A/N: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. Thanks for all the views and please keep on enjoying the story :) This will be the last chapter that I will be posting on Fanfiction for a while. This first book will cover Harry's first two years at Hogwarts, so I want to at least complete his first year before I place it on the site. So for all who've placed this story on alerts and favorites please be rest assured that it will be updated and finished.
The five students walked to the potions classroom down into the dungeons and took the last two tables in the back. Draco, Ron, and Neville took one table, while Sophia and Harry took the other table.
"I will be tutoring you and Longbottom, so I suggest you both pay attention," Draco stated firmly, awaiting for their two nods. Both Ron and Neville accepted his offer one grudgingly and the other eagerly.
"Draco, do not allow any accidents to occur, since you have decided to take responsibility for them," the stern voice of the potions master said, before flicking his wand. The two tables in the back moved and became one table; with Sophia and Harry sitting so they faced the back of the class and Draco, Neville and Ron faced them. Severus nodded his head in approval this way he could make sure Harry was protected and he could also keep an eye on the Earl and Baron. "Now after the ingredients appear on your table you are all supposed to brew as many potions as you can listed in the first chapter. I expect at least one acceptable batch from all of you by the end of the class, begin," and with a last flick the students started to work.
Ron gave a soft sigh as he stared at the first potion, wondering how he managed to get himself in a situation where the Duke was his tutor.
"Baron, stop that infernal sighing," the Duke stated in a strict tone. When Draco had both the Earl's and Baron's attention he continued on, introducing to them the basics of potion making.
Sophia gave a soft laugh as she listened to the three nobles, while Harry and her began their own potion. Severus prowled up and down the aisles, keeping a sharp eye on any students that dared to throw ingredients into other's cauldrons. When he first saw the three nobles together he was afraid that it would result in more harm than good, but at least they all were trying to act mature and as their status dictated. Severus heard Mr. Weasley give a shout of dismay as Mr. Longbottom attempted to add a wrong ingredient into the trio's potion. He watched as Mr. Malfoy tried to snatch it from the Earl's hand, but he failed and it was Harry's quick thinking of placing a herb with a neutralizing effect into the potion. Severus watched with bated breath as the potion smoked and then fizzled out and he was breathing again, although he wondered if he should separate Harry from the group.
"Neville, it's alright. You just need to breathe and take your time. Even if you three only manage to get one potion in you will still pass," Sophia told the shaken Earl.
Draco gave a mirthless chuckle, "I knew that when I decided to tutor you and the Baron that it was going to be a challenge. Relax, the both of you, as long as you put in the effort and respect me, I will not act like a Malfoy," he finished and watched as the Earl relaxed.
"Thank you, Duke Malfoy," Neville said formally.
Draco's mouth sneered in contempt, "Earl, we are students, none of that Duke formality from this group here. My name is Draco or Malfoy, refer to me that way only."
Sophia smiled at her friend's kind loftiness, "He may talk loftily and sound like a noble, but he is actually kind once you see past his outward appearance."
Draco gave a hissed, "Sophia," in reply to his longtime friends teasing.
Ron looked between the two and wondered just what he managed to get himself into. Not only was Hogwarts changing, but the very base on which he stood all his life was starting to crumble. As Ron drifted off to sleep that night he felt all the prejudices and jealousies he grew up with start to melt away and as he angrily turned over to his side, Ron realized that he did not like the feeling at all.
[Great Hall: Morning]
Harry sat at the table in the Great Hall with his fellow classmates and he was listening to the conversation about the flying lesson from the day before.
"It was awesome," Ron proclaimed in an excited voice.
"To feel the artificial wind was nice," Hermione said calmly, staring at the over exuberated boy.
"Wind?" Ron asked in confusion. "I am talking about the thrill of flying, of speed, of adventure, the thrill," Ron whispered and his eyes were half shut in pleasure as he remembered it all. For Ron nothing came close to the thrill of flight except maybe his addiction to sweets. He scowled as he looked upon the lone dessert that was next to his "healthy plate".
"Dear brother," Fred started.
"You know that the only way for you to be able to eat," George finished.
"That dessert is if you eat your food first," the twins finished in unison, smiling at their baby brother. Ron shot them a dark scowled, before spearing his vegetables in annoyance.
"I am actually thankful that the Headmaster changed the diet plan. It is not good to always eat sweets," Neville said, meeting Ron's fierce scowl with calmness.
"Hogwarts is being changed for the better and it's about time," Harry stated firmly. His companions looked at him and then nodded in agreement, although Ron stared grumpily down at his plate.
"What is it, Baron?" Draco asked curiously, wondering why his classmate was in a foul mood.
"Changes," the Baron muttered.
"Changes can be good and sometimes they can be bad," Sophia agreed. She lifted her eyes to meet the Baron's and continued, "It is up to the person making the changes and the people experiencing them, to determine if the changes end up to be good or bad." With that last statement the hall emptied and all companions went their separate ways.
Harry walked along the stone hallways, wishing that he could feel the castle, but he was content to know that she was resting peacefully. He stopped as he came to the door that led to a replica of the outside where the flying lesson and his sword lessons took place and with a deep breath, Harry opened the door.
[The Guardians]
Ragnok, Ollivander, and Gary stood in a circle once again at Stonehenge.
"Is it true," Ollivander asked in dismay.
"Yes, it is. My sources have just confirmed it," Ragnok said, wondering if He was ready.
"We knew this day would come," Gary stated sadly. He looked sorrowfully at his companions. "Albus lost everything, he has nothing left, and the only way for him to regain anything is to go to him," Gary finished, staring out into the field.
Ollivander shook his head in dismay, "How much time do we have?"
Ragnok scowled angrily, "We may be able to postpone it until His second year, but that is all." He crossed his arms and bared his teeth, "We may not even be allowed to do that. Magic is angry and she wants Albus and him, I do not think she will be wait much longer."
Gary sighed, "Well then it is our job to protect from the shadows and let the Advisor, Teachers, and Knights protect in the open." The three nodded in determination and apparated to begin their individual assigned tasks. They would fulfill their goal or die trying and no one or nothing would stop them.
[Harry's Sword Class]
Harry stared at the words written within the book that he was reading. "Each sword has a will of its own and that will chooses the one who is able to wield it. The wielder and the sword from the first touch become one entity and they learn to fight and defend as one. The sword is the wielder's partner, it will protect or defend its wielder, according to the situation. As the bond continues to grow between the sword and wielder the more powerful they become. Legend tells of King Arthur's Sword Excalibur and how they forged a bond that was so great that when Arthur lost his life to the Great Evil, Excalibur willingly followed. Now it is not clear how to forge the bond or even how to make it grow, but it is encouraged that the wielder listen to the sword and accept its guidance and teachings."
"Anything interesting," Sir Tristan interrupted his students reading.
Harry looked up at his teacher dazedly, his mind still on the words he read, "The bond."
Sir Tristan came over to Harry's side and looked down at the book, "Ahh. The bond." He looked back up into the eyes that shone with curiosity. Tristan pulled up a chair and sat down before explaining, "Many swords have chosen their wielders, but it is extremely rare for that bond to grow and strengthen. Only King Arthur, and Godric Gryffindor managed it and the secret of how they did it died with them. The bond starts when you first make contact with the sword that chose you, after that how it develops and grows is up to the wielder and sword themselves."
"Sir Tristan, have you been able to deepen the bond," Harry asked his teacher, looking at his own sword. His short sword laid gently across his legs and the emerald and gold jewel sparkled in the artificial sunlight.
"Unfortunately, I have not been able to yet, but I have no intention of giving up," Tristan stated seriously. "No one knows how or even where to begin with the bond, but every swordsman and woman is determined to try," he finished.
Harry nodded his head and as he looked upon the sword he wondered if it was possible and he was obstinate to find out how. Deep inside the swords jewel's, which held the Will of the Sword, the Will began to resonate and hum as it sensed its wielder's fierce and undying determination. The Will hummed deeper in anticipation, knowing that it's wielder had just started on the path to the Bond.
