Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter or anything else I could be sued for and I am poor as hell.

A.N: Hey everyone, finally chapter 10 is done. Sorry it took so amazingly long. A lot of things have happened that I hadn't planned specifically for. I've got a co-op (which is just a fancy way of saying I got a job I only get for ~3 months), and it isn't in the same state where I've been living so I'm traveling back and forth on weekends, which is a pain. In any case enough about the authors troubles. This chapter is my longest yet, not by any plan of my own. I hope you all enjoy the chapter, and since it's been so long since my last chapter I hope it's still up to par. As usual please enjoy, read, and review.

Chapter 10: Excitement in Potions

Harry woke up instantly sober thanks to his training. He was still trying to figure out what Pearl was thinking in teaching him it. He supposed that it would help if he was ever captured or something. He went and showered then prepared for the rest of the day. He ended up reading his advanced defense book for a few hours before people started coming down for breakfast. At about a quarter after eight, breakfast started at eight, Hermione came down stairs.

"Hey Hermione, how'd you sleep?"

"Not bad Harry, I did take a while though, I have a hard time sleeping when there's a mystery to solve." Hermione said, evidently asking Harry to tell her about what happened this summer. Harry decided to give her a nugget.

"If you're curious about my summer you should have sent me a letter and asked." Harry said feeling slightly angry at his best friend. Hermione gave him a confused look and covered the rest of the distance to Harry.

"I did, you never got them?" she asked.

"Clearly, or I wouldn't have said otherwise." Harry said feeling awkward now that he knew he was wrong to be angry at her.

"That's odd, owls don't lose letters, they deliver them or they return them." Hermione said crossing her arms and biting her tongue, which Harry knew was a sign that she was thinking. Finally she seemed to come to a conclusion.

"Care to share Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Well the only possibility I can think of is someone took your mail." Hermione said, as soon as she said that a house-elf popped up. Hermione flinched, but Harry noticed that the house-elf looked distressed.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked kindly. The elf looked at Harry and burst into an indecipherable babble.

"Hey come one now, calm down." Harry said gently. This seemed to make the elf even crazier, but eventually Harry and Hermione managed to calm the elf down.

"You ok? Can you tell us why you're here?" Harry asked.

"Dobby is fine, Dobby here to tell Harry he must leave Hogwarts. Dobby heard Harry's conversation and has come to tell him Dobby has his mail." At this point the elf produces a package of mail from his pillowcase and hands it to Harry; Harry checks it out quickly and sees that all of the mail has his name on them.

"Why did you take the letters Dobby and why must I leave Hogwarts? You don't have to tell me anything you can't" Harry asked while assuring the elf that he doesn't have to say anything that would go against his master.

"Dobby has heard things, Harry is in danger this year, Dobby thought if Harry did not receive mail from friends he might not want to go back to Hogwarts." Dobby said fretfully.

"Well Dobby, I promise you I'll be careful, but I can't leave now. Would it be acceptable to you if I promised to tell the Headmaster about our meeting?" Harry asked thinking he would probably talk to Dumbles about it later anyway.

"Harry is such a smart kind wizard, Dobby is so grateful that Harry would make Dobby such an offer. Dobby will accept kind Harry's words." After which Dobby disappeared with a small pop. Harry turned to Hermione, who seemed a little flustered even though she had helped the creature without a thought.

"Well now that we've dealt with the house-elf how about we get breakfast." Harry said happily, he got up, grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her towards the entrance way.

"Hey Harry, Hermione, you're here early Harry." Neville said as they sat down at the table.

"I've been getting up early this summer for exercise." Harry said plainly as he prepared a plate of eggs and sausage.

"Look like its helping out a bit mate."

"Yeah Nev, I feel loads better than last year."

"I'm impressed Harry, exercise takes a lot of self motivation. Most people fail to keep a consistent schedule."

"Well boredom can be a good motivator." Harry said, choosing to end the conversation and eat. They ate quietly for a few minutes until Ginny and Ron came down.

"Good morning Ron." Hermione said kindly as she waved to him. Ron came up to them and stopped just behind Harry. Harry didn't turn around, but he could practically feel the waves of nervous energy pouring off of Ron.

"Uh, hey mate listen. I was thinking we could just forget about what happened on the train. You know? Be best mates again and all that." Ron said in his usual dribble. Harry barely knew how to react to that statement. If it weren't for Pearl telling him to calm down he probably would have yelled at Ron already.

'Yelling at him might make you feel better about his treachery, but you should remember that he doesn't know you know. However, I bet it wouldn't take much to piss him off. Just remind him that fights can be resolved, forgiveness given, but rarely forgotten.'

"Ron, forgetting might have been a habit of mine last year, but I'm not going to forget anymore."

"Uh, so that means?" Ron asked stupidly.

"It means you should leave Ron." Hermione said pointedly. Harry jumped in surprise, turning to look back at Hermione. After a moment Harry turned back, just in time to see Ron stomp off, he turned back to Hermione.

"What the…? I didn't expect that."

"Well, I might not know why you're so mad at him, but I'm capable enough to know me and Ron don't get along as well as me and you."

"Well I'm glad to hear it." Harry said and then went back to eating his breakfast. Soon enough Professor McGonagall came up to them.

"You're schedules."

"Thank you Professor McGonagall." They all said once they had their schedules. Hermione was easily the most excited of the bunch. Harry checked out his schedule, and almost smiled.

"Double potions first thing, I hope you and Professor Snape can get along this year Harry."

"I don't think that'll happen; he hates me and Harry."

"Neville, he doesn't hate you. You're just bad at dealing with him." Hermione said kindly.

"Seriously Nev, the largest part of potions is the ingredients from which the potion is created, and I'm pretty sure most ingredients come from plants. Which if I'm not mistaken is your specialty, hell if it weren't for Snape I'd bet you would be really good at it" Harry added standing up; his friends joined him as he made his way down to the dungeons.

As usual all the Slytherins were already in the room and at their desks. The Gryffindor's all waited the last minute before entering the room. Harry and his friends entered the room last and seated just in time as Snape walked in only a minute later.

"Turn to page 224, you will read it, understand it, and make it. You have the rest of this class to complete it." Snape said in his usual snide tone. Harry decided to do as directed this time and turned to page 224. He noticed that this was a potion he had already covered and began gather everything together that he would need. Hermione looked over at him strangely, before turning back to her book when professor Snape walked by. When he reached Harry he stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"It appears Mr. Potter here believes he is better than everyone else and already has a grasp on this potion, perhaps a test is in order Mr. Potter." Snape said evilly.

"Sure Professor, ask away." Harry said politely enough, but with a definite edge in his tone.

'Careful Harry, he might try to trick you, stick to what's in the book.' Pearl warned him. Harry remembered that for this potion the book instructions dictated stirring the potion 12 times clockwise for every 3 counter-clockwise. Harry, with some help from Pearl learned that if one stirred the potion 2 times in an infinity pattern starting from the left side of the cauldron going clockwise, and reversing this pattern 3 times with a total of 5 repetitions the potion would come out stronger and last much longer.

"Tell me the stirring directions for the potion after you have added in the lacewing flies." Snape demanded Harry had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from laughing. The step that Snape was referring to was the step that he had just been thinking about. Harry not thinking replied, "After you have added the lacewing flies stir the potion in an infinity pattern starting from the left side of the cauldron going in a clockwise direction, repeat this twice before reversing the pattern 3 times with a total of 5 repetitions." Harry could have slapped himself after he finished, Pearl had just warned him to give only the answer in the book and here he was giving the better directions.

"Well, well, clearly someone didn't read the directions that well after all. Perhaps you should start reading now?" Snape said sarcastically. He glided up to the front of the room and fixed his gaze on the rest of the class. Harry was worried, there was no way Snape would just let him off this easily. Just as he pulled his book closer to start reading the potion he was proven correct.

"I've changed my mind Mr. Potter, clearly reading the text will not be enough for you. Perhaps one of my best students will be able to cram something into that big head of yours. Miss. Davis if you would please switch places with Mr. Potter." Snape said the class burst with whispered words from both houses. Harry heard people saying "what's he thinking, mixing Slytherin with Gryffindor", "Feel bad for Harry, he doesn't deserve this", "Snapes' gone bonkers". Harry looked to see who he would be working with now; he was surprised to find he would be working with Daphne. She looked just as beautiful in her uniform as she did in casual robes. He wondered if he should say anything, Snape had unknowingly helped Harry and Harry had to smile at his new fortune.

'I don't think you should say anything too soon Harry, she may not take it the way you expect.' Pearl warned him. Harry ignored Pearl, what could go wrong; she had already figured out that Hadrian was a disguise.

"Hey Daphne…" was all Harry got out before she interrupted him sharply.

"Don't talk to me Potter, Snape's already in a fit and I'm not going to entice him further by talking to you. The last thing you or I need right now is him hovering over us." She said in a flash, Harry barely even heard it all. He sat down stunned by her barrage. He had thought she would at least talk to him; she had seemed so nice at the alley.

'Perhaps she understands the value of subtlety?' Pearl said contemplatively. Harry suspected Pearl was just trying to make him feel better and he had to admit that it did a little bit. Since he was not allowed to read the potion he decided to continue his prep. He was finished before he knew it; though it had taken him longer then he normally would take as he kept finding his attention diverting to the girl beside him. He wasn't sure what it was about her but she seemed to have this aura about her. He noticed that she had a habit of licking the tips of her finger before flipping a page; he also noticed that she took her time reading. It was nearing the time limit for the reading portion of the class and most had already started there prep, but she just kept reading and making a few notes about the potion every minute or so. Harry decided to offer an olive branch of sorts and began prepping another batch of the potion. He finished just as she set the book aside. Harry would have thought it was more than a coincidence if she had seemed to even notice him at all. When she started to gather her ingredients Harry gently touched her shoulder. She looked him squarely in the eyes. If she was talking Harry was sure she would be telling him off for daring to touch her, however she wasn't talking so Harry just moved his hand to point at the two batches of prepared ingredients. He saw her eyes widen in surprise before she looked back at him suspiciously. He made a small sign of peace, to which she just shook her head. Harry was disappointed, his plan had failed. He was so lost he didn't even notice Snape walk by him.

"Finally, he's on the other side of the classroom." Daphne said in a whisper. Harry barely heard her, she was not even looking at him and Harry was impressed that she managed to make her voice seem directed at him. He slowly pieced together what she had said, or rather that she had talked at all.

'Pearl, she talked, she talked to me.' Harry said excitedly. He felt like doing a little jig, and proceeded to send Pearl an image of him doing so.

'Ah love, and at so young an age.' Pearl said with hissing laughter. Harry just ignored him and returned his attention back to Daphne.

"…what I don't get is why you prepared ingredients for me." Daphne said, finishing with a huff. She began to gather the ingredients he had prepared for her and began adding them as instructed into the cauldron.

"I thought you were mad at me, it's a peace offering." Harry said more calmly then he felt.

"I wasn't mad, I was surprised, and a little disturbed. I mean you called me by my first name, until today I didn't even know you knew I was in your class." Daphne said blushing slightly. When Harry noticed he blushed as well, though he didn't know why he felt embarrassed.

"In either case you had better start preparing your potion or you won't finish in time."

"Oh, bloody hell." Harry exclaimed loudly, the rest of the class looked at him and Daphne gave him a cold stare, though he thought he recognized the hint of a smile. Harry truly blushed this time embarrassed by all the attention.

"Enough Mr. Potter, I believe you should be working on your potion making and not your vocal skills." Snape said with a smirk. Harry thought it was a tame compared to his usual but started his potion quickly.

'Pearl, I need a way to speed up this potion, there's no way I can finish it now.' Harry said to Pearl.

'You can skip steps five through ten if you add the ingredients all at once and stir counter-clockwise ten times taking no more than 5 seconds for each rotation.' Pearl said him; Harry could feel the tension in the message and had to ask, 'What happens if I fail?'

'Boom' Pearl hissed out, including an image of a bomb going off.

'Lovely, well I guess I'll just be careful then.'

'A good idea'

'Thanks'

'Of course'

"Harry…Harry…come on you stupid lug pay attention, you don't want to fail do you?" Daphne asked him in a hissing tone. Harry came back to himself; he supposed he wasn't used to talking to Pearl and paying attention at the same time yet. He started his potion and was quickly at step 5.

"Hey Daphne, whatever happens don't say a word to Snape about what I'm going to do ok?" Harry asked pleadingly, turning to look her in the eyes.

"Don't keep turning to face me Potter, people might get the wrong idea." She said in a normal voice. The change in volume was enough to cause him to look around the room. He noticed some of the Slytherins looking at him suspiciously, especially Malfoy.

"Sorry" Harry mumbled, he was pleased to see her smile slightly and then she quietly told him she would tell Snape nothing.

Three stirs in and Harry was really regretting his decision, the last fifteen seconds of his life were really up there in the list of the worst moments of his life. His potion was black as night and as he had learned after the first rotation the viscosity of the potion was thickening rapidly. It already felt like he was dragging his spoon through honey. He sped up his efforts and managed to stir it four more times before he was noticeable grunting with the effort to stir the potion. It felt like he was stirring concrete, or perhaps tar. When Harry reached the final rotation Harry was flabbergasted, he knew magic, but watching a potion go from super too thick to thin as water as he reached the halfway point in the rotation was amazing to behold. He finished the turn and quickly finished the potion off in the next 15 minutes. At the end of class Daphne patted him on the shoulder as she walked past with her vial.

"Good job, Harry."

"Thanks"