Harry stretched as he awoke. With Wizards being so against muggle technology most of the time, he still found it odd that many used traditional mechanical alarm clocks to wake them. Of course, many of those looked ancient. He wondered if there was a clock repair shop somewhere in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade he had missed somehow. You would think some sort of a charm would be much simpler and witches and wizards did tend to take the simple magical route after all.

Of course none of that really mattered. Today he just needed to get up, get breakfast, get his schedule, and start the day. Then he could see Hermione, and Luna, and Padma, and Anemy, and Daphne…

That thought brought him up short. Didn't the contract he had signed with Ian mention that the kiss needed to have some basis of love? This was far too early in the time stream for these girls to feel any form of love for him, was it not?

Harry considered each girl as he thought it through. Luna had been the first. She had said it was a way to thank him. Odd, sure, but definitely Luna. Especially a Luna starved of her mother's love for over two years and only spending time with the Weasley's or her father. And he had just protected her from another year of isolation, which he discovered in the previous timeline was tantamount to torture to the poor girl. So she would love him as a protector, something like her father perhaps? But that kiss was nothing like a father. Maybe more like a knight in shining armor?

The next he had kissed had been Hermione. He thought back over the girl. He had learned over dinner from her and Luna just what had happened after he left the compartment. Knowing she was just as starved for friendship at this age as he was, she would latch on to anyone willing to be kind to her and protect them viciously. Of course it was not easy and hearing the truth about her 'first friend Ron' had been hard to bear. So she had come to apologize to him. Perhaps his hug, the kindness behind it, had somehow sparked some shadow of love of friendship? Or was it simply his own love for her had been that overpowering? He really didn't know.

When they had been alone with Padma and Anemy, Padma had kissed him. Somehow that was a shock. All he knew about the young girl came from either later years or her sister. According to both, she had changed much in her fourth year. It was another reason the date with Ron had been so terrible. She had been the shy, introverted twin prior to that. Unlike Fred and George who were essentially the same person in two bodies, Padma and Parvati were more like two sides of the same coin. So she had been confidant enough to kiss him. Was it some form of hero worship? Or maybe it was the love of her sister? Seeing her actions as something her sister would do was a form of love.

And Anemy had stepped in before his lips had even cooled from that kiss. Seeing as he knew nothing about her, it was a shock. Still, if his understanding of his other soul mates was anything to go on, she had experienced some form of isolation. Perhaps it was as simple as the love of a friend or the hope of the future?

Speaking of isolation, that brought him to Daphne. She had stepped in of her own accord and demanded a kiss from him, more or less. It confused the hell out of him, but he certainly would not complain. Well, beyond bringing back the Ice Mistress of Hogwarts. She truly had become a terror in those later years. But did it all center back on him? He thought back over experiences with her in both timelines. In his last one, he never really had the chance to get to know Daphne, so her actions led to a shift in his hopes for Slytherin. But knowing what he knew now changed things. And on top of that, he had been flirting rather hard trying to get her to blush and smile before. Perhaps it was the basis of a possible romantic love forming? Even then love did exist, even if it was not in a large enough quantity to say 'I love you' to someone.

And it seemed Harry did love all of them, in some way. Even Daphne, where it was more a love of remorse, he felt something for. His eleven-year-old body was not really ready for the depth of the love he felt. Naturally, Hermione was the only one he could really say those three words to just yet, but that did not change that the emotion was there and attached to each girl…woman.

And he had brought them terror. They had been so kind and sweet in some way or another, and Harry dragged their dead consciences back with a single kiss. He inserted women hardened by war in a world trying to hide its problems. Could they ever truly forgive him?

With his thoughts exploding in chaos, Harry jumped from his bed in order to grab a shower before any of the other boys. He sniffed the air as he stood. One night and not even Ron in the room to snore and stink it up and it still smelled like a boy's dorm. Even though Harry hated that smell, the memories were sweet and brought a smile to his face.

Harry moved to the mirror. As he did, his eyes settled on his scar. He hadn't even thought about that. According to the memories gained from Snape, his scar was the final horocrux. If that was the case, how did he die and yet Voldemort survived?

Harry thought back to those final few painful minutes. He had unleashed, in some miracle of magic, an area wide killing curse. He had watched it hit Voldemort. He saw the man collapse. Harry thought back through the memory. Unfortunately, he did not have perfect recall. The matter was far too confusing. And he really needed a better view than trying to recall it to figure things out. He needed to find a pensive.

As Harry turned the water on for the shower, he let the water washing over his shoulders rinse the tainted thoughts from his mind for now.

Now to get ready.

Half an hour later found Harry trudging down the stairs just to find Luna sleeping curled up on a couch, looking a lot like a cat, and Hermione yawning over a massive book. Harry grinned to himself when he saw that it was the Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. Even with several years of additional study, Hermione was still reviewing. So Harry made his interest by jumping over the last to stairs to land with a playful thud.

Hermione's eyes snapped up and Harry saw her hand twitch toward her wand. Luna rolled off the couch into a crouch. She still looked like a cat, but he could now see a pattern on her cheek from where the material of the couch had pressed against her. While he knew the serious nature behind their reactions, it still made him smile

"Good morning you two! How did you sleep?"

With an annoyed grin on her face, Hermione stood and came over to him. As Luna stretched, again in a very cat-like manner, before moving to join them, Hermione took that time to straighten Harry's tie and brush an imaginary piece of dust from his shoulder. The whole scene felt so family like, as they were currently the only three in the Common Room, that Harry couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

This laugh snapped both girl's attention back to him.

"I slept rather soundly, considering the last night of sleep I recall." Luna nodded her head in concurrence with Hermione's assessment, though she still stood back. It hurt Harry to see the free wild woman he had known suddenly become so apprehensive. Hearing footsteps, Harry observed as Luna moved closer to Hermione at the approach of more people. She moved closer to Harry, but still seemed as if she was trying to remain distant. Hermione seemed to catch on. Reaching over to grab Luna's hand, she led the way toward the exit.

"Let's go!"

A short time later found the three being some of the first to arrive in the Great Hall. There was an odd collection of Ravenclaws, two Hufflepuffs, as well as Professor McGongall. As they arrived, she made directly for them. While there was a caring look in her eyes, it was well hidden behind her stern 'Professor' demeanor. It was a contradiction in the old scot, one which tickled Harry. He loved the woman as a grandmother, regardless of her actions, or more specifically, inactions regarding him. She may spend too long worshiping Dumbledore, but she was just like many others in that regard. She had still spent a great deal of time caring for him. And in the previous timeline, the professors of Hogwarts had been some of the few pillars to stand against Voldemort's march. Even with Snape as Headmaster, they put in a great deal of effort to subtly fight his machinations. Harry had seen her collapse when the wards of Hogwarts fell, since they had been attached to her at that point in time. He did not know whether she lived through that experience or not as he, along with many others, were waist deep in Death Eaters soon thereafter.

"Well, I'm proud to see some of my students realizing how important today is and arriving early. Here are your schedules." She handed each a parchment. Luna and Hermione immediately grasped these and began to study them. Harry turned his focus back to the Professor, waiting for the rest of her news he knew was coming. "Mr. Potter, as your head of house, I am required to ask that you please do not physically assault anymore classmates. As this occurred prior to your sorting, I shall neither deduct points nor require detention, but please be more respectful in the future." She paused, as if waiting for this meek, small, undernourished boy to merely acquiesce to her request. Harry was done being the weak subservient child he had been though.

"I see. And do tell, Professor, where did you hear of these assaults from?" Professor McGongall seemed shocked for a moment. One of her students, particularly a first year who had just begun was questioning her when she asked he not be physical?

"Well, the Headmaster said-" Harry shocked her again as he stepped in to interrupt.

"I see, and he was there to see these assaults?" Professor McGongall was too shocked at being interrupted to react as a stern professor, so she merely began answering his questions.

"Well no, but Professor Snape-" Harry stepped in once more. He could feel both Hermione and Luna trying to hide their trembling behind him. Luna's he was sure, was for putting the proud Scot on her heels. With Hermione, he was not sure if she was laughing or actually terrified that he was calling her favorite professor to question.

"Ah, Professor Snape. The same Professor Snape who was there and has never in his life lied?"

"He was informed by both Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasley of your physical altercations Mr. Potter. I will not be disrespected by my students." Professor McGongall straightened her back. She would not be put down by her own students. Harry took pity on her, but pushing his own mild manipulation. He generally did not want to manipulate people, but if it was the truth, how dangerous could a bit of manipulation actually be? Besides, wasn't all form of human interaction, on some level, a form of manipulation? Even if it was only mild and unassuming?

"Professor McGongall, please forgive me. I meant no disrespect. I was merely shocked at being attacked by my own head of house before she had even heard my side of the story. Luna was here when Ron Weasley entered the compartment and can attest to the fact that I never touched the red-headed menace. He went on later to insult Luna, so I asked him to stop. As for Mr. Malfoy, he is quickly becoming that part of our new family I would prefer to only see at holidays. He entered the compartment, including myself and Anemy Yazzi from Hufflepuff, as well as Miss Lovegood, and demanded he could help me make better friends. I will admit that my magic may have been showing, but I did not touch him nor did my magic. I am more than willing to submit myself to prove this. Surely there is some way? Some magic potion or other form of magical commitment to prove I'm telling the truth?"

Harry's rant drew the attention of the rest of the Great Hall which had slowly been filling since McGongall approached them. Seeing the tall Professor told off by a small first year student brought many of them to a halt. It was the greasy haired git who got things rolling again, though Harry also attempted to turn that.

"That will be ten points from Gryffindor for your disrespect, Potter!" Snape's shout drew chuckles from the Slytherins until Harry's response rang out.

"Thank you for that correction, Professor Snape. You are correct, it was rude of me. Such a comment should have been reserved for behind closed doors with my head of house and accusers. Thank you sir and I look forward to your class."

Jaws dropped. Were it possible, they would have literally hit the floor. No one had ever heard, let alone seen Professor Snape thanked for taking points away. There had been angry muttering from most houses and amused snickers from Slytherin, but to actually thank him shook the school. Especially when that thanks came from a Gryffindor. Snape's usual cold sneer was even overridden by shock. Professor McGongall, recovering herself, intervened.

"Yes, quite. Thank you for those observations by both Mr. Potter and Professor Snape. Shall we adjourn to our meeting?" She waited while Harry stood and then led him to the gargoyle Harry had come to know so well. As McGongall gave the password, Harry waited. Silently he mused if this was the fastest any student had ever wrangled a meeting with the Headmaster. Barely twelve hours into the start of the school year and he was already there? He had even been asleep for around eight of those hours.

A Knock on the door shook Harry from his wonderings. He heard the grandfatherly voice call from within for them to enter. As they did, Harry was directed by the Headmaster toward a seat across the desk. It was then that Harry noticed there was a slight level to the desk and the Headmaster's chair. It was subtle, but just enough to guarantee that the Headmaster would always be looking down on the students who sat there. It made Harry smile.

"Thank you, Professor McGongall, that will be all."

"Yes Headmaster." As McGongall turned to leave, Harry's voice called out.

"Excuse me, Professor, but where are you going?" Both Professors turned to face Harry, shocked at his question. After a quick stuttering, McGongall spoke.

"I'm leaving you to your meeting with the Headmaster."

"Ah, but that is against the school rules." Again, two shocked looks. McGongall seemed to miss how this was against school rules, while Harry noted that Dumbledore seemed more shocked that either Harry knew the school rules or at what could possibly be revealed. Before Dumbledore could get over his shock, Harry went on.

"Yes, Professor McGongall, according to the Hogwarts rules, Heads of House serve the role of In Loco Parentis. The founders felt giving the Headmaster that authority would be far too much, so they laid it with the head of house. The only time a professor can be with a student alone without their head of house present is in a detention which all have to be approved by the deputy headmaster/mistress. Actually, due to some issues which happened in the 1300's to do with a blood feud between the headmaster's family and a student, no student is allowed to meet with the Headmaster without their head of house present, regardless of how many other people are in the room." Harry paused for dramatic effect. He barely heard Professor McGongall's statement as it was more to herself, though it did open the door for his next point.

"But with everything else I do, I would never have time to review every detention…"

"Well of course not, being the Head of House. That alone, added to a professor is supposed to be a full-time position. As is Deputy Headmistress alongside being a professor. That is why the Deputy is only allowed to deal with discipline, or reviewing detentions and reviewing point additions and deductions."

Here Dumbledore finally managed to reinsert himself into the conversation.

"Harry my boy, I do believe you have your facts confused."

"Oh, then the set of rules that Minister Fudge showed me in the Department of Mysteries was incorrect? He said they were updated every time the rules of the school were officially changed. How odd."

Harry fought his smile. That was a bunch of bologna. Fudge never showed him the rules. He had discovered them during fifth year as they searched the Department of Mysteries. The only reason he knew what he did was because Hermione had become obsessed and by some random act of who knows which deity, they managed to escape the Ministry of Magic during the hunt with the rules which Hermione had taken to studying in their free time. And when Hermione studied, everyone was forced to sit and learn. Thankfully, in this instance and after reviewing the previous night of their plan with Hermione and Luna, it seemed it was all being worth it. The look of shock and simmering anger on the Deputy Mistress' face was more than worth the risk. He watched as her eyes focused on Dumbledore's. The old man seemed to be feeling the pressure. Though his smile remained, Harry could tell it was strained. Harry's involvement, however, did not last much longer.

"Mr. Potter, perhaps it would be best if I were to review your case a bit more before we discuss it with the Headmaster. Would you excuse us? I do believe that you have class and getting some breakfast before then may be a good idea." The entire time Professor McGongall spoke, her eyes never left Dumbledore. As Harry excused himself, he did note that Professor McGongall's rant began before the door even finished closing. Her Scotish Brogue was thick and Harry could not wait to see the fallout. He made his way back down to breakfast and plopped down between Hermione and Luna with a smile on his face.

This was going to certainly be an interesting year.