Mellow! Sorry it's been so long. I have excuses, just no good ones. I'm not going to abandon this anytime soon, I have too much planned to do that. Thank you so much for all the favorites and follows. Hope you enjoy the story.

Thanks for the reviews:

Jazz( sorry for making you worry), Rachsmama, coley182, Guest (leave some id next time), and anthony37.

Chapter 9: Back to School

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Harry's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Harry?" Hermione asked, concerned when she saw that Harry had gone completely white.

Harry licked his lips nervously, "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" she gently laid a hand on his arm.

"I'm fine, really I am." Harry muttered, trying not to flinch at the human contact.

"Leave him alone, he says he's fine, Hermione." Ron said, but still gave his friend a bit of a worried glance.

"Yeah, we better get going to Herbology." Harry said in an attempt to distract both of them. They can't know about my detentions, Ron just might kill Snape.

The trio crossed the vegetable path together in their trek to the greenhouses. Harry wasn't sure if it was the concern over him or the Howler that got the other two being friendly again, but he was glad none the less.

The three got into a conversation of what they each wanted to do this year. For Hermione, it was to study even more. Ron, wanted to get on the quidditch team. Harry had said that he wasn't sure what he wanted, but in all actually he just wanted to live to see the next year.

To both boys displeasure, Lockhart was waiting for their class. "Sorry students, but never fear I am here to watch over you while your dear Herbology teacher is busy doctoring a tree."

Harry could feel his stomach begin to knot in guilt once again. Gilderoy rambled on and on about all the exotic plants he had seen on his journeys across many lands and how he once had to fight a flock of griffins for just a glance at the most precious razkovniche flower.

Once Professor Spout had return, Harry was all too happy that he wouldn't hear more of the epic tales that should be written about his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. However, Gilderoy pulled him aside. "I hope you won't mind Professor Sprout if I borrow just one of your students for a moment."

Although the woman glared rather viscously and uncharacteristically; saying that she did in fact mind, Gilderoy didn't seem to notice or care.

He dragged Harry outside the greenhouse, "Harry." His white teethe shined with his smile. "Harry, Harry, Harry, what have I done?"

"You sir?" Harry asked, uncertain of what the man was even talking about.

"Yes, me. I've given you the first wonderful taste of fame." Gilderoy said dramatically. "And because of me, you want more of it."

Before Harry could even try to protest Gilderoy continued on. "Flying a car to Hogwarts! I could easily say that I wasn't even this shocked when a unicorn once tried to lick my face." Lockhart only seemed to take a second for breathe, if even that. "But now I've given you the bug haven't I? After that first front page picture with me, you couldn't wait to get noticed again."

Harry tried to stop the babbling professor, "You see, professor-"

"Oh, no Harry. I understand. When I was your age, I wanted nothing more to be seen, because I was invisible. You already have some of the fame, being The-Boy-Who-Lived. But, flying a car or doing other crazy stunts isn't good for you." Gilderoy rambled on. "It's a start, but don't do things like that again. You could damage you face, then what good would fame be?"

Harry wasn't really sure what to say, he wasn't even sure if he caught half of that. "Um, nothing?" What does this have to do with anything?

"Exactly, the public loves a charming smile. I should know, after winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile award five years in a row." The professor gave Harry a wink, "However, that lightning bolt of a scar is impressive as well."

With one last blindingly bright smile Gilderoy finally ended with a firm clap on the shoulder and a little encouragment, "Do well with your studies."

It took a few minutes for Harry to process what all had just happened and remember that he should be in the greenhouse with everyone else. Dashing in, he had hoped that he didn't miss anything too important.

There were rows of multi-colored earmuffs and plots and Harry quickly found his place by his two best friends. "The cry of a Mandrake is fatal to anyone that hears it." Hermione finished answering another question.

"We're replanting them today mate," Ron whispered catching Harry up as Pomona proceeded to explain a little about the plant.

"Ah," Harry mumbled.

"Now then, earmuffs on everyone. I'll give a thumb up sign for when it is safe to remove."

Snapping the blue earmuffs on, Harry couldn't hear any more of what this teacher was saying. It was kind of funny to just see her lips moving, but not hearing any sound.

Finally, everyone was situated and ready to begin. Pomona, grabbed one of the short scruffy tops of the plants and pulled hard.

The baby plant was bawling loudly as it was moved from one pot to the other. Once again, Harry could do nothing else but what the silent movie play out before him. Sprout, covered the ugly baby looking plant with dirt, until only the 'hair' of it could be seen.

Teaming up with his two best friends and one other student, Harry went to work knowing that if he didn't act normal Hermione would start to ask questions again.

By the end of the lesson everyone was sweaty, dirty, and a little achy. Harry was nearly asleep on his feet and was half temped to skip Transfiguration altogether. But if he did that, things wouldn't end well for him given his current status.

After washing up quickly, Harry went with the rest of the of his house to class. In fact, that's how he want about the rest of his day, tired and sore but keeping up.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Severus's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Now Severus, my dear boy, I believe we have something to discuss." Albus said sipping some tea.

Of course we do, why else would you have called for me? Severus wasn't all that happy to learn that his student free time was being taken to 'discus' with the headmaster. He wasn't stupid, he knew that this had to be about the Potter brat and his little wanderings. "Well, you have had to called me for a reason." We don't do tea time to simply chat about our lives, now do we?

"Quite true." Albus laughed, knowing Severus's mood was much like a child's at times. "Lemon drop?"

"No, could we please get on with it." Severus tried very hard not to growl, already one of his third years had blown a hole in their caldron and he wanted nothing more than to simply have some peace to himself.

"Oh, certainly." Albus's eyes twinkled. "I wish to talk about Harry's detentions with you and the disciplinary power you now hold over him."

Severus rolled his eyes. Like I couldn't tell. "I won't treat him any differently than my snakes if that is what you're referring to." Despite the fact that he is a Potter.

"That's what I want to concentrate on." Albus said, sounding surprisingly concerned.

This took Severus by surprise, not that his face betrayed any emotions. For all the threats that he has given the numerous students that had crossed his pass, Severus normally didn't stuff them in bottles or flay them alive with anything other than words. "And why would that be a problem? I have never harmed a student before."

"Severus, you misunderstand." Albus smoothly said. "I'm more concerned that Harry hasn't realized the weight of his actions."

"Then why don't you simply allow me to teach him of it." Severus asked through clenched teethe. It's obvious that no one else will.

"You know that I don't really approve of corporal punishment," Albus started. "Would you be willing to allow Harry to have another chance?" Oh, he didn't just do that.

"So, let me get this straight headmaster." Severus snapped. "You want me to not give a child the punishment that he has earned several times over this year alone?"

Albus then had the gall to chuckle, "While that does sound strange when you put it that way, it is essentially what I'm saying."

Severus was shocked, "Had it been any other student, they would've been either given at the very least six of the best or expelled. How can you say that this is fair?"

"Severus," Albus gave him a strangely stern look that the man hasn't seen since his days of Hogwarts. "You may use the form of punishment that is appropriate, but remember that everyone should be given a second chance."

Severus felt a chill go through him. Blast him for bringing that up. "Fine, I will give him a way to weasel his way out of a proper spanking."

Albus's eyes softened again, "Thank you Severus."