. Seeing it empty, he shrugged, and crossed to the portrait hall, heading down the large staircase, in the direction of the Great Hall. He quickly located Neville once he had entered; the sandy-haired boy was sitting halfway down the Gryffindor Table, eating his breakfast with one hand and reading through a Herbology book with the other. Harry walked the length of the table, and sat down in front of Neville, helping himself to some food from the platters around him whilst waiting for a moment to talk to his friend.

"I'm sorry Harry," Neville said suddenly, surprising Harry. "I know it was silly of me, I know I should be used to it now. You obviously are..." He trailed off.

"No, it makes sense Neville. I know that I don't come across as missing my parents, and for the most part I don't; I didn't know them well enough to miss them terribly. But you did know yours; it must be different for you."

Neville nodded, agreeing. "It's not only that. They... they're not dead." Harry looked at him, shocked. Whenever Neville had spoken about his parents it was always in the past tense, as if they were dead. It was shocking - to say the least - to find out they were still alive. "I don't really want to talk about them Harry, so if you could just keep this between us..."

"Yeah, absolutely Neville."

"Thanks Harry." Neville said, smiling now. The two friends continued eating their breakfast in silence until Hermione came to join them. Murmuring quiet "Hellos", the three friends ate their breakfast in companionable silence, broken only by the crunching of toast and the subdued talking of the other students who were trying to get an early start. The trio finished eating their breakfast, and then headed out of the hall... and directly into the path of Snape.

"Where are you three going in such a hurry?" Snape asked softly. "People might become… suspicious."

"We're going to the library, to do the homework that you set us." Neville said defensively.

"I dislike your tone, Longbottom. One point from Gryffindor. Now, follow me. Potter, Granger, you too."

"May we ask why?" Harry replied, confused.

"I don't have to answer to you Potter. However, it may make things proceed more quickly. The Headmaster has instructed me to tutor you in Defence Against the Dark Arts. And whilst this idea fills me with distain, if our esteemed headmaster believes that this is the best thing to do, who am I to argue." The trio understood his not so subtle meaning; I have been told to do this, you need to do this too.

Snape turned and headed off, not checking to see if they followed him. He led them up the stairs, instead of down into the dungeons, Harry Neville and Hermione exchanging looks of confusion over this. Navigating the maze of corridors that one had to traverse to reach any part of the castle, they reached a classroom on the second floor Transfiguration corridor. Snape flicked his wand and the door unlocked, swinging back on its hinges. Snape walked in and the three friends followed, finding themselves in a long dark room, windows interspaced with bookshelves on the opposite wall. A long slightly raised platform reached down the room.

Hermione immediately headed to the bookshelves, perusing the collection. Snape scowled at this, staring at her. "Miss Granger, curb your schoolgirl enthusiasm for one moment. I wish to get this over and done with as quickly as possible, so that I can return to doing more meaningful things than teaching miscreants who think they know better than their superiors." Hermione stepped away from the shelves, chastened.

Addressing all of them now, Snape spoke. "This is where these lessons will take place. I am to take you for one hour at this time every Saturday, and for an hour every day. I will tell you what time we will meet the day before." Gesturing with his wand, Snape conjured three simple desks in front of the large ornate one that sat at one end of the room. Harry Hermione and Neville all took a seat, looking at Snape expectantly.

"I will begin by teaching you how to duel. We shall begin with etiquette." Snape then began to run through a dizzyingly long list of instructions and expectations that one had to adhere to when duelling. After what seemed like forever, but could have only been at most fifteen minutes, he ended. "Do any of you have any idiotic questions?" Appraising each of them in turn, he sneered. "Good. Now, as you can see behind you, there is a duelling platform. Two of you will practice these techniques, starting from the bow."

They made their way over to the duelling platform. "Granger, you will not participate in this round. Watch, and tell them what moronic and obvious mistakes they are making. Now begin."

Harry and Neville took their places at either end of the platform. They walked towards each other, then bowed. Turning around, they quickly paced twelve steps, and then stopped. Turning on their foot, they faced their opponent, each pointing their wand at the wizard opposite them.

"Perfect guys!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly, just as Snape called out, "Passable." Hermione rounded on Snape. "What did they do wrong? Their timing was perfect, and their posture -"

"Was highly lacking. Longbottom shuffles around like a shrunken troll, and Potter swaggers around as if he were a master. One point from Gryffindor for answering back." Hermione stared at him, affronted. He turned back to the platform, and spoke to Neville and Harry. "Again." Harry and Neville sighed, and returned to their starting positions.

"That, was a complete waste of time." Neville said, slumping down on the large armchair in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room. "I mean, it's nice to know that stuff, and really interesting, but I still find it a bit odd that Snape is taking us and teaching us that. Quirrel is pretty terrible, but I don't understand how Dumbledore knows that... Unless you mentioned it Harry?"

Harry thought back to his conversation with Dumbledore the previous day. "I mentioned it to him, but I never said that I wanted private tutoring... He must have thought of that on his own."

Hermione piped up, "Well at least we are getting some proper teaching." After receiving looks from her two friends, she elaborated. "Well I don't know about you two, but I know a lot more about duelling than I did this morning, and we would have probably never learnt that in Quirrell's lessons. Say what you like about Snape's 'bedside manner', he knows what he is talking about when it comes to Against the Dark Arts." Harry thought for a moment, and then nodded; he had learnt quite a bit in the lesson, and he was much more interested in duelling now than he had been in before. Continuing, Hermione added, "Now we better get on with what we were going to do before Snape grabbed us. Library gentlemen?"

Harry gathered up his things to join her, and looked at Neville, who had remained where he was. "Actually, I have something planned for now... Professor Sprout has given me some a plot in the greenhouses, and I've been meaning to check on the plant's I've set up there. Meet you guys later?"

"Sure Neville," Harry replied, pleased that his friend had found something that interested him. Hermione looked torn for a second, half of her appearing poised to drag him along to the library to do the homework with them. In the end, however, she smiled, and nodded her head. "Have fun Neville, see you later." She smiled, and waved to him as he walked out of the Common Room door.

"You're not going to run out on me too, are you Harry?" She said, turning to him with a mock pout on her face. Harry looked contemplative for a second, laughing at her disgruntled expression. She grabbed his arm, looping hers through it, and walked him to the door. "Come on Potter, quicker you start the quicker you're finished! Then maybe I'll let you have some fun." She stuck her tongue out at him, laughing and pulling him down the corridor more quickly.

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